bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Soll der Erziehungsurlaub verkürzt werden?
Authors: Jungwirth Carola
Published: February 2016

Der vorliegende Beitrag analysiert die Auswirkungen des Bundeserziehungsgeldgesetzes auf die beruflichen Ein- und Aufstiegschancen von Frauen aus einer ökonomischen Perspektive und diskutiert, ob eine Verkürzung des Erziehungsurlaubs die festgestellten Barrieren senken könnte. Generell kann gezeigt werden, dass der vertraglich festgeschriebene Anspruch auf Erziehungsurlaub die Bereitschaft der Arbeitgeber senkt, in das Humankapital von Frauen zu investieren, und die Anreize der Arbeitnehmerinnen senkt, Humankapitalinvestitionen gezielt zu planen und vorhandene Humankapitalbestände während des Erziehungsurlaubs zu pflegen und zu aktualisieren. Diese Probleme können durch eine Verkürzung des Erziehungsurlaubs gemindert werden. Für Frauen, die außerhalb frauentypischer Arbeitsbereiche Karriere machen wollen, ist eine Verkürzung des Erziehungsurlaubs jedoch nicht weitreichend genug. Denn auch ein drohender zweijähriger Ausfall ist in einer gehobenen Führungsposition Grund genug, einen in etwa gleich qualifizierten Mann vorzuziehen. Hier könnte es sinnvoll sein, freie Vertragsverhandlungen über den Anspruch auf Erziehungsurlaub zuzulassen, wenn eine bestimmte Gehaltsgrenze überschritten ist, so wie dies seit langem bei der Sozialversicherungspflicht praktiziert wird.
Bestimmungsfaktoren der „Abbruchbereitschaft” von Auslandsentsandten: Eine theoretische und forschungsprogrammatische Analyse
Authors: Lindner Doris
Published: February 2016

Die vorzeitige Beendigung einer Auslandsentsendung durch den Mitarbeiter birgt für ein Unternehmen ein kostenintensives Problempotential. Da es sich hierbei um ein Verhalten des Mitarbeiters handelt, bietet es sich an, sich verhaltenswissenschaftlicher Erkenntnisse zu bedienen, um dieses Problem genauer zu untersuchen. Diese sollen mittels der Fluktuations-, Einstellungs-/Verhaltens- sowie der Anpassungsforschung gewonnen und gebündelt werden. Dabei wird „Abbruchbereitschaft” als operationalisierbare Größe vorgeschlagen. Es wird ein theoretischer Bezugsrahmen entwickelt, in dem neben externen Faktoren einstellungsbezogene, soziale und modale Faktoren als Bestimmungsfaktoren für „Abbruchbereitschaft” dienen. Forschungsprogrammatisch gesehen wird als Methode für eine empirische Überprüfung des Bezugsrahmens das „cognitive mapping” vorgeschlagen. Eine solche qualitative Herangehensweise verspricht, die Bestimmungsfaktoren (Informationskategorien), welche einer Bereitschaft zugrunde liegen, und deren Beziehungen zueinander genauer zu erfassen als quantitative Methoden.
Novel genetic predictors of venous thromboembolism risk in African Americans
Authors: Hernandez Wenndy , Gamazon Eric R. , Smithberger Erin , O’Brien Travis J. , Harralson Arthur F. , Tuck Matthew , Barbour April , Kittles Rick A. , Cavallari Larisa H. , Perera Minoli A.
Published: February 2016

Key Points

Our study has identified common genetic risk factors for VTE among AAs. These risk factors are associated with decreased thrombomodulin gene expression, suggesting a mechanistic link.
Dexamethasone vs prednisone in induction treatment of pediatric ALL: results of the randomized trial AIEOP-BFM ALL 2000
Authors: Möricke Anja , Zimmermann Martin , Valsecchi Maria Grazia , Stanulla Martin , Biondi Andrea , Mann Georg , Locatelli Franco , Cazzaniga Giovanni , Niggli Felix , Aricò Maurizio , Bartram Claus R. , Attarbaschi Andishe , Silvestri Daniela , Beier Rita , Basso Giuseppe , Ratei Richard , Kulozik Andreas E. , Lo Nigro Luca , Kremens Bernhard , Greiner Jeanette , Parasole Rosanna , Harbott Jochen , Caruso Roberta , von Stackelberg Arend , Barisone Elena , Rössig Claudia , Conter Valentino , Schrappe Martin
Published: February 2016

Key Points

Dexamethasone vs prednisone in induction of pediatric ALL led to significant relapse reduction and increased treatment-related mortality. No overall survival benefit was achieved with dexamethasone except in the subset of patients with T-cell ALL and good early treatment response.
Galectin-1 drives lymphoma CD20 immunotherapy resistance: validation of a preclinical system to identify resistance mechanisms
Authors: Lykken Jacquelyn M. , Horikawa Mayuka , Minard-Colin Veronique , Kamata Masahiro , Miyagaki Tomomitsu , Poe Jonathan C. , Tedder Thomas F.
Published: February 2016

Key Points

A preclinical model system was developed to define the molecular landscape dictating lymphoma resistance to immunotherapy. This system revealed that Gal-1 significantly inhibits CD20 immunotherapy within the lymphoma microenvironment in vivo.
Using the pair-correlation function as a tool to identify the location for shale gas/oil reservoir based on well-log data
Authors: Gassiyev Aslan , Huang Feifei , Chesnokov Evgeni M.
Published: February 2016

