bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Paris System for reporting urinary cytology in daily practice with emphasis on ancillary testing by multiprobe FISH
Authors: Vlajnic Tatjana , Gut André , Savic Spasenija , Bubendorf Lukas
Published: August 2019

Aims

The Paris System (TPS) was introduced in the diagnostic routine with the goal to simplify and standardise diagnostic reporting of urinary cytology. The diagnostic categories of TPS are based on defined cytological criteria, with a focus on high-grade urothelial carcinoma (HGUC). While the categories ‘negative for HGUC (NHGUC)’ and ‘HGUC’ are straightforward, the categories ‘atypical urothelial cells (AUC)’ and ‘suspicious of HGUC (SHGUC)’ remain inconclusive. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of TPS in daily practice with special emphasis on ancillary fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) testing in the setting of TPS categories.

Methods

In a 19-month period, TPS was prospectively applied in the routine diagnostic setting on 3900 urinary cytology cases comprising bladder and upper urinary tract washings and voided urine specimens. Additionally, we analysed the results of the FISH assay UroVysion prospectively performed on a cohort of 128 cases enriched for AUC and SHGUC categories.

Results

The most frequently reported category was NHGUC (n=3496, 89.7%), followed by AUC (n=178, 4.6%), HGUC (n=155, 4%), SHGUC (n=61, 1.6%), low-grade urothelial neoplasia (n=6, 0.1%) and other malignancies (n=4, 0.1%). In the FISH cohort, 40/90 (44%) cases within the AUC category were FISH positive, consistent with urothelial neoplasia. In the SHGUC category, 16/21 (76%) cases were FISH positive.

Conclusions

When prospectively applying TPS in urinary cytology, inconclusive atypia accounts only for a small subset of cases. FISH additionally improves the stratification between reactive and malignant cells in the indeterminate AUC and SHGUC categories.
Workload, well-being and career satisfaction among French internal medicine physicians and residents in 2018
Authors: Cohen Aubart Fleur , Lhote Raphael , Steichen Olivier , Roeser Anaïs , Otriv Nguekap , Levesque Hervé , Morlat Philippe , Amoura Zahir , Mouthon Luc
Published: August 2019

Objectives

This work aimed to study the prevalence and risk factors associated with well-being and career satisfaction among French internal medicine physicians and residents.

Methods

A total of 1689 French internal medicine physicians or trainees were surveyed to evaluate their workload, well-being and career satisfaction during February 2018.

Results

The response rate was 620/1689 (37%). The mean age of the participants was 37 years (±12); 49% of the participants were female, 27% worked in the Paris area, 74% worked in a university hospital and 49% were residents. Sixty-six per cent of the responders were satisfied with their work, and 66% would choose the internal medicine specialty again. However, 71% of the responders worked more than 50 hours a week, 21% worked more than 60 hours a week and 70% believed that they did not have enough time for personal/family activities. Twenty-five per cent of the responders had at least one sign of burnout (19% of the physicians in practice and 32% of the residents). Compared with the graduate physicians in practice, the residents worked more hours a week, had more activities at night, spent more time on administrative tasks, had a worse global appreciation of their work and felt that their work was less meaningful. In multivariate analysis, the factors associated with global satisfaction at work were autonomy and meaningful work.

Conclusions

French internal medicine physicians have a high rate of career satisfaction. However, residents have a higher workload, less time for personal/family activities and feel that their work is less meaningful.
Variation in soil and foliar nutrition status along a forest edge–interior gradient in sugar maple forest fragments
Authors: Masson Eva , Cogliastro Alain , Houle Daniel , Rivest David
Published: August 2019

