bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Politics of Aging: A Hands-on Approach
Authors: Downes Peggy
Published: October 2015

Cold, irrefutable demographics clearly signal a traumatic intergenerational shift in political power. Statistics indicate that by the year 2020 political and economic clout will have drained from the middle-aged to the elderly, or more specifically, to the “young-old.” By the time the Baby Boom generation reaches retirement, its cohort could wield enough political and economic influence to alter political-campaign and corporate-marketing strategies, to tip the scales of the candidate selection process, and to dominate most decision-making centers. This process of power recognition and accumulation is now irreversible. The media, marketing departments, and campaign strategists are all struggling to redefine their target audience, to reassess the depth of political involvement, and to reshape their imagery to fit the new reality. Ironically, political science departments appear reluctant to restructure their course offerings so that this dramatic power transfer can be examined from a political perspective at the undergraduate level.

We make a statement by what we don't teach—by what we fail to discuss and to dissect. Realizing this, in 1987 Santa Clara University's Center of Education on Aging, in conjunction with the political science department, initiated a senior seminar with a strictly political slant on the aging dilemma. Participants chose to function as an exploratory team in the creation of a “political profile” of the aging in the Santa Clara area. Together with their individual research projects, this profile was to serve as the core of a pilot course—a model which subsequent classes and other colleges might draw upon in structuring their own format.
Teaching the Modern Presidency
Authors: Rimmerman Craig A.
Published: October 2015

The need to recognize institutional limits on presidents' abilities to translate their campaign promises into concrete public policy is a central theme characterizing much of the presidency literature during the past decade (Barger, 1984; Cronin, 1980; Hinckley, 1985; Light, 1983). Scholars have argued that the so-called “text-book presidency” (Cronin, 1980) paints an unrealistic picture of presidential power within the confines of a Madisonian framework of separated powers and checks and balances. Others have said that this unrealistic vision has contributed to the “cult of the presidency” (Hinckley, 1985), which is reinforced by the political socialization process and the media, thus leading to the “no-win” (Light, 1983) or “impossible” (Barger, 1984) presidencies. The notion of a plural executive, whose powers are fragmented throughout our Madisonian system has grown in popularity (King and Ragsdale, 1988). As a part of their recommendations for reform, virtually all of these authors emphasize correctly the potential role to be played by educators in imparting a more realistic understanding of the limitations of presidential power and outlining the potential consequences of hero worshipping for the occupant of the Oval Office. This article suggests an approach to teaching the presidency that rejects the notion that the president is the most important actor in the American political system. Instead, I will argue that we need to ask our students to consider the President as one actor in a highly fragmented political system, and to develop a more realistic view of both the sources and uses of presidential power within the broader context of democratic accountability and the development of citizenship.
Write On! Strategies for the Overburdened Instructor
Authors: Cornacchia Eugene J.
Published: October 2015

Many political science instructors often look for ways to increase the amount of writing in their courses without over-burdening either themselves or their students. The following practical suggestions, none particularly new or innovative, are nonetheless useful for including more writing in undergraduate political science courses. I have successfully used these assignments for several years and they are generally enthusiastically received by students.

The underlying theory in my approach is that students are better able to cope with writing when the assignments are briefer and varied, though more frequent. Furthermore, it may be more productive to focus on what students are saying rather than on how they say it (MacAllister, 1982; Sommers, 1982). Adopting such an approach is not to advocate grammatical anarchy. Rather, it recognizes that good, grammatically correct, effective writing must be taught to college students in a manner that is sensitive to their prior experiences and capabilities.

A journal is much like a diary (Fulwiler, 1987). In it, students record their thoughts, observations, and feelings about the political world or specific course material. Students may be asked to write about questions or problems they discover in their readings, current political events, or they may be asked to reflect on issues or questions raised in class. The instructor can pose a specific question, or students may be permitted to write about anything (political) they choose.
Improving Undergraduate Writing
Authors: Maranto Robert
Published: October 2015

Sniping at the desire and ability of undergraduates is common sport at most institutions of higher learning. Get a few professors together, and the talk soon turns to the fluffy heads of our youthful charges. Often we try to outdo each other's dumb student stories. Perhaps less common are special efforts to make things better. It is, after all, easy to complain about the product the high schools send us, but far more difficult to improve it.

This is particularly true of student writing ability. Grading papers and essay exams takes time which few of us have. Besides, it can be awfully depressing to confront the mangled sentences of all too many students. It's better, or at least more comforting, to pretend the problem isn't there. At large institutions with credible graduate programs, teaching assistants often allow professors to remain blissfully ignorant of bad undergraduate writing. At smaller, less prestigious schools, there is an analogous temptation to live and die by the multiple guess/short answer format. The students certainly won't complain, and colleagues and administrators are usually busy with problems of their own.
The Techno-Thriller in the Classroom: Red Storm Rising as a Guide to World War III
Authors: Wirtz James J.
Published: October 2015

Most of the literature in the field of international security studies does not focus on the details of battlefield operations or the use of weapons in combat. The American military is usually left alone to devise effective tank tactics or solutions to the problems encountered as pilots attempt to place bombs on a target. Scholars increasingly realize, however, that theoretical work must reflect the reality of the battlefield and likely operational constraints. For example, recent explorations of the intricacies of nuclear operations have influenced the way analysts view the problem of deterrence. To be useful, theories and policy prescriptions must respond to the prevailing conditions on the battlefield.