Shale reservoirs, as an unconventional resource, are becoming an increasingly important exploration, development, and production target in the oil industry. One of the main problems in these reservoirs is the answer to the question of where to drill (the “sweet-spot” location). In other words, one desires to detect the productive portion of the reservoir. This involves finding data criteria that can be used to distinguish between productive and nonproductive portions of a reservoir. As one of these criteria, we have investigated the amplitude of the pair correlation function (PCF) for sonic data, which reflected the contrast in elastic properties between inclusions (oil and gas) and background media. Based on various data from eight different wells, we calculated the amplitudes of the PCF. The obtained results showed that the productive layers were highly correlated, and nonproductive layers had low values of the PCF amplitude. Hence, the results of these calculations showed the potential applications of the PCF of seismic data and its amplitude in the detection of the productive layers. Therefore, we could use this PCF and its amplitude as a tool to predict the location of shale gas or oil reservoirs and to estimate the thickness of productive zones in the well.
Robust source-independent elastic full-waveform inversion in the time domain
Authors: Zhang Qingchen , Zhou Hui , Li Qingqing , Chen Hanming , Wang Jie
Published: February 2016

Accurate estimation of source wavelet is crucial in a successful full-waveform inversion (FWI); however, it cannot be guaranteed in the case of real seismic data. We have developed time-domain source-independent elastic FWI using the convolution-based objective function that was originally developed for acoustic FWI. We have applied a new time window on the reference traces in the objective function to suppress the noises induced by the convolution and crosscorrelation operations. Also, we have adopted [Formula: see text]-, Huber-, and hybrid-norm objective functions to improve the antinoise ability of our algorithm. We implemented a multiscale inversion strategy to conduct the tests with a quasi-Newton limited-memory Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno (L-BFGS) method to reduce the sensitivity to initial models and to improve the quality of inversion results. Synthetic tests verified that the new added time window can not only improve the inversion results, but also accelerate the convergence rate. Our method can be implemented successfully without a priori knowledge or accurate estimation of the source wavelet and can be more robust to Gaussian and spike noises, even for a Dirac wavelet. Finally, we applied our method to real seismic data. The similarity between the observed and modeled seismic data, the higher resolution of the migration image, and flatter common image gathers corresponding to the inverted models proved the relevance of our algorithm.
Multievent moment-tensor inversion for ill-conditioned geometries
Authors: Yu Xin , Leaney Scott , Rutledge Jim , Chapman Chris
Published: February 2016

Moment-tensor inversion under single monitoring well geometries becomes unstable due to the singularity of the inversion matrix. But microseismic events observed during hydraulic fracturing commonly show clusters of events with similar source mechanisms despite differences in the origin time and the magnitude. If the events with similar source mechanisms can be grouped and inverted for a single common moment tensor, the singularity can be eliminated. We have developed a normalized multievent moment-tensor inversion (NME-MTI) method, which does the MTI simultaneously for multiple events, to test the feasibility of this multievent approach. First, the scalar moment for each event was estimated using the far-field low-frequency level at each receiver. Then, the displacements measured at the receivers were normalized by the scalar moment and used to invert for the common moment tensor simultaneously for all the events in the group. We introduced a gradient search method to minimize the overall misfit by adjusting the scalar moment for each event to reduce the errors introduced by the scalar moment estimation. The algorithm was tested with a synthetic data set with four monitoring wells and a field data set with dual monitoring wells. It was proved that the NME-MTI method can retrieve the moment tensors of the event groups with data from a single monitoring well. The effects of uncertainties on the inversion were examined with data noise, scalar moment uncertainty, and event location uncertainty. The results showed that the ME-MTI result is much less sensitive to the data noise and the scalar moment uncertainty than the single-event approach. The results also determined that although the bias to the solutions increases when the event location uncertainty increases, the bias can be controlled by reducing the event location uncertainties using a more accurate location algorithm.
Ground-penetrating radar-derived measurements of active-layer thickness on the landscape scale with sparse calibration at Toolik and Happy Valley, Alaska
Authors: Chen Albert , Parsekian Andrew D. , Schaefer Kevin , Jafarov Elchin , Panda Santosh , Liu Lin , Zhang Tingjun , Zebker Howard
Published: February 2016

Active-layer thickness (ALT) is an important parameter for studying surface energy balance, ecosystems, and hydrologic processes in cold regions. We measured ALT along 10 routes with lengths ranging from 0.7 to 6.9 km located on the Alaska North Slope near Toolik Lake and the Happy Valley airstrip (between 68.475° and 69.150°N, and [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]). Using a ground-penetrating radar (GPR) system in a common-offset configuration, we measured the two-way traveltimes from the surface to the bottom of the active layer at the end of summer, when the thaw depth was greatest. We used 500 and 800 MHz antennas; the 500 MHz antenna provided suitable vertical resolution, while producing more unambiguous active-layer reflections in the presence of nonideal antenna coupling and active layer inhomogeneity. We derived ALT measurements and their uncertainties from GPR two-way traveltimes, with mechanical probing for velocity calibration. Using an empirical relationship between the wave velocity and soil volumetric water content (VWC), we found that the velocities were consistent with soil VWCs ranging from 0.46 to 0.63. In 31% of traces, the permafrost table horizon was identifiable, resulting in ALT measurements with uncertainties of generally less than 25%. The average ALT was 48.1 cm, with a standard deviation of 16.1 cm. We found distinct patterns of ALT spatial variability at different sites and different length scales. At some sites, the ALT at one point was effectively uncorrelated with ALT at other points separated by lag distances as small as tens of meters; for other sites, there was correlation at lag distances up to approximately 400 m. The ALT statistics were similar to nearby long-term in situ ALT measurements from the Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring Network, through which yearly ALT measurements have been made since 1990.
Multidirectional slowness vector for computing angle gathers from reverse time migration
Authors: Tang Chen , McMechan George A.
Published: February 2016

