bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Urachal remnant causing umbilical in-drawing during micturition
Authors: Martin AJ , McDonald L , Gopal M
Published: November 2017

The urachus is a vestigial remnant of the allantois, which is normally obliterated during fetal life to become the median umbilical ligament, which runs between the urinary bladder and umbilicus in adults. Failure of obliteration leaves a tubular urachal remnant, which may present with disease. We report a unique case of a urachal remnant causing umbilical pain and in-drawing on micturition in a nine-year-old boy. There was no urine discharge from the umbilicus and in-drawing did not occur on defecation. His urinary stream was normal. High frequency ultrasonography revealed a thick band with a narrow, anechoic, fluid filled central channel. Exploration via an infraumbilical curvilinear incision identified a thick urachal band that could be traced to the dome of the bladder. This was excised flush with the bladder. The patient remains well at nine months following surgery with complete cessation of symptoms.
The effect of rectal washout on local recurrence following rectal cancer surgery
Authors: Moosvi SR , Manley K , Hernon J
Published: November 2017

Introduction

Local recurrence after surgery for rectal cancer is associated with significant morbidity and debilitating symptoms. Intraoperative rectal washout has been linked to a reduction in local recurrence but there is no conclusive evidence. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether performing rectal washout had any effect on the incidence of local recurrence in patients undergoing anterior resection for rectal cancer in the context of the current surgical management.

Methods

A total of 395 consecutive patients who underwent anterior resection with or without rectal washout for rectal cancer between January 2003 and July 2009 at a high volume single institution were analysed retrospectively. A standardised process for performing washout was used and all patients had standardised surgery in the form of total mesorectal excision. Neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy was used on a selected basis. Patients were followed up for five years and local recurrence rates were compared in the two groups.

Results

Of the 395 patients, 297 had rectal washout and 98 did not. Both groups were well matched with regard to various important clinical, operative and histopathological characteristics. Overall, the local recurrence rate was 5.3%. There was no significant difference in the incidence of local recurrence between the washout group (5.7%) and the no washout group (4.1%).

Conclusions

Among our cohort of patients, there was no statistical difference in the incidence of local recurrence after anterior resection with or without rectal washout. This suggests that other factors are more significant in the development of local recurrence.
The effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on severity of acute pancreatitis and pancreatic necrosis
Authors: Baxter KA , Pucher PH , Berry DP , Elberm H , Abu-Hilal M , Marangoni G , Hamady ZZR
Published: November 2017

Introduction

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common emergency presentation and can be disabling. There is significant morbidity and mortality associated with AP, and it places a considerable burden on the healthcare system. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been shown to have a protective effect in some elective contexts. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the effect of NSAIDs on the course of AP and the severity of the disease.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was carried out of 324 patients admitted as an emergency with a diagnosis of AP to two UK hospitals. Patients were divided into two groups: those already taking NSAIDs for other co-morbidities and those not taking NSAIDs. Variables compared included: admission to a high dependency or intensive care unit; pancreatic necrosis; pseudocyst development; need for surgery; serum inflammatory markers; modified early warning scores on days 1, 3 and 5; length of stay; and mortality.

Results

Patients not taking NSAIDs were more likely to have a C-reactive protein level of ≥150mg/l (p=0.007). Patients in the NSAID group experienced less pancreatic necrosis (p=0.019) and lower rates of pseudocyst formation (p=0.010). Other variables showed no difference between the two groups, specifically length of stay and mortality.

Conclusions

Routine NSAID use may exert a protective effect on the development of AP, its severity, and complications. Therapeutic use of NSAIDs in acute presentations with pancreatitis should be further evaluated.
The influence of water intake on waiting time prior to uroflowmetry: a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial
Authors: Rasyid Nur , Putra Donny E. , Atmoko Widi , Khadijah Adianti , Parikesit Dyandra , Birowo Ponco
Published: November 2017

Background: In uroflowmetry examination, patients are usually instructed to intake a large volume of water and wait until the bladder is full. The association between the volume of water intake and the waiting time before uroflowmetry is unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the volume of water intake and the waiting time prior to uroflowmetry.Methods: This trial was designed as a randomized, researchers, caregivers and patients blinded, superiority trial with three parallel groups and primary endpoint of waiting time prior to the uroflowmetry study based on the volume of patients’ water intake. Randomization was performed by block randomization with a 1:1:1 allocation. Patients scheduled for uroflowmetry at the Urology Clinic of Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital were enrolled from March 2013 until December 2013. The eligibility criteria were male patients with ages above 50 years and body mass index 18.5–24.9 kg/m2.Results: A total of 83 patients was randomly assigned into 3 study groups: 300 ml (28 patients), 400 ml (28 patients), and 500 ml (27 patients). All patients were included in final analysis. Mean waiting time were 85.1±59.8 min, 107.2±70.4 min, and 66±28.4 min for patients intake 300, 400, and 500 ml of water respectively (p=0.07). The final bladder volumes for three groups were statistically different (262.4±130.8 ml, 289.4±126.2 ml, 359.2±137 ml; p=0.02).Conclusion: The volume water intake of 300–500 ml did not affect waiting time before uroflowmetry. Increasing water intake at least 500 ml added the final bladder volume and shorter the waiting time.
Cryptosporidium spp. and rotavirus gastroenteritis and change of incidence after rotavirus vaccination among children in Raparin Pediatrics Hospital, Erbil, Iraq
Authors: Azeez Sally S. , Alsakee Hadi M.
Published: November 2017