When it becomes necessary to integrate operational considerations into theoretical work, scholars often turn to members of the military to determine if highly touted weapons perform “as advertised,” or to discover the potential limitations of tactics described in current manuals. Within the constraints created by issues of secrecy, officers and enlisted personnel usually are flattered by the interest taken in their profession and are forthcoming in supplying detailed answers to operational questions. Orgahized tours of military facilities also provide an opportunity to examine military hardware at close range and often lead to a fruitful exchange of ideas, especially after the conclusion of the formal presentations. Still, the information gathered from contacts with soldiers and sailors is largely anecdotal and limited to the general experiences of the individuals questioned.
Talking in the Marketplace: A “New” Approach to Political Philosophy
Authors: Ealy Steven D.
Published: October 2015

The standard approach to teaching political philosophy involves the transmission of a given body of information, organized either historically (Plato, Aristotle, St. Thomas, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Marx, Nietzsche, etc.) or topically (the state, freedom, equality, human rights, authority, etc.). The aim is to transfer a core of knowledge to the students, whose responsibility is to comprehend the factual material much as they would material in any other course.

The historical and topical approaches to political philosophy are useful in that they allow the student to familiarize himself with the great themes of western (or world) civilization, but they have their limitations. The problem of these approaches, to use an expression of Edmund Husserl's is “sedimentation.” The tradition of philosophy is so covered with generations of silt that it is almost impossible to uncover the original experiences that led to the development of philosophy in the first place. To understand Nietzsche you have to understand Marx; to understand Marx you have to understand Hegel; to understand Hegel you have to understand Kant; to understand Kant you have to understand … ad infinitum until we reach … to understand Aristotle you have to understand Plato, and to understand Plato you have to understand Socrates.

A second approach to political philosophy is more concerned with encouraging students to engage in philosophical reflection than it is in developing the mastery of scholarship encouraged by the first approach. This second approach returns us to the origins of political philosophy.
Using Video to Teach British Politics
Authors: Levine Myron A.
Published: October 2015

One of the most difficult aspects of teaching a comparative politics course is getting students to “feel” the politics of a nation they have not visited. Students may be able to repeat what they have learned from a comparative politics text; but such rote learning does not guarantee understanding. Students need to place material in context. Indeed, this quite visually-oriented generation needs to “see” material for reinforcement.

For the teacher of British Politics (or of a Western European course emphasizing Britain), a unique and affordable resource is available. C-SPAN visited London in November and December of 1988. The interviews they completed with British politicos is available through Purdue University's video archives.

I used a series of these tapes to supplement my lectures in a Summer 1989 course I taught on Contemporary British Politics. While I made no attempt to measure it, my feeling is that these tapes (together with the usual textbook assignments and numerous copies of articles from British newspapers) gave the students, a much better understanding of British politics than that normally evidenced in such courses taught in American colleges. For American students, it was almost like “being there”; they witnessed the House of Lords in action; they saw the Queen's Speech at the Opening of Parliament; and they had the functional equivalent of class visits with some notable British political figures.
Thoughts on the AP: A Teacher Responds
Authors: Serow Ann G.
Published: October 2015

Professors Rosati, Schlozman and Conradt offered some interesting views on the United States Government and Politics advanced placement examination in the Fall issue of The Political Science Teacher. I would like to add a few comments to the discussion. My remarks are based on my experience teaching 144 Kingswood-Oxford AP government seniors over the three years of the test, as well as my contact with other AP teachers. I have led the U.S. Government and Politics workshop at the 1988 and 1989 Northeast Regional Conference on the Social Studies, where I have had a chance to talk with many teachers who are offering AP courses.

First, Professor Rosati identifies the inadequate background of some high school AP Government and Politics teachers as a significant problem. While all the teachers I have encountered seem well qualified, I concede that inadequately prepared staff may be a problem. Undoubtedly, the most concerned are the teachers themselves: no teacher enjoys groping his or her way through unfamiliar material for a semester, with the added pressure of awaiting AP results which may reveal clearly the gaps in the course. Professor Schlozman suggests a remedy which I feel should be underscored. Workshops and institutes are helpful, although not all can attend and they are over in a few days or weeks. More useful is an on-going reliable relationship between a high school AP teacher and a college professor who is familiar with the introductory American government course.
American Cultural Pluralism and Law: An Innovative Interdisciplinary Course
Authors: Nanda Serena , Norgren Jill
Published: October 2015

During the 1987 Iran/Contra hearings, Senator George J. Mitchell of Maine spoke eloquently about the importance of the rule of law in a culturally pluralistic nation like the United States:

Most nations derive from a single tribe or a single race. They practice a single religion. Common racial, ethnic, and religious heritages are the glue of nationhood for many.

