bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long-term outcomes of limb salvage treatment with custom-made extendible endoprosthesis for bone sarcoma around the knee in children
Authors: Zou Changye , Zhao Zhiqiang , Lin Tiao , Huang Yongfu , Xie Xianbiao , Yin Junqiang , Huang Gang , Wang Bo , Shen Jingnan
Published: January 2020

Background

Limb salvage for bone sarcoma around the knee in skeletally immature children is challenging because of interference on two critical growth plates in the lower limb. This retrospective study aims to evaluate long-term outcomes and influence on growth of the lower limb of the cemented extendible endoprostheses.

Methods

Forty-five children with bone sarcoma around the knee, who underwent custom-made extendible endoprosthesis replacements, were included in this study. The average follow-up was 10.1 years. Survival, prosthetic-related complications and revision, functional outcomes, and influence on growth by prosthesis implantation were recorded.

Results

The 5-year disease-free survival and overall survival are 54.9% and 72.7%, and the 5-year prosthesis survival rate is 59.4%. The prosthesis was extended 4.2 cm in average. Limb length discrepancies of 20 patients were within 2 cm, and growth inhibition of proximal tibial epiphysis by passive implant insertion was observed. Aseptic loosening in 7 patients was the most significant complication. The Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score at last visit was 83.2%.

Conclusions

The use of custom-made extendible endoprosthesis provided good functional results for children with bone tumor around the knee. Further improvement of the prosthesis design and operation technique will help to decrease complication and gain better limb function.
A novel approach for T7 bacteriophage genome integration of exogenous DNA
Authors: Liu Ying , Huang Hongxing , Wang Hua , Zhang Yan
Published: January 2020

Background

The comparatively small genome, well elucidated functional genomics and rapid life cycle confer T7 bacteriophage with great advantages for bio-application. Genetic manipulation of T7 genome plays a key role in T7 related applications. As one of the important aspects in T7 phage genetic modification, gene knock-in refers to two main approaches including direct genetic manipulation in vitro and recombineering. Neither of these available methods are efficient enough to support the development of innovative applications capitalizing on T7 bio-system and thus there is room for novel strategies that address this issue. Integration mediated by the ΦC31 integrase is one of the most robust site-specific recombination systems. ΦC31 integrases with enhanced activity and specificity have been developed such that it is ideal to effectuate exogenous DNA knock-in of T7 phage with advanced ΦC31 integrase.

Methods

Plasmid construction was conducted by routine molecular cloning technology. The engineered T7 bacteriophages were constructed through homologous recombination with corresponding plasmids and the functional T7 phage was designated as T7∆G10G11-attB. In the integration reaction, hosts with both executive plasmids (pEXM4) and donor plasmids (pMCBK) were lysed by T7∆G10G11-attB. Progenies of T7 phages that integrated with pMCBK were isolated in restrict hosts and validated by sequencing. T7∆G10G11-attB capacity limit was explored by another integration reactions with donor plasmids that contain exogenous DNA of various lengths.

Results

T7∆G10G11-attB exhibits abortive growth in restrictive hosts, and a bacterial attachment site recognized by ΦC31 integrase (attB) was confirmed to be present in the T7∆G10G11-attB genome via sequencing. The integration reaction demonstrated that plasmids containing the corresponding phage attachment site (attP) could be integrated into the T7∆G10G11-attB genome. The candidate recombinant phage was isolated and validated to have integrated exogenous DNA. The maximum capacity of T7∆G10G11-attB was explored, and it’s found that insertion of exogenous DNA sequences longer than 2 kbp long can be accommodated stably.

Conclusion

We advanced and established a novel approach for gene knock-in into the T7 genome using ΦC31 integrase.
High risk of macrosomia in newborns of immigrant mothers
Authors: De Curtis Mario , Villani Leonardo , Polo Arianna
Published: January 2020

Background

In Italy live about 8.7% immigrants, which contribute to more than 15% of all deliveries taking place in Italy. We aimed to investigate whether newborns from high migratory pressure countries (HMPC) mothers have a different macrosomia and post-term pregnancy incidence compared to Italian newborns.

Methods

In this retrospective observational study, we analyzed data on 404.863 babies born between 2010 and 2017. Italian mothers delivered 309.658 (76.5%), HMPC mothers 88.179 (21.8%) and developed country (DC) mothers 7.026 (1.7%) babies. We analyzed the incidence of macrosomia and post term pregnancy.

We estimated incidence rate (IR), unadjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to evaluate the association between these perinatal parameters and the mother’s region of birth.

Results

HMPC compared to Italian newborns showed a significantly higher incidence of birthweight > 4000 g (53.3‰ vs 39.1‰, p-value < 0.001; IRR 1.4, 95%CI = 1.36–1.45), birthweight ≥4500 g. (7.0‰ vs 3.8‰, p-value < 0.001; IRR 1.8, 95%CI = 1.67–2.0) and gestational age at birth > 41 weeks (19.9‰ vs 12.8‰, p-value < 0.001; IRR 1.55, 95%CI = 1.47–1.64).

The macrosomia incidence between HPMC and Italian newborns was significantly increased at all gestational ages (Fig. 1), especially for mothers coming from Central Eastern Europe (121.79‰ vs 91.1‰, p-value< 0.001; IRR 1.34, 95%CI = 1.11–1.62).