Background: Watery diarrhea is the most common medical problem among infants and young children, caused by different microbial etiology including Cryptosporidium spp. and rotavirus, which are usually misdiagnosed in conventional stool test. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of Cryptosporidium and rotavirus gastroenteritis among children in Erbil as well as evaluate the efficacy of rotavirus vaccination procedure applied in Erbil.Methods: Fecal specimens were collected from 400 children (boys and girls), aged one month to five years old, who attended Raparin Pediatrics Hospital in Erbil complaining from diarrhea, between January to August 2014. Modified Ziehl Neelsen technique and nested PCR were used for detection of cryptosporidiosis while rotavirus infection was detected by rapid CerTest.Results: Rate of detection of cryptosporidiosis was remarkably higher using PCR than Ziehl-Neelsen stain (0% versus 6%), and the infection was slightly higher among boys (6.25% vs 5.55%) and children ≤2 years (11.7%). The peak of infection reached during spring season (March and April) (9.5%). The detection rate of rotavirus was 32.0%, which was slightly higher among males (34.4% vs 30.0%) and in children between one to three years old (39.3%). The highest detection rate (38.6%) was recorded during winter season (January and February). The infection was significantly higher among non-vaccinated children (65.9% vs 14.1%; p<0.05).Conclusion: The incidence of cryptosporidiosis is declining. However, rotavirus gastroenteritis was relatively high among young children in Erbil. Rotateq vaccine significantly reduced the incidence of rotavirus infection.
Prospect of alternative therapies to kidney transplantation
Authors: Pawitan Jeanne A.
Published: November 2017

[no abstract available]
Avaliação do albedo nos diferentes tipos de cobertura do cerrado do Amapá - Brasil com imagens MODIS
Authors: Braga Célia Campos , Amanajás Jonathan Castro , Alcântara Clênia Rodrigues , Dantas Milena Pereira
Published: November 2017

O presente estudo visa fazer um estudo comparativo da estimativa do albedo em diferentes alvos em áreas no Amapá. O albedo determina o poder refletor da superfície no domínio espectro do sol e, é um dos componentes fundamental na estimativa do balanço de radiação da superfície. Utilizaram-se três imagens do sensor MODIS /Terra para os anos de 2002, 2006 e 2012. O processamento da das imagens foi feita pelo programa ERDAS. Empregaram algoritmos os de Liang e Tasumi para estimar o albedo nas áreas composto por área urbana, cerrado e floresta nativa e silvicultura de eucaliptos. Os resultados obtidos pelos dois métodos são eficazes na estimativa do albedo. A relação entre os valores médios estimados pelos métodos apresentou uma correlação de r=0,88 erro percentual médio EPM = 7,8% e erro padrão médio EPAM = 0,012 para o nível de significância α.
Utilização conjunta de ferramentas neuronais e SIG na avaliação da inundação do porto e baía da Praia da Vitória
Authors: Poseiro P. , Fortes C. J. E. M. , Reis M. T. , Reis R.
Published: November 2017

O HIDRALERTA é um sistema de previsão, alerta e avaliação do risco de galgamentos/inundação em zonas costeiras e portuárias, partindo da utilização de medições/previsões da agitação marítima para calcular o galgamento/inundação nessas zonas. O cálculo dos caudais médios galgados sobre uma estrutura marítima é efetuado através de ferramentas neuronais e/ou fórmulas empíricas, que não permitem definir a distribuição espacial desse caudal atrás da estrutura. Este artigo apresenta a aplicação ao porto/baía da Praia da Vitória, Açores, de um método expedito para modelar essa distribuição espacial, recorrendo a ferramentas SIG. Foi estabelecida uma relação entre a cota de inundação e o volume galgado de água através da utilização de um modelo digital de terreno. Este trabalho representa um primeiro passo na elaboração de um mapa de risco associado ao galgamento costeiro.
Vulnerabilidade das infraestruturas rodoviárias aos efeitos de nevões na transição dos distritos do Porto e de Vila Real
Authors: Fidalgo Emanuel Sardo
Published: November 2017

Los incendios forestales que se producen anualmente durante los veranos en Chile mediterráneo, han afectado también la biodiversidad de las formaciones vegetales. Actualmente se distingue un paisaje fragmentado, sobre todo por los cambios de uso del suelo y que han reducido bastante el hábitat de la palma nativa. El clima mediterráneo de Chile se caracteriza en los valles y cordilleras costeras por un largo y seco verano, precipitaciones nulas y constantes vientos cálidos en el litoral. Esto favorece la recurrencia y extensión de los fuegos forestales. Se expone el estado actual de la situación con respecto al bosque de la palma endémica de Chile (Jubaea chilensis (Moll) Baillon que vive asociada al matorral esclerófilo mediterráneo en el litoral de Valparaíso (33°03´Sur- 71°3¨Weste) y cuyo cortejo florístico, está muy alterado por los impactos de los recurrentes fuegos estivales y la acción antrópica en microcuencas costeras. Por otra parte la regeneración de los palmares es escasa debido a la explotación que realizan los lugareños de sus frutos (“coquitos”) comestibles y también por la herbivoría de fauna y animales domésticos. La especie está declarada en estado de vulnerable y el estado junto a algunas fundaciones privadas, llevan a cabo desde más o menos unos 15 años, planes de regeneración y recuperación de esta palma que es la más longeva y una de las más australes del mundo.
O risco climático da seca no semiárido brasileiro
Authors: Ramalho Maria Francisca de Jesus Lírio , Guerra Antonio José Teixeira
Published: November 2017