The consequences of forest fragmentation and edge effects on soil nutrient availability and nutrition of sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) forests remain understudied. We assessed soil chemistry (bulk pH, total carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), extractable phosphorus (P), exchangeable cations, and mineralizable N) and foliar nutrition (N, P, potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg)) of mature sugar maple forests along an edge–interior gradient (10, 20, 30, 50, 70, and 120 m from the forest edges) in seven sugar maple forest stands (three on sandstone and four on dolomite bedrock) that are embedded within an agricultural landscape in southern Quebec, Canada. We hypothesized that foliar nutritional imbalances of sugar maple forests would decline along this gradient. Foliar nutrition was analyzed using the diagnosis and recommendation integrated system (DRIS) and the compositional nutrient diagnosis with isometric log-ratio (CND-ilr) method. At the sandstone sites, rates of N mineralization and nitrification increased with increasing distance from the forest edge. Other soil chemical properties and all sugar maple foliar indices of nutritional diagnostics varied weakly along the edge–interior gradient. Assessment of sugar maple forest nutritional status through different nutritional indices revealed K and P deficiencies in all stands that were sampled and at all distances from the forest edge. Overall, we found weak forest-edge effects on soil chemical properties and sugar maple forest nutritional status.
A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE ENTROPY GENERATION IN THE HUMAN RESPIRATORY TRACT BASED ON HESS–MURRAY LAW AND WEIBEL EXPERIMENTED RESULT
Authors: DUTTA ABHIJIT , CHATTOPADHYAY HIMADRI , BISWAS AVIRUP
Published: August 2019

Entropy generation ([Formula: see text]) is associated with the irreversibility of any thermodynamic system. It provides an indication of lost energy of a system. The main objective of this study is to show a method for calculating entropy generation in the human respiratory tract. In this work, human respiratory tract geometries from two different approaches are considered, first one is based on Hess–Murray theory and the second one is based on Weibel’s experimented result. The entropy generation has been calculated considering duct wall friction along with effect of bifurcation and diffusion. In this study, two different physiological conditions have been contemplated, i.e., at rest and at heavy physiological activities. It has shown that [Formula: see text] of human respiratory is lowest at 23rd level of bifurcation. The outcome of the study reveals that the entropy generation rates per day based on Hess–Murray theory at rest and under heavy physiological activities are [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]kJ/K and 0.013[Formula: see text]kJ/K, whereas the same based on Weibel’s experimented result at rest and under heavy physiological activities are [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]kJ/K and 0.05[Formula: see text]kJ/K, respectively.
SOLUTE TRANSPORT IN ARTICULAR CARTILAGE UNDER ROLLING-COMPRESSION LOAD
Authors: YANG XIUPING , SUN FENGJU , WANG LONGTAO , ZHANG CHUNQIU , ZHANG XIZHENG
Published: August 2019

Solute transport is one of the important aspects involved in maintaining the physiological activity of tissues. The mechanical environment drives nutrition in and waste out in articular cartilage due to its avascularity, which plays a key role in the biological activity of articular cartilage. The human knee joint motion is a complex interaction between different bones including relative rolling and/or sliding movements. Rolling-compression process is a typical physiological load in knee joint motion. To investigate solute transport behavior in articular cartilage under rolling-compression load, fluorescence tracers with molecular weights of 40kDa and 0.43kDa were used respectively to mark the transport in fresh articular cartilage of mature pigs. Solute fluorescence intensity changing with time and depth of cartilage layer was measured under rolling-compression load and static state, respectively, and the distribution of corresponding relative concentration was calculated by the fluorescence microscope imaging method. The experiment results show that the solute relative concentration in articular cartilage under rolling-compression load increases significantly, even up to 62.4%, comparing with that under static state, and the changes of concentration vary in different layers and that small molecular weight solute is easier to transport than relatively large molecular weight solute in articular cartilage. Therefore, rolling-compression load can promote the solute transport in cartilage, and the mechanical loading may have application in functional cartilage tissue engineering.
A NEWLY DESIGNED ASSEMBLY LOCKING COMPRESSION PLATE TO TREAT COMMINUTED FRACTURES OF THE FEMORAL SHAFT: A BIOMECHANICAL STUDY
Authors: ZHAO MIN , ZHOU JIANGJUN , YU ZHUANYI , CHENG QIUXIN , CHEN JINGXIANG , YANG JUN , SHI BAINA , FU MEIQING , LIU DA
Published: August 2019

