bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interventional Pulmonology: The Role of Simulation Training and Competency-Based Evaluation
Authors: Parikh Mihir , Lee Hans , Desai Neeraj
Published: January 2019

Medical education and training are becoming more complex endeavors as technological and research advancements lead to new tools and methods to care for patients. In recent years, there has been a paradigm shift in medical education to competency-based assessments. Another important recent development in medical education has been the increasing use of simulation-based learning for procedural training. Interventional pulmonology (IP) is a relatively young and rapidly evolving procedural-based subspecialty. There are several well-validated competency-based assessment tools available to measure training adequacy in many of the most commonly performed procedures in IP. These tools have been shown to improve learning curves and training outcomes. The extent of how widely these tools are being used in clinical and educational spheres, however, remains unclear. Moreover, several commonly performed procedures in IP have no or limited validation tools currently available. Standardized training using simulation has also been shown to lead to positive training outcomes as compared with more traditional training models. However, widespread adoption of simulators has been limited due to the cost and availability.
Evaluation of the Effect of Low-Dose Aspirin on Biochemical and Biophysical Biomarkers for Placental Disease in Low-Risk Pregnancy: Secondary Analysis of a Multicenter RCT
Authors: Mone Fionnuala , Mulcahy Cecilia , McParland Peter , Downey Paul , Culliton Marie , Maguire Orla C. , Mooney Eoghan E. , Clarke Philip , Fitzgerald David , Tully Elizabeth , Malone Fergal D. , McAuliffe Fionnuala M.
Published: January 2019

Objective To assess the effect of aspirin use in low-risk pregnancy on: (1) pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and placental-like growth factor (PLGF); (2) urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) and blood pressure; (3) fetal growth parameters; and (4) placental histopathology.

Study Design This secondary analysis from the
T
rial of low-dose aspirin with an
E
arly
S
creening
T
est for preeclampsia and growth restriction randomized controlled trial was based on low-risk nulliparous women randomized at 11 weeks to (1) aspirin 75 mg; (2) no aspirin; and (3) aspirin based on the preeclampsia Fetal Medicine Foundation screening test. At baseline, women underwent assessment of blood pressure, PAPP-A, PLGF, and ACR, repeated 9 to 10 weeks postaspirin, in addition to fetal growth assessment. Gross and histopathological placental analyses were performed in line with Amsterdam criteria.

Results A total of 445 subjects were included (aspirin n = 163 [36.6%]; no aspirin n = 282 [63.4%]). Although the fetal-to-placental weight ratio was significantly greater in the aspirin group (7.5 [±1.3] vs. 7.3 [±1.4], p = 0.045), as was change in ultrasound assessed estimated fetal weight from second to third trimesters (1,624.5 g [±235.1] vs. 1,606.2 [±189.4], p = 0.042), this was invalidated by the lack of a difference in birth weight. Aspirin did not significantly impact on change in serum or urine preeclampsia biomarkers, maternal blood pressure, or placental histopathology.

Conclusion Aspirin use in low-risk pregnancy does not appear to impact on preeclampsia biomarkers, fetal growth, or placental pathology.
Current State of Neuromodulation for Constipation and Fecal Incontinence in Children: A Systematic Review
Authors: Iacona Roberta , Ramage Lisa , Malakounides Georgina
Published: January 2019

Background Neuromodulation is the application of electrical stimulation on nerve fibers to modulate the neuronal activity. Its use for chronic constipation and fecal incontinence has increased in popularity over the past few years. Invasive and noninvasive techniques are currently available. We reviewed the current literature on the application of the neuromodulation techniques in the management of chronic constipation and fecal incontinence in children.

Materials and Methods A search of Healthcare Database Advanced Search, Embase, Medline, and Cochrane database was performed in accordance with PRISMA guideline. Terms used in the search included neuromodulation, nerve stimulation, fecal/fecal incontinence, incontinence, constipation, children, and pediatric/pediatric.

Results Two-hundred forty-one papers were screened. Fourteen papers were included for the systematic review: seven were selected for the ISNM (implantable sacral nerve modulation) technique, one for the transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation), one for the transcutaneous sacral nerve modulation), and five for the transcutaneous interferential sacral nerve stimulation. Results showed an overall improvement in constipation symptoms in 79 to 85.7% of patients, resolution of symptoms in 40%, reduced use of ACE stoma/transanal irrigation system in 12.5 to 38.4%, and improvement in incontinence symptoms in 75%. High complication rate was reported (17–50%) in the ISNM group. No complications were reported in the non-invasive group.

