bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
APPLICATION OF TRANSURETHRAL MICROWAVE THERMOTHERAPY FOR PATIENTS WITH ACUTE URINARY RETENTION AND SEVERE COMBINED COMORBIDITY FROM BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA
Authors: Mysak A. , Lamptey W.
Published: January 2016

Background. The incidence of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) has grown by almost 35 % over the last five years with an incidence rate of 4438,2 per 100 000 of the respective population (147 677 total patients)  in Ukrainian men beyond working age in 2007 [3].
Objective. The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of TUMT in men where BPH was complicated by AUR and severe comorbidities.
Method. TUMT was performed using the domestically produced equipment ‘ALMGP-01’ at the frequency of 1300 Hz, rectal temperature of 42.5 °C, and urethral temperature of 44.5 °C. The average session duration is 46-55 minutes.
Results and Discussion. Subjective self-assessment: no effect of the procedure was detected (urination not restored) in 9 patients (11.11 %); poor current status with prior temporary improvement (6-9 months of independent urination with repeated AUR) in 14 patients (17.28 %); satisfactory current status with occasional dysuric episodes (however better than pre-TUMT status) in 40 patients (49.38 %). Eight patients (22.22 %) have assessed their status as ‘good’ and ‘excellent’; one patient noted substantial improvement compared to pre-procedure status. The nine patients with lack of success of restoring physiological urination had the following peculiarities: intra-vesical growth of BPH and prostatic volume over 85 cm3 in majority of these patients.
Conclusions. Taking into consideration the minimally invasive nature, favourable tolerability and absence of adverse effects, TUMT can be considered a method of choice in patients with BPH-triggered AUR and contraindications to major surgical treatments and general anaesthesia. Remote outcomes of TUMT may be evaluated as satisfactory, with good effects in 71.62% patients. However in prostatic volumes exceeding 85 cm3 and pronounced intravesical pattern of BPH growth the efficcacy of TUMT is arguable.

KEY WORDS: benign prostatic hyperplasia, acute urinary retention, transurethral microwave hermotherapy.
ASSOCIATION OF FAMILIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS WITH ASTHMA AND ALLERGIC DISEASES IN UKRAINIAN CHILDREN POPULATION
Authors: Fedortsiv O. Ye. , Zejda J. E. , Luchyshyn N. Yu. , Brozek G.M.
Published: January 2016

Background. Asthma and other allergic diseases as influenced by environmental and familial factors might be targeted using preventive measures. These diseases are a matter of some urgency in Ukraine because of the clinical, social and economic importance of childhood.
Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between prevalence of asthma, spastic bronchitis, allergic rhinitis, atopic eczema, unspecified hypersensitization and some selected environmental and familial factors in a population sample of 6 to14-yrs old Western Ukraine schoolchildren.
Methods. The data set of the study was collected using a questionnaire-based survey, containing the data of 4871 urban and rural children aged 6 to 14 years. Correlation of asthma and allergic disease with familial and environmental factors was examined by means of multivariate logistic regression.
Results. Increased risk of asthma (1.7 %) was associated with the urban residence (OR=1.8; p=0.04) and high parental education (OR=1.8; p=0.02); spastic bronchitis (6.2%) – with parental allergy (OR=1.3; p=0.03); atopic eczema (6.2 %) – with younger age (OR=1.3; p=0.03), high parental education (OR=1.3; p=0.03), parental allergy (OR=1.4; p=0.02), tobacco smoke at home (OR=0.7; p=0.01) and household density (OR=0.6; p=0.001); diagnosis of unspecified allergic sensitization (11.8 %) was related to high parental education (OR=1.2; p=0.03),
parental employment (OR=0.8; p=0.02) and pets at home (OR=1.2; p=0.06).
Conclusions. This study identifies that lifestyle and building factors are associated with an altered prevalence of common childhood allergic disease. Prevention may need to address the minimization of potential risk-factors

KEY WORDS: asthma, environmental factors, children.
Status and population of vultures in Moyar Valley, southern India
Authors: Venkitachalam R. , Senthilnathan S.
Published: January 2016

Four species of vultures were surveyed using road transects in two parts of the Moyar Valley, three of these are Critically Endangered by IUCN criteria and one is Endangered.  The vulture study was done for the first time in Nilgiri North Forest Division and Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve of Moyar Valley to determine the flock size in the three species of vultures and also to get a rough estimation of vultures. The results show higher flock size and higher densities in Nilgiri North Forest Division than in Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve and the most numerous of these was the White-rumped Vulture.  There is also evidence of seasonal movements in Nilgiri North Forest Division.  These data represent the first systematic survey results from the area and demonstrate the significance of the Moyar Valley for all four Endangered vulture species, probably the main stronghold remaining in southern India.  They are White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis, Indian Vulture Gyps indicus, Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus and Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus.  The study recommends that immediate long-term conservation efforts should be taken to save the Critically Endangered vultures in the Moyar Valley.

