bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of recently published negative erythropoiesis-stimulating agent studies on the clinical management of cancer-related anemia at a single center
Authors: Abdel-Razeq Hikmat , Hijjawi Shadi , Abdulelah Hazem , Amarin Rula , Asawaeer Majid , Shaheen Haitham
Published: July 2014

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Anemia in cancer patients is common, but often under-recognized and under-treated. Erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs) are widely used to prevent and treat cancer and chemotherapy-related anemia, but recent studies suggest a negative impact on disease progression and survival associated with their use. this retrospective study describes the prevalence of anemia in cancer patients and recent trends in its management given the negative studies.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All consecutive adult cancer patients (n = 959) admitted to regular medical units over one year were reviewed. Patients with a hemoglobin (Hb) value < 12 g/dL on admission were considered anemic. Information on the primary tumor, main reasons for admission and treatment given were collected.

RESULTS

At the time of enrollment, anemia was detected in 755 (78.7%) patients. The mean hb value for anemic patients was 9.5 g/dL prevalence and severity of anemia varied according to tumor type and reason for admission. the majority (68.6%) of the anemic patients were not offered treatment. The mean Hb value at which treatment was started was 8.0 g/dL Anemia treatment was related to its severity; treatment rates were 94.4%, 32.9%, and 5.0% in patients with severe, moderate and mild anemia, respectively (P < .0001). blood transfusion was used the most while ESAS were rarely used. length of hospital stay was affected by the presence of anemia (7.2 days in anemic patients vs. 4.85 days in nonanemic patients) (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Blood transfusion was used the most for cancer-related anemia, while ESAs were rarely used. The majority of patients with moderate anemia were not treated, including patients on active chemotherapy. better guidelines addressing anemia management in this subgroup of patients are highly needed.
Successful treatment of biphasic metaplastic sarcomatoid carcinoma of the breast by evaluation of immunohistochemical markers
Authors: Chien Tsai-Ju , Chou Jung-Mao , Chang Ting-An , Lin Che-Pin
Published: July 2014

Biphasic metaplastic sarcomatoid carcinoma (MSC) of the breast is rare and aggressive. Patients with metaplastic breast carcinomas tend to have poor outcomes with a high risk of recurrence following primmary surgery. Most reports have shown that systemic therapy appears to be less effective. We report a case of a 42-year-old female who presented with a large (14 cm) cauliflower breast mass. Biopsy revealed a poorly differentiated sarcoma. Initially, neo-adjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy with a sarcoma regimmen was prescribed, and the tumor regressed to a large ulcer. Subsequent biopsy showed invasive ductal carcinoma (estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor stained weakly, 5%, Her2:2+) and disappearance of the sarcomatous component. Second-line neoadjuvant therapy was designed according to the histologic features of infiltrating ductal carcinoma, which led to nearly a complete response. A modified radical mastectomy of the right breast and axillary dissection was performed followed by monoclonal antibody (trastuzumab) therapy for 6 months due to the surgical specimen showing Her2:3+. The treatment course went smoothly with a good response. The patient had no evidence of disease at 18 months.
A phase II study of gemcitabine combined with vinorelbine as first-line chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer
Authors: Shehata Samir , Saad Ebtesam , Goda Yasser , El-Mesidi Salah , Koheil Hanaa , Elzawhri Heba , Kandeel Alaa , Abdelhamid Thoraya , Zaki Mounir , Meshref Mohamed
Published: July 2014

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

There is an unmet need for new combination treatments, especially for agggressive, visceral, and high tumor burden metastatic breast cancer. Gemcitabine (GEM) has shown synergy with vinorelbine (VRL) in preclinical models, and has a toxicity profile that is different from VRL, another recently approved cytotoxic drug that seems to be effective in the treatment of breast cancer.

METHODS:

We studied the efficacy and side effects of the GEM-VRL combination as first-line chemotherapy in patients in an open-label, single arm, phase II study in patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer who had been previously treated with an anthracycline-based regimen in the adjuvant/neoadjuvant setting.

RESULTS:

Of the 74 patients enrolled, 72 patients were evaluable for the primary treatment outcome (tumor response rates). Four patients (6%) had a complete response and 26 patients (36%) had a partial response. Nineteen patients (26%) had stable disease. The median time to disease progression was 37 weeks (range, 1-60 weeks). Median duration of response was 43 weeks (range, 8.6 to 55 weeks) and one-year survival was 77% (95% confidence interval, 64% to 86%). Grade 3-4 neutropenia without fever was reported in 10% of patients, thrombocytopenia in 1%, and febrile neutropenia in 11%. The most common clinical grade 3-4 toxicities were nausea (24%) and diarrhea and stomatitis (11% each). Hospitalizations for adverse events mainly due to anemia, febrile neutropenia, septic shock and hepatic failure occured in 7%.