Conclusion Neuromodulation is a promising tool in the management of constipation refractory to medical treatment and fecal incontinence in children. Noninvasive techniques provide good results with no complications. A longer term follow-up will provide more information regarding patient compliance and sustainability of benefits of these new techniques.
Residual Mild Varus Alignment and Neutral Mechanical Alignment Have Similar Outcome after Total Knee Arthroplasty for Varus Osteoarthritis in Five-Year Follow-Up
Authors: Zhang Zhiqi , Liu Can , Li Zhiwen , Wu Peihui , Hu Shu , Liao Weiming
Published: January 2019

The effect of residual varus on survival rate and function in patients with varus knee osteoarthritis (OA) was considered an important issue for successful primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). In this study, we compared the midterm clinical and functional outcomes in patients with different residual varus. A retrospective review of 175 patients (219 knees) with varus OA was > 3° for the hip-knee-ankle (HKA) who underwent primary TKA after exclusions and loss to follow-up from 237 patients (281 knees). The mean follow-up period was 5.2 ( ±  1.1) years. Patients were divided into four groups according to the first postoperative HKA angle from weight-bearing full-leg radiographs: “valgus” group (HKA angle > 0°, n = 44), “neutral” group (–3° ≤ HKA angle < 0°, n = 86), “mild varus” group (–6° ≤ HKA angle < –3°, n = 62), and “severe varus” group (HKA angle < –6°, n = 27). Survival analysis, Knee Society Score (KSS, including knee score and functional score), and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) were compared among the four groups. No knee required revision surgery during follow-up. For the KSS knee score and functional score at the last follow-up, the neutral and mild varus groups were better compared with the valgus and severe varus groups (p < 0.05), and there were no significant differences between the neutral and mild varus groups (p > 0.05). WOMAC scores of the neutral and mild varus groups were also better compared with the valgus and severe varus groups (p < 0.05), and there were no significant differences between the neutral and mild varus groups at the last follow-up. The postoperative HKA angle was significantly changed in valgus group between first and at the last follow-up when compared with the other three groups (p < 0.05). Leaving an HKA angle at < 6° varus had the same excellent functional outcome as neutral mechanical alignment after TKA for varus-type OA in the 5-year follow-up, using mechanically aligned technique. Caution is advised when leaving valgus or leaving severe varus after TKA.
Homozygous TANGO2 Single Nucleotide Variants Presenting with Additional Manifestations Resembling Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood–Expanding the Phenotype of a Recently Reported Condition
Authors: Hicks Melissa , Huq A.H.M. , Agarwal Rajkumar , Sen Kuntal
Published: January 2019

Case We report a 15-year-old Indian girl born to a consanguineous couple, who presented with epilepsy, developmental delay, neuroregression, and episodes of alternating hemiparesis. In addition, she had one episode of rhabdomyolysis at the age of 7 years. Extensive genetic and metabolic work up through the years was unrevealing. Eventually a trio whole exome sequencing (WES) revealed homozygous single nucleotide variants in TANGO2 gene.

Discussion TANGO2 related recurrent metabolic crises with encephalomyopathy and cardiac arrhythmias were described very recently and only 15 cases were reported in literature at the time of writing. Alternating hemiplegia of childhood which was seen in our patient, has not been described in previous patients with TANGO2 mutation, and thereby expands the emerging phenotypic spectrum of this novel entity. This report also reiterates the utility of WES in diagnosing newly recognized neurogenetic conditions.
Senologie 4.0 – Neue Informationstechnologien nicht nur in der Gynonkologie
Authors: Heim Dr. Thomas
Published: January 2019

Im Programm des Senologiekongresses war das Symposium als „Die digitale Welt der Medizin: Senologie 4.0 – Nutzen, Chancen & Risiken”, angekündigt. Während der von Big Data und künstlicher Intelligenz erhoffte Nutzen sehr breit dargestellt wurde, kamen die potenziellen Risiken nur am Rand vor.
Mamma- und Ovarialkarzinom
Authors: Krome Dr. Susanne
Published: January 2019

Etwa 5–20 % aller Mamma- und Ovarialkarzinome werden auf genetische Aberrationen zurückgeführt. Bei BC machen BRCA1/2-Mutationen mindestens 25 % des familiären Risikos aus. Dies führte zu der Annahme komplexerer, polygenetischer Muster. Bislang sind für Mamma- und Ovarialkarzinome insgesamt 11 Suszeptibilitätsgene charakterisiert. Die Studie mit insgesamt 15 404 Teilnehmerinnen bestätigte bekannte Befunde, ergab neue Konstellationen und stellte Risikogene in Frage.
Kann Deutschland als akademischer Player international mithalten?
Authors: Borchmann Prof. Peter
Published: January 2019

In der JULIET-Studie konnte die Effektivität der CAR-T-Zell-Therapie mit Tisagen-lecleucel bei Patienten mit diffus großzelligem B-Zell-Lymphom (DCBCL) gezeigt werden. Zum ersten Mal wurden in Deutschland DCBCL-Patienten mit der CAR-T-Zell-Strategie behandelt. Bei aller Begeisterung über die Therapieerfolge kritisiert Prof. Peter Borchmann, Universitätsklinik Köln, den Stand der europäischen Forschung bei der CAR-T-Zell-Therapie und das Fehlen klinischer Phase-III-Studien.
B-Zell-Lymphom/multiples Myelom
Authors: Krome Dr. Susanne
Published: January 2019