Conclusion

In Italy immigrant status represents a risk factor for macrosomia and post-term birth, which could be related to socio-economic status and unfavorable life conditions of immigrant mothers during pregnancy.
Psychotropic medication non-adherence and its associated factors among patients with major psychiatric disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Semahegn Agumasie , Torpey Kwasi , Manu Adom , Assefa Nega , Tesfaye Gezahegn , Ankomah Augustine
Published: January 2020

Background

Major psychiatric disorders are growing public health concern that attributed 14% of the global burden of diseases. The management of major psychiatric disorders is challenging mainly due to medication non-adherence. However, there is a paucity of summarized evidence on the prevalence of psychotropic medication non-adherence and associated factors. Therefore, we aimed to summarize existing primary studies’ finding to determine the pooled prevalence and factors associated with psychotropic medication non-adherence.

Methods

A total of 4504 studies written in English until December 31, 2017, were searched from the main databases (n = 3125) (PubMed (MEDLINE), Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science) and other relevant sources (mainly from Google Scholar, n = 1379). Study selection, screening, and data extraction were carried out independently by two authors. Observational studies that had been conducted among adult patients (18 years and older) with major psychiatric disorders were eligible for the selection process. Critical appraisal of the included studies was carried out using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. Systematic synthesis of the studies was carried out to summarize factors associated with psychotropic medication non-adherence. Meta-analysis was carried using Stata 14. Random effects model was used to compute the pooled prevalence, and sub-group analysis at 95% confidence interval.

Results

Forty-six studies were included in the systematic review. Of these, 35 studies (schizophrenia (n = 9), depressive (n = 16), and bipolar (n = 10) disorders) were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, 49% of major psychiatric disorder patients were non-adherent to their psychotropic medication. Of these, psychotropic medication non-adherence for schizophrenia, major depressive disorders, and bipolar disorders were 56%, 50%, and 44%, respectively. Individual patient’s behaviors, lack of social support, clinical or treatment and illness-related, and health system factors influenced psychotropic medication non-adherence.

Conclusion

Psychotropic medication non-adherence was high. It was influenced by various factors operating at different levels. Therefore, comprehensive intervention strategies should be designed to address factors associated with psychotropic medication non-adherence.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO CRD42017067436
Infinitely many solutions for a Hénon-type system in hyperbolic space
Authors: Cunha Patrícia Leal da , Lemos Flávio Almeida
Published: January 2020

This paper is devoted to studying the semilinear elliptic system of Hénon type
$$ \textstyle\begin{cases} -\Delta _{\mathbb{B}^{N}}u= K(d(x))Q_{u}(u,v), \\ -\Delta _{\mathbb{B}^{N}}v= K(d(x))Q_{v}(u,v), \\ \quad u, v\in H_{r}^{1}(\mathbb{B}^{N}),\quad N\geq 3, \end{cases} $${−ΔBNu=K(d(x))Qu(u,v),−ΔBNv=K(d(x))Qv(u,v),u,v∈Hr1(BN),N≥3, in the hyperbolic space $\mathbb{B}^{N}$BN, where $H_{r}^{1}(\mathbb{B} ^{N})=\{u\in H^{1}(\mathbb{B}^{N}): u \text{ is radial}\}$Hr1(BN)={u∈H1(BN):u is radial} and $-\Delta _{\mathbb{B}^{N}}$−ΔBN denotes the Laplace–Beltrami operator on $\mathbb{B}^{N}$BN, $d(x)=d_{\mathbb{B}^{N}}(0,x)$d(x)=dBN(0,x), $Q \in C^{1}( \mathbb{R}\times \mathbb{R},\mathbb{R})$Q∈C1(R×R,R) is p-homogeneous, and $K\geq 0 $K≥0 is a continuous function. We prove a compactness result and, together with Clark’s theorem, we establish the existence of infinitely many solutions.
Use of urinary naloxone levels in a single provider practice: a case study
Authors: Warrington Jill S. , Booth Kaitlyn , Warrington Gregory S. , Francis-Fath Samuel
Published: January 2020

Background

Urine drug monitoring for medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) such as buprenorphine can help to support treatment adherence. The practice of introducing unconsumed medication directly into urine (known as “spiking” samples) has been increasingly recognized as a potential means to simulate treatment adherence. In the laboratory, examination of the ratios of buprenorphine and its metabolite, norbuprenorphine, has been identified as a mechanism to identify “spiked” samples. Urine levels of naloxone may also be a novel marker in cases where the combination buprenorphine–naloxone product has been administered. This case study, which encompasses one provider’s practice spanning two sites, represents a preliminary report on the utility of using urinary naloxone as an indicator of “spiked” urine toxicology samples. Though only a case study, this represents the largest published evaluation of patients’ naloxone levels to date.

Case presentation

Over a 3-month period across two practice sites, we identified 1,223 patient samples with recorded naloxone levels, spanning a range of 0 to 12,161 ng/ml. The average naloxone level was 633.65 ng/ml with the majority (54%) of samples < 300 ng/ml. 8.0% of samples demonstrated extreme values of naloxone (> 2000 ng/ml). One practice site, which had increased evidence of specimen tampering at collections, had a greater percent of extreme naloxone levels (>  2000 ng/ml) at 9.3% and higher average naloxone level (686.8 ng/ml), in contrast to a second site (570.9 ng/ml; 6.4% at > 2000 ng/ml) that did not have known reports of specimen tampering.

