bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SnO2 Quantum Dots Interspersed d-Ti3C2Tx MXene Heterostructure with Enhanced Performance for Lithium Ion Battery
Authors: Wang Libo , He Yan , Liu Darong , Liu Lu , Chen Hao , Hu Qianku , Liu Xuqing , Zhou Aiguo
Published: July 2020

Ti3C2Tx MXene is an important concern for lithium ion batteries (LIB) because of its two-dimensional (2D) open structure, excellent electrical conductivity, and low Li+ diffusion barrier. However, MXene anodes have a lower capacity, which limits their further application in LIBs. This study presents a SnO2 QDs@delaminated Ti3C2Tx (d-Ti3C2Tx) heterostructure composite that is produced via in situ growth of SnO2 QDs on the layer of d-Ti3C2Tx nanosheets and uses a facile ultrasound irradiation method. Results illustrate that SnO2 QDs are uniformly anchored on the surface of d-Ti3C2Tx layer. The d-Ti3C2Tx nanosheets inhibits the agglomeration of SnO2 QD nanoparticles and volume expansion during the charging-discharging process. The hierarchical structure can enlarge the interface area of electrode and electrolyte, which accelerating Li-ion and electron diffusion and transition processes. Electrochemical results reveal that compared to pure d-Ti3C2Tx and SnO2 QDs, SnO2 QDs@d-Ti3C2Tx nanocomposites greatly improve the reversible capacity. Remarkably, the SnO2@d-Ti3C2Tx composite maintains 390 mAh·g−1 with a capacity recovery after 100 cycles at current density of 1000 mA·g−1. The synergistic effect of SnO2 QDs on MXene prevents the re-stacking of d-Ti3C2Tx layers and increases the Li+ storage; thus, this system exhibits excellent electrochemical properties for LIBs.
Determination of Isosorbide-5-Mononitrate in Human Plasma by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry and Its Application to a Bioequivalence Study
Authors: Zhou Yinping , Liu Aijing , Jia Ranran , Wu Mengyi , Wu Ni , Liu Chunyan , Han Zhihui , Hu Haitang , Wang Hongyun , He Qing
Published: July 2020

Isosorbide-5-mononitrate (5-ISMN), an organic nitrate vasodilator, has been widely used worldwide to prevent angina pectoris for more than two decades. A simple and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination of 5-ISMN in human plasma. 13C6-5-ISMN is an internal standard, and 5-ISMN was extracted from human plasma (50 µL) with ethyl acetate (200 µL) by a simple liquid-liquid extraction method. The chromatographic separation was carried out on LC-20A (Shimadzu, Japan) using an analytical column ZORBAX XDB-C18 (4.6 × 50 mm, 5 µm), coupled with API 4000 tandem mass spectrometers in a multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The mobile phase was composed of acetonitrile (organic phase A) and 2 mM ammonium acetate in water (aqueous phase B) with an isocratic elution of A/B = 90 : 10 (v/v). The total run time was 3.5 min with a small injection volume (5 µL). This method was fully validated in every aspect of selectivity, linearity, accuracy, precision, matrix effect, extraction recovery, and different stabilities. It was proved that the calibration standards within the 5.00–1000 ng/mL concentration range were linear. The lower limit of quantification was 5.00 ng/mL for 5-ISMN. The intrabatch and interbatch accuracy (RE) ranged from −8.8% to 7.1% with precision between 2.4% and 6.6%. The mean values of 5-ISMN extraction recovery and matrix effect were 87.0% and 102.0%, respectively. The fully validated method was successfully applied for a bioequivalence clinical trial of oral 20 mg 5-ISMN tablets in healthy Chinese subjects.
Trends in Opioid Use in a Cohort of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Machado-Duque Manuel E. , Ramírez-Valencia Diana Marcela , Murillo-Muñoz María Mónica , Machado-Alba Jorge E.
Published: July 2020

The objective was to determine the trend in the use of opioid analgesics in a cohort of patients diagnosed with and treated for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in 24 cities in Colombia. This retrospective cohort study included adult patients diagnosed with RA, which was managed in a specialized institution in Colombia between January 2011 and December 2012. The first rheumatology visit was recorded as an index date, and monthly monitoring of the analgesic medication received was performed until December 2017. Sociodemographic variables, the use of opioids, and concomitant prescriptions were evaluated. A total of 1,329 patients diagnosed with and treated for RA were included; they had a mean age of 61.2 ± 11.8 years and were predominantly females (n = 936; 82.9%). A total of 1,129 (84.9%) subjects used opioids for at least one month, and a growing trend, from 13.5% to 21.4%, was observed in patients who received opioids every month throughout a 7-year follow-up of the cohort. In total, 46.7% of the cases used opioids for more than 12 months. The most commonly used opioids were codeine (76.3%) and tramadol (71.1%). All patients received conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), 85.6% received systemic corticosteroids, 73.9% received nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and 15.9% received biological DMARDs. A high proportion of opioid use was shown for pain management in patients with RA, in many cases for more than 12 months, in whom the efficacy and especially safety, related to the risk of dependence, should be monitored.
Transient Analysis and Safety Assessment of Turbofan Engine Structures during Bird Ingestion
Authors: Luo Gang , Ma Chi , Chen Wei , Liu Lulu , Zhao Zhenhua
Published: July 2020

