bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Placing Racial Classification in Context
Authors: Pickett Robert E. M. , Saperstein Aliya , Penner Andrew M.
Published: June 2019

This article extends previous research on place-based patterns of racial categorization by linking it to sociological theory that posits subnational variation in cultural schemas and applying regression techniques that allow for spatial variation in model estimates. We use data from a U.S. restricted-use geocoded longitudinal survey to predict racial classification as a function of both individual and county characteristics. We first estimate national average associations, then turn to spatial-regime models and geographically weighted regression to explore how these relationships vary across the country. We find that individual characteristics matter most for classification as “Black,” while contextual characteristics are important predictors of classification as “White” or “Other,” but some predictors also vary across space, as expected. These results affirm the importance of place in defining racial boundaries and suggest that U.S. racial schemas operate at different spatial scales, with some being national in scope while others are more locally situated.
Quality Appraisal of Child Oral Health–Related Quality of Life Measures: A Scoping Review
Authors: Yang C. , Crystal Y.O. , Ruff R.R. , Veitz-Keenan A. , McGowan R.C. , Niederman R.
Published: June 2019

Background:

Children’s oral health–related quality of life (COHQoL) measures are well known and widely used. However, rigorous systematic reviews of these measures and analyses of their quality are in absence.

Objectives:

To systematically review and quantitatively assess the quality of COHQoL measures through a scoping review.

Data Sources:

Systematic literature search of PubMed, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), EMBASE (Excerpta Medica database), HaPI (Health and Psychosocial Instruments), and DOSS (Dentistry and Oral Sciences Source).

Study Eligibility:

The measure’s focus was COHQoL; the child age ranged from 5 to 14 years; the publication was either a research article or a systematic review and related to caries; and it was written in English or had an English abstract. Two authors independently selected the studies. Disagreements were reconciled by group discussions with a third author.

Appraisal:

The International Society for Quality of Life Research minimum standards for patient-reported outcome measures were used for quality appraisal.

Synthesis:

Descriptive analysis.

Results:

We identified 18 measures. Their quality scores ranged from 9.5 to 15.0 on a scale of 16. The quality appeared to bear no relationship to the citation and use of these measures. However, elements of these measures might be more useful than others, depending on the age-specific use and primary quality concerns.

Limitations:

Some of the information on the minimum standards of the 18 measures cannot be found in the existing literature. Measures published without English abstract were not searched.

Conclusions:

The quality of these measures is suboptimal. Researchers and practitioners in this field should exercise caution when choosing and using these measures. Efforts at improving the quality of the COHQoL measures, such as refining existing ones or developing new measures, are warranted.

Knowledge Transfer Statement:

Researchers, clinician scientists, and clinicians can use the results of this study when deciding which oral health–related quality of life measure they wish to use in children.
Impact of Long-Distance Travel on Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Presentation and Outcome in Rural North Dakota
Authors: Jacobs David , Gokey Robert , Beal James R.
Published: June 2019

Purpose:

Long-distance travel in underserved, rural areas could delay treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). The purpose of this study was to determine whether patients living remotely experienced a delay in treatment, presented with more-advanced RRD, or had worse visual acuity (VA) outcomes than patients living locally.

Methods:

A retrospective consecutive case series is presented of patients undergoing RRD repair by pars plana vitrectomy or scleral buckle from August 2011 to September 2014 in Minot, North Dakota, USA. Exclusion criteria were RRD cases presenting with concurrent vitreoretinal disease.

Results:

Of the 143 total patients, 45 lived locally, 5.2±1.6 miles (8.4±2.6 km), and 98 lived remotely, 122.8±69 miles (197.6±111 km). Duration of symptoms was 14.0±30.2 days for local and 19.2±37.5 days for remote patients ( P = .42). Time from referring provider exam to vitreoretinal surgeon exam was similar for local and remote patients, 1.5±2.9 vs 1.5±2.8 days ( P = .97). The fovea was detached in 51.1% of local and 53.6% of remote patients ( P = .78). Mean clock-hours of RRD were similar in local and remote patients, 5.2±2.3 vs 5.5±2.6 hours ( P = .51). Proliferative vitreoretinopathy was present in 6.7% of local vs 14.4% of remote patients ( P = .19). Time from vitreoretinal surgeon exam to surgical repair was similar for local and remote patients, 1.8±3.4 vs 1.8±3.8 days ( P = .70). The mean logMAR VA change at 6 months was similar in local and remote patients, –0.54±.7 vs –0.52±.8 ( P = .91). Reoperation was required in 4.4% of local vs 6.1% of remote patients ( P = .69).