CONCLUSION:

With an overall response rate of 42%, the GEM-VRL combination had promising efficacy and good tolerability in metastatic breast cancer patients.
Involvement of bone marrow with intravascular large B-cell lymphoma
Authors: Sajid Raihan , Qureshi Adnan
Published: July 2014

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IX/LBd) is a rare subtype of extranodal large B-cell lymphoma characterized by a selective proliferation of lymphoma cells within the lumina of vessels. We report a case of an 86-year-old man who presented with fever, shortness of breath and altered mental status. the diagnosis of IVLBCL was confirmed on a bone trephine biopsy that revealed positivity of cD20 and PAX5 immunohistochemical staining of lymphoma cells confined within the lumina of vessels. the patient had a rapidly deteriorating clinical course with a fatal outcome even before the specific treatment for the underlying disease was commenced.
Carcinosarcoma of the pleura and lung metastasized from a poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus
Authors: Chen Chien-Wen , Chen Kuan-Yu , Lin Chin-Jung , Perng Wann-Cherng , Chen Jia-Hong
Published: July 2014

Transformation of a poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the esophagus into a “carcinosarcoma” of the pleura and lung has never been reported and its histogenetic origin is still debated. A 48-year-old man was admitted due to progressive dysphagia and a weight loss of 5 kilograms within 2 months. Upper gastrointestinal panendoscopic biopsy revealed poorly differentiated SCC of thoracic esophagus, upper third, T4N1 M1a, stage IVa. He received concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). About 9 months later, rapid progression of lung metastases and pleural effusion were found. According to the histopathological and immunohistochemical stain results, carcinosarcoma was diagnosed. Palliative therapy was given and the patient eventually died of the disease 9 months after SCC of the thoracic esophagus was diagnosed and one month after carcinosarcoma of the pleura and lung were confirmed.
Digital Nets and Sequences
Authors: Dick Josef , Pillichshammer Friedrich
Published: July 2014

Indispensable for students, invaluable for researchers, this comprehensive treatment of contemporary quasi–Monte Carlo methods, digital nets and sequences, and discrepancy theory starts from scratch with detailed explanations of the basic concepts and then advances to current methods used in research. As deterministic versions of the Monte Carlo method, quasi–Monte Carlo rules have increased in popularity, with many fruitful applications in mathematical practice. These rules require nodes with good uniform distribution properties, and digital nets and sequences in the sense of Niederreiter are known to be excellent candidates. Besides the classical theory, the book contains chapters on reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces and weighted integration, duality theory for digital nets, polynomial lattice rules, the newest constructions by Niederreiter and Xing and many more. The authors present an accessible introduction to the subject based mainly on material taught in undergraduate courses with numerous examples, exercises and illustrations.
Modal Logic
Authors: Blackburn Patrick , Rijke Maarten de , Venema Yde
Published: July 2014

This is an advanced 2001 textbook on modal logic, a field which caught the attention of computer scientists in the late 1970s. Researchers in areas ranging from economics to computational linguistics have since realised its worth. The book is for novices and for more experienced readers, with two distinct tracks clearly signposted at the start of each chapter. The development is mathematical; prior acquaintance with first-order logic and its semantics is assumed, and familiarity with the basic mathematical notions of set theory is required. The authors focus on the use of modal languages as tools to analyze the properties of relational structures, including their algorithmic and algebraic aspects, and applications to issues in logic and computer science such as completeness, computability and complexity are considered. Three appendices supply basic background information and numerous exercises are provided. Ideal for anyone wanting to learn modern modal logic.
Automorphisms and Equivalence Relations in Topological Dynamics
Authors: Ellis David B. , Ellis Robert
Published: July 2014

Focusing on the role that automorphisms and equivalence relations play in the algebraic theory of minimal sets provides an original treatment of some key aspects of abstract topological dynamics. Such an approach is presented in this lucid and self-contained book, leading to simpler proofs of classical results, as well as providing motivation for further study. Minimal flows on compact Hausdorff spaces are studied as icers on the universal minimal flow M. The group of the icer representing a minimal flow is defined as a subgroup of the automorphism group G of M, and icers are constructed explicitly as relative products using subgroups of G. Many classical results are then obtained by examining the structure of the icers on M, including a proof of the Furstenberg structure theorem for distal extensions. This book is designed as both a guide for graduate students, and a source of interesting new ideas for researchers.
An Introduction to Computational Stochastic PDEs
Authors: Lord Gabriel J. , Powell Catherine E. , Shardlow Tony
Published: July 2014

This book gives a comprehensive introduction to numerical methods and analysis of stochastic processes, random fields and stochastic differential equations, and offers graduate students and researchers powerful tools for understanding uncertainty quantification for risk analysis. Coverage includes traditional stochastic ODEs with white noise forcing, strong and weak approximation, and the multi-level Monte Carlo method. Later chapters apply the theory of random fields to the numerical solution of elliptic PDEs with correlated random data, discuss the Monte Carlo method, and introduce stochastic Galerkin finite-element methods. Finally, stochastic parabolic PDEs are developed. Assuming little previous exposure to probability and statistics, theory is developed in tandem with state-of-the-art computational methods through worked examples, exercises, theorems and proofs. The set of MATLAB codes included (and downloadable) allows readers to perform computations themselves and solve the test problems discussed. Practical examples are drawn from finance, mathematical biology, neuroscience, fluid flow modelling and materials science.
Noun Phrase Complexity in English
Authors: Berlage Eva
Published: July 2014

This book explores noun phrase complexity in English, showing that it is best accounted for both by a linear and a hierarchical parameter: its length and its type of postmodifier(s). The study is methodologically unique in that it combines univariate and multivariate analyses in an investigation of four different syntactic variables. Drawing on more than three billion words of British and American data, Eva Berlage shows that the length and the structure of the NPs, along with language-external factors such as the regional variety of English, work as powerful determinants of the variation. On a theoretical level, the book reveals that the structural complexity of NPs cannot be sufficiently captured by (phrasal) node counts but that we need to incorporate the degree to which NPs are sentential. The book is designed for researchers and students interested in syntax, language variation, sociolinguistics, structural complexity and the history of English.
A Cryptography Primer
Authors: Klein Philip N.
Published: July 2014