The high bypass ratio turbofan engine’s load-carrying structure transient response during bird ingestion was analyzed in accordance with the engine bird ingestion certification regulations, the principles of structural safety assessment were represented, and the structural safety analysis and assessment method of Turbo-Fan engine during bird ingestion were proposed. A high bypass ratio turbofan engine’s FEM was established and verified the rationality when its’ operation. Large bird ingestion into an engine’s procedure was conducted, the dynamic responses of key components on engine’s load-carrying structures during the bird ingestion were discussed, and the safety assessment consequence was obtained. We draw a conclusion that the relevant analysis/simulation data could be submitted to engine certification administration as key documents, the structural safety analysis and assessment method of turbofan engine due to bird ingestion could be applied as analysis and prediction work in the engine bird ingestion certification.
Identification of Potential Key Genes and Pathways in Enzalutamide‐Resistant Prostate Cancer Cell Lines: A Bioinformatics Analysis with Data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) Database
Authors: Zheng Long , Dou Xiaojie , Ma Xiaodong , Qu Wei , Tang Xiaoshuang
Published: July 2020

Enzalutamide (ENZ) has been approved for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer (PCa), but some patients develop ENZ resistance initially or after long‐term administration. Although a few key genes have been discovered by previous efforts, the complete mechanisms of ENZ resistance remain unsolved. To further identify more potential key genes and pathways in the development of ENZ resistance, we employed the GSE104935 dataset, including 5 ENZ‐resistant (ENZ‐R) and 5 ENZ‐sensitive (ENZ‐S) PCa cell lines, from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Integrated bioinformatics analyses were conducted, such as analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis, protein‐protein interaction (PPI) analysis, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), and survival analysis. From these, we identified 201 DEGs (93 upregulated and 108 downregulated) and 12 hub genes (AR, ACKR3, GPER1, CCR7, NMU, NDRG1, FKBP5, NKX3‐1, GAL, LPAR3, F2RL1, and PTGFR) that are potentially associated with ENZ resistance. One upregulated pathway (hedgehog pathway) and seven downregulated pathways (pathways related to androgen response, p53, estrogen response, TNF‐α, TGF‐β, complement, and pancreas β cells) were identified as potential key pathways involved in the occurrence of ENZ resistance. Our findings may contribute to further understanding the molecular mechanisms of ENZ resistance and provide some clues for the prevention and treatment of ENZ resistance.
Does the Level of Confidence Exhibited by Dental Students Predict the Outcome of Complete Denture Therapy?
Authors: Thilakumara Indika P. , Prathibhani Kaumudi U. , Rasnayaka Sumudu G. K. , Abeysundara Sachith P. , Jayasinghe Rasika M.
Published: July 2020

Purpose/Objectives.<?tex id="Q1" staff-cmt="“It is very important for the corresponding author to have a linked ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID) account on MTS. To register a linked ORCID account, please go to the Account Update page (http://mts.hindawi.com/update/) in our Manuscript Tracking System and after you have logged in click on the ORCID link at the top of the page. This link will take you to the ORCID website where you will be able to create an account for yourself. Once you have done so, your new ORCID will be saved in our Manuscript Tracking System automatically.”"?> Development of self-confidence is as important as competency in technical and clinical skills of a dental student. This study assessed the association of the level of confidence in dental students with the level of satisfaction of patients and the clinical outcome in the management of complete denture patients. Materials and Methods. Fifty-seven final-year dental students in the year 2019 and the first edentulous patient managed by them were recruited for the study. A fourteen-item questionnaire was given to the students to assess their level of confidence just before commencement of the treatment. Questionnaire for the patients was used to assess their satisfaction both with the operator and the dentures. Clinical outcome of dentures was assessed using ten criteria. Results. The average confidence level of the students was found to be 2.17 in a 4-point scale. A two-sample test indicated that there is a significant difference in the overall level of confidence between female and male students (p value = 0.004). Moreover, a nonparametric correlation analysis revealed that there is no significant correlation between the overall level of confidence of each student and patient satisfaction regarding student performance, level of satisfaction of patients regarding dentures, and the quality of dentures as assessed by the clinicians (p value = 0.545, 0.877, and 0.801, respectively). Conclusions. Students’ level of confidence in carrying out complete denture procedures is satisfactory. Male students exhibited a better overall level of confidence than female students. However, the level of confidence exhibited by the dental students does not predict patient satisfaction or clinical outcome.
Oncoplastic Surgery in Breast-Conserving Treatment: Patient Profile and Impact on Quality of Life
Authors: de Oliveira-Junior Idam , da Silva Igor de Araujo , da Silva Fabíola Cristina Brandini , da Silva Jonathas José , Sarri Almir José , Paiva Carlos Eduardo , Vieira René Aloisio da Costa
Published: July 2020