The United States is different. We have all races, all religions, a limited common heritage. The glue of nationhood for us is the American ideal of individual liberty and equal justice.

The rule of law is critical in our society. The law is the great equalizer, because everybody in America is equal before the law.

The students we teach live in what is certainly one of the most culturally pluralistic cities, and nations, in the world. They are increasingly part of a society in which this pluralism affects them either as members of cultural minorities, or as members of the so-called dominant culture who interact with many different cultural groups. As a cultural anthropologist and a political scientist teaching in a college with a focus on law and justice, we felt it important to bring to our students a deeper understanding of the possibilities and problems of cultural pluralism in a democratic, constitutional society. While Senator Mitchell's words surely express a fundamental ideal in American society, how closely these words express the reality experienced in American society is a question that had long interested us.
The Political Economy of National Security
Authors: Kapstein Ethan B.
Published: October 2015

In recent years, public officials in the United States and abroad have expressed increasing concern over the economic effects of defense spending. It has been alleged that defense spending is a major cause of the budget deficit and is at the root of America's economic “decline.” Even in the Soviet Union, questions are now being raised about the impact of military spending on the civilian economy.

As director of a research program at Harvard that focuses on economics and national security, I decided it was important to offer a course on the “political economy of national security.” While Harvard and other major universities in the Boston area offer courses in political economy on the one hand and national security on the other, students have few opportunities to examine national defense from an economic perspective. Given that national security is the largest single economic activity in the United States and many other countries, and given intense student interest in the topic, the time was ripe to devise such a course.

The course was first offered in the Harvard Summer School, which is open to undergraduate and graduate students from Harvard and other universities. The only prerequisite was an introductory course in economics. As it turns out, most of the students were more than adequately prepared; among those who attended were students from Harvard Business School, the Kennedy School of Government, some local defense industry executives, military officers, and a number of Ph.D. candidates. For those who might consider offering such a course, I would suggest that the required economics course not be waived in any circumstances; otherwise you will spend a lot of time explaining basic concepts.
How Do You Introduce Political Science to a Friendly Stranger?
Authors: Danziger James N.
Published: October 2015

From campus to campus, there is only modest variation in the core content of the introductory science or social science course, from anthropology to biology to physics to sociology. But what should the first course in political science include? Political scientists have less consensus on the content of their introductory course than teachers in any of these other disciplines. I have grappled with this question over the last 16 years in attempting to teach “Introduction to Political Science” at a large public university. The question became even more compelling when, during the last several years, I was writing a textbook (Danziger, 1990) for such an introductory course. This forced me to be more universal (or at least less idiosyncratic) in the choice of topics and examples.

In fact, the first course in political science at most colleges and universities does not introduce students to “the discipline.” Rather, the course focuses on the American political system. It seems unimaginable that the first course in biology would center in American biology, or that the first course in economics would be a study of the economic system of the United States. In most fields, an introductory course aims to familiarize students with the basic theoretical and conceptual elements of the discipline, whether the discipline is paradigmatic or preparadigmatic (in Thomas Kuhn's terms).

The tendency to begin political science with a course in American politics does have some reasonable justifications. First, it is possible to learn basic principles and ways of thinking within a discipline by the study of an exemplary case which is used to reveal those basics.
Improving Undergraduate Lectures: The Sender, the Message, and the Receiver
Authors: Zolty Thaddeus C.
Published: October 2015

Many negative comments have been made about lecturing. One suggests that this methodology “violates the belief that learning results on the part of the students” (Adler, 1984). Another author suggests egotistical reasons for lecturing: “when we professors get into a classroom, we profess” (Balliet, 1970). One widely published writer blames both administrative policies and faculty preference: Lecturing has “continued due to cost-conscious administrators whose major interest is the logistical efficiency of the large lecture…” (Erickson, 1970) and many professors use lectures as a “security blanket without which they would neither feel like teachers nor be recognized by their students” (Erickson, 1970). The traditional lecture has faced stiff competition from other teaching methods: coaching, Socratic questioning, simulations, collaborative education contracts, role playing, self-instruction, the case method, and personalized systems of instruction.

Despite the challenges of innovative teaching methods, lecturing persists. Wagner Thielens (1987) in a random study of half of American universities found that 81 percent of social scientists lectured. This confirms an earlier study which found that “the dominant mode of instruction remains the lecture…” (Eble, 1972). Thus, lecturing persists because of the power of tradition, the structure of the classroom, the textbooks, and the subject/discipline orientation of higher education.