 
Arterial Spin Labeling Magnetic Resonance Imaging Estimation of Antegrade and Collateral Flow in Unilateral Middle Cerebral Artery Stenosis
Authors: Lyu Jinhao , Ma Ning , Liebeskind David S. , Wang Danny J.J. , Ma Lin , Xu Yang , Wang Ting , Miao Zhongrong , Lou Xin
Published: January 2016

Background and Purpose—

Three-dimensional pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling with multiple postlabeling delays has been used to assess cerebral blood flow (CBF). We used this modality to estimate antegrade and collateral flow in patients with unilateral middle cerebral artery stenosis.

Methods—

Consecutive patients with unilateral middle cerebral artery 50% to 99% stenosis at 2 centers underwent pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling with a postlabeling delays of 1.5 and 2.5 s. Mean CBF of bilateral middle cerebral artery territory at the postlabeling delays 1.5 and 2.5 s was measured. Early-arriving flow proportion was defined as (CBF 1.5 s at lesion side/CBF 2.5 s at normal side)×100%. Late-arriving retrograde flow proportion was defined as ([CBF 2.5 s−CBF 1.5 s] at lesion side−[CBF 2.5 s−CBF 1.5 s] at normal side)/CBF 2.5 s at normal side×100%. Antegrade and collateral scales were evaluated in patients with conventional angiography. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated between early-arriving flow and late-arriving retrograde flow proportions on arterial spin labeling and antegrade and collateral scales on conventional angiography, respectively.

Results—

Forty-one patients (46.0±12.0 years) were enrolled. The mean early-arriving flow proportion was 78.3±14.9%. The mean late-arriving retrograde flow proportion was 16.1±10.2%. In 21 patients with conventional angiography, Spearman correlation coefficient was 0.53 (95% confidence interval, 0.11–0.79) between antegrade grade and early-arriving flow proportion (
P
=0.01) and 0.81 (95% confidence interval, 0.56–0.92) between collateral grade and late-arriving retrograde flow proportion (
P
<0.0001).

Conclusions—

Three-dimensional pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling with 2 postlabeling delays may provide an empirical approach for estimating antegrade and collateral flow in patients with unilateral middle cerebral artery stenosis.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT02479243.
Impaired Higher-Level Functional Capacity as a Predictor of Stroke in Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Authors: Murakami Keiko , Tsubota-Utsugi Megumi , Satoh Michihiro , Asayama Kei , Inoue Ryusuke , Ishiguro Aya , Matsuda Ayako , Kanno Atsuhiro , Yasui Daisaku , Murakami Takahisa , Metoki Hirohito , Kikuya Masahiro , Imai Yutaka , Ohkubo Takayoshi
Published: January 2016

Background and Purpose—

Functional capacity is a predictor, as well as a consequence, of stroke. However, little research has been done to examine whether higher-level functional capacity above basic activities of daily living is a predictor of stroke.

Methods—

We followed 1493 Japanese community-dwelling adults aged ≥60 years (mean age, 70.1 years) who were independent in basic activities of daily living and had no history of stroke. Baseline data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Higher-level functional capacity was measured using the total score and 3 subscales (instrumental activities of daily living, intellectual activity, and social role) derived from the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence. Adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated by the Cox proportional hazards model.

Results—

During a mean follow-up of 10.4 years, 191 participants developed a first stroke. Impaired higher-level functional capacity based on total score of the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence was significantly associated with stroke (hazard ratio, 1.64; 95% confidence interval, 1.15–2.33). Among the 3 subscales, only intellectual activity was significantly associated with stroke (hazard ratio, 1.64; 95% confidence interval, 1.21–2.22). Social role was significantly associated with stroke only among those aged ≥75 years (hazard ratio, 1.78; 95% confidence interval, 1.07–2.98).

Conclusions—

Impaired higher-level functional capacity, especially in the domain of intellectual activity, was a predictor of stroke, even among community-dwelling older adults with independent basic activities of daily living at baseline. Monitoring of higher-level functional capacity might be useful to detect those at higher risk of developing stroke in the future.
Cardiovascular, Bleeding, and Mortality Risks of Dabigatran in Asians With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Chan Yi-Hsin , Yen Kun-Chi , See Lai-Chu , Chang Shang-Hung , Wu Lung-Sheng , Lee Hsin-Fu , Tu Hui-Tzu , Yeh Yung-Hsin , Kuo Chi-Tai
Published: January 2016

Background and Purpose—

Whether dabigatran is associated with different risks of cardiovascular, bleeding events, and mortality from warfarin in Asian patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation remains unclear.

Methods—

We used the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database to obtain 9940 and 9913 nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients taking dabigatran and warfarin, respectively, from June 1, 2012, to December 31, 2013, as the dynamic cohort. Inverse probability of treatment weighting using propensity scores was used to balance covariates across 2 study groups. Patients were followed up until the first occurrence of any study outcome or end date of study.

