bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“Why have I not been told about this?”: a survey of experiences of and attitudes to advance decision-making amongst people with bipolar
Authors: Hindley Guy , Stephenson Lucy A. , Ruck Keene Alex , Rifkin Larry , Gergel Tania , Owen Gareth
Published: April 2019

Background: The idea that people with severe mental illness should be able to plan in advance for periods of illness as a means of enhancing autonomy has been long debated and is increasingly being enshrined in codes of practice and mental health legislation. It has been argued that the ethical imperative for this is especially pronounced in bipolar (BP), a condition in which sufferers often experience episodic crises interspersed with periods of wellness. However, there is a paucity of published research investigating experiences of advance decision making (ADM) in people with BP or their attitudes towards it.

Methods: An online survey of BPUK’s mailing list was conducted. 932 people with BP completed the survey (response rate 5.61%). Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were conducted to compare experience of with attitudes towards ADM and variables associated with interest in ADM.

Results: A majority indicated a desire to plan care in advance of losing capacity (88%) but most had not done so (64%). High numbers of respondents expressed a wish to request as well as refuse treatment and most wanted to collaborate with psychiatrists, including on issues around self-binding. The most frequent motivation to utilise ADM was a desire to be more involved in mental health decisions. Interest in self-binding was associated with experience of compulsory treatment and trust in mental health services. Interest in refusals of all medication was associated with younger age and lack of trust in mental health services. Interest in ADM in general was associated with younger age but not educational level, ethnicity or gender.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates an appetite for ADM amongst people with bipolar that is independent of educational status and ethnicity. As states reform their mental health laws, attention needs to be given to the distinctive attitudes toward ADM amongst people with bipolar.
IMPACT OF PLANT BIOMASS AND MAIN TILLAGE METHODS ON THE AGROPHYSICAL PARAMETERS OF THE SOIL AND PRODUCTIVITY OF CULTURES AT A CROP ROTATION
Authors: Ахметзянов Марсель , Akhmetzyanov Marsel , Хузина Гулина , Huzina Gulina , Таланов Иван , Talanov Ivan
Published: April 2019

The saturation of the soil with organic residues, the introduction of straw from the precursor and the harvest siderate stimulated the biological activity of the soil, and the use of various types of basic soil treatment changed the agrophysical properties of the soil. The results of research have found that the introduction of greenhouse siderate and straw contributed to maintaining the optimal density of the soil in the crop rotation link, and the combined treatment provided better conditions than in plowing. On the same variants, a decrease in the soil hardness occurred, positively influenced the formation of structural aggregates. For combined tillage, the content of structural aggregates on the background of mineral fertilizer application in the 0-20 cm layer exceeded the options with plowing by 5.2%, with the use of crop green manure by 3.2% and with the use of straw by 2.5%. For the combined tillage after winter rye, the cultivation of arable land was 19.7 - 22.8%, after pea - 17.3-19.7%, after spring wheat - 20.9-23.7%. For plowing options, these figures were 21.0-24.4, 19.6-21.4 and 23.5-26.0%. The maximum grain yield of winter rye (4.37 tons per hectare), pea (2.42 tons per hectare) and spring wheat (3.37 tons per hectare) was obtained on the variants of combined tillage and food backgrounds with the introduction of crop siderate.
Dignity in life and care: the perspectives of Swedish patients in a palliative care context
Authors: Bylund-Grenklo Tove , Werkander-Harstäde Carina , Sandgren Anna , Benzein Eva , Östlund Ulrika
Published: April 2019

Background:

How patients preserve their sense of dignity in life is an important area of palliative care that remains to be explored.

Aims:

To describe patients' perspectives of what constitutes a dignified life within a palliative care context.

Methods:

Twelve palliative care patients were interviewed about their views on living with dignity. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.

Results:

What constitutes a dignified life during end-of-life care was captured by the theme ‘I may be ill but I am still a human being’ and presented under the categories ‘preserving my everyday life and personhood’, ‘having my human value maintained by others through ‘coherence’ and ‘being supported by society at large’.

Conclusion:

Patients' sense of dignity can be preserved by their own attitudes and behaviours, by others and through public support. Health professionals need to adopt a dignity-conserving approach, for which awareness of their own attitudes and behaviours is crucial.
Let's share
Authors: O'Sullivan June
Published: April 2019

Dialogic reading, where the child is prompted to be the teller of the story, has been a success at LEYF, explains June O'Sullivan explains
EYFS training: part 4 – Birth to 18 months: Baby brain
Authors: Goddard Charlotte
Published: April 2019

What are the statutory training requirements for staff working in baby rooms and what relevant courses are available? Charlotte Goddard reports
Breast Cancer Subtype Classification Using 4-Plex Droplet Digital PCR
Authors: Chen Wenwen , Zheng Jiaying , Wu Chang , Liu Shaoxiong , Chen Yongxin , Liu Xiaolei , Du Jihui , Wang Jidong
Published: April 2019

BACKGROUND

Infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDCA) is the most common form of invasive breast cancer. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is widely used to analyze estrogen receptor 1 (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) that can help classify the tumor to guide the medical treatment. IHC examinations require experienced pathologists to provide interpretations that are subjective, thereby lowering the reproducibility of IHC-based diagnosis. In this study, we developed a 4-plex droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) for the simultaneous and quantitative analyses of estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1), progesterone receptor (PGR), erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (ERBB2), and pumilio RNA binding family member 1 (PUM1) expression levels in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples.