Conclusions:

Patients traveling long distances for management of RRD did not experience a significant delay in treatment, present with more-advanced RRD, or have worse VA outcomes than patients who lived locally. Patients with RRD living in remote rural areas can have similar outcomes to patients living locally when referred and treated urgently.
STARD3: A Swiss Army Knife for Intracellular Cholesterol Transport
Authors: Voilquin Laetitia , Lodi Massimo , Di Mattia Thomas , Chenard Marie-Pierre , Mathelin Carole , Alpy Fabien , Tomasetto Catherine
Published: June 2019

Intracellular cholesterol transport is a complex process involving specific carrier proteins. Cholesterol-binding proteins, such as the lipid transfer protein steroidogenic acute regulatory-related lipid transfer domain-3 (STARD3), are implicated in cholesterol movements between organelles. Indeed, STARD3 modulates intracellular cholesterol allocation by reducing it from the plasma membrane and favoring its passage from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to endosomes, where the protein is localized. STARD3 interacts with ER-anchored partners, notably vesicle-associated membrane protein-associated proteins (VAP-A and VAP-B) and motile sperm domain-containing 2 (MOSPD2), to create ER–endosome membrane contacts. Mechanistic studies showed that at ER–endosome contacts, STARD3 and VAP proteins build a molecular machine able to rapidly transfer cholesterol. This review presents the current knowledge on the molecular and cellular function of STARD3 in intracellular cholesterol traffic.
Induction gemcitabine and cisplatin in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Yuan , Sun Ying , Ma Jun
Published: June 2019

The standard of care for patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma is concurrent platinum‐based chemoradiotherapy. Existing literature have demonstrated that the addition of gemcitabine and cisplatin as induction chemotherapy in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma may have promising efficacy but were from phase 2 clinical trials. Stronger evidence‐based data in forms of phase 3 clinical trial investigating the survival benefits of adding gemcitabine and cisplatin induction chemotherapy for such patients have been urgently warranted. In one of our recent studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine, “Gemcitabine and cisplatin induction chemotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma”, 480 locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients from 12 hospitals across China were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either chemoradiotherapy alone or gemcitabine plus cisplatin and chemoradiotherapy. Our findings evinced that, as compared to chemoradiotherapy alone, the addition of induction chemotherapy comprising of gemcitabine plus cisplatin to concurrent cisplatin‐radiotherapy to patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma was safe, demonstrated improved recurrence‐free survival, overall survival, and distant recurrence‐free survival, and marginally superior locoregional recurrence‐free survival.
BMP4 patterns Smad activity and generates stereotyped cell fate organization in spinal organoids
Authors: Duval Nathalie , Vaslin Célia , Barata Tiago C. , Frarma Youcef , Contremoulins Vincent , Baudin Xavier , Nedelec Stéphane , Ribes Vanessa C.
Published: June 2019

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are secreted regulators of cell fate in several developing tissues. In the embryonic spinal cord, they control the emergence of the neural crest, roof plate and distinct subsets of dorsal interneurons. Although a gradient of BMP activity has been proposed to determine cell type identity in vivo, whether this is sufficient for pattern formation in vitro is unclear. Here, we demonstrate that exposure to BMP4 initiates distinct spatial dynamics of BMP signalling within the self-emerging epithelia of both mouse and human pluripotent stem cell-derived spinal organoids. The pattern of BMP signalling results in the stereotyped spatial arrangement of dorsal neural tube cell types, and concentration, timing and duration of BMP4 exposure modulate these patterns. Moreover, differences in the duration of competence time-windows between mouse and human account for the species-specific tempo of neural differentiation. Together, this study describes efficient methods for generating patterned subsets of dorsal interneurons in spinal organoids and supports the conclusion that graded BMP activity orchestrates the spatial organization of the dorsal neural tube cellular diversity in mouse and human.
Phenotypic plasticity in the invasive pest Drosophila suzukii: activity rhythms and gene expression in response to temperature
Authors: Plantamp C. , Henri H. , Andrieux T. , Regis C. , Mialdea G. , Dray S. , Gibert P. , Desouhant E.
Published: June 2019

Phenotypic plasticity may contribute to the invasive success of an alien species in a new environment. A higher plastic species may survive and reproduce in more diverse environments, thereby supporting establishment and colonization. We focused on plasticity in the circadian rhythm of activity, which can favour species coexistence in invasion, for the invasive species Drosophila suzukii, which is expected to be a weaker direct competitor than other Drosophila species of the resident community. We compared between the invasive D. suzukii and the resident D. melanogaster the circadian rhythms of the locomotor activity in adults and the expression of clock genes in response to temperature. We showed that D. suzukii is active in a narrower range of temperatures than D. melanogaster and that the activities of both species overlap during the day, regardless of the temperature. Both species are diurnal and exhibit rhythmic activity at dawn and dusk, with a much lower activity at dawn for D. suzukii females. Our results showed that the timeless and clock genes are good candidates to explain the plastic response that is observed in relation to temperature. Overall, our results suggest that thermal phenotypic plasticity in D. suzukii activity is not sufficient to explain the invasive success of D. suzukii and calls for testing other hypotheses, such as the release of competitors and/or predators.
Fluoroalkylation Methods for Synthesizing Versatile Building Blocks
Authors: Kawamura Shintaro , Sodeoka Mikiko
Published: June 2019

