bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unintended Consequences in Cancer Care Delivery Created by the Medicare Part B Proposal: Is the Clinical Rationale for the Experiment Flawed?
Authors: Gordan Lucio , Grogg Amy , Blazer Marlo , Fortner Barry
Published: February 2017

Purpose:

Medicare currently enrolls ≥ 45 million adults, and by 2030 this is projected to increase to ≥ 80 million beneficiaries. With this growth, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposal, the Medicare Part B Drug Payment Model, to shrink drug expenditures, a major contributor to overall health care costs. For this to not adversely affect patient outcomes, lower-cost alternative medications with equivalent efficacy and no increased toxicity must be available. This is often not true in the treatment of cancer. Herein, we examine the flaws in the rationale of the CMS and the potential unintended consequences of this experiment.

Methods:

We identified the top three oncology expenditures (rituximab, bevacizumab, and trastuzumab) and their vetted alternatives (per the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines) to ascertain whether lower-cost equivalent alternatives are available. Drug cost was based on April 2016 average sale price. We explored both efficacy of the agents and, when applicable, toxicity to compare alternatives to these high-dollar medications.

Results:

For the largest Medicare oncology drug expenditures, there is not a lower-cost option with equal efficacy for their primary indications. Without lower-cost alternatives, the unintended consequence of this CMS experiment may include curtailing access to care or an increase in patient/program costs.

Conclusion:

The CMS proposal, by simply lowering reimbursement for drugs, does not acknowledge the value of these agents and could unintentionally reduce quality of care. Alternative approaches to value-based care, such as the Oncology Care Model and similar frameworks, should be explored.
2016 Updated American Society of Clinical Oncology/Oncology Nursing Society Chemotherapy Administration Safety Standards, Including Standards for Pediatric Oncology
Authors: Neuss Michael N. , Gilmore Terry R. , Belderson Kristin M. , Billett Amy L. , Conti-Kalchik Tara , Harvey Brittany E. , Hendricks Carolyn , LeFebvre Kristine B. , Mangu Pamela B. , McNiff Kristen , Olsen MiKaela , Schulmeister Lisa , Von Gehr Ann , Polovich Martha
Published: February 2017

Purpose

To update the ASCO/Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Chemotherapy Administration Safety Standards and to highlight standards for pediatric oncology.

Methods

The ASCO/ONS Chemotherapy Administration Safety Standards were first published in 2009 and updated in 2011 to include inpatient settings. A subsequent 2013 revision expanded the standards to include the safe administration and management of oral chemotherapy. A joint ASCO/ONS workshop with stakeholder participation, including that of the Association of Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurses and American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, was held on May 12, 2015, to review the 2013 standards. An extensive literature search was subsequently conducted, and public comments on the revised draft standards were solicited.

Results

The updated 2016 standards presented here include clarification and expansion of existing standards to include pediatric oncology and to introduce new standards: most notably, two-person verification of chemotherapy preparation processes, administration of vinca alkaloids via minibags in facilities in which intrathecal medications are administered, and labeling of medications dispensed from the health care setting to be taken by the patient at home. The standards were reordered and renumbered to align with the sequential processes of chemotherapy prescription, preparation, and administration. Several standards were separated into their respective components for clarity and to facilitate measurement of adherence to a standard.

Conclusion

As oncology practice has changed, so have chemotherapy administration safety standards. Advances in technology, cancer treatment, and education and training have prompted the need for periodic review and revision of the standards. Additional information is available at http://www.asco.org/chemo-standards .
Role of Biologics in First-Line Treatment of Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Mahipal Amit , Grothey Axel
Published: February 2017

In the past decade, significant advances have been made in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer. Multiple cytotoxic agents and targeted therapies have been approved for management of metastatic colorectal cancer, leading to improvement of median overall survival in clinical trials to more than 30 months. Of note, before the introduction of biologics into treatment algorithms for metastatic colorectal cancer, median survival in phase III trials never exceeded 24 months. In 2016, the most common treatment approach in first line is a combination of chemotherapy with a biologic agent. The choice of therapy is influenced by patient factors (eg, age, comorbidities), tumor characteristics (eg, overall tumor burden, pattern of metastatic spread, mutation signature), potential adverse effects of therapy, and goals of treatment. The choice between irinotecan- or oxaliplatin-based cytotoxic chemotherapy regimen is primarily based on differential toxicity profile because they have similar efficacy. Currently, three biologic agents—bevacizumab, cetuximab, and panitumumab—are approved for first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. For patients with mutant RAS and likely mutant BRAF V600E tumors, bevacizumab is the only biologic agent that can be used in conjunction with cytotoxic chemotherapy. The choice of anti–epidermal growth factor antibody or anti–vascular endothelial growth factor antibody in RAS wild-type tumors is based on the specific clinical scenario. Recently, some clinical and molecular biomarkers have emerged that may help in decision making. In this review, we discuss the role of biologics in the management of first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.
Clostridium difficile–Associated Diarrhea in the Oncology Patient
Authors: Neemann Kari , Freifeld Alison
Published: February 2017

