bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance of Four Frailty Classifications in Older Patients With Cancer: Prospective Elderly Cancer Patients Cohort Study
Authors: Ferrat Emilie , Paillaud Elena , Caillet Philippe , Laurent Marie , Tournigand Christophe , Lagrange Jean-Léon , Droz Jean-Pierre , Balducci Lodovico , Audureau Etienne , Canouï-Poitrine Florence , Bastuji-Garin Sylvie
Published: February 2017

Purpose

Frailty classifications of older patients with cancer have been developed to assist physicians in selecting cancer treatments and geriatric interventions. They have not been compared, and their performance in predicting outcomes has not been assessed. Our objectives were to assess agreement among four classifications and to compare their predictive performance in a large cohort of in- and outpatients with various cancers.

Patients and Methods

We prospectively included 1,021 patients age 70 years or older who had solid or hematologic malignancies and underwent a geriatric assessment in one of two French teaching hospitals between 2007 and 2012. Among them, 763 were assessed using four classifications: Balducci, International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) 1, SIOG2, and a latent class typology. Agreement was assessed using the κ statistic. Outcomes were 1-year mortality and 6-month unscheduled admissions.

Results

All four classifications had good discrimination for 1-year mortality (C-index ≥ 0.70); discrimination was best with SIOG1. For 6-month unscheduled admissions, discrimination was good with all four classifications (C-index ≥ 0.70). For classification into three (fit, vulnerable, or frail) or two categories (fit v vulnerable or frail and fit or vulnerable v frail), agreement among the four classifications ranged from very poor (κ ≤ 0.20) to good (0.60 < κ ≤ 0.80). Agreement was best between SIOG1 and the latent class typology and between SIOG1 and Balducci.

Conclusion

These four frailty classifications have good prognostic performance among older in- and outpatients with various cancers. They may prove useful in decision making about cancer treatments and geriatric interventions and/or in stratifying older patients with cancer in clinical trials.
Pulmonary Infiltrates in a Patient With Advanced Melanoma
Authors: Powell Charles A.
Published: February 2017

The Oncology Grand Rounds series is designed to place original reports published in the Journal into clinical context. A case presentation is followed by a description of diagnostic and management challenges, a review of the relevant literature, and a summary of the authors’ suggested management approaches. The goal of this series is to help readers better understand how to apply the results of key studies, including those published in Journal of Clinical Oncology, to patients seen in their own clinical practice.

A 60-year-old former smoker with metastatic melanoma presented with the chief complaint of pulmonary infiltrates. Five years ago, he was diagnosed with a left chest wall melanoma. He underwent surgery but received no additional therapy for an American Joint Committee on Cancer stage T3a N0 M0 tumor that was 2.7 mm in depth with no ulceration of the epidermal surface. Resection margins were free of tumor. Four years later, he underwent excision of a raised pigmented skin lesion on his left calf that proved to be melanoma with positive margins. He underwent re-excision of melanoma but 2 months later developed a new left hip soft tissue nodule. Positron emission tomography (PET) –computed tomography showed multiple hypermetabolic lesions involving subcutaneous tissue, muscle osseous structures, and bone marrow, consistent with advanced melanoma. He began systemic therapy with ipilimumab and nivolumab. After four cycles of immunotherapy, he developed a nonproductive cough and mild dyspnea on exertion (Modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale score of 2 [ie, he had to stop for breath when walking at his own pace on level ground]). A chest x-ray showed bilateral hilar enlargement, thickening of the right paratracheal stripe, and scattered patchy increased interstitial markings bilaterally. PET and chest computed tomography images showed enlarged mediastinal adenopathy with increased [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose uptake on PET and scattered diffuse 1- to 2-mm pulmonary nodules with ground-glass opacities ( Fig 1 ). The patient was referred for pulmonary input. The patient had smoked one pack of cigarettes per day for 35 years; he quit 6 years ago. He had no history of pneumonia, childhood asthma, or tuberculosis. His mother had asthma, but there was no other family history of asthma or other lung disease.
Clonal Hematopoiesis Associated With Adverse Outcomes After Autologous Stem-Cell Transplantation for Lymphoma
Authors: Gibson Christopher J. , Lindsley R. Coleman , Tchekmedyian Vatche , Mar Brenton G. , Shi Jiantao , Jaiswal Siddhartha , Bosworth Alysia , Francisco Liton , He Jianbo , Bansal Anita , Morgan Elizabeth A. , Lacasce Ann S. , Freedman Arnold S. , Fisher David C. , Jacobsen Eric , Armand Philippe , Alyea Edwin P. , Koreth John , Ho Vincent , Soiffer Robert J. , Antin Joseph H. , Ritz Jerome , Nikiforow Sarah , Forman Stephen J. , Michor Franziska , Neuberg Donna , Bhatia Ravi , Bhatia Smita , Ebert Benjamin L.
Published: February 2017

Purpose

Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is an age-related condition characterized by somatic mutations in the blood of otherwise healthy adults. We hypothesized that in patients undergoing autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) for lymphoma, CHIP at the time of ASCT would be associated with an increased risk of myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia, collectively termed therapy-related myeloid neoplasm (TMN), and other adverse outcomes.

