bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recentering U.S. Empire: A Structural Perspective on the Color Line
Authors: Quisumbing King Katrina
Published: April 2018

In the past 20 years, scholars of top sociology and race and ethnicity articles increasingly have mentioned the term “color line.” Prominent among them are sociologists concerned with how incoming waves of Latin American and Asian immigration, increasing rates of intermarriage, and a growing multiracial population will affect the U.S. racial order. While much of this work cites Du Bois, scholars stray from his definition of the color line in two ways. First, they characterize the color line as unidimensional and Black–white rather than as many divisions between non-white people and whites. Second, scholars portray the color line as the outcome of microlevel factors rather than the product of international geopolitical arrangements. I contend that in contrast to scholarship that portrays immigrants and intermarried and multiracial people as shifting the color line, international and imperial policies related to immigration, intermarriage, and multiracial identification are longstanding sites of the construction of the U.S. racial order. Scholars should conceptualize the United States as an empire state in order to analyze the international political history of multiple color lines. In doing so, they can distinguish between differences in kind and degree of racial divisions.
Urban scaling and the geographic concentration of inequalities by city size
Authors: Sarkar Somwrita
Published: April 2018

Urban scaling laws summarise how socio-economic behaviours of urban systems may be predicted from city size. While most scaling analysis rests on using aggregate quantities (total incomes, GDP, etc.), examining distributions of these aggregate quantities (e.g. income distributions) could shed light on how socio-economic inequalities may correlate or be causally linked to city size. In this direction, this paper examines how geographic distributions and spatial inequalities of income and housing costs vary by city size. The paper presents three principal results. First, it brings out qualitative implications of quantitative scaling by relating scaling of the distributions of income and housing costs to their specific geographic concentrations. Second, it shows that some small and medium sized cities are clear outliers, showing behaviour similar to the largest cities and starkly different from the behaviours of the bulk of small and medium sized cities. Third, this above observation explains why heteroscedasticity, or large and heterogeneous fluctuations, are frequently observed in urban indicator data when plotted as a function of city size. Putting together these three results, overall, it is shown that income distributions and housing costs scale and concentrate in cities by size in a predictable way, where the largest cities superlinearly/disproportionately agglomerate the highest income earners and the highest housing costs, and show relatively lower concentrations of low-middle income earners and low-medium housing costs. In contrast, most of the smaller and medium sized cities show a ‘flipped’ opposite trend. A few small and medium sized cities are outliers: they show trends that match those of the largest cities, due to specialisations of economic functions or concentrations of high-paying occupations in these cities. The empirical findings lead to a discussion on the objective and normative relationships between city size and urban inequalities. It is suggested that due to the concentrations of high income and high housing costs, largest cities may have a resulting housing market structure that will push out lower and medium income earners, thereby making affordability, diversity, and socio-spatial justice emerge as important urban policy issues.
Endolaserless Vitrectomy With Intravitreal Aflibercept Injection for Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy-Related Vitreous Hemorrhage (LASER LESS TRIAL)
Authors: Marcus Dennis M. , Singh Harinderjit , Starnes Davis C. , Walia Harveen , Farooq Amina , Frazier Heather , Marcus William B. , Lalane Robert A.
Published: April 2018

Purpose:

For proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) eyes not requiring vitrectomy, Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Protocol S and the CLARITY trial demonstrated better visual function and anatomical outcomes with less proliferative and diabetic macular edema consequences in the antivascular endothelial growth factor groups compared to the panretinal photocoagulation groups. Intravitreal aflibercept injection (IAI) may represent a useful therapy with vitrectomy for PDR-related vitreous hemorrhage (VH) as a viable alternative to intraoperative endolaser during vitrectomy. We will determine the safety and efficacy when aflibercept is used for PDR-related VH with endolaserless vitrectomy.

Methods:

Evaluation of endolaserless vitrectomy and 2 mg IAI for PDR-related VH. Eyes receive 1 preoperative and intraoperative IAI followed by randomization to a q8week group receiving 4 postoperative q4week IAI followed by q8week IAI or q16week group receiving 2 postoperative q4week IAI followed by q16week IAI.

Main Outcome Measures:

Herein, we present pooled safety and efficacy outcomes through 4 months.

Results:

Twenty-one of 24 eyes were randomized. Preoperative average visual acuity (VA) was 36 letters (20/200). At 4-month follow-up, 18 of 21 randomized eyes showed an average VA of 72 letters (20/40) with an average visual gain of 38 (range, 0-84 gain) letters. Average optical coherence tomography (OCT) central subfield thickness (CST) at 1-month postoperative follow-up was 311 µm. Average OCT CST at 4-month follow-up was 272 µm (average thinning of 38 µm). No significant short-term ocular or systemic adverse events were observed through 4 months.