Cryptography has been employed in war and diplomacy from the time of Julius Caesar. In our Internet age, cryptography's most widespread application may be for commerce, from protecting the security of electronic transfers to guarding communication from industrial espionage. This accessible introduction for undergraduates explains the cryptographic protocols for achieving privacy of communication and the use of digital signatures for certifying the validity, integrity, and origin of a message, document, or program. Rather than offering a how-to on configuring web browsers and e-mail programs, the author provides a guide to the principles and elementary mathematics underlying modern cryptography, giving readers a look under the hood for security techniques and the reasons they are thought to be secure.
American Politics in the Postwar Sunbelt
Authors: Cunningham Sean P.
Published: July 2014

This book analyzes the political culture of the American Sunbelt since the end of World War II. It highlights and explains the Sunbelt's emergence during the second half of the twentieth century as the undisputed geographic epicentre for conservative Republican power in the United States. However, the book also investigates the ongoing nature of political contestation within the postwar Sunbelt, often highlighting the underappreciated persistence of liberal and progressive influences across the region. Sean P. Cunningham argues that the conservative Republican ascendancy that so many have identified as almost synonymous with the rise of the postwar American Sunbelt was hardly an easy, unobstructed victory march. Rather, it was consistently challenged and never preordained. The history of American politics in the postwar Sunbelt resembles a roller-coaster of partisan and ideological adaptation and transformation.
Decisions with Multiple Objectives
Authors: Keeney Ralph L. , Raiffa Howard
Published: July 2014

Many of the complex problems faced by decision makers involve multiple conflicting objectives. This book describes how a confused decision maker, who wishes to make a reasonable and responsible choice among alternatives, can systematically probe his true feelings in order to make those critically important, vexing trade-offs between incommensurable objectives. The theory is illustrated by many real concrete examples taken from a host of disciplinary settings. The standard approach in decision theory or decision analysis specifies a simplified single objective like monetary return to maximise. By generalising from the single objective case to the multiple objective case, this book considerably widens the range of applicability of decision analysis.
Geschichte von Böhmen
Authors: Palacký František
Published: July 2014

A highly influential Czech historian and politician, František Palacký (1798–1876) became in 1825 the first editor of the journal of the Bohemian Museum, a key cultural institution in the development of Czech nationalism. He was actively involved in the nineteenth-century Czech national revival, helping also to found the Czech national theatre. Entering politics in 1848, he served as president of the Prague Slavic Congress, and later became a member of the Austrian senate as a supporter of greater Czech autonomy. In this extensive work, comprising ten separate parts - published in German between 1836 and 1867 - Palacký gives a detailed account of Bohemian history until 1526. It remains an important and ambitious feat of scholarship, still relevant to students of central European history. The second part of Volume 4 (1860) deals with the years 1457–71 and the reign of George of Poděbrady.
The Hedaya, or Guide
Authors: Burhan al-Din al-Marghinani
Published: July 2014

Composed in the twelfth century by the leading Muslim jurist Burhan al-Din al-Marghinani (1135–97), the original Arabic al-Hidāyah remains a central text of Islamic personal law. This English translation, from a Persian version of the work, was prepared by the orientalist Charles Hamilton (c.1752–92) for the East India Company in 1791. Although since superseded, it remains a fascinating document in the history of colonial jurisprudence. The legal system was central to the entrenchment of British rule in India, providing the framework for active control of civil administration and the courts. Translations of Islamic texts were intended to remove the language barrier for colonial officials, and blurred British and native law for the first time. Volume 3 contains sections on agency, claims, laws of business, deposits, loans, gifts, the hiring of slaves, freed slaves, and disputed land sales.
The Life of His Royal Highness the Prince Consort
Authors: Martin Theodore
Published: July 2014

A lawyer by profession, Theodore Martin (1816–1909) gained literary distinction as both a humorous essayist and versatile translator. He found his greatest success, however, in the role of biographer to Prince Albert (1819–61). Commissioned by Queen Victoria to memorialise her late husband, this five-volume work was first published between 1875 and 1880. Intended as a continuation of the biography begun by Charles Grey (also reissued in this series), it has been described as 'less adulatory in tone than might be expected'. A treasury of letters and memoranda, it presents a detailed portrait of the character, words and deeds of a man whose life was necessarily immersed in the great events of his time. Volume 1 covers Albert's youth, his marriage to Victoria and the early years as her husband, up until the birth of their sixth child, Princess Louise, in 1848.
Religious Practice and Democracy in India
Authors: Chhibber Pradeep K.
Published: July 2014

This book demonstrates the close relationship between religion and democracy in India. Religious practice creates ties among citizens that can generate positive and democratic political outcomes. In pursuing this line of inquiry the book questions a dominant strand in some contemporary social sciences - that a religious denomination (Catholic, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, and so on) is sufficient to explain the relationship between religion and politics or that religion and democracy are antithetical to each other. The book makes a strong case for studying religious practice and placing that practice in the panoply of other social practices and showing that religious practice is positively associated with democracy.
Psychological Disorders in Obstetrics and Gynaecology for the MRCOG and Beyond
Authors: Ismail Khalid , Crome Ilana , O'Brien Patrick
Published: July 2014