In this account, we provide an overview of synthetic methods for accessing fluoroalkylated compounds via electrophilic fluoroalkylation, especially of alkenes, focusing mainly on our own studies directed towards the discovery of drugs and agrochemicals. First, we describe trifluoromethylations with Togni reagent 1 in the presence of catalysts or electron-donating additives, providing access to a wide range of fluoroalkylated molecules. We then cover fluoroalkylations using fluorinated acid anhydrides. We recently showed that these acid anhydrides enable alkene fluoroalkylation via the in-situ formation of diacyl peroxide, with or without the aid of copper catalysts, affording various fluoroalkyl group-containing molecules in a practical manner. We also present some examples of structural diversification of the products, illustrating their synthetic utility as building blocks, which could be widely applicable, for example, in the construction of fluoroalkylated compound libraries.
Assessment of performance of Saudi children with learning disabilities by using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery
Authors: Al Backer Nouf , Ateeq Alharbi Koloud , Alfahadi Abdulrahman , Shahid Habib Syed , Bashir Shahid
Published: June 2019

Background: The neuropsychological tests and its subtests are composed of the motor planning task; simple reaction time task and the intradimensional/extradimensional shift (IED) task from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) were developed to examine specific components of cognition. The main objective of this study was to examine the reliability of these CANTAB subtests in pediatric patients with learning disabilities (LD) in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: We administered the CANTAB subset test to 92 participants with LD and 68 controls with no LD. The tests performed were motor planning task (MOT), simple reaction time task (SRT) and the intradimensional/extradimensional shift (IED).

Results: There was no significant age difference between the case and the control group (case: 9.2 ± 2.4 years versus controls: 9.0 ± 1.6 years, p=0.544). The IED and MOT were significantly longer among patients with LD versus control (p <0.001). LD cases had a longer SRT time than controls (cases: 1050.4 ± 626.5 versus controls: 815.5 ± 133.9, p=0.003). LD patients completed an average of 3.0 stages, than the controls, who were able to complete a mean of 8.4 IED stages (p<0.001). SRT was significantly longer in the case group (965.9 ± 716.4) compared to the controls (747.7 ± 120.7, p=0.014). LD cases made more errors in the motor screening tasks (MOT-Error) compared to the control group (case: 14.6 ± 4.5 versus controls: 12.4 ± 2.7, p<0.001).

Conclusion: Patients with LD have poor CANTAB subtest results. If these CANTAB subtests do measure cognitive function, this adds to the accumulating evidence of cognitive impairment association in LD, and such studies should remain an active area of research.
Management of acute variceal hemorrhage
Authors: Zanetto Alberto , Garcia-Tsao Guadalupe
Published: June 2019

Gastrointestinal bleeding is one of the major causes of death in patients with cirrhosis, and gastroesophageal varices represent the main source of hemorrhage. Even though in the last decades survival has been improved because of the widespread adoption of effective treatments and optimization of general medical care, mortality is still significantly high, and decompensated patients pose a complex challenge requiring a multidisciplinary approach that is crucial to improve survival. The aims of this commentary are to review the most recent advances in the management of esophageal variceal bleeding and to highlight useful information to aid hepatologists in clinical practice.
Translational models of adaptive and excessive fighting: an emerging role for neural circuits in pathological aggression
Authors: Covington III Herbert E. , Newman Emily L. , Leonard Michael Z. , Miczek Klaus A.
Published: June 2019

Aggression is a phylogenetically stable behavior, and attacks on conspecifics are observed in most animal species. In this review, we discuss translational models as they relate to pathological forms of offensive aggression and the brain mechanisms that underlie these behaviors. Quantifiable escalations in attack or the development of an atypical sequence of attacks and threats is useful for characterizing abnormal variations in aggression across species. Aggression that serves as a reinforcer can be excessive, and certain schedules of reinforcement that allow aggression rewards also allow for examining brain and behavior during the anticipation of a fight. Ethological attempts to capture and measure offensive aggression point to two prominent hypotheses for the neural basis of violence. First, pathological aggression may be due to an exaggeration of activity in subcortical circuits that mediate adaptive aggressive behaviors as they are triggered by environmental or endogenous cues at vulnerable time points. Indeed, repeated fighting experiences occur with plasticity in brain areas once considered hardwired. Alternatively, a separate “violence network” may converge on aggression circuitry that disinhibits pathological aggression (for example, via disrupted cortical inhibition). Advancing animal models that capture the motivation to commit pathological aggression remains important to fully distinguish the neural architecture of violence as it differs from adaptive competition among conspecifics.
Accumulation Bias in meta-analysis: the need to consider time in error control
Authors: ter Schure Judith , Grünwald Peter
Published: June 2019