Angle gathers are important for true-amplitude migration, migration velocity analysis, and angle-dependent inversion. Among existing methods, calculating the [Formula: see text] direction vector is efficient, but it can give only one direction per grid point and fails to give multiple directions for overlapping wavefields associated with multipaths and reflections. The slowness vectors (SVs) in [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] can be connected by Fourier transforms (FTs); the forward FT from [Formula: see text] to [Formula: see text] decomposes the wavefields into different vector components, and the inverse FT sums these components into a unique direction. Therefore, the SV has multiple directions in [Formula: see text], but it has only one direction in [Formula: see text]. Based on this relation, we have separated the computation of propagation direction into two steps: First, we used the forward FT, [Formula: see text] binning, and several inverse FTs to separate the wavefields into vector subsets with different approximate propagation angles, which contained much less wave overlapping; then, we computed [Formula: see text] SVs for each separated wavefield, and the set of these single-direction SVs constituted a multidirectional SV (MSV). In this process, the FTs between [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] domains required a large input/output (I/O) time. We prove the conjugate relation between the decomposition results using positive- and negative-frequency wavefields, and we use complex-valued modeling to obtain the positive-frequency wavefields. Thus, we did wavefield decomposition in [Formula: see text] instead of [Formula: see text], and avoided the huge I/O caused by the FT between the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] domains. Our tests demonstrated that the MSV can give multiple directions for overlapping wavefields and improve the quality of angle gathers.
A spatially compact source designature filter
Authors: Agudo Òscar Calderón , Caprioli Philippe , van Manen Dirk-Jan
Published: February 2016

Source arrays are usually tuned for optimum primary-to-bubble ratio of the output. In addition, they may also be designed to mitigate source ghost effects, but such configurations introduce directivity effects as the generated downgoing wavefield varies with the source angles. We have investigated a practical source signature deconvolution operator, valid for any marine source array, which is able to remove source ghosts, residual bubble, and directivity effects from seismic data. The designature operator was designed to be a small wavenumber approximation of the inverse of the far-field signature of a source array, which involved the array geometry, the notional source signatures, and the firing synchronization of the sources. We have found that such an approximation leads to the design of spatially compact source designature (CSD) filters able to correct for shot-to-shot perturbations of the sources’ output and reduced their smearing due to the limited spatial aperture of the filters. They also had the potential to account for some source directivity and source ghost effects when applied to common receiver gathers. Our method was then further studied for a particular synchronized multilevel source array and azimuthal variations were neglected. First, tests on synthetic data were performed and the benefits and limitations of the approach were analyzed. Second, the method was tested on a field data set under further approximations that simplified the processing flow (1D earth and average notionals) and which enabled the direct application to common shot gathers. Our results have determined that the expected small — but nevertheless observable — improvements of source designature even at the target level improved event continuity, dephasing, and sharpening of the wavelet. Additionally, the CSD filter was used in conjunction and compared with the current best-practice data processing techniques.
A level-set method for imaging salt structures using gravity data
Authors: Li Wenbin , Lu Wangtao , Qian Jianliang
Published: February 2016

We have developed a level-set method for the inverse gravimetry problem of imaging salt structures with density contrast reversal. Under such a circumstance, a part of the salt structure contributes two completely opposite anomalies that counteract with each other, making it unobservable to the gravity data. As a consequence, this amplifies the inherent nonuniqueness of the inverse gravimetry problem so that it is much more challenging to recover the whole salt structure from the gravity data. To alleviate the severe nonuniqueness, it is reasonable to assume that the density contrast between the salt structure and the surrounding sedimentary host depends upon the depth only and is known a priori. Consequently, the original inverse gravity problem reduces to a domain inverse problem, where the supporting domain of the salt body becomes the only unknown. We have used a level-set function to parametrize the boundary of the salt body so that we reformulated the domain inverse problem into a nonlinear optimization problem for the level-set function, which was further solved for by a gradient descent method. Both 2D and 3D experiments on the SEG/EAGE salt model were carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the new method. The algorithm was able to recover dipping flanks of the salt model, and it only took 40 min in a 2.5 GHz CPU to invert for a 3D model of 97,000 unknowns.
Ultrasonic measurements of attenuation and velocity of compressional and shear waves in partially frozen unconsolidated sediment and synthetic porous rock
Authors: Matsushima Jun , Suzuki Makoto , Kato Yoshibumi , Rokugawa Shuichi
Published: February 2016

