bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Association between Fever and Prognosis in Lung Cancer Patients with Bone Metastases Receiving Zoledronic Acid
Authors: Sunaga Tomiko , Shimamoto Kazushi , Nakamura Shoko , Takahashi Noriko , Higashino Mayumi , Hozumi Tomomi , Matsui Mitsuki , Nagatani Akiko , Kokubu Fumio , Kogo Mari , Sasaki Tadanori
Published: June 2017

Zoledronic acid is an established agent used in the management of metastatic bone disease. The administration of zoledronic acid improves overall survival (OS) of lung cancer patients with bone metastases receiving chemotherapy. However, it is currently unknown whether zoledronic acid-induced fever is associated with OS. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between zoledronic acid-induced fever and prognosis in lung cancer patients with bone metastases. We retrospectively analyzed 98 lung cancer patients with bone metastases who had received zoledronic acid. The end point outcome measure was OS. Multivariate analyses were used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) for OS due to fever after adjusting for covariates. In multivariate analysis, white blood cell (WBC) count, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, fever, chemotherapy, and hypercalcemia were independent prognostic factors, with HRs of 2.834 for WBC count (<10 × 103/μL vs. ≥10 × 103/μL, p < 0.001), 3.044 for LDH level (<250 vs. ≥250 IU/L, p < 0.001), 0.603 for fever (<37.0 vs. ≥37.0°C, p = 0.039), 0.481 for chemotherapy (chemotherapy not administered vs. administered, p = 0.006), and 2.453 for hypercalcemia (<11.0 vs. ≥11.0 mg/dL, p = 0.001). Zoledronic acid-induced fever was the most important prognostic factor in this cohort of lung cancer patients with bone metastases.
Authenticity of materials and foreign language teaching
Authors: Silva Mariana Kuntz de Andrade e
Published: June 2017

This article aims to revisit the discussion about the concept of authenticity in the teaching of foreign languages by authors of great relevance in German and English, as well as in Brazil, emphasizing the role of authenticity of materials. The German-speaking authors researched defend a conception of authenticity of materials related to text genres, which also covers texts adapted for teaching. The English-speaking authors, on the other hand, problematize the overestimation of authenticity of materials in the teaching, and interpret the concept of authenticity more broadly, calling authentic also the interactions between the learners, the context of the classroom, etc. In Brazil, there was a strong influence of the Englishspeaking authors, however, research that addresses the use of authentic materials continues to be published. In this way, we can perceive the coexistence of different views of authenticity, including of materials, which may have contributed to the reduced number of authentic texts in textbooks of German as a foreign language. Taking into account that the authentic / nonauthentic dichotomy does not adequately cover the texts found in current textbooks, we propose a more gradual typology (based on BROWN and MENASCHE, 2010) for a more detailed analysis of these materials
Karl May: Authorialand textual staging
Authors: Korfmann Michael , Meneguzzo Raquel
Published: June 2017

This article aims to reassess the work and life of Karl May, one of the most successful German-language writers, from the aspect of staging. It shows how May mixes memories of childhood and literary elements, the desired and the factual, for a staged memory that would provide a deeper meaning for both his biography and his work. Thus, May recreated himself as an ideal man who, in his novels, can overcome his problems with reality, a multifaceted "I" represented by his various literary characters and his adventures, claimed by May as his own experiences. If the intersections of fictional and personal identity created by Karl May mark the first phase of his production and its narrative is structured around the motives of imprisonment and liberation, his late work abstracts from such elements and is directed toward a quasi-philosophical reflection on humanity and peace
Sub-State Diplomacy: Catalonia’s External Action Amidst the Quest for State Sovereignty
Authors: Segura Caterina García
Published: June 2017

The Spanish self-governing regions’ international actions date back as far as the 1980s. Together with the Basque Country, Catalonia is the Spanish self-governing region with the most active trajectory of international action. Catalan international action, which is a pioneer in the Spanish context, came to be slowly but progressively accepted as a normalized form of conduct by the Spanish state, as was the international action of other Spanish self-governing regions. Nevertheless, this normalization did not eliminate conflict, which continued to surface, though sporadically and without representing significant problems. However, things appear to have changed recently. Since 2012, Catalonia has been immersed in the process of independence or national transition. In this context, the Catalan Government’s international action has taken new directions and created new instruments. For the first time in the history of Catalonia’s international action, we witness clear signs of protodiplomacy.
Revision of the Belostoma dentatum group sensu Nieser (Insecta, Heteroptera, Belostomatidae)
Authors: RIBEIRO JOSÉ RICARDO INACIO , ESTÉVEZ ANA LIA , MOREIRA FELIPE FERRAZ FIGUEIREDO , GUILBERT ERIC
Published: June 2017