Studies accumulate over time and meta-analyses are mainly retrospective. These two characteristics introduce dependencies between the analysis time, at which a series of studies is up for meta-analysis, and results within the series. Dependencies introduce bias — Accumulation Bias — and invalidate the sampling distribution assumed for p-value tests, thus inflating type-I errors. But dependencies are also inevitable, since for science to accumulate efficiently, new research needs to be informed by past results. Here, we investigate various ways in which time influences error control in meta-analysis testing. We introduce an Accumulation Bias Framework that allows us to model a wide variety of practically occurring dependencies including study series accumulation, meta-analysis timing, and approaches to multiple testing in living systematic reviews. The strength of this framework is that it shows how all dependencies affect p-value-based tests in a similar manner. This leads to two main conclusions. First, Accumulation Bias is inevitable, and even if it can be approximated and accounted for, no valid p-value tests can be constructed. Second, tests based on likelihood ratios withstand Accumulation Bias: they provide bounds on error probabilities that remain valid despite the bias. We leave the reader with a choice between two proposals to consider time in error control: either treat individual (primary) studies and meta-analyses as two separate worlds — each with their own timing — or integrate individual studies in the meta-analysis world. Taking up likelihood ratios in either approach allows for valid tests that relate well to the accumulating nature of scientific knowledge. Likelihood ratios can be interpreted as betting profits, earned in previous studies and invested in new ones, while the meta-analyst is allowed to cash out at any time and advice against future studies.
Implementing a quality management system using good clinical laboratory practice guidelines at KEMRI-CMR to support medical research
Authors: Gumba Horace , Waichungo Joseph , Lowe Brett , Mwanzu Alfred , Musyimi Robert , Thitiri Johnstone , Tigoi Caroline , Kamui Martin , Berkley James A. , Ngetich Ronald , Kavai Susan , Kariuki Samuel
Published: June 2019

Background: Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP) is a standard that helps ensure the quality and reliability of research data through principles of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and Good Clinical Practice (GCP). The implementation of GCLP includes careful documentation of procedures, competencies and safety measures. Implementation of GCLP is influenced by existing resources and quality systems, thus laboratories in low- and middle-income countries may face additional challenges.

Methods: This paper describes implementation of GCLP at the Kenya Medical Research Institute-Center for Microbiology Research (KEMRI-CMR) as part of a quality system to support medical research. This study employed assessment, twinning (institutional mentorship) model, conducting relevant training workshops and Kaizen 5S approaches to implement an effective quality management system using GCLP standard. This was achieved through a collaboration between the KEMRI/Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP) and KEMRI-CMR. The aim was compliance and continuous monitoring to meet international GCLP standards in a way that could be replicated in other research organizations.

Results: Following a baseline assessment in March 2017, training, mentorship and a cycle of quality audit and corrective action using a Kaizen 5S approach (sorting, setting in order, shining, standardizing and sustaining) was established. Laboratory personnel were trained in writing standard operating procedures and analytical plans, microbiological techniques, and good documentation practice. Mid-term and exit assessments demonstrated significant declines in non-conformances across all GCLP elements. KEMRI-CMR achieved GCLP accreditation in May 2018 by Qualogy Ltd (UK).

Conclusions: Involving all the laboratory personnel in implementation of quality management system processes is critical to success. An institutional mentorship (twinning) approach shows potential for future collaborations between accredited and non-accredited organizations to accelerate the implementation of high-quality management systems and continuous improvement.
Radiotherapy for Patients with Hydronephrosis-Induced Cervical Cancer
Authors: Бойко А. , Boyko A. , Дунаева Е. , Dunaeva E. , Демидова Л. , Demidova L. , Алексеев Б. , Alekseev B. , Леонтьев А. , Leont’ev A. , Дубовецкая О. , Dubovetskaya O. , Серова Л. , Serova L.
Published: June 2019

Purpose: To justify the expansion of indications for radiation or chemoradiation therapy in patients with primary or recurrent cervical cancer complicated by hydronephrosis by eliminating obstruction of the ureters.

Material and methods: The study included 24 patients who received radiation or chemoradiotherapy from 2012 to 2018. 17 patients among them had primary cervical cancer and the other 7 had a relapse of cervical cancer in small pelvis. In accordance with FIGO and TNM classification (2009), stage IIIB was diagnosed (cT3bN0–1M0) in 16 patients and stage IVB (cT3bN1M1, metastasis in para-aortic lymph nodes) in 1 patient. Prior to the start of special treatment, in all patients was detected one- or two-sided hydronephrosis associated with a neoplastic process and accompanied by varying degrees of impaired parenchymal-excretory function of one of the kidneys.

Results: 11 patients underwent unilateral, 3 patients had bilateral ureteral stenting, nephrostomy was superimposed on 9 patients and 1 woman had an ureteral stent installed on one side, nephrostomy on the other side. In 70.8 % (17) patients, the irradiation course was performed without interruption. From 5 to 3 weeks (due to cystitis, endometritis, anemia). In 2 patients, it was not possible to complete the full course of radiotherapy because of the uncoupled effects of pyelonephritis, they were operated on. In the observation period up to 77 months (average observation time 29 months) 16 patients are alive, 12 of them are without signs of disease recurrence. In 6 patients, the natural passage of urine was restored. In 4 patients, the nephrostomy was replaced with a ureteral stent. In 3 patients with ureteral stents they are replaced. Three patients remain with nephrostomy. Eight women died from the progression of the underlying disease, of these, 6 patients with recurrent cervical cancer in the pelvis. Note that in all 6 patients, as a result of the irradiation, a pronounced palliative effect was achieved in the form of relief of pain and bleeding.