Methods

We performed whole-exome sequencing on pre- and post-ASCT samples from 12 patients who developed TMN after autologous transplantation for Hodgkin lymphoma or non-Hodgkin lymphoma and targeted sequencing on cryopreserved aliquots of autologous stem-cell products from 401 patients who underwent ASCT for non-Hodgkin lymphoma between 2003 and 2010. We assessed the effect of CHIP at the time of ASCT on subsequent outcomes, including TMN, cause-specific mortality, and overall survival.

Results

For six of 12 patients in the exome sequencing cohort, mutations found in the TMN specimen were also detectable in the pre-ASCT specimen. In the targeted sequencing cohort, 120 patients (29.9%) had CHIP at the time of ASCT, which was associated with an increased rate of TMN (10-year cumulative incidence, 14.1% v 4.3% for those with and without CHIP, respectively; P = .002). Patients with CHIP had significantly inferior overall survival compared with those without CHIP (10-year overall survival, 30.4% v 60.9%, respectively; P < .001), including increased risk of death from TMN and cardiovascular disease.

Conclusion

In patients undergoing ASCT for lymphoma, CHIP at the time of transplantation is associated with inferior survival and increased risk of TMN.
Pediatric Hodgkin Lymphoma Treated at Cancer Institute, Chennai, India: Long-Term Outcome
Authors: Radhakrishnan Venkatraman , Dhanushkodi Manikandan , Ganesan Trivadi S. , Ganesan Prasanth , Sundersingh Shirley , Selvaluxmy Ganesarajah , Swaminathan Rajaraman , Rama Ranganathan , Sagar Tenali Gnana
Published: February 2017

Purpose

Pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a highly curable malignancy. Outcomes for pediatric HL may vary between developed and developing countries for multiple reasons. This study was conducted to ascertain the outcomes of children with HL at our center and to identify risk factors for recurrent disease.

Methods

We analyzed the outcomes of 172 consecutive, previously untreated patients with pediatric HL presenting at our center from 2001 to 2010. Patients were treated with either adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine or adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone, and procarbazine chemotherapy initially, and radiation to bulky sites or a single site of residual disease when appropriate.

Results

The median duration of follow-up was 77 months. The median age of the patients was 10 years; 127 (74%) of the 172 patients were male. The extent of disease was stage I and II in 59% of the patients. B symptoms were present in 32% of the patients, and 27% had bulky disease. The most common histologic subtype was mixed cellularity (45%). The 5-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of the entire cohort were 92.9% and 83.1%, respectively. The 5-year OS rates for patients with stage I, II, III, and IV were 96%, 94.7%, 84%, and 69.8%, respectively. On univariate analysis, advanced stage, response on interim radiologic assessment, and presence of B symptoms significantly predicted inferior PFS and OS. On multivariate analysis, only interim radiologic response significantly predicted PFS ( P < .001) and OS ( P < .001).

Conclusion

Overall, the outcomes of patients treated at our center are comparable to those observed in other centers in India and globally.
Clinical Overestimation of HER2 Positivity in Early Estrogen and Progesterone Receptor–Positive Breast Cancer and the Value of Molecular Subtyping Using BluePrint
Authors: Myburgh Ettienne J. , Langenhoven Lizanne , Grant Kathleen A. , van der Merwe Lize , Kotze Maritha J.
Published: February 2017

Purpose

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positivity is an important prognostic and predictive indicator in breast cancer. HER2 status is determined by immunohistochemistry and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), which are potentially inaccurate techniques as a result of several technical factors, polysomy of chromosome 17, and amplification or overexpression of CEP17 (centromeric probe for chromosome 17) and/or HER2. In South Africa, HER2-positive tumors are excluded from a MammaPrint (MP; Agendia BV, Amsterdam, Netherlands) pretest algorithm. Clinical HER2 status has been reported to correlate poorly with molecular subtype. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation of clinical HER2 status with BluePrint (BP) molecular subtyping.

Methods

Clinico-pathologic and genomic information was extracted from a prospectively collected central MP database containing records of 256 estrogen receptor–positive and/or progesterone receptor–positive tumors. Twenty-one tumors considered HER2 positive on immunohistochemistry or FISH were identified for this study.

Results

The median age of patients was 56 years (range, 34 to 77 years), with a median tumor size of 16 mm (3 to 27 mm). Four (19%) tumors were confirmed HER2-enriched subtype, six (29%) were luminal A, and 11 (52%) were luminal B. The positive predictive values of HER2/CEP17 ratio ≥ 2 and HER2 copy number ≥ 6 were only 29% and 40%, respectively. The differences in means for HER2/CEP17 ratio were significant between BP HER2-enriched versus luminal ( P = .0249; 95% CI, 0.12 to 1.21) and MP high-risk versus low-risk tumors ( P = .0002; 95% CI, 0.40 to 1.06).