The truth of the matter is that lecturing, when done well, is effective, for “a skillful lecturer can gain as favorable a response as a seminar leader” (Eble, 1972). Lecturing is an efficient method of imparting information, analysis, and explanation of complex questions and concepts, and thus is an effective medium for introductory classes. Further, good lectures can update texts, synthesize tomes, provide structure, and pique students' interests.
Some New Evidence on the ICJ's Treatment of Evidence: The Second Genocide Case
Authors: GATTINI ANDREA , CORTESI GIULIO
Published: October 2015

In the decision on the second Genocide case (Croatia v. Serbia) the ICJ did not deviate from its ruling of 2007 (Bosnia-Herzegovina v. Serbia and Montenegro) in matters of evidence. A comparison between the two cases nevertheless shows subtle but interesting nuances. Whereas in the first Genocide case the Court was confronted with a ICTY finding that a genocide had indeed been committed in Srebrenica in July 1995, in the present case the ICTY Prosecutor had not even indicted any Serbian or Croatian organ of such a crime. The ICJ was able to find the actus reus of genocide in many instances, both on the part of Serbia and Croatia, but it found that neither party had been able to prove the existence of the mens rea, either by relying on a pattern of conduct, or even by relying on the transcript of a governmental meeting. This throws a disquieting light on the actual capacity of the Court to deal with claims of commission of genocide, as distinguished from claims of lack of prevention or repression.
Between Abstract Event and Individualized Crime: Genocidal Intent in the Case of Croatia
Authors: BEHRENS PAUL
Published: October 2015

The International Court of Justice's (ICJ) decision in the case of Croatia v. Serbia raises fundamental questions about the nature of genocidal intent. While the Court was careful not to make a clear departure from established case law on the matter, its emphasis on elements such as ‘pattern’ and ‘scale’ – at the expense of the role of individual intent – indicates that the majority on the bench adopted an interpretation which brings the legal concept of genocide closer to an abstract event of mass atrocity than to an act capable of commission even by select individuals. That, however, is an understanding which is not only alien to the traditional interpretation adopted by international criminal tribunals, but also unjustifiable under the established law of state responsibility. This article considers various aspects in the judgment which invite critique in that regard, but also analyses the way in which the ICJ has dealt with the coexistence of intent and certain motives – a crucial aspect of the case which has already been object of some controversy.
Deaths due to Intentional Explosions in Selected Governorates of Iraq from 2010 to 2013: Prospective Surveillance
Authors: Bilukha Oleg O. , Leidman Eva Z. , Sultan Abdul-Salam Saleh , Jaffar Hussain Syed
Published: October 2015

Introduction

The aim of this study was to describe the most recent trends and epidemiologic patterns of fatal injuries resulting from explosions in Iraq, one of the countries most affected by violence from explosive devices.

Methods

Iraqi Ministry of Health (MoH) routine prospective injury surveillance collects information on all fatal injuries recorded by coroners from physical examinations, police reports, and family members in eight governorates of Iraq: Baghdad, Al-Anbar, Basrah, Erbil, Kerbala, Maysan, Ninevah, and Al-Sulaimaniya. This study analyzed explosive-related fatal injuries that occurred from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2013.

Results

Analysis included 2,803 fatal injuries. The number of fatal injuries declined from 2010 through 2012, followed by an increase in 2013. One-thousand one-hundred and one explosion-related fatalities were documented in 2013, more than twice as many as in 2012 or in 2011. Most fatalities were among men aged 20-39 years. Of all causalities, 194 (6.9%) were among females and 302 (10.8%) were among children aged less than 18 years. The majority of fatalities were caused by improvised explosive devices (IEDs): car bombs (15.3%), suicide bombs (4.0%), and other IEDs (29.6%). The highest number of fatalities occurred in streets and roads. Of all deaths, 95.6% occurred in three governorates: Baghdad, Ninevah, and Al-Anbar.

Conclusions

Explosives continue to result in a high number of fatal injuries in Iraq. Following a period of declining violence from explosives, in 2013, fatalities increased. Most explosion-related injuries resulted from IEDs; males aged 20-39 years were at greatest risk.

BilukhaOO, LeidmanEZ, SultanASS, HussainSJ. Deaths due to intentional explosions in selected governorates of Iraq from 2010 to 2013: prospective surveillance. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2015;30(6):586–592.
Correlative Light-Electron Fractography of Interlaminar Fracture in a Carbon–Epoxy Composite
Authors: Hein Luis Rogerio de O. , Campos Kamila A. de
Published: October 2015

This work evaluates the use of light microscopes (LMs) as a tool for interlaminar fracture of polymer composite investigation with the aid of correlative fractography. Correlative fractography consists of an association of the extended depth of focus (EDF) method, based on reflected LM, with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to evaluate interlaminar fractures. The use of these combined techniques is exemplified here for the mode I fracture of carbon–epoxy plain-weave reinforced composite. The EDF-LM is a digital image-processing method that consists of the extraction of in-focus pixels for each x-y coordinate in an image from a stack of Z-ordered digital pictures from an LM, resulting in a fully focused picture and a height elevation map for each stack. SEM is the most used tool for the identification of fracture mechanisms in a qualitative approach, with the combined advantages of a large focus depth and fine lateral resolution. However, LMs, with EDF software, may bypass the restriction on focus depth and present enough lateral resolution at low magnification. Finally, correlative fractography can provide the general comprehension of fracture processes, with the benefits of the association of different resolution scales and contrast modes.
Not by technique alone. A methodological comparison of development analysis with Esther Duflo and Elinor Ostrom
Authors: LABROUSSE AGNÈS
Published: October 2015