The presence of partially frozen liquid in the pore spaces of porous materials has significant effects on elastic wave propagation. Although the characterization of partially frozen systems using velocity information has been well developed, application of the attenuation information is limited because the attenuation mechanisms in partially frozen systems are poorly understood. We have conducted ultrasonic wave transmission measurements with changing temperatures from 0°C to [Formula: see text] to estimate the effect of partially frozen liquids grown in unconsolidated (unconsolidated sediment) and consolidated (synthetic porous rock) materials on the velocity and attenuation of P- and S-waves. Our experimental results determined that the existence of partially frozen liquid in the unconsolidated and consolidated materials increases the velocity and attenuation for temperatures of 0°C to around the freezing point (i.e., [Formula: see text]), thus experimentally validating the unintuitive observations of high velocity and high attenuation. We interpreted the differences in velocity-versus-temperature curves as both the difference in inherent stiffness between the matrix of the consolidated material and the ice frame of the partially frozen unconsolidated material and the microscale ice distribution in pore spaces. We have also attributed the difference in the attenuation-versus-temperature curves in the unconsolidated and consolidated materials between the P- and S-waves to the difference of attenuation mechanism between the P- and S-waves. Our findings can be used for interpreting the velocity and attenuation results from the sonic logging measurements.
Prostate Cancer Burden at the Uganda Cancer Institute
Authors: Okuku Fred , Orem Jackson , Holoya George , De Boer Chris , Thompson Cheryl L. , Cooney Matthew M.
Published: February 2016

Purpose

In Uganda, the incidence of prostate cancer is increasing at a rate of 5.2% annually. Data describing presentation and outcomes for patients with prostate cancer are lacking.

Methods

A retrospective review of medical records for men with histologically confirmed prostate cancer at the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) from January 1 to December 17, 2012, was performed.

Results

Our sample included 182 men whose mean age was 69.5 years (standard deviation, 9.0 years). Patients who presented to the UCI had lower urinary tract symptoms (73%; n = 131), bone pain (18%; n = 32), increased prostate-specific antigen (PSA; 3%; n = 5), and other symptoms (6%; n = 11). Median baseline PSA was 91.3 ng/mL (interquartile range, 19.5-311.3 ng/mL), and 51.1% of the patients (n = 92) had a PSA value above 100 ng/mL. Gleason score was 9 or 10 in 66.7% of the patients (n = 120). Ninety percent (n = 136) had stage IV disease, and metastatic sites included bone (73%; n = 102), viscera (21%; n = 29), and lymph nodes (4%; n = 5). Spinal cord compression occurred in 30.9% (n = 55), and 5.6% (n = 10) experienced a fracture. A total of 14.9% (n = 27) underwent prostatectomy, and 17.7% (n = 32) received radiotherapy. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist was given to 45.3% (n = 82), 29.2% (n = 53) received diethylstilbestrol, and 26% (n = 47) underwent orchiectomy. Chemotherapy was administered to 21.6% (n = 39), and 52.5% (n = 95) received bisphosphonates. During the 12 months of study, 23.8% of the men (n = 43) died, and 54.4% (n = 98) were lost to follow-up.

Conclusion

UCI patients commonly present with high PSA, aggressive Gleason scores, and stage IV disease. The primary treatments are hormonal manipulation and chemotherapy. Almost 25% of patients succumb within a year of presentation, and a large number of patients are lost to follow-up.
Cost Effectiveness of Universal Hepatitis B Virus Screening in Patients Beginning Chemotherapy for Sarcomas or GI Stromal Tumors
Authors: Tan Glorijoy , Zhou Ke , Tan Chee Hian , Matchar David B. , Farid Mohamad , Quek Richard , Ngeow Joanne
Published: February 2016

Purpose

The value of screening for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection before chemotherapy for nonhematopoietic solid tumors remains unsettled. We evaluated the cost effectiveness of universal screening before systemic therapy for sarcomas, including GI stromal tumors (GISTs).

Patients and Methods

Drawing from the National Cancer Centre Singapore database of 1,039 patients with sarcomas, we analyzed the clinical records of 485 patients who received systemic therapy. Using a Markov model, we compared the cost effectiveness of a screen-all versus screen-none strategy in this population.

Results

A total of 237 patients were screened for HBV infection. No patients developed HBV reactivation during chemotherapy. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) of offering HBV screening to all patients with sarcomas and patients with GISTs exceeded the cost-effectiveness threshold of SG$100,000 per QALY. This result was robust in one-way sensitivity analysis. Our results show that only changes in mortality rate secondary to HBV reactivation could make the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio cross the cost-effectiveness threshold.