Conclusion

Of the 21 tumors considered clinically HER2 positive, only four were HER2-enriched subtype with BP, indicating an overestimation of HER2 positivity. FISH testing has a poor positive predictive value.
Building Specialized Nursing Practice Capacity in Bangladesh: An Educational Program to Prepare Nurses to Care for Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant Patients in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Authors: Barron Anne-Marie , Moran Jenna , Nina Shabnam Sultana , Harlow Jason , Gyawali Meena , Hossain Farhad , Brezina Mark , Callahan Caroline , Curran Judy , Danielson Colleen , Fitzgerald Ellen , Foster Judy , Erhardt Emily , Shaughnessy Christine , Yeh Albert C. , Dey Bimalangshu R.
Published: February 2017

In 2012, the Minister of Health and other leaders in the Bangladesh government approached Massachusetts General Hospital to establish the country’s first bone marrow transplant program at Dhaka Medical College Hospital to serve the needs of the people of Bangladesh. Stated goals of this collaboration included a broad focus on the care of oncology patients with a specific emphasis on care of patients with hematologic malignancies and of women with gynecologic cancers. The purpose of this article is to describe the international nursing collaboration between Massachusetts General Hospital, Simmons College, the AK Khan Healthcare Trust in Dhaka, and Dhaka Medical College Hospital that was established to share nursing knowledge and to build specialized professional nursing capacities to deliver high-quality cancer care in the public sector. Over the past 3 years, through the educational programs that have been developed within this collaboration—the Enhanced Specialized Nurse Training Program—the Bangladeshi nurses have received continuing professional development based on Western standards of nursing and have been offering nursing care to patients who have undergone chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation. The challenges, opportunities, and outcomes of this international collaboration have been highly rewarding and mutually beneficial.
Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant for Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Evolution of an Effective Strategy in India
Authors: Ganapule Abhijeet , Nemani Sandeep , Korula Anu , Lakshmi Kavitha M. , Abraham Aby , Srivastava Alok , Balasubramanian Poonkuzhali , George Biju , Mathews Vikram
Published: February 2017

Purpose

There are limited data from developing countries on the role and cost-effectiveness of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Patients and Methods

We undertook a retrospective descriptive study of all patients with AML who underwent allo-SCT from 1994 to 2013 at our center to evaluate the clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of this therapeutic modality.

Results

Two hundred fifty-four consecutive patients, median age 34 years, who underwent allo-SCT at our center were included in this study. There were 161 males (63.4%). The 5-year overall survival (OS) and event-free survival for the entire cohort was 40.1 ± 3.5% and 38.7 ± 3.4%, respectively. The 5-year OS for patients in first (CR1), second, and third complete remission and with disease/refractory AML was 53.1 ± 5.2%, 48.2 ± 8.3%, 31.2 ± 17.8%, and 16.0 ± 4.4%, respectively ( P < .001). From 2007, reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) with fludarabine and melphalan (Flu/Mel) was used in a majority of patients in CR1 (n = 67). Clinical outcomes were compared with historical conventional myeloablative conditioning regimens (n = 38). Use of Flu/Mel was associated with lower treatment-related mortality at 1 year, higher incidence of chronic graft-versus-host-disease, and comparable relapse rates. The 5-year OS and event-free survival for Flu/Mel and myeloablative conditioning group was 67.2 ± 6.6% versus 38.1 ± 8.1% ( P = .003) and 63.8 ± 6.4% versus 32.3 ± 7.9% ( P = .002), respectively. Preliminary cost analysis suggests that in our medical cost payment system, RIC allo-SCT in CR1 was likely the most cost-effective strategy in the management of AML.

Conclusion

In a resource-constrained environment, Flu/Mel RIC allo-SCT for AML CR1 is likely the most efficacious and cost-effective approach in a subset of newly diagnosed young adult patients.
Impact of Reflex EGFR/ALK Testing on Time to Treatment of Patients With Advanced Nonsquamous Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Cheema Parneet K. , Menjak Ines B. , Winterton-Perks Zoe , Raphael Simon , Cheng Susanna Y. , Verma Sunil , Muinuddin Ahmad , Freedman Ryan , Toor Nevkeet , Perera Joseph , Anaka Matthew , Victor J. Charles
Published: February 2017

Purpose:

Optimal first-line systemic therapy for patients with advanced nonsquamous (nonsq) non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) requires confirmation of EGFR/ ALK status, which can delay treatment. We evaluated the impact of reflex testing, defined as pathologists initiating EGFR/ ALK testing at the time of diagnosis of nonsq NSCLC, on time to treatment (TTT).

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective review of patients with nonsq NSCLC with medical oncology consultation at Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre between March 18, 2010 and April 30, 2014. Data were compared during routine and reflex testing. TTT was defined as the interval between the first medical oncology visit with advanced NSCLC and the initiation of systemic therapy.

Results:

A total of 306 patients were included (n = 232 for routine testing, n = 74 for reflex testing). There was a trend to improvement in median TTT with reflex testing (36 days [interquartile range {IQR}, 16 to 71 days v 26 days [IQR, 8 to 41 days], P = .071). Omitting patients with intentional delays in systemic therapy for low-volume disease, poor performance status, comorbidity management, and/or radiation therapy, median TTT improved (34 days [IQR, 15 to 67 days] v 22 days [IQR, 8 to 42 days], P = .049). Time to optimal first-line systemic therapy according to published guidelines improved (median, 36 days [IQR, 16 to 91 days] v 24 days [IQR, 8 to 43 days], P = .036). There was no impact on receipt of any first-line systemic therapy (55% v 59%, P = .66). The quality of biomarker testing improved, with fewer unsuccessful tests ( EGFR, 14% v 4%, P = .039; and ALK, 17% v 3%, P = .037).