Background: Breast-conserving treatment (BCT) provides better quality of life (QL) than mastectomy without reconstruction. Oncoplastic surgery (OS) encompasses a series of surgical techniques, increasing the indications for BCT, but few studies have evaluated the impact on QL in patients who undergo BCT with OS. Materials and Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted in women who underwent BCT. We evaluated the characteristics of patients who underwent BCT with and without OS and the associated QL. QL was assessed through the EORTC QLQ-30, EORTC QLQ-BR23, and Breast Cancer Treatment Outcome Scale (BCTOS) questionnaires. Results: A total of 300 patients underwent BCT, 72 underwent breast OS, and 37 underwent bilateral surgery. Patients who underwent OS were younger (p = 0.004), had a higher level of education (p = 0.01), had a smaller time interval since the end of treatment (p = 0.02), had tumours with greater dimensions (p = 0.003), and were more likely to receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy (p = 0.05). Based on the QL questionnaires, no difference was observed between the groups. Breast symmetry was not associated with high patient satisfaction (p = 0.55). Conclusion: Despite the fact that OS was performed in patients with worse tumour conditions and in more demanding patients, OS allowed similar cosmetic results to classical BCT.
Evaluation of a Phone Call Reminder Strategy in the Surveillance of Patients with Gastric Precancerous Lesions Lost to Follow-Up
Authors: Chapelle Nicolas , Jirka Iva , Péron Matthieu , Quénéhervé Lucille , Cauchin Estelle , Touchefeu Yann , Coron Emmanuel , Mosnier Jean-François , Matysiak-Budnik Tamara
Published: July 2020

Background: Surveillance of gastric precancerous lesions (GPL) may reduce gastric cancer (GC)-related mortality, but some patients with GPL are lost to follow-up. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a “phone-call” strategy in surveillance of the lost to follow-up patients. Patients and Methods: Among all the patients diagnosed with GPL (atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, low-grade dysplasia) between 2000 and 2015, we identified those who should undergo surveillance endoscopy according to the current guidelines. They were contacted by telephone and invited to undergo endoscopy with gastric biopsies for histological analysis. Results: Among 535 patients with GPL, 134 were contacted. Sixty-two (46%) could not be joined, 36 did not have endoscopy for other reasons, and finally, 36 patients (22 males, median age 65 years) were included. After the median time interval of 57 months between 2 endoscopies, 18 patients showed stability, 11 regression, and 7 progression of GPL, including 1 patient who developed GC. Conclusion: Despite several telephone calls, only one-third of the contacted patients could be brought to surveillance endoscopy. Most of the patients showed stability of GPL, but 1 progressed to GC and could be successfully treated.
Time for Change? The Why, What and How of Promoting Innovation to Tackle Rare Diseases – Is It Time to Update the EU’s Orphan Regulation? And if so, What Should be Changed?
Authors: Horgan Denis , Moss Barbara , Boccia Stefania , Genuardi Maurizio , Gajewski Maciej , Capurso Gabriele , Fenaux Pierre , Gulbis Beatrice , Pellegrini Mariangela , Mañú Pereira Maria del Mar , Gutiérrez Valle Victoria , Gutiérrez Ibarluzea Iñaki  , Kent Alastair , Cattaneo Ivana , Jagielska Beata , Belina Ivica , Tumiene Birute , Ward Adrian , Papaluca Marisa
Published: July 2020

Since developments are global in the healthcare arena, more should be done to align EU and other big markets’ regulatory practices for rare disease patients. Notwithstanding efforts and cooperation between the US and EU aimed to harmonize their strategic plans in the field of orphan drugs, regulatory criteria and procedures to gain the designation, terms and classifications should be still harmonised. Aligning the criteria of prevalence and support to orphan medicines in the various jurisdictions internationally, would facilitate patient recruitment eventually at global level, so as to gain the data and the biological insights required to identify biomarkers and appropriate endpoints needed for progressing clinical development. A conducive regulatory environment can further support the development of medicines to treat rare diseases. Overall there is a need for joined-up regulatory process coordination. Better integration of regulatory pathways and better integration of regulatory systems, such as scientific tools and methods to generate evidence, would be helpful. There is a need to revise and agree the current frameworks to be improved which will take into account the considerations and challenges to diagnose and treat different rare diseases and improve quality of life. Deliberative processes with multi-stakeholders’ involvement for reimbursement should be considered. This paper explores the successes and limitation of both the regulation and its implementation mechanisms in the current regulatory context, and suggests some improvements that could maximise its benefits and boost rare disease research even further.
Cardiac Ischemic Preconditioning Promotes MG53 Secretion Through H
2
O
2
-Activated Protein Kinase C-δ Signaling
Authors: Shan Dan , Guo Sile , Wu Hong-Kun , Lv Fengxiang , Jin Li , Zhang Mao , Xie Peng , Wang Yimei , Song Ying , Wu Fujian , Lan Feng , Hu Xinli , Cao Chun-Mei , Zhang Yan , Xiao Rui-Ping
Published: July 2020

Background:

Ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) is the most powerful intrinsic protection against cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury. Previous studies have shown that a multifunctional TRIM family protein, MG53 (mitsugumin 53; also called TRIM72), not only plays an essential role in IPC-mediated cardioprotection against ischemia/reperfusion injury but also ameliorates mechanical damage. In addition to its intracellular actions, as a myokine/cardiokine, MG53 can be secreted from the heart and skeletal muscle in response to metabolic stress. However, it is unknown whether IPC-mediated cardioprotection is causally related to MG53 secretion and, if so, what the underlying mechanism is.