This contribution aims at an original comparison of development analysis with Elinor Ostrom and Esther Duflo from a methodological standpoint, scrutinising their relationship to theory and their operative research strategies. Both perspectives are investigated as case studies for a broader discussion about significant trends in economics and social sciences. Duflo and the J-PAL's approach illustrates – in its own way – new trends and some blind alleys in contemporary forms of mainstream economics, whereas Ostrom and the Bloomington school point towards the marked theoretical and methodological reflexivity of institutionalism, its sensitivity to historical diversity and openness towards social sciences. Distinct social philosophies and episteme are at stake displaying a great divide between two brands of realism and pragmatism, two relationships to development, expertise and knowledge. The paper also contrasts Duflo's methodological monism and mechanistic piecemeal analysis with Ostrom's methodological pluralism and adaptive complex systems analysis.
Comparative effectiveness of long-acting antipsychotics: issues and challenges from a pragmatic randomised study
Authors: Ostuzzi G. , Barbui C.
Published: October 2015

Although long-acting antipsychotics are widely used in individuals with psychotic disorders, it is unclear which long-acting preparation should be considered as first-line treatment in clinical practice. In this commentary, the main strengths and weaknesses of a recently published pragmatic randomised study comparing long-acting paliperidone palmitate v. long-acting haloperidol decanoate are briefly analysed.
Absorbable suture material in carotid surgery
Authors: Gasbarro Vincenzo , Traina Luca , Mascoli Francesco , Coscia Vincenzo , Buffone Gianluca , Grande Raffaele , Fugetto Francesco , Butrico Lucia , de Franciscis Stefano , Serra Raffaele
Published: October 2015

Abstract. Background: Absorbable sutures are not generally accepted by most vascular surgeons for the fear of breakage of the suture line and the risk of aneurysmal formation, except in cases of paediatric surgery or in case of infections. Aim of this study is to provide evidence of safety and efficacy of the use of absorbable suture materials in carotid surgery. Patients and methods: In an 11 year period, 1126 patients (659 male [58.5 %], 467 female [41.5 %], median age 72) underwent carotid endarterectomy for carotid stenosis by either conventional with primary closure (cCEA) or eversion (eCEA) techniques. Patients were randomised into two groups according to the type of suture material used. In Group A, absorbable suture material (polyglycolic acid) was used and in Group B non-absorbable suture material (polypropylene) was used. Primary end-point was to compare severe restenosis and aneurysmal formation rates between the two groups of patients. For statistical analysis only cases with a minimum period of follow-up of 12 months were considered. Results: A total of 868 surgical procedures were considered for data analysis. Median follow-up was 6 years (range 1-10 years). The rate of postoperative complications was better for group A for both cCEA and eCEA procedures: 3.5 % and 2.0 % for group A, respectively, and 11.8 % and 12.9 % for group B, respectively. Conclusions: In carotid surgery, the use of absorbable suture material seems to be safe and effective and with a general lower complications rate compared to the use of non-absorbable materials.
Regional differences of vasodilatation and vasomotion response to local heating in human cutaneous microcirculation
Authors: Balaz David , Komornikova Andrea , Kruzliak Peter , Sabaka Peter , Gaspar Ludovit , Zulli Anthony , Kucera Marek , Zvonicek Vaclav , Sabo Jan , Ambrozy Ewald , Dukat Andrej
Published: October 2015

Abstract. Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the vasodilatation and vasomotion response to local heating in the cutaneous microcirculation of the ankle, dorsum of foot and forearm. Recently, it has been suggested that this response differs between the forearm and the leg. Probands and methods: Twenty-nine young healthy adults were recruited. They underwent measurement by laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) in three sites of the body (ankle, dorsum of foot, forearm). Percentage change of the median flow of the skin before and after provocation and normalised perfusion flow to maximal dilation (cutaneous vascular conductance - CVC % Max) during short provocation test were monitored. Spectral analysis of laser Doppler flowmetry signals was performed using the fast Fourier transform algorithm. Results: Significant differences were found in CVC % Max between ankle/dorsum (45.18 ± 6.38% Max vs. 51.24 ± 6.87% Max, respectively; p < 0.05) and between ankle/forearm (45.18 ± 6.38% Max vs. 54.49 ± 5.37% Max, respectively; p < 0.05). Percentage change of flux after provocation has revealed significant differences between ankle/dorsum (394.1 ± 204.5% vs. 577.4 ± 273.5%, respectively; p < 0.05) and ankle/forearm (394.1 ± 204.5% vs. 637.1 ± 324.7%, respectively; p < 0.05). Total spectral activity of vasomotion has differed between ankle/dorsum and ankle/forearm: 69.59 [49.58 - 96.04] vs. 93.01 [73.15 - 121.8] (p < 0.05) and 69.59 [49.58 - 96.04] vs. 107.5 [80.55 - 155.8] (p < 0.05), respectively. Conclusions: Cutaneous microcirculation exhibits regional differences. Significant variability of function between ankle and dorsum of foot suggests that leg microcirculation is not uniform.
Endovascular stent-graft treatment for graft-vein anastomotic stenosis in haemodialysis patients with arteriovenous grafts
Authors: Lin Chia-Hsun , Chen Yen-Yang , Chua Chai-Hock , Lu Ming-Jen
Published: October 2015