The aim of this paper is to compare the biomechanical characteristics of a newly designed assembly locking compression plate (NALCP) and traditional locking compression plate (LCP) for internal fixation of femoral-shaft comminuted fractures. A femoral-shaft wedge fracture model (AO classification 32-C2.1) was created in six pairs of femoral specimens ([Formula: see text]) randomly divided into two equal groups. Biomechanical properties were tested with axial and torsional loading tests. The relative maximum displacement of fracture blocks and strain was recorded. A strain diagram was made; the fatigue test results of NALCP specimens under axial load were recorded. Under axial load, the relative maximum displacement of fracture blocks in the [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] axes was smaller in NALCP specimens than in LCP specimens ([Formula: see text] and 0.01, respectively). Under torsional load, the relative maximum displacement of fracture blocks in the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] axes in NALCP specimens was less than that in LCP specimens ([Formula: see text]) but no statistically significant difference in the [Formula: see text] axes ([Formula: see text]) was found. In both cases, the main NALCP strain was higher than the LCP strain ([Formula: see text]) but no statistically significant difference in mean strain ([Formula: see text]) was found. Our NALCP provides strong mechanical stability for comminuted femoral fractures and can effectively avoid stress concentration, reduce stress shielding, and facilitate bone healing.
Valuation of Access to Irrigation Water in Rural Ethiopia: Application of Choice Experiment and Contingent Valuation Methods
Authors: Mekonnen Alemu , Gebreegziabher Zenebe , Beyene Abebe D. , Hagos Fitsum
Published: August 2019

Smallholder farmers in Africa rely heavily on rainfed agriculture. Those who have access to irrigation often receive it at no charge, but quantity, frequency and reliability may be limited without adequate revenue for maintenance and operation. Moreover, the absence of fees means that there are no pricing signals to encourage conservation of this scarce resource. In a situation where farmers do not pay for irrigation water use, this study investigates demand-side issues by eliciting farmers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for access to irrigation water. This study employs choice experiment (CE) and contingent valuation methods (CVMs) to value access to irrigation water, taking Ethiopia as a case in point. Unlike previous studies, this study covers current users and non-users of irrigation water using the same baseline (status quo) conditions — no irrigation — and compares the preferences of these two groups. The four attributes identified in the CE are number of crop seasons, frequency of watering in a season, crop type, and payment level. Results show that marginal WTP was Birr 17.7 (US$ 0.98), 261.8 (US$ 14.54) and 87.6 (US$ 4.87) for number of crop seasons, watering frequency in a season and crop type, respectively. Our estimates of farmers’ WTP for operation and maintenance of irrigation schemes per hectare of irrigated land range from Birr 738 (US$ 41.00) (from the CE) to Birr 784 (US$ 43.56) (from the CVM). We also find that, compared to current users, non-users were willing to pay more in general, as well as for the number of crop seasons specifically.
Exploring the Potential of Groundwater Markets in Agriculture: Results of a Participatory Evaluation in Five French Case Studies
Authors: Hérivaux Cécile , Rinaudo Jean-Daniel , Montginoul Marielle
Published: August 2019

We used a participatory foresight method for assessing if, and how, groundwater markets could be incorporated into local groundwater management policies. We propose an institutional setup adapted to the French water policy context, with a cap and trade scenario introducing groundwater markets in the agricultural sector between now and the 2035 horizon. Considering the local hydrogeological characteristics, we applied this method to five French groundwater basins, and then analyzed the public perception of our scenario by organizing 16 half-day workshops, involving a total of 44 institutional stakeholders and 80 farmers. Overall, almost half of the participants were opposed to the introduction of groundwater markets for various ethical, economic and technical reasons. Many of the preconditions for water trading are still far from being met, and major social and economic risks are anticipated. However, our results also suggest that there might be scope for developing groundwater markets compatible with French water policy at a local scale; the preconditions for this are that specific local hydrogeological and agricultural situations are taken into account, and that a participatory process is developed, involving institutional stakeholders and farmers.
Traumatic Closed Proximal Muscle Rupture of the Biceps Brachii in Military Paratrooper
Authors: Kalinterakis Georgios , Antonogiannakis Emmanouil , Rampakakis Ioannis , Tsialogiannis Evangelos , Syllaios Athanasios , Ziogas Miltiadis
Published: August 2019

Traumatic closed proximal muscle rupture of the biceps brachii has been infrequently cited in the medical bibliography. Early reports of this injury derived from US military during parachute jumps, and it may compromise >4% of injuries at altitude. The mechanism is a direct blow to the upper extremity by static lines. We report a case of traumatic closed proximal rupture of the biceps brachii in a healthy 25 years of age military paratrooper. He was managed with primary surgical repair, and after three years of follow-up, the patient has excellent functional results.
Sengstaken Tube Removal under Direct Hemodynamic Monitoring after Post Transplantation Venous Occlusion
Authors: Colón A. L. , Rodríguez-Bachiller L. , Velasco E. , Díaz-Zorita B. , Rincón D. , López-Baena J. A. , Ferreiroa J.
Published: August 2019