Methods:

Using proteomic analysis in conjunction with genetic and pharmacological approaches, we examined MG53 secretion in response to IPC and explored the underlying mechanism using rodents in in vivo, isolated perfused hearts, and cultured neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes. Moreover, using recombinant MG53 proteins, we investigated the potential biological function of secreted MG53 in the context of IPC and ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Results:

We found that IPC triggered robust MG53 secretion in rodents in vivo, perfused hearts, and cultured cardiac myocytes without causing cell membrane leakage. Mechanistically, IPC promoted MG53 secretion through H
2
O
2
-evoked activation of protein kinase-C-δ. Specifically, IPC-induced myocardial MG53 secretion was mediated by H
2
O
2
-triggered phosphorylation of protein kinase-C-δ at Y311, which is necessary and sufficient to facilitate MG53 secretion. Functionally, systemic delivery of recombinant MG53 proteins to mimic elevated circulating MG53 not only restored IPC function in MG53-deficient mice but also protected rodent hearts from ischemia/reperfusion injury even in the absence of IPC. Moreover, oxidative stress by H
2
O
2
augmented MG53 secretion, and MG53 knockdown exacerbated H
2
O
2
-induced cell injury in human embryonic stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes, despite relatively low basal expression of MG53 in human heart.

Conclusions:

We conclude that IPC and oxidative stress can trigger MG53 secretion from the heart via an H
2
O
2
–protein kinase-C-δ–dependent mechanism and that extracellular MG53 can participate in IPC protection against cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury.
‘A Retrograde Tendency’: The Expropriation of German Property in the Versailles Treaty
Authors: Mulder Nicholas
Published: July 2020

This article explores how the Versailles Treaty was shaped by the effects of economic warfare 1914–1919. The First World War was in part an Allied economic war waged against the Central Powers in conditions of advanced economic and financial globalization. This was reflected in the treaty’s expropriation mechanisms, which were used to take control of German property, rights, and interests around the world. Whereas Articles 297 and 298 of the treaty legalized wartime seizures, the Reparations Section of the treaty also contained a provision, paragraph 18, that gave the Allies far-reaching confiscatory powers in the future. The article places these mechanisms in a wider political, legal and economic context, and traces how they became a bone of contention among the former belligerents in the interwar period.
Laundering the Profits of Ransomware
Authors: Custers Bart , Oerlemans Jan-Jaap , Pool Ronald
Published: July 2020

Ransomware is malicious software (malware) that blocks access to someone’s computer system or files on the system and subsequently demands a ransom to be paid for unlocking the computer or files. Ransomware is considered one of the main threats in cybercrime today. Cryptoware is a specific type of ransomware, which encrypts files on computer systems. The ransom is often demanded in bitcoins. Based on desk research, a series of interviews, and the investigation of several police files, this paper investigates the modi operandi in which cybercriminals use ransomware and cryptoware to make profits and how they launder these profits. Two models, based on the payment of the ransom via vouchers and via bitcoins respectively, are identified and described. These methods allow criminals to launder profits in relative anonymity and prevent the seizure of the illegally obtained money.
“A Worthless Reptile”
Authors: Quigley Gabriel
Published: July 2020

During the 1960s and 70s, direct invocations of Beckett’s texts began to appear in works by writers belonging to a Turkish literary movement called bunalim edebiyati, or Literature of Despair. These writers were critical of the Turkish republic; their productions also coincided with the formation of social movements that sought to address the sociocultural effects of the Turkish language reforms. This paper argues that Beckett’s method and thematic engagement with self-translation informed how Turkish writers negotiated language reforms in their own writing. Writers examined include Adalet Ağaoğlu and Ferhan Şensoy as well as Beckett productions by Barbara Hutt.
Fishing for Oil: Natural-Resource Management between the United States and Maritime East Asia in the 1970s
Authors: Chen Kuan-Jen
Published: July 2020

The possibility of oil reserves under the seabed of the East China Sea created competition between Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan to claim ownership of these natural resources. The dispute marked the start of international cooperation in maritime East Asia and introduced the United States into this power game due to its exploration techniques and financial power. While Taibei, Tokyo, and Seoul put sovereignty-related disputes aside in an attempt to explore resources jointly, the change in international politics in East Asia and Washington’s perception of the western Pacific rim led to the failure of cooperation. This article argues that this international power game over natural resources management epitomized the dynamic politics between the United States and its East Asian allies. The roles of sovereignty, local interests, and U.S. international security created a dynamic scenario revealing how oil reserves were never the issue, but instead the embodiment of the actual concerns of these players behind their diplomatic language. Situating the 1970s oil exploration in the context of the Cold War, this article provides a historical lens to understand the contours of the shifting geopolitical structure in maritime East Asia.
The Secondary Gains of Neoliberal Pain: The Limits of Consolation as a Response to Academic Anguish
Authors: Kurowska Xymena
Published: July 2020