As estiagens e as enxurradas do período chuvoso são fatores de risco de fenômenos meteorológicos e climáticos que caracterizam ambientes semiáridos como o do nordeste do Brasil. O presente artigo faz uma breve discussão sobre o risco climático da seca, associando a sazonalidade climática, ações humanas e a vulnerabilidade ambiental à erosão e ao assoreamento de mananciais na Serra do Teixeira, com o exemplo de caso do histórico Açude de Poços, no município de Teixeira (Paraíba). O estudo se fundamenta em pressupostos da morfodinâmica do semiárido, observando fatores que são peculiares à Serra do Teixeira, como a irregularidade das precipitações pluviométricas, o regime climático, o relevo fortemente ondulado, as áreas com vegetação degradada, a susceptibilidade erosiva dos solos e o efeito do escoamento nas encostas. Da análise, constata-se que tanto o fator climático como o antrópico são causas de risco ambiental para a região, considerando a alternância de períodos secos com os de chuvas torrenciais, a expansão de áreas de cultivos e o mau uso dos recursos naturais.
Bayesian network for decision-support on pest management of tomato fruit borer, H. armigera
Authors: Singh Niranjan , Gupta Neha
Published: November 2017

Fruit borer (H. armigera) is the key pest of tomato, a prominent vegetable crop grown in northern plains of India. Timely availability of decision-support to the farmers on ‘whether and what management option is required’ is imperative for effective pest management. For decades, the pest economic threshold level (ETL) has been the basis to select an appropriate pest management option. This process requires quantitative information about pest activity, which needs to be scientifically observed in the farmers’ fields. However, a large section of the farming community is not able to scientifically obtain this kind of information. Moreover, in current pest management, decision-making depends upon a large range of agro-ecological information, besides pest activity. In this study, a Bayesian network-based method/model was devised for the selection of an appropriate management option for the effective management of fruit borer in tomato crop, based on tentative agro-ecological information, beside pest activity, that farmers provided. Thus, the resulting method can be used in decision support systems of agriculture with applies information and communication technology to automate and speed up the process of providing pest management decision-support to the farmers.
Lo manifiesto y lo supuesto en los reportes socioambientales de las empresas
Authors: Volpentesta Jorge Roberto
Published: November 2017

A través del análisis de contenido cualicuantitativo se examinaron 40 re- portes socioambientales de empresas actuantes en la República Argentina con los siguientes objetivos: 1) examinar sus características comunicacio- nales y la prevalencia teórico-conceptual de la responsabilidad social em- presaria o la sostenibilidad; 2) describir y analizar la información explícita y mani esta, así como el signi cado de lo implícito, lo latente y oculto, interpretando e in riendo intenciones, actitudes, intereses y objetivos más allá de los expresamente enunciados. Los resultados evidencian la prevalencia de la sostenibilidad como orienta- dora de las gestiones socioambientales. Asimismo, como consecuencia de la preeminencia del modelo GRI, tanto sus contenidos como la información brindada se circunscriben a sus lineamientos. Del análisis se obtuvieron diversos resultados: mayoría de mensajes neutros y objetivos en las cartas de presentación; menciones a códigos de ética; preeminencia de la tríada clientes-empleados-proveedores en la diferenciación de stakeholders; escasa presencia de sus objetivos en los enunciados de misión y visión; di cultad de comparación con años anteriores, entre otros.
El chinchorro de gestión de riesgos como filosofía moderna de mejora en la dirección
Authors: Vega de la Cruz Leudis Orlando , Pérez Pravia Milagros de la Caridad , Moreno Pino Mayra del Rosario
Published: November 2017

La evolución del mundo, de las organizaciones y el interés creciente por una administración e ciente y efectiva han cambiado el enfoque del control, aspecto que está estrechamente relacionado con la gestión de riesgos empre- sariales, y para la cual es objetivo de este artículo diseñar una metodología a partir de técnicas cuantitativas como apoyo a la toma de decisiones. Para esto se recurrió a un conjunto de técnicas basadas en redes (chinchorro de gestión), las mismas se integran en el cuerpo de la gestión de riesgos. Como resultado se obtiene un procedimiento de cinco fases, doce pasos y ocho tareas bajo las pautas de la gestión, además de su validación prospectiva, mediante las redes de Petri y el criterio de expertos, al fin de evitar errores antes de su aplicación.
Propuesta de diseño de un sistema de energía solar fotovoltaica. Caso de aplicación en la ciudad de Bogotá
Authors: Salamanca-Avila Sebastian
Published: November 2017