Results—

During a median follow-up period of 0.67 years, there were 526 outcomes for dabigatran group. The hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) comparing dabigatran with warfarin (reference) were as follows: ischemic stroke, 0.62 (0.52–0.73;
P
<0.0001); myocardial infarction, 0.67 (0.43–1.05;
P
=0.0803); intracranial hemorrhage, 0.44 (0.32–0.60;
P
<0.0001); major gastrointestinal bleeding, 0.99 (0.66–1.49;
P
=0.9658); all hospitalized major bleeding, 0.58 (0.46–0.74;
P
<0.0001); and all-cause mortality, 0.45 (0.38–0.53;
P
<0.0001). Dabigatran did not increase the risk of myocardial infarction or major gastrointestinal bleeding in all age groups when compared with warfarin. Total 8772 patients (88%) took a 110-mg dose in dabigatran group. The magnitude of effect for each outcome of 110-mg was comparable with that of 150-mg dose in the subgroup analysis.

Conclusions—

In real-world practice, dabigatran was associated with a reduced risk of ischemic stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, all hospitalized major bleeding, and all-cause mortality compared with warfarin in Asian patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Dabigatran did not increase the risk of major gastrointestinal bleeding or myocardial infarction compared with warfarin.
Interleukin-4 Is Essential for Microglia/Macrophage M2 Polarization and Long-Term Recovery After Cerebral Ischemia
Authors: Liu Xiangrong , Liu Jia , Zhao Shangfeng , Zhang Haiyue , Cai Wei , Cai Mengfei , Ji Xunming , Leak Rehana K. , Gao Yanqin , Chen Jun , Hu Xiaoming
Published: January 2016

Background and Purpose—

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is a unique cytokine that may contribute to brain repair by regulating microglia/macrophage functions. Thus, we examined the effect of IL-4 on long-term recovery and microglia/macrophage polarization in 2 well-established stroke models.

Methods—

Transient middle cerebral artery occlusion or permanent distal middle cerebral artery occlusion was induced in wild-type and IL-4 knockout C57/BL6 mice. In a separate cohort of wild-type animals, IL-4 (60 ng/d for 7 days) or vehicle was infused into the cerebroventricle after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. Behavioral outcomes were assessed by the Rotarod, corner, foot fault, and Morris water maze tests. Neuronal tissue loss was verified by 2 independent neuron markers. Markers of classically activated (M1) and alternatively activated (M2) microglia were assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry.

Results—

Loss of IL-4 exacerbated sensorimotor deficits and impaired cognitive functions ≤21 days post injury. In contrast to the delayed deterioration of neurological functions, IL-4 deficiency increased neuronal tissue loss only in the acute phase (5 days) after stroke and had no impact on neuronal tissue loss 14 or 21 days post injury. Loss of IL-4 promoted expression of M1 microglia/macrophage markers and impaired expression of M2 markers at 5 and 14 days post injury. Administration of IL-4 into the ischemic brain also enhanced long-term functional recovery.

Conclusions—

The cytokine IL-4 improves long-term neurological outcomes after stroke, perhaps through M2 phenotype induction in microglia/macrophages. These results are the first to suggest that immunomodulation with IL-4 is a promising approach to promote long-term functional recovery after stroke.
The Semantics of Syntax: The Grounding of Transitive and Intransitive Constructions
Authors: van Dam Wessel O. , Desai Rutvik H.
Published: January 2016

Embodied theories of language maintain that brain areas associated with perception and action are also involved in the processing and representation of word meaning. A number of studies have shown that sentences with action verbs elicit activation within sensory–motor brain regions, arguing that sentence-induced mental simulations provide a means for grounding their lexical-semantic meaning. Constructionist theories argue, however, that form–meaning correspondence is present not only at the lexical level but also at the level of constructions. We investigated whether sentence-induced motor resonance is present for syntactic constructions. We measured the BOLD signal while participants read sentences with (di)transitive (caused motion) or intransitive constructions that contained either action or abstract verbs. The results showed a distinct neuronal signature for caused motion and intransitive syntactic frames. Caused motion frames activated regions associated with reaching and grasping actions, including the left anterior intraparietal sulcus and the parietal reach region. Intransitive frames activated lateral temporal regions commonly associated with abstract word processing. The left pars orbitalis showed an interaction between the syntactic frame and verb class. These findings show that sensory–motor activation elicited by sentences entails both motor resonance evoked by single words as well as at the level of syntactic constructions.
A new species of Themeda (Poaceae: Panicoideae) from the Eastern Ghats, India
Authors: Chorghe Alok , Prasad K. , Prasanna P. V. , Rao Y. V.
Published: January 2016

Themeda odishae (Poaceae), a new species from the Mahendragiri hill ranges, Odisha (Orissa), India, is described and illustrated. It differs from T. mooneyi in shorter and hairy leaf blades, longer peduncle, length of sessile spikelet callus, number of pedicelled spikelets, and longer anthers. And from T. saxicola by its longer peduncle, number of racemes, number of pedicelled spikelets and hairy involucral spikelets.
Homogenized Time Series of the Atmospheric Water Vapor Content Obtained from the GNSS Reprocessed Data
Authors: Ning T. , Wickert J. , Deng Z. , Heise S. , Dick G. , Vey S. , Schöne T.
Published: January 2016