Species of Belostoma in the dentatum and subspinosum groups are large and closely related, and have been combined by some authors into a single group, the dentatum group, comprising 15 species. This group is recognized by the scutellum reaching the nodal line and the ventral diverticulum of the phallus with distinct dorsal caudal and ventroapical protuberances. Previously, each group included five and 10 species, respectively; members of the dentatum group ranged in length from 38.0 to 52.0 mm, whereas those of the subspinosum group ranged from 26.0 to 40.0 mm. The following species of the dentatum group, now reformulated, include: Belostoma anurum (Herrich-Schäffer), B. asiaticum (Mayr), B. bordoni De Carlo, B. cummingsi De Carlo, B. columbiae Lauck, B. dallasi De Carlo, B. dentatum (Mayr), B. elongatum Montandon, B. ellipticum Latreille, B. foveolatum (Mayr), B. guianae Lauck, B. harrisi Lauck, B. malkini Lauck, B. porteri De Carlo, B. pseudoguianae Roback & Nieser, B. subspinosum Palisot de Beauvois, and B. venezuelae Lauck. Belostoma bordoni is herein included in the dentatum group based on male genitalic morphology, and the subspecies B. subspinosum subpinosum (Palisot de Beauvois) and B. subspinosum cupreomicans (Stål) are synonymized as a single valid species, B. subspinosum. Belostoma peruvianum De Carlo is synonymized with B. dentatum. Based on the study of male genitalic characteristics, B. cachoeirinhensis Lanzer-de-Souza appears to be conspecific with B. cummingsi; however, because we could not borrow types of B. cachoeirinhensis, we do not synonymize it. Sketches of specimens identified either as B. boscii (Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau & Serville) or B. anurum by A.L. Montandon from Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle are provided with comments in order to show the variation of male genitalia through the B. subspinosum complex. Our findings suggest that the dorsal arms of the phallotheca curved apically to be diagnostic of this complex. No firm conclusion is possible because of the great variation in the male genitalia; however, the general aspect of the ventroapical protuberance together with the dorsal arms provide some definition of B. subspinosum. A key to these species is also given, deeply modified after D.R. Lauck and N. Nieser.
On mysterious occurrence of butterflies in the genus Delias at Jinmen Islands, with clarification on the nomenclature of D. pasithoe (Linnaeus, 1767) and D. acalis (Godart, 1819) in southern China
Authors: HSU YU-FENG , HUANG HANG-CHI , LU CHEN-CHIH
Published: June 2017

In recent years, a considerable number of pierid butterflies of the genus Delias have been found from Jinmen Islands, where no available hostplants grow, rendering a proof of cross sea water migration of these butterflies. It is suggested here that these butterflies come from nearby continent of eastern China, visiting the islands for nectar acquisition in seasons when nectar is in short supply because they mostly show up in autumn months. Samples obtained during the survey contained two species, namely Delias pasithoe (Linnaeus, 1767) and Delias acalis (Godart, 1819). Subspecific names applied to both species in eastern China appear to involve nomenclatural problems, with erroneous usage in recent literature.
The Neotropical species of the predaceous midge genus Austrohelea Wirth & Grogan (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)
Authors: RONDEROS MARIA M. , SPINELLI GUSTAVO R. , GROGAN WILLLIAM L., JR.
Published: June 2017

Two new Neotropical species of the predaceous midge genus Austrohelea Wirth & Grogan, A. sirii n. sp. and A. spinosa n. sp., and the previously known A. shannoni (Wirth & Blanton) are described, illustrated and photomicrographs provided of male and female specimens collected from several localities in Argentine and Chilean Patagonia. The similarities and differences between the three Neotropical species are discussed, and a key is provided of the males and females of these three species. The distribution of A. shannoni is extended to the southernmost region of South America.
Clients and carers perception of mental illness and factors that influence help-seeking: Where they go first and why
Authors: Chilale Harris K , Silungwe Ndumanene Devlin , Gondwe Saulos , Masulani-Mwale Charles
Published: June 2017

Objective:

In Northern Malawi, the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) is longer than that in high-income countries. The reasons for the delay in help-seeking are not known, although studies show multiple reasons. This research was conducted to establish health care help-seeking behaviours and identify barriers that exist between service users and health care providers. The study also intended to establish the beliefs that clients and family members have regarding the causes of mental illness which profoundly shape help-seeking, care giving process and outcomes.

Methodology:

The study employed the exploratory phenomenological method, utilizing focus group discussions (FGDs) in the sampled population. The Health Belief Model and Disease Explanatory Models were conveniently chosen a priori by researchers to develop guide questions to explore clients’ and carers’ perceptions of the illness and their health care help-seeking behaviours.

Results:

Results show a bio-psycho-social inclination of disease causation and help-seeking behaviour. Causes of mental illness are understood in three categories, namely: physical/biological, psychological and socio-cultural. The majority of participants attributed mental illness to socio-cultural factors, with witchcraft, spirit possession and curses as main determinants. Causal perceptions also influenced help-seeking pathways. Many participants reported consulting traditional healers first, for diagnosis and to know who was responsible.

Conclusion:

In this study, it has been found that help-seeking is influenced by the understanding of the source of the illness – which has a bio-psychosocial inclination. The socio-cultural explanation of witchcraft and spirit possession is dominant and a determinant of help-seeking behaviour. While participants noted benefits to hospital treatment, barriers and bio-psychosocial in nature were also noted. Guardians and not clients hold the key to choice of treatment modality and therefore a potential ally in all treatment interventions promotive, preventive and curative. There is need for strengthening of a bio-psychosocial intervention model in the treatment of mental illness.
Social class and mental distress in Greek urban communities during the period of economic recession
Authors: Zissi Anastasia , Stalidis George
Published: June 2017

Background:

This study draws on old and well-established evidence that economic change, and especially recession, affects people’s lives, behavior and mental health. Even though the literature is rich on the relationship between unemployment and mental distress, there is a renewed research interest on the link between socio-economic inequalities and psychological health.