The surgical procedure for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is well standardized, and most groups use the retrohepatic caval preservation or piggyback technique to improve hemodynamic tolerance. However, when a discrepancy between the site in the right upper quadrant of the liver recipient and a small graft is present, this technique can provoke a rotation on the axis of the vena cava and cause an occlusion of the suprahepatic vein drainage. This problem can be detected intraoperatively, and several methods have been described to resolve it by placing different devices to correct the position. Early withdrawal may cause the development of clinical hepatic congestion with ascites unresponsive to medical treatment. We present three cases of OLT who developed obstruction of the venous drainage solved intraoperatively with the placement of a Sengstaken-Blakemore tube. As a novelty, prior to the withdrawal of the device, a transjugular hemodynamic study was performed to ensure the correct position of the liver with adequate venous drainage.
Inhibition of AKT Sensitizes Cancer Cells to Antineoplastic Drugs by Downregulating Flap Endonuclease 1
Authors: Zhu Hong , Wu Congye , Wu Ting , Xia Wen , Ci Shusheng , He Weiru , Zhang Yilan , Li Lulu , Zhou Shiying , Zhang Jing , Edick Ashlin M. , Zhang Anna , Pan Fei-Yan , Hu Zhigang , He Lingfeng , Guo Zhigang
Published: August 2019

DNA repair mechanisms are crucial for cell survival. It increases the cancer cell's ability to resist DNA damage. FEN1 is involved in DNA replication and repair, specifically long-patch base excision repair. Although the gene function and post-translational modification of FEN1 are well studied, the regulatory mechanism of FEN1 by upstream signal pathways remains unclear. In this article, we have identified AKT as a regulator of FEN1 activity in lung cancer cells. Sustained activation of AKT can phosphorylate nuclear transcription factor NF-κB/p65. NF-κB/p65 directly binds to FEN1 promoter to promote a high transcription level of FEN1, revealing the contribution of the AKT signaling pathway to drug resistance of cancer cells. The combination of an AKT inhibitor and cisplatin efficiently suppressed lung cancer cell growth both in vitro and in vivo. Our study illustrated an upstream regulatory mechanism of FEN1, which will contribute to the development of effective lung cancer therapies.

These findings identified AKT as a regulator of FEN1 activity and revealed the AKT signaling pathway's contribution to drug resistance, which will contribute to the development of effective lung cancer therapy.
Blockade of CTLA-4 and PD-1 Enhances Adoptive T-cell Therapy Efficacy in an ICOS-Mediated Manner
Authors: Shi Lewis Zhichang , Goswami Sangeeta , Fu Tihui , Guan Baoxiang , Chen Jianfeng , Xiong Liangwen , Zhang Jan , Ng Tang Derek , Zhang Xuejun , Vence Luis , Blando Jorge , Allison James P. , Collazo Renata , Gao Jianjun , Sharma Padmanee
Published: August 2019

Adoptive transfer of tumor-reactive T cells (ACT) has led to modest clinical benefit in the treatment of solid tumors. Failures with this therapy are primarily due to inadequate infiltration and poor function of adoptively transferred cells in the tumor microenvironment. To improve the efficacy of ACT, we combined ACT with dual blockade of CTLA-4 and PD-1. Treatment with anti–CTLA-4 plus anti–PD-1 compared with monotherapy resulted in durable antitumor responses, enhanced effector function of ACT, utilizing PMEL-1 transgenic (Tg+) CD8+ T cells, and improved survival. Using PMEL-1ICOS−/− mice, we showed that deletion of the inducible T-cell costimulator (ICOS) receptor abolished the therapeutic benefits, with selective downregulation of Eomesodermin (Eomes), interferon gamma (IFNγ), and perforin. Higher expression of IFNγ and Eomes was noted in human ICOShi CD8+ T cells compared with ICOSlow counterparts. Together, our data provide direct evidence that ACT combined with immune-checkpoint therapy confers durable antitumor responses, which largely depended on CD8+ T-cell–intrinsic expression of ICOS. Our study provides a foundation of testing combinatorial therapy of ACT of CD8 T cells and dual blocking of CTLA-4 and PD-1 in patients with melanoma.
INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES IN THE DISTURBED FOREST OF BATUKAHU NATURE RESERVE, BALI, INDONESIA
Authors: Mukaromah Laily , Imron Muhammad Ali
Published: August 2019