Conclusion:

Reflex testing of EGFR/ ALK improved the time to optimal systemic therapy and the quality of biomarker testing for patients with advanced nonsq NSCLC.
Redesigning Cancer Care Delivery: Views From Patients and Caregivers
Authors: Patel Manali I. , Periyakoil Vyjeyanthi S. , Blayney Douglas W. , Moore David , Nevedal Andrea , Asch Steven , Milstein Arnold , Coker Tumaini R.
Published: February 2017

Introduction:

Cancer is a leading cause of death in the United States. Although treatments have improved, patients and caregivers continue to report significant gaps in their care. The objective of this study was to examine the views of patients and caregivers on their experiences with current cancer care delivery and identify key strategies to improve the delivery of care.

Methods and Materials:

Semistructured interviews were conducted with 75 patients and 45 caregivers across the United States. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using constant comparative method of qualitative analysis.

Results:

Participants reported multiple gaps in care delivery, including barriers in health communication with health care providers, lack of elucidation of care goals, lack of care coordination, and challenges in accessing care. Participants identified that greater use of nonphysician providers and alternative formats, such as telephone-based care and home and community-based care, would narrow these gaps.

Conclusion:

Understanding patients’ and caregivers’ experiences with gaps in cancer care delivery can inform cancer care delivery redesign efforts and lead to targeted interventions that result in patient-centered and family-oriented care.
Hospice Utilization and Its Effect on Acute Care Needs at the End of Life in Medicare Beneficiaries With Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Sanoff Hanna K. , Chang YunKyung , Reimers Melissa , Lund Jennifer L.
Published: February 2017

Introduction:

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a poor-prognosis cancer with a high symptom burden. Multidisciplinary HCC care is complex and unique in cancer medicine. We sought to determine whether the distinct process affects hospice use and how hospice affects end-of-life acute care utilization.

Patients and Methods:

Patients dying after HCC diagnosed from 2004 to 2011 were identified within SEER-Medicare. Hospice use and associated factors were described using logistic regression. Coarse exact and propensity score matching created groups of hospice and nonhospice comparators balanced on clinical characteristics. Health care use from first hospice claim to death and the matched duration in the nonhospice group were compared.

Results:

Of 7,992 decedent patients with HCC, 63% used hospice before death, with a median duration of 18 days (interquartile range, 5-51 days). Initial treatment with surgery and ablation (odds ratio [OR], 0.63; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.74) or chemoembolization/radioembolization (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.62 to 0.80) was associated with decreased odds of subsequent hospice use compared with untreated patients. Hospice use was more likely in those consulting hematology/oncology (OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.13 to 1.56) but not in those consulting gastroenterology (OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.65 to 0.95). Hospice patients had lower rates of hospitalization (7.9% v 47.8%; risk ratio [RR], 0.16; 95% CI, 0.14 to 0.19), intensive care unit stay (2.8% v 25.3%; RR, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.09 to 0.14), and in-hospital death (3.5% v 58.4%; RR, 0.06; 95% CI, 0.05 to 0.07).

Conclusion:

Processes of care influence which patients with HCC are referred to hospice. Hospice use has a marked effect on acute care use at the end of life in patients with HCC. Efforts to incorporate cancer-focused palliative care might improve the quality of end-of-life care in HCC.
Management of Patients With Stage I Lung Cancer
Authors: Bogart Jeffrey A. , Wallen Jason
Published: February 2017

The treatment of stage I non–small-cell lung cancer has advanced markedly over the past century. The transition from therapeutic nihilism with ensured mortality to radical surgery with pneumonectomy to rational oncologic-based resection has resulted in dramatically improved outcomes and reduced morbidity. The superiority of anatomic resection with lobectomy over sublobar resection for fit patients with stage I disease, where more than one half of all patients should expect to be cured, is backed by level 1 evidence. Minimally invasive approaches have further decreased morbidity and mortality, and prospective trials continue to assess whether sublobar resection is appropriate in more select circumstances for tumors < 2 cm. Interest in studying the patient at high risk for complications after lobectomy has been spurred by recent advances in surgical, radiotherapy, and ablative treatment options. In particular, provocative results with stereotactic body radiotherapy have led to rapid adoption in clinical practice with a resultant decrease in the number of untreated patients. A comparison of outcomes across studies of competing modalities remains challenging given the potential impact of selection bias in single-arm trials, and attempts to conduct randomized studies have been largely unsuccessful. Given the uncertainty in defining optimal therapy, patients are best served by a multidisciplinary team of thoracic surgeons, radiation oncologists, pulmonologists, and chest and interventional radiologists to ensure that they receive the evaluation and treatment best suited not only to their tumor and medical challenges but also to their concerns, fears, and values.
Research findings from the Memories of Nursing oral history project
Authors: Thomas Gail , Rosser Elizabeth
Published: February 2017

Capturing the stories of nurses who practised in the past offers the opportunity to reflect on the changes in practice over time to determine lessons for the future. This article shares some of the memories of a group of 16 nurses who were interviewed in Bournemouth, UK, between 2009 and 2016. Thematic analysis of the interview transcripts identified a number of themes, three of which are presented: defining moments, hygiene and hierarchy. The similarities and differences between their experiences and contemporary nursing practice are discussed to highlight how it may be timely to think back in order to take practice forward positively in the future.
The influence of placements on adult nursing graduates' choice of first post
Authors: Wareing Mark , Taylor Renate , Wilson Aileen , Sharples Adrienne
Published: February 2017

Background:

This article presents findings from a study that sought to explore the extent to which clinical placements have an impact on nursing students' decisions regarding their first staff nurse post. Within the UK, nursing is facing a recruitment crisis with particular difficulty recruiting to areas such as primary care and care of older people. Transitioning into a new role is challenging in any occupation, but it is a particular problem in nursing where the realities of professional practice often differ from students' perception of the staff nurse role as shaped by their clinical placements.