Conclusion: Performing adequate drainage of the ureter / s allows to expand the indications for radiotherapy or chemoradiation therapy under the radical program in patients with primary or recurrent cervical cancer.
Libya – Road to Dysfunctionality
Authors: Wiesław Lizak
Published: June 2019

The developments of the Arab Spring of 2011 extended, among others, to Libya. As a consequence of the armed anti-government uprising supported militarily by the air forces of the Western powers (under the auspices of NATO), the regime of Colonel Muammar al-Qaddafi, who has controlled the state since the 1969 military coup, was overthrown. The collapse of the current regime has initiated the path to the social, political and economic transformation of the Libyan state. However, the rivalry of local political forces which is a reflection of tribal, regional and ideological divisions, prevented the emergence of an effective political system. As a result, Libya has evolved into a dysfunctional state and the processes of internal destabilization and lack of state borders control generate threats also for the international environment of the country (West Africa, East Africa, Europe).
Portuguese Colonial Legacy in Luso-African States – a Factor Leading to State Dysfunctionality or Favorable to Development?
Authors: Joanna Mormul
Published: June 2019

Among historical factors leading to state dysfunctionality phenomenon on the African continent, colonial legacy is most often indicated. It is a common perception that colonialism understood not only as colonial rule but also as colonial legacy is the main responsible for today’s African crises of statehood. The study focuses on Luso-African continental states (Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau) that have quite a similar historical experience, not only the difficult and long war for independence, but also lack of political stability in the postcolonial period (civil wars, coups d’état, experiments with socialism and one-party system). The article is an attempt to reflect on the hypothesis that the Portuguese colonial legacy can be perceived as a historical factor leading to state dysfunctionality, however its evaluation should be more complex, as from today’s perspective it could bring some benefits that derive most of all from the common official language, similar historical experience and some sense of the Luso-African or Lusophone identity. The paper is based on the qualitative analysis of the already existing data, critical reading of the literature of the subject, as well as qualitative data gathered during author’s study visits to Portugal, Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau.
East African Communities (1967-1978, 1999-) and their Activity for Political Stability of the Region
Authors: Joanna Bar
Published: June 2019

The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation founded on 30 November 1999, including such member states as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. The EAC was meant as the reactivation and expansion of an earlier organisation founded in 1967 by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Unlike its predecessor (which collapsed in 1978), not only has the contemporary Community been operating stably for almost 20 years, but it has also proved to be successful in improving the economic growth of its member states. Simultaneously, it supports the internal and national security of individual member states and the stability of the entire region. In recent years, the stabilisation capabilities of the Community have been tested through the accession of South Sudan, a country driven by a domestic conflict. Republic of South Sudan contributes not only rich crude oil deposits and water resources, but also a heavy burden of political issues in the form of both domestic conflicts and unresolved international problems such as a border conflict with the Republic of (north) Sudan. Successful economic cooperation may, however, reduce poverty and boost the development of South Sudan, both with regard to its economy and within the social and political aspects. This, in turn, may translate into good governance and the formation of a civil society.
An Efficient Morris Method-Based Framework for Simulation Factor Screening
Authors: Shi Wen , Chen Xi , Shang Jennifer
Published: June 2019

In this paper, we study the methodological underpinnings of the Morris elementary effects method, a model-free factor-screening technique originally proposed for deterministic simulation experiments, and develop an efficient Morris method–based framework (EMM) for simulation factor screening. Equipped with an efficient cluster-sampling procedure, EMM can simultaneously screen the main and interaction (or nonlinear) effects of all factors and control the overall false discovery rate at a prescribed level. Despite focusing on deterministic simulation experiments, we reveal the connections between EMM (also the Morris method) and other factor-screening methods, such as sequential bifurcation, and examine the resulting implications in the stochastic simulation setting under some commonly stipulated assumptions in design of experiments. Numerical experiments are presented to demonstrate the efficiency and efficacy of EMM.
Regional Planning Model for Cancer Screening with Imperfect Patient Adherence
Authors: Ratcliffe Aaron , Marucheck Ann , Gilland Wendell
Published: June 2019

The effectiveness of cancer screening and adherence to cancer screening guidelines can be inhibited by long wait times for screening appointments. In this article, the authors develop a queueing network model of screening for a disease within a population of patients with imperfect adherence to screening guidelines to characterize the relationship between the screening request frequency rate and the wait time for screens. They first use their model to derive the capacity needed by a given system or the population size a given system can serve to guarantee a certain service level, and then analyze routine screening for average-risk patients as well as the additional capacity required for diagnostic screening and surveillance of high-risk patients. Finally, the authors perform a numerical study using national public health data for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in the United States and provide insights for public health officials, providers, and policy makers, showing how queueing models can be applied to regional planning decisions for determining CRC screening capacity requirements.
philosophising with young children as a language-promoting principle
Authors: Alt Katrin saskia
Published: June 2019

Children develop language and communication skills through interaction with adults and other children. This study therefore focuses on two interdependent issues: the effect of philosophizing with children on children’s language development and the speech acts of teachers and children in philosophical enquiries. As part of a before-after test with the “Hamburger Verfahren zur Analyse des Sprachstandes Fünfjähriger” (Reich & Roth, 2004, Hamburg Procedure for Analysing the Language Level of Five Year-olds), weekly philosophical discussions were undertaken with a test class over a period of six months. The central findings are that the philosophising children developed significantly higher language ability compared with a non-philosophising control class in two areas, namely general performance in discussion and the use of more sophisticated connectors. A further part of the study compared the speech acts of the children and their pre-school teacher in the context of philosophical discussion with their speech acts in a different dialogic situation (dialogic discussion of picture books). This showed that philosophical questions from the pre-school teacher led to the production of particularly complex language by the children. Complex speech acts involve the use of higher-level verb structures and connectors. These are necessary in order to reason and act as a citizen agent and are supported by philosophising with children, as this study shows.
Miscibility of PEO-b-PCL and its Component Polymers with PVPh at the Air/Water Interface
Authors: Pan Hui-Ting , Hsu Wen-Ping
Published: June 2019