Conclusions:

Endolaserless vitrectomy with IAI for PDR-related VH demonstrates short-term safety with significant VA improvement.
Science, red in tooth and claw: Whaling, purity, pollution and institutions in marine mammal scientists’ boundary work
Authors: Singleton Benedict E. , Lidskog Rolf
Published: April 2018

The use of lethal research methods on cetaceans has a long and complicated history in cetology (the scientific study of whales, dolphins and porpoises). In the current era, collecting data through the hunting of whales (sometimes referred to as scientific whaling) remains a source of considerable conflict in various fora, including scientific ones. Based on interviews and documents, this article explores how marine mammal scientists articulate the validity of particular practices and research at both the International Whaling Commission and in professional scientific societies. Drawing on cultural theory, the article explores scientists’ boundary work, describing the purity and pollution of particular whaling practices in different institutional contexts. Respondents on either side of the debate argued for the pure or polluted nature of various positions, often utilising particular idealised values of science: objectivity, honesty and openness regarding how conclusions were drawn. The nature of boundary work performed is then related to the institutional context within which it takes place. This article thus highlights how science’s role in environmental conflicts can be assessed through boundary work that denotes who can legitimately speak for science, on what topics and how science is stage-managed.
Comparing the Effect of Psyllium Seed on Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease With Oral Omeprazole in Patients With Functional Constipation
Authors: Hosseini Mousalreza , Salari Roshanak , Akbari Rad Mina , Salehi Maryam , Birjandi Batul , Salari Masoumeh
Published: April 2018

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases. Several studies have been carried out on the treatment of symptoms associated with GERD. The present study aimed to compare the effect of Psyllium seed and oral omeprazole on GERD in patients with functional constipation. In this trial, 132 patients were divided into 2 groups. The impact of omeprazole and Psyllium seed on the treatment and recurrence of GERD was studied. Among the patients, the rate of response to treatment was 89.2% (n = 58) in the Psyllium seed group, while in omeprazole group, it was 94% (n = 63; P = .31). The recurrence rates of Psyllium seed and omeprazole groups were 24.1% (n =14) and 69.8% (n = 44), respectively ( P < .001). The results showed that treatment of functional constipation by Psyllium seed in patients with GERD leads to improvement of GERD and its recurrences in comparison with omeprazole.
Toward the World Code Against Cancer
Authors: Espina Carolina , Herrero Rolando , Sankaranarayanan Rengaswamy , Krug Etienne , Wild Christopher P. , Schüz Joachim
Published: April 2018

Overwhelmed by an abundance of often confusing, ambiguous, or apparently contradictory messages on disease prevention in today’s multiple media streams, the general public would surely value authoritative, clear, and evidence-based instructions on how to actively contribute to the reduction of their cancer risk. The European Code Against Cancer is a set of 12 recommendations for individuals on how to reduce cancer risk. The Code carries the authority and reliability of expert scientists working under the coordination of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the cancer research agency of the WHO. The Code’s messages are aimed at individuals and have been enthusiastically promoted by European cancer associations. The experience of developing and promoting the European Code has generated interest in developing analogous recommendations for other regions of the world. Under the overall umbrella of a World Code Against Cancer using the same International Agency for Research on Cancer methodology, regional Codes could be developed, focused on regions sufficiently large and distinct to merit development of versions adapted to regional differences in risk factors and cancer patterns. Consideration of such an adapted model illustrates why a simple translation of the European Code would not be sufficient to promote cancer prevention globally.
Cost of Oncology Drugs in the Middle-Eastern Country of Lebanon: An Update (2014-2016)
Authors: Elias Fadia , Bou-Orm Ibrahim R. , Adib Salim M. , Gebran Selim , Gebran Anthony , Ammar Walid
Published: April 2018

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate trends in the increasing costs of oncology drugs procured by the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) between 2014 and 2016 and to assess the impact of the introduction in mid-2015 of new immunotherapy drugs for the treatment of lung cancer on the overall and specific costs of that treatment.

Methods

A secondary analysis of data from the MOPH Cancer Drug Scientific Committee data base was conducted using a total of 18,133 cancer files between 2014 and 2016.

Results

Over the 3-year period, about $140 million (USD) was spent on cancer drugs by the MOPH free cancer drug dispensing program. The expenditures increased by 27% after immunotherapy was phased in. The average cost of drugs per patient per year measured across all cancer types increased from $7,000 in 2014 to $8,400 in 2016. Trastuzumab, approved for treating human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–positive breast cancer ranked first in total expenditures for 2014-2015. By 2016, two new immunotherapy drugs had topped the list: pembrolizumab ranked first and nivolumab ranked third, representing 64% of the total cost of lung cancer treatment and approximately 19% of the total yearly budget; beneficiaries represented only 3% of all patients.

Conclusion

This update documents the increasing financial impact of newer cancer drugs on the procurement process in the middle-income country of Lebanon. The trend is aligned with the financial burden of cancer drugs worldwide, which calls for a collaborative global response to this crisis.
Murder on Shades Mountain
Authors: Morrison Melanie S.
Published: April 2018

One August night in 1931, on a secluded mountain ridge overlooking Birmingham, Alabama, three young white women were brutally attacked. The sole survivor, Nell Williams, age eighteen, said a black man had held the women captive for four hours before shooting them and disappearing into the woods. That same night, a reign of terror was unleashed on Birmingham's black community: black businesses were set ablaze, posses of armed white men roamed the streets, and dozens of black men were arrested in the largest manhunt in Jefferson County history. Weeks later, Nell identified Willie Peterson as the attacker who killed her sister Augusta and their friend Jenny Wood. With the exception of being black, Peterson bore little resemblance to the description Nell gave the police. An all-white jury convicted Peterson of murder and sentenced him to death.