Conclusions

We postulate that naloxone may serve as an additional flag to identify patient “spiking” of urine samples with use of the combination product of buprenorphine–naloxone.
Age estimation by pulp to tooth area ratio in canine teeth using cone-beam computed tomography
Authors: Salemi Fatemeh , Farhadian Maryam , Askari Sabzkouhi Bahare , Saati Samira , Nafisi Nika
Published: January 2020

Background

This study aimed to estimate the chronological age of individuals according to the correlation of age with morphological variables of the maxillary canine teeth using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) based on Kvaal’s method.

Method

This study was conducted on CBCT scans of 300 patients in Hamadan city, including 142 females and 158 males between 14 and 60 years of age. To measure the morphological variables, cross-sectional views of the maxillary right canine tooth were studied. The pulp to tooth area ratio (AR), the pulp to tooth length ratio (P), the mesiodistal and the buccolingual pulp to tooth width ratio at the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) (A1, A2), the mesiodistal and buccolingual pulp to tooth width ratio at the mid-root (C1, C2), and the mesiodistal and buccolingual pulp to tooth width ratio at the midpoint between the CEJ and the mid-root (B1, B2) were measured on CBCT scans.

Results

A significant inverse correlation was noted between age and all measured variables. No significant difference was found in the mean variables between males and females. The correlation between the actual age and estimated age in the regression model was 0.88. The mean square error (MSE) of prediction was 5.89 years; also, the mean absolute error (MAE) was 4.46 years.

Conclusion

The fitted regression model suggested in this study can estimate the age of individuals with acceptable accuracy and mean absolute error of lower than 5 years.
Proton minibeams—a springboard for physics, biology and clinical creativity
Authors: Dilmanian F. Avraham , Venkatesulu Bhanu P. , Sahoo Narayan , Wu Xiaodong , Nassimi Jessica R. , Herchko Steven , Lu Jiade , Dwarakanath Bilikere S. , Eley John G. , Krishnan Sunil
Published: January 2020

Proton minibeam therapy (PMBT) is a form of spatially fractionated radiotherapy wherein broad beam radiation is replaced with segmented minibeams—either parallel, planar minibeam arrays generated by a multislit collimator or scanned pencil beams that converge laterally at depth to create a uniform dose layer at the tumor. By doing so, the spatial pattern of entrance dose is considerably modified while still maintaining tumor dose and efficacy. Recent studies using computational modeling, phantom experiments, in vitro and in vivo preclinical models, and early clinical feasibility assessments suggest that unique physical and biological attributes of PMBT can be exploited for future clinical benefit. We outline some of the guiding principle of PMBT in this concise overview of this emerging area of preclinical and clinical research inquiry.
Canonical DNA non-homologous end-joining; capacity versus fidelity
Authors: Shibata Atsushi , Jeggo Penny A
Published: January 2020

The significance of canonical DNA non-homologous end-joining (c-NHEJ) for DNA double strand break (DSB) repair has increased from lower organisms to higher eukaryotes, and plays the predominant role in human cells. Ku, the c-NHEJ end-binding component, binds DSBs with high efficiency enabling c-NHEJ to be the first choice DSB repair pathway, although alternative pathways can ensue after regulated steps to remove Ku. Indeed, radiation-induced DSBs are repaired rapidly in human cells. However, an important question is the fidelity with which radiation-induced DSBs are repaired, which is essential for assessing any harmful impacts caused by radiation exposure. Indeed, is compromised fidelity a price we pay for high capacity repair. Two subpathways of c-NHEJ have been revealed; a fast process that does not require nucleases or significant chromatin changes and a slower process that necessitates resection factors, and potentially more significant chromatin changes at the DSB. Recent studies have also shown that DSBs within transcriptionally active regions are repaired by specialised mechanisms, and the response at such DSBs encompasses a process of transcriptional arrest. Here, we consider the limitations of c-NHEJ that might result in DSB misrepair. We consider the common IR-induced misrepair events and discuss how they might arise via the distinct subpathways of c-NHEJ.
Mathematical methods in psychology (speech therapy)
Authors: Novikov Anatoliy , Novikova Natal'ya
Published: January 2020

The tutorial discusses the necessary mathematical methods and approaches used for investigation and practical applications in psychology (speech therapy). In examples and assignments (with answers) are given found in the practical work of psychologists in various techniques that allow you to master the computational procedures of statistical processing of data.
In parallel with manual processing are the processing of data using MS Excel and SPSS. Shows a combination of Excel and SPSS packages.
Meets the requirements of Federal state educational standards of higher education of the last generation.
Designed for students enrolled in the 37.03.01 direction of training "Psychology". Can also be useful to graduate students and professionals, focused on applied problems in psychology.
The prevalence of catatonic syndrome in acute psychiatric wards
Authors: Takács Rozália , Asztalos Márton , Ungvari Gabor , Antosik-Wójcińska Anna , Gazdag Gábor
Published: January 2020

Cel pracy

Celem tego prospektywnego badania było ustalenie częstości występowania zespołów katatonicznych w populacji pacjentów ostroprzyjęciowych oddziałów psychiatrycznych na Węgrzech.

Metoda

Pacjenci przyjęci w trybie nagłym do Centrum Psychiatrii i Leczenia Uzależnień, Szent Istvan i Szent Laszlo Hospitalsbyli przez okres 4-miesięcy poddawani ocenie w kierunku występowania u nich objawów katatonicznych. Przedmiotowe i podmiotowe objawy katatoniczne były oceniane według kryteriów diagnostycznych DSM-5 i Skali Oceny Katatonii Busha-Francisa (Bush Francis Catatonia Rating Scale, BFCRS). Rozpoznania zostały ustalone przy zastosowaniu ustrukturalizowanego wywiadu klinicznego (StructuredClinical Interview for DSM-IV Disorders, SCID), testu rysowania zegara i Krótkiej Skali Oceny Stanu PsychicznegoMini-Mental (MMSE).