The contemporary global academic is an exemplary neoliberal subject. This condition is, of course, not unreflected upon, even if those communities of scholars dubbed ‘critical’ and ‘problem-solving’ might address it in different ways. The critical crowd is, however, caught in a particular predicament: We enact and embody neoliberal discourse in our daily practice, all the while raging about the psychosocial harm it inflicts. Indeed, though working within an industry ever more industrialised in conformity with the violent economic technologies of precarity, competition, quantification, standardisation, and individualism, considerable professional rewards remain on offer for those who master ‘the game.’ We become academic subjects in and by ‘making deals’ at the juncture of productive and coercive power—that is, by reproducing hierarchies. The discourse of personal triumph against neoliberal adversity—performed, if in different ways, by critical and mainstream scholars alike—is part and parcel of becoming a good player, of generating affective and socio-economic payoffs, and, ultimately, of re-entrenching the neoliberal condition. This essay does not argue for a second-order responsibilisation of this already tormented subject—to radicalise not-yet-brutal-enough self-appraisals. Rather, it is concerned with a certain disavowal of responsibility which derives from the implication in our own and each other’s suffering, as formulated in Lynne Layton’s work. Instead of offering consolation in response to the neoliberal suffering, and thus deepen the collusion, I suggest a re-thinking of responsibility in response to the concreteness of the neoliberal pain. Expressed and theorised from within the lived experienced of academic anguish, this is as much an autobiographical as a sociological tale.
First record of a highly melanic morph of Cyphostethus tristriatus (Fabricius, 1787) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Acanthosomatidae)
Authors: TASZAKOWSKI ARTUR , KLEJDYSZ TOMASZ , GIERLASIŃSKI GRZEGORZ
Published: July 2020

The term ‘melanism’ means the occurrence of variant(s) that is/are mostly or completely dark in pigmentation either as intraspecific polymorphisms or as fixed differences between closely related species. Melanism can refer to variation involving discrete melanic and non-melanic phenotypes (melanic and typical morphs) or to cases of continuously varying pigmentation (True 2003). Melanism of moths inhabiting areas with industrial pollution is a very well-known example involving melanic polymorphisms in insects. However, melanism is also known in other insect orders, e.g. Coleoptera and Diptera (Majerus 1998, True 2003).
2. The State of Research
Authors: Bakka Egil
Published: July 2020

The second introductory chapter takes a look at the current state of research on round dances, focusing on the knowledge available, rather than the methodology of study. It discusses several principal works and sources, including manuals written by dancing masters, fictional accounts, studies on the relationship between music and dance, and works concerned with medical and moral issues relating to round dances. The chapter also gives a summary on the current understanding of the historical and social significance of the dances.
5. The Polka as a Czech National Symbol
Authors: Stavělová Daniela
Published: July 2020

This essay explores how the Polka was established as a Czech national symbol during the middle of the nineteenth century. It traces the dance from its appearance in Czech national circles to the peak of its popularity in Paris, and offers insight into the Polka’s transformation as it became a national symbol during the second half of the century. It argues that the myth of the Polka as a national dance was a product of the collective endeavour of Czech patriots and artists. Although it eventually became a constant value of Czech national culture itself, the essay discusses the Polka as a fusion of different social, cultural, artistic and ideological-political perspectives.
8. The Waltz among Slovenians
Authors: Kunej Rebeka
Published: July 2020

This chapter examines round dances in Slovenia, focusing on the Waltz as a folk dance. It follows the Waltz from its first appearance in Slovenian sources in the early nineteenth century until the early twenty-first century, while also providing a brief glance at its current form and popularity. The chapter serves as an overview of how one dance type finds its place among other dances, and how it is affected by changing influences.
9. Dancing and Politics in Croatia
Authors: Katarinčić Ivana , Niemčić Iva
Published: July 2020

This chapter traces the arrival of the Waltz in the Croatian ballrooms and compares it with the appearance of the Salonsko Kolo, a dance performed by couples in large and complex formations reminiscent of the Polonaise, the Mazurka or contra dances. It explores the political role of both dances as they represent the tension between national loyalties and the allure of fashionable dances imported from abroad. The chapter follows the Waltz and Salonsko Kolo from their arrival, to their spread and coexistence with other dances at balls, while also examining the survival of these dances until the beginning of the twentieth century.
14. Nostalgia as a Perspective on Past Dance Culture in Finland
Authors: Saarikoski Helena
Published: July 2020

This chapter bases its study on an archive of manuscripts collected by the National Museum of Finland, featuring the recollections of elderly people about their dancing habits earlier in life. It explores the organic beginnings of pavilion dances and the way rural working-class people adopted and arranged these as an expression of a new, autonomous youth culture, a new romantic idea of marriage, and a new kind of leisure culture, or popular culture. Besides nostalgia, which can be considered the dominant discourse defining much of the research subject under ethnological inquiry, the study also reveals an alternative and complementary discourse of cultural heritage.
Embedded upper end of double J stent at the site of renal pelvis injury following percutaneous nephrolithotomy: a rare complication
Authors: Hammad Fayez T.
Published: July 2020

Background

Injury of the renal collecting system is a well-known complication of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL). Large injuries may cause excessive bleeding and fluid extravasation and require adequate drainage using several modalities such placement of JJ stents. Herein, we report on two cases in which the upper coil of the JJ stent got buried in the fibrous tissues which formed due to an injury of the collecting system during PNL.