Aim:

This pilot study aimed to explore the influence of practice placements on final-year adult nursing students' career decisions.

Method:

Qualitative and quantitative data were collected in a single phase using a questionnaire distributed to nursing students on the final day of their course. A total of 35 completed questionnaires were returned (response rate 57%).

Results:

Half of the participants entered the course with preconceived preferences for clinical specialisms. However, only five participants (14%) applied for first-destination posts in that specialism. The overall importance of placements in career choice increased across the three years of the programme. Although placements in all three years are important, the experiences in year 3 are pivotal, with 74% ranking these as ‘significantly influential’ in their decision-making process. Analysis of the data obtained from the free-text responses from the questionnaire suggested that working environment; the level of support provided by mentors and clinical staff; the opportunity to make a difference to patients' lives and the variety of placements, were key influences on nursing students' decision regarding their first staff nurse post.

Conclusions:

This study highlights the key role of practice placements in the career choices of student nurses, particularly during the final year of their programme. It shows that students are likely to apply for posts in the placement area they found to be most supportive and developmental.
Nursing children and young people: what mental health training is required?
Authors: Thomas Leah
Published: February 2017

Aim:

The aim of this research was to investigate the views of children and young people's nurses on the mental health training they had received and what recommendations they would make for future staff training.

Method:

Nine such nurses who had experience of nursing young people following self-harm or a suicide attempt were recruited. Data were collected using individual 45-minute semi-structured interviews and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Results:

The findings of this study indicate that children and young people's nurses may benefit from some empathy and attitudes-based training. Participants clearly indicated that they do not feel that they have adequate expertise in mental health nursing. Participants requested training on a variety of mental health topics.

Conclusion:

The results indicate that children and young people's nurses feel that their current mental health training is inadequate. Individualised training packages for different work areas could be delivered collaboratively by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and specialist children and young people's nurses, using face-to-face teaching methods.
Latest clinical research
Authors: Greener Mark
Published: February 2017

Mark Greener presents key studies published in healthcare journals
Ficción y reflexión del Pop Art: Mi filosofía de la A a la B y de la B a la A de Andy Warhol
Authors: Capalbo Armando , Pozner Adriana
Published: February 2017

En Mi filosofía de la A a la B y de la B a la A Warhol resucita la vieja tensión entre arte y vida al preguntarse una y otra vez acerca de la esteticidad de lo real y lo admonitorio de lo trivial. Su filosofía implica trazar una impronta de la realidad y un documento de lo verdadero, ambos interferidos por el crudo paso del tiempo, de la moda y del valor estético. En el libro se entronca la disquisición sobre el lenguaje del arte en el presente. Aunque el tiempo del pop haya desaparecido, la esencia de este escrito es la pregunta de cómo sobrevivir aceptando que la felicidad se ha simplificado y buscar la identificación entre existencia y consumo.
Reflexionar la dictadura argentina y el Holocausto desde la literatura
Authors: Zehnder Sabrina
Published: February 2017

Mi tesis doctoral Poética espacial de la diáspora y del exilio en la Trilogía de la memoria de Pedro Orgambiereflexiona la dimensión judía que componen las tres novelas. La investigación fue realizada en Alemania, lugar donde resido habitualmente. Esta situación de alejamiento geográfico favoreció la configuración de una mirada vinculante entre el espacio judeoargentinoy lahistoria judía en Alemania.En efecto, la judeidad, con sus múltiples rostros y características —lingüísticos, históricos y culturales— se devela, a pesar de sus diferentes recorridos, como un espacio con lugares compartidos.El presente artículo explora los temas y motivos presentes en la Trilogía de la memoria del autor argentino que aluden a los hechos de persecución, antisemitismo y al genocidio judío ocurridos en Alemania en tiempos del nazismo. Analiza, además, situaciones y presencias que refieren a la dolorosa experiencia de la dictaduramilitar argentina (1976–1983), donde la represión y desaparición de personas de origen judío (y no judío), recuerdan los hechos del Holocaustoalemán, subrayando la continuidad del genocidio y dando cuenta de los paralelismos entreambos sistemas. Esta reflexión se mueve dentro del marco del posnazismo y de la posdictadura argentina y pretende ser una muestra o visualización de lo literario e investigativo, pero también de miradas que surgen a partir de algunas experiencias personales.
„Nic dobrego”? Kilka uwag o próbach prozatorskich Zdzisława Beksińskiego
Authors: Chomiszczak Tomasz
Published: February 2017