Wyniki

W okresie prowadzenia badania do wskazanych powyżej oddziałów w trybie nagłym przyjęto342 pacjentów. Rozpowszechnienie zespołów katatonicznych wynosiło 8,55% i 5,02%, odpowiednio według skali BFCRS i kryteriów DSM-5.

Wnioski

Stwierdzona częstość występowania katatonii w populacji pacjentów przyjmowanych w trybie nagłym do oddziałów szpitalnych jest zgodna z szerokim zakresem wartości podanym w literaturze. Warto zwrócić uwagę na różnicę pomiędzy wynikami oceny w standaryzowanej w tym celu skali BFCRS a rutynową oceną kliniczną (DSM-5), co może wskazywać, że istotny odsetek przypadków katatonii nie jest w praktyce klinicznej rozpoznawany. Ponieważ ostra śmiertelna katatonia może być skutecznie leczona, a wczesne wdrożenie leczenia może zapobiec potencjalnie zagrażającym życiu powikłaniom, prawidłowe rozpoznanie objawów katatonicznych ma niezwykle istotne znaczenie.
Personality characteristics of mountaineers – review of the literature
Authors: Sołtysik Mariusz , Flakus Maria , Pudlo Robert
Published: January 2020

W artykule przedstawiono stan dotychczasowych badań nad cechami osobowości (w kontekście teorii cechowych i teorii poszukiwania doznań Zuckermana) osób uprawiających sporty wysokiego ryzyka, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem wspinaczki wysokogórskiej i alpinizmu. W przeglądzie uwzględniono dwie perspektywy - psychologiczną (obejmującą refleksję nad niepatologicznymi cechami charakterystycznymi dla wspinaczy) oraz psychopatologiczną (odnoszącą się do badań nad możliwym wymiarem patologicznym wspomnianych cech). W kontekście teorii psychologicznych i psychopatologicznych, przeanalizowana została rola zapotrzebowania na doznania i stymulację (rozumiane jako jeden z wymiarów osobowościowych) i deficytu lęku, które łączyć można z opisywaną w literaturze osobowością typu T. Dodatkowo, liczne badania wskazują, iż w grupie tej znaczenie mogą mieć takie cechy osobowości jak: neurotyczność, ekstrawertyczność i sumienność. Refleksję tę uzupełniono o wczesne doniesienia dotyczące ewentualnych cech psychopatologicznych, znamionujących hipotetyczne zaburzenia osobowości w tej grupie. Autorzy wskazują ograniczenia dotychczasowych badań, wraz z możliwymi kierunkami ich dalszego prowadzenia, w szczególności - konieczność uwzględnienia czynników motywacyjnych, związanych z podejmowaniem aktywności sportowych wysokiego ryzyka.
Slack Induction by String Removals for Vehicle Routing Problems
Authors: Christiaens Jan , Vanden Berghe Greet
Published: January 2020

Dedicated algorithm and modeling improvements continue to advance the state of the art with respect to vehicle routing problems (VRPs). Despite these academic achievements, solving large VRP instances sufficiently fast for real-life applicability remains challenging. By exploiting VRP solution characteristics in an effective manner, this paper arrives at a powerful and fast optimization heuristic. Its primary contributions are threefold: a ruin method, a recreate method, and a fleet minimization procedure. The ruin method functions via adjacent string removal, introducing with it a novel property regarding vehicle routing problems that we term spatial slack, whereas the recreate method is categorized as greedy insertion with blinks. Combining these results in slack induction by string removals (SISRs), a powerful ruin and recreate approach. The fleet minimization procedure, meanwhile, introduces an absences-based acceptance criterion that serves as a complementary optimization component for when minimizing the number of vehicles constitutes the primary VRP objective. Together these three elements provide a suite of simple, powerful, and easily reproducible algorithmic methods that are successfully applied not only to the capacitated VRP but also to a wide range of related problems such as pickup and delivery problems and others that include time windows. SISRs serves to strip back the layers of complexity and specialization synonymous with the trend of algorithmic development throughout recent decades. Moreover, such simplicity and reproducibility are shown to not necessarily come at the expense of solution quality, with SISRs consistently outperforming alternative general approaches as well as dedicated single-purpose methods. Finally, aside from performance-related criteria, SISRs also serves to showcase a fresh perspective with respect to VRPs more generally, introducing a range of new terminology and procedures that, it is hoped, will invigorate further research and innovation.
Technology in healthcare: the NHS app
Authors: Nelson Sara Jane , Allkins Suzannah
Published: January 2020

Longstanding editorial board member of the British Journal of Cardiac Nursing, Sara Nelson, has been chosen as one of 100 NHS App Ambassadors across the country. In this comment article, Sara explains how the application works and how it can benefit cardiac patients and health professionals.
The impact of nutrition on mood and mental health
Authors: Patience Sara
Published: January 2020

Sara Patience reviews the extensive research linking diet to a patient's mental health
Measurement of Static Lateral Stability Angle and Roll Moment of Inertia for Agricultural Tractors with Attached Implements
Authors: Nguyen Nang Van , Harada Yasuhiro , Takimoto Hiroki , Shimomoto Kota
Published: January 2020

Highlights Keywords: Implement, Inertial parameter, Lateral stability, Moment of inertia, Rollover, Tractor.