Case presentation

40 years old male and 32 years old female underwent standard PNL for partial and total staghorn calculi, respectively. During the procedure in both cases, the renal pelvis was injured. In both cases, JJ stent was used to drain the collecting system. Trial to remove the JJ stent 6 weeks following the procedure failed because the upper coils of the stents were embedded in the fibrous tissues at the perforation site. Laser incision of the fibrous tissues and releasing the upper coil of the stents were performed using percutaneous approach in the first case and flexible ureterorenoscopy (fURS) in the second patient. The procedures were uneventful in both cases.

Conclusion

This is the first report of embedded JJ stents which got buried by fibrous tissues at the site of collecting system injury that occurred during PNL. To prevent this complication in such cases, we suggest draining the collecting system using nephrostomy tube instead of JJ stent. Alternatively, the upper coil of the stent should be placed away from the injury site.
Aortic valve replacement with annular patch enlargement for a patient with Werner’s syndrome and severe aortic stenosis
Authors: Handa Kazuma , Fukui Shinya , Shirakawa Yukitoshi , Sakamoto Tomohiko , Kitahara Mutsunori , Kakizawa Yumi , Nishi Hiroyuki
Published: July 2020

Background

Werner’s syndrome is an autosomal recessive rare genetic disorder characterized by clinical features suggestive of accelerated aging caused by mutation of the WRN gene. Although some reports exist of aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis in patients with Werner’s syndrome, case using annular patch enlargement for a small aortic annulus are rare. We report herein the rare case of a patient with Werner’s syndrome and severe aortic stenosis treated by aortic valve replacement with annular patch enlargement.

Case presentation

A 55-year-old woman genetically diagnosed with Werner’s syndrome suffered from symptomatic severe aortic stenosis with small annulus. Elective aortic valve replacement was performed. Intraoperatively the aortic annulus measured < 16 mm in diameter. Nicks technique for aortic root enlargement using a Hemashield patch was performed and an 18-mm mechanical valve was successfully inserted. After being discharged home her postoperative course was satisfactory for 2 years.

Conclusions

Aortic valve replacement with annular patch enlargement to treat a small aortic annulus in a patient with Werner’s syndrome was successful. Treatment strategy must be determined while considering of the patient’s age, physical status, and severity of complications.
Very long chain fatty acids are an important marker of nutritional status in patients with anorexia nervosa: a case control study
Authors: Shimizu Miki , Kawai Keisuke , Yamashita Makoto , Shoji Masayasu , Takakura Shu , Hata Tomokazu , Nakashima Megumi , Tatsushima Keita , Tanaka Kazunari , Sudo Nobuyuki
Published: July 2020

Background

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a disease resulting in extreme weight loss. It is caused by multiple factors, including psychosocial, environmental, and genetic factors. A genetic abnormality affecting lipid metabolism has been recently reported in patients with AN. However, it is unknown whether lipid metabolism abnormalities in AN are caused by eating behavior, undernutrition, and/or genetic factors. The meaning of lipid metabolism in AN remains unclear. In particular, differences in the profiles of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) in patients with various types of AN have not been studied. This study aimed to determine changes to the fatty acid profile over a 3-month period, specifically that of long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) and VLCFAs in patients with various types of AN.

Methods

We evaluated 69 female patients with AN, subclassified as AN-restricting type (AN-R) and AN-Binge-Eating/Purging type (AN-BP). On admission and after 3 months of treatment, height, weight, body mass index, plasma and serum parameters, and plasma fatty acid concentrations were measured in all patients. The control group included 25 healthy, age-matched women. Comparisons between the groups were made using one-way ANOVA, while those between the various parameters at admission and after 3 months within each group were made using the Wilcoxon signed rank test.

Results

On admission, the AN-R and the AN-BP groups had significantly higher levels of 18-24C and > 14C fatty acids (LCFAs and VLCFAs, respectively) than the control group. After 3 months of treatment, both groups showed high levels of 14-24C fatty acids. The levels of VLCFAs (C22:0 and C24:0) and LCFA (C18:3) after 3 months of treatment remained high in both AN groups relative to the control group.

Conclusions

Eating behaviors appear to be associated with levels of LCFAs. Lipid metabolism abnormalities under conditions of starvation in AN might have a genetic basis and appear to be associated with VLCFA (C22:0 and C24:0) and LCFA (C18:3) levels.
Adipose stem cells from type 2 diabetic mice exhibit therapeutic potential in wound healing
Authors: Sun Yongfa , Song Lili , Zhang Yong , Wang Hongjun , Dong Xiao
Published: July 2020

Background

Diabetic patients suffer from impaired wound healing. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy represents a promising approach toward improving skin wound healing through the release of soluble growth factors and cytokines that stimulate new vessel formation and modulate inflammation. Whether adipose tissue-derived MSCs (ASCs) from type 2 diabetes (T2D) donors are suitable for skin damage repair remains largely unknown.