METHODS

We evaluated the sensitivity, reproducibility, and linear dynamic range of 4-plex ddPCR. We applied this method to analyze 95 FFPE samples from patients with breast IDCA and assessed the agreement rates between ddPCR and IHC to evaluate its potential in classifying breast cancer subtypes.

RESULTS

The limits of quantification (LOQ) were 25, 50, 50, and 50 copies per reaction for ERBB2, ESR1, PGR, and PUM1, respectively. The dynamic ranges of ESR1, PGR, and PUM1 extended over 50–1600 copies per reaction and those of ERBB2 from 25 to 1600 copies per reaction. The concordance correlation coefficients between 4-plex ddPCR and IHC were 96.8%, 91.5%, and 85.1% for ERBB2, ESR1, and PGR, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic curve area under the curve values of 0.991, 0.977, and 0.920 were generated for ERBB2, ESR1, and PGR, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Evaluation of breast cancer biomarker status by 4-plex ddPCR was highly concordant with IHC in this study.
Changes of total protein and protein fractions in broiler chickens during the fattening period
Authors: Tothova Csilla , Sesztakova Edina , Bielik Bohumil , Nagy Oskar
Published: April 2019

Background and Aim: Blood proteins in birds serve as an important indicator in the evaluation of health status and represent a basis in general biochemistry allowing the identification of metabolic alterations. The objective of this study was to evaluate the protein profile in broiler chickens extended by the concentrations of serum protein fractions at different periods of fattening.

Materials and Methods: Into the evaluation, we included 24 clinically healthy Ross 308 line meat-type chickens at the age of 2 days. Blood samples were taken on day 4, 18, 32, and 46 of fattening always from six randomly selected chickens. Chickens were fed with a commercial starter, grower, and finisher feeds. The concentrations of total serum protein and protein fractions were evaluated.

Results: Various significant changes in the proportion of the individual protein fractions were found during the observed period except for the beta-globulins in all protein fractions and the albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio. At the beginning of the fattening period, the relative concentrations of albumin, α1-globulins, and A/G ratio were significantly lower and the values of α2- and γ-globulins significantly higher (p<0.05). The values of pre-albumin fraction were found as a small band preceding the albumin fraction differed significantly between the different age groups of chickens (p<0.05). The total serum protein concentrations showed higher values in older broilers; the significantly highest mean value was recorded on day 32 of fattening.

Conclusion: The results suggest that fattening and age of broilers influences not only the production patterns, metabolic processes, and lipid and mineral profile but also the parameters of protein profile. However, seeing that some contradictory data exist regarding the number and size of globulin fractions in chickens, further analyses are needed.
Corporate governance effect on financial distress: evidence from Indonesian public listed companies
Authors: Ibrahim Rahmasari
Published: April 2019

The study aims to determine the effect of corporate governance structures: managerial ownership, institutional ownership, independent commissioners, board of commissionersâ€™ size, and board of directorsâ€™ size on financial distress. It used the sample taken from non-financial companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) for period 2012-2016. This study used a purposive sampling method involving 605 observations using binary logistic regression analysis techniques. The results show that there are significant negative impact between institutional ownership, size of board of commissioners and directors on financial distress. However, the results confirm that managerial ownership and independent commissioners had no significant impact on financial distress
Hybrid Algorithm Based Effective Light Trail Creation in an Optical Networks
Authors: Kaur Harpreet , Rattan Munish
Published: April 2019

With the overwhelming use of the Internet, the wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) optical networks have become the major mode of communication for wide applications. Hence, the routing and wavelength assignment (RWA) for a given traffic in WDM networks is the chief challenge in optical networks. This paper presents the RWA problem in WDM networks using the hybrid algorithm of flower pollination (FP) and simulated annealing (SA) algorithm (FA+SA) with and without wavelength conversion capability at the nodes of the network. Comparative analysis with techniques presented in literature is also carried out, i. e. differential evolution algorithm (DEA), firefly algorithm (FA), particle swarm optimization with less number of informers (Psolbest), SA and genetic algorithm (GA). The results prove that hybrid algorithm of FP and SA is potentially more efficient than algorithms present in literature for the light path establishment in an optical network.
The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Therapy by VR (Virtual-Reality) With a Focus on Death Anxiety in a Patient With Cerebellar Cancer (Case Report)
Authors: Fahiminia Shahin , Salahiyan Afshin , Norouzi Mahtab
Published: April 2019