Static lateral stability of agricultural tractors with mounted rotary tillers was analyzed. Keywords: Implement, Inertial parameter, Lateral stability, Moment of inertia, Rollover, Tractor.

The mounted implement increased static lateral stability of tractors in phase I rollover but decreased static lateral stability in phase II rollover. Keywords: Implement, Inertial parameter, Lateral stability, Moment of inertia, Rollover, Tractor.

A mounted implement may significantly reduce the static lateral stability of agricultural tractors and increase the risk of tractor side overturn. Keywords: Implement, Inertial parameter, Lateral stability, Moment of inertia, Rollover, Tractor.

ABSTRACT. Each year, many fatalities result from rollovers of agricultural tractors in Japan. In addition to rollover protective structures (ROPS) and seat belts, a warning device that alerts the operator of impending rollover based on the tractor stability index is a measure used to prevent rollovers. The stability index requires inertial parameters, which have been measured only for the single body of the tractor, to calculate the warning threshold. In this study, the center of gravity (CoG) and lateral stability angles of three agricultural tractors were measured, and lateral stability angles were also calculated and compared with measured values for three tractor-tiller combinations to analyze the effect of the attached implement on the tractor stability as well as to verify the accuracy of the calculation methods. The roll moment of inertia (RMI) was also measured for two tractors and two rotary tillers, and RMI values for tractor-tiller combinations were calculated. The measurement and calculation results show that the attached implement increased the lateral stability angle of tractors in phase I rollover and decreased the lateral stability angle in phase II rollover, and for a certain tractor-tiller combination, there was no transition from phase I to phase II rollover. The difference between the measured and calculated lateral stability angles in phase I ranged from -3.5° to 2.5°, while that in phase II ranged from 0.2° to 5.2°. The RMI about the longitudinal axis through the CoG was 203 and 433 kg m-2 for tractors A and B, respectively, and 52 and 94 kg m-2 for rotary tillers D and F, respectively. The calculated RMI values were 265 and 540 kg m-2 for tractor-tiller combinations A-D and B-E, respectively. Keywords: Implement, Inertial parameter, Lateral stability, Moment of inertia, Rollover, Tractor.
Editorial: Response to “ROPS Are Not Homemade”
Authors: Sanderson Wayne T. , Mazur Joan M. , Vincent Stacy K. , Byrd A. Preston
Published: January 2020

We are writing in response to the editorial “ROPS Are Not Homemade” by W. E. Field, R. Tormoehlen, S. Ehlers, C. Cheng, A. Talbert, G. Deboy, D. Haberlin, and C. V. Schwab, which was published in the July 2019 issue of the Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health (Field et al., 2019). The editorial warns secondary school teachers and FFA advisors about the potential liability of fabricating and installing low-cost rollover protective structures (ROPS) as service learning projects for agricultural education students. The apparent intent of the editorial is to discourage teachers and advisors from carrying out such projects. We wish to present arguments as to why these are actually highly beneficial projects to undertake, and perhaps one of our best hopes for significantly reducing the number of tractor overturn injuries and fatalities by directly involving our nation’s youth. Keywords: Homemade ROPS, ROPS, Tractor overturns.
Early-life circumstances and the risk of function-limiting long-term conditions in later life
Authors: Iveson Matthew H. , Dibben Chris , Deary Ian J.
Published: January 2020

Older adults are particularly prone to function-limiting health issues that adversely affect their well-being. Previous work has identified factors from across the life course –childhood socio-economic status, childhood cognitive ability and education – that predict later-life functional outcomes. However, the independence of these contributions is unclear as later-in-the-life-course predictors are themselves affected by earlier ones. The present study capitalised on the recent linkage of the Scottish Mental Survey 1947 with the Scottish Longitudinal Study, using path analyses to examine the direct and indirect associations between life-course predictors and the risk of functional limitation at ages 55 (N = 2,374), 65 (N = 1,971) and 75 (N = 1,534). The odds of reporting a function-limiting long-term condition increased across later life. At age 55, reporting a functional limitation was significantly less likely in those with higher childhood socio-economic status, higher childhood cognitive ability and higher educational attainment; these associations were only partly mediated by other predictors. At age 65, adult socio-economic status emerged as a mediator of several associations, although direct associations with childhood socio-economic status and childhood cognitive ability were still observed. At age 75, only childhood socio-economic status and adult socio-economic status directly predicted the risk of a functional limitation, particularly those associated with disease or illness. A consistent pattern and direction of associations was observed with self-rated health more generally. These results demonstrate that early-life and adult circumstances are associated with functional limitations later in life, but that these associations are partly a product of complex mediation between life-course factors.
Reflective aperiodic multilayer filters for metrology at XUV sources
Authors: Barreaux J. L. P. , Kozhevnikov I. V. , Bastiaens H. M. J. , Bijkerk F. , Boller K.-J.
Published: January 2020