La energía solar es un recurso renovable, es decir, está siempre disponible, no se agota y se puede aprovechar en cualquier momento gracias a que es posible almacenarla. Las difíciles condiciones medioambientales, la contaminación y, de otro lado, el avance tecnológico en el desarrollo de celdas solares cada vez más eficientes, han contribuido a que en la actualidad se promueva el uso de las energías renovables como la energía solar. Adicionalmente, se ha incrementado el uso de estos sistemas pues el nivel de contaminación que produce es muy bajo y los costos de instalación se recuperan al reducir la facturación del consumo de energía prestado por empresas de servicios públicos. Por lo tanto, el uso de sistemas fotovoltaicos es un tema de mucho interés en la actualidad e implementar este tipo de sistemas aislados en la ciudad de Bogotá es posible.
Decoding spatial attention with EEG and virtual acoustic space
Authors: Dong Yue , Raif Kaan E. , Determan Sarah C. , Gai Yan
Published: November 2017

Decoding spatial attention based on brain signals has wide applications in brain–computer interface (BCI). Previous BCI systems mostly relied on visual patterns or auditory stimulation (e.g., loudspeakers) to evoke synchronous brain signals. There would be difficulties to cover a large range of spatial locations with such a stimulation protocol. The present study explored the possibility of using virtual acoustic space and a visual‐auditory matching paradigm to overcome this issue. The technique has the flexibility of generating sound stimulation from virtually any spatial location. Brain signals of eight human subjects were obtained with a 32‐channel Electroencephalogram (EEG). Two amplitude‐modulated noise or speech sentences carrying distinct spatial information were presented concurrently. Each sound source was tagged with a unique modulation phase so that the phase of the recorded EEG signals indicated the sound being attended to. The phase‐tagged sound was further filtered with head‐related transfer functions to create the sense of virtual space. Subjects were required to pay attention to the sound source that best matched the location of a visual target. For all the subjects, the phase of a single sound could be accurately reflected over the majority of electrodes based on EEG responses of 90 s or less. The electrodes providing significant decoding performance on auditory attention were fewer and may require longer EEG responses. The reliability and efficiency of decoding with a single electrode varied with subjects. Overall, the virtual acoustic space protocol has the potential of being used in practical BCI systems.
Validation of whole room indirect calorimeters: refinement of current methodologies
Authors: Rising Russell , Foerster Thomas , Arad Avigdor D. , Albu Jeanine , Pi‐Sunyer Xavier
Published: November 2017

Whole room indirect calorimeter (WRIC) validation techniques consist of propane combustion (PC) or infusion of mixed carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen (N2) by a precision blender (PB). To determine the best method, PC of 6, 10, 22‐h and PB infusions of 6, 10, and 14‐h, were conducted. The 14‐h infusion consisted of two metabolic settings. Energy expenditure (EE; kJ), ventilation (V; liters/min) of oxygen (VO2), VCO2, and respiratory quotient (VCO2/VO2) obtained from the WRIC were extrapolated to the respective test durations and compared to similarly calculated values. Moreover, accurate equations (AE) were derived to correct infusions for additional N2. As a final evaluation of a PC validated WRIC, weight maintenance (WM), energy balance (EB), respiratory quotient (RQ), and food quotients (FQ) were determined in 22 subjects who had repeat 24‐h EE measurements. Statistical analyses (P < 0.05) were conducted (SPSS, version 23). Significant differences in RQ existed between PC and stoichiometry after 6‐h. Errors for the rest of the PC tests ranged from −1.5 ± 2.4 (VCO2) to 2.8 ± 4.6% (EE). When compared with the WRIC, all uncorrected metabolic parameters for six and 10‐h PB infusions were significantly different with errors from −12.8 ± 1.6 (VO2) to 6.0 ± 2.8% (RQ). The AE reduced the magnitude of errors to −12.4 ± 1.5 (RQ) to 2.2 ± 3.0% (RQ). The PB infusion with two settings showed similar performance. No differences in WM, EB, RQ, or FQ existed in the subjects. In conclusion, 10‐h PC tests are sufficient for validating WRICs.
Existence of Extremal Functions for Higher-Order Caffarelli–Kohn–Nirenberg Inequalities
Authors: Dong Mengxia
Published: November 2017

Though there has been an extensive study on first-order Caffarelli–Kohn–Nirenberg inequalities, not much is known for the existence of extremal functions for higher-order ones. The higher-order derivative of the Caffarelli–Kohn–Nirenberg inequality established by Lin [14] states

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is a compact embedding within some range of the parameters.
The role of dialect in mother tongue retention of Slovene Canadians: a case study
Authors: Šabec Nada , Koletnik Mihaela
Published: November 2017

This article addresses the issue of mother tongue retention in the Slovene Canadian community of Vancouver. A brief social and historical profile of the community is followed by a description of the general linguistic situation, based on the data collected through questionnaires and participant observation. The results show substantial intergenerational variation in terms of the immigrants’ language use and language attitudes and point in the direction of a relatively rapid shift from Slovene to English, but not to the weakening of their sense of ethnic identity.