This book covers the psychological conditions associated with the many phases of a woman's lifespan: the menarche; the menstrual cycle; infertility; pregnancy and the puerperium; and menopause and perimenopause. Issues such as eating disorders, substance misuse and other disorders are also addressed. For each condition, the nature and extent of the condition, detection or diagnosis, the pharmacological and psychosocial interventions available, and the importance of referral and co-working with multidisciplinary teams are covered. The book is primarily designed to provide a comprehensive summary for candidates preparing for the Part 2 MRCOG examination, and as such covers the RCOG curriculum for psychological disorders. It is also a valuable guide for all healthcare professionals needing a clearer understanding of this important area.
An Age of Neutrals
Authors: Abbenhuis Maartje
Published: July 2014

An Age of Neutrals provides a pioneering history of neutrality in Europe and the wider world between the Congress of Vienna and the outbreak of the First World War. The 'long' nineteenth century (1815–1914) was an era of unprecedented industrialization, imperialism and globalization; one which witnessed Europe's economic and political hegemony across the world. Dr Maartje Abbenhuis explores the ways in which neutrality reinforced these interconnected developments. She argues that a passive conception of neutrality has thus far prevented historians from understanding the high regard with which neutrality, as a tool of diplomacy and statecraft and as a popular ideal with numerous applications, was held. This compelling new history exposes neutrality as a vibrant and essential part of the nineteenth-century international system; a powerful instrument used by great and small powers to solve disputes, stabilize international relations and promote a variety of interests within and outside the continent.
Analysis of Boolean Functions
Authors: O'Donnell Ryan
Published: July 2014

Boolean functions are perhaps the most basic objects of study in theoretical computer science. They also arise in other areas of mathematics, including combinatorics, statistical physics, and mathematical social choice. The field of analysis of Boolean functions seeks to understand them via their Fourier transform and other analytic methods. This text gives a thorough overview of the field, beginning with the most basic definitions and proceeding to advanced topics such as hypercontractivity and isoperimetry. Each chapter includes a 'highlight application' such as Arrow's theorem from economics, the Goldreich–Levin algorithm from cryptography/learning theory, Håstad's NP-hardness of approximation results, and 'sharp threshold' theorems for random graph properties. The book includes roughly 450 exercises and can be used as the basis of a one-semester graduate course. It should appeal to advanced undergraduates, graduate students and researchers in computer science theory and related mathematical fields.
The Role of the Holy Will
Authors: Callanan John J.
Published: July 2014

It is well known that Kant uses the notion of the holy will in theGroundworkso as to contrast it with the finite wills of human beings. It is less clear, however, what function this contrast is supposed to perform. I argue that one role of the holy will is to illustrate transcendental idealism’s account of the relation between moral knowledge and moral practice. The position is one intended to negotiate between ostensibly competing traditions. Kant uses the holy will as a way of endorsing the metaphysical picture of the scholastic tradition’s so-called ‘ethics of freedom’, whereby the ideal of moral perfection is conceived as the perfection of one’s power of freedom to the point where one is constitutively incapable of immoral action. This position is married however with the claim that the holy will’s inaccessibility to human cognition motivates a subject-oriented moral epistemology more usually associated with Enlightenment humanism. I conclude by claiming that the nuanced role for the holy will can be understood as part of Kant’s expansion of the value of religious faith [Glaube] to the domain of practical inquiry in general.
Entrainment in two coalescing axisymmetric turbulent plumes
Authors: Cenedese C. , Linden P. F.
Published: July 2014

A model of the total volume flux and entrainment occurring in two coalescing axisymmetric turbulent plumes is developed and compared with laboratory experiments. The dynamical evolution of the two plumes is divided into three regions. In region 1, where the plumes are separate, the entrainment in each plume is unaffected by the other plume, although the two plumes are drawn together due to the entrainment of ambient fluid between them. In region 2 the two plumes touch each other but are not yet merged. In this region the total entrainment is a function of both the dynamics of the touching plumes and the reduced surface area through which entrainment occurs. In region 3 the two plumes are merged and the entrainment is equivalent to that in a single plume. We find that the total volume flux after the two plumes touch and before they merge increases linearly with distance from the sources, and can be expressed as a function of the known total volume fluxes at the touching and merging heights. Finally, we define an ‘effective’ entrainment constant, $\def \xmlpi #1{}\def \mathsfbi #1{\boldsymbol {\mathsf {#1}}}\let \le =\leqslant \let \leq =\leqslant \let \ge =\geqslant \let \geq =\geqslant \def \Pr {\mathit {Pr}}\def \Fr {\mathit {Fr}}\def \Rey {\mathit {Re}}\alpha _{eff}$, as the value of $\alpha $ needed to obtain the same total volume flux in two independent plumes as that occurring in two coalescing plumes. The definition of $\alpha _{eff}$ allows us to find a single expression for the development of the total volume flux in the three different dynamical regions. This single expression will simplify the representation of coalescing plumes in more complex models, such as in large-scale geophysical convection, in which plume dynamics are not resolved. Experiments show that the model provides an accurate measure of the total volume flux in the two coalescing plumes as they evolve through the three regions.
Nutritional quality of salmon products available from major retailers in the UK: content and composition ofn-3 long-chain PUFA
Authors: Henriques João , Dick James R. , Tocher Douglas R. , Bell J. Gordon
Published: July 2014