Conclusion

Universal HBV screening in patients with sarcomas or GISTs undergoing chemotherapy is not cost effective at a willingness to pay of SG$100,000 per QALY and may not be required.
AgRP Neuron-Specific Deletion of Glucocorticoid Receptor Leads to Increased Energy Expenditure and Decreased Body Weight in Female Mice on a High-Fat Diet
Authors: Shibata Miyuki , Banno Ryoichi , Sugiyama Mariko , Tominaga Takashi , Onoue Takeshi , Tsunekawa Taku , Azuma Yoshinori , Hagiwara Daisuke , Lu Wenjun , Ito Yoshihiro , Goto Motomitsu , Suga Hidetaka , Sugimura Yoshihisa , Oiso Yutaka , Arima Hiroshi
Published: February 2016

Agouti-related protein (AgRP) expressed in the arcuate nucleus is a potent orexigenic neuropeptide, which increases food intake and reduces energy expenditure resulting in increases in body weight (BW). Glucocorticoids, key hormones that regulate energy balance, have been shown in rodents to regulate the expression of AgRP. In this study, we generated AgRP-specific glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-deficient (knockout [KO]) mice. Female and male KO mice on a high-fat diet (HFD) showed decreases in BW at the age of 6 weeks compared with wild-type mice, and the differences remained significant until 16 weeks old. The degree of resistance to diet-induced obesity was more robust in female than in male mice. On a chow diet, the female KO mice showed slightly but significantly attenuated weight gain compared with wild-type mice after 11 weeks, whereas there were no significant differences in BW in males between genotypes. Visceral fat pad mass was significantly decreased in female KO mice on HFD, whereas there were no significant differences in lean body mass between genotypes. Although food intake was similar between genotypes, oxygen consumption was significantly increased in female KO mice on HFD. In addition, the uncoupling protein-1 expression in the brown adipose tissues was increased in KO mice. These data demonstrate that the absence of GR signaling in AgRP neurons resulted in increases in energy expenditure accompanied by decreases in adiposity in mice fed HFD, indicating that GR signaling in AgRP neurons suppresses energy expenditure under HFD conditions.
Definição e estrutura dos direitos fundamentais
Authors: Rocha Paulo Victor Vieira da
Published: February 2016

O presente trabalho procura definir direitos fundamentais, assumindo como premissa sua gênese na doutrina dos direitos humanos e na posterior positivação desses, para depois demonstrar a atual distinção entre os conceitos não só no plano doutrinário, mas também dogmático. A partir da definição proposta de direitos fundamentais, que tem suporte no direito positivo brasileiro — mas que pode ser aplicada pelo menos à grande maioria dos estados democráticos de direito —, se chega a uma tentativa de compreender a estrutura lógica das normas que veiculam direitos fundamentais, inclusive, para tentar responder à questão sobre direitos relacionados à matéria tributária serem ou não fundamentais, no sentido analítico ou estrutural. Ao final, busca-se fazer uma defesa de certo modelo de aplicação dos direitos fundamentais com vistas à sua maior realização possível. The definition and structure of fundamental rights The present essay aims to define fundamental rights, taking for granted its genesis on the doctrine of human rights and on its subsequent constitutional prescription, to then demonstrate the current distinction between the concepts not only on the doctrinary, but also on the dogmatic plan. Since the proposed definition of fundamental rights, that is based on the Brazilian Law — but can be applied at least to the great majority of the Democratic States — the essay gets to an attempt to comprehend the logical structure of the norms that prescribe fundamental rights, also to answer the question wether rights concerning taxation are fundamental, on the analytical or structural sense. Finally, one tries to make a defense of a certain mode of application of fundamental rights searching its implementation as most as possible.
Anvisa e o controle do tabagismo
Authors: Silva Virgílio Afonso da
Published: February 2016

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Regime jurídico da energia eólica no Brasil: uma discussão sobre autonomia tecnológica e revisão no sistema de leilões
Authors: Cabral Anne
Published: February 2016

Este artigo busca discutir sobre o sistema de leilões para a exploração de energia eólica no Brasil. Parte do pressuposto da existência de elementos impositivos constitucionalmente para fins de superar o subdesenvolvimento nacional, notadamente a autonomia tecnológica, a qual deveria ser um elemento estruturador do regime jurídico da energia eólica no país. Para tanto, enseja-se a necessidade de alteração nos critérios dos leilões, de maneira que possam ir além do princípio da modicidade tarifária. Wind energy policy in Brazil: a discussion about technological autonomy and its impact on the reverse auction system This article seeks to discuss the reverse auction system for wind energy in Brazil, to do so, will be assumed that are elements constitutionally imposed to overcome underdevelopment, in particular, the principle of technological autonomy, which should be a defining element of the wind energy policy in this country. To this end, its requires adjustments on the selection criteria of the reverse auction system, in order to go beyond just the principle of small fee.
Οικονομίδου, Σ. (2015). Το παιδί πίσω από τις λέξεις: Ο εννοούμενος αναγνώστης των παιδικών βιβλίων. Αθήνα: Gutenberg
Authors: Kanatsouli Meni
Published: February 2016

Βιβλιοπαρουσίαση
Editorial Team of the 1th Volume
Authors: Germanos Dimitris
Published: February 2016

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Signaling in T cells – is anything the m(a)TOR with the picture(s)?
Authors: Boothby Mark
Published: February 2016