Abstract. Background: In this study, we investigated the patency of endovascular stent grafts in haemodialysis patients with arteriovenous grafts, the modes of patency loss, and the risk factors for re-intervention. Patients and methods: Haemodialysis patients with graft-vein anastomotic stenosis of their arteriovenous grafts who were treated with endovascular stent-grafts between 2008 and 2013 were entered into this retrospective study. Primary and secondary patency, modes of patency loss, and risk factors for intervention were recorded. Results: Cumulative circuit primary patency rates decreased from 40.0 % at 6 months to 7.3 % at 24 months. Cumulative target lesion primary patency rates decreased from 72.1 % at 6 months to 22.0 % at 24 months. Cumulative secondary patency rates decreased from 81.3 % at 12 months to 31.6 % at 36 months. Patients with a history of cerebrovascular accident had a significantly higher risk of secondary patency loss, and graft puncture site stenosis jeopardised the results of stent-graft treatment. Conclusions: Our data can help to improve outcomes in haemodialysis patients treated with stent-grafts for venous anastomosis of an arteriovenous graft.
Nitrous oxide/oxygen inhalation provides effective analgesia during the administration of tumescent local anaesthesia for endovenous laser ablation
Authors: Meier Thomas Oleg , Jacomella Vincenzo , Clemens Robert Karl Josef , Amann-Vesti Beatrice
Published: October 2015

Abstract. Background: Tumescent anaesthesia (TA) is an important but sometimes very painful step during endovenous thermal ablation of incompetent veins. The aim of this study was to examine whether the use of fixed 50% nitrous oxide/oxygen mixture (N2O/O2), also called equimolar mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide, reduces pain during the application of TA. Patients and methods: Patients undergoing endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) of incompetent saphenous veins were included. Thirty consecutive patients inhaled N2O/O2 during the application of TA. Thirty consecutive patients received TA alone (controls). Patients were asked to complete a questionnaire immediately after the intervention to assess satisfaction with the intervention and pain-levels during the different steps of the intervention (0 = not at all, 10 = very much). Adverse events during the treatment were monitored. Results: 30 patients (14 men, mean age of 44 years) were included in the N2O/O2 group and 30 patients (9 men, mean age 48 years) were included in the control group. In the N2O/O2 group a significantly lower pain score was noted (mean 2.45 points, range 0 - 6) compared to the controls (mean 4.3 points, range 1 - 9, p < 0.001). Overall, 64.5 % of the patients were perfectly satisfied with the N2O/O2-Inhalation. Only 4 patients receiving N2O/O2 complained of adverse effects such as unpleasant loss of control (2 patients), headache (1 patient) and dizziness (1 patient). Conclusions: N2O/O2 is a safe and effective method to reduce pain during the application of tumescent anaesthesia for EVLA.
Denkend denken was man denkt
Authors: Müller-Staub Maria
Published: October 2015

Zusammenfassung. Kritisches Denken ist eine spezielle Form von Denken, das zu Lernerfolg und erweitertem Wissen führt. Pflegefachpersonen fällen täglich klinische Entscheidungen, die sie durch Kritisches Denken verbessern können um den Pflegeprozess umzusetzen. Lehrpersonen sowie Studierende sind gefordert, ihre pflegediagnostischen Kompetenzen zu erweitern: Es geht darum, für Patientinnen/Patienten aufgrund genauer Pflegediagnosen wirksame Pflegeinterventionen auswählen und umsetzen, um dadurch gute Ergebnisse zu erzielen.
Vertiefung von Ethik-Kompetenzen
Authors: Riedel Annette
Published: October 2015

Zusammenfassung. Professionell Pflegende werden im beruflichen Alltag mit vielfältigen, komplexen ethischen Fragestellungen konfrontiert. Diese verunsichern, führen nicht selten zu moralischem Distress und beeinflussen das Pflegehandeln. In der Konsequenz heißt das, ethische Kompetenz und deren kontinuierliche Vertiefung und Verdichtung im Rahmen von Fort- und Weiterbildungsmaßnahmen ist für professionell Pflegende obligatorisch. Diesen Bedarf greift der Beitrag mit einem methodisch-didaktischen Vorschlag auf.
Absentismus in der Pflegeausbildung
Authors: Lehrer Viktoria , Reichhardt Anna , Langer Gero
Published: October 2015