In the present study, salmon products available from UK retailers were analysed to determine the levels ofn-3 long-chain PUFA (LC-PUFA), a key determinant of nutritional quality. There was a wide variation in the proportions and absolute contents of EPA and DHA in the products. Relatively high contents of 18 : 1n-9, 18 : 2n-6 and 18 : 3n-3, characteristic of vegetable oils (VO), were found in several farmed salmon products, which also had generally lower proportions of EPA and DHA. In contrast, farmed salmon products with higher levels of 16 : 0 and 22 : 1, characteristic of fish oil (FO), had higher proportions of EPA and DHA. Therefore, there was a clear correlation between the levels of VO and FO in feeds and the proportions ofn-3 LC-PUFA in products. Although wild salmon products were characterised by higher proportions ofn-3 LC-PUFA (20–40 %) compared with farmed fish (9–26 %), they contained lower total lipid contents (1–6 % compared with 7–17 % in farmed salmon products). As a result, farmed salmon products invariably had higher levels ofn-3 LC-PUFA in absolute terms (g/100 g fillet) and, therefore, delivered a higher ‘dose’ of EPA and DHA per portion. Overall, despite the finite and limiting supply of FO and increasing use of VO, farmed salmon continue to be an excellent source of and delivery system forn-3 LC-PUFA to consumers.
TILLAGE AND RESIDUE MULCHING EFFECT ON PRODUCTIVITY OF MAIZE (ZEA MAYS)–TORIA (BRASSICA CAMPESTRIS) CROPPING SYSTEM IN FRAGILE ECOSYSTEM OF NORTHEAST INDIAN HIMALAYAS
Authors: DAS ANUP , GHOSH P. K. , VERMA M. R. , MUNDA G. C. , NGACHAN S. V. , MANDAL D.
Published: July 2014

The north eastern region (NER) of India receives a high amount of rainfall (2450 mm) both in terms of intensity and frequency. Most of the precipitation goes waste because of improper conservation measures and inadequate rainwater harvesting. Growing a second crop during winter (rabi) season on hill slopes and uplands without moisture conservation measure is almost impossible. A simple and very low-cost technique ofin situsoil moisture conservation in maize (Zea maysL.)–toria (Brassica campestrisL.) system has been developed using residue of preceding rainy season maize crop and mulching with locally available weed biomassAmbrosia artemisiifolia. Six residue mulching combinations tested were viz. control, Maize stalk cover (MSC), MSC +Ambrosiasp. 5 t/ha, MSC +Ambrosiasp. 10 t/ha, MSC + farmyard manure (FYM) 10 t/ha and MSC +Ambrosiasp. 5 t/ha + poultry manure 5 t/ha under zero tillage (ZT) and conventional tillage (CT) systems. Results showed thatin situresidue retention of preceding maize crop along with green biomass ofAmbrosiasp., applied before sowing of toria, maintained optimum soil moisture for good growth and higher yield of toria. The soil moisture content was consistently higher under residue mulched plots than that under control. All the residue mulching measures recorded higher crop yield for maize and toria than those observed under residue removal (control). The productivity of toria was enhanced by about 99%, only due to retention of MSC as mulch. Mulching with MSC +Ambrosiasp. 5 t/ha + poultry manure 5 t/ha recorded the highest seed yield of toria (four-year average: 641 kg/ha), which was 228% and 64% higher than no mulching (control) and MSC alone. MSC + FYM 10 t/ha (568.3 t/ha) and MSC +Ambrosiasp. 10 t/ha (517.4 t/ha) were found equally effective and produced significantly higher toria yield than that of control. MSC +Ambrosiamulch 10 t/ha gave the highest net returns and B:C ratio of the maize–toria system. The overall B:C ratios were better under ZT than CT. Thus, the study indicated that the integrated management of crop residues and weed biomass (Ambrosiasp.) under ZT created favourable soil moisture to support double cropping with high yield in hill eco-system of northeastern Indian Himalayas.
Immunisations and antibiotics in patients with anterior skull base cerebrospinal fluid leaks
Authors: Rimmer J , Belk C , Lund V J , Swift A , White P
Published: July 2014

Objective:

There are no UK guidelines for the use of antibiotics and/or immunisations in patients with an active anterior skull base cerebrospinal fluid leak. This study aimed to define current UK practice in this area and inform appropriate guidelines for ENT surgeons.

Method:

A web-based survey of all members of the British Rhinological Society was carried out and the literature in this area was reviewed.

Results:

Of those who responded to the survey, 14 per cent routinely give prophylactic antibiotics to patients with cerebrospinal fluid leaks, and 34.9 per cent recommend immunisation against at least one organism, most commonly Streptococcus pneumoniae (86.7 per cent).