Die geringe Prävalenz prädisponierender Infektionen und Transplantationen als Risikofaktoren kann die Häufigkeit von B-Zell-Lymphomen (BCL) nicht allein erklären. Neuere Reviews weisen darauf hin, dass der BCL-Entwicklung eine Dysregulation des Immunsystems vorangeht. Die Autoren der EnviroGenoMarkers-Studie untersuchten daraufhin Blut proben, die Jahre vor einer Diagnose entnommen worden waren, auf eine Reihe zirkulierender Immunmarker und überprüften, ob eine Assoziation zu einer späteren Erkrankung bestand. Die BCL-Gruppe schloss auch Patienten mit multiplem Myelom ein.
Pädiatrische ALL
Authors: Krome Dr. Susanne
Published: January 2019

Behandlungsprotokolle für die akute lymphatische Leukämie (ALL) im Kindesalter schließen die Gabe hochdosierter intravenöser und intrathekaler Zytostatika ein. Im Langzeitverlauf wiesen Erkrankte neurokognitive Beeinträchtigungen auf. Der Liquor vor und während der Therapie reflektierte vorbestehende und medikamentenassoziierte Schädigungen, insbesondere bei Kindern mit genetischer Suszeptibilität.
Kolorektales Karzinom
Authors: Kretzschmar Dr. Alexander
Published: January 2019

Eine aktuelle populationsbasierte Studie einer Arbeitsgruppe vom Deutschen Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ) zeigt, dass jeder Mensch sein persönliches Darmkrebsrisiko senken kann, indem er möglichst viele von fünf gesunden Lebensweisen auf sich vereint: Nichtrauchen, geringer Alkoholkonsum, gesunde Ernährung, ausreichend körperliche Aktivität und normales Körpergewicht. Diese Erkenntnis gilt unabhängig vom genetischen Darmkrebsrisiko. Auch Personen mit leicht erhöhtem genetischem Risiko können die Erkrankungswahrscheinlichkeit durch einen gesunden Lebensstil senken.
Prostatakarzinom
Authors: Krome Dr. Susanne
Published: January 2019

Die ultraschallgesteuerte, transrektale Prostatabiopsie birgt das Risiko der Unterdiagnostik von aggressiven Prostatakarzinomen und der Überdetektion von klinisch nicht relevanten Tumoren. Alternativ steht die Multiparameter-MRT (mpMRT) für gezielte Biopsien zur Verfügung. Die internationale randomisierte Studie PRECISION (Prostate Evaluation for Clinically Important Disease: Sampling Using Image Guidance or Not?) verglich beide Methoden und zeigte Vorteile der mpMRT-gesteuerten Biopsie.
Malignes Melanom
Authors: Krome Dr. Susanne
Published: January 2019

Mindestens jeder dritte Patient mit einem fortgeschrittenen malignen Melanom hat bereits bei der Erstdiagnose Hirnmetastasen. Damit assoziiert sind funktionelle Beeinträchtigungen, eine geringere Lebensqualität und ein verkürztes Überleben. Die Studie CheckMate204 zeigt, dass eine Behandlung mit den beiden Checkpointinhibitoren Nivolumab plus Ipilimumab auch zentral wirksam ist und zu dauerhaften Remissionen führten.
The Role of Endonasal Endoscopic Optic Nerve Decompression as the Initial Management of Primary Optic Nerve Sheath Meningiomas
Authors: Maza Guillermo , Subramaniam Somasundaram , Yanez-Siller Juan C. , Otto Bradley A. , Prevedello Daniel M. , Carrau Ricardo L.
Published: January 2019

Background The management of optic nerve sheath meningiomas (ONSMs) remains controversial. Surgical decompression through traditional resective techniques has been associated with significant morbidity. While radiation therapy, the current modality of choice is not exempt of risks.

Transnasal endoscopic optic nerve decompression (EOND) offers a direct route to the orbit, optic canal, and orbital apex, providing a minimally invasive alternative.

Objective The main objective of this article is to assess EOND as the initial management of symptomatic patients with primary ONSM.

Methods Patients with ONSMs without a history of radiotherapy who underwent EOND were retrospectively reviewed. Postoperative imaging, duration of follow-up, and visual outcomes at the last ophthalmology visit were assessed.

Results Four women (age range 25–63 years) with primary ONSMs that underwent EOND were identified. All patients displayed subjective and objective baseline signs of vision loss. Additionally, baseline proptosis, diplopia, optic nerve atrophy, and ocular pain were identified. In none of the cases, the optic nerve sheath was breached.

Following EOND, all patients deferred treatment with adjuvant radiotherapy. At a mean postoperative follow-up of 14 months, all patients were clinically stable without evidence of disease progression on imaging or physical examination. At last ophthalmologic evaluation, three out of four showed objective improvements from baseline visual acuity and visual field (remaining patient had baseline optic nerve atrophy).