In Murder on Shades Mountain Melanie S. Morrison tells the gripping and tragic story of the attack and its aftermath—events that shook Birmingham to its core. Having first heard the story from her father—who dated Nell's youngest sister when he was a teenager—Morrison scoured the historical archives and documented the black-led campaigns that sought to overturn Peterson's unjust conviction, spearheaded by the NAACP and the Communist Party. The travesty of justice suffered by Peterson reveals how the judicial system could function as a lynch mob in the Jim Crow South. Murder on Shades Mountain also sheds new light on the struggle for justice in Depression-era Birmingham. This riveting narrative is a testament to the courageous predecessors of present-day movements that demand an end to racial profiling, police brutality, and the criminalization of black men.
Slavery Unseen
Authors: Aidoo Lamonte
Published: April 2018

In Slavery Unseen, Lamonte Aidoo upends the narrative of Brazil as a racial democracy, showing how the myth of racial democracy elides the history of sexual violence, patriarchal terror, and exploitation of slaves. Drawing on sources ranging from inquisition trial documents to travel accounts and literature, Aidoo demonstrates how interracial and same-sex sexual violence operated as a key mechanism of the production and perpetuation of slavery as well as racial and gender inequality. The myth of racial democracy, Aidoo contends, does not stem from or reflect racial progress; rather, it is an antiblack apparatus that upholds and protects the heteronormative white patriarchy throughout Brazil's past and on into the present.
Epigenética e exercício físico: influência em transtornos de ansiedade?
Authors: Lobo Mariana de Oliveira , Krier Felipe Carneiro , Tibana Ramires Alsamir , Prestes Jonato
Published: April 2018

Introdução: A embora o número de estudos que correlacionam os efeitos da atividade física com aspectos morfofisiológicos cerebrais e com transtornos de ansiedade tenha crescido, existe limitação no campo do treinamento de força (TF) e seu papel de modificador comportamental, assim como sua relação com eventos epigenéticos. Objetivo: realizar uma revisão sistemática da literatura em relação aos efeitos do exercício físico e à influência transgeracional das características epigenéticas em quadros de transtornos de ansiedade. Métodos: realizou-se uma pesquisa bibliográfica em Literatura científica nacional e internacional, nas bases eletrônicas: Literatura Latino-Americana em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) e Public Medline (PubMed). Na busca, sem limitação de período de tempo, utilizaram-se as seguintes palavras-chave, em português/inglês: “Ansiedade”; “Ansiedade e exercício físico”; “Treino de força e Transtorno de Ansiedade”; “Transtorno do Pânico”; “Transtorno de Ansiedade Generalizada”; “Epigenética”. Resultados: notou-se que, nos quadros de transtornos de ansiedade, os ajustes fisiológicos aos quais o organismo se torna submetido extrapolam o âmbito do sistema nervoso autônomo e atingem o sistema endócrino e imunitário, tornando-se duradouro. A prática de exercício físico e a epigenética demonstraram relevante papel na modificação dos principais sinais e sintomas dessa psicopatologia. Conclusões: os artigos estudados apresentaram tipos de estudo bastante distintos entre si, demonstrando o benefício alcançado pela prática de exercício físico nos quadros de transtorno de ansiedade, mas não possibilitaram delinear que tipos e metodologias são os mais adequados. Ficou evidente a necessidade da correlação entre Treinamento de força e epigenética.
Análise comparativa de características tomográficas de nódulos e massas pulmonares benignas e malignas
Authors: Kock Kelser de Souza , Nicolau Maria Fernanda , Da Silva Cicero Inacio
Published: April 2018

Introdução: a análise quantitativa das características de nódulos e massas pulmonares por meio da tomografia computadorizada pode auxiliar o diagnóstico médico a estratificar o risco de malignidade. Objetivo: comparar características tomográficas de massas e nódulos pulmonares benignos e malignos, identificando a intensidade em escala de Hounsfield e padrões de textura. Método: estudo transversal, quantitativo, descritivo de levantamento. Foram selecionados prontuários de pacientes internados no Hospital Nossa Senhora da Conceição (HNSC) em Tubarão-SC, no ano de 2014 com diagnósticos de neoplasia benigna dos brônquios e do pulmão (NPB) (D143) e neoplasia maligna do lobo superior, do brônquio ou pulmão (NPM) (C34). Resultados: Foi observado que a chance para malignidade esteve relacionada ao sexo masculino OR=9,4 (IC 95% 1,7–51,1) com p=0,009, área>13,18 cm2 OR=14,6 (IC 95% 2,6–82,1) com p=0,002, nos parâmetros de textura, a correlação≤0,166550 OR=10,3 (IC 95% 2,1–49,2) com p=0,004 e momento inverso da diferença> 0,166550 OR=28,0 (IC 95% 4,2–184,3) com p=0,001. Conclusão: houve diferença entre os grupos NPB e NPM entre os parâmetros clínico-epidemiológicos e entre algumas características de textura analisadas.
Efeito da rutina em modelo de depressão crônico induzido por corticosterona em camundongos
Authors: Pinheiro Emanuel de Araújo , Sousa Leonardo de Sabóia , Silva Alyne Alves da , Farias Carolina de Paiva , Vasconcelos Silvania Maria Mendes , Honório Júnior José Eduardo Ribeiro
Published: April 2018