The focus then shifts to the linguistic aspects of Slovene-English language contact themselves. In addition to interference phenomena in the immigrants’ language such as borrowing from English and Slovene-English code switching, special attention is paid to the presence of dialect or standard features in their mother tongue. Lexis in particular is interesting as it shows traces of other languages. Next, we try to identify the most significant factors which affect the immigrants’ choice between Slovene and English in various contexts as well as their use of either dialect or standard in Slovene.
Motor-concept variation in the German verbs ‘anfassen’, ‘angreifen’, ‘anlangen’. Differences between Austria, Germany and Switzerland
Authors: Ahlers Timo , Fink Juliane
Published: November 2017

The semantics of German ‘touch’ verbs include corresponding motor concepts. These seem to result from experiences and learning from subjective bodily actions and interactions with the environment during language acquisition (cf. Bailey 1997). When we learn a new action word, we often do so embedded in a particular motor context (cf. Bailey et al. 1997; Bergen et al. 2004). In this pilot study, we investigate how the motor concepts of German hand-related ‘touch’-verb variants ([an]fassen, [an]greifen, [an]langen, cf. VWB: 38–39, 40, 42) – which are often considered to be true synonyms – are applied by speakers from Austria, Germany and Switzerland. The empirical study draws on research into cognitive semantics (Pulvermüller 2005; Steels & Belpaeme 2005; Barsalou 2008; Evans 2009) and motor cognition (Bailey et al. 1997; Marocco et al. 2010) and aims at adding a variationist linguistic component to the existing research (cf. Fink in prep.). By use of a stimulus response experiment with 25 native speakers from the three countries, we will show a) that the three verb variants differ in terms of motor concepts and therefore are no true synonyms and b) that the motor concepts for each verb differ between speakers of German in Austria, Germany and Switzerland.
Language ideologies, intervarietal conflict and their repercussions on language and society: the case of the Hispanic dialect complex
Authors: Chela-Flores Godsuno
Published: November 2017

In this paper, a phase of language divinisation is posited as the deeply-rooted origin of the standard language/variety ideology, which devalues the nonstandard dialects thus causing a permanent sociolinguistic conflict. Present linguistic standardisation is seen as the form divinisation has taken in the course of the history of humankind and it is justified by the search of stability and functionality for organised speech communities, which is not objectionable as such for some aspects of social life. The sociolinguistic conflict emerges because the first stage of the process requires the selection of usually one variety (or more than one in some cases) out of the dialectal complex of any natural language, generally responding to class-related interests allied to power and prestige. It is evidently, an ideological issue. Our approach to this problem is based on data from the Spanish-speaking world, analysed mainly on a minimal unitary phonetological approach (MUPA) in search of different dialectal dimensions and parameters. MUPA is justified and possible because of the great cohesiveness of Spanish varieties. When attention is paid to this extensive linguistic dominion, one finds that the notion of the inevitability of the weakening of regional varieties has to be revised.
Nonanthropocentric design and smart cities in the anthropocene
Authors: Luusua Anna , Ylipulli Johanna , Rönkkö Emilia
Published: November 2017

While the smart city agenda is
critiqued for its focus on technology and business led
solutions, a new approach to design has been
introduced: nonanthropocentric design aims to
decenter the human as the focus of design. We build on
relevant works in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
through discussing and comparing relevant theories in the social sciences
and by analyzing design examples. This approach to HCI
is necessary if humanity is to meet the challenges of the
Anthropocene, the era in which human activity affects
the Earth on a geological scale.
The citizen in the smart city. How the smart
city could transform citizenship
Authors: de Waal Martijn , Dignum Marloes
Published: November 2017

Smart city-policy makers and technology vendors are increasingly
stating they want to bring about citizen-centered smart cities. Yet,
it often remains unclear what exactly that means, and how citizens are
envisaged as actors in smart cities. This article wants to contribute
to this discussion by exploring the relation between smart cities and
citizenship. It aims to do this by introducing a heuristic scheme that
brings out the implied notions of citizenship in three distinct sets
of smart city visions and practices: The Control Room envisages the
city as a collection of infrastructures and services; The Creative
City views the city from the perspective of (economic) geography and
ponders on local and regional systems of innovation; The Smart
Citizens discourse addresses the city as a political and civic
community. These smart city discourses are mapped against two visions
on citizenship and governance taken from political philosophy. A
`republican' perspective with strong presence in
social-democratic countries is contrasted with a libertarian one, most
prominent in Silicon Valley approaches to smart city
technologies. This provides a scheme to reflect on potential benefits
and downsides if a specific smart city discourse would
develop. Instances of smart cities may promote notions of citizenship
that are based on consumer choice and individual responsibility,
alternatively they could also reinforce collective responsibilities
towards the common good of society.
Algebraic generalization of Diffie–Hellman key exchange
Authors: Partala Juha
Published: November 2017

The Diffie–Hellman key exchange scheme is one of the earliest and most widely used public-key primitives.
Its underlying algebraic structure is a cyclic group and its security is based on the discrete logarithm problem (DLP).
The DLP can be solved in polynomial time for any cyclic group in the quantum computation model.
Therefore, new key exchange schemes have been sought to prepare for the time when quantum computing becomes a reality.
Algebraically, these schemes need to provide some sort of commutativity to enable Alice and Bob to derive a common key on a public channel while keeping it computationally difficult for the adversary to deduce the derived key.
We suggest an algebraically generalized Diffie–Hellman scheme (AGDH) that, in general, enables the application of any algebra as the platform for key exchange.
We formulate the underlying computational problems in the framework of average-case complexity and show that the scheme is secure if the problem of computing images under an unknown homomorphism is infeasible.
We also show that a symmetric encryption scheme possessing homomorphic properties over some algebraic operation can be turned into a public-key primitive with the AGDH, provided that the operation is complex enough.
In addition, we present a brief survey on the algebraic properties of existing key exchange schemes and identify the source of commutativity and the family of underlying algebraic structures for each scheme.
Is there a role for contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the detection and biopsy of MRI only visible breast lesions?
Authors: Nykänen Aki , Arponen Otso , Sutela Anna , Vanninen Ritva , Sudah Mazen
Published: November 2017

Background

This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and CEUS-guided interventions in the diagnostics of MRI visible targeted US occult breast lesions.