Conclusion These results suggest that EOND could be a viable initial treatment modality of selected primary ONSM cases. Further studies are warranted to determine long-term efficacy and its role in a stepwise progression of management, preceding radiotherapy.
Improving housing and neighborhoods for the vulnerable: older people, small households, urban design, and planning
Authors: Forsyth Ann , Molinsky Jennifer , Kan Har Ye
Published: January 2019

The number of older people who need help with daily tasks will increase during the next century. Currently preferences and policies aim to help older people to stay in their existing homes, to age in place, even as they become less able to care for themselves and, increasingly, live alone. However, the majority of homes in the U.S. and many other countries are not designed to support advanced old age or are not located to easily provide support and services. The paper explores the needs of older people experiencing frailty. It examines the existing range of innovations to make neighbourhoods and homes more supportive, physically, socially, and in terms of services. These include: enriching neighbourhoods, providing collective services, building all-age neighbourhoods, creating purpose-built supportive housing, developing smallscale intergenerational models, and engaging mobility, delivery, and communications innovations. Some will allow people to remain in their current dwelling but others focus on people remaining in a local community. Few are widely available at present. Urban designers can more fully engage with the multiple challenges of those who have physical, sensory, and cognitive impairments and living in solo households by becoming champions for a more comprehensive set of public realm improvements and linkages.
Structural dynamics of LaVO3 on the nanosecond time scale
Authors: Brahlek Matthew , Stoica Vladimir A. , Lapano Jason , Zhang Lei , Akamatsu Hirofumi , Tung I-Cheng , Gopalan Venkatraman , Walko Donald A. , Wen Haidan , Freeland John W. , Engel-Herbert Roman
Published: January 2019

Due to the strong dependence of electronic properties on the local bonding environment, a full characterization of the structural dynamics in ultrafast experiments is critical. Here, we report the dynamics and structural refinement at nanosecond time scales of a perovskite thin film by combining optical excitation with time-resolved X-ray diffraction. This is achieved by monitoring the temporal response of both integer and half-integer diffraction peaks of LaVO3 in response to an above-band-gap 800 nm pump pulse. We find that the lattice expands by 0.1% out of plane, and the relaxation is characterized by a biexponential decay with 2 and 12 ns time scales. We analyze the relative intensity change in half-integer peaks and show that the distortions to the substructure are small: the oxygen octahedral rotation angles decrease by ∼0.3° and La displacements decrease by ∼0.2 pm, which directly corresponds to an ∼0.8° increase in the V-O-V bond-angles, an in-plane V-O bond length reduction of ∼0.3 pm, and an unchanged out-of-plane bond length. This demonstration of tracking the atomic positions in a pump-probe experiment provides experimentally accessible values for structural and electronic tunability in this class of materials and will stimulate future experiments.
Crowding effects of nanoparticles on energy absorption in solar absorption coatings
Authors: Zhong Jinxin , Huang Congliang
Published: January 2019

Metallic nanoparticles with large photo-thermal conversion capabilities have significant implications for solar absorption coatings. In this work, we develop a calculation model to analyze crowding effects on energy absorption, including effects of nanoparticle radius, size distribution, interparticle spacing, and spatial distributions in a plane. There is an optimal nanoparticle radius that maximizes energy absorption, which is different for different media, for example, 45 nm for air and 30 nm for water. For regular distributions of nanoparticles in a plane, a hexagonal lattice with an interparticle distance of about 315 nm is optimal for solar-thermal conversion. We expect these results to be useful for designing solar absorption coatings with high photo-thermal conversion efficiencies.
X-point ion orbit physics in scrape-off layer and generation of a localized electrostatic potential perturbation around X-point
Authors: Chang C. S. , Ku S. , Churchill R. M.
Published: January 2019

It has been well known that the logarithmically vanishing poloidal magnetic field strength Bθ near the magnetic X-point in a tokamak plasma yields the so-called ion X-loss or X-transport of ions when the ion temperature is high enough [Chang et al., Phys. Plasmas 9, 3884 (2002)], which has a notable impact on the physics just inside the magnetic separatrix surface, e.g., most prominently, to force a well-like structure in the global negative radial electric field and hence a pressure pedestal buildup. In this brief communication, we show that a similar effect exists in the scrape-off (SOL) layer near the X-point that can create a localized electrostatic potential structure around the X-point and have a significant impact on the near-SOL physics.
Barriers to and facilitators of health services utilisation by refugees in resettlement countries: an overview of systematic reviews
Authors: Parajuli Jamuna , Horey Dell
Published: January 2019

Objective
The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the previously reviewed research literature to identify barriers and facilitators to health service utilisation by refugees in resettlement countries.

Methods
An overview of systematic reviews was conducted. Seven electronic databases (Medline, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsycINFO, ProQuest Central, Scopus, EBSCO and Google Scholar) were searched for systematic reviews of barriers and facilitators to health-seeking behaviour and utilisation of health services by refugees following resettlement. The two authors independently undertook data selection, data extraction and quality assessment using a validated tool.

Results
Nine systematic reviews covered a range of study areas and refugee populations. Barriers to health service utilisation fell into three broad areas: (1) issues related to refugees, including refugee characteristics, sociocultural factors and the effects of previous experiences; (2) issues related to health services, including practice issues and the knowledge and skills of health professionals; and (3) issues related to the resettlement context, including policies and practical issues. Few facilitators were identified or evaluated, but these included approaches to care, health service responses and behaviours of health professionals.