Aims:

The study investigates the relationship of social class with mental distress during the hard times of persistent and severe economic crisis in Greece by conducting a comparative, community study in the country’s second largest city, Thessaloniki.

Method:

A face-to-face structured interview covering living conditions, life events, chronic stressors and coping strategies was employed to 300 residents of socio-economically contrasting neighborhood areas. Social class was operationalized by Erik Olin Wright’s social class position typology, based on ownership and control over productive assets. The method of multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) was also applied to analyze the collected data.

Results:

The results indicated that mental distress was significantly differentiated across social classes and in each residential area. Unemployed and unskilled workers were the most vulnerable groups in terms of psychological health. Chronic stress arose in this study as a risk factor for poor mental health outcomes and it was associated to low marital quality, intense economic burden and impoverished housing conditions.

Conclusion:

Those who face income loss, job loss and disability are at high risk for poverty and marginalization, suffering from greater psychological distress.
Indigenous cultural and social work practices creating inequalities among foster care adolescents in decision-making processes
Authors: Schiller Ulene , de Wet Gideon
Published: June 2017

Indigenous cultural as well as institutional social work practices often contribute towards the perpetuation and creation of inequalities. This article explores the experiences of South African foster care adolescents regarding participatory decision-making and the role of indigenous culture and social work practices. The theoretical framework adopted in this article is the developmental social welfare approach augmented by selected elements of the systems theory. A phenomenological study was conducted, and a major finding concluded that the cultural value system of foster adolescents, the institutional social work practices and the developmental approach are in conflict.
Role of Primary Cilia in Odontogenesis
Authors: Hampl M. , Cela P. , Szabo-Rogers H.L. , Bosakova M. Kunova , Dosedelova H. , Krejci P. , Buchtova M.
Published: June 2017

Primary cilium is a solitary organelle that emanates from the surface of most postmitotic mammalian cells and serves as a sensory organelle, transmitting the mechanical and chemical cues to the cell. Primary cilia are key coordinators of various signaling pathways during development and maintenance of tissue homeostasis. The emerging evidence implicates primary cilia function in tooth development. Primary cilia are located in the dental epithelium and mesenchyme at early stages of tooth development and later during cell differentiation and production of hard tissues. The cilia are present when interactions between both the epithelium and mesenchyme are required for normal morphogenesis. As the primary cilium coordinates several signaling pathways essential for odontogenesis, ciliary defects can interrupt the latter process. Genetic or experimental alterations of cilia function lead to various developmental defects, including supernumerary or missing teeth, enamel and dentin hypoplasia, or teeth crowding. Moreover, dental phenotypes are observed in ciliopathies, including Bardet-Biedl syndrome, Ellis-van Creveld syndrome, Weyers acrofacial dysostosis, cranioectodermal dysplasia, and oral-facial-digital syndrome, altogether demonstrating that primary cilia play a critical role in regulation of both the early odontogenesis and later differentiation of hard tissue–producing cells. Here, we summarize the current evidence for the localization of primary cilia in dental tissues and the impact of disrupted cilia signaling on tooth development in ciliopathies.
The Function of Mental Health Review Tribunals under the Mental Health Act 1983
Authors: Mawson David Stephen
Published: June 2017

In November 1981 the European Court of Human Rights declared that the continued detention of a person on the grounds of mental ill-health must be subject to periodic review by a court capable of ordering his discharge, even if the initial reason to commit issued from criminal proceedings. As a result, the British Government was compelled to remove the exclusive right of the Home Secretary to discharge restricted patients by extending this power to mental health review tribunals.

The present study of the practice of such tribunals was made possible by the willingness of an experienced tribunal representative to open his case files to scrutiny, and attention was focussed on those cases active since the implementation of the Mental Health Act 1983. The study period, dating from October 1983 to May 1984, yielded 35 completed case files.

As the source of the material came from a region containing two special hospitals, 28 (73.7 per cent) of the 35 tribunal hearings studied related to patients previously involved in criminal proceedings.
A Developmental Model of Clergy Engagement With Suicide
Authors: Mason Karen , Geist Monica , Clark Mollie
Published: June 2017

Clergy have a key role in suicide prevention but report being undertrained, perhaps because a model that captures the competencies needed to engage suicide in faith communities and how these skills develop has not previously been available. Using grounded theory, this study addressed this gap by generating a developmental rubric based on interviews with 19 Protestant clergy, which were analyzed using a constant comparative method and were checked by interviewees operating at the highest level of development. The final 10 dimensions described over four developmental stages are (a) knowing role as clergy, (b) listening, (c) confidence, (d) risk assessment, (e) referral, (f) self-care, (g) community building, (h) postvention: ministering to survivors, (i) conducting memorial services or memorial ceremonies, and (j) clergy guilt. Results are based on clergy’s intuitive categories and provide a usable rubric for developing suicide prevention training for clergy.
The value exchange
Authors: Dewar Keith
Published: June 2017