Conclusion:

There is no evidence to support the use of antibiotic prophylaxis in patients with a cerebrospinal fluid leak. We propose that all such patients are advised to seek immunisation against pneumococcus, meningococcus and haemophilus.
In-situdiagnostics of hydrocarbon dusty plasmas using quantum cascade laser absorption spectroscopy and mass spectrometry
Authors: Ouaras K. , Delacqua L. Colina , Lombardi G. , Röpcke J. , Wartel M. , Bonnin X. , Redolfi M. , Hassouni K.
Published: July 2014

The formation of carbon nanoparticles in low pressure magnetized H2/CH4and H2/C2H2plasmas is investigated using infrared quantum cascade laser absorption, mass spectrometry, and electrostatic probe measurements. Results showed that dust formation is correlated to the presence of a significant amount of large positively charged hydrocarbon ions. Large negative ions or neutral hydrocarbon were not observed. These results, along with a qualitative comparison of diffusion and reaction characteristic, suggest that a positive ion may contribute to the growth of nanoparticles in hydrocarbon magnetized plasmas.
Probing properties of cold radiofrequency plasma with polymer probe
Authors: Bormashenko E. , Chaniel G. , Multanen V.
Published: July 2014

The probe intended for the characterization of cold plasma is introduced. The probe allows the estimation of Debye length of cold plasma. The probe is based on the pronounced modification of surface properties (wettability) of polymer films by cold plasmas. The probe was tested with the cold radiofrequency inductive air plasma discharge. The Debye length and the concentration of charge carriers were estimated for various gas pressures. The reported results coincide reasonably with the corresponding values established by other methods. The probe makes possible measurement of characteristics of cold plasmas in closed chambers.
Numerical study of the sheath in magnetized dusty plasma with two-temperature electrons
Authors: Driouch I. , Chatei H. , El Bojaddaini M.
Published: July 2014

Fluid simulations are used to investigate a multi-component magnetized dusty plasma sheath. The model consists of positive ions, dust grains, and two species of electron populations. These electrons are assumed to be a sum of two Maxwellian distributions with two different temperatures (cold and hot). According to multi-fluid equations and some dimensionless variables, the dimensionless equations are obtained and solved numerically. The effect of the presence of the hot electrons in the sheath is examined. A significant change is observed in the quantities characterizing the sheath with respect to one species electrons (cold) assumption.
Reproduction of the pelagic thresher shark Alopias pelagicus in the equatorial Pacific
Authors: Romero-Caicedo A.F. , Galván-Magaña F. , Martínez-Ortiz J.
Published: July 2014

The reproductive biology of the pelagic thresher shark Alopias pelagicus, was analysed based on 241 individuals (101 males and 140 females). Samples were collected from April 2005 to February 2006, from the artisanal fishery in Manta, Ecuador. Males ranged from 68 to 183 cm precaudal length (PL); females ranged from 70 to 180 cm PL. In embryos, sexual proportion was 1F:1M; while in adults the proportion was 1.4F:1M, which suggests sexual segregation in maturing individuals. We showed differences in the development of reproductive structures according to the reproductive condition, and in males the size at maturity occurs at 144.3 cm PL and in females at 151.4 cm PL. We recorded 33 pregnant females that presented one embryo in each uterus in different developmental stages. The results of this study provide information on reproduction of the species that will help to establish an appropriate fisheries management.
Cumulative contextual risk, maternal responsivity, and social cognition at 18 months
Authors: Wade Mark , Moore Chris , Astington Janet Wilde , Frampton Kristen , Jenkins Jennifer M.
Published: July 2014

By 18 months children demonstrate a range of social–cognitive skills that can be considered important precursors to more advanced forms of social understanding such as theory of mind. Although individual differences in social cognition have been linked to neurocognitive maturation, sociocultural models of development suggest that environmental influences operate in the development of children's social–cognitive outcomes. In the current study of 501 children and their mothers, we tested and found support for a model in which distal environmental risk, assessed when children were newborns, was indirectly associated with children's social–cognitive competency at 18 months through mothers' responsivity at 18 months. Part of this effect also operated through children's concomitant language skills, suggesting both a language-mediated and a language-independent mechanism of social–cognitive development. These findings are discussed with respect to the Vygotskian themes of internalization and semiotic mediation.
Views on death with regard to end-of-life care preferences among cancer patients at a Japanese university hospital
Authors: Kuroda Yujiro , Iwamitsu Yumi , Miyashita Mitsunori , Hirai Kei , Kanai Yoshiaki , Kawakami Sachiko , Nakano Kimiko , Nakagawa Keiichi
Published: July 2014

Objective:

This study investigates the views on death among cancer patients in Japan and examines how these views are related to age, sex, and physical condition. We also investigate how these views are related to where patients would like to spend their final days and whether or not they would like to be told how long they have left to live.

Method:

We targeted 450 cancer patients receiving outpatient treatment in the radiology department at the University of Tokyo Hospital. We used the Death Attitudes Inventory (DAI) developed by Hirai to measure attitudes about death.

Results:

Of the 450 patients approached, we received responses from 310 (69% collection rate). The results of the t test and one-way ANOVA showed that, in terms of “death anxiety/fear,” the under-65 group (17.73 ± 6.69) scored significantly higher than the 65-and-over group (15.43 ± 7.69, t = 2.685, df = 280, p < 0.01); the group with KPS scores 70 or above (16.88 ± 7.21) scored higher than the group with KPS scores below 70 (12.73 ± 7.09, t = 2.168, df = 280, p = 0.03); and no significant difference was found for sex, metastasis, or treatment stage.