Introdução: a depressão é uma doença altamente prevalente na população mundial e apesar de não ter sua causa estabelecida, algumas teorias tentam esclarecer sua etiologia. A rutina é um flavonoide pertencente à classe dos flavonóis, que tem propriedades anti-inflamatória e antioxidante. Objetivo: avaliar os efeitos antidepressivos da rutina em um modelo crônico induzido por corticosterona em camundongos. Metodologia: foram utilizados camundongos Swiss fêmeas (25-30g) que receberam corticosterona 20mg/kg ou tween 3% por 21dias. Outros grupos receberam corticosterona por 14 dias e entre 15o ao 21o dia de tratamento, rutina (0,2, 2,0 e 10mg/kg) ou fluoxetina10mg/kg ou diazepam 1mg/Kg. Uma hora após a última administração, os animais passaram pelos testes de campo aberto, labirinto em cruz elevada e nado forçado. Após os testes, os animais foram sacrificados por decapitação e as áreas cerebrais córtex pré-frontal, hipocampo e corpo estriado dissecados. Para análise entre os grupos foi usado o teste “t” de Student e para comparação múltipla dos parâmetros utilizará a Análise de Variância (ANOVA). Resultados: a corticosterona foi capaz de induzir a depressão nos animais. No teste de campo aberto, a rutina 0,2, 2,0 e 10mg/kg reduziram a locomoção. A menor dose da rutina apresentou melhor resposta, aumentando o número de entrada e tempo de permanência no braço aberto no teste de labirinto em cruz elevada. Também reduziu significativamente o tempo de imobilização no teste de nado forçado. Conclusão: a substância apresentou atividades ansiolítica e antidepressiva.
Intervenção educativa na equipe de enfermagem diante dos cuidados paliativos
Authors: Beserra Viana Gleice Kelle , Da Silva Hashilley Alberto , Girão Lima Ana Karine , Almeida de Lima Ana Luiza , Lopes Mourão Carla Monique , Ferreira de Freitas Alisson Salatiek , Lopes Silva Aline Mayra , Dos Santos Elenilce Teixeira , Sousa Rodrigues Francisca Taciana
Published: April 2018

Introdução:  Estudos demonstram haver limitações acerca do conhecimento sobre Cuidados Paliativos (CP), bem como a existência de dificuldade em discutir sobre o assunto com os profissionais de enfermagem Objetivo: descrever a experiência, enquanto acadêmicas de enfermagem, durante o desenvolvimento e a implementação de uma atividade de intervenção educativa à equipe de enfermagem sobre CP. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo descritivo do tipo relato de experiência, realizado a partir do programa de iniciação científica de um centro universitário, como projeto de extensão acadêmica, no período de agosto de 2015 a julho de 2016. Resultados e Discussão: A atividade educativa possibilitou o desenvolvimento do pensamento crítico, tanto para as acadêmicas que realizaram o estudo e conduziram a intervenção, como para os participantes da pesquisa, que, durante toda a atividade, foram instigados a contribuir de forma ativa com o processo de aprendizagem. Essa intervenção educativa permitiu que os participantes se apropriassem de estratégias de planejamento, comunicação e organização do cuidado prestado ao paciente que necessita de CP. Acredita-se que a participação dos alunos de graduação em Enfermagem em projetos de iniciação científica favorece a formação de sujeitos capazes de reconhecer e intervir em problemas reais, em busca de transformações sociais que libertem e transformem o meio em que atuam. Conclusão: Conclui-se que, durante a formação acadêmica de enfermagem, a participação em projetos de iniciação científica, bem como o desenvolvimento de atividades que envolvem estratégias educativas dinâmicas pode propiciar um impacto positivo no conhecimento do aluno, favorecendo a formação de um profissional com pensamento crítico-reflexivo e influente em seu campo de atuação.
Síndrome de Cornélia de Lange e Doença de Graves: uma associação rara
Authors: Ferreira Tássia Calvet Pinto , Rebelo Airton Afonso Ferreira , Kahwage Amanda Machado , Guimarães Ryssia de Oliveira Braun
Published: April 2018

Introdução: A síndrome de Cornelia de Lange (SCdL) corresponde a uma condição rara caracterizada por mutações nos genes responsáveis pelas proteínas estruturais e reguladoras do complexo da coesina, levando o paciente à distrofia facial e aos atrasos no crescimento e desenvolvimento. Seu diagnóstico é baseado nos achados clínicos e/ou a identificação da heterozigose patogênica variante em N1PBL, RAD21, ou SMC3 ou homozigose patogênica variante em HDAC8 ou SMC1A. Essa síndrome possui um amplo espectro de manifestações que incluem anormalidades neurológicas, endocrinológicas, musculoesqueléticas e cutâneas. A Doença de Graves, por sua vez, representa o expoente mais comum de hipertireodismo, possui origem autoimune e resulta de uma complexa interação entre fatores genéticos e ambientais. Relato de caso: Este artigo tem por objetivo relatar um caso de uma paciente de 22 anos com diagnóstico de SCdL, a qual abriu o quadro de hipertireoidismo por Doença de Graves, apresentando insônia, irritabilidade e agitação, com melhora após tratamento medicamentoso.
Artrite Rádio Cárpica por Candida krusei: relato de caso
Authors: Castro Ubiratan Brum , Brito Auro Sérgio Perdigão , Trindade Paula Lemos Carneiro
Published: April 2018