Background: Cancer has many potential physical, psychological and social consequences for the patient. This single case study explored the efficiency of mindfulness therapy with the aid of virtual reality (VR) focusing on minimizing anxiety especially death anxiety in a patient with cerebellar cancer. Methods: In this case study research the patient met and consulted 3 times in the first week, and the aim of these meetings was to break the patient’s resistance through meditation and psychological treatment. After that, 8 sessions each one 2 hours were planned at the patient’s home. In the second week, a subsidiary device called VR (large eye crystal capable of playing 3D film) was used as a method to assist the patient. Results: The data collected from the pre/posttest of Beck anxiety showed significant progress in blood pressure, heart rate and body temperature, and increased up to its normal levels. In addition, the sense of satisfaction expressed by the patient during the sessions was noticeably significant. Conclusion: According to results mindfulness therapy by VR with a focus on anxiety reduction as a complementary therapy has remarkable efficacy on improving quality of life in the cancer patient.
Long-Term Conservation of Ohnologs Through Partial Tetrasomy Following Whole-Genome Duplication in Salmonidae
Authors: Campbell Matthew A , Hale Matthew C , McKinney Garrett J , Nichols Krista M , Pearse Devon E
Published: April 2019

Whole-genome duplications (WGDs) have occurred repeatedly and broadly throughout the evolutionary history of eukaryotes. However, the effects of WGD on genome function and evolution remain unclear. The salmonid WGD that occurred approximately 88 million years ago presents an excellent opportunity for studying the effects of WGD as ∼10–15% of each salmonid genome still exhibits tetrasomic inheritance. Herein, we utilized the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) genome assembly and brain transcriptome data to examine the fate of gene pairs (ohnologs) following the salmonid whole-genome duplication. We find higher sequence identity between ohnologs located within known tetrasomic regions than between ohnologs found in disomic regions, and that tetrasomically inherited ohnologs showed greater similarity in patterns of gene expression and per ohnolog were lower expressed, than disomically inherited ohnologs. Enrichment testing for Gene Ontology terms identified 49 over-represented terms in tetrasomically inherited ohnologs compared to disomic ohnologs. However, why these ohnologs are retained as tetrasomic is difficult to answer. It could be that we have identified salmonid specific “dangerous duplicates”, that is, genes that cannot take on new roles following WGD. Alternatively, there may be adaptive advantages for retaining genes as functional duplicates in tetrasomic regions, as presumably, movement of these genes into disomic regions would affect both their sequence identity and their gene expression patterns.
Using Reverse Osmosis, Electrodialysis, and Nanofiltration to Increase Affordable Desalinated Groundwater Use in Texas
Authors: Lee Julie
Published: April 2019

Droughts and flooding that have impacted Texas have decreased surface water availability, while draining the limited number of non-saline groundwater sources. Therefore, desalination of saline groundwater would be able to supplement the increasing demand of water for industrial and domestic uses. The process would have to be affordable and capable of meeting WHO1 standards for drinking water. Of the current desalination options available, the methods analyzed are reverse osmosis, electrodialysis, and nanofiltration. Of the three options, it was determined that reverse osmosis was the best solution for the desalination of saline groundwater for both industrial and domestic uses. Reverse osmosis filters saline water to meet WHO standards for sodium and chloride ions. Although both RO and electrodialysis processes were effective enough for eliminating total dissolved solids in the sample saline waters, only RO yielded potable water. If this system is successfully implemented, it could supplement the nonsaline groundwater being used for human consumption, as well as yield RO discharge water for residential or industrial uses. As a result, the severe impacts of the reoccurring droughts in Texas can be reduced, while lessening the drainage of the non-saline groundwater reservoirs in Texas. Keywords: Desalinated Groundwater, Reverse Osmosis, Electrodialysis, Nanofiltration, cost- comparison, potable water, brackish water desalination
An overview of the common methods used to measure treatment adherence
Authors: Anghel Laura Alexandra , Farcas Andreea Maria , Oprean Radu Nicolae
Published: April 2019

Background and aims. The success of a treatment depends on the effectiveness of the medication regimen, provided that patients take the medicines as prescribed. A low rate of adherence in chronic conditions is associated with poor outcome and decreased quality of life, which constitutes an additional burden for the healthcare systems. To correctly identify the dimension of this problem may be a challenge, as there are numerous methods, definitions, patient settings and factors, each with their specific roles. Our aim was to give an appropriate overview of the most common validated methods that can be used to identify non-adherent patients.

Methods. This overview is based on an online search of PubMed database and includes the relevant articles in this field.

Results. We included both direct and indirect methods for measuring treatment adherence and presented concise information that can help researchers and clinicians when choosing an appropriate method. Both subjective and objective methods have advantages and disadvantages that should be fully understood and taken into consideration.