Patients and methods

This retrospective study examined 10 females with 10 occult, MRI only detected breast lesions between July 2014 and April 2017. Targeted second look US followed by CEUS with 2.4 ml of SonoVue® were performed for all of the lesions. After positive CEUS localization the same dose was repeated for confirmation and CEUS-guided interventions were performed.

Results

MRI revealed 8 mass lesions with a mean size of 9 mm (range 5–16 mm) and 2 non-mass enhancing lesions of 10 and 20 mm in largest diameters. Targeted US revealed no morphological correlate for the lesions. Five out of 10 lesions (50%) were visible on CEUS. CEUS-guided core biopsy was performed on 4 lesions and 1 was marked with a clip for later surgical removal. Histopathological analysis confirmed 4 of them to be malignant. Three out of 5 nonvisible lesions on CEUS underwent MRI-guided interventions, 1 lesion was scheduled for follow-up as it was non-amenable for MRI biopsy, and 1 lesion was biopsied under US-guidance. Three of these nonvisible lesions on CEUS were confirmed to be malignant.

Conclusions

Based on our preliminary results, CEUS is a feasible tool for detecting many MRI only visible breast lesions, resulting in a more cost effective and less time-consuming practice. It is a more convenient alternative than MRI guided biopsy and has the potential to be included in the diagnostic algorithm which evaluates MRI only visible breast lesions.
Use of immunohistochemical versus microsatellite analyses as markers for colorectal cancer
Authors: Tantoğlu Utku , Yüksel Seher , Akyol Cihangir , Doğan Haldun , Kutlay Nükhet , Kuzu Işınsu , Özdağ Hilal , Kuzu Mehmet Ayhan
Published: November 2017

Objectives

Our aim was to determine how well immunohistochemical analysis identified colon cancer patients with microsatellite instability in Turkish patients.

Material and methods

Subjects were patients that underwent surgery for colorectal cancer in our institution between 2006 and 2011. Patients were grouped as: (1) suspected Lynch syndrome (n=14), (2) familial colorectal cancer (n=14), and (3) sporadic colorectal cancer groups (n=14). Mismatch repair proteins were analyzed by a four antibody-panel immunohistochemistry. Microsatellite instability analysis was conducted on DNA samples using MSI-PCR followed by fragment analysis.

Results

The immunohistochemistry and PCR results had good concordance in 35/42 patients. Both microsatellite instability and at least one mismatch repair protein deficiency were detected in 11 patients, and both microsatellite stability and normal expression of mismatch repair proteins were detected in 24 patients. Test results were discordant in seven of the patients.

Conclusion

As it is not feasible to perform expensive molecular tests in healthcare units in many developing countries, the four antibody-panel immunohistochemistry is a reliable and affordable method for screening for colorectal cancer, including Lynch syndrome and sporadic cases when suspected.
Sidgwick’s Legacy? Russell and Moore on Meaning and Philosophical Inquiry
Authors: Gandon Sébastien
Published: November 2017

James Levine has recently argued (1998, 2009, 2016) that there is a tension between Russell’s Moorean semantical framework and Russell’s Peano-inspired analytical practice. According to Levine, this discrepancy runs deep in Russell’s thought from 1900 to 1918, and underlies many of the doctrinal changes occurring during this period. In this paper, I suggest that, contrary to what Levine claims, there is no incompatibility between Moore’s theory of meaning and the idea of informative conceptual analysis. I show this by relating Moore’s view of meaning to his Sidgwick-inspired criticism of the so-called naturalistic fallacy. I maintain that Moore’s semantical framework has a methodological intent: following Sidgwick, Moore wants to block any attempt to justify ethical principles through setting ad hoc conditions on the meaning of the terms involved. Thus, far from grounding philosophical knowledge on subjective intuitions, as Levine suggests, Moore’s framework would provide us with the means to make room for a discursive and dialectic conception of philosophical inquiry.
The Political Organism
Authors: Nyhart Lynn K.
Published: November 2017

How do the discourses of biology and politics interact? This article uses the case of Carl Vogt (1817–1895), the notorious German “radical materialist” zoologist and political revolutionary, to analyze the traffic across these discourses before, during, and after the revolutions of 1848. Arguing that metaphors of the organism and the state did different work in the discourse communities of German political theorists and biologists through the 1840s, it then traces Vogt’s life and work to show how politics and biology came together in his biography. It draws on Vogt’s political rhetoric, his satirical post-1849 writings, and his scientific studies to examine the parallels he drew between animal organization and human social and political organization in the 1840s and ’50s. Broadening back out, I suggest that the discourses of organismal and state organization, both somewhat transformed, would align more closely over the 1850s and thereafter—yet asymmetrically. Although the state metaphor became more attractive for biologists, the organism as state did not harden into a dominant concept in biology. On the political side, a new wave of political theorizing increasingly viewed the state as resembling a biological organism. These shifts, I speculate, brought the discourses closer together in the post-revolutionary era, and may be seen as contributing to a new configuration of mutual legitimation between science and the state.