Clostridium difficile is the most common cause of nosocomial diarrhea, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. Oncology patients are particularly at risk of this infection secondary to frequent exposure to known risk factors. In a population in which diarrhea is a common adverse effect of chemotherapeutic regimens, diagnosis can be challenging secondary to current limitations in testing to differentiate between colonization and active infection. Although several currently available antimicrobial therapies achieve resolution of symptoms in this population, further research is needed to determine which agent least affects the host intestinal microbiota, especially in times of neutropenia and mucosal barrier injury. The purpose of this article is to review the current literature on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and management of C difficile–associated diarrhea in the oncology population.
Packing Structure Effects on the Slow Magnetic Relaxation Pathways of Dysprosium (III) Complexes
Authors: Kamila Mritunjoy , Cosquer Goulven , Breedlove Brian K , Yamashita Masahiro
Published: February 2017

Three complexes, [Dy{5-(5-methylthiophen-2-yl)-2,2′-bipyridine}(hfac)3] (6), [Dy{5-(4-bromo-5-methylthiophen-2-yl)-2,2′-bipyridine}(hfac)3] (7) and [Dy{5-(4-ethynyl-5-methylthio-phen-2-yl)-2,2′-bipyridine}(hfac)3] (8) (hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetate), were synthesized to investigate the effects of substituents on the ligand far from the metal ion on the magnetic properties of the dysprosium ion. 7 crystallized in two polymorphs (P21/n for 7a and P21/a for 7b), whereas 6 and 8 crystallized in one polymorph (P21/n and P21/a, respectively). All of the complexes have columnar structures, and in 6 and 7a, there are π–π stacking interactions between neighboring aromatic rings in contrast to compounds 7b and 8, which do not show such interactions. Every complex underwent slow magnetic relaxation with a single relaxation time, except for complex 7a, for which there were two relaxation times. In order to clarify the role of distal substitution and crystal packing, the magnetic properties were studied in solution, where all of the complexes show single relaxation times.
National Lymphoedema Education and Research Specialist in Wales
Authors: Morgan Karen
Published: February 2017

Karen Morgan, National Lymphoedema Education and Research Specialist, Lymphoedema Network Wales discusses her 25-year nursing career and the broad-ranging responsibilities that form part of her role
Exploring salutogenesis as a concept of health and wellbeing in nurses who thrive professionally
Authors: Stock Eleanor
Published: February 2017

Aim:

To determine whether salutogenesis, a concept of health and wellbeing, can be identified in nurses who self-describe as thriving professionally.

Background:

Nurse burnout can potentially impact clinical performance, patient safety, and increase the turnover of nurses, which all contribute to additional healthcare costs. The ability to not only avoid burnout, but to thrive in stressful environments is an important factor worth exploring. The salutogenic concept is related to this.

Method:

This was a mixed-method, exploratory, descriptive study involving 12 volunteer nurses.

Results:

Qualitative data analysis revealed the following main themes: ‘other people’, ‘passion’, ‘coping mechanisms’, ‘personal characteristics’ and ‘time’. Quantitative data revealed the average sense of coherence (SOC) score, which measures a person's perceived health, was 73.58 out of a possible 91 points. Ranking of scores revealed the four highest scoring means all correlated to the meaningfulness category of the SOC questionnaire.

Conclusion:

Salutogenesis could be considered a quality in nurses who thrive, but further research is needed.
Recurrent thrush and its effects
Authors: Kochhar Suneeta
Published: February 2017

Vulvovaginal candidiasis is a common problem, but may require further investigation, writes Suneeta Kochhar
Coping with feelings associated with wound malodour
Authors: Ousey Karen , Roberts Debbie
Published: February 2017

Nurses and patients can have extreme feelings based on wound malodour, and understanding how to deal with these is essential for good patient care, write Karen Ousey and Debbie Roberts
Indice
Authors: - -
Published: February 2017

Indice Número 16
Geneza kryzysu hipotecznego w USA z perspektywy dekady
Authors: Kołodziejczyk Hanna
Published: February 2017

Kryzys finansowy, który rozpoczął się w 2007 r. w USA, zwany jest również kryzysem hipotecznym lub kryzysem subprime (subprime mortgage crisis). Nosił on znamiona tzw. kryzysu kredytowego. Poniższy artykuł stawia sobie za cel ustrukturyzowanie stanu wiedzy na temat genezy kryzysu hipotecznego w USA i spojrzenie na jego przyczyny przez pryzmat ostatniego dziesięciolecia. Wyróżnione zostały poniższe czynniki: globalna nierównowaga i polityka Systemu Rezerwy Federalnej w latach 2001-2007; sytuacja na rynku nieruchomości i polityka mieszkaniowa w USA; rozwój sektora finansowego i nadzór nad rynkami; polityka kredytowa banków komercyjnych i ich apetyt na ryzyko; polityka finansowania działalności banków – wykorzystanie sekurytyzacji i dźwigni finansowej; inżynieria finansowa i agencje ratingowe.
Koncepcja wykładni prawa Macieja Zielińskiego
Authors: Choduń Agnieszka
Published: February 2017