Introdução: Artrites sépticas de Cândida sp são incomuns, graves, e podem atingir elevado grau de morbimortalidade se não tratadas adequadamente. Ocorrem por disseminação hematogênica, especialmente em imunocomprometidos submetidos a procedimentos cirúrgicos ou por inoculação direta em pacientes leucopênicos, portadores de câncer, sepse ou doenças autoimunes. Relato de caso: O caso relatado trata de paciente imunossuprimido, portador de artrite psoriásica, com artrite séptica devido à Candida krusei – evento raro. Conclusão: Houve boa evolução com antifúngico endovenoso e desbridamento cirúrgico.
Visceral Leishmaniasis hospitalizations and seasonality in Fortaleza, Ceará, Northeast Brazil between 2003 – 2012
Authors: Leite Robério Dias , Meneses Renata Leal , De Magalhães Thais Fontes , Ogawa Maurício Yukio , Falcão Hayssa de Oliveira , Sousa Anastácio de Queiroz
Published: April 2018

Introduction: The knowledge of the relationship between Visceral Leishmaniosis and climatic aspects is already well established in the literature of other countries, but lack data of this relationship in Brazil. Objective: This study aimed to describe the seasonal distribution of hospitalizations for Visceral Leishmaniosis (VL) in a referral hospital for infectious diseases located in an endemic area of the semiarid in the Northeast of Brazil. Methods: The number of monthly hospitalizations between 2003 and 2012 was recorded retrospectively and was correlated with climate variables. Results: During this period 1,302 patients were hospitalized. We observed an inverse relationship with the monthly amount of precipitation (r = - 0.725; p = 0.008), the number of days per month with precipitation (r = - 0.683; p = 0.0144) and relative humidity (r = - 0.746; p = 0.005) when compared with the monthly number of hospitalizations due to VL. Inversely, there was a direct relationship with the maximum monthly mean temperature and the number of hospitalizations due to VL (r = 0.643; p = 0.024). Conclusions: The rainy season, characterized by more rainfall and higher humidity, was correlated with fewer hospitalizations for VL. Conversely, in months with higher temperatures the number of hospitalizations for VL was higher.
Electron radiation belt dynamics during magnetic storms and in quiet time
Authors: Лазутин Леонид , Lazutin Leonid , Дмитриев Алексей , Dmitriev Aleksey , Суворова Алла , Suvorova Alla
Published: April 2018

The paper discusses the dynamics of the outer electron belt, adiabatic and nonadiabatic mechanisms of replenishment and losses of energetic electrons. Under undisturbed conditions, the outer electron belt gradually empties: in the inner magnetosphere due to electron precipitation in the atmosphere and in the quasi-trapping region due to losses at the magnetopause because drift shells of electrons are not closed there. The latter process does not occur in normal years due to the masking replenishment by freshly accelerated particles, but in years of extremely low activity it leads to a significant decrease in the electron population of the belt. During the magnetic storm main phase, the first reason for the decrease in the electron flux intensity is the adiabatic cooling associated with conservation of adiabatic invariants and complemented by precipitation of electrons into the atmosphere and their dropout at the magnetopause. Electron flux increases involve EB electron injection by the induction electric field of substorm activation and by the large-scale solar wind electric field, with pitch energy diffusion along with adiabatic heating in the recovery phase. The rate of electron flux recovery after a storm is determined by the ratio of nonadiabatic increases and losses; hence the electron flux represents a continuous series from low to very high values. The combination of these processes determines the individual character of radiation belt development during each magnetic storm and the behavior of the belt in the quiet time.
New narrow-beam neutron spectrometer in complex monitoring system
Authors: Михалко Евгения , Mikhalko Evgeniya , Балабин Юрий , Balabin Yuriy , Маурчев Евгений , Maurchev Evgeniy , Германенко Алексей , Germanenko Aleksey
Published: April 2018

In the interaction of cosmic rays (CRs) with Earth’s atmosphere, neutrons are formed in a wide range of energies: from thermal (E≈0.025 eV) to ultrarelativistic (E>1 GeV). To detect and study CRs, Polar Geophysical Institute (PGI) uses a complex monitoring system containing detectors of various configurations. The standard neutron monitor (NM) 18-NM-64 is sensitive to neutrons with energies E>50 MeV. The lead-free section of the neutron monitor (BSRM) detects neutrons with energies E≈(0.1÷1) MeV. Also, for sharing with standard detectors, the Apatity NM station has developed and installed a neutron spectrometer with three energy channels and a particle reception angle of 15 degrees. The configuration of the device makes it possible to study the degree of anisotropy of the particle flux from different directions. We have obtained characteristics of the detector (response function and particle reception angle), as well as geometric dimensions through numerical simulation using the GEANT4 toolkit [Agostinelli et al., 2003]. During operation of the device, we collected database of observations and received preliminary results.
Better community services will reduce mental health detentions
Authors: Quaile Alistair
Published: April 2018