Data is highly valuable to an organisation and in a data-driven economy a company’s ability to analyse and extract insights from data, to find patterns and trends and new revenue streams, dictates strategies and competitive advantage. Running parallel to this is a growing resistance from individuals towards the organisations who hold their data. Their mistrust in organisations is increasing, partly because many have displayed a severe lack of transparency about how they use and store individuals’ data. A few organisations have even misused individuals’ data to a point where all trust is destroyed. It’s led to a growing number of individuals reducing the information they share, and, in some cases, entirely blocking its use. In May 2018, the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will require all organisations to become compliant with new regulations on data collection and use. This article examines the commoditised nature of data and how organisations need to build greater trust and consent into their data protection policies.
Arts-based palliative care training, education and staff development: A scoping review
Authors: Turton Benjamin Mark , Williams Sion , Burton Christopher R , Williams Lynne
Published: June 2017

Background:

The experience of art offers an emerging field in healthcare staff development, much of which is appropriate to the practice of palliative care. The workings of aesthetic learning interventions such as interactive theatre in relation to palliative and end-of-life care staff development programmes are widely uncharted.

Aim:

To investigate the use of aesthetic learning interventions used in palliative and end-of-life care staff development programmes.

Design:

Scoping review.

Data sources:

Published literature from 1997 to 2015, MEDLINE, CINAHL and Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts, key journals and citation tracking.

Results:

The review included 138 studies containing 60 types of art. Studies explored palliative care scenarios from a safe distance. Learning from art as experience involved the amalgamation of action, emotion and meaning. Art forms were used to transport healthcare professionals into an aesthetic learning experience that could be reflected in the lived experience of healthcare practice. The proposed learning included the development of practical and technical skills; empathy and compassion; awareness of self; awareness of others and the wider narrative of illness; and personal development.

Conclusion:

Aesthetic learning interventions might be helpful in the delivery of palliative care staff development programmes by offering another dimension to the learning experience. As researchers continue to find solutions to understanding the efficacy of such interventions, we argue that evaluating the contextual factors, including the interplay between the experience of the programme and its impact on the healthcare professional, will help identify how the programmes work and thus how they can contribute to improvements in palliative care.
Learning hand-eye coordination for robotic grasping with deep learning and large-scale data collection
Authors: Levine Sergey , Pastor Peter , Krizhevsky Alex , Ibarz Julian , Quillen Deirdre
Published: June 2017

We describe a learning-based approach to hand-eye coordination for robotic grasping from monocular images. To learn hand-eye coordination for grasping, we trained a large convolutional neural network to predict the probability that task-space motion of the gripper will result in successful grasps, using only monocular camera images independent of camera calibration or the current robot pose. This requires the network to observe the spatial relationship between the gripper and objects in the scene, thus learning hand-eye coordination. We then use this network to servo the gripper in real time to achieve successful grasps. We describe two large-scale experiments that we conducted on two separate robotic platforms. In the first experiment, about 800,000 grasp attempts were collected over the course of two months, using between 6 and 14 robotic manipulators at any given time, with differences in camera placement and gripper wear and tear. In the second experiment, we used a different robotic platform and 8 robots to collect a dataset consisting of over 900,000 grasp attempts. The second robotic platform was used to test transfer between robots, and the degree to which data from a different set of robots can be used to aid learning. Our experimental results demonstrate that our approach achieves effective real-time control, can successfully grasp novel objects, and corrects mistakes by continuous servoing. Our transfer experiment also illustrates that data from different robots can be combined to learn more reliable and effective grasping.
A Stepwise Approach: Decreasing Infection in Deep Brain Stimulation for Childhood Dystonic Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Johans Stephen J. , Swong Kevin N. , Hofler Ryan C. , Anderson Douglas E.
Published: June 2017

Dystonia is a movement disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions, which cause twisting movements or abnormal postures. Deep brain stimulation has been used to improve the quality of life for secondary dystonia caused by cerebral palsy. Despite being a viable treatment option for childhood dystonic cerebral palsy, deep brain stimulation is associated with a high rate of infection in children. The authors present a small series of patients with dystonic cerebral palsy who underwent a stepwise approach for bilateral globus pallidus interna deep brain stimulation placement in order to decrease the rate of infection. Four children with dystonic cerebral palsy who underwent a total of 13 surgical procedures (electrode and battery placement) were identified via a retrospective review. There were zero postoperative infections. Using a multistaged surgical plan for pediatric patients with dystonic cerebral palsy undergoing deep brain stimulation may help to reduce the risk of infection.
Australian Mass Shootings: An Analysis of Incidents and Offenders
Authors: McPhedran Samara
Published: June 2017

Mass shooting events are relatively underresearched, and most study comes from the United States. Despite significant international interest, little is known about other countries’ experiences of these events. The current study examines Australian mass shooting incidents and offenders, with emphasis on mental illness, life strains, and offenders’ life histories. Australia had 14 mass shootings between 1964 and 2014. Most offenders experienced acute life stressors and/or chronic strains leading up to the event; however, diagnosed mental illness was less commonly documented. These observations provide new information about mass shooting incidents and offenders, and can help to inform international policy development.
Preventive Interventions for the Second Half of Life: A Systematic Review
Authors: Hajat Cother , Selwyn Adriana , Harris Mark , Yach Derek
Published: June 2017

Objective:

Recent improvements in life expectancy globally require intensified focus on noncommunicable diseases and age-related conditions. The purpose of this article is to inform the development of age-specific prevention guidelines for adults aged 50 and above, which are currently lacking.