Zusammenfassung. In einer Online-Erhebung wurden bundesweit Auszubildende zu Fehlzeitenverhalten in der Pflegeausbildung befragt. Ausgangspunkt der Untersuchung war die Annahme, dass sich die Fehlzeiten von Auszubildenden an Schulen des Gesundheitswesens (Altenpflege, Gesundheits- und Kinderkrankenpflege, Gesundheits- und Krankenpflege) hinsichtlich Häufigkeit, Dauer und Art der Abwesenheit verändern.
Interpretation of cytogenetic results in multiple myeloma for clinical practice
Authors: Rajan A M , Rajkumar S V
Published: October 2015

The interpretation of cytogenetic abnormalities in multiple myeloma (MM) is often a challenging task. MM is characterized by several cytogenetic abnormalities that occur at various time points in the disease course. The interpretation of cytogenetic results in MM is complicated by the number and complexity of the abnormalities, the methods used to detect them and the disease stage at which they are detected. Specific cytogenetic abnormalities affect clinical presentation, progression of smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) to MM, prognosis of MM and management strategies. The goal of this paper is to provide a review of how MM is classified into specific subtypes based on primary cytogenetic abnormalities and to provide a concise overview of how to interpret cytogenetic abnormalities based on the disease stage to aid clinical practice and patient management.
Diversification of DnaA dependency for DNA replication in cyanobacterial evolution
Authors: Ohbayashi Ryudo , Watanabe Satoru , Ehira Shigeki , Kanesaki Yu , Chibazakura Taku , Yoshikawa Hirofumi
Published: October 2015

Regulating DNA replication is essential for all living cells. The DNA replication initiation factor DnaA is highly conserved in prokaryotes and is required for accurate initiation of chromosomal replication at oriC. DnaA-independent free-living bacteria have not been identified. The dnaA gene is absent in plastids and some symbiotic bacteria, although it is not known when or how DnaA-independent mechanisms were acquired. Here, we show that the degree of dependency of DNA replication on DnaA varies among cyanobacterial species. Deletion of the dnaA gene in Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 shifted DNA replication from oriC to a different site as a result of the integration of an episomal plasmid. Moreover, viability during the stationary phase was higher in dnaA disruptants than in wild-type cells. Deletion of dnaA did not affect DNA replication or cell growth in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 or Anabaena sp. PCC 7120, indicating that functional dependency on DnaA was already lost in some nonsymbiotic cyanobacterial lineages during diversification. Therefore, we proposed that cyanobacteria acquired DnaA-independent replication mechanisms before symbiosis and such an ancestral cyanobacterium was the sole primary endosymbiont to form a plastid precursor.
A CpG-methylation-based assay to predict survival in clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Wei Jin-Huan , Haddad Ahmed , Wu Kai-Jie , Zhao Hong-Wei , Kapur Payal , Zhang Zhi-Ling , Zhao Liang-Yun , Chen Zhen-Hua , Zhou Yun-Yun , Zhou Jian-Cheng , Wang Bin , Yu Yan-Hong , Cai Mu-Yan , Xie Dan , Liao Bing , Li Cai-Xia , Li Pei-Xing , Wang Zong-Ren , Zhou Fang-Jian , Shi Lei , Liu Qing-Zuo , Gao Zhen-Li , He Da-Lin , Chen Wei , Hsieh Jer-Tsong , Li Quan-Zhen , Margulis Vitaly , Luo Jun-Hang
Published: October 2015

Clear cell renal cell carcinomas (ccRCCs) display divergent clinical behaviours. Molecular markers might improve risk stratification of ccRCC. Here we use, based on genome-wide CpG methylation profiling, a LASSO model to develop a five-CpG-based assay for ccRCC prognosis that can be used with formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens. The five-CpG-based classifier was validated in three independent sets from China, United States and the Cancer Genome Atlas data set. The classifier predicts the overall survival of ccRCC patients (hazard ratio=2.96−4.82;P=3.9 × 10−6−2.2 × 10−9), independent of standard clinical prognostic factors. The five-CpG-based classifier successfully categorizes patients into high-risk and low-risk groups, with significant differences of clinical outcome in respective clinical stages and individual ‘stage, size, grade and necrosis’ scores. Moreover, methylation at the five CpGs correlates with expression of five genes:PITX1,FOXE3,TWF2,EHBP1L1andRIN1. Our five-CpG-based classifier is a practical and reliable prognostic tool for ccRCC that can add prognostic value to the staging system.
Gut mucosal microbiome across stages of colorectal carcinogenesis
Authors: Nakatsu Geicho , Li Xiangchun , Zhou Haokui , Sheng Jianqiu , Wong Sunny Hei , Wu William Ka Kai , Ng Siew Chien , Tsoi Ho , Dong Yujuan , Zhang Ning , He Yuqi , Kang Qian , Cao Lei , Wang Kunning , Zhang Jingwan , Liang Qiaoyi , Yu Jun , Sung Joseph J. Y.
Published: October 2015