This essay is part of a special issue entitled REVOLUTIONARY POLITICS AND BIOLOGICAL ORGANIZATION IN NINETEENTH-CENTURY FRANCE AND GERMANY edited by Lynn K. Nyhart and Florence Vienne.
La crónica modernista centroamericana y sus posibilidades editoriales: tres obras que merecen una edición crítica.
Authors: Carvajal Muñoz Osvaldo
Published: November 2017

En el presente artículo se problematiza un aspecto de la crónica modernista: su compilación y publicación en ediciones críticas. Se revisa el caso de tres libros de autores centroamericanos que aparecieron, originalmente, en publicaciones periódicas: La vida de Rubén Darío Escrita por él mismo (1915), de Rubén Darío; Sensaciones de París y de Madrid (1900), de Enrique Gómez Carrillo; y El libro del trópico (1907), de Arturo Ambrogi. Las tres obras ofrecen particularidades que las convierten en modelos diferentes de un mismo problema filológico, por lo que evidencian lo provechoso que sería para el proceso de lectura de un receptor de hoy, acceder a un texto anotado y editado críticamente.
Los bordes de la escritura: la crónica modernista de Arturo Ambrogi
Authors: Pérez Méndez Kevin
Published: November 2017

Este artículo propone una exploración de los textos compilados en Marginales de la Vida (1963), título publicado por el salvadoreño Arturo Ambrogi en 1912, a partir de los vínculos que se establecen en ellos entre la influencia de la estética modernista y el oficio periodístico practicado por el autor. Los objetivos centrales son aproximarse a la producción literaria de Arturo Ambrogi mediante un análisis de las tensiones generadas al momento de ubicar parte de su escritura dentro de la literatura salvadoreña, centroamericana y latinoamericana de principios del siglo XX, a la vez que se postula la posible existencia de un híbrido literario que rehuyó en gran medida de los puntos de vista seguidos por otros autores contemporáneos de la región durante la época en estudio.
Historia y Arte en la plástica de Cuba y Puerto Rico: puentes entre dos tiempos, entre dos aguas
Authors: Arango Milián Haydée
Published: November 2017

Pedro Álvarez (Cuba) y Rafael Trelles (Puerto Rico) son dos importantes exponentes de la plástica contemporánea en el Caribe hispano que encontraron en dos hitos artísticos del siglo xix una vía para cuestionar las fórmulas fijadas por la Historia y el Arte. Ambos, a partir de la reapropiación de la obra de Víctor Patricio Landaluze y Francisco Oller, respectivamente, reflexionan sobre las complejas circunstancias de sus islas. Mediante el estudio del pasado ambos se preocupan comprometidamente por el sentido de su historia patria, por la (re) actualización de su tradición artística o las funciones del intelectual en la configuración de sus contextos nacionales. La fragmentación y el collage resultan métodos constructivos eficaces que utilizan ambos artistas para descontextualizar los múltiples signos culturales de sus referentes de partida y readecuar sus múltiples significados en la nueva obra, y en el nuevo contexto. Sin embargo, a pesar de las semejanzas se advierten igualmente diferencias de intención, de acuerdo a las respectivas realidades nacionales.
La prensa temprana en la era digital: contexto y recursos
Authors: Poupeney-Hart Catherine
Published: November 2017

El estudio de la prensa periódica temprana en Hispanoamérica enfrenta al investigador con notables obstáculos debidos al tamaño del material y a su estatuto menor como práctica escritural que hizo que no se preservara en forma íntegra y en condiciones idóneas. Aunque falta mucho para que se generalicen, las operaciones de digitalización que llevan a cabo bibliotecas y archivos suponen una transformación radical de este panorama y unas implicaciones difíciles todavía de apreciar. Se completa un estado provisional y práctico de la cuestión con el examen, desde esta perspectiva, de la tercera serie de la Gaceta de Guatemala (1797-1807), órgano de prensa más importante al final del siglo XVIII y principios del XIX en Hispanoamérica.
Crónica, poesía y memoria
Authors: Acuña González Guillermo
Published: November 2017

El Festival Internacional de Poesía de Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, dedicó su doceava edición a honrar la memoria y el recuerdo de las 45.000 personas desaparecidas durante el conﬂicto desarrollado entre las décadas de 1960 y 1990. Esta actividad literaria podría inscribirse en la denominada corriente del nuevo arte centroamericano, dedicada a reﬂexionar sobre los principales eventos sociales, políticos y culturales de la región. Este texto es una crónica sobre la relación entre poesía y memoria en el caso guatemalteco.
Memoria, identidad y silencio: Reﬂexiones en torno a la negación de atrocidades de la insurgencia salvadoreña durante la guerra civil
Authors: Juárez Ávila Jorge
Published: November 2017