Alistair Quaile argues why providing a greater focus on early intervention and support in the community will help reduce mental health detentions
Asperger's syndrome and mental health
Authors: Barber Christopher Francis
Published: April 2018

Asperger's syndrome is an aspect of autism and, although not a mental health condition in itself, is often linked to mental health as those on the autism spectrum, including those with Asperger's, often experience mental health issues and are likely to be at increased risk of developing such health issues. This article seeks to explain what autism and Asperger's syndrome are and explore its links to a variety of mental health issues, along with forms of nursing management.
Physical health for people with mental health illness: Meeting the challenge
Authors: Pegram Anne , Goddard Kim
Published: April 2018

Mental health nurses have opportunities to improve the physical health of people with serious mental illness. To achieve this, they require the skills to undertake a physical health assessment and subsequently plan and execute interventions. Skills to achieve this include measurement of vital signs, interpersonal communication, being confident in making referrals to health care professionals, and using approaches that may bring about positive lifestyle changes. The introduction of a module that incorporated the teaching and learning of these skills into a pre-registration nursing programme has had a positive impact on the confidence of mental health nursing students who have undertaken the module. Two students on this course have written about the module and follow this article. One area for module development is to provide further opportunities for students to practise skills in initiating conversations with clients about lifestyle changes.
Managing urinary incontinence in an acute mental health ward: A case study
Authors: McWilliams Caoimhe , Goddard Kim , Pegram Anne
Published: April 2018

Urinary incontinence is a common condition. Its prevalence among patients with severe mental illness in acute inpatient settings is significant and often goes unrecognised. Obesity, high caffeine consumption and taking prescribed drugs known to exacerbate or cause incontinence are particular risk factors for this group of patients. The embarrassing and stressful nature of the condition can have a substantial impact on quality of life and limit activities, such as exercise and socialising that are important to both physical and mental health.

Using a coaching approach, a 48-year-old woman with severe depression was supported to make simple lifestyle changes to manage her urinary incontinence. Using this approach rather than a traditionally prescriptive form of communication, nurses can combine motivational and emotional support; education, and assistance in accessing resources. The client's own vision is prioritised, leading to improving self-management and long-term outcomes.
Transforming postnatal care
Authors: Rogers Amanda
Published: April 2018

In 2016, the NHS in North West London was chosen as one of seven areas in the country to be a Better Births Early Adopter, and has since focused on postnatal care. Amanda Rogers explains how
Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome during pregnancy, birth and beyond
Authors: Pezaro Sally , Pearce Gemma , Reinhold Emma
Published: April 2018

The Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) are an underdiagnosed group of conditions with implications and risks associated with childbearing. Those with EDS suggest that health professionals lack of awareness in this area, and consequently describe delays in access to appropriate healthcare services. This article draws on the existing international evidence available to present evidence-based care considerations for childbearing women with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) throughout the antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal periods. Care considerations are also offered in relation to the care of the newborn infant. The management of hEDS in childbearing women and babies can be complex. Findings point to the need for a multidisciplinary approach to formulating individualised care plans in partnership with women. In understanding the evidence in relation to this issue, midwives will be better able to practice evidence-based and woman-centred care.
Maternal critical care: Informing and influencing local commissioners
Authors: Rogan Margaret , Morrow Gillian
Published: April 2018

Background

Relatively little is known about women who receive higher levels of care within maternity services, such as women with unanticipated pregnancy complications, high-risk pregnancies, complex maternal medical conditions and/or obstetric complications, and women who are or become critically ill.

Aim

To inform local health commissioners on the complexity of activity in a tertiary referral maternity and neonatal service.

Methods

A retrospective audit was completed, applying a local modification of the Intensive Care Society's levels of support for critical care agreed by obstetric, anaesthetic and midwifery teams. The audit included 525 women cared for in the designated critical care rooms over 1 year.

Findings

The findings show that haemorrhage (40%), hypertensive disorders (16%) and sepsis (12%) were the main reasons for maternal critical care, with 44% of women requiring levels 2 and 3 critical care. This audit confirmed adequate, equitable provision of appropriate maternal critical care, but identified a need for written guidance and training programmes on the transfer of critically ill pregnant or postpartum women.

Conclusions

This audit found that a standardised approach to local and regional data collection and agreed definitions of maternal critical care levels were essential for effective commissioning of maternity services to ensure funding by the local commissioning group is influenced by acuity and not births alone.
Hospital postnatal discharge and sepsis advice: Perspectives of women and midwifery students
Authors: Haith-Cooper Melanie , Stacey Tomasina , Bailey Fran
Published: April 2018

Background

Women are discharged home from hospital increasingly early, but there is little evidence examining the postnatal hospital discharge process and how this may impact on the health of women and babies. In particular, there is little on sepsis prevention advice, despite it being the biggest direct cause of maternal mortality.

Aim

To explore the perceptions of women and senior student midwives related to the postnatal hospital discharge process and maternal sepsis prevention advice.

Methods

Three focus group interviews were undertaken, involving 9 senior student midwives and 14 women attending paid or specialist classes for vulnerable migrant women.

Findings

All participants believed that the postnatal hospital discharge process was inadequate, rushed and inconsistent. Sepsis advice was patchy and the condition underplayed.