The mixed monolayer behavior of polyethylene-block-polycaprolactone (PEO-b-PCL) and its component polymers (PEO or PCL) with poly(vinyl phenol)(PVPh) was investigated from the measurements of surface pressure-area per molecule (π-A) isotherms at three different temperatures(10˚C, 25˚C and 40˚C). The miscibility and nonideality of the mixed monolayers were examined by calculating the excess surface area as a function of composition.
Interestingly, PEO and PCL were shown to have different interactions with PVPh at the air/water interface from in the bulk state on the solid substrate. PE O demonstrated mostly positive excess surface area with PVPh. Negative excess surface areas were in the majority observed in the PCL/PVPh monolayers. A scheme of differences in interaction sites between PEO (or PCL) and PVPh at the air/water interface was proposed to explain the negative or positive deviations of surface areas successfully.
The 12 trillion dollar question: is global surgery cost effective?
Authors: Dube AM , Patel R
Published: June 2019

This article considers the financial gain of providing global access to safe and affordable surgical care, especially in low and middle income countries.
Treasures from the Collections
Authors: Foxley Sebastian
Published: June 2019

Clay model of a Chinese man known as A-ke, commissioned by John Livingstone, surgeon to the East India Company in Macao, c1820
The 2019 Charles Tomes lecture
Authors: Zakrzewska Joanna M
Published: June 2019

Why is the simple act of listening to a patient’s story of suffering so important?
Prediction of Compressive Strength Using Support Vector Regression
Authors: Sai Goutham J , Singh Vijay Pal
Published: June 2019

At the design stage of a structure, the members of adequate dimension and strength is provided. But with passage of time, the strength of the members reduces gradually due to exposure to environmental conditions and unexpected loadings other than for which the structure is designed. Non Destructive Testing (NDT) method provides a convenient and rapid method of determination of existing strength of concrete without subjecting the member to any damage.  In the present study, Support Vector Regression (SVR) in Python has been used for the prediction of compressive strength of concrete. Three different NDT techniques have been used as input for the SVR model. A good co-relation between predicted strength and strength determined after crushing the concrete cubes has been achieved. It has also been observed that accuracy in the predicted strength is more in case of inputs from more than one NDT technique is used.
InterRC: An Inter-Resources Collaboration Heuristic for Scheduling Independent Tasks on Heterogeneous Distributed Environments
Authors: Khiat Abdelhamid , Tari Abdelkamel
Published: June 2019

The independent task scheduling problem in distributed computing environments with makespan optimization as an objective is an NP-Hard problem. Consequently, an important number of approaches looking to approximate the optimal makespan in reasonable time have been proposed in the literature. In this paper, a new independent task scheduling heuristic called InterRC is presented. The proposed InterRC solution is an evolutionary approach, which starts with an initial solution, then executes a set of iterations, for the purpose of improving the initial solution and close the optimal makespan as soon as possible. Experiments show that InterRC obtains a better makespan compared to the other efficient algorithms.
Direct Versus Calculated LDL Cholesterol and C-Reactive Protein in Cardiovascular Disease Risk Assessment in the Framingham Offspring Study
Authors: Ikezaki Hiroaki , Fisher Virginia A , Lim Elise , Ai Masumi , Liu Ching-Ti , Adrienne Cupples L , Nakajima Katsuyuki , Asztalos Bela F , Furusyo Norihiro , Schaefer Ernst J
Published: June 2019

BACKGROUND

Increases in circulating LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) concentrations are significant risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). We assessed direct LDL-C and hsCRP concentrations compared to standard risk factors in the Framingham Offspring Study.

METHODS

We used stored frozen plasma samples (−80 °C) obtained after an overnight fast from 3147 male and female participants (mean age, 58 years) free of CVD at cycle 6 of the Framingham Offspring Study. Overall, 677 participants (21.5%) had a CVD end point over a median of 16.0 years of follow-up. Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), direct LDL-C (Denka Seiken and Kyowa Medex methods), and hsCRP (Dade Behring method) concentrations were measured by automated analysis. LDL-C was also calculated by both the Friedewald and Martin methods.