Patterns of invasive plant distribution and their underlying mechanisms are complex and varyÂ withÂ spatial scale. Within the mountainous tropical ecosystems of Bali Island, a local scale pattern of invasive plants is still poorly understood. This paper aimed to detect and investigate the presence of invasive species and to evaluate their relative abundance linked to forest site conditions along with an elevation range on Mount Pohen, Batukahu Nature Reserve, Bali, Indonesia. To identify the importance of environmental disturbances on species invasion, the disturbance-environmental factors and the species-environmental relationship were also measured and examined. Using the stratified random sample, 78 vegetation plots of 2 m x 2 m size were established in four forest sites. Ten invasive plant species belonging to ten genera and five families were identified. Of these invasive species, 40% were herbs, while shrubs and grasses comprised 30%, respectively. Austroeupatorium inulaefoliumÂ has the highest frequency (45% of plots); followed by Ageratina riparia, and Brachiaria reptans (40% of plots, respectively), Melastoma malabathricum (37%) and Calliandra calothyrsus (27%). Austroeupatorium inulaefolium was the most abundant invader, followed by Ageratina riparia, and the remaining invasive species were Pennisetum purpureum, Calliandra calothyrsus, Imperata cylindrica, Brachiaria reptans, Melastoma malabathricum, Lantana camara, Bidens pilosa and Blumea lacera, respectively. The distribution of invasive plants was strongly linked to the disturbance level of their respective habitat. The largest numbers invasive plants were present in burnt sites close to the forest edges with direct anthropogenic influence, while the undisturbed forest was the least invaded site. Further, the most invasive species mainly occurred at low elevations up to 1600 m a.s.l. and were rarely found at higher elevations. However, few invasive species such as Austroeupatorium inulaefolium and Melastoma malabathricum were able to colonize the highest altitude (2035 m a.s.l.), and to a lesser degree, Ageratina riparia and Brachiaria reptans were also distributed at high altitudes (1950 m a.s.l. and 1972 m a.s.l. respectively). This study provides a fine-scale analysis of invasive species distribution which will serve as a basis for conservation purposes, especially for strategic planning regarding the detection and management of invasive alien plants.
Calidad de vida relacionada con la salud de niños y adolescentes que viven en un hogar temporal, Colombia
Authors: Heredia-Bolaños Dayana Marcela , Grisales-Romero Hugo
Published: August 2019

Estudio transversal cuyo objetivo fue determinar la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (CVRS) en 92 niños y adolescentes, entre los 8 y los 18 años de edad, que vivían en un hogar temporal de un municipio colombiano. Se aplicaron pruebas para la diferencia de promedios, de correlación y se construyó un modelo logístico con el fin de identificar los factores que se asociaron al desenlace, la CVRS. No se encontraron diferencias entre los promedios del puntaje de la CVRS según sexo (p = 0.094) y además estos en las dimensiones actividad física y salud, sentimientos, autopercepción, autonomía, vida familiar, relación con los pares y entorno escolar fueron mayores que el promedio de la CVRS; ser mujer y haber sufrido algún tipo de limitación, influyen en tener puntajes de la CVRS menores de 70 puntos.
Niños, niñas y adolescentes de circuito: entre la precariedad y la frontera, México
Authors: Peña Jesús , García-Mendoza Enrique
Published: August 2019

Analizamos los factores que promueven la incursión de menores de edad a mercados laborales ilícitos en la frontera norte de México. Se analiza el caso de los niños, niñas y adolescentes de circuito. Lleva-mos a cabo una revisión bibliográfica, hemerográfica, así como desarrollamos y aplicamos indicadores de desarrollo social en una de las regiones de mayor incidencia del fenómeno y realizamos en-trevistas a actores clave en la atención institucional a esta población. Concluimos que este fenómeno tiene un origen multifactorial, pero con un trasfondo geográfico y de deficiencias en desarrollo social con una visión incluyente de la niñez y la adolescencia
La mirada de los jóvenes sobre el castigo penal en la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina (2015)
Authors: Fernández Mariana Cecilia
Published: August 2019