The potential temporal shifts in the integrated water vapor (IWV) time series obtained from reprocessed data acquired from global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) were comprehensively investigated. A statistical test, the penalized maximal t test modified to account for first-order autoregressive noise in time series (PMTred), was used to identify the possible mean shifts (changepoints) in the time series of the difference between the GPS IWV and the IWV obtained from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) interim reanalysis (ERA-Interim) data. The approach allows for identification of the changepoints not only in the GPS IWV time series but also in ERA-Interim. The IWV difference time series formed for 101 GPS sites were tested, where 47 of them were found to contain in total 62 changepoints. The results indicate that 45 detected changepoints were due to the inconsistencies in the GPS IWV time series, and 16 were related to ERA-Interim, while one point was left unverified. After the correction of the mean shifts for the GPS data, an improved consistency in the IWV trends is evident between nearby sites, while a better agreement is seen between the trends from the GPS and ERA-Interim data on a global scale. In addition, the IWV trends estimated for 47 GPS sites were compared to the corresponding IWV trends obtained from nearby homogenized radiosonde data. The correlation coefficient of the trends increases significantly by 38% after using the homogenized GPS data.
Assessing the Impact of Enhanced Hydrological Processes on Urban Hydrometeorology with Application to Two Cities in Contrasting Climates
Authors: Yang Jiachuan , Wang Zhi-Hua , Georgescu Matei , Chen Fei , Tewari Mukul
Published: January 2016

To enhance the capability of models in better characterizing the urban water cycle, physical parameterizations of urban hydrological processes have been implemented into the single-layer urban canopy model in the widely used Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model. While the new model has been evaluated offline against field measurements at various cities, its performance in online settings via coupling to atmospheric dynamics requires further examination. In this study, the impact of urban hydrological processes on regional hydrometeorology of the fully integrated WRF–urban modeling system for two major cities in the United States, namely, Phoenix and Houston, is assessed. Results show that including hydrological processes improves prediction of the 2-m dewpoint temperature, an indicative measure of coupled thermal and hydrological processes. The implementation of green roof systems as an urban mitigation strategy is then tested at the annual scale. The reduction of environmental temperature and increase of humidity by green roofs indicate strong diurnal and seasonal variations and are significantly affected by geographical and climatic conditions. Comparison with offline studies reveals that land–atmosphere interactions play a crucial role in determining the effect of green roofs.
Early college puts youth on a college track
Authors: Edmunds Julie A.
Published: January 2016

Early colleges are intended to serve students from populations typically underrepresented in college and to prepare those students with the academic skills and dispositions to succeed in college. Another important attribute of early colleges is that they help students earn college credit during their high school years. Many such early colleges are located on college campuses. The author uses the story of a once wayward youth to illustrate that early colleges can work.
College access improves for black students but for which ones?
Authors: Cokley Kevin , Obaseki Victor , Moran-Jackson Karen , Jones Leonie , Vohra-Gupta Shetal
Published: January 2016

The challenges for increasing opportunities and college access for black students typically focus on the traditional barriers related to academic preparation, the racial gap in standardized test scores, and dropping out of high school. While these challenges remain, new and emerging challenges to college access are also important to discuss. They involve taking a closer look at the diversity and heterogeneity within the black population as well as closely examining the push to make state schools more elite.
What educators should know about college-for-all policies
Authors: Ahearn Caitlin , Rosenbaum James , Rosenbaum Janet
Published: January 2016

This study finds that schools are poorly prepared to counsel students about community college certificate or associate degree programs. Instead the mantra of college for all continues to encourage youth to spend time and money on bachelor’s degrees, for which many students are not prepared to do well. Teachers desire more information on college and career options for their low-performing and disengaged students, and the authors show that community colleges offer many college and career opportunities that can serve these students.
Washington View
Authors: Ferguson Maria
Published: January 2016

While in the process of designing a graduate course on education policy the author learns that so many students once were classroom teachers, felt called to it, but were disillusioned by what they found in schools and thus sought refuge in education policy. Schools are driving out millennials or discouraging them from entering in the first place. We should help remedy that by providing teachers with more support through giving them time and an apparatus to help them improve if we find their performance lacking. We also should stop putting them at the epicenter of the nation’s education woes.
Backtalk
Authors: Pringle Khulia
Published: January 2016

The author, a mother of children in the St. Paul (Minn.) Public Schools says teachers aren’t fair in their assessment of the behavior of black children in the district’s schools.
Capital Structure and Firm Performance: Empirical Evidence from India
Authors: Chadha Saurabh , Sharma Anil K.
Published: January 2016

This paper studies the impact of capital structure or financial leverage on firm financial performance. A sample size of 422 listed Indian manufacturing companies on Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) has been taken to analyze the relationship between leverage and firm performance. A period of 10 years from 2003–2004 to 2012–2013 and annual financial standalone data have been considered to analyze the leverage effect. Ratio analysis and panel data approach have been applied to perform the empirical study. Return on asset, return on equity and Tobin’s Q are used as the proxy for measuring the firm’s financial performance. It was found that financial leverage has no impact on the firm’s financial performance parameters of return on asset and Tobin’s Q. However, it is negative and significantly correlated with return on equity. Other independent variables like size, age, tangibility, sales growth, asset turnover and ownership structure are significant determinants of a firm’s financial performance in the Indian manufacturing sector. Thus, the findings of the study would enhance the literature on capital structure and is relevant for the Indian manufacturing industry in taking its capital structure decisions as it is based on the most recent data and covers the period of both pre- and post-recession of 2008–2009. There is an adverse effect of recession on the financial performance of the Indian manufacturing firms.
Impact of Consumer Decision-making Styles on Online Apparel Consumption in India
Authors: Goswami Shubham , Khan Shagufta
Published: January 2016