Conclusions. Choosing a simple, accurate and inexpensive method that can give supplementary information about the patterns, beliefs and barriers of adherence would be desirable. But because this perfect method to measure treatment adherence does not exist, the best solution seems to be the combined use of at least two methods.
Knowledge, attitude and practice regarding hypertension among residents in a housing area in Selangor, Malaysia
Authors: Buang Nurul Fatin Binti , Rahman Nor Azlina A , Haque Mainul
Published: April 2019

Background and aims. Hypertension is becoming a global epidemic and threat to the world population. This cross-sectional study was carried out at a housing area in Selangor, Malaysia to study the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) regarding hypertension among the residents.
Methods. A total of 110 respondents aged 18 years old and above were selected by convenience sampling. Data was collected using a structured interviewer-guided questionnaire with Likert-scale choices of answers.
Results. All respondents were Malay with the mean age of 41 years [Standard Deviation (SD)=11.828]. The total mean and SD of knowledge, attitude and practice scores were 74.33 (SD=6.25), 44.22 (SD=5.05) and 27.55 (SD=2.86), respectively. There were significant positive correlations between knowledge with attitude (r=+0.393; p<0.001) and practice (r=+0.378; p<0.001). However, there was no significant correlation between attitude and practice (r=+0.120; p=0.212). There were significant fair positive correlations between age with knowledge (r=+0.402; p<0.001), attitude (r=+0.265; p=0.005) and practice (r=+0.337; p<0.001) regarding hypertension. Meanwhile, gender, educational level, employment status and family history had no significant association with knowledge, attitude and practice regarding hypertension.
Conclusion. This study revealed that KAP regarding hypertension were associated with age, but not with other socio-demographic characteristics studied. The awareness, prevention and control programs of hypertension in their community should be increased, so that the residents could enjoy and maintain the healthy lifestyle.
Hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with autoimmune hepatitis – a systematic review of the literature published between 1989-2016
Authors: Valean Simona , Acalovschi Monica , Dumitrascu Dan L. , Ciobanu Lidia , Nagy Georgiana , Chira Romeo
Published: April 2019

Background and aims. Liver cancer is one of the most common cause of deaths from cancer. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was reported at a frequency of 7% of patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) - related cirrhosis in 1988. We aimed to provide a systematic literature review on the frequency of HCC in patients with AIH, after the discovery of hepatitis C virus (HCV), in order to avoid any possible confounding etiology.

Methods. A literature search of the PubMed database between 1989-2016 was performed, using the relevant keywords “hepatocellular carcinoma” and “autoimmune hepatitis”. We followed the PRISMA statement guidelines during the preparation of this review.

Results. Eleven studies (n=8,460 patients with AIH) were retained for the final analysis. HCC was diagnosed in 0-12.3% of the AIH patients included in these studies. The overall occurrence of HCC in patients with AIH was estimated in two studies, at 5.1% and 6.2%, respectively. In patients with AIH and cirrhosis, the percentage of HCC varied between 0.2%-12.3%. The proportion of HCC in patients with AIH without cirrhosis was estimated at 1.03%. The percentage of cirrhosis in AIH patients varied from 18.7% to 83.3% in Japan, and from 12% to 50.2% in the other areas. The mean follow-up of the patients with AIH was of 10 years.

Conclusions. The development of HCC in patients with AIH appeared to be similar before and after the discovery of HCV, and it was mainly associated to cirrhosis. The number of patients developing cirrhosis in relation with AIH was impressive. The long evolution of AIH to cirrhosis and, eventually, to HCC, has been be suggested.
Glycated albumin is correlated with glycated hemoglobin in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Ciobanu Dana Mihaela , Bogdan Florina , Pătruț Cristina-Ioana , Roman Gabriela
Published: April 2019

Background and aims. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) retrospectively evaluates mean glycemia in the preceding 2-3 months and is the gold standard for assessing glycemic control, while glycated albumin (GA) is currently considered a short to intermediate term integrated glycemic control marker, since it reflects glycemic status over the last 3 weeks. We aimed to investigate the levels of GA, HbA1c and fasting glycemia in a group of patients with type 2 diabetes.
Methods. The observational study included adult type 2 diabetes patients (n=135) according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, randomly selected from Clinical Centre of Diabetes, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Fasting glycemia, GA, HbA1c and creatinine were measured using commercially available methods. 
Results. Of the whole group, 62 (45.9 %) were men. Mean age was 62.1±8.6 years old, body mass index was 31.8±6.1 kg/m2 and diabetes duration was 10.0 (4.0; 15.0) years. Fasting glycemia was 162±13.7 mg/dl, GA was 28.0 (21.0; 40.0)% and HbA1c 8.9±2.3%. We found GA was significantly correlated with HbA1c (r=0.19; p=0.029) and fasting glycemia (r=0.32; p<0.001), while HbA1c was significantly correlated with fasting glycemia (r=0.40; p<0.001).
Conclusions. GA was significantly correlated with both HbA1c and fasting glycemia in our patients with type 2 diabetes. While HbA1c is recognized as being the reference test for diabetes control monitoring, GA might a useful biomarker for assessing short to intermediate term glycemic control, particularly important in situations when HbA1c test cannot be reliable or earlier clinical decision making is mandatory.
Ekeland-type variational principle with applications to nonconvex minimization and equilibrium problems
Authors: Iqbal Iram , Hussain Nawab
Published: April 2019