The excitement surrounding checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of patients with cancer exemplifies a triumph of the long-term value of investing in basic science and fundamental questions of T-cell signaling. The pharmaceutical future actively embraces ways of making more patients’ cancers responsive to these inhibitors. Such a process will be aided by elucidation of signaling and regulation. With thousands of articles spread across almost 30 years, this commentary can touch only on portions of the canonical picture of T-cell signaling and provide a few parables from work on mammalian (or mechanistic) target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways as they link to early and later phases of lymphocyte activation. The piece will turn a critical eye to some issues with models about these pathways in T cells. Many of the best insights lie in the future despite all that is uncovered already, but a contention is that further therapeutic successes will be fostered by dealing with disparities among findings and attention to the temporal, spatial, and stochastic aspects of T-cell responses. Finally, thoughts on some (though not all) items urgently needed for future progress will be mooted.
Evaluation of immunologic response of salivary sIg-A in pediatric tuberculosis patients to antigen Ag38-rec of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Indonesian strain
Authors: Raras Tri Yudani Mardining , Pritta Santi Diah Erma , Kusuma HMS Chandra
Published: February 2016

Objective: We studied the immune response of salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (sIg-A) from a pediatric tuberculosis (TB) group (scoring ≥6) and non-TB group (scoring <6) against recombinant Ag38 (Ag38-rec) fromMycobacterium tuberculosis Indonesian strain.

Materials and Methods: Seventy-eight children were divided into three groups; those with TB (n=26), those with suspected TB (n=26), and healthy children (n=26), their saliva was collected, and salivary sIg-A was challenged with purified Ag38-rec using the dot blot method. A change of color from white to dark blue indicated a positive reaction.

Results: The immune response of sIg-A of children with TB and those with suspected TB to Ag38-rec was not significantly different. In the TB group, Ag38-rec showed a higher sensitivity than protein purified derivative (PPD) (70.8% vs. 62.5%), but a lower specificity (26.9% vs. 34.62%). However, within both groups (scoring ≥6) as well as non-TB group (scoring <6) Ag38-rec was able to identify children with a positive TST (tuberculin skin test) better than PPD.

Conclusion: The antigen Ag38-rec could not distinguish between children with TB (scores ≥6 and <6). However, it demonstrated the potential of Ag38-rec for use in screening for TB infection among children with suspect TB (scores <6).
Science intensive technology of burr formation decrease at pulse laser cutting of sheet material
Authors: Моргунов Ю. , Morgunov Yu. , Кочергин С. , Kochergin S. , Саушкин Б. , Saushkin B.
Published: February 2016

Conditions are revealed and means are offered for minimizing burr formation at cutting of sheet material made of titanium alloy BT1-0 and steel 12X18H10T. The influence of imposing of mechanical vibrations in ultrasound range on burr formation was investigated and the possibility of reducing the amount of burr with ultrasonic influence was showed. The influence of wetting of a lower edge of molten metal on a cutting quality was investigated, the possibility of reducing the burr amount using coating was showed. The influence of pressure of an auxiliary gas on reducing the amount of burr was investigated and importance of this parameter was confirmed. The results allow 30-60 % reduction in the amount of burr under otherwise equal conditions.
Safe management of paediatric penetrating head injury without a CT scanner: A strategy for humanitarian surgeons based on experience in southern Afghanistan
Authors: Mathew P , Nott DM , Gentleman D
Published: February 2016

Introduction

In many parts of the world, access to a CT scanner remains almost non-existent, and patients with a head injury are managed expectantly, often with poor results. Recent military medical experience in southern Afghanistan using a well-equipped surgical facility with a CT scanner has provided new insights into safe surgical practice in resource-poor environments.

Methods

All cases of children aged under 16 years with penetrating head injury who were treated in a trauma unit in southern Afghanistan by a single neurosurgeon between 2008 and 2010 were reviewed. Based on a previously published retrospective review, a clinical strategy aimed specifically at generalist surgeons is proposed for selecting children who can benefit from surgical intervention in environments with no access to CT scanners.

Results

Fourteen patients were reviewed, of whom three had a tangential wound, 10 had a penetrating wound with retained fragments and one had a perforating injury. Two operations for generalist surgeons are described in detail: limited wound excision; and simple decompression of the intra-cranial compartment without brain resection or dural repair.

Conclusions

In resource-poor environments, clinically-based criteria may be used as a safe and appropriate strategy for selecting children who may benefit from relatively straightforward surgery after penetrating brain injury.
Gastrointestinal clear cell sarcoma-like tumour of the ascending colon
Authors: Gahanbani Ardakani A , Boyle DJ , Elton C
Published: February 2016

Introduction

A clear cell sarcoma-like gastrointestinal tumour (CCSLGT) is a rare malignant soft tissue sarcoma. In the literature, they are sometimes referred to as malignant gastrointestinal neuroectodermal tumours, clear cell sarcomas or osteoclast rich tumours of the gastrointestinal tract.

Case history

We present a case of a CCSLGT arising from the ascending colon of a previously well 22-year-old man presenting with abdominal pain and anaemia. Computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis showed a 7cm irregular mass in the right flank that seemed to emerge from the proximal transverse colon. A laparoscopic right hemicolectomy was undertaken to remove the mass. Microscopic pathological examination of the specimen revealed sections of spindle to oval cells with monomorphic nuclei and scant cytoplasm. The cells were arranged in a striking perivascular growth pattern with microcytic breakdown and pseudopapillary formation. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed that the tumour cells removed expressed S100 protein, and were negative for smooth muscle actin, desmin, CD34, CD117, DOG1, HMB-45 and MNF116. Additionally, cytogenetic testing identified EWSR1 gene rearrangement, which was observed by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridisation.