Zbiór dyrektyw interpretacyjnych stosowanych w trzech fazach wykładni (fazie porządkującej, fazie rekonstrukcyjnej i fazie percepcyjnej) tworzy normatywną koncepcję wykładni prawa, której pierwotną wersję przedstawił w 1969 r. Maciej Zieliński, a w pełni zaprezentował w monografii Wykładnia prawa. Zasady, reguły, wskazówki w 2002 r. W koncepcji tej przyjmuje się, że interpretacji dokonuje się zawsze (omnia sunt interpretanda) i podlega jej tekst aktu prawnego, który ze względu na swoiste cechy związane z quasi-idiomatycznością oraz różnymi sposobami wyrażanie norm w przepisach prawnych, wymaga przeprowadzenia czynności rekonstrukcyjnych (syntaktycznie, logicznie i treściowo) oraz ujednoznaczniających. Natomiast rezultatem działań interpretatora – po zastosowaniu dyrektyw językowych, dyrektyw systemowych i dyrektyw funkcjonalnych zgodnie z zasadą interpretatio cessat post applicationem trium typorum directionae – jest norma prawna rozumiana jako zupełna (syntaktycznie, treściowo i logicznie) wypowiedź dostatecznie jednoznaczna w wybranym momencie interpretacyjnym.
Komunikatywność tekstu prawnego a derywacyjna koncepcja wykładni prawa (aspekt rozumienia normy sankcjonowanej)
Authors: Siwek Kamil
Published: February 2017

Przedmiotem artykułu jest konfrontacja postulatu komunikatywności tekstu prawnego z derywacyjną koncepcją wykładni prawa Macieja Zielińskiego. Przedmiotem odniesienia uczyniono normę sankcjonowaną z perspektywy osoby o wykształceniu zawodowym, średnim i policealnym, a więc dominującym wśród polskiej populacji. Wykorzystując ochronną funkcję prawa karnego, autor podjął próbę zakwestionowania tezy, że przepisy karnoprawne są komunikatywne dla tak określonego interpretatora. Zastosowanie założeń derywacyjnej koncepcji wykładni uświadamia, że zarówno zjawisko rozczłonkowania (na poziomie syntaktycznym oraz treściowym) oraz wykorzystanie dyrektywy języka prawniczego (literatury i orzecznictwa), które – ponieważ stanowią powszechnie obowiązujący materiał interpretacyjny na równi z wykładnią autentyczną i mają w działaniu interpretacyjnym pierwszeństwo przed językiem ogólnym – wymagają od interpretatora nieprzeciętnej wiedzy prawniczej oraz prowadzenia żmudnych poszukiwań, co czyni prawo karne niezrozumiałym. W konsekwencji istotnemu praktycznemu ograniczeniu powinna podlegać sfera stosowania tradycyjnej formuły ignorantia legis non excusat.
The role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Sun Xin , Zhang Yan , Xie Meilin
Published: February 2017

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been defined as a spectrum of histological abnormalities and is characterized by significant and excessive accumulation of triglycerides in the hepatocytes in patients without alcohol consumption or other diseases. Current studies are targeting new molecular mechanisms that underlie NAFLD and associated metabolic disorders. Many therapeutic targets have been found and used in clinical studies. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are among the potential targets and have been demonstrated to exert a pivotal role in modulation of NAFLD. Many drugs developed so far are targeted at PPARs. Thus, the aim of this paper is to summarize the roles of PPARs in the treatment of NAFLD.
Improving quality in the preanalytical phase through innovation, on behalf of the European Federation for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) Working Group for Preanalytical Phase (WG-PRE)
Authors: Lippi Giuseppe , Baird Geoffrey S. , Banfi Giuseppe , Bölenius Karin , Cadamuro Janne , Church Stephen , Cornes Michael P. , Dacey Anna , Guillon Antoine , Hoffmann Georg , Nybo Mads , Premawardhana Lakdasa Devananda , Salinas María , Sandberg Sverre , Slingerland Robbert , Stankovic Ana , Sverresdotter Sylte Marit , Vermeersch Pieter , Simundic Ana-Maria
Published: February 2017

It is now undeniable that laboratory testing is vital for the diagnosis, prognostication and therapeutic monitoring of human disease. Despite the many advances made for achieving a high degree of quality and safety in the analytical part of diagnostic testing, many hurdles in the total testing process remain, especially in the preanalytical phase ranging from test ordering to obtaining and managing the biological specimens. The Working Group for the Preanalytical Phase (WG-PRE) of the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) has planned many activities aimed at mitigating the vulnerability of the preanalytical phase, including the organization of three European meetings in the past 7 years. Hence, this collective article follows the previous three opinion papers that were published by the EFLM WGPRE on the same topic, and brings together the summaries of the presentations that will be given at the 4th EFLM-BD meeting “Improving quality in the preanalytical phase through innovation” in Amsterdam, 24–25 March, 2017.
Role of treatment-modifying MTHFR677C>T and 1298A>C polymorphisms in metformin-treated Puerto Rican patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy
Authors: Jiménez-Ramírez Francisco J. , Castro Liza M. , Ortiz Clarymar , Concepción Jennifer , Renta Jessicca Y. , Morales-Borges Raúl H. , Miranda-Massari Jorge R. , Duconge Jorge
Published: February 2017

Background:

The study was conducted to investigate potential association between MTHFR genotypes and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in Puerto Ricans with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) treated with metformin. The prevalence of major MTHFR polymorphisms in this cohort was also ascertained.