The Internet has become a popular channel during the last decade for shopping and is adding value to the retailing world. India’s e-commerce market is also growing in all product categories. Consumer spending at apparel websites is rising, and it is presenting a tough revenue war in this segment, which had traditionally been dominated by physical stores. Previous researchers have applied the consumer style inventory (CSI) by Sproles and Kendall (1986) for assessing the consumer decision-making styles. But there is a paucity of studies on analyzing the impact of CSI on online apparel purchase. Profiling consumer decision-making styles in an online context has importance to marketers, consumer affairs specialists and advertisers to determine the behavioural patterns and is also important for the market segmentation. The present research aims to examine the influence of consumer decision-making styles on the possibility to engage in online shopping of apparels. This study clarifies the relationship between each decision style category and online shopping consumption in Indian context with empirical evidence to enrich the literature.
Validation of a Scale for Measuring Problems in Internet Banking and their Effect on Customer Satisfaction
Authors: George Ajimon , Kumar G.S. Gireesh
Published: January 2016

The use of IT in the banking sector has contributed to the emergence of more flexible and user-friendly self-service banking technologies (SSBT) to address the rapid and changing needs of banking customers. The emergence of SSBT such as ATM, internet banking (IB) and mobile banking (MB) ushered the concept of anytime and anywhere banking. IB uses the Internet to deliver banking services to customers irrespective of their geographical location. The present study is a customer-centric study to validate a scale for measuring the problems associated with the use of IB and their effect on customer satisfaction. The study identified four problems, namely, customer support problems, service problems, web-based problems and password problems. Customer support problems and web-based problems have significant negative effect on customer satisfaction and hence these hinder customer satisfaction.
A way to meet queer women? Reflections on sexuality and desire in research
Authors: Carter Claire
Published: January 2016

This article considers the influence of sexuality and desire in qualitative research. Feminist researchers promote critical reflexivity in response to traditional social science methodological approaches, which advocate objectivity and neutrality. While reflexivity has become part and parcel of feminist research, an aspect of the subjective experience of doing research requiring more attention is how desire, intimacy and/or sexuality inform the research process. This paper draws on previous studies as well as recent research experiences to argue that desire is a powerful form of communication that can be productive and insightful for our analyses and knowledge production.
Looking at the label: White-collar men and the meanings of “metrosexual”
Authors: Casanova Erynn Masi de , Wetzel Emily E , Speice Travis D
Published: January 2016

How do men feel about the “metrosexual” label? How do their views relate to changing norms of masculine self-presentation and increasing acceptance of “out” gay men? We interviewed 30 US white-collar men, who generally expressed ambivalence about the social category of metrosexual and claimed that the practices associated with it were now the norm, while differentiating between the labels of gay and metrosexual. We argue that metrosexuality raises new possibilities for gay-straight alliances and more varied performances of heterosexual masculinity, at work and beyond. However, these developments seem to reinscribe rather than reconfigure power relations privileging heterosexual men.
‘Duties for her race and nation’: Scientistic racist views on sexuality and reproduction in 1920s Hungary
Authors: Kund Attila
Published: January 2016

This article aims to give insight into the 1920s’ scientific racist discourse in Hungary with a special emphasis on sexuality and reproduction. Post-First World War Hungary saw new developments in nationalist discourse, notably a new language of race and nation. In this context of nationalism, a new wave of racial scientism appeared that was based on concepts of racial purity and biological reproduction. Reviewing the publications of a group of academic and medical professionals who dominated the scientistic racist discourse, this article analyses how sexuality was represented in their framework as a crucial aspect of the reproduction of the ‘Magyar race’. It argues that such ideas on the one hand, were influenced by contemporary racist theories from Western Europe and North America, but on the other hand, the argumentation of Hungarian contemporary right-wing political rhetoric is also detectable in this discourse. The article also explores the intersection of racial anti-Semitism and sexism that appears in the works of these scholars and argues that their anti-Jewish claims were significantly shaped by suppositions about gender and sexuality.
Sex under socialism: From emancipation of women to normalized families in Czechoslovakia
Authors: Lišková Kateřina
Published: January 2016