The aim of the present paper is to establish a variational principle in metric spaces without assumption of completeness when the involved function is not lower semicontinuous. As consequences, we derive many fixed point results, nonconvex minimization theorem, a nonconvex minimax theorem, a nonconvex equilibrium theorem in noncomplete metric spaces. Examples are also given to illustrate and to show that obtained results are proper generalizations.
Distributions on the circle group
Authors: Staskevičiūtė Simona
Published: April 2019

In this paper, we extend the definition of a random angle and the definition of a probability distribution of a random angle. We expand P. Lévy’s researches related to wrapping the probability distributions defined on R. We determine a relation between quasi-lattice probability distributions on R and lattice probability distributions on the unit circle S. We use the Bergström identity for comparison of a convolution of probability distributions of random angles. We also prove an inverse formula for lattice probability distributions on S.
THE DEVELOPMENT, PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ANTI- VITELLOGENIN ANTIBODIES RAISED IN HENS (GALLUS GALLUS DOMESTICUS) AGAINST TILAPIA (OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS) VITELLOGENIN PROTEIN
Authors: Caza Jairo , Fernández Rodolfo , Torres Arias Marbel , Muñoz Daysi , Ortiz Tirado Juan , Manjunatha Bangeppagari , I. Mulla4and Rajesh R. Kundapur Sikandar
Published: April 2019

ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to induce, isolate and characterize and determine the role of Vitellogenin (Vtg) which is used as a biomarker of environmental quality and steroidogenesis in oviparous organisms. We have purified Vtg from male adult tilapia scientifically known as Oreochromis niloticus previously treated with estradiol 5 μg/g body weight (BW). By using ion exchange chromatography Vtg was purified from blood plasma yielding 1.13 mg Vtg/ml. Subsequently, Lohmann Brown hens were immunized at a 125 and 100 μg Vtg/ml, including three antigen treatments of booster doses of 75 and 50 μg Vtg/ml, respectively. At day 30 post-immunization, posture eggs were collected, we have successfully optimized the extraction of anti-VtgIgY antibody. The purified anti-VtgIgY was validated with SDS-PAGE, detecting heavy and light chains of 70 kDa and 30 kDa, respectively. Further, we have developed ELISA using anti-VtgIgY. To estimate the Vtg specificity, commercial anti-Vtg antibodies of dorada (Sparusaurata) were used and validated for tilapia by Western Blot. Detection of the Vtg monomer was at a dilution of 1/2000 IgY primary antibody. The antibodies thus obtained through the conventional techniques of production and validation of IgY antibodies for Vtg of tilapia demonstrate that they are viable under local conditions, can be successfully used for programs of environmental monitoring and reproduction control in oviparous species.
RESTRICTION POLYMORPHISM OF Mal d 1 ALLERGEN PROMOTOR IN APPLE VARIETIES
Authors: Žiarovská Jana , Bilčíková Jana , Fialková Veronika , Zeleňáková Lucia , Zamiešková Lucia
Published: April 2019

Apples are the most consumed fruit in the European Union with the exception of citrus fruits and apple consumption is part of a healthy and balanced diet. Although apples are recommended to consume each day, they are one of the fruits that can trigger an allergic reaction. The most important apple allergen in Central and Northern Europe is Mald 1. The aim of the study was to analyse natural restriction pattern variability of the part of Ypr 10 gene promotor in four apple varieties. All the analysed varieties resulted in different cleavage profiles for Ase I and Spe I when compared to the virtual cleavage profile of the genomic sequence stored in the public nucleotide database.
The Impact of "Belt and Road" Initiative on the Internationalization of Chinese Renminbi
Authors: Tao Shiyi
Published: April 2019

President Xi proposed building the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road, which became known as the “Belt and Road” Initiative. In 2016, the RMB (Chinese currency) officially joined the SDR (Special Drawing Rights), and the RMB’s entry is the integration of the Chinese economy into the global financial system. The internationalization of the RMB is the need for the development of global economic integration and the development of China’s international trade. This “initiative” provides strong support for the internationalization of the RMB. Besides, how to achieve balance in maintaining the country’s economic stability and promoting currency internationalization has always been a difficult issue faced by Chinese monetary authorities when the issue of “big country with small currency” presented. Based on the theory of internationalization of currency, this paper discusses the mutual promotion between RMB's internationalization and the "Belt and Road" initiative, the role of the "Belt and Road" Initiative as a driving force to RMB’s Internationalization.
The Method of the Propositional Frame Modeling in Teaching a Foreign Language
Authors: Araeva Lyudmila , Li Stanislav
Published: April 2019