We present a general method for designing XUV aperiodic multilayer mirrors that can mimic a given target spectrum, specifically, the spectral transmission of an XUV optical system. The method is based on minimizing a merit function and using fidelity parameters that quantify the matching of the multilayer reflectivity spectrum with that of the target spectrum. To assess the feasibility of fabricating such a system, we show how to reduce the layer-to-layer thickness variations throughout the aperiodic layer stack. We demonstrate the design method using an example of an EUV optical system composed of 12 identical Mo/Si multilayer mirrors having a reflectivity peak at 13.5 nm. We found that the target spectrum can be mimicked with high fidelity either with a single reflection at an aperiodic multilayer mirror combined with standard absorbing filters or, if required, with two subsequent reflections at a mimic mirror. These examples demonstrate the applicability for metrology at XUV sources, including spectrally proper source imaging. Because our approach is of general applicability, the process can be used to mimic any other narrowband, single-peaked target spectrum in the XUV region.
High-performance fiber sensor via Mach-Zehnder interferometer based on immersing exposed-core microstructure fiber in oriented liquid crystals
Authors: Li Yong , Wang Lina , Chen Yuzhi , Yi Duo , Teng Fei , Hong Xueming , Li Xuejin , Geng Youfu , Shi Yue , Luo Dan
Published: January 2020

Rapid technology development and various applications show great demands for high-quality temperature sensors with super-sensitivity, broad working temperature ranges, excellent linearity and high stability. Although tremendous efforts have been dedicated towards developing fiber sensors with high performance, challenges still remain in achieving all of the four parameters. Herein, we fabricate a fiber sensor via a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) combined with a liquid crystal (LC)-filled microtube, where the LC in the microtube is uniformly orientated. The LCs with uniform orientation treatment play a vital role in the fiber sensor. The feasibility of this sensor was verified by theoretical simulation and demonstrated through experiments. The fabricated LC fiber sensor has super temperature sensitivity of −21.6 nm/°C with a good linearity of 0.976 from 22°C to 31°C, −558.5 nm/°C from 31°C to 32°C, −37.3 nm/°C with a good linearity of 0.999 from 32°C to 34°C and −6.7 nm/°C with a good linearity of 0.999 from 34°C to 110°C, respectively. The sensitivity of the fiber sensor is increased by up to 155 times, compared to the previously reported fiber sensor filled with LC based on the MZI without LC orientation treatment. The fiber sensor with super-sensitivity, broad working temperature range, excellent linearity and high stability provides great potential applications in such as environment monitoring, food detection, medicine, and chemical industry.
Relation between the localization length and level repulsion in 2D Anderson localization
Authors: Mondal Sandip , Mujumdar Sushil
Published: January 2020

We report on the relation between the localization length and level-spacing characteristics of two-dimensional (2D) optical localizing systems. Using the tight-binding model over a wide range of disorder, we compute spectro-spatial features of Anderson localized modes. The spectra allow us to estimate the level-spacing statistics while the localization length

ξ

is computed from the eigenvectors. We use a hybrid interpolating function to fit the level-spacing distribution, whose repulsion exponent

β

varies continuously between 0 and 1, with the former representing Poissonian statistics and the latter approximating the Wigner–Dyson distribution. We find that the

(
ξ
,
β
)

scatter points occupy a well-defined nonlinear locus that is well fit by a sigmoidal function, implying that the localization length of a 2D disordered medium can be estimated by spectral means using the level-spacing statistics. This technique is also immune to dissipation since the repulsion exponent is insensitive to level widths, in the limit of weak dissipation.
Circus choreographies of bodies and things
Authors: Arhar Nika
Published: January 2020

The text reflects on the 12th Festival of New Circus and Contemporary Clown Klovnbuf through the prism of contemporary circus' character and its slippery position in contemporary performing arts practices. Following a short overview of developments that have helped shape today's context, the performance analysis focuses mainly on tendencies incorporating critical thinking and the exploration of original forms, means (the trained circus body) and conditions, thereby expanding perspectives in this field of art. It also addresses the issue of the position of contemporary circus in this local environment characterised by a small circle of people involved, challenging working conditions, vulnerable production and weak scientific discourse.
Črte nepovratnosti
Authors: Troha Tadej
Published: January 2020

Povzetek

Prispevek je predelava predavanja, ki je nastalo ob uprizoritvi plesne instalacije Na liniji Mateje Bučar in bilo izvedeno v Cankarjevem domu 5. 10. 2017. Premislek o črti avtorja vodi k razglabljanju o zelo konkretnih razmejitvah – žici oz. (z vladnim PR-jem rečeno) tehničnim oviram, ki dejstvo migracijskih premikov želijo prestaviti v neko zunanjost, a je to zgolj slabo zatiskanje oči. Podobna črta nepovratnosti je zanj tudi obnašanje oblasti ob dejstvu podnebnih sprememb.
Linija smisla Pod črto predstavi Na liniji (Pol-na-črta)
Authors: Brezavšček Pia
Published: January 2020

Povzetek

Prispevek je predelava predavanja, ki je nastalo ob uprizoritvi plesne instalacije Na liniji Mateje Bučar in bilo izvedeno v Cankarjevem domu 20. 10. 2017. Ukvarja se z vzporejanjem uprizorjene umetniške situacije in filozofije Gillesa Deleuze, ki v Logiki smisla razmišlja o liniji smisla, o površini, ki ločuje telesa in dogodke in je tista linija nesmisla, ki proizvaja smisel in jezik. Preprosta gesta vzdolž preddverja Cankarjevega doma potegnjene linije v uprizoritvi Na liniji je po drugi strani tista, ki vzpostavlja neko izredno situacijo, tista linija umetniškega nesmisla, ki ima, kot bi dejal Andrew Hewitt, moč pretvarjati med estetskim in političnim.
Música en directo en España: Malviviendo entre exceso de normativas
Authors: Ospina Gallego Crismary
Published: January 2020