Sexuality in communist Czechoslovakia was to a large extent informed by an expert discourse of sexology. Analyzing sexual advice books published by sexologists for the general public in the 1950s and 1970s, I show that sexual discourses were formed in a reversed order of liberalization vs. conservatism as compared to the West. While writing on sex in Czechoslovakia in the 1950s stressed gender equality and emancipation of women, the texts published in the 1970s insisted on the necessity of gender hierarchy for a successful marriage and defended privatized families isolated from larger society. I link these shifts to the changing character of the regime which moved from accentuating public, work and equality in the 1950s to emphasizing private, family and authority in the 1970s. In my analysis, I use the concepts of psy-ences ( Rose, 1992 , 1996 ) and intimacy at the intersection of the public/private divide ( Berlant and Warner, 1998 ), while also accounting for their blind spots. Where Rose insists that psy-ences have operated exclusively in modern liberal capitalist societies, I argue that a psy-ence of sexology also co-constituted social life under state socialism. My article analyzes Czechoslovak sexual and gender trajectories and accounts for differences from and convergences with 20th-century western histories of sexuality. I critically examine Czechoslovak sexological discourses in their changing historical settings to show that there was not one ‘communist period,’ even in one country. Rather, there existed varying modes of framing sexuality at different times.
Apoptosis and failure of checkpoint kinase 1 activation in human induced pluripotent stem cells under replication stress
Authors: Desmarais Joelle A. , Unger Christian , Damjanov Ivan , Meuth Mark , Andrews Peter
Published: January 2016

Background

Human induced pluripotent stem (hiPS) cells have the ability to undergo self-renewal and differentiation similarly to human embryonic stem (hES) cells. We have recently shown that hES cells under replication stress fail to activate checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1). They instead commit to apoptosis, which appears to be a primary defense mechanism against genomic instability. It is not known whether the failure of CHK1 activation and activation of apoptosis under replication stress is solely a feature of hES cells, or if it is a feature that can be extended to hiPS cells.

Methods

Here we generated integration-free hiPS cell lines by mRNA transfection, and characterised the cell lines. To investigate the mechanism of S phase checkpoint activation, we have induced replication stress by adding excess thymidine to the cell culture medium, and performed DNA content analysis, apoptosis assays and immunoblottings.

Results

We are showing that hiPS cells similarly to hES cells, fail to activate CHK1 when exposed to DNA replication inhibitors and commit to apoptosis instead. Our findings also suggest the Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated pathway might be responding to DNA replication stress, resulting in apoptosis.

Conclusion

Together, these data suggest that the apoptotic response was properly restored during reprogramming with mRNA, and that apoptosis is an important mechanism shared by hiPS and hES cells to maintain their genomic integrity when a replication stress occurs.
Modular Analytical Solutions for Foundation Damping in Soil-Structure Interaction Applications
Authors: Givens Michael J. , Mylonakis George , Stewart Jonathan P.
Published: January 2016

Foundation damping incorporates combined effects of energy loss from waves propagating away from a vibrating foundation (radiation damping) and hysteretic action in supporting soil (material damping). Foundation damping appears in analysis and design guidelines for force- and displacement-based analysis of seismic building response (ASCE-7, ASCE-41), typically in graphical form (without predictive equations). We derive closed-form expressions for foundation damping of a flexible-based single degree-of-freedom oscillator from first principles. The expressions are modular in that structure and foundation stiffness terms, along with radiation and hysteretic damping ratios, appear as variables. Assumptions inherent to our derivation have been employed previously, but the present results are differentiated by: (1) the modular nature of the expressions; (2) clearly articulated differences regarding alternate bases for the derivations and their effects on computed damping; and (3) completeness of the derivations. Resulting expressions indicate well-known dependencies of foundation damping on soil-to-structure stiffness ratio, structure aspect ratio, and soil damping. We recommend a preferred expression based on the relative rigor of its derivation.
CELF4Variant and Anthracycline-Related Cardiomyopathy: A Children’s Oncology Group Genome-Wide Association Study
Authors: Wang Xuexia , Sun Can-Lan , Quiñones-Lombraña Adolfo , Singh Purnima , Landier Wendy , Hageman Lindsey , Mather Molly , Rotter Jerome I. , Taylor Kent D. , Chen Yii-Der Ida , Armenian Saro H. , Winick Naomi , Ginsberg Jill P. , Neglia Joseph P. , Oeffinger Kevin C. , Castellino Sharon M. , Dreyer Zoann E. , Hudson Melissa M. , Robison Leslie L. , Blanco Javier G. , Bhatia Smita
Published: January 2016

Purpose

Interindividual variability in the dose-dependent association between anthracyclines and cardiomyopathy suggests that genetic susceptibility could play a role. The current study uses an agnostic approach to identify genetic variants that could modify cardiomyopathy risk.

Methods

A genome-wide association study was conducted in childhood cancer survivors with and without cardiomyopathy (cases and controls, respectively). Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that surpassed a prespecified threshold for statistical significance were independently replicated. The possible mechanistic significance of validated SNP(s) was sought by using healthy heart samples.