The article describes the method of the propositional frame modeling and its application in teaching a foreign language, including the languages of the indigenous minorities of Russia. The material of the frame "berry" offers guidelines for its use in the classroom for studying foreign languages. The use of this method in teaching foreign languages helps pupils to more accurately and more deeply understand the structural, substantive and functional patterns that dominate them, helps students develop language guessing based on word formation, which is a universal way of expanding their potential vocabulary. Derived and non-derivative words are built according to the same deep structural-logical schemes – propositional structures, on the basis of which propositions are created. Propositional structures have a universal nature for all natural languages, but they are implemented quite specifically in sentences in a given language under the influence of territory, climate, life experience, and established cultural traditions of a people. Recognition of propositional structures and propositions within the frames in the semantics of derivatives of the native language and a foreign language makes it possible to see what is common in the knowledge of the world of all nations and to reveal the unique "world" of the language.
Description
of Personification in the Dictionary as a Problem of Poetic Lexicography
Authors: Petrova Zoya , Fateeva Natalia
Published: April 2019

The article offers a methodology for the lexicographic description of personification in the 6th volume of the "Materials for the Dictionary of Metaphors and Similes of the 19-21 st Centuries Russian Literature. Human". Personification is considered as constructions of metaphors and similes with the meaning of personalization, that is, comparative tropes with the vehicles belonging to the "Human" semantic category. The methodology is based on ideographic and chronological principles which allow us to summarize the information on the composition of comparative trope system and its development in the course of time. While grouping the material, the authors take into account the semantic relations of units in the language lexical system: "genus–species", "action–actor", "action–instrument", synonymy, antonymy, conversion, derivation, etc. The main source of the dictionary is poetry and prose of the Russian writers of the 19-21 st centuries (about 500 authors). The paper presents the dictionary description methodology on the example of the dictionary entry titled "Death", which serves as a pilot design for testing the ideographic classification of the entire volume. The prop words of tropes personifying death are divided into the following classes: "Units naming persons", "Movement", "Speech", "Actions of death with a person", "Physical states and processes in the body", "Parts of the body", "Emotions and emotional actions", "Attributes of death". The classification is developed on the basis of analyzing 2 500 figurative contexts personifying death taking into account already existing ideographic classifications. The article shows that evolution of semantic classes of vehicles is observed in the direction of increasing diversity of names of actions, functions, properties, characteristics, states, instruments of death.
The Lexicographic Problems of Compiling Argot Dictionaries
Authors: Grachev Mikhail
Published: April 2019

The article argues for the need to compile a new fundamental argotic dictionary on a scientific basis. Using the comparative and historical method, the paper provides the criticism of the previous lexicons reflecting the language of the criminal world. With respect to the mistakes and inaccuracies made by compilers of the available dictionaries, the author develops the principles of lexicographic representation of the Russian argot, determines the sources of the language material included in the dictionary (folklore, old Russian literature, speech of modern representatives of the criminal subculture), proposes criteria and methods of the qualifying a lexical unit as argot. The article describes the new dictionary structure that reflects complex characteristics of its constituent units (a headword with stress, reference articles, meaning interpretation, context of use, phraseological units, grammatical characteristics, etymology). It also identifies tendencies of the modern Russian argot evolution caused by the influence of changes in the Russian society in general and in the criminal world in particular, as well as the reasons for penetrating argot in the spoken language and media texts. Besides, the paper shows the possibilities of using the new qualitative linguistic dictionary to study the linguistic picture of the world of argot speakers, to form an objective evaluation of this phenomenon and to improve the speech culture of Russian society.
Representation of the Lexical and Semantic Field “Time” in the “Dictionary of Russian Dialects on the Territory of the Republic of Mordovia”
Authors: Akimova Elvira , Mochalova Tatiana
Published: April 2019

The article deals with the specifics of the national language world picture of the Republic of Mordovia. On the basis of the lexicographic data analysis the authors note a set of language units that represent the lexical and semantic field "Time" and define its structural and semantic peculiarities. The paper shows that lexemes with time semantics are a segment of the regional dictionary. In accordance with the results of the field complex analysis, this dialectal unity of words is characterized by various meanings of time. The authors prove that the nouns nominate different intervals of time (nominations connected with religious views of rural inhabitants as well as ritual traditions are frequent). The adjectives characterize a thing or an event qualifying them depending on their relation to any time scheme. The verbs point to the actions connected with eating meals at the definite time intervals. The adverbs represent two main meanings – definite or indefinite time. The nominations of time intervals that are referred to the past demonstrate a high level of variability. The authors conclude that the lexical and semantic field "Time" demonstrates a complex lexical and semantic unity with the units that are linked into a system by basic paradigmatic relations (polysemy, synonymy, antonymy, homonymy).
Balancing the Hype with Reality: What Do Patients with Advanced Melanoma Consider When Making the Decision to Have Immunotherapy?
Authors: Wong Annie , Billett Alex , Milne Donna
Published: April 2019

Background

Immunotherapy has resulted in unprecedented improvements in survival and maintained quality of life for many patients with advanced melanoma. However, durable responses are observed in only a minority of patients, and severe treatment side effects are experienced by 5%–30%. There are no reliable tests that can differentiate between patients who are likely to respond to immunotherapy and those who will not. Hence, new challenges have arisen as clinicians try to facilitate patients in their decision-making regarding immunotherapy. Furthermore, little is known about the real-world patients’ experience and understanding of immunotherapy outside the clinical trial setting. Here, we explore the perspectives of patients undergoing immunotherapy for melanoma and focus on factors that influenced their treatment decision-making.