The article concerns with still not well-known part of the artistic work of Zdzisław Beksiński (a famous photographer, painter and graphic designer). In the 1960s the artist was occupied with literature as well. He wrote short prose which reflected many modern literary fashions and trends, and even anticipated some of them. In his literary works Beksiński was especially influenced by the suggestive aesthetics of the onirism, geometric architecture, and anti-Utopian novels. Sometimes, his narration refers to modern pop culture: the technique of film or the convention of comic strips; what is more, he applies the style of commercials and propaganda slogans. The artist from Sanok  also adored writing different variations of the same story which let him play with various genres and plots. But, whatever he did, it was all about the construction, the form. His literary texts record their narrator’s consciousness in a minimalist way, without any traditional literary frills. Therefore Beksiński unconsciously realized the idea postulated at the same time by Cortazar: each prose work should not be a “sum”, but rather a kind of “difference”. This prose substantially complements our knowledge of the whole art of Beksiński, a natural genius, and remains another alternative part of his creative activities.
Funkcje realizmu w fantastyce dla młodego czytelnika
Authors: Wróblewski Maciej
Published: February 2017

In the article the author examines fantastic novels by contemporary Polish writers (Andrzej Maleszka, Paweł Beręsowicz, Rafał Kosik and other) for young readers in a cultural context. In his essay he uses two well-known cultural categories “myth” and “magic” to his analysis of fantastic novels. According to the author, the myth and magic have two important functions in fantastic children’s literature. First, they lead young readers to knowledge about the world and depict different, complex phenomena of cultural dimension. Second, the myth and magic create a particular space (what “engulfs” young readers) of play and entertainment. Moreover, the myth and magic attract young readers to fabulous worlds including the elements of realistic literary convention. Thereby the writers increase their credibility among the youth. A “myth-magic” in the presented word of contemporary Polish fantastic novels assures balance between incredible entertainment represented by wizards, witches, dragons and the real world with characters having various digital devices within reach.
Po co fantastyka? Kilka uwag na marginesie lektur dawnych i współczesnych
Authors: Gemra Anna
Published: February 2017

Works of speculative fiction are among the most often chosen cultural texts. Article indicates several possible reasons of their popularity, such as breaking stereotypes and thinking patterns, inspirations for new solutions, tales of traditional values, chances to immerse in the world of imagination. Dressing an attractive “costume” and speaking an understandable “language”, speculative fiction tells about matters important to the audience. It helps not only to “get away” from reality, but also to reconcile to it and to shape it.
Motyw obcego w Podróży ósmej Stanisława Lema
Authors: Düring Michael
Published: February 2017

The article contains a reconstruction of the theme of the alien in The Star Diaries  by Stanisław Lem, with special emphasis on The Eighth Voyage. The Author treats this theme as a starting point for existential considerations, and - by reference to the work of Bernard Waldenfels - also for cultural and civilizational considerations.
Wypowiedź jako czynność sprawcza – na przykładzie znieważenia przedmiotu czci religijnej
Authors: Demenko Anna
Published: February 2017

Przedmiotem opracowania jest analiza czynności sprawczej znieważenia przedmiotu czci religijnej w rozumieniu art. 196 k.k., w szerszym kontekście tzw. przestępstw z wypowiedzi, tj. takich, których istotą czynności sprawczej jest wypowiedź rozumiana jako pewien intencjonalny przekaz, uzewnętrznienie przez sprawcę wobec określonych bądź nieokreślonych odbiorców pewnych informacji/treści. W przypadku tego typu przestępstw ‒ przy dokonywaniu oceny danego zachowania pod kątem wypełnienia przedmiotowych znamion czynu zabronionego ‒ konieczne jest ustalenie sensu i treści czynności postrzeganej nie tylko jako akt psychofizyczny. Uregulowane w art. 196 k.k. przestępstwo obrazy uczuć religijnych stanowi podstawę do rozważań na temat zasad, według jakich należałoby ustalać owo „znaczenie” danej czynności. Przyjmując, że każda wypowiedź stanowi czynności symboliczną, konieczne jest odwołanie się do konwencji przyjętych w kręgu obiorców danej wypowiedzi i do kulturowo determinowanych znaczeń. Zakres kryminalizacji przestępstwa obrazy uczuć religijnych jako przestępstwa z wypowiedzi wyznaczają więc nie tylko obowiązujące przepisy prawa karnego, lecz przede wszystkim wyjątkowo zmienne, płynne i różnorodne konwencje kulturowe i założenia. Sformułowanie w obecnych warunkach społecznych zasad dokonywania wyboru tych konwencji wymaga ponownej analizy i odejścia od modelu powszechnie przyjętej, przeciętnej wrażliwości społecznej.
Prawne formy działania administracji publicznej – między stabilizacją a potrzebą przełomu
Authors: Lipowicz Irena
Published: February 2017

Prawne formy działania administracji będące w istocie wytworem doktryny „domykają” konstrukcję działań administracji w demokratycznym państwie prawnym, pozwalają zwiększyć przewidywalność i rozliczalność tych działań przez obywateli i innych adresatów aktywności podmiotów administrujących. Samej administracji dają niezbędną stabilizację i pewność właściwego sposobu funkcjonowania. W opracowaniu ukazano współczesne dylematy poszerzenia uznanego „katalogu” prawnych form działania administracji o formy konsensualne, zwłaszcza umowę administracyjną w sytuacji ewolucji współczesnych zadań administracji publicznej. Nasze opóźnienie w tym zakresie staje się widoczne i pozbawia administrujących nowych, elastycznych narzędzi. Zawarto także rozważania o napięciu między stabilizacją a postulatem przełomu w badanym zakresie w związku z potrzebą modernizacji administracji i koniecznością odciążenia sądownictwa administracyjnego.
Neutralność, demokracja, uspołecznienie
Authors: Ciszewski Wojciech
Published: February 2017