Conclusions

A complex tumour, a CCSLGT can be thought of in simple terms as a gastrointestinal tract tumour that is S100 protein positive, osteoclast rich, HMB-45 negative and compromises a t(12;22)(q13;q12) gene translocation. These simplified CCSLGT characteristics seem to be described and classified under different aliases in the literature, which makes it difficult to accurately predict the appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic modality required to provide the best clinical care. Given that this case report describes the fourth CCSLGT of primary colonic origins, it may aid future targeted therapies as well as offering epidemiological evidence on prevalence and prognosis.
Knee surgery and its evidence base
Authors: Sharma A , Hasan K , Carter A , Zaidi R , Cro S , Briggs T , Goldberg A
Published: February 2016

Introduction

Evidence driven orthopaedics is gaining prominence. It enables better management decisions and therefore better patient care. The aim of our study was to review a selection of the leading publications pertaining to knee surgery to assess changes in levels of evidence over a decade.

Methods

Articles from the years 2000 and 2010 in The Knee, the Journal of Arthroplasty, Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy, the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (American Volume) and the Bone and Joint Journal were analysed and ranked according to guidelines from the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. The intervening years (2003, 2005 and 2007) were also analysed to further define the trend.

Results

The percentage of high level evidence (level I and II) studies increased albeit without reaching statistical significance. Following a significant downward trend, the latter part of the decade saw a major rise in levels of published evidence. The most frequent type of study was therapeutic.

Conclusions

Although the rise in levels of evidence across the decade was not statistically significant, there was a significant drop and then rise in these levels in the interim. It is therefore important that a further study is performed to assess longer-term trends. Recent developments have made clear that high quality evidence will be having an ever increasing influence on future orthopaedic practice. We suggest that journals implement compulsory declaration of a published study’s level of evidence and that authors consider their study designs carefully to enhance the quality of available evidence.
An unusual case of an oesophageal foreign body presenting as torticollis
Authors: Walton JM , Darr A , George A
Published: February 2016

Oesophageal foreign bodies (FBs) are commonly encountered in an otolaryngology setting. The majority of such cases remain in the paediatric population, where obtaining an accurate history of events is challenging. Oesophageal FBs present in a variety of ways other than dysphagia, which may result in delayed presentation, diagnosis and subsequent treatment. Where an ingested FB is a battery, early removal is advocated owing to the potential for significant complications, a problem highlighted by a patient safety alert issued by NHS England. A common paediatric presentation, torticollis has a multitude of potential underlying causes. We present an unusual case of torticollis in a two-year old girl, subsequently revealed to be caused by an ingested button battery.
Colorectal cancer outcomes in patients aged over 85 years
Authors: Ng O , Watts E , Bull CA , Morris R , Acheson A , Banerjea A
Published: February 2016

Introduction

The prevalence of colorectal cancer is increasing in the elderly. We examined the treatment and outcomes in our institution of patients aged over 85 years with proven colorectal adenocarcinoma.

Methods

One hundred and five patients were identified and stratified by treatment received: curative surgery (CS), other treatments (OT) or best supportive care (BSC). Data on demographics, staging, treatment and survival was collected and analysed.

Results

Forty two patients received CS, 36 OT and 27 BSC. While the treated groups (CS and OT) were similar in terms of age (p=0.35) and staging (p=0.16), BSC patients were significantly older and had higher stage disease (p<0.01). Survival was significantly poorer among BSC patients, at a mean of 9.7 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.7–14.7) versus 41.6 months (95% CI 32.5–50.7) and OT 27.3 months (95% CI 20.4–34.1) for the CS and OT groups (p<0.001). There was no significant survival difference between CS and OT groups within 2 years of treatment (p=0.12). Thereafter, OT patients had a very similar 5-year survival to that of the BSC group, at 13% versus 43% in CS patients (p<0.001).

Conclusions

These data suggest that, up to 2 years following treatment, the risks of resectional surgery for colorectal cancer may neutralise any benefit. However, those that survive beyond this period show improvements. The challenge of improving patient selection is most acute in the growing ageing population, and highlights the current focus on presenting all treatment options to ‘a reasonable patient’.
Frailty and cognitive impairment: Unique challenges in the older emergency surgical patient
Authors: Moug SJ , Stechman M , McCarthy K , Pearce L , Myint PK , Hewitt J
Published: February 2016

Introduction

Older patients (>65 years of age) admitted as general surgical emergencies increasingly require improved recognition of their specific needs relative to younger patients. Two such needs are frailty and cognitive impairment. These are evolving research areas that the emergency surgeon increasingly requires knowledge of to improve short- and long-term patient outcomes.

Methods

This paper reviews the evidence for frailty and cognitive impairment in the acute surgical setting by defining frailty and cognitive impairment, introducing methods of diagnosis, discussing the influence on prognosis and proposing strategies to improve older patient outcomes.

Results

Frailty is present in 25% of the older surgical population. Using frailty-scoring tools, frailty was associated with a significantly longer hospital stay and higher mortality at 30 and 90 days after admission to an acute surgical unit. Cognitive impairment is present in a high number of older acute surgical patients (approximately 70%), whilst acute onset cognitive impairment, termed delirium, is documented in 18%. However, patients with delirium had significantly longer hospital stays and higher in-hospital mortality than those with cognitive impairment.