Conclusions

Cost effective, time-efficient and innovative ways to impart vital information are required to support the postnatal hospital discharge process.
Handwashing and psychology
Authors: Winter George F
Published: April 2018

That health professionals should wash their hands seems obvious, but why are compliance rates so low? As George Winter explains, simple doesn't always mean easy
The Alzheimer's Disease Home Hospice Knowledge Scale: development, validity and reliability
Authors: Sela-Katz Pnina , Werner Perla
Published: April 2018

Background:

Several instruments are available to assess knowledge about hospice care, but none specifically address knowledge about home hospice for persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Aim:

To develop and validate the Alzheimer's Disease Home Hospice Knowledge Scale (AD-HHK-S).

Methods:

A total of 107 Israeli family caregivers of persons with dementia (mean age=71.2; 73% female) participated in the study.

Results:

The AD-HHK-S included 28 true/false items assessing 3 areas of knowledge: knowledge about hospice, knowledge about home hospice, and knowledge about home hospice for AD. Good internal reliability was found, with Cronbach alpha ranging from 0.72 to 0.85. Good face, construct and predictive validity were found.

Conclusions:

The AD-HHK-S proved to be a valid and reliable tool to assess knowledge about hospice care in the area of AD. It might provide an effective tool for palliative care nurses to communicate with family caregivers of persons with AD at the end of life.
Asking terminally ill patients about their preferences concerning place of care and death
Authors: Neergaard Mette Asbjoern , Brogaard Trine , Vedsted Peter , Jensen Anders Bonde
Published: April 2018

Background:

Asking patients with palliative care needs about their end-of-life (EoL) preferences is widely acknowledged as an important aspect of EoL care. However, the issue of how to ask patients these questions has not been fully explored. Most prior studies in this area do not differentiate between patients' pragmatic preferences and ideal preferences, and between preferences concerning place of care (PoC) and place of death (PoD).

Aim:

The aim of this study was to examine possible differences between pragmatic and ideal preferences of terminally ill patients, as well as differences between asking patients about preferences concerning PoC and PoD.

Methods:

Structured interviews were performed with terminally ill cancer patients at inclusion and a follow-up questionnaire was completed 1 month later. Answers were compared using kappa (k) statistics and Pearson's c2–test.

Results:

Among 96 cancer patients, agreement between pragmatic and ideal preferences was statistically significantly different (p=<0.001). Agreement between preferences for PoC and PoD was high (k:0.76–0.85).

Conclusion:

Differences exist between pragmatic and ideal EoL preferences, whereas preferences for PoC and PoD were found to be similar. These findings highlight the importance of the phrasing of questions when uncovering patients' preferences for EoL care.
Politics and palliative care: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Authors: Smyth Dion
Published: April 2018

Dion Smyth's review of palliative nursing on the internet
Gas-phase Ion Spectroscopy of Flexible and Nonflexible Nitrophenolates: Effect of Locking the Two Phenyl Units in 4’-nitro-[1,1’-biphenyl]-4-olate by a Bridging Atom
Authors: Pedersen Bjarke Møller , Nielsen Steen Brøndsted
Published: April 2018

Nitrophenolates (NPs) are molecular anions that can undergo charge-transfer(CT) transitions determined by the degree of electron delocalization betweenthe phenolate oxygen (donor group) and the nitro group (acceptor). Herewe have studied four different NPs: 4’-nitro-[1,1’-biphenyl]-4-olate (1),7-nitro-9H -carbazol-2-olate (NH linker, 2), 7-nitrodibenzo[b,d]furan-3-olate (oxygen linker, 3), and 7-nitrodibenzo[b,d]thiophen-3-olate (sulphurlinker, 4), and recorded their electronic absorption spectra when isolatedin vacuo to determine the effect of locking the biphenyl spacer group betweenthe donor and acceptor on transition energies. Absorption was identified fromion dissociation (action spectroscopy) using a homebuilt setup (sector massspectrometer combined with pulsed laser). We find that the absorption isbroad in the visible region for all four NPs with significant vibronic features.The lowest energy peak is at 601 ± 4 nm, 606 ± 4 nm, 615 ± 4 nm, and620 ± 4 nm, for 3, 4, 2, and 1, respectively. NP 1 is flexible, and its lowestenergy structure is nonplanar while the other three NPs are planar accordingto density functional theory calculations. Hence in the case of 1 the electronic transition has a higher degree of CT than for the other three, accounting for itsabsorption furthest to the red. Our work demonstrates that oxygen and sulphurare best at conveying the electronic coupling between the donor and acceptorsites as 3 and 4 absorb furthest to the blue (i.e., the degree of CT is lowestfor these two NPs). Based on the average spacing between the peaks in thevibrational progressions, coupling occurs to skeleton vibrational modes withfrequencies of 649 ± 69 cm−1 (3), 655 ± 49 cm−1 (4), and 697 ± 52 cm−1 (2).
Reviews
Authors: Mutard Bruce , Tversky Barbara
Published: April 2018

A Theory of Narrative Drawing, Simon Grennan (2017) Palgrave Studies in Comics and Graphic Novels, London: Palgrave Macmillan, 280 pp., ISBN 978-1-13752-165-1, h/bk, £56.09