RESULTS

Considering all CVD outcomes on univariate analysis, significant factors included standard risk factors (age, hypertension, HDL-C, hypertension treatment, sex, diabetes, smoking, and TC concentration) and nonstandard risk factors (non-HDL-C, direct LDL-C and calculated LDL-C, TG, and hsCRP concentrations). On multivariate analysis, only the Denka Seiken direct LDL-C and the Dade Behring hsCRP were still significant on Cox regression analysis and improved the net risk reclassification index, but with modest effects. Discordance analysis confirmed the benefit of the Denka Seiken direct LDL-C method for prospective hard CVD endpoints (new-onset myocardial infarction, stroke, and/or CVD death).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data indicate that the Denka Seiken direct LDL-C and Dade Behring hsCRP measurements add significant, but modest, information about CVD risk, compared to standard risk factors and/or calculated LDL-C.
Некоторые аспекты формирования башкирской диаспоры Киргизии в дореволюционный период
Authors: Аюпов Тимур Маратович
Published: June 2019

Статья посвящена основным тенденциям развития башкир — этнической группы, проживавшей на территории современной Киргизии в дооктябрьский период. На формирование диаспоры повлияли самые разные факторы: религиозная, культурная и языковая общность с местным населением, интенсивность торговых отношений, особенности переселенческой политики царской России. В работе приводятся сведения о причинах прибытия башкир в Киргизию, местах расселения и численности, об их хозяйственной деятельности. В то же время выявлено наличие некоторых ассимиляционных процессов. Ценными источниками при написании статьи явились результаты Первой всеобщей переписи населения Российской империи 1897 г., архивные документы, мемуары очевидцев тех событий, а также материалы периодической печати. На конкретных примерах отмечается прогрессивная роль и широкое влияние башкирских просветителей-джа-дидов на систему образования в крае. Просветители на собственные средства строили мечети, школы-мек-тебе и медресе, в которых в основном обучались дети кочевников-киргизов. Автор делает предположение, что формирование диаспоры началось еще до присоединения региона к Российской империи, однако наука не располагает данными о численности населения исследуемой этнической группы на тот момент.
Природно-географическое районирование Алтайского округа в трудах ученых и путешественников рубежа XIX-XX вв.
Authors: Пожарская Ксения Александровна
Published: June 2019

Основываясь на публикациях рубежа XIX-XX вв. ученых, путешественников и сотрудников ведомств различного уровня, автор реконструирует природногеографический образ Алтайского округа. Делается вывод об отходе в исследуемый период от представления об Алтае как регионе, чрезвычайно благоприятном для земледельческой культуры и монолитном по своим климатическим условиям. Отмечается, что большинство исследователей природно-географической конъюнктуры Алтая квалифицировали ее как весьма гетерогенную и разнообразную по своим естественным доминантам. Подчеркивается, что эксперты рубежа веков не только осуществили описание базовых параметров естественной среды (рельеф, термический режим, гидрографические и почвенные условия), но и выделили уникальные, сравнительно с другими территориями, природно-климатические явления (температурная амплитуда, распределение осадков, специфика орошения поверхности и др.). Делается заключение, что предложенное специалистами районирование заложило основы для собственно научного изучения Алтая, поставило на повестку дня вопросы об организации рационального хозяйствования в регионе и риске для развития зернового хозяйства непродуманной колонизации.
Policy vs practice: The use, implementation and enforcement of human rights clauses in the European Union’s international trade agreements
Authors: Prickartz Anne-Carlijn , Staudinger Isabel
Published: June 2019

In the mid-1990s, the EU adopted a general policy of including human rights clauses in all of its international trade agreements. Through these human rights clauses, in addition to other tools such as Human Rights Dialogue and sanctions, the EU seeks to promote the protection of human rights in its external relations. There are, however, some issues arising regarding the content, use, implementation and activation of these clauses. Not only do human rights clauses in different agreements vary in wording and scope, but also the actual implementation and enforcement by the EU differ from case to case, raising questions as to the selective character and the consistency of the EU’s action and, consequently, as to the EU’s credibility as a normative international actor. The main deficiencies in this regard are the selective and at times inconsistent inclusion and activation of human rights clauses, as shown by an examination of the EU’s agreements and their implementation and enforcement in practice. This article examines human rights clauses in the EU’s international trade agreements and the implementation and enforcement thereof, in order to shed light on the promises and pitfalls of the EU’s human rights efforts.
Causes of treatment failure in primary hypothyroidism
Authors: Manuylova Yulia A. , Morgunova Tatyana B. , Fadeyev Valentin V.
Published: June 2019

Primary hypothyroidism is one of the most common endocrine diseases. Levothyroxine is the treatment of choice due to its efficacy, good tolerance, simplicity of a dose titration, low cost and long elimination half-life. Replacement therapy for hypothyroidism is simple and convenient, but from 30 to 60% of patients are in a state of decompensation. Over- or underreplacement with L-T4 may lead to serious adverse events such as decreased performance and mood, deterioration of health and quality of life, developing of cardiovascular diseases, cardiac arrhythmias and bone fractures. The most common reasons for failure to compensate for the disease are improper administration of the drug (after eating, drinking coffee and milk immediately after levothyroxine), non-compliance with storage conditions (use after the expiration date, excessive heat), insufficient patient adherence to treatment (skipping the drug), the effect of other medicines drugs (calcium, iron preparations, proton pump inhibitors, etc.), diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (atrophic gastritis, celiac disease). Given many factors influencing the achievement and maintenance of compensation for hypothyroidism, it is necessary to determine and, if possible, eliminate the main factor leading to decompensation before the dose adjustment.
Mulheres no cárcere: A estrutura do sistema prisional e a construção do gênero no Brasil
Authors: Klanovicz Luciana Rosar Fornazari , Bugai Fernanda de Araújo
Published: June 2019