Conclusions

Improved knowledge of frailty and delirium by the emergency surgeon allows the specialised needs of older surgical patients to be taken into account. Early recognition, and consideration of minimally invasive surgery or radiological intervention alongside potentially transferable successful elective interventions such as comprehensive geriatric assessment, may help to improve short- and long-term patient outcomes in this vulnerable population.
Late metastatic colon cancer masquerading as primary jejunal carcinoma
Authors: Meshikhes A-WN , Joudeh AA
Published: February 2016

Metastasis to the small bowel from a previously resected colorectal cancer is rare and may erroneously be diagnosed as a primary small bowel carcinoma. It usually occurs several years after the primary resection. We present the case of a 67-year-old man who had undergone left hemicolectomy for colon cancer 3 years earlier and returned with subacute small bowel obstruction. This was initially thought, based on preoperative radiological findings and normal colonoscopic examination, to be due a primary jejunal cancer. Even at surgery, the lesion convincingly appeared as an obstructing primary small bowel carcinoma. However, the histology of the resected small bowel revealed metastatic colon cancer. This rare and an unusual metastatic occurrence some years after the primary resection is described and reviewed.
Privacy and Confidentiality Practices In Adolescent Family Planning Care At Federally Qualified Health Centers
Authors: Beeson Tishra , Mead Katherine H. , Wood Susan , Goldberg Debora Goetz , Shin Peter , Rosenbaum Sara
Published: February 2016

CONTEXT

The confidentiality of family planning services remains a high priority to adolescents, but barriers to implementing confidentiality and privacy practices exist in settings designed for teenagers who are medically underserved, including federally qualified health centers (FQHCs).

METHODS

A sample of 423 FQHCs surveyed in 2011 provided information on their use of five selected privacy and confidentiality practices, which were examined separately and combined into an index. Regression modeling was used to assess whether various state policies and organizational characteristics were associated with FQHCs’ scores on the index. In‐depth case studies of six FQHCs were conducted to provide additional contextual information.

RESULTS

Among FQHCs reporting on confidentiality, most reported providing written or verbal information regarding adolescents’ rights to confidential care (81%) and limiting access to family planning and medical records to protect adolescents’ confidentiality (84%). Far fewer reported maintaining separate medical records for family planning (10%), using a security block on electronic medical records to prevent disclosures (43%) or using separate contact information for communications regarding family planning services (50%). Index scores were higher among FQHCs that received Title X funding than among those that did not (coefficient, 0.70) and among FQHCs with the largest patient volumes than among those with the smallest caseloads (0.43). Case studies highlighted how a lack of guidelines and providers’ confusion over relevant laws present a challenge in offering confidential care to adolescents.

CONCLUSIONS

The organizational practices used to ensure adolescent family planning confidentiality in FQHCs are varied across organizations.
Unification and Abductive Confirmation
Authors: Niiniluoto Ilkka
Published: February 2016

According to the traditional requirement, formulated by William Whewell in his account of the “consilience of inductions” in 1840, a scientific hypothesis should have unifying power in the sense that it explains and predicts several mutually independent phenomena. Variants of this notion of consilience or unification include deductive, inductive, and approximate systematization. Inference from surprising phenomena to their theoretical explanations was called abduction by Charles Peirce. As a unifying theory is independently testable by new kinds of phenomena, it should also receive confirmation from its empirical success. The study of the prospects of probabilistic Bayesianism to motivate this kind of criterion for abductive confirmation is shown to lead to two quite distinct conceptions of unification.
Kant and Natural Kind Terms
Authors: Forgione Luca
Published: February 2016

As is well known, the linguistic/philosophical reflection on natural kind terms has undergone a remarkable development in the early seventies with Putnam and Kripke’s essentialist approaches (cf. §3), touching upon different aspects (metaphysical and epistemological in particular) of Kant’s slant. Preliminarily, however, it might be useful to review some of the theoretical stages in Locke and Leibniz’s approaches on natural kind terms in the light of contemporary reflections (cf. § 2), to eventually pinpoint Kant’s contribution and see how some commentators have placed it within the theory of direct reference (cf. §4). Starting with textual evidence even from the logical corpus (cf. §§5-6), in the present essay I will attempt to discuss some of the arguments dismissing Kant’s adherence to this view. These assume that in his approach to the semantics of natural kind terms, Kant appears to be still holding on to a nominalist/conceptualist position, though he seems to be well aware of a few key issues for the theorists of direct reference (§§7-8).
D. Sebastião e Alcácer Quibir em duas comédias espanholas do Siglo de Oro: La Tragedia del Rey Don Sebastián y del Príncipe de Marruecos, de Lope de Vega, e Comedia Famosa del Rey Don Sebastián, de Luis Vélez de Guevara
Authors: Lourenço António Apolinário
Published: February 2016

A história peninsular foi, como se sabe, urna das fontes temáticas fundamentais do teatro espanhol do Século de Ouro. Entre os múltiplos textos, mais ou menos contemporâneos dos acontecimentos, que se ocuparam da trágica batalha de Alcácer Quibir, analisamos aqui duas comedias, que, sob uma aparente neutralidade artística, não deixam de ser instrumentos ideológicos ao serviço dos interesses dinásticos da Casa de Habsburgo.