Conclusions
Barriers to accessing health care include refugee characteristics, practice issues in health services, including the knowledge and skills of health professionals, and the resettlement context. Health services need to identify barriers to culturally sensitive care. Improvements in service delivery are needed that meet the needs of refugees. More research is needed to evaluate facilitators to improving health care accessibility for these vulnerable groups.

What is known about the topic?
Refugee health after resettlement is poor, yet health service use is low.

What does this paper add?
Barriers to accessing health services in resettlement countries are related not only to refugees, but also to issues regarding health service practices and health professionals’ knowledge and skill, as well as the context of resettlement. Few facilitators to improving refugee access to health services have been identified.

What are the implications for practitioners?
The barriers associated with health professionals and health services have been linked to trust building, and these need to be addressed to improve accessibility of care for refugees.
Importance of tussocks in supporting plant diversity in Carex schmidtii Meinsh. wetlands
Authors: Wang Ming , Wang Shengzhong , Wang Guodong , Jiang Ming
Published: January 2019

Tussocks created by Carex schmidtii in sedge meadows may be able to support biodiversity because of their structural complexity. Concerns about diversity loss and the potential to restore species-rich tussocks led us to investigate how tussocks foster high species richness and affect composition. We investigated vegetation in paired plots on and between tussocks of C. schmidtii, and measured environmental factors on and between tussocks. In all, 79 taxa were found in the sedge meadows. Species richness was higher on rather than between tussocks. During the growing season, the tops of tussocks were above the water level, whereas the area between tussocks was flooded. Soil temperature, organic carbon, soil total P and litter depth were higher on rather than between tussocks. Soil water content and soil total N were lower on than between tussocks. Species richness on tussocks increased with increasing tussock basal area, height and surface area. Based on canonical correspondence analysis, plant composition was mostly related to field water depth, organic carbon and tussock basal area. We conclude that tussocks enhance species richness by increasing surface area, and support a diversity of co-occurring species by creating at least two distinct microhabitats.
Why is the effect of live fuel moisture content on fire rate of spread underestimated in field experiments in shrublands?
Authors: Pimont F. , Ruffault J. , Martin-StPaul N. K. , Dupuy J.-L.
Published: January 2019

Live fuel moisture content (LFMC) influences fire activity at landscape scale and fire behaviour in laboratory experiments. However, field evidence linking LFMC to fire behaviour are very limited, despite numerous field experiments. In this study, we reanalyse a shrubland fire dataset with a special focus on LFMC to investigate this counterintuitive outcome. We found that this controversy might result from three causes. First, the range of experimental LFMC data was too moist to reveal a significant effect with the widespread exponential or power functions. Indeed, LFMC exhibited a strong effect below 100%, but marginal above this threshold, contrary to these functions. Second, we found that the LFMC significance was unlikely when the number of fire experiments was smaller than 40. Finally, an analysis suggested that 10 to 15% measurement error – arising from the estimation of environmental variables from field measurements – could lead to an underestimation by 30% of the LFMC effect. The LFMC effect in field experiments is thus stronger than previously reported in the range of LFMC occurring during the French fire season and in accordance with observations at different scales. This highlights the need to improve our understanding of the relationship between LFMC and fire behaviour to refine fire-danger predictions.
Homogeneous electrocatalytic oxidation of ammonia to N
2
under mild conditions
Authors: Habibzadeh Faezeh , Miller Susanne L. , Hamann Thomas W. , Smith Milton R.
Published: January 2019

Significance

Water oxidation fixes carbon dioxide producing ∼100 gigatons (GT) of carbohydrates annually. Living organisms convert the stored chemical energy back to carbon dioxide and water through respiration. An analogous cycle can be envisioned whereby hydrogen gas is stored as ammonia, synthesized from atmospherically ubiquitous dinitrogen. Biological and industrial reduction of dinitrogen is currently estimated to produce 0.3–0.5 GT of ammonia annually. An important reaction in such a proposed nitrogen-based hydrogen storage and distribution scheme is the oxidation of ammonia back to dinitrogen and the protons and electrons that regenerate hydrogen gas. While inorganic materials can oxidize ammonia to dinitrogen, protons, and electrons, no molecular species are known to catalyze this reaction.
Whole-chromosome paints in maize reveal rearrangements, nuclear domains, and chromosomal relationships
Authors: Albert Patrice S. , Zhang Tao , Semrau Kassandra , Rouillard Jean-Marie , Kao Yu-Hsin , Wang Chung-Ju Rachel , Danilova Tatiana V. , Jiang Jiming , Birchler James A.
Published: January 2019

Significance

Whole-chromosome oligo-FISH paints using synthetic oligonucleotide libraries that can be amplified and labeled were generated for all 10 chromosomes of maize, facilitating chromosome studies with high sensitivity and specificity for genetically diverse lines. Applications include visualization of simple or complex chromosomal aberrations, establishment of chromosomal domains, illustration of mitotic and meiotic behavior, and providing insights into chromosomal relationships.
More or less “translation”
Authors: Kothari Rita , Shah Krupa
Published: January 2019