Gut microbial dysbiosis contributes to the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). Here we catalogue the microbial communities in human gut mucosae at different stages of colorectal tumorigenesis. We analyse the gut mucosal microbiome of 47 paired samples of adenoma and adenoma-adjacent mucosae, 52 paired samples of carcinoma and carcinoma-adjacent mucosae and 61 healthy controls. Probabilistic partitioning of relative abundance profiles reveals that a metacommunity predominated by members of the oral microbiome is primarily associated with CRC. Analysis of paired samples shows differences in community configurations between lesions and the adjacent mucosae. Correlations of bacterial taxa indicate early signs of dysbiosis in adenoma, and co-exclusive relationships are subsequently more common in cancer. We validate these alterations in CRC-associated microbiome by comparison with two previously published data sets. Our results suggest that a taxonomically defined microbial consortium is implicated in the development of CRC.
Experimental quantum fingerprinting with weak coherent pulses
Authors: Xu Feihu , Arrazola Juan Miguel , Wei Kejin , Wang Wenyuan , Palacios-Avila Pablo , Feng Chen , Sajeed Shihan , Lütkenhaus Norbert , Lo Hoi-Kwong
Published: October 2015

Quantum communication holds the promise of creating disruptive technologies that will play an essential role in future communication networks. For example, the study of quantum communication complexity has shown that quantum communication allows exponential reductions in the information that must be transmitted to solve distributed computational tasks. Recently, protocols that realize this advantage using optical implementations have been proposed. Here we report a proof-of-concept experimental demonstration of a quantum fingerprinting system that is capable of transmitting less information than the best-known classical protocol. Our implementation is based on a modified version of a commercial quantum key distribution system using off-the-shelf optical components over telecom wavelengths, and is practical for messages as large as 100 Mbits, even in the presence of experimental imperfections. Our results provide a first step in the development of experimental quantum communication complexity.
Allelic variation contributes to bacterial host specificity
Authors: Yue Min , Han Xiangan , Masi Leon De , Zhu Chunhong , Ma Xun , Zhang Junjie , Wu Renwei , Schmieder Robert , Kaushik Radhey S. , Fraser George P. , Zhao Shaohua , McDermott Patrick F. , Weill François-Xavier , Mainil Jacques G. , Arze Cesar , Fricke W. Florian , Edwards Robert A. , Brisson Dustin , Zhang Nancy R. , Rankin Shelley C. , Schifferli Dieter M.
Published: October 2015

Understanding the molecular parameters that regulate cross-species transmission and host adaptation of potential pathogens is crucial to control emerging infectious disease. Although microbial pathotype diversity is conventionally associated with gene gain or loss, the role of pathoadaptive nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs) has not been systematically evaluated. Here, our genome-wide analysis of core genes within Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium genomes reveals a high degree of allelic variation in surface-exposed molecules, including adhesins that promote host colonization. Subsequent multinomial logistic regression, MultiPhen and Random Forest analyses of known/suspected adhesins from 580 independent Typhimurium isolates identifies distinct host-specific nsSNP signatures. Moreover, population and functional analyses of host-associated nsSNPs for FimH, the type 1 fimbrial adhesin, highlights the role of key allelic residues in host-specific adherence in vitro. Together, our data provide the first concrete evidence that functional differences between allelic variants of bacterial proteins likely contribute to pathoadaption to diverse hosts.
Measurement of geometric dephasing using a superconducting qubit
Authors: Berger S. , Pechal M. , Kurpiers P. , Abdumalikov A. A. , Eichler C. , Mlynek J. A. , Shnirman A. , Gefen Yuval , Wallraff A. , Filipp S.
Published: October 2015

A quantum system interacting with its environment is subject to dephasing, which ultimately destroys the information it holds. Here we use a superconducting qubit to experimentally show that this dephasing has both dynamic and geometric origins. It is found that geometric dephasing, which is present even in the adiabatic limit and when no geometric phase is acquired, can either reduce or restore coherence depending on the orientation of the path the qubit traces out in its projective Hilbert space. It accompanies the evolution of any system in Hilbert space subjected to noise.
Ultra-high modulation depth exceeding 2,400% in optically controlled topological surface plasmons
Authors: Sim Sangwan , Jang Houk , Koirala Nikesh , Brahlek Matthew , Moon Jisoo , Sung Ji Ho , Park Jun , Cha Soonyoung , Oh Seongshik , Jo Moon-Ho , Ahn Jong-Hyun , Choi Hyunyong
Published: October 2015

Modulating light via coherent charge oscillations in solids is the subject of intense research topics in opto-plasmonics. Although a variety of methods are proposed to increase such modulation efficiency, one central challenge is to achieve a high modulation depth (defined by a ratio of extinction with/without light) under small photon-flux injection, which becomes a fundamental trade-off issue both in metals and semiconductors. Here, by fabricating simple micro-ribbon arrays of topological insulator Bi2Se3, we report an unprecedentedly large modulation depth of 2,400% at 1.5 THz with very low optical fluence of 45 μJ cm−2. This was possible, first because the extinction spectrum is nearly zero due to the Fano-like plasmon–phonon-destructive interference, thereby contributing an extremely small denominator to the extinction ratio. Second, the numerator of the extinction ratio is markedly increased due to the photoinduced formation of massive two-dimensional electron gas below the topological surface states, which is another contributor to the ultra-high modulation depth.