Methods:

DNAs from 89 metformin-treated patients with T2DM and DPN were genotyped using the PCR-based RFLP assay for MTHFR677C>T and 1298A>C polymorphisms. Frequency distributions of these variants in the study cohort were compared to those reported for three reference populations (HapMap project) and controls (400 newborn specimens). Chi-square (or Fischer’s exact) tests and odds ratios (OR) were used to assess association with DPN susceptibility risk (patients vs. controls) and biochemical markers (wild types vs. carriers).

Results:

Sixty-seven percent (67%) of participants carry at least one of these MTHFR polymorphisms. No deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were detected. The genotype and allele frequencies showed statistically significant differences between participants and controls (p<0.0001 and p=0.03, respectively). Results suggest that 1298A>C but not 677C>T is associated with DPN susceptibility in this cohort (p=0.018). Different patterns of allelic dissimilarities are observed when comparing our cohort vs. the three parental ancestries. After sorting individuals by their carrier status, no significant associations were observed between these genetic variants (independently or combined) and any of the biochemical markers (HbA1c, folate, vitamin B12, homocysteine).

Conclusions:

Prevalence of major MTHFR variants in Puerto Rican patients with T2DM is first time ever reported. The study provides further evidence on the use of this genetic marker as an independent risk factor for DPN.
Space-Time Unit-Level EBLUP for Large Data Sets
Authors: D’Aló Michele , Falorsi Stefano , Solari Fabrizio
Published: February 2017

Most important large-scale surveys carried out by national statistical institutes are the repeated survey type, typically intended to produce estimates for several parameters of the whole population, as well as parameters related to some subpopulations. Small area estimation techniques are becoming more and more important for the production of official statistics where direct estimators are not able to produce reliable estimates. In order to exploit data from different survey cycles, unit-level linear mixed models with area and time random effects can be considered. However, the large amount of data to be processed may cause computational problems. To overcome the computational issues, a reformulation of predictors and the correspondent mean cross product estimator is given. The R code based on the new formulation enables the elaboration of about 7.2 millions of data records in a matter of minutes.
Design of Seasonal Adjustment Filter Robust to Variations in the Seasonal Behaviour of Time Series
Authors: Martelotte Marcela Cohen , Souza Reinaldo Castro , Silva Eduardo Antônio Barros da
Published: February 2017

Considering that many macroeconomic time series present changing seasonal behaviour, there is a need for filters that are robust to such changes. This article proposes a method to design seasonal filters that address this problem. The design was made in the frequency domain to estimate seasonal fluctuations that are spread around specific bands of frequencies. We assessed the generated filters by applying them to artificial data with known seasonal behaviour based on the ones of the real macroeconomic series, and we compared their performance with the one of X-13A-S. The results have shown that the designed filters have superior performance for series with pronounced moving seasonality, being a good alternative in these cases.
Estimation when the Covariance Structure of the Variable of Interest is Positive Definite
Authors: Théberge Alain
Published: February 2017

Generalized regression (GREG) estimation uses a model that assumes that the values of the variable of interest are not correlated. An extension of the GREG estimator to the case where the vector of interest has a positive definite covariance structure is presented in this article. This extension can be translated to the calibration estimators. The key to this extension lies in a generalization of the Horvitz-Thompson estimator which, in some sense, also assumes that the values of the variable of interest are not correlated. The Godambe-Joshi lower bound is another result which assumes a model with no correlation. This is also generalized to a vector of interest with a positive definite covariance structure, and it is shown that the generalized calibration estimator asymptotically attains this generalized lower bound. Properties of the new estimators are given, and they are compared with the Horvitz-Thompson estimator and the usual calibration estimator. The new estimators are applied to the Canadian Reverse Record Check survey and to the problem of variance estimation.
The karyotype of Trinomys paratus (Rodentia: Echimyidae) with comments about its phylogenetic relationship
Authors: Lazar Ana , Nacif Camila , Weksler Marcelo , Bonvicino Cibele R.
Published: February 2017

The spiny rat Trinomys, with ten endemic species in eastern Brazil, has a complex taxonomy. We carried out a revision of the karyotypes of Trinomys, described for the first time the karyotype of Trinomys paratus and performed the first phylogenetic analysis including all Trinomys species based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. The T. paratus karyotype showed diploid number of 58 and fundamental autosomal number of 112. Diploid and fundamental autosomal numbers (FNa), and chromosomes’ morphology, are similar to those described for Trinomys eliasi. T. paratus appears as sister taxa of T. eliasi; in turn, this clade was recovered as the sister group of Trinomys setosus, as previously reported, confirming that sister species of Trinomys has conserved karyotypes, and suggesting that karyological evolution in this genus could be slower than species differentiation.
The Deconsolidation of Democracy in East‑Central Europe: The New World Order and the EU’s Geopolitical Crisis
Authors: Ágh Attila
Published: February 2017