Michał Dudek w artykule poświęconym relacjom między ideą neutralności a koncepcją uspołecznienia prawa dokonuje krytyki zasady neutralności światopoglądowej państwa. Zasada ta – zdaniem M. Dudka – jest „wysoce problematyczna” i podatna na liczne zarzuty. Główny przedmiot jego krytyki stanowi koncepcja neutralności uzasadnienia (neutralność proceduralna). Według niego powyższa koncepcja jest niemożliwa do utrzymania, ponieważ (1) skupia się na perspektywie moralnej ustawodawcy (a nie na punkcie widzenia obywateli demokratycznych); (2) jest zbyt „miękka” (stosowanie przez ustawodawcę neutralnej procedury nie gwarantuje neutralnego charakteru regulacji prawnej); (3) jest nadmiernie wymagająca (ze względu na przywiązanie do zasady powściągliwości); (4) stosowanie tej koncepcji w procesie stanowienia prawa może prowadzić do manipulacji. Jednakże najważniejszym zarzutem względem neutralności uzasadnienia jest to, że odwołujące się do niej działania polityczne nie mogą wygenerować właściwego poziomu stabilności społecznej oraz uspołecznienia prawa.W niniejszym artykule bronię zasadności koncepcji neutralności światopoglądowej, a także odpowiadam na większość zarzutów M. Dudka. Twierdzę, że idea neutralności uzasadnienia nie koncentruje się na perspektywie moralnej ustawodawcy, lecz przyjmuje punkt widzenia rozumnego obywatela demokratycznego. Uważam również, że chociaż zasada neutralności uzasadnienia jest miękka i wymagająca, to jej zalecenia są wykonalne i dobrze uzasadnienie. Co więcej, w moim przekonaniu powoływanie się na zasadę neutralności w praktyce politycznej może doprowadzić do zaistnienia stanu stabilności z dobrych racji.
Kulturowe uwarunkowania rozumienia praw człowieka. Niemiecka nauka prawa wobec legalizacji spornych praktyk religijnych
Authors: Łącki Paweł
Published: February 2017

Od kilku lat w niemieckiej nauce prawa toczy się intensywna debata na temat prawnej dopuszczalności obrzezania dzieci płci męskiej. Ogniskiem sporu wydaje się pytanie o to, czy przy obrzezaniu dochodzi do zagrożenia dobra dziecka, tak że państwo uprawnione jest do ingerencji w prawo rodziców do wychowania dziecka.Debata o prawnej dopuszczalności obrzezania stanowi egzemplifikację szerszych problemów, z którymi konfrontowane jest demokratyczne państwo prawa oraz refleksja teoretycznoprawna. Do problemów tych należy określenie istoty i granic prawa rodziców do wychowania dziecka oraz prawa do wolności religijnej, potencjalny konflikt praw i wolności konstytucyjnych, dynamiczna interpretacja praw człowieka związana ze zmieniającą się wrażliwością w zakresie chronionych dóbr, czy wreszcie uzasadnienie i stosowanie uniwersalnych zasad prawa w świetle wzrastającego aksjologicznego pluralizmu współczesnych społeczeństw. Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie kształtowania się w Niemczech stanu prawnego dotyczącego obrzezania oraz głównych argumentów podnoszonych w niemieckiej debacie o jego prawnej dopuszczalności.
Focal adhesion stabilization by enhanced integrin-cRGD binding affinity
Authors: Pallarola Diego , Platzman Ilia , Bochen Alexander , Cavalcanti-Adam Elisabetta A. , Axmann Markus , Kessler Horst , Geiger Benjamin , Spatz Joachim P.
Published: February 2017

In this study we investigate the impact of ligand presentation by various molecular spacers on integrin-based focal adhesion formation. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) arranged in hexagonal patterns were biofunctionalized with the same ligand head group, cyclic Arg-Gly-Asp [
Unit Root Properties of Seasonal Adjustment and Related Filters: Special Cases
Authors: Bell William.R.
Published: February 2017

Bell (2012) catalogued unit root factors contained in linear filters used in seasonal adjustment (model-based or from the X-11 method) but noted that, for model-based seasonal adjustment, special cases could arise where filters could contain more unit root factors than was indicated by the general results. This article reviews some special cases that occur with canonical ARIMA model based adjustment in which, with some commonly used ARIMA models, the symmetric seasonal filters contain two extra nonseasonal differences (i.e., they include an extra (1 - B)(1 - F)). This increases by two the degree of polynomials in time that are annihilated by the seasonal filter and reproduced by the seasonal adjustment filter. Other results for canonical ARIMA adjustment that are reported in Bell (2012), including properties of the trend and irregular filters, and properties of the asymmetric and finite filters, are unaltered in these special cases. Special cases for seasonal adjustment with structural ARIMA component models are also briefly discussed.
Effects of Scale Direction on Response Style of Ordinal Rating Scales
Authors: Liu Mingnan , Keusch Florian
Published: February 2017