Materials and Methods

Twenty-three in-depth semistructured interviews were conducted with patients receiving pembrolizumab for stage IV melanoma at an Australian public cancer hospital. Patients were recruited at a range of time points after commencing therapy, and their experience of treatment was explored. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, coded, and analyzed thematically.

Results

Immunotherapy is viewed as a symbol of hope, with high-profile anecdotes reinforcing this perception. Only a minority of patients expressed a good understanding of the likely efficacy and potential treatment side effects. Patients are reliant on their clinicians’ recommendation regarding immunotherapy treatment decisions.

Conclusion

Novel treatments such as immunotherapy provide significant hope for patients. This may influence their preference for immunotherapy over and above the usual considerations of the trade-off between efficacy and toxicity. Careful counsel and individualized patient resources may further facilitate treatment decision-making.

Implications for Practice

This study highlighted some of the misconceptions held by patients that need to be addressed when discussing the possibility of receiving treatment with immunotherapy for advanced melanoma. Patients placed a lot of importance on high-profile anecdotes rather than truly understanding likely outcomes of treatment based on personal circumstances. The majority of patients had a poor understanding of the potential side effects and long-term implications of treatment with immunotherapy. Careful counsel is required in order to facilitate informed decision-making about treatment and to ensure possible side effects are known and appreciated. Further research is needed to develop tools to aid decision-making in everyday clinical practice.
High-temperature behaviour of thermo-mechanically treated and cold-drawn twisted steel bars
Authors: Rafi Muhammad Masood , Dahar Abdul Basit , Aziz Tariq
Published: April 2019

This paper presents the results of experimental testing at elevated temperatures of two types of steel rebars locally available in Pakistan. These include cold-drawn twisted (CDT) bars and hot-rolled thermo-mechanically treated (TMT) bars. Two rebar diameters (12 and 16 mm) of both types of bars were included in the testing programme. The bars were heat treated in an electrical furnace at 100−900°C in increments of 100°C. The yield strength of the 12 mm dia. hot-rolled TMT bar was less than the recommended strength of 500 MPa at ambient temperature. The yield phenomenon and strain hardening were not observed in the CDT bars either at ambient or high temperatures. The yield plateau of the hot-rolled TMT bars also disappeared after 300°C of heating. The ultimate strength of the hot-rolled TMT bars up to 300°C was higher than the strength at ambient temperature due to the precipitation of iron nitride in these bars (termed as blue brittleness effects). The reduction coefficients for yield strength and elastic modulus for the investigated bars were similar at all exposure temperatures. The behaviour of bars tested in this study are compared with those reported in the literature and differences in the bar behaviour are discussed.
Analytical solution for geogrid-reinforced piled embankments under traffic loads
Authors: Zhuang Y. , Cheng X. , Wang K.
Published: April 2019

This paper describes a simplified numerical model for geogrid-reinforced piled embankments considering dynamic loads. Based on this model, the vertical stress acting on the geogrid is investigated comprehensively and is found to exhibit an inverse trapezoidal distribution. An analytical solution for the geogrid-reinforced piled embankment under a static load is then derived for vertical equilibrium and an assumed inverse trapezoidal load distribution on the geogrid. This is extended by considering an additional vertical stress induced by the dynamic loads, based on the Boussinesq equation. However, the characteristics of the traffic loads (i.e. frequency and load numbers) are ignored. The analytical solution is then validated against three case studies and parametric numerical studies under various geometries (pile spacing and embankment height), geogrid stiffnesses and embankment friction angles. These parametric studies show that the geogrid tension increases with the pile spacing, embankment height and geogrid stiffness but decreases with the friction angle of the embankment. The pile spacing is found to be the most influential of all the factors examined in this paper, increasing from 2.0 m to 3.0 m when the geogrid tension is increased by approximately 248%.
Evaluation of Financial Instruments Possessing Non-Conventional Cash Flow
Authors: Kulakov Nikolay , Blaset Kastro Anastasia
Published: April 2019