Data Source:

PubMed, Cochrane database, and Google Scholar and explicit outreach to experts in the field.

Study Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria:

Meta-analyses, intervention-based, and prospective cohort studies that reported all-cause mortality, disease-specific mortality, or morbidity in adults were included.

Data Extraction:

A systematic review was undertaken in 2015 using search terms of a combination of  and “intervention,” “mortality,” “reduction,” “improvement,” “death,” and “morbidity.”

Data Synthesis:

Interventions were categorized according to the Center for Evidence-Based Medicine Level of Evidence framework.

Results:

A summary table reports for each intervention the impact, strength of evidence, initiation, duration, and details of the intervention. Age-decade-specific preventive recommendations have been proposed relating to physical activity, diet, tobacco and alcohol use, medication adherence, screening and vaccination, and mental and cognitive health.

Conclusion:

Clear recommendations have been made according to the existing evidence base, but further research investment is needed to fill the many gaps. Further, personalized approaches to healthy aging complemented by population-wide approaches and broader cross-sector partnerships will help to ensure greater longevity is an opportunity, rather than a burden, for society.
Zerumbone Regulates DNA Repair Responding to Ionizing Radiation and Enhances Radiosensitivity of Human Prostatic Cancer Cells
Authors: Chiang Pai-Kai , Tsai Wei-Kung , Chen Marcelo , Lin Wun-Rong , Chow Yung-Chiong , Lee Chih-Chiao , Hsu Jong-Ming , Chen Yu-Jen
Published: June 2017

Introduction. Radiation therapy using ionizing radiation is widely used for the treatment of prostate cancer. The intrinsic radiation sensitivity of cancer cells could be enhanced by modulating multiple factors including the capacity to repair DNA damage, especially double-strand breaks (DSBs). We aimed to examine the effect of zerumbone on radiation sensitivity and its protective effects against ionizing radiation–induced DSB in human prostate cancer cells. Materials and Methods. The human prostate cancer PC3 and DU145 cell lines were used. A colony formation assay was performed to analyze the radiation survival of cells. DNA histogram and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were examined using flow cytometry. Western blotting was used to examine the expression of regulatory molecules related to DNA damage repair. Results. Pretreatment with zerumbone enhanced the radiation effect on prostate cancer cells. Zerumbone delayed the abrogation of radiation-induced expression of γ-H2AX, an indicator of DNA DSB. Zerumbone pretreatment markedly reduced ionizing radiation–induced upregulated expression of phosphorylated ATM (ataxia telangiectasia-mutated), which was partially reversed by the ATM agonist methyl methanesulfonate. Ionizing radiation augmented and zerumbone pretreatment reduced the expression of Jak2 and Stat3, which are involved in DNA damage repair signaling. No significant effect on the generation of ROS and expression of ATR was noted after zerumbone treatment. Conclusion: Zerumbone sensitized DU145 and PC3 prostatic cancer cells to ionizing radiation by modulating radiation-induced ATM activation during repair of DNA DSBs.
A grid-net method to study the dynamic responses of steel-reinforced concrete target and projectile
Authors: Xu Weifang , Chen Xiaowei , He Liling , Zhang Rong , Li Huimin , Huang Haiyin
Published: June 2017

In order to study the dynamic responses of a high-speed projectile striking into the steel-reinforced concrete target, a grid-net method has been developed in this article. The measuring system is composed of the grid nets fabricated by fine cables, light-emitting diode lamps, power supply systems, high-speed photography, and so on. Each grid net was pre-embedded along the rebar net. Multilayers of the grid nets were distributed with given space. The light-emitting diode lamp turns down when the cable is cut off. The status of the lamps is recorded by the high-speed photography. The basic idea is to trace the projectile by the on-off states of light-emitting diode lamps. In association with the high-speed photograph, the variation of the projectile velocity and the final depth of penetration could also be obtained. The depth of penetration value given by the grid measurement method was validated by the experimental result and the prediction of empirical formula and they show good agreement with each other.
Improving the impact resistance of concrete panels by glass fiber reinforced polymer sheets
Authors: Abdel-Kader Mohamed MA , Fouda Ahmed
Published: June 2017

In this article, the response of 12 plain concrete specimens to an impact of hard projectiles was examined in an experimental study. The tests were planned with an aim to observe the influence of using glass fiber reinforced polymer sheets to strengthen plain concrete panels on the performance of concrete under this type of loading. The main findings show that strengthening plain concrete panels with glass fiber reinforced polymer sheets showed satisfactory performance under the impact load; the glass fiber reinforced polymer sheets can be used for strengthening or upgrading concrete structures to improve their resistance against impact. Also, the location of the glass fiber reinforced polymer sheet affects the front and rear face craters.
Do single or sequential measurements of leptin and adiponectin in plasma have prognostic value in pulmonary arterial hypertension?
Authors: Tonelli Adriano R. , Fares Wassim H. , Dakkak Wael , Rao Youlan , Zhou Xuan , Dweik Raed A.
Published: June 2017