Methods

In this study, we compared the phenotype and functionality of ASCs harvested from high-fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced T2D or control mice, and assessed their abilities to promote wound healing in an excisional wound splinting mouse model with T2D.

Results

T2D ASCs expressed similar cellular markers as control ASCs but secreted less hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β). T2D ASCs were somewhat less effective in promoting healing of the wound, as manifested by slightly reduced re-epithelialization, cutaneous appendage regeneration, and collagen III deposition in wound tissues. In vitro, T2D ASCs promoted proliferation and migration of skin fibroblasts to a comparable extent as control ASCs via suppression of inflammation and macrophage infiltration.

Conclusions

From these findings, we conclude that, although ASCs from T2D mice are marginally inferior to control ASCs, they possess comparable therapeutic effects in wound healing.
Review of “Pastures of Change: Contemporary adaptations and transformations among nomadic pastoralists of Eastern Tibet” by Gillian G. Tan
Authors: Woodhouse Emily
Published: July 2020

Book details

Tan, G.G.

Pastures of Change: Contemporary Adaptations and Transformations among Nomadic Pastoralists of Eastern Tibet

Cham: Springer; 2018.

200 pages

978-3-319-76552-5
Research on music creation and audition based on wireless environment
Authors: Wang Lingzi , Pan Mingxia
Published: July 2020

Traditional computer music creation is carried out through computer simulation of fixed conversion of syllables. However, there are phenomena of syllables and pitch distortions in music creation that changes rapidly in rhythm. In response to this problem, a method of music creation and sound test based on genetic algorithm and wireless network is proposed. First, the genetic algorithm is introduced to construct a general mathematical module for music creation, and genetic operators for encoding string length and group size are assigned to establish a similarity measure for computer music creation. Then, the mean cluster analysis of music creation realizes the creation of computer music. Finally, based on the wireless network technology, the sound test effect analysis of music creation was carried out. Experimental results show that the proposed method of music creation and sound test is superior to the traditional method, the accuracy of syllables is increased by 25.97%, and the accuracy of tones is increased by 34.12%. This technology can realize high-pitched music creation and audition research.
Rare but Fatal Subdural Hematoma Following Spinal Anesthesia: A Case Report of Unrecognized Untreated Postdural Puncture Headache in a Low-Resource Country Setting
Authors: Ngebe Eric K. , Uwamahoro Edouard , Irakoze Magnifique , Ruzindana Kenneth , Olufolabi Adeyemi J.
Published: July 2020

Dural puncture following neuraxial anesthesia can cause persistent cerebrospinal fluid leakage. A 35-year-old, 39-week gestation healthy parturient underwent cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia. Spinal anesthesia was performed using a 25-gauge Quincke needle. Despite the occurrence of postoperative positional headache and neck pain, she was discharged home. Two weeks following discharge, she developed seizures and deteriorating level of consciousness. Brain computerized tomography scan revealed massive left subdural hematoma. She died 3 days later. We discuss awareness of neuraxial complication among maternity staff, effective follow-up, and available management strategy in low-resource settings. Persistent headache following neuraxial anesthesia should be investigated.
Ultrasound-Guided Selective Trunk Block to Produce Surgical Anesthesia of the Whole Upper Extremity: A Case Report
Authors: Karmakar Manoj Kumar , Areeruk Pornpatra , Mok Louis Y. H. , Sivakumar Ranjith Kumar
Published: July 2020

None of the classical brachial plexus block techniques can reliably produce surgical anesthesia of the whole upper extremity that is from shoulder to hand. We describe ultrasound-guided “selective trunk block” (SeTB) that was successfully used to produce surgical anesthesia of the whole ipsilateral upper extremity in a patient undergoing intramedullary nailing of the humerus for a pathological fracture. The 3 trunks of the brachial plexus were individually identified and selectively blocked with 2 separate injections. We conclude that SeTB is a viable option when surgical anesthesia of the whole upper extremity, except for the intercostobrachial nerve (T2) territory, is being considered.
Impact of Structured Patient-Centered Preoperative Pain Consult and Interventions From a Dedicated Perioperative Pain Service: A Case Series of 4 Patients
Authors: Rim Faye , Donofrio Justin , Peterson Christine , Liu Spencer
Published: July 2020

Opioid-tolerant individuals have greater risk of perioperative complications and worse clinical outcomes. A preoperative screening process and structured approach to opioid-tolerant patients was developed to identify and optimize these patients before elective surgery.
The Sebald Case
Authors: Fresán Rodrigo
Published: July 2020

In this essay, the author offers a candid discussion of Sebald’s legacy and the flurry of criticism aimed at securing his place in the literary canon. It engages many of Sebald’s signature themes: memory, amnesia, silence, history, and trauma. The author acknowledges Sebald’s masterful blend of language, photography, and archival material, resulting in a uniquely hybrid narrative form falling somewhere between essay and fiction. The essay is critical of Sebald’s most dedicated admirers—not because of any perceived paucity in Sebald’s work, but rather the shortsightedness of the critical machine that is desperately trying to fossilize Sebald as the end point of modern literature.
TheLex Mercatoria Maritima
Authors: Khalilieh Hassan S.
Published: July 2020