Investments are often justified and accepted based on the IRR as the main criterion of profitability. However, that criterion is hardly ever used to evaluate some financial instruments (e.g. short sales, options, futures and swaps). This is partially due to the fact that some instruments possess a cash flow describing a borrowing rather than an investment. Others have a non-conventional cash flow and, consequently, the IRR may be meaningless or impossible to determine. We describe a non-conventional cash flow of a financial instrument as a non-conventional project consisting of a sequence of single-period (simple) projects. Each simple project has only two cash flows with opposite signs therefore the IRR for the simple project is always determined. If there is a decomposition in which each simple project has the same IRR value, then that value is the IRR of the non-conventional project. If a decomposition of the non-conventional project into simple projects with the same IRR is impossible, the non-conventional project’s IRR does not exist. If a simple project is an investment then the IRR is a rate of return for an investor. If a simple project is a loan then the IRR is an interest rate for the borrower, but not for the investor. Therefore the NPV method estimates a non-conventional project for two different participants simultaneously that leads to problems with definition of IRR. In order the loan’s IRR would be a rate of return for the investor, but not an interest rate for the borrower, the sign of IRR should be replaced to opposite one. The paper discusses how to use the Generalized Net Present Value (GNPV) method to calculate a yield of the financial instrument with non-conventional cash flow. The function GNPV(r, p) depends on two rates: finance and reinvestment ones that determine a cost of funding and a rate of return, respectively. The equation GNPV (r, -r) = 0 is investigated in the paper. The solution of that equation is the Generalized Average Rate of Return (GARR). We suggest using the GARR as a new measure of a yield for evaluating financial instruments possessing a non-conventional cash flow and estimating a portfolio’s performance over period with contributions and withdrawals.
Comparative evaluation of adherence to antiretroviral therapy
Authors: Singla Ritika , Sharma Neetu
Published: April 2019

Background: While treating  patients with HIV infection it is important to achieve more than 95% compliance to ART (Antiretroviral Therapy) in order to suppress viral replication.Methods: This was a retrospective, observational, record based study of HIV positive patients undergoing treatment with ZLN (zidovudine 300 mg, lamivudine 150 mg, nevirapine 200 mg) and TLE ( tenofovir 300 mg, lamivudine 150 mg, efavirenz 600 mg) regimens. The treatment charts of the patients fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria were reviewed.Results: Analysis of adherence showed that there were 12 patients out of 150 on ZLN regimen and 31 patients out of 150 on TLE regimen were nonadherent to the respective treatments.Conclusions: In this observational study patients on ZLN regimen were showing greater compliance than TLE regimen.
Comparison of efficacy and safety of oral azithromycin and oral doxycycline in acne vulgaris
Authors: Ahsan Marya , Ranjan Rahul , Chandra Shalini , Mayank Kumar
Published: April 2019

Background: Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous unit with considerable psychosocial impact. Oral azithromycin or oral doxycycline can be used for the management of moderate and severe acne vulgaris. However, there is no consensus on which antibiotic is superior and the optimal dose for management.Methods: A prospective randomized interventional study was carried out among 120 patients of moderate to severe acne vulgaris. The patients were randomized into group A and B. While group A was prescribed oral azithromycin 500 mg three times a week, group B was given oral doxycycline 100 mg daily for 12 weeks. Topical clindamycin twice daily application was also given. Global Acne Grading Scale (GAGS) score was recorded at baseline and at 2nd, 4th, 8th and 12th weeks.Results: GAGS score at baseline in azithromycin (n = 53) and doxycycline (n = 55) group was 31.98±4.49 and 30.63±3.78 respectively (p value >0.05). 83.91±6.83% (p <0.001) and 81.87±6.75% (p <0.001) improvement was seen in azithromycin group and doxycycline group after 12 weeks of treatment. However, there was no difference in the GAGS score between the groups at any follow-up (p value >0.05). 15.09% patients in azithromycin group and 20% patients in doxycycline group reported adverse effects. The most commonly reported adverse effect was diarrhoea. All adverse effects were of ‘mild’ category and causality assessment was ‘possible’.Conclusions: Oral azithromycin is equally efficacious but safer alternative to oral doxycycline for the management of acne vulgaris.
Analysis of adverse drug reactions in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Southern India
Authors: Sai Nagaraja Prasad
Published: April 2019

Background: Medication use has been there since time immemorial. Also, it was well known that all medications carry risk of adverse drug events. Hence regular and periodic monitoring of medications for adverse events has assumed importance. With this background pharmacovigilance has an important role to play in monitoring of adverse events to medications. Hence the present study was undertaken to analyze the pattern of adverse events reported to a tertiary care teaching hospital in Southern India (Shivamogga Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS), Shimoga).Methods: This study is a retrospective observational study of 150 adverse drug events reported at McGann teaching hospital, SIMS, Shimoga. The adverse events reported were analyzed for their age and gender distribution, drugs causing ADRs, organ systems affected, causality, type, severity and preventability of ADRs.Results: Patients in age groups of 21-40 were most commonly affected by ADRs with a slight increase in male population affected. Cutaneous ADRs were most common and beta lactam antibiotics were most common drug group implicated in causing these ADRs. Probable/likely category most common WHO-UMC causality category, with type A ADRs being most common. Majority of ADRs were of moderate severity and nearly 86% of ADRs were of not preventable category.Conclusions: Antimicrobials were most commonly involved in causation of ADRs with cutaneous ADRs being most common. Most of ADR were not preventable category, majority of ADRs were of moderate severity and causality grading was probable/likely category.