Leptin (a neuroendocrine peptide that enhances metabolism and acts on the hypothalamus to suppress appetite) and adiponectin (a protein that has insulin‐sensitizing, anti‐inflammatory, and antiproliferative properties) are involved in the pathobiology of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We hypothesized that plasma leptin and adiponectin as well as the leptin/adiponectin ratio are abnormal in PAH patients and their levels track with disease severity and functional changes during follow‐up. We tested this hypothesis in a cohort of patients included in the 16‐week, international, multicenter, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled FREEDOM‐C2 study. Blood was collected at baseline and week 16 in 178 out of 310 randomized patients with PAH. Baseline plasma leptin and adiponectin concentrations were 25 ± 31 ng/mL and 7.8 ± 6.1 ug/mL, respectively. Leptin, adiponectin, and leptin/adiponectin (mean ± SD) changes at 16 week were of small magnitude. Leptin at baseline was significantly associated with older age, higher BMI, higher Borg dyspnea index, and lower NT‐pro BNP. Women had higher levels of leptin than men (30.5 ± 33.2 versus 7.2 ± 6.4 ng/mL), even when adjusting for background therapy and etiology (linear regression: β = 21.8, P < 0.001). Adiponectin was negatively associated with BMI and positively associated with NT‐pro BNP. Changes in leptin, adiponectin, and leptin/adiponectin ratio adjusted for weight at 16 weeks did not predict functional class, distance walk in 6 min or survival at one, two, three, or four years. Plasma leptin and adiponectin at baseline and their change at 16‐week do not appear to significantly impact prognosis in PAH.
Broken Heart Syndrome in a Patient on Maintenance Hemodialysis
Authors: Bhogal Sukhdeep , Ladia Vatsal , Sitwala Puja , Bajaj Kailash , Ramu Vijay , Paul Timir
Published: June 2017

Context:Broken heart syndrome or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is a disorder characterized by transient left ventricular apical ballooning that almost invariably precedes emotional or physical stress. Although the patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis have shown to exhibit sustained activity of sympathetic nervous system, the presentation of TC in these patients is a rare entity with few case reports in the literature. Case Report: A 75-year-old female with past medical history of end-stage renal disease presented with chest pressure and heaviness that started during her maintenance hemodialysis session. Electrocardiogram showed ST elevation and T wave inversion in V3-V6 leads. Emergent left heart catheterization was done that showed normal coronaries and akinesis of apical left ventricle wall consistent with TC. She was started on maximal medical management and underwent hemodialysis the next day without recurrence of the symptoms. Conclusion: TC may an underdiagnosed entity in patients on hemodialysis. However, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis in hemodialysis patients, particularly who presents with chest pain and/or symptoms.
Maneckiite, ideally NaCa2Fe2+2(Fe3+Mg)Mn2(PO4)6(H2O)2, a new phosphate mineral of the wicksite supergroup from the Michałkowa pegmatite, Góry Sowie Block, southwestern Poland
Authors: Pieczka Adam , Hawthorne Frank C. , Gołębiowska Bożena , Włodek Adam , Grochowina Anna
Published: June 2017

Maneckiite, ideally NaCa2Fe22þ(Fe3+Mg)Mn2(PO4)6(H2O)2, was found in a pegmatite at Michałkowa, Góry Sowie Block, SW Poland. The mineral forms subhedral and anhedral crystals ~150 μm × 150 μm in the outer zone of phosphate nodules, where it is associated with fluorapatite, wolfeite, Ca-rich graftonite and alluaudite-group minerals. Maneckiite is transparent, dark brown, with a colourless streak and vitreous lustre, brittle, and has a good cleavage // {010}, a splintery fracture and a Mohs hardness of ~5. The calculated density is 3.531 g cm–3. Maneckiite is pleochroic: α = dark green, β = dark blue/green, γ = light brown/tan, biaxial (+) with refractive indices α = 1.698(2), β = 1.706(2), γ = 1.727(2) and birefringence Δ = ~0.03; 2Vmeas. = 65.9 (1.5)° and 2Vcalc. = 64°, dispersion is obscured by the dark colour, and optical orientation X//a, Y//b, Z//c. Maneckite is orthorhombic (Pcab) and has unit-cell parametersa= 12.526(4) Å,b= 12.914(5) Å,c= 11.664(4) Å andV= 1886.8(5) Å3. The strongest reflections are (dhklin Å;I;hkl): 2.759, 100, 402; 2.916, 78, 004; 3.020, 68, 401; 2.844, 35, 014; 2.869, 31, 240; 2.825, 30, 042. Maneckiite has the wicksite structure and is itsM(3)Mn-analogue. The mineral crystallized as a product of Na- and Ca-metasomatism induced by a HT fluid in the presence of Al3+from a neighbouring aluminosilicate melt. A Gladstone-Dale index, 0.027, places maneckiite in the category ‘excellent’.
Industry shutdown rates and permanent layoffs: evidence from firm-worker matched data
Authors: Huynh Kim P. , Ostrovsky Yuri , Petrunia Robert J. , Voia Marcel C.
Published: June 2017