Neste artigo, buscamos pontuar as implicações de gênero do encarceramento feminino a partir da fala de quatro mulheres apenadas no interior do estado do Paraná, Brasil, considerando, para isso, a própria história do sistema prisional no país e a análise das prerrogativas jurídico-legais do ordenamento jurídico nacional.
Estudo retrospectivo dos procedimentos clínicos e radiográficos em dentes traumatizados submetidos à apicificação
Authors: Marques Izabela Volpato , Santana Rosangela Getirana , Morais Carlos Alberto Herrero de , Queiroz Alfredo Franco , Pavan Nair Narumi Orita , Nunes Margareth Calvo Pessuti , Endo Marcos Sergio
Published: June 2019

Introdução: injúrias traumáticas podem resultar em necrose pulpar em dentes permanentes imaturos. Objetivo: o presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar os procedimentos clínicos e radiográficos do tratamento de dentes permanentes imaturos não vitais após apicificação. Métodos: trata-se de um estudo documental, transversal e retrospectivo, no qual recorreu-se aos prontuários de um núcleo de referência em traumatismos dentários da Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM), nos períodos entre 2005 e 2015. Foram incluídos trinta dentes permanentes com necrose pulpar e ápice aberto, cujo tratamento adotado foi a apicificação e obturação do canal radicular. Os seguintes parâmetros foram analisados: idade, sexo, tipo do trauma, dente acometido, estágio de Nolla, lesão periapical, forma do ápice, tipo de tratamento usado e avaliação radiográfica da barreira apical. Utilizou-se o Teste Exato de Fisher (p < 0,05) para avaliar possíveis associações entre a formação total da barreira apical e as variáveis desse estudo. Resultados: dos 30 dentes traumatizados, 19 eram de pacientes do sexo masculino (70,4%) e 8, do sexo feminino (29,6%). A faixa etária envolvida foi de 6 a 10 anos de idade, o dente mais acometido foi o incisivo central superior e a fratura complicada foi a mais prevalente. Entre esses dentes, onze possuíam lesão periapical (36,7%) e a maioria (63,3%) apresentava-se no estágio 9 de Nolla e com ápice em formato convergente (46,66%). Para o tratamento dos dentes com rizogênese incompleta, foram utilizados como medicação intracanal o hidróxido de cálcio (63,3%) e o MTA (6,7%). O número de trocas da medicação à base de hidróxido de cálcio variou de 1 a 9. A frequência de trocas, na maioria dos pacientes, foi mensal e o valor médio da duração dessas trocas foi de 5,8 meses, enquanto a média do tempo total do tratamento foi de 11 meses. Foram realizadas investigações sobre possíveis associações entre a formação completa da barreira apical e outras variáveis, e nenhuma delas mostrou resultados estatisticamente significativos (p > 0,05). Conclusão: tanto o hidróxido de cálcio quanto o MTA foram capazes de induzir a apicificação, bem como a reparação tecidual dos dentes traumatizados avaliados. Pôde-se observar que não houve significância estatística quando comparadas as variáveis, como forma do ápice, lesão periapical, tipo do trauma, tempo total das trocas de hidróxido de cálcio, tempo total do tratamento e controle, associados à calcificação total da porção apical.
Irrigação ultrassônica passiva proporciona menor incidência de debris após preparo do espaço para o pino
Authors: Girotto Aline Carvalho , Bravo Giovana Righetti , Escalante-Otárola Wilfredo Gustavo , Belizário Laurie Garcia , Kuga Milton Carlos
Published: June 2019

Objetivo: esse estudo avaliou a incidência de resíduos (debris) na dentina, no espaço preparado para pino de fibra, submetida a um dos seguintes protocolos de irrigação: água destilada (AD); hipoclorito de sódio a 2,5% (HS); hipoclorito de sódio a 2,5% mais EDTA a 17% (HSE); hipoclorito de sódio a 2,5% agitado com irrigação ultrassônica passiva (HSUS). Métodos: os canais radiculares de quarenta incisivos bovinos, com comprimento radicular de 17,0 mm, foram obturados pela técnica do cone único. Após sete dias, um espaço para o pino de fibra foi preparado com brocas de Largo #1 e #2 e broca DC2 (White Post; FGM). Os espécimes foram aleatoriamente distribuídos em quatro grupos (n = 10), de acordo com o protocolo de irrigação usado: AD; HS, HSE ou HSUS. As raízes foram clivadas longitudinalmente e obtidas imagens, em microscopia eletrônica de varredura (500X), da superfície dentinária dos segmentos radiculares cervical e apical do espaço preparado para pino de fibra. Escores foram atribuídos de acordo com a presença de debris. Resultados: no segmento cervical, HSE e HSUS apresentaram menor incidência de debris do que AD e HS (p < 0,05). No segmento apical, HSUS proporcionou a menor incidência de debris na dentina radicular (p < 0,05). Não houve diferença entre os demais protocolos de irrigação, tanto no segmento cervical quanto no apical (p > 0,05). Conclusões: o protocolo HSUS proporcionou menor incidência de debris sobre a superfície dentinária do espaço preparado para pino de fibra.