En el presente artículo se reﬂexiona sobre el tratamiento de testimonios como fuentes para la investigación histórica de atrocidades, tal como el caso de la purga interna en una de las organizaciones que formaron la guerrilla salvadoreña, especialmente en el Frente Paracentral entre 1986 y 1991. Los testimonios de supervivientes, quienes fueron acusados de ser infltres o agentes del “enemigo”, nos trasladan a la interrelación entre memoria, identidad, silencio y negación de estas atrocidades. Además, se analiza cómo estas experiencias extremas de exmilitantes de la guerrilla están fuera de la memoria del FMLN, del Estado y la sociedad civil; en consecuencia, están cubiertas bajo toda una estrategia de negación.
Épica y bildungsroman en La Dionisiada de Salomón de la Selva: El héroe positivo y la revolución
Authors: Chen Sham Jorge
Published: November 2017

Dentro de esa concepción muy de la épica de que las guerras y las insurrecciones son una prueba en la conformación del héroe, su educación positiva se expresa en su preparación para el pensamiento y para la acción. Este artículo intenta analizar cómo Salomón de la Selva propone, en La dionisiada, que una revolución necesita de una gran fgura que la impulse. En la Nicaragua de los siglos XIX y XX su acción depende de esos valores que encarne el personaje en la conformación de una identidad nacional, tal es el caso del general Dionisio. Se esgrimen razones para reconocer en él la fgura de Augusto César Sandino.
Gallstone ileus - a rare finding in the era of laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Authors: Puia Ion C. , Fetti Alin , Puia Paul
Published: November 2017

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Risk Factors for Delayed Ulcer Healing after Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection of Gastric Neoplasms
Authors: Shimozato Akihiro , Sasaki Makoto , Ogasawara Naotaka , Funaki Yasushi , Ebi Masahide , Tamura Yasuhiro , Izawa Shinya , Hijikata Yasutaka , Yamaguchi Yoshiharu , Kasugai Kunio
Published: November 2017

Background & Aims: With improved technology, the size of artificial ulcers after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has increased. The aim of our study was to examine the risk factors for delayed gastric ulcer healing after ESD, including the possible benefit of potassium-competitive acid blocker (P-CAB) treatment.Methods: The primary outcome was the rate of healing of the artificial ulcers induced by ESD at 8 weeks post intervention. Design: retrospective case series. Setting: Aichi Medical University Hospital. Patients: patients who underwent ESD for gastric neoplasm, between April 2015 and March 2017. Intervention: ESD, with a follow-up endoscopic examination at 8 weeks post-ESD. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify the independent risk factors for delayed healing.Results: Of the 73 gastric neoplasms included in the analysis, delayed ulcer healing was identified in 21.9%. Dyslipidemia (p=0.04), ESD procedure time (p=0.003) and artificial ulcer size (p<0.001) were identified as risk factors for delayed healing, with location in the lower third of the stomach [Odds ratio (OR) 6.76; p=0.016] and artificial ulcer size (OR, 1.18; p=0.024) retained as independent risk factors. A cut-off ulcer size of 854 mm2 was predictive of delayed healing, with a sensitivity of 29.8% and specificity of 87.5%. For large ulcers, the rate of healing of 70% with vonoprazan was higher than the rate of 47.6% with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), although this difference was not significant.Conclusion: For artificial ulcers after ESD with a resection diameter >35 mm, it might be desirable to use PPIs for >8 weeks or P-CAB.Abbreviations: EGC: early gastric cancers; EMR: endoscopic mucosal resection; ESD: endoscopic submucosal dissection; H. pylori: Helicobacter pylori; H2RA: H2-receptor antagonist: PRP: platelet rich plasma; PGA: polyglycolic acid; P-CAB: potassium-competitive acid blocker; PPI: proton pump inhibitor.
Concise review: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation to treat insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
Authors: Bui Anh Thi-Van , Pham Phuc Van
Published: November 2017

Diabetes mellitus is a lifelong disease which causes negative effects on patient life. As a result of the disease, patients suffer from high blood sugar and the inability to obtain energy effectively from food. Diabetes mellitus can lead to life-threatening complications such as blindness, cardiovascular disease and diabetic coma. Diabetes can arise from defective insulin hormone production (usually related to type 1 diabetes mellitus or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM)) and/or defective insulin hormone function (related to type 2 diabetes mellitus). IDDM usually occurs in young people and can cause many serious health problems. There are several treatments which been investigated and applied in patients. Among them, stem cell therapy (especially hematopoietic stem cell therapy) has great potential to treat diabetes due to its many distinct advantages. The review will focus on diabetes mellitus, hematopoietic stem cells, and the novel hematopoietic stem cell therapy in diabetes mellitus type 1 treatment.
Accelerating Early Access to Immunotherapies for Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma
Authors: Ning Yang-Min , Maher V. Ellen , Beaver Julia A. , Goldberg Kirsten B. , Blumenthal Gideon M. , Pazdur Richard
Published: November 2017

Within one year, five immunotherapies have been approved for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer. The availability of these immunotherapies brings challenges to all stakeholders in the field. Additional research is needed to identify biomarkers that are predictive of individual patient response to different immunotherapies.