Although ordinal rating scales have received much research attention in survey methodology literature, the direction of the rating scales has not been as extensively studied as other design features. Research on scale direction effect has mainly focused on the influence on response distribution, while largely overlooking its impact on latent constructs. This study examines the scale direction effect on extreme and acquiescent response style latent class variables in an experiment embedded in a national probability sample. We found a higher level of acquiescent response style from scales starting with positive adjective words using a web survey. No significant effect of scale direction was detected on extreme response style or in a face-to-face survey (with show cards). This study also demonstrates that scale direction does not affect the substance latent class variables, once the response style latent class variables are included in the model. Implications of these findings and future research directions are discussed.
Evaluation of Experiments on a Twin Scroll Turbocharger Turbine for Calibration of a Complex 1-D Model
Authors: Žák Zdeněk , Macek Jan , Hatschbach Petr
Published: February 2017

The goal of the contribution is to describe the process of measurement on a twin entry turbocharger turbine, and evaluation of obtained data. A specific feature of the twin entry turbine measurement is the separation of turbine sections. It is necessary to control different conditions in each section to achieve partial admission of the turbine impeller. The results are fundamental for the calibration process of a developed physical 1-D model of a radial turbine with twin scroll.
Propagation length enhancement of surface plasmon polaritons in gold nano-/micro-waveguides by the interference with photonic modes in the surrounding active dielectrics
Authors: Suárez Isaac , Ferrando Albert , Marques-Hueso Jose , Díez Antonio , Abargues Rafael , Rodríguez-Cantó Pedro J. , Martínez-Pastor Juan P.
Published: February 2017

In this work, the unique optical properties of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs), i.e. subwavelength confinement or strong electric field concentration, are exploited to demonstrate the propagation of light signal at 600 nm along distances in the range from 17 to 150 μm for Au nanostripes 500 nm down to 100 nm wide (30 nm of height), respectively, both theoretically and experimentally. A low power laser is coupled into an optical fiber tip that is used to locally excite the photoluminescence of colloidal quantum dots (QDs) dispersed in their surroundings. Emitted light from these QDs is generating the SPPs that propagate along the metal waveguides. Then, the above-referred propagation lengths were directly extracted from this novel experimental technique by studying the intensity of light decoupled at the output edge of the waveguide. Furthermore, an enhancement of the propagation length up to 0.4 mm is measured for the 500-nm-wide metal nanostripe, for which this effect is maximum. For this purpose, a simultaneous excitation of the same QDs dispersed in poly(methyl methacrylate) waveguides integrated with the metal nanostructures is performed by end-fire coupling an excitation laser energy as low as 1 KW/cm2. The proposed mechanism to explain such enhancement is a non-linear interference effect between dielectric and plasmonic (super)modes propagating in the metal-dielectric structure, which can be apparently seen as an effective amplification or compensation effect of the gain material (QDs) over the SPPs, as previously reported in literature. The proposed system and the method to create propagating SPPs in metal waveguides can be of interest for the application field of sensors and optical communications at visible wavelengths, among other applications, using plasmonic interconnects to reduce the dimensions of photonic chips.
Metal hydrogen sulfide superconducting temperature
Authors: Kudryashov N. A. , Kutukov A. A. , Mazur E. A.
Published: February 2017

Éliashberg theory is generalized to the electronphonon (EP) systems with the not constant density of electronic states. The phonon contribution to the anomalous electron Green’s function (GF) is considered. The generalized Éliashberg equations with the variable density of electronic states are resolved for the hydrogen sulphide SH

The results of the solution of the Eliashberg equations for the Im-3m (170 GPa), Im-3m (200 GPa) and R3m (120 GPa) phases are presented. A peak value T
Cancer burden in slovenia with the time trends analysis
Authors: Zadnik Vesna , Primic Zakelj Maja , Lokar Katarina , Jarm Katja , Ivanus Urska , Zagar Tina
Published: February 2017

Background

The aim of our study was to describe cancer burden and time trends of all cancers combined, the most frequent as well as the rare cancers in Slovenia.

Patients and methods

The principal data source was the population-based Cancer Registry of Republic of Slovenia. The cancer burden is presented by incidence and prevalence for the period 1950–2013 and by mortality for years 1985–2013. The time trends were characterized in terms of an average annual percent change estimated by the log-linear joinpoint regression. The Dyba-Hakulinen method was used for estimation of incidence in 2016 and the projections of cancer incidence for the year 2025 were calculated applying the Globocan projection software.

Results

In recent years, near 14,000 Slovenes were diagnosed with cancer per year and just over 6,000 died; more than 94,000 people who were ever diagnosed with cancer are currently living among us. The total burden of cancer is dominated by five most common cancer sites: skin (non-melanoma), colon and rectum, lung, breast and prostate, together representing almost 60% of all new cancer cases. On average the incidence of common cancers in Slovenia is increasing for 3.0% per year in last decade, but the incidence of rare cancers is stable.

Conclusions

Because cancer occurs more among the elderly, and additionally more numerous post-war generation is entering this age group, it is expected that the burden of this disease will be growing further, even if the level of risk factors remains the same as today.