Results

No SNP was marginally associated with cardiomyopathy. However, SNP rs1786814 on the CELF4 gene passed the significance cutoff for gene-environment interaction (Pge= 1.14 × 10−5). Multivariable analyses adjusted for age at cancer diagnosis, sex, anthracycline dose, and chest radiation revealed that, among patients with the A allele, cardiomyopathy was infrequent and not dose related. However, among those exposed to greater than 300 mg/m2of anthracyclines, the rs1786814 GG genotype conferred a 10.2-fold (95% CI, 3.8- to 27.3-fold; P < .001) increased risk of cardiomyopathy compared with those who had GA/AA genotypes and anthracycline exposure of 300 mg/m2or less. This gene-environment interaction was successfully replicated in an independent set of anthracycline-related cardiomyopathy. CUG-BP and ETR-3-like factor proteins control developmentally regulated splicing of TNNT2, the gene that encodes for cardiac troponin T (cTnT), a biomarker of myocardial injury. Coexistence of more than one cTnT variant results in a temporally split myofilament response to calcium, which causes decreased contractility. Analysis of TNNT2 splicing variants in healthy human hearts suggested an association between the rs1786814 GG genotype and coexistence of more than one TNNT2 splicing variant (90.5% GG v 41.7% GA/AA; P = .005).

Conclusion

We report a modifying effect of a polymorphism of CELF4 (rs1786814) on the dose-dependent association between anthracyclines and cardiomyopathy, which possibly occurs through a pathway that involves the expression of abnormally spliced TNNT2 variants.
Relatioship of peaks of correlation functions of amplitude and phase fluctuations with eigen frequencies in oscillation spectrum
Authors: Поляков Андрей , Polyakov Andrey
Published: January 2016

Method of correlation functions of signal amplitude and phase fluctuations (CFAP) is used for processing oscillations in one-dimensional and two-dimensional rectangular cavity resonator models. For all cases, a universal relation, which gives a relationship between the repetition period of peaks on CFAP functions and the difference of adjacent eigenfrequencies in the signal spectrum was obtained. It is shown that for two-dimensional standing wave, this difference can have only two values, each of which corresponds to eigenfrequencies of one-dimensional standing waves. The proposed method allows us to detect all possible one-dimensional standing waves which can occur in the object under study.
Using network technology for studying the ionosphere
Authors: Ясюкевич Юрий , Yasyukevich Yury , Живетьев Илья , Zhivetiev Ilya
Published: January 2016

One of the key problems of ionosphere physics is the coupling between different ionospheric regions. We apply networks technology for studying the coupling of changing ionospheric dynamics in different regions. We used data from global ionosphere maps (GIM) of total electron content (TEC) produced by CODE for 2005–2010. Distribution of cross-correlation function maxima of TEC variations is not simple. This distribution allows us to reveal two levels of ionosphere coupling: «strong» (r>0.9) and «weak» (r>0.72). The ionosphere of the Arctic region upper 50° magnetic latitude is characterized by a «strong» coupling. In the Southern hemisphere, a similar region is bigger. «Weak» coupling is typical for the whole Southern hemisphere. In North America there is an area where TEC dynamics is «strongly» correlated inside and is not correlated with other ionospheric regions.
Some peculiarities in the ionosphere dynamics near the ionization maximum from Irkutsk incoherent scatter radar data for low and moderate solar activities
Authors: Алсаткин Сергей , Alsatkin Sergei , Медведев Андрей , Medvedev Andrey , Ратовский Константин , Ratovsky Konstantin
Published: January 2016

The study deals with morphological research into dynamics of electron density in the ionosphere at altitudes of 200–400 km based on continuous series of observations at Irkutsk Incoherent Scatter Radar in 2007–2014. Daily altitude variations of average electron density for all seasons (winter, spring, summer, and autumn) and for two levels of solar activity (low and moderate) are presented. We compared our results with those of similar investigations at incoherent scatter radars such as Millstone Hill, Arecibo, EISCAT, ESR, and AMISR. Daily variations of the electron content for two altitude ranges of 180–250 and 250–600 km from data of Irkutsk Incoherent Scatter Radar and ionosonde were analyzed.
Forecasting characteristics of propagation of decameter radio waves using the global ionosphere and plasmasphere model
Authors: Романова  , Romanova Elena , Котович  , Kotovich Galina , Пономарчук  , Ponomarchuk Sergey , Тащилин  , Tashchilin Anatoliy
Published: January 2016

We present the forecast results of maximal usable frequencies for mid-latitude paths on the base of complex We present the results of forecasting maximum usable frequencies (MUF) on middle-latitude paths on the basis of complex algorithm including modules of the ionosphere and plasmasphere global model (IPGM) and the model of radio wave propagation. The computation of propagation characteristics for decameter radio waves is carried out within the framework of normal wave technique. IPGM developed in ISTP SB RAS enables to compute electron concentration profiles and effective frequency of collisions using minimum number of input data and taking into account physical processes in the Earth’s upper atmosphere. To estimate the efficiency of using IPGM in long-term forecast of radio wave propagation we computed MUF for radio communication in various heliogeophysical conditions. To obtain precision characteristics of MUF forecast we used experimental data of oblique sounding on Magadan–Irkutsk, Khabarovsk–Irkutsk, Norilsk–Irkutsk paths. The paths are equipped with modern ionosphere diagnostic hardware for oblique sounding by continuous chirp signal. We also compared results of MUF forecast using IPGM with computations carried out according IRI model.
Impact of magnetic storms on the lower ionosphere within the auroral zone
Authors: Благовещенский Донат , Blagoveshchensky Donat , Сергеева Мария , Sergeeva Maria
Published: January 2016