Realizar música en vivo en locales pequeños es la realidad de los músicos independientes, es un escalón más que hay que recorrer en la profesión musical, además de ser el sustento de muchos artistas, ofrece un incremento de ingresos a los locales culturales que lo permiten realizar; Una simbiosis perfecta que requiere poca inversión por parte del establecimiento, poca logística por parte del artista y el público lo valora y disfruta muchísimo. En este artículo, se analizan el exceso de normativas, que hacen que ejercer la música independiente en España, sea una labor poco rentable, sacrificada y lleve al sector de la música en vivo a la precariedad laboral. Las leyes que regulan la música en vivo, están diseñadas para medianos y grandes eventos, olvidándose durante décadas de los locales de pequeño aforo que lo ofrecen, los cuales quedaron fuera del marco legal; Esta situación ha llevado a los locales culturales y artistas a arriesgarse a pagar grandes sumas en multas, o tener repercusiones legales para poder ofrecer cultura a sus clientes.
Island Abdominal Skin Flap For Reconstruction Post Excision Defect Of Arterio-Venous Malformation In Labia Majora: A Case Report
Authors: Haryani Jenny Indah , Mas’ud Ahmad Fawzy
Published: January 2020

Background : Arterio-venous malformations (AVMs) defined as high-flow vascular malformations of dysmorphic arterial and venous vessels. And connected directly to one another without an intervening capillary bed. The incidence is higher in females than male (3-5:1). Globally, there are only 5 cases of genital hemangiomas reported. Various treatment has been investigated, a recent topical treatment is the application of timolol. It has minimal adverse effects, easy administration, and good cosmetic outcomes. However, the effectiveness of timolol in vulvar cases remains unclear.

Case Report : A one-year-old girl was brought by her mother with complaint of a lump in her child's genitals. The lump was appeared during the early days of her life and it was getting bigger gradually. A plastic surgeon performed excision and reconstruction procedure using the island abdominal flap technique.

Discussion : Preserving vaginal function and perineal integrity is quite challenging, and cosmesis correspondingly less important. The patient underwent surgical excision and primary closure procedure in the labia majora region, followed with abdominal flap tunneled through the mons pubis.

Conclusion: Surgical excision and primary closure are the most recommended procedure for overcoming genital lesion. A reconstruction using flap following the procedure resulted in a normal contour and well functioned genital.
La variación dialectal de los vocativos en los países de habla hispana
Authors: Takács Lili
Published: January 2020

Este estudio se centra en la variación dialectal de los vocativos de cuatro países: España, México, Colombia y Venezuela. La finalidad de la investigación es profundizar en el tema de los vocativos dialectales y evitar malentendidos entre los hispanohablantes, así como sensibilizar a los estudiantes de ELE sobre un lenguaje más coloquial y nativo. Primero estudiamos las características de los vocativos según los distintos niveles lingüísticos y después presentamos nuestro corpus, que consta de 400 intervenciones. A partir del corpus formulamos dos hipótesis: (1) existen vocativos pertenecientes a una sola variedad que no necesariamente son reconocibles para los hablantes de otros países; (2) las mismas palabras en función de vocativo presentan diferencias en cuanto a su significado, dependiendo de la variedad. Para justificarlas o rebatirlas diseñamos una encuesta de 6 preguntas, que fue rellenada por 140 personas, y presentamos los resultados obtenidos.
Understanding the Scope of Do-It-Yourself Fecal Microbiota Transplant
Authors: Ekekezie Chiazotam , Perler Bryce K. , Wexler Anna , Duff Catherine , Lillis Christian John , Kelly Colleen R.
Published: January 2020

OBJECTIVES:

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has emerged as an effective treatment option for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) and is considered an investigational therapy for a number of other diseases. Social media has facilitated widespread exposure of the public to the gut microbiome and FMT, ultimately acting as a catalyst for the Do-It-Yourself (DIY)-FMT movement. The aims of this study were to identify factors that influenced willingness to pursue DIY-FMT including common indications, screening processes, sample preparation, and self-reported efficacy and safety outcomes.

METHODS:

A twenty-five-point cross-sectional survey was posted online through the websites and social media pages of the Peggy Lillis Foundation, The Fecal Transplant Foundation, and The Power of Poop. Responses were cataloged through the Research Electronic Data Capture tool, and descriptive analyses were performed.

RESULTS:

Eighty-four respondents completed the survey between January 2018 and February 2019. The majority were female (71%) and white (92%). Most (80%) reported performing FMT on themselves; 87% used Internet resources to assist in the process, and 92% knew their stool donor. Inflammatory bowel disease (35%) and irritable bowel syndrome (29%) were the 2 most common conditions that respondents attempted to treat. Only 12% reported adverse events, whereas 82% reported improvement in their condition.