Significance of results:

Our results demonstrate that, although views on death among cancer patients may differ according to sex, age, and physical condition, taking these factors into account when understanding such views can be useful in predicting where patients may wish to spend their final days.
Autocratic Breakdown and Regime Transitions: A New Data Set
Authors: Geddes Barbara , Wright Joseph , Frantz Erica
Published: July 2014

When the leader of an autocratic regime loses power, one of three things happens. The incumbent leadership group is replaced by democratically elected leaders. Someone from the incumbent leadership group replaces him, and the regime persists. Or the incumbent leadership group loses control to a different group that replaces it with a new autocracy. Much scholarship exists on the first kind of transition, but little on transitions from one autocracy to another, though they make up about half of all regime changes. We introduce a new data set that facilitates the investigation of all three kinds of transition. It provides transition information for the 280 autocratic regimes in existence from 1946 to 2010. The data identify how regimes exit power, how much violence occurs during transitions, and whether the regimes that precede and succeed them are autocratic. We explain the data set and show how it differs from currently available data. The new data identify autocratic regime breakdowns regardless of whether the country democratizes, which makes possible the investigation of why the ouster of dictators sometimes leads to democracy but often does not, and many other questions. We present a number of examples to highlight how the new data can be used to explore questions about why dictators start wars and why autocratic breakdown sometimes results in the establishment of a new autocratic regime rather than democratization. We discuss the implications of these findings for the Arab Spring.
The feasibility and effectiveness of running mindfulness groups in an early intervention in psychosis service
Authors: Samson Carly , Mallindine Clare
Published: July 2014

There is increasing evidence that mindfulness techniques can be used safely and effectively in the treatment of psychosis, but the potential benefits of these techniques for individuals during the early stages requires further exploration. This study investigated whether mindfulness training in a group setting is associated with a reduction in distress and an improvement in mindfulness skills for people who have psychotic experiences. Data are reported from eight participants who completed measures before and after attending a mindfulness group. There was a reduction in CORE and DASS scores and an increase in mindfulness skills following participation in the group. These findings suggest that mindfulness training can be beneficial for reducing distress and negative emotional states associated with early psychotic experiences during the critical period.
Lerntherapie geht in die Schule
Authors: Ricken Gabi
Published: July 2014

Eine gute Förderung aller Kinder ist nicht erst seit der Inklusionsidee eine der zentralen Aufgaben in der Schule. Alle Erfahrungen zeigen allerdings große Unterschiede zwischen Schulen in der Realisierung. Die Notwendigkeit nach der Unterzeichnung der UN-Konvention, Schule nun für Kinder so zu öffnen, dass sich alle Kinder unter diesen Bedingungen bestens hinsichtlich ihrer kognitiven, sozialen und motivationalen Kompetenzen entwickeln, fokussiert die Aufmerksamkeit gegenwärtig auf diesen fundamentalen Aspekt.

Es ist unstrittig, dass eine Arbeit mit Kindern mit sehr unterschiedlichen Lernbedingungen Ressourcen braucht, um Barrieren für ein gemeinsames Lernen abzuschaffen oder zu minimieren. Vage sind allerdings noch die Vorstellungen, wie über strukturelle hinaus, auch inhaltlich gut wirksame Bedingungen herzustellen sind.

Vor dieser Offenheit soll hier die Frage gestellt und mit ersten Ideen behandelt werden, ob und wie Lerntherapie im Gesamtförderkonzept von Schulen eine Rolle spielen könnte und vorhandene Ressourcen eingebunden werden sollten.
Die Sprache als Instrument im lerntherapeutischen Prozess
Authors: Gührs Lilo , Widmann Margit
Published: July 2014

Integrative Lerntherapie ist die Hilfeform für Kinder, Jugendliche und selten auch Erwachsene, die besondere Schwierigkeiten haben, lesen, schreiben und/oder rechnen zu lernen. Der oft erhebliche Rückstand gegenüber der Altersgruppe trotz großen Lernaufwandes erschüttert mehr und mehr das Zutrauen dieser Kinder und Jugendlichen in die eigene Lernfähigkeit. Dies kann über den betroffenen Bereich hinaus bis hin zu erheblichen Beeinträchtigungen ihrer sozialen Integration und psychischen Stabilität führen. Auch außerhalb des schulischen Rahmens werden die betroffenen jungen Menschen in ihrem Alltag ständig mit ihren Erschwernissen konfrontiert, da es sich um Kulturtechniken handelt, deren Beherrschung in der Alltagsbewältigung und -gestaltung eine fundamentale Rolle spielt.

Die Lerntherapie hat deshalb das Ziel, die seelische Gesundheit des Kindes oder Jugendlichen wieder herzustellen und zugleich Lernfortschritte in den betroffenen Kulturtechniken zu ermöglichen.

Beratung und Begleitung des beteiligten Umfeldes, in der Regel Eltern, Lehrer und Lehrerinnen, gehören zu den Aufgabenbereichen der Lerntherapie, werden hier aber nicht im Zentrum stehen.

Mit den folgenden Überlegungen wollen wir darstellen, wie in der konkreten fachbezogenen Arbeit an einem oft negativ besetzten Bereich eine Veränderung der von den leidvollen Erfahrungen geprägten Sicht unterstützt werden kann.