In recent decades, the most remarkable feature of East-Central European (ECE) states has been their engagement in a deconsolidation process that necessitates the reconceptualising of European Studies and the theory of democracy. In the early ’90s, during the “revolution of high expectations,” consolidation was the key term in the conceptual framework of the transitology paradigm, but this approach was questioned increasingly in the 2000s and rejected in the 2010s. In its place, deconsolidation was introduced as one of a wide array of similar terms referring to the decline, backsliding or regression of democracy and later as one of a whole “other” family of opposite terms like (semi-)authoritarian system and competitive/elected autocracy. Indeed, rather than a transition to democracy, a tendency to transition to authoritarian rule has been observed in the ECE states in general and in Poland and Hungary in particular. In the last quarter century, the twin terms of Europeanisation and democratisation, which denote normative approaches, have been the main conceptual pillars of analyses of the ECE states. It turns out, however, that the opposite processes of de-Europeanisation and de-democratisation can now also be observed in these countries.
Economic Crisis and Euroscepticism: A Comparative Study of the Hungarian and Italian Case (1990–2013)
Authors: Molnár Anna
Published: February 2017

This comparative paper examines the reasons and the features of the rising Euroscepticism in Italy and in Hungary in the light of economic, financial, and political crisis. The financial crisis became the main focus of the political debates and discourses among the Italian and the Hungarian political parties between 2008 and 2013. In Italy and Hungary, Euroscepticism is still on the rise. In the first chapter, I will shortly summarise the conceptual framework of Euroscepticism. In the second chapter, I provide an overview of the way Hungarian and Italian political discourse has envisioned Europe in the post-bipolar, or post-Maastricht, period that began in the early 1990s. The fall of the Berlin wall had a decisive impact on the domestic politics of Hungary and Italy, and subsequent international changes created the basis for different forms of transitions in both countries. Hungary left behind dictatorship and the one-party system to create a functioning democracy, whereas Italy experienced the end of the political party system of the “First Republic,” giving birth to the highly promising “Second Republic.”
Primary pulmonary choriocarcinoma
Authors: Snoj Ziga , Kocijancic Igor , Skof Erik
Published: February 2017

Background

The aim of the study was to establish whether there are different clinical entities of primary pulmonary choriocarcinoma (PPC) that deserve different diagnostic approach and the most optimal treatment.

Patients and methods

A systematic review with PubMed search was conducted to identify studies that reported cases of PPC. The eligibility criteria were histological diagnosis of pulmonary choriocarcinoma and thorough examination of the reproductive organs to exclude potential primary choriocarcinoma in the gonads. Furthermore, to illustrate the review we additionally present a patient referred at our institution.

Results

55 cases (17 men) were included in the review with a median age of 34 years. Women with the history of gestational event showed better survival outcome than women without the history of gestational event. Patients treated with combined modality treatment (surgery and chemotherapy) survived longer than the patients without combined modality treatment. Furthermore, multivariate analysis of prognostic factors showed that the combined modality treatment had independent prognostic significance. Size of the tumour showed significant prognostic influence in univariate and multivariate analysis.

Conclusions

PPC is an extreme rarity with variable clinical characteristics and outcome. It is important to capture and treat patients in the early stages of the disease. Women with the history of gestational event may show better survival, therefore genetic examination could help us to predict patient’s prognosis. Surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy appears to represent the best treatment for PPC.
The potential of transcranial photobiomodulation therapy for treatment of major depressive disorder
Authors: Salehpour Farzad , Rasta Seyed Hossein
Published: February 2017

Major depressive disorder is a common debilitating mood disorder that affects quality of life. Prefrontal cortex abnormalities, an imbalance in neurotransmitters, neuroinflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction are the major factors in the etiology of major depressive disorder. Despite the efficacy of pharmacotherapy in the treatment of major depressive disorder, 30%–40% of patients do not respond to antidepressants. Given this, exploring the alternative therapies for treatment or prevention of major depressive disorder has aroused interest among scientists. Transcranial photobiomodulation therapy is the use of low-power lasers and light-emitting diodes in the far-red to near-infrared optical region for stimulation of neuronal activities. This non-invasive modality improves the metabolic capacity of neurons due to more oxygen consumption and ATP production. Beneficial effects of transcranial photobiomodulation therapy in the wide range of neurological and psychological disorders have been already shown. In this review, we focus on some issue relating to the application of photobiomodulation therapy for major depressive disorder. There is some evidence that transcranial photobiomodulation therapy using near-infrared light on 10-Hz pulsed mode appears to be a hopeful technique for treatment of major depressive disorder. However, further studies are necessary to find the safety of this method and to determine its effective treatment protocol.
The Influence of The Static Layout on The Stress and Deformation State for Concrete Arched Bridges with Upper Carriageway
Authors: Vlad Ionut Dorin , Chiotan Corina
Published: February 2017

Arch bridges were the first constructions with considerable spans built by man, due to the materials and technologies available at that time. Afterwards, these works of art have diversified and are now solutions used in countless situations, especially when crossing deep valleys.

Both their economic and architectonic aspects are hard to combat and have led to selecting this type of structure for more and more locations.

The paper will contain a brief presentation of some aspects regarding upper path concrete arch bridges composition and design methods. Also, it will have a case study regarding structural stresses over the different construction stages, and for several support hypotheses.

The case study will reflect the Crivadia viaduct, situated on DN 66, at km 150+672. The bridge has a main span of 59.20m and an overall height of 15.00m, serving a 7.80m wide carriageway and two 2.20m wide footways. It has a total length of 107.60m.