DISCUSSION:

DIY-FMT is being used for many indications, including those for which there is little evidence. There was a high self-reported success rate among respondents with few adverse events. There is a need for increased awareness around DIY-FMT and research around this phenomenon, which may impact public health.
Das Politische als Passion und Fragment. Erik Peterson und Carl Schmitt in der Auseinandersetzung um die Grundlagen der Politischen Theologie
Authors: Mielke Roger
Published: January 2020

In the current dispute over the crisis of democracy arises, among others, the question about a theological concept of the Political. The article traces this problem back to the debate between Erik Peterson and Carl Schmitt after 1933. While Schmitt, apologizing Nazi dictatorship, emphatically proclaimed the Political as the »total«, Peterson responded that the Political in the very moment of its totalization ceases to be political but receives instead a cultlike quality. Opposing this scenario, Peterson developed a concept of the Political which finds its central image in the figure of the martyr whose body is broken by imperial violence. The Political is not conceived out of the political agency, but out of the »passio«, at the place where the new aeon of the crucified and risen Christ and the old aeon of the agonistic political are colliding. The sacramental practice of the church, then, is the place where the presence of the new order of the Political is instituted and anticipated in an eschatological and provisional way.
Spiritualism in Nineteenth-Century New Orleans
Authors: Daggett Melissa
Published: January 2020

The advent of Modern American Spiritualism took place in the 1850s and continued as a viable faith into the 1870s. Because of its diversity and openness to new cultures and religions, New Orleans provided fertile ground to nurture Spiritualism, and many séance circles flourished in the Faubourgs Tremé and Marigny as well as the American sector of the city. This book focuses on Le Cercle Harmonique, the francophone séance circle of Henry Louis Rey, a Creole of color who was a key civil rights activist, author, and Civil War and Reconstruction leader. His life has remained largely in the shadows of New Orleans historiography owning, in part, to a language barrier. The book weaves an intriguing historical tale of the supernatural, chaotic postbellum politics, and the personal triumphs and tragedies of Henry Louis Rey. Besides Rey’s séance circle, there is also a discussion about the Anglo-American séance circles in New Orleans. The book places these séance circles within the context of the national scene, and the genesis of nineteenth-century Spiritualism is examined with a special emphasis placed on events in New York and Boston. The lifetime of Henry Rey and that of his father, Barthélemy Rey, spanned the nineteenth century, and mirror the social and political dilemmas of the black Creoles. The book concludes with a comparison of Spiritualism with the Spiritualist and Spiritual churches, as well as voodoo. The book’s narrative is accompanied by wonderful illustrations, reproductions of the original spiritual communications, and photographs.
The Gaithers and Southern Gospel
Authors: Harper Ryan P.
Published: January 2020

This ethnography examines songwriters Bill and Gloria Gaithers’ Homecoming video and concert series. The Homecomings re-present the “southern gospel” subgenre of gospel music—a musical style popular among white evangelical Christians in the American South and Midwest. The book explores how the Gaithers negotiate the tension between preservation and modification of community norms as they seek simultaneously to maintain and expand their audience, and to initiate and respond to ideological shifts within their fan base’s culture. Using data he collected from his immersion in the Homecoming catalogue, his attendance of numerous concerts and tapings, and his extensive conversations with Homecoming fans and the Gaithers themselves, Harper reveals the Homecomings to be a crucible of American religious, racial, sexual and regional identity formation.
Between Generations
Authors: Smith Victoria Ford
Published: January 2020

Between Generations recuperates a tradition of adult-child collaboration in nineteenth- and early twentieth-century British children’s literature and culture, charting the emergence of new models of authorship and a growing cultural imperative to recognize the young as active, creative agents. The book examines the intergenerational partnerships that generated pivotal texts from the Golden Age of children’s literature, from “The Pied Piper” to Peter Pan, and in doing so challenges popular critical narratives that read actual young people solely as social constructs or passive recipients of texts. The spectrum of adult-child partnerships included within this book’s chapters make clear that the boundary between fictive collaborations and lived partnerships was not firm but that, instead, imaginative and material practices were mutually constitutive. Adults’ partnerships with young auditors, writers, illustrators, reviewers, and co-conspirators reveal that the agentic, creative child was not only a figure but also an actor, vital to authorial practice. These collaborations were part of a larger investigation of the limits and possibilities of child agency taking place in a range of discourses and cultural venues, from education reform to psychology to librarianship. Throughout, the book considers the many Victorian writers and thinkers, from Robert Louis Stevenson to Friedrich Froebel, who question the assumed authority of adults, who write about children as both passive and subversive subjects, and who self-consciously negotiate, alongside real children, the ideological and ethical difficulties of listening to and representing children’s perspectives.
George P. Knauff's Virginia Reels and the History of American Fiddling
Authors: Goertzen Chris
Published: January 2020

George P. Knauff's Virginia Reels (1839) was the first collection of southern fiddle tunes and the only substantial one published in the nineteenth century. Knauff's activity could not anticipate our modern contest-driven fiddle subcultures. But the fate of the Virginia Reels pointed in that direction, suggesting that southern fiddling, after his time, would happen outside of commercial popular culture even though it would sporadically engage that culture. This book uses this seminal collection as the springboard for a fresh exploration of fiddling in America, past and present. It first discusses the life of the arranger. Then it explains how this collection was meant to fit into the broad stream of early nineteenth-century music publishing. The book describes the character of these fiddle tunes' names (and such titles in general), what we can learn about antebellum oral tradition from this collection, and how fiddling relates to blackface minstrelsy. Throughout, the book connects the evidence concerning both repertoire and practice found in the Virginia Reels with current southern fiddling, encompassing styles ranging from straightforward to fancy—old-time styles of the Upper South, exuberant West Virginia styles, and the melodic improvisations of modern contest fiddling. Twenty-six song sheets assist in this discovery. The book incorporates performance descriptions and music terminology into his accessible, engaging prose. The book presents an extended look at the history of southern fiddling and a close examination of current practices.