This essay demonstrates how maritime qirad, as conducted in the Muslim world prior to the emergence of the Italian communes, influenced the lex mercatoria maritima. It contends that the medieval Latin accomendatio (commenda) likely owes its inception to the qirad/mudaraba institution, already prevalent in pre-Islamic Arabia, contrary to the commonly believed theory that it is rooted to the Byzantine chreokoinonia, comprised by article III:17 of the Nomos Rhodion Nautikos. On the eve of the European Commercial Revolution, through trade between the Christian north and the Islamic south, qirad practices and techniques were further developed from the pre-Islamic period and incorporated into Islamic legal digests, as well as transformed by non-Muslim merchants' guilds and societies. Legal principles and practices governing maritime qirad appear to have been uniform and universally accepted by jurists across the Islamic Mediterranean and beyond, as evinced by the early tenth-century CE treatise Kitab Akriyat al-Sufun, as well as earlier jurisprudential queries.
How to engage communities on a large scale? Lessons from World Mosquito Program in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Authors: Costa Guilherme B. , Smithyman Ruth , O'Neill Scott L. , Moreira Luciano A.
Published: July 2020

One of the pillars of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Vector Control Response 2017–2030 strategy is the engagement of communities. Among the priority activities, defined by 2022 by the WHO, is the development of plans for the effective engagement and mobilisation of communities in vector control. Novel technologies for arboviruses control are being developed, such as theWolbachiamethod, implemented by the World Mosquito Program (WMP). Here we discuss and analyse the framework for community engagement implemented by the WMP in Brazil, during the large-scale deployment of the method in the municipalities of Niterói and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Our experience indicates that the community engagement work for arboviruses control should be understood as an opportunity for local development. It is necessary, based on an integrated analysis of the territory, to understand that the actions for arboviruses control could be a catalyst for the necessary socioenvironmental, cultural and public health changes. Furthermore, it is essential to understand that community engagement goes beyond informing or asking for population consent, but it constitutes a possibility for dialogue and exchange between the various stakeholders present in the territories, to build on cooperation for mosquito-borne disease control.
Labor Productivity Elasticity by Production Factors in the Central Federal District of Russia
Authors: Basovskaya Elena , Basovskiy Leonid
Published: July 2020

To identify the determinants of labor productivity, correlation between labor productivity and various indicators were evaluated, reflecting the influence of a wide range of socio-economic and innovative factors in the regions of Russia for 2015-2018. It has been established that many indicators characterizing socio-economic and innovative factors do not have a significant relationship with labor productivity and are multicollenarity (they have correlation relationships among themselves). For each year, according to statistics from the regions of the Central Federal District of Russia, econometric models constructed in the form of a well-known standard internal linear function - an analogue of the Cobb-Douglas production function. The obtained models testify to a positive impact on the labor productivity of the capital-labor ratio, the level of export, the level of income distribution inequality, the number of workers engaged in research and development, which indicates the contribution of science to the spread of new technological structures in the economy. A significant positive effect on labor productivity of income inequality testifies to the action in the country of economic mechanisms operating in developed countries.
Ensuring the Economic Security of Territories in the Context of Assessing the Market Potential for the Development of Entrepreneurial Segments of the Green Economy
Authors: Belyaevskaya-Plotnik L.
Published: July 2020

The article proposes a methodological approach to assessing and ensuring the economic security of the federal districts of the Russian Federation by stimulating the growth of market potential for the development of entrepreneurial segments of the green economy. The aim of the work is to substantiate the place and role of instruments of the "green" economy in ensuring the economic security of territories. The original system of indicators for assessing the market potential for the development of entrepreneurial segments of the green economy has been substantiated. Based on the method of integral analysis, the values of the integral indicators of the development potential of entrepreneurial segments of the green economy and economic security of each federal district of the Russian Federation were obtained, the rating of districts was compiled, and a comparative analysis of the assessment of their positions in the corresponding matrix space was performed. In conclusion, it was noted that the proposed methodological approach to assessing and ensuring the economic security of federal districts by stimulating the growth of market potential for the development of entrepreneurial segments of the green economy allows us to identify stimulating and disincentive factors for the sustainable development of territories to develop targeted measures to support the green economy, taking into account the existing regional differentiation. The recommendations presented in this work can be used in developing directions for stimulating the development of a green economy in order to ensure the economic security of territories.
American Franchising Evolution: Modern Development of Business-Dream
Authors: Berdina Marina , Berdin Aleksandr
Published: July 2020

This article is devoted to the analysis of the current development in the franchising industry in the USA, as the main "model" government, where the franchising business has received its most striking development. The structure of the US franchised business by eight major sectors as of 2019-2020 is presented. Based on expert data and statistical information provided by specialized American franchising organizations, a detailed analysis of each sector of the franchised business in the American economy has been carried out. Each sector is assigned its own rating, development trends are given both for the segment as a whole and for the level of employment, productivity and estimated development forecasts.