Wir werden sprachliche Angebote darstellen, die sich an die Persönlichkeit des Kindes richten. Die Kinder sollen ihre vorhandenen Kompetenzen wahrnehmen und ihre negativen Bewertungen allmählich verändern. Mit sorgfältiger sprachlicher Begleitung gestalten wir den Lernprozess so, dass Kinder zu Entdeckern werden und durch lautes Denken ihr Wissen begleiten und neu sortieren. Neben Darlegungen und Beispielen zu unserem Vorgehen werden wir abschließend zeigen, wie Metaphern und Analogien diesen Prozess beim Kind bereichern können.
BMZI-HEA
Authors: Schmid Julia , Molinari Vera , Lehnert Katrin , Sudeck Gorden , Conzelmann Achim
Published: July 2014

Die Förderung regelmäßiger Bewegungs- und Sportaktivitäten bei älteren Menschen gewinnt zunehmend an Bedeutung. Für eine effiziente Bewegungs- und Sportförderung werden zielgruppenspezifische Maßnahmen gefordert. Sportbezogene Motive und Ziele von Älteren werden aktuell selten systematisch in die Konzeption von Interventionen miteinbezogen, wenngleich sie für das Wohlbefinden und die Aufrechterhaltung des Sportverhaltens eine zentrale Rolle einnehmen. Das bereits bestehende BMZI ermöglicht die Individualdiagnose von Motiven und Zielen im Freizeit- und Gesundheitssport bei Personen im mittleren Erwachsenenalter. Der vorliegende Beitrag zielt auf eine Adaption des Fragebogens für Menschen im höheren Erwachsenenalter. Das BMZI-HEA deckt mit insgesamt 27 Items folgende Motive und Ziele ab: Figur/Aussehen, Kontakt, Wettkampf/Leistung, Alltagskompetenz/Gesundheit, Positive Bewegungserfahrungen, Kognitive Funktionsfähigkeit, Stimmungsregulation. Der Fragebogen wurde an drei Stichproben explorativ und konfirmatorisch überprüft. Der globale Modell-Fit des BMZI-HEA ist als zufriedenstellend zu beurteilen. Die erwartungskonformen Zusammenhänge mit der Selbstkonkordanz verweisen auf eine gute Konstruktvalidität des Instruments. Das BMZI-HEA empfiehlt sich als ökonomisches Instrument für die Individualdiagnose der psychischen Handlungsvoraussetzungen für das Sporttreiben von Menschen im höheren Erwachsenenalter.
Psychosoziale Arbeitsbedingungen und Rückenschmerz
Authors: Mierswa Tobias , Kellmann Michael
Published: July 2014

Psychosoziale Arbeitsbedingungen, wie Arbeitsstressoren und –ressourcen, stehen im engen Zusammenhang mit der Entstehung von Rückenschmerzen. Die Wahrnehmung und der Umgang mit den Arbeitsbedingungen hängen jedoch stark von dem eigenen Erholungszustand und besonders von der Fähigkeit ab, sich in der Freizeit von belastenden Arbeitsbedingungen zu distanzieren (Detachment). Ziel der vorliegenden Studie war es, den Einfluss von Detachment auf den Zusammenhang von psychosozialen Arbeitsbedingungen und Rückenschmerz genauer zu untersuchen. Zu diesem Zweck wurde eine Onlinebefragung bei insgesamt 647 Verwaltungsangestellten von 13 Hochschulen in NRW durchgeführt. Die Befragten wurden in zwei Gruppen, eine mit Rückenbeschwerden und eine ohne Rückenbeschwerden, unterteilt. Personen mit Rückenschmerzen zeigten deutlich ungünstigere Arbeitsbedingungen auf und hatten niedrigere Detachment-Werte. Zudem konnte mittels logistischer Regressionsanalyse der moderierende Einfluss von Detachment auf den Zusammenhang von Arbeitsstressoren mit Rückenschmerzen bestätigt werden. Auch der Zusammenhang zwischen dem Organisationsklima und Rückenschmerzen wurde durch Detachment moderiert. Der Einfluss des Detachments war dabei besonders ausgeprägt, wenn die Arbeitnehmer/innen starken Belastungen durch Arbeitsstressoren und einem unterstützenden Organisationsklima ausgesetzt waren.
Verhütungsverhalten Jugendlicher in Deutschland
Authors: Wendt Eva-Verena , Walper Sabine
Published: July 2014

Obwohl das Verhütungsverhalten Jugendlicher in Deutschland insgesamt als relativ gut zu bewerten ist, gibt es nach wie vor Risikogruppen, welchen ein konsequentes Verhütungsverhalten misslingt. Dieser Beitrag stellt erste Befunde aus dem Beziehungs- und Familienpanel pairfam zum Verhütungsverhalten sexuell aktiver, heterosexueller Jugendlicher anhand einer Stichprobe von 1137 16- bis 18-Jährigen vor, von welchen 95.2 % in den vergangenen 3 Monaten Empfängnisverhütung betrieben haben. Die Daten zeigen, dass Jugendliche mit frühem ersten GV, sexueller Aktivität ohne Partnerschaft und einer Bildung auf maximal Hauptschulniveau zu einem geringeren Anteil verhüteten. Nur 63.4 % der sexuell aktiven Jugendlichen verhüteten eigenen Angaben nach „sehr konsequent”, wobei Jugendliche mit aktuell bestehender Partnerschaft gewissenhafter verhüteten als Jugendliche ohne Partnerschaft. 98.2 % der Jugendlichen verhüteten mit Kondom und/oder Pille. Jugendliche ohne feste Partnerschaft und Jugendliche mit einer Bildung auf maximal Hauptschulniveau nutzten häufiger Kondome, Jugendliche mit aktuell bestehender Partnerschaft häufiger die Pille. Die Ergebnisse bestätigen insgesamt die bisherige Befundlage zu den besonderen Risikolagen früh sexuell aktiver und bildungsbezogen benachteiligter Jugendlicher sowie Jugendlicher mit sexueller Aktivität außerhalb fester Partnerschaften, und werfen abermals die Frage nach zielgruppenorientierten Präventionsprogrammen auf.