The results of the paper were based upon data on magnetic storms for a five-year period (2008–2012) such as vertical sounding data, magnetometer and riometer data from the Sodankylä station, and satellite data. The main efforts were directed to reveal the relationship between the level of absorption in the ionospheric D-region and magnetic field intensity in a disturbance bay. We detected thresholds in the level of absorption when ionospherically reflected signals were absent in the vertical sounding. Another task of the study was to reveal the relationship between maximum frequencies of Es layers and magnetic field intensity for the magnetic storm period. We established differences between the mentioned regularities for daytime and nighttime periods.
Concept and System of Contracts on Supply through the Attached Network
Authors: Shafir Aleksandr
Published: January 2016

The author indicates that the feature of contracts of power supply through connected network of electricity, thermal energy and gas, which it calls the contracts built under the model of power supply contract, is that they mediate their underlying specific economic relations, the main feature of which is the scope of the scope of the consumption resources. This fact is the main factor separation obligations to supply through the connecting network into an separation type of contract in the civillaw obligations. For the first time in the literature, the author proves the inclusion of these contractual obligations as the types of contract not only the supply of the connected network electricity, heat and gas, but also oil, oil products and cold water.
Experience of Legal Regulation of Tax Control in Georgia
Authors: Shepenko Roman
Published: January 2016

Tax control is an important institution of the tax law. It is difficult to imagine a country without taxes, and the tax system without verifying the correctness of their calculation and payment. However, at the same time the various components of the tax control are a potential source of discontent and disputes. Officials of the Russian tax authorities complain about the lack of authority, and taxpayers regularly use the concept of “violation of the material terms of the procedure of consideration of materials of tax audit”. In this regard, unconditional interest foreign experience, not only “regulars” comparative legal studies, but small countries, including our closest neighbors, such as Georgia. The legal basis of tax control is represented by the Georgia tax code and the orders of the Ministry of Finance. In the given article an attempt to consider legal norms, with emphasis on individual characteristics and comparisons the provisions of the tax laws of other countries and territories is made.
Genesis of the Criminal Procedure on Liability of Legal Persons on Russia
Authors: Semykina Olga
Published: January 2016

The article deals with the legislative and doctrinal precondition of criminal liability of legal persons, which are accumulated a concept formed the basis of the judicial reform of 1864. The author studies the practice the first phase of the introduction in to the Russian criminal procedure enforcement of the measures applicable to legal persons for acts committed during preliminary investigation of crimes. In this context, the article lays emphasis on the norms of the Charter of criminal proceedings of 1864, which contain the procedural peculiarities of the application of such a measures to legal entities as closure, as well as monitors the judicial practice on the criminal liability of legal persons. The article gives a positive assessment of the approach of the legislator to the possibility of the implementation of remedial measures in criminal proceedings on such corruption crimes as crimes against property and income of the treasury. Given these positions, the author comes to the conclusion of the possibility of application of measures of criminal procedure liability of legal persons under preliminary investigation in criminal cases of crimes that infringe on budget forming industries.
Identifying the key attributes of a successful student and qualified nurse: A literature review
Authors: Rapson Terri
Published: January 2016

The aim of this narrative literature review was to identify evidence of the essential attributes that make a successful student nurse and/or qualified nurse, and discover if these were different for mental health nurses. A comprehensive search of three electronic databases between the years 1991 and 2015 was conducted using inclusion and exclusion criteria to identify those articles or texts that would be relevant on essential attributes, traits or behaviours of what makes a good nurse and/or successful student nurse.
Measuring delirium point-prevalence in two Australian palliative care inpatient units
Authors: Hosie Annmarie , Lobb Elizabeth , Agar Meera , Davidson Patricia , Chye Richard , Lam Lawrence , Phillips Jane
Published: January 2016

Background:

Internationally, delirium prevalence in palliative care is reported to range between 26–88%, yet little is known about the occurrence of delirium in Australian palliative care inpatient populations.

Aims:

To: 1) ascertain 24-hour delirium point-prevalence in an Australian palliative care inpatient population; 2) test the feasibility and acceptability of the delirium measurement methodology.

Methods:

This was a prospective cross-sectional study. Delirium was measured in patients of two palliative care units using the Nursing Delirium Screening Scale, Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale and DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. Descriptive statistics were used to report patient demographics, palliative care phase, function, delirium measure completion, and proportion of patients with a positive screen and diagnosis.

Results:

Patients (n=47) had a mean age of 74 years (SD+10) and mostly malignant diagnoses (96%). All patients were screened for delirium, but few were capable of completing the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (n=2). One-third of patients (34%) screened positive for delirium and 19% were diagnosed as delirious according to the DSM-5.

Conclusion:

The Nursing Delirium Screening Scale and physician application of DSM-5 proved feasible and acceptable, while the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale did not. Patients' advanced age and proportions screening positive for delirium and diagnosed as delirious attest to the need to rapidly recognise, assess and respond to patients experiencing this distressing disorder while being cared for in palliative care inpatient settings.