This essay aims to theorise the present moment of translation in India without losing sight of its historical and contemporary understandings. It traces in the pre-modern moment, a range of linguistic negotiations to destabilise a theory of an absence of translation and dwells on perceptions of linguistic difference to show what ‘translation’ meant in pre-modern India. We demonstrate subsequently how colonial technologies produce the institution of language through translation, and also how translation rests upon the institutions of languages. We argue that ‘translation’ as a term and as a concept of text-to-text/written transference of meaning is a nineteenth century phenomenon dating back to the colonial period. Furthermore, in the postcolonial moment that saw the use of translation in the service of regional and national identities, we also examine the complex relationship between English and the ‘modern Indian languages’ that has given rise to new creolised idioms.
Translation traditions in Angola
Authors: Halme-Berneking Riikka
Published: January 2019

Little has been published about translation activity in Angola that addresses such questions as translation by whom, for whom, how and for what purpose. This report offers a brief overview of translation traditions in Angola and current challenges in Angolan translation activities. Any discussion of translation in Angola cannot be separated from issues of language policies. For centuries, the interaction among the languages spoken in Angola, including Umbundu, Kimbundu, Kikongo and Portuguese, just to name a few, has reflected the social and political imbalance between the speakers of the different languages. For example, translation has been used both to control and to enhance the use of local languages.

Whereas most of the translation activity in Angola has been oral, there is an increasing need and interest for written translations. Translation activity is also expanding beyond its primary venue in the church and commerce to include government, education and arts.
The Greek-speaking tradition
Authors: Grammenidis Simos , Floros Georgios
Published: January 2019

The report on the Greek-speaking tradition focuses on the geographical area occupied by Greece and Cyprus. The Greek-speaking area has been practicing both intralingual and interlingual translation, with the former type enjoying much higher a prestige than the latter. Certain language policies and regimes, all rooted in historical developments, can be said to have influenced the translation policies followed. As regards literary genres and theatre, the policy has moved from a rather domesticating, self-reaffirming practice towards a more extrovert, foreignizing practice in recent years. As for other genres, such as media and legal translation, the policy tends to remain rather introvert; i.e. reaffirming the ethnic and state identity of the Greek-speaking area. As regards research on translation, “westernization” seems to have taken place in the way Greek-speaking scholars reflect on translation. This report also attempts to provide possible reasons for the conceptualization shifts that have occurred in the Greek-speaking tradition.
The representation of citizens and monarchy in Acts of Parliament in 1800 to 2000
Authors: Lehto Anu
Published: January 2019

This chapter considers the representation of citizens and the British monarchy in Acts of Parliament from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in the Corpus of Late Modern English Statutes. The analysis investigates collocates associated with those two social groups and traces their semantic preferences and semantic prosodies. The portrayals of the groups are related to developments in the socio-historical context and legislation. The study suggests that the acts form notably dissimilar representations of the monarchy and citizens. The Crown is generally addressed in a respectful manner. The role of the citizens, by contrast, improves considerably in the data: the nineteenth-century acts focus on the criminal actions of the citizens, while their rights are emphasised in the following century.
Biofortification of meat with vitamin D.
Authors: Duffy S. K. , Kelly A. K. , Rajauria Gaurav , O'Doherty J. V.
Published: January 2019

Vitamin D deficiency in humans is a major health concern and is very much to the forefront of public health policy, particularly in Europe and northern latitudes where sufficient synthesis of vitamin D through sunlight is limited. Therefore, increased importance of dietary vitamin D intake now applies to these problematic areas. Food sources containing natural vitamin D are limiting and traditional measures such as supplements and exogenous fortification are not effective at a population level as general intakes are low and will only meet the needs of those who consume. Therefore, there is a demand for more effective food-based strategic approaches to increase vitamin D intakes, one of which is biofortification of animal feeds to produce a much wider range of sustainable natural vitamin D-enriched foods. Meat is among the few foods that contain natural occurring vitamin D, which makes it an excellent target food for biofortification. Additionally, meat contains the 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D) metabolite, which has been shown to have a quicker absorption and is subsequently more effective at raising serum 25-OH-D in humans in comparison with other vitamin D metabolites. This review will discuss the development of vitamin D bio-fortification of animal diets with different vitamin D sources and their potential to produce vitamin D enriched meat including beef and pork meat. Biofortification of meat could contribute up to 25% of individuals estimated average requirement of vitamin D. Additionally, it will also discuss how vitamin D biofortification of animal diets improves product quality.
Schistosoma nasale
Rao, 1933 (Trematoda: Schistosomatidae) causative agent of nasal schistosomiasis of animals in the Indian subcontinent - an overview.
Authors: Basu A. K. , Bhattacharyya Debaraj
Published: January 2019

Schistosoma nasale
is a digenetic trematode found in the blood vessels of the nasal mucosa of cattle and buffaloes. This snail-borne parasite is the cause of nasal schistosomiasis which has been recorded from the majority of the provinces and the neighbouring countries of India. The disease is commonly known as 'snoring disease' or nasal granuloma of cattle. Cattle inflicted with this disease present with nodules, cauliflower-like growths in the nasal cavity with a mucopurulent discharge, dyspnoea and usually had snoring sound on respiration. The main focus of this review is prevalence of
S. nasale
and its life cycle and treatment methods.
Entomopathogenic nematodes as biocontrol agents of insect pests in orchards.
Authors: Belien T.
Published: January 2019