Firm shutdown creates a turbulent situation for workers as it leads directly to layoffs for its workers. An additional consideration is whether a firm’s shutdown within an industry creates turbulence for workers at other continuing firms. Using data drawn from the Longitudinal Worker File, a Canadian firm-worker matched employment database, we investigate the impact of industry shutdown rates on workers at continuing firm. This paper exploits variation in shutdown rates across industries and within an industry over time to explain the rate of permanent layoffs and the growth of workers’ earnings. We find an increase in industry shutdown rates increases the probability of permanent layoffs and decreases earnings growth for workers at continuing firms.
Frequency of BRAF V600E Mutation in the Mexican Population of Patients With Metastatic Melanoma
Authors: Ruiz-Garcia Erika , Matus-Santos Juan A. , Guadarrama-Orozco Jorge Alberto , Alvarez-Avitia Miguel Angel , Aguilar-Ponce Jose Luis , Fernandez-Figueroa Edith , Maldonado-Mendoza Jessica , Lopez-Camarillo Cesar , Marchat Laurence A. , Lino-Silva Saul , Cuellar-Hubbe Mario , de la Garza-Salazar Jamie , Meneses-García Abelardo , Astudillo-de la Vega Horacio , Martinez-Said Hector
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The BRAF V600E mutation has been described in melanomas occurring in the Caucasian, European, and Asian populations. However, in the Mexican population, the status and clinical significance of BRAF mutation has not been researched on a large scale.

Methods

Consecutive BRAF-tested Mexican patients with metastatic melanoma (n = 127) were analyzed for mutations in exon 15 of the BRAF gene in genomic DNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction technology for amplification and detection. The results were correlated with the clinical-pathologic features and the prognosis of the patients.

Results

The frequency of somatic mutation V600E within the BRAF gene was 54.6% (43 of 127 patients). Nodular melanoma was the most prevalent subtype in our population, with BRAF mutations in 37.2% (16 of 55 patients). In contrast, superficial spread had a frequency of 18.6% BRAF mutation (eight of 24). Other clinicopathologic features were assessed to correlate with the mutation status.

Conclusion

This study searched for the most prevalent BRAF V600E mutation type in melanoma in a heterogeneous population from Mexico. Nodular melanoma was found to be the most prevalent in metastatic presentation and the presence of BRAF V600E mutation, perhaps related to the mixed ancestry; in the north, ancestry is predominantly European and in the south, it is predominantly Asian. The outcomes of the mutation correlations were similar to those found in other populations.
Chemoradiation and the Role of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Lymph Nodal–Metastatic Cervical Cancer
Authors: Ali Nasir , Valimohammad Azmina Tajdin , Abbasi Ahmed Nadeem , Mansha Muhammad Atif , Hafiz Asim , Qureshi Bilal Mazhar
Published: June 2017

Purpose

To report the long-term outcome in lymph nodal–metastatic cervical squamous cell cancer after chemoradiation followed by adjuvant chemotherapy.

Patients and Methods

Between 2010 and 2013, five patients were diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer with clinically involved para-aortic lymph nodes (ie, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IVB). These patients were treated with concurrent chemoradiation therapy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. Concurrent chemoradiation consisted of cisplatin given once per week concomitantly with extended-field radiation therapy followed by high-dose-rate brachytherapy. Adjuvant chemotherapy comprised four courses of carboplatin and paclitaxel given every three weeks. The primary outcomes were local and distant failures.

Results

None of the patients had local recurrence or distal failure after a minimum follow-up time of 3 years.

Conclusion

Adjuvant chemotherapy after chemoradiation has a probable role in the management of lymph nodal–metastatic cervical cancer.
Impact of Immigration Status on Cancer Outcomes in Ontario, Canada
Authors: Cheung Matthew C. , Earle Craig C. , Fischer Hadas D. , Camacho Ximena , Liu Ning , Saskin Refik , Shah Baiju R. , Austin Peter C. , Singh Simron
Published: June 2017

Background:

Prior studies have documented inferior health outcomes in vulnerable populations, including racial minorities and those with disadvantaged socioeconomic status. The impact of immigration on cancer-related outcomes is less clear.

Methods:

Administrative databases were linked to create a cohort of incident cancer cases (colorectal, lung, prostate, head and neck, breast, and hematologic malignancies) from 2000 to 2012 in Ontario, Canada. Cancer patients who immigrated to Canada (from 1985 onward) were compared with those who were Canadian born (or immigrated before 1985). Patients were followed from diagnosis until death (cancer-specific or all-cause). Cox proportional hazards models were estimated to determine the impact of immigration on mortality after adjusting for explanatory variables. Additional adjusted models studied the relationship of time since immigration and cancer-specific and overall mortality.

Results:

From 2000 to 2012, 11,485 cancer cases were diagnosed in recent immigrants (0 to 10 years in Canada), 17,844 cases in nonrecent immigrants (11 to 25 years), and 416,118 cases in nonimmigrants. After adjustment, the hazard of mortality was lower for recent immigrants (hazard ratio [HR], 0.843; 95% CI, 0.814 to 0.873) and nonrecent immigrants (HR, 0.902; 95% CI, 0.876 to 0.928) compared with nonimmigrants. Cancer-specific mortality was also lower for recent immigrants (HR, 0.857; 95% CI, 0.823 to 0.893) and nonrecent immigrants (HR, 0.907; 95% CI, 0.875 to 0.94). Among immigrants, each year from the original landing was associated with increased mortality (HR, 1.004; 95% CI, 1.000 to 1.009) and a trend to increased cancer-specific mortality (HR, 1.005; 95% CI, 0.999 to 1.010).