Based on the results of the case study, conclusions will be drawn regarding stress variation over the construction stages and under different support hypothesis, comparing these with the initial results.
Development of a Future Orientation Model in Emerging Adulthood in Hungary
Authors: Horváth Zsuzsánna E. , Nováky Erzsébet
Published: February 2017

Social and economic sustainability of countries globally largely depend on how well educational structures are capable of empowering future generations with skills and competencies to become autonomous and active citizens. Such competency is future planning, which is vital in the identity formation of youth in their developmental phase of emerging adulthood. The article below attempts to elaborate a predictive model of future orientation based on current and future norms, future interest and concern. The model was tested on a sample population of business school students (N=217) in their emerging adulthood. Norm acceptance ranking proved to be different for present and future times. Amongst a number of contextual variables shaping the formation of future plans concern has been found to hold the strongest predictive power.
Immigrant Representation in the Swedish Parliament: Towards Homogeneity or United Diversity?
Authors: Magnusdottir Gunnhildur Lily
Published: February 2017

The current study explores how immigrants are represented within the two largest political parties in Sweden, the Social Democratic Party and the Moderate Party. Apart from exploring the descriptive representation of immigrants in the Swedish parliament, this article explores whether immigrant representation in the two parties in question results in visible diversity in views on immigration and in particular asylum politics. We are predominantly interested in exploring whether immigrant parliamentarians, who might have identities and experiences differing from the majority of the parliamentarians, represent views departing from the general party lines. The theoretical underpinnings of the article are based on an intersectionality approach and historical and feminist institutionalism, specifically the politics of presence, which explores the link between a critical mass in politics and critical acts or substantive representation. The first findings of the study, which have been reached primarily through a qualitative comparative analysis of survey material, are mixed. The number of Social Democratic and Moderate immigrant parliamentarians does not reach the level of foreign-born citizens in Sweden. Nevertheless, there appears to be room for diverse views on immigration and asylum politics that depart from the general party lines in both parties.
Household Role in Coping with Precarious Work. Evidence from Qualitative Research in Urban Romania and Switzerland
Authors: Preoteasa Ana Maria D. , Sieber Rebekka , Budowski Monica , Suter Christian
Published: February 2017

This paper presents the results of a qualitative comparative study that looked at the meaning of ‘precarious work’ in households situated in the position of ‘precarious prosperity’ in Switzerland and Romania in 2013. The aim of this research is to explore the experiences of individuals with precarious work and to embed them into their household and national structural contexts. Employment patterns in the two countries are similar in terms of uncertainty and instability, yet vary in many other aspects. While in Romania insecurity is due mainly to the very low incomes, in Switzerland it stems from nonstandard contracts. The research shows that for households of precarious prosperity, precarious work is both a strategy to cope with uncertainty and instability and a circumstance leading to precariousness. The analysis explores qualitatively the meaning that individuals living in households of precarious prosperity attribute to their employment situation as contextualized by the interplay between household and individual situation.
Applying conceptual metaphor and Blending Theory to culture-specific speech functions in rap lyrics
Authors: Schröder Ulrike
Published: February 2017

Based on a corpus of 150 rap lyrics taken from Brazilian culture and 150 from German culture, the first stage in our research project on metaphor, rap lyrics, and culture demonstrated that the conceptual (
Discourses of social change in contemporary democracies: the ideological construction of an Ecuadorian women's group based on “solidarity economy and finance”
Authors: Morales-López Esperanza
Published: February 2017

This paper analyzes the discursive construction which a women's movement (MMO) in Ecuador presents to the public as an alternative to the government's proposal on the issue of “solidarity economy and finance.” The MMO's proposal and that of the government are not exactly two conflicting voices, but they are somewhat divergent in the process of building the

Ethnographic methodology is used to collect the data, and to relate these data with the local and global context. As for the method of analysis, the pragmatic approach has provided useful tools at the micro-analytical level. However, this level places limits at the macro-analytical level, on the analysis of complex strategies and arguments; in this case, this research shows how discourse analysis needs to be complemented with studies of argumentation. Finally, the socio-cognitive notion of
Lexicalization and grammaticalization: the development of idioms and grammaticalized expressions with no question
Authors: Davidse Kristin , de Wolf Simon
Published: February 2017

In this article we reconstruct the paths that led to the current lexicalized and grammaticalized uses with
Assessments and the social construction of expertise in political TV interviews
Authors: Piirainen-Marsh Arja , Jauni Heidi
Published: February 2017

This paper investigates how rights to knowledge and opinion are negotiated through assessments embedded in questioning sequences in political news interviews. The focus is on describing how assessments index epistemic positions and evaluative stances embedded in the turns through which the institutional goals of the interview are achieved. The analysis shows how assessments combine with other turn-constructional resources to build a critical or opposing position toward the interviewee's actions, deeds, status, views, or attitudes. It also sheds light on the strategies through which interviewees (IE) engage with and resist the positions displayed by interviewers (IR). Findings show that in the data corpus interviewers often challenge the IE through unmitigated assertions of “facts,” while matters of opinion and assessment of the IE involve footing shifts in the form of citations and quoting written texts. The paper adds to existing research on the tensions in news interview talk; the need to present newsworthy information and hold public figures to account while adhering to the norm of factual, neutral reporting.
The role of metaphor in tennis reports and forums
Authors: Caballero Rosario
Published: February 2017