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are increasingly being used as biological control of insect pests due to their successful biocontrol activity against various economically important insect pests. Despite the growing success of EPNs, their effective use in orchards remains rather scarce. The principal limiting factors for the practical implementation of EPNs in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programmes in orchards are their reduced control activity and persistence due to low-temperature regimes and desiccation, in particularly when applied against aboveground pest stages. However, recent advances in formulation technology, application strategy (with emphasis on improved persistence of the applied EPNs) and gradually acquired knowledge on optimal implementation strategies already have extended - and in the future most likely will further expand - the practical adoption of EPNs in pest management programmes in orchards. A successful implementation of EPNs in orchards requires that their usage fits into an IPM strategy. Interactions between EPNs and other biological or chemical control agents can be synergistic, additive or antagonistic, depending on the specific chemical and biological agents, as well as their rates and timing and host species. In this article, the most important aspects and features of EPN applications in orchards are reviewed.
Comparing node degrees in probabilistic networks
Authors: Kaveh Amin , Magnani Matteo , Rohner Christian
Published: January 2019

Degree is a fundamental property of nodes in networks. However, computing the degree distribution of nodes in probabilistic networks is an expensive task for large networks. To overcome this difficulty, expected degree is commonly utilized in the literature. However, in this article, we show that in some cases expected degree does not allow us to evaluate the probability of two nodes having the same degree or one node having higher degree than another. This suggests that expected degree in probabilistic networks does not completely play the same role as degree in deterministic networks. For each node, we define a reference node with the same expected degree but the least possible variance, corresponding to the least uncertain degree distribution. Then, we show how the probability of a node’s degree being higher or equal to the degree of its reference node can be approximated by using variance and skewness of the degree distribution in addition to expected degree. Experimental results on a real dataset show that our approximation functions produce accurate probability estimations in linear computational complexity, while computing exact probabilities is polynomial with order of 3.
Identifying and using driver nodes in temporal networks
Authors: Ravandi Babak , Mili Fatma , Springer John A
Published: January 2019

In many approaches developed for defining complex networks, the main assumption is that the network is in a relatively stable state that can be approximated with a fixed topology. However, in several applications, this approximation is not adequate because (a) the system modelled is dynamic by nature, and (b) the changes are an essential characteristic that cannot be approximated. Temporal networks capture changes in the topology of networks by including the temporal information associated with their structural connections, that is, links or edges. Here, we focus on controllability of temporal networks, that is, the study of steering the state of a network to any desired state at deadline $t_f$ within $\Delta t=t_f - t_0$ steps through stimulating key nodes called driver nodes. Recent studies provided analytical approaches to find a maximum controllable subspace for an arbitrary set of driver nodes. However, finding the minimum number of driver nodes $N_c$ required to reach full control is computationally prohibitive. In this article, we propose a heuristic algorithm that quickly finds a suboptimal set of driver nodes with size $N_s \geq N_c$. We conduct experiments on synthetic and real-world temporal networks induced from ant colonies and e-mail communications of a manufacturing company. The empirical results in both cases show the heuristic algorithm efficiently identifies a small set of driver nodes that can fully control the networks. Also, as shown in the case of ants’ interactions networks, the driver nodes tend to have a large degree in temporal networks. Furthermore, we analyze the behavior of driver nodes within the context of their datasets, through which, we observe that queen ants tend to avoid becoming a driver node.
Preoperative serum lactate dehydrogenase level as a predictor of major complications following thoracoscopic lobectomy: a propensity-adjusted analysis
Authors: Zhang Ruoyu , Kyriss Thomas , Dippon Jürgen , Boedeker Enole , Friedel Godehard
Published: January 2019

OBJECTIVES

Despite the positive effects of a thoracoscopic approach on improving postoperative outcomes, the risk of major complications following thoracoscopic lobectomy is not negligible. We sought to assess the usefulness of the preoperative determination of serum biomarkers to refine risk stratification in this patient population.

METHODS

From 2009 to 2017, 626 patients (285 women, 341 men; median age: 67 years) underwent thoracoscopic lobectomy or anatomical segmentectomy for confirmed or suspected early-stage lung cancer or metastasis at our institution. Preoperative serum biomarkers, including albumin, C-reactive protein, haemoglobin and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), were examined as predictors of postoperative cardiopulmonary complications using logistic regression analyses followed by causal inference.