Drawing as a Way of Knowing in Art and Science, Gemma Anderson (2017) Bristol: Intellect, 275 pp., ISBN: 978-1-78320-810-4, h/bk, £74/$98.50
The magnified glass of liberation: A review of fictional drawings
Authors: O’Donnell Lucy
Published: April 2018

The article uses an inactive creative period to consider drawing as a type of fiction. The writing style adheres to academic conventions; however, the author’s autobiographical experiences and wonderings are critical in exploring drawings fictions. It revisits making and thinking to explore drawing and philosophizing as speculative commutable passages of exploration and inquiry. The article chronicles the preparation of fictional drawings for a ‘Fictional museum of drawing’ created by Phil Sawdon. This article reworks Sawdon’s site of fictional drawing, advocating drawings fictions as twofold, as rooted in foresight where predisposed thinking is navigated and anticipation reigns. The other recognition of fiction focuses upon the material illusions of thought. It plays on the autobiographical disposition of drawing/writing redrafting spatial origination of words to become diverse and contradictory graphics of language that displace the blank page. The fictions of the drawings/writings reviewed in the paper reappraise syntactical devices and worded conventions, where the works reorganize conventions from both drawing and writing using illusion and paradox to unsteady their material.
The importance of medium specificity in writing and drawing
Authors: Blore Francis
Published: April 2018

The intent of this essay is to consider the relationship between writing and drawing. The article will take a critical look at a set of propositions from the discourse on drawing which discuss the common ground shared by the two mediums. It will begin by considering how the modes were interlaced within Mel Bochner’s 1966 Working Drawings and Other Visible Things on Paper Not Necessarily Meant to Be Viewed as Art, and then turn its attention to ideas from such figures as Hélène Cixous and Taro Amano. By addressing questions such as both mediums’ allegiances in thought, form and the making of meaning, the hope is to suggest that within similarity there is still room for difference. The article will conclude by touching upon the work of Hanne Darboven to propose that the awareness of difference creates distinct ways to use both mediums to powerful effect.
OVARIAN CARCINOMA IN CHILDREN: A CASE REPORT
Authors: Bernardo Gabriel Pereira , Bernardo Lorena Pereira , Fechine Elisian Macedo , Parente Lucas Leimig Telles , Parente Rodrigo Emmanuel Leimig Telles , Telles Maria Valéria Leimig , Neto João Saraiva Saraiva da Cruz
Published: April 2018

Pediatric germ cell tumors (GCTs) are the most important raretumors in childhood and adolescence and are often asymptomatic until theybecome an adnexal mass, compressing neighboring structures, associatedwith increased alpha-fetoprotein and abdominal or pelvic pain. In the presentstudy, we report the case of a patient with fever and presence of abdominaltumor that was submitted to surgery for removal of extensive ovarian tumor.The importance of the best way of treating germ cell neoplasia, as well as thesize of the surgical piece removed from the patient, motivated the study andreport of the case.Keywords: pediatric surgery, ovarian cancer.
PSYCHOSOMATIC, CHRONIC-DEGENERATIVE DISEASES AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
Authors: Oliveira Gislene Farias de
Published: April 2018

Chronic-degenerative diseases, psychosomatic diseases and urban violence are some of the examples that constitute today serious aggravations of epidemiological in the Brazilian population. Although communicable diseases, whether endemic or epidemic, are still quite relevant in terms of public health problems, new diseases and even known old ones appear in other environmental and social contexts. The intervention through the health services, find limitations in urban inequalities, social exclusion, migrations, etc, as several authors point out. Identifying vulnerabilities has been a major challenge for health managers, practitioners and researchers in the field.
Effects of different degrees of acidity and concentration of bleaching agents on human enamel mineral content and surface morphology over time
Authors: Andrade Alessandra Pereira , Shimaoka Angela Mayumi , Cardoso Marcio Vivan , Carvalho Rubens Côrte Real
Published: April 2018

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pH and concentration of bleaching agents on the mineral content and surface morphology of human dental enamel for 14 days. Material and Methods: Eighty human central incisors were randomly divided into 8 groups (n=10): G1-7.5% hydrogen peroxide/pH=9.0; G2–9.5% hydrogen peroxide/pH=9.0; G3-7.5% hydrogen peroxide/pH=7.0; G4-9.5% hydrogen peroxide/pH=7.0; G5-10% carbamide peroxide/pH=5.0; G6-16% carbamide peroxide/pH=5.0; G7-37% phosphoric acid 15s (positive control); G8-no treatment (negative control). The mineral analysis of the bleaching gel collected was assessed by ICP-AES and surface morphology was observed by SEM. Results: Friedman and Dunn’s statistical test demonstrated significant differences among the proposed treatments (p<0.01). No significant difference was found among groups treated with hydrogen peroxide (G1, G2, G3, and G4) or among groups G5, G6 and G7 (p>0.01). However, the latter groups showed significantly higher values as compared to groups G1, G2, G3 and G4 (p<0.01). Conclusion: Alteration in enamel mineral content may not be influenced by concentration when bleaching agents with the same pH are compared. The most apparent alterations in mineral content and surface morphology may be noted when more acidic products are used. The daily mineral content measurement may not be influenced by repeated applications of bleaching agents. KeywordsDental bleaching; Mineral content; Enamel; Peroxide; Demineralization; pH.