The present paper describes the role of metaphor in the commentary generated after Wimbledon's 2008 final and articulated in two genres within tennis discourse: post-match reports and the online forums opened after them. The starting assumption is that metaphor is sensitive to the discourse context(s) where it is used, and should be approached accordingly. In this regard, genre provides a good vantage point to gain insight into how metaphors are used and, more interestingly, enriched, re-elaborated, and, presumably, entrenched within a given community through repeated use. By focusing on the role of metaphor in discussing such engaging topics as a tennis match and the players in it, the paper attempts to shed some light into the empathetic and evaluative potential of metaphor as a discourse strategy as well as the importance of communicative interaction and language in the elaboration, expansion, and entrenchment of certain metaphors in discourse communities such as the one built around tennis.
He's absolutely massive. It's a super day. Madonna, she is a wicked singer. Youth language and intensification: a corpus-based study
Authors: Palacios Martínez Ignacio M. , Núñez Pertejo Paloma
Published: February 2017

In the last few years, the language of teenagers has been the focus of attention from different perspectives. One of the features that characterizes this type of language is the particular way adolescents intensify their language. This is precisely the object of study of this paper. For this purpose, we have analyzed data from different corpora: COLT (The Bergen Corpus of London Teenage Language), SCoSE (Saarbrücken Corpus of Spoken English), and DCPSE (Diachronic Corpus of Present-Day Spoken English) together with additional materials from other written and oral sources, including magazines oriented specifically to teenagers, British Library archival sound recordings, Web sites and Web-based glossaries of British teenagers' language. The results obtained show the frequent use of
Personification and ideology in the American media coverage of the Iranian Green Revolution
Authors: Pérez-Sobrino Paula
Published: February 2017

Research on metaphor has consistently proven that metaphors always involve a degree of perspectivation, where certain features are highlighted while others remain obscured (Lakoff and Johnson 1980: 153). The awareness of this partial mapping is crucial for the construction and reproduction of ideology. Specifically, this study claims that the
Interaction in the virtual world: an analysis of students' construal of pedagogic subject positions in a 3D virtual learning environment
Authors: Minelli de Oliveira Janaina , Esteve Vanessa , Camacho Mar
Published: February 2017

This article discusses the results of an investigation on construal of pedagogic positions in a series of online interactions between two students performing learning activities in a three-dimensional virtual learning environment. It aims at analyzing how students offer praise while performing learning activities in the absence of a teacher or mentor. Results show that while students were highly focused in the learning activities, they construe different pedagogic positions through their language behavior, taking more proactive or reactive roles. The main area of attitudinal language used was Appreciation and most evaluative language in the corpus targets the objects created by the students themselves, falling within the Composition subtype. Positive evaluation and Negative evaluation play important roles in the performance of the learning activity: Positive evaluation is used in the corpus to provide feedback on the improvements made in the world and manage conflict or reassurance; Negative evaluation serves two key functions – the management of the revision of the work done and the control of the tasks to be performed. It is argued that the understanding of pedagogic subject positions construal is an essential step for the elaboration of pedagogic strategies, including those which incorporate the extended potentials of new technologies.
Short Note. Drosophilidae and Tephritidae – paratype specimens from “Dr. Igor Ceianu” Diptera Scientific Collection (“Grigore Antipa” National Museum of Natural History, Bucharest, Romania)
Authors: Iancu Lavinia
Published: February 2017

The present report presents the paratype specimens encountered during the preliminary inventory of “Dr. Igor Ceianu” Diptera Scientific Collection. Fourteen paratypes, belonging to the families Drosophilidae and Tephritidae were registered in the “Grigore Antipa” National Museum of Natural History scientific collection and inventory numbers were assigned. Five Drosophilidae specimens were not encountered in any scientific publication excepting the original description; these have been registered within this collection with the inventory numbers 181564-181568.
Faunistic Note. Fifty years later: the rediscovery of Leucorrhinia pectoralis (Odonata: Libellulidae) in Romania
Authors: Manci Cosmin Ovidiu , Popescu Irinel Eugen
Published: February 2017

Leucorrhinia pectoralis is included in the Bern Convention (Appendix II), the Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC) (Annexes II and IV), the IUCN European Red List of Dragonflies, the IUCN Red List of Mediterranean Dragonflies and in the Red List of Dragonflies of the Carpathians. Typical environments for this species are peatlands, a habitat that is in decline and needs special protection throughout Europe. In the summer of 2014 we investigated ROSCI0247 “Tinovul Mare Poiana Stampei” and identified two males of Leucorrhinia pectoralis. At 4.5 km from this protected area, within the same period, we found several dozen individuals of L. pectoralis in a peat exploit area, called “Turbamin”, an example of human activities contributing accidentally to maintain a rare and protected species in nature.
Ternary gallides RE
4Rh9Ga5, RE
5Rh12Ga7 and RE
7Rh18Ga11 (RE=Y, La–Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb) – intergrowth structures with MgCu2 and CaCu5 related slabs
Authors: Seidel Stefan , Rodewald Ute Ch. , Janka Oliver , Pöttgen Rainer
Published: February 2017