RESULTS

The 90-day mortality, cardiopulmonary complication and overall morbidity rates were 1.0%, 13.1% and 18.1%, respectively. Although serum albumin, C-reactive protein and haemoglobin were not associated with cardiopulmonary complications in regression analyses, preoperative serum LDH level emerged as an independent morbidity predictor (odds ratio 1.008, 95% confidence interval 1.002–1.013; P = 0.006). The causal inference using the covariate balancing generalized propensity score methodology demonstrated similar results and an approximately positive linear relationship between the odds of cardiopulmonary complications and preoperative serum LDH level. For every 100 U/l increase in preoperative serum LDH, a 2-fold increase in the odds of cardiopulmonary complications was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that the preoperative serum LDH level is an independent predictor of 90-day cardiopulmonary complications following thoracoscopic lobectomy or segmentectomy, even in properly selected patients. Therefore, we recommend incorporating early serum LDH measurements as a readily available method into the risk assessment process prior to major lung resection.
Parental Holocaust Exposure, Related PTSD Symptoms and Subjective Aging Across the Generations
Authors: Shrira Amit
Published: January 2019

Objectives

Traumatic exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are related to less favorable perceptions of aging. The current study examined parental PTSD and perceptions of aging among old Holocaust survivor (HS) parents and their middle-aged offspring.

Method

Parents (mean age = 81.79) and their offspring (mean age = 55.41) reported PTSD symptoms, attitudes toward aging and subjective age. Offspring also rated how they perceive both their parents’ aging and subjective age. Dyads were divided into three groups: HS with probable PTSD (n = 21 dyads), HS without probable PTSD (n = 65 dyads), and comparison parents without probable PTSD (n = 57 dyads).

Results

Relative to parents and offspring from other groups, HS parents with probable PTSD and their offspring had both less favorable attitudes toward their own aging as well as reporting feeling older. Offspring of posttraumatic HS also held less favorable attitudes toward parents’ aging and perceived their own parents as being older. Serial mediation models showed that the effect of parental PTSD on offspring’s subjective aging was serially mediated by parental subjective aging and offspring’s perception of parents’ aging.

Discussion

The study provides the first evidence that posttraumatic distress is related to less favorable perceptions of aging across generations in HS families. Possible mechanisms for such intergenerational effect and the implication for interventions are discussed.
5. Long Waves and Conjunctures of Democratization
Authors: Berg-Schlosser Dirk
Published: January 2019

This chapter focuses on the history of democratization since the late eighteenth century. It introduces the concepts of ‘waves’ (trends) and ‘conjunctures’ (briefer turmoils) and delineates the major developments in this respect. In this way, the major long-term and short-term factors leading to the emergence and breakdowns of democracies are also highlighted. The first long wave occurred during the period 1776–1914, followed by the first positive conjuncture in 1918–19, the second long wave (with some intermittent turbulences) in 1945–88, and the latest conjuncture in 1989–90. The chapter identifies the main ingredients to democratization throughout history, namely: republicanism, representation, and political equality. It concludes by considering some of the current perspectives and dangers for the future of democracy.
8. The Political Economy of Democracy
Authors: Bernhagen Patrick
Published: January 2019

This chapter examines the relationship between democratization and the economy. It first provides an historical overview of the emergence of capitalist democracy before discussing some general problems of the relationship between democracy and capitalism, highlighting the main areas in which the two systems condition each other. It then considers the role of business in democratizing countries, and more specifically the role of business actors in the transition to democracy. It also explores the intricacies of combining major political and economic reforms. Some key points are emphasized; for example, capitalism focuses on property rights while democracy focuses on personal rights. Furthermore, capitalism produces inequality, which can both stimulate and hamper democratization.
10. Gender and Democratization
Authors: Paxton Pamela , Velasco Kristopher
Published: January 2019

This chapter examines the role of gender in democracy and democratization. It first considers how gender figures in definitions of democracy, noting that while women may appear to be included in definitions of democracy, they are often not included in practice. It then explores women’s democratic representation, making a distinction between formal, descriptive, and substantive representation. Women’s formal political representation is highlighted by focusing on the fight for women’s suffrage, whereas women’s descriptive representation is illustrated with detailed information on women’s political participation around the world. Finally, the chapter discusses the role of women in recent democratization movements around the world.
11. Social Capital and Civil Society
Authors: Letki Natalia
Published: January 2019

This chapter examines the role of civil society and social capital in democratization processes. It begins by reconstructing the definitions of civil society and social capital in the context of political change, followed by an analysis of the ways in which civil society and social capital are functional for the initiation and consolidation of democracies. It then considers the relationship between civil society and attitudes of trust and reciprocity, the function of networks and associations in democratization, paradoxes of civil society and social capital in new democracies, and the main arguments cast against the idea that civic activism and attitudes are a necessary precondition for a modern democracy. The chapter argues that civil society and social capital and their relation to political and economic institutions are context specific.
17. Social Media
Authors: Diamond Larry , Whittington Zak
Published: January 2019

This chapter examines the role of social media in processes of democratization. Facilitating rapid and decentralized communication among a wide range of actors, social media have played a particularly potent role in the past decade in facilitating the mobilization of protest against authoritarian regimes, the exposure of corruption and human rights abuses, and the monitoring of elections to expose electoral fraud. The chapter explores how social media have provided new tools for challenging dominant parties. It also looks at the ways in which authoritarian regimes censor and suppress access to these tools, while appropriating them for their own purposes of propaganda and control.