Conclusion:

Immigrants demonstrate a healthy immigrant effect, with lower cancer-specific mortality compared with Canadian-born individuals. This benefit seems to diminish over time, as the survival of immigrants from common cancers potentially converges with the Canadian norm.
Financial Impact of Cancer Drug Wastage and Potential Cost Savings From Mitigation Strategies
Authors: Leung Caitlyn Y.W. , Cheung Matthew C. , Charbonneau Lauren F. , Prica Anca , Ng Pamela , Chan Kelvin K.W.
Published: June 2017

Purpose:

Cancer drug wastage occurs when a parenteral drug within a fixed vial is not administered fully to a patient. This study investigated the extent of drug wastage, the financial impact on the hospital budget, and the cost savings associated with current mitigation strategies.

Methods:

We conducted a cross-sectional study in three University of Toronto–affiliated hospitals of various sizes. We recorded the actual amount of drug wasted over a 2-week period while using current mitigation strategies. Single-dose vial cancer drugs with the highest wastage potentials were identified (14 drugs). To calculate the hypothetical drug wastage with no mitigation strategies, we determined how many vials of drugs would be needed to fill a single prescription.

Results:

The total drug costs over the 2 weeks ranged from $50,257 to $716,983 in the three institutions. With existing mitigation strategies, the actual drug wastage over the 2 weeks ranged from $928 to $5,472, which was approximately 1% to 2% of the total drug costs. In the hypothetical model with no mitigation strategies implemented, the projected drug cost wastage would have been $11,232 to $149,131, which accounted for 16% to 18% of the total drug costs. As a result, the potential annual savings while using current mitigation strategies range from 15% to 17%.

Conclusion:

The financial impact of drug wastage is substantial. Mitigation strategies lead to substantial cost savings, with the opportunity to reinvest those savings. More research is needed to determine the appropriate methods to minimize risk to patients while using the cost-saving mitigation strategies.
Managing Patients With TP53-Deficient Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Authors: Edelmann Jennifer , Gribben John G.
Published: June 2017

Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) having a chromosomal loss on the short arm of chromosome 17 including the TP53 gene locus (17p deletion) and/or having mutations in TP53 have a short overall survival and, until recently, limited treatment options. The recent introduction of two novel substance classes, B-cell receptor inhibitors and BH3 mimetics, into CLL treatment has provided enormous clinical progress in this previously difficult-to-treat patient subgroup characterized by high risk for treatment failure with standard chemoimmunotherapy and rapid disease progression. Compounds now approved for the treatment of TP53-deficient CLL are the two B-cell receptor inhibitors ibrutinib and idelalisib and the BH3 mimetic venetoclax. All three compounds were approved on the basis of favorable response rates that, importantly, revealed no differences between TP53-competent and TP53-deficient CLL cases. Using these compounds, longer-lasting remissions in patients with TP53-deficient CLL could be demonstrated for the first time. Whether TP53 alterations will maintain their significance as adverse prognostic factors in treatment strategies involving novel compounds needs to be assessed. This review provides an overview of current treatment options for 17p-deleted/ TP53-mutated CLL, including those compounds that are already approved by the US Food and Drug Administration or are under advanced clinical investigation. Available clinical trial data are discussed, as is the use of novel targeted treatment options in the context of transplant strategies, and an algorithm for off-study treatment of 17p-deficient CLL is suggested.
Increased Triacylglycerol Lipase Activity in Adipose Tissue of Lean and Obese Men During Endurance Exercise
Authors: Petridou Anatoli , Chatzinikolaou Athanasios , Avloniti Alexandra , Jamurtas Athanasios , Loules Gedeon , Papassotiriou Ioannis , Fatouros Ioannis , Mougios Vassilis
Published: June 2017

Context

Although there is increasing information on the mechanism of lipolysis in adipose tissue, the effect of exercise on individual factors of lipolysis is less well understood.

Objective

We compared changes in adipose-tissue triacylglycerol lipase activity and gene expression of adipose triacylglycerol lipase (ATGL), hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), monoacylglycerol lipase, perilipin 1, and comparative gene identification 58 (CGI-58) during exercise between lean and obese men.

Design and Participants

Seven lean and nine obese men cycled for 30 minutes at a heart rate of 130 to 140 beats per minute. At baseline and 5, 10, 20, and 30 minutes of exercise, we sampled subcutaneous adipose tissue for triacylglycerol lipase activity and mRNA determination, and blood for glycerol, nonesterified fatty acid, glucose, lactate, insulin, and catecholamine determination.

Setting

The study was conducted at a university research unit.

Results

Triacylglycerol lipase activity increased at 10 minutes of exercise in the lean men and returned to baseline at 20 and 30 minutes. In the obese men, it was higher than baseline at 10, 20, and 30 minutes and higher than the corresponding values in the lean men at 20 and 30 minutes. No changes in mRNA levels were found during exercise, but the obese men had lower mRNA levels of ATGL, HSL, and CGI-58 compared with the lean men.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest different patterns of lipolytic stimulation during endurance exercise between lean and obese men. Differences in lipolytic rates seem to be due to differences in protein amount or activity, not mRNA levels.