Fourteen ternary gallides RE
4Rh9Ga5, RE
5Rh12Ga7 and RE
7Rh18Ga11 (RE=Y, La–Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb) were synthesized from the elements by arc-melting, followed by different annealing sequences either in muffle or induction furnaces. The samples were characterized through Guinier powder patterns and the crystal structures of Ce4Rh9Ga5, Ce5Rh12Ga7, Ce7Rh18Ga11, Nd5Rh10.44(4)Ga8.56(4), Nd4Rh9Ga5 and Gd4Rh9Ga5 were refined from single crystal X-ray diffractometer data. The new gallides are the n=2, 3 and 5 members of the RE
2+n
Rh3+3n
Ga1+2n
structure series in the Parthé intergrowth concept. The slabs of these intergrowth structures derive from the cubic Laves phase MgCu2 (Mg2Ni3Si as ternary variant) and CaCu5 (CeCo3B2 as ternary variant). Only the Nd5Rh10.44(4)Ga8.56(4) crystal shows Rh/Ga mixing within the Laves type slabs. Magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal Pauli paramagnetism for Y4Rh9Ga5 and Curie-Weiss paramagnetism for Gd4Rh9Ga5 and Tb4Rh9Ga5. Low-temperature data show ferromagnetic ordering at T
C=78.1 (Gd4Rh9Ga5) and 55.8 K (Tb4Rh9Ga5).
Case of diabetic ketoacidosis as an initial presentation of Cushing’s syndrome
Authors: Acharya Runa , Kabadi Udaya M
Published: February 2017

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is commonly encountered in clinical practice. The current case is a unique and rare presentation of DKA as the initial manifestation of Cushing’s disease secondary to ACTH-secreting pituitary adenoma. Appropriate management as elaborated in the article led to total remission of diabetes as well as the Cushing’s disease.

Learning points:

DKA is a serious and potentially life-threatening metabolic complication of diabetes mellitus.

Some well-known precipitants of DKA include new-onset T1DM, insulin withdrawal and acute illness.

In a patient presenting with DKA, the presence of a mixed acid–base disorder warrants further evaluation for precipitants of DKA.

We present a rare case of DKA as an initial manifestation of Cushing’s disease secondary to ACTH-producing pituitary adenoma.
Neonatal Morbidity and 1-Year Survival of Extremely Preterm Infants
Authors: Stensvold Hans Jorgen , Klingenberg Claus , Stoen Ragnhild , Moster Dag , Braekke Kristin , Guthe Hans Jorgen , Astrup Henriette , Rettedal Siren , Gronn Morten , Ronnestad Arild E. ,   on behalf of the Norwegian Neonatal Network
Published: February 2017

OBJECTIVE:

To determine 1-year survival and major neonatal morbidities (intracranial hemorrhage grade >2, cystic periventricular leukomalacia, retinopathy of prematurity grade >2, necrotizing enterocolitis, severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia) among extremely preterm infants in Norway in 2013–2014, and to compare the results to the first Norwegian Extreme Prematurity Study 1999–2000 and similar contemporary European population-based studies.

METHODS:

Population-based study of all infants born at 22 through 26 weeks’ gestation in Norway in 2013–2014. Prospectively collected data were obtained by linking data in the Norwegian Neonatal Network to the Medical Birth Registry of Norway.

RESULTS:

Of 420 infants (incidence 3.5 per 1000 births), 145 were stillborn (34.5%), 275 were live-born (82.3% of the 334 fetuses alive at admission for obstetrical care), and 251 (91.3% of live-born infants) were admitted to a neonatal unit. The survival among live-born infants was 18% at 22 weeks, 29% at 23 weeks, 56% at 24 weeks, 84% at 25 weeks and 90% at 26 weeks (for each week increment in gestational age: odds ratio 3.3; 95% confidence interval, 2.4–4.4). Among infants surviving to 1 year of age, major neonatal morbidity was diagnosed in 55%. Decreasing gestational age was moderately associated with rates of major morbidity (odds ratio 1.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.2–2.2).

CONCLUSIONS:

Compared to the previous 1999–2000 cohort, the rate of stillbirth before admission to an obstetrical unit increased, whereas the survival rate among live born infants was similar in our 2013–2014 cohort. Neonatal morbidity rates remain high among extremely preterm infants.
Authors: Schneider Jaluza Aimèe , Andretta Ilana Ilana
Published: February 2017

O consumo de crack configura-se como problema de saúde. Nesse contexto, as interações sociais são essenciais para a reinserção do usuário na sociedade sem o uso de drogas. Assim, objetivou-se avaliar déficits nas habilidades sociais (hs) e identificar possíveis relações com as características sociodemográficas e de padrão de consumo entre os usuários de crack. Participaram 65 homens, usuários de crack, em tratamento nas comunidades terapêuticas da região metropolitana de Porto Alegre (rs). Os instrumentos de avaliação foram: questionário de dados sociodemográficos e de padrão de consumo, e o ihs-Del-Prette. Identificou-se a associação entre déficits nas hs e ser mais jovem, pertencer à classe socioeconômica baixa, ter pai ou irmão usuário de drogas, ter consumo de álcool concomitante, ter assaltado ou roubado, ter usado precocemente crack e ter consumido a droga diariamente. Conclui-se que baixas hs estão associadas a fatores considerados de vulnerabilidade para o uso do crack e destaca-se a importância de intervenções que visem aumentar o repertório das hs de tal população.