El objetivo de este trabajo es dar cuenta de los discursos de jóvenes bajo medidas alternativas a la privación de libertad sobre el castigo en el encierro y el castigo en libertad. El análisis tiene lugar a través de un estudio de caso radicado en un Centro de Referencia de la Provincia de Buenos Aires en 2015. Para ello, se emplea una metodología
cualitativa que se vale de técnicas de entrevista en profundidad y se analizan los discursos desde una perspectiva cultural de la cuestión criminal. Algunos resultados del estudio nos permiten afirmar que los jóvenes perciben a las medidas alternativas como un
castigo preferible a la privación de libertad no solo por su ineficacia resocializadora sino por los efectos altamente estigmatizantes que supone el encierro penal.
Dirofilaria immitis infestation in imported police (K-9) dogs in Iraq:
Authors: Al-Salihi Karima Akool , Al-Dabhawi Ahmed Hameed , Al-Rammahi Hayder M. , Kareem Fatima Atiya
Published: August 2019

Dirofilaria immitis, the cause of heartworm infestation (HWI) or dirofilariasis, affects members of the Canidae and remains a worldwide clinical problem. In Iraq, dirofilariasis was believed absent until 2009, when the Karbala Governorate was reported as an endemic area for canine dirofilariasis. Consequently, this study intended to investigate the occurrence of Dirofilaria immitis in police dogs in one police academy in Iraq and to study the gross and histopathological changes in 5 dead dogs, as well as to identify the species of the causative parasite using PCR technique. Thirty-nine police dogs, aged between 6 months and 12 years were included in this study. For the microfilariae investigation, 5 ml blood samples were collected from all dogs in EDTA tubes and examined by Knott’s method. The systemic necropsy performed in five dead dogs showed severe clinical signs of dirofilariasis and tissue specimens were sent for routine histopathological processing. For the molecular analysis, adult worms of the detected Dirofilaria spp. were used for DNA extraction andamplification of the cox1 gene. Fifteen of 39 (38.46%) dogs were diagnosed with moderate to severe microfilariasis. The dead dogs revealed typical severe clinical signs of dirofilariasis. Moreover, typical gross and histopathological changes were also seen, accompanied by generalized thromboembolic lesions, suggesting the occurrence of the caval syndrome. The PCR investigation confirmed that D. immitis was the species present in Iraq. In conclusion, this study establishes that Iraq is a newly reported endemic area for dirofilariasis. Moreover, the infestation occurring in these cases most probably happened inside Iraq. The authors recommend doing further epidemiological studies concerning the occurrence of D. immitis in local dogs as well as in the imported dogs in all Iraqi governorates to better understand the epidemiological map of this disease and to introduce an active treatment and preventive program. Awareness and education regarding this disease should be provided to the veterinarians, dog guiders and people in direct contact with dogs, as this disease is one of the important zoonotic diseases.
Hospital-acquired conditions and length of stay in the pregnancy and puerperal cycle
Authors: Silva Thales Philipe Rodrigues da , Carmo Ariene Silva do , Novaes Taiane Gonçalves , Mendes Larissa Loures , Moreira Alexandra Dias , Pessoa Milene Cristine , Cosenza Luna , Pereira Juliana Fantini Chaves , Matozinhos Fernanda Penido
Published: August 2019

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the impact of the Hospital-Acquired Conditions (HAC) in women in the puerperal and pregnancy cycle during length of stay. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 113,456 women, between July 2012 and July 2017, in Brazil’s national hospitals of the supplementary healthcare networks and philanthropists accredited to the Unified Health System (SUS). Data on hospital discharges were collected using the Diagnosis-Related Groups (DRG Brasil) system. All DRGs of the major diagnostic category 14 (MDC14), including pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium, were included. The impact of HAC on length of stay was estimated by Student’s t-test, and the effect size by Cohen’s d, which allows to assess clinical relevance. RESULTS: The most prevalent diagnostic categories related to MDC14 were vaginal and cesarean deliveries without complicating diagnoses, both at institutions accredited to SUS and those for supplementary health care. The prevalence of HAC was 3.8% in supplementary health and 2.5% in SUS. Hospitals providing services to supplementary health care providers had a longer length of stay considering HAC for patients classified as DRG: cesarean section with complications or comorbidities at admission (p < 0.001; Cohen’s d = 0.74), cesarean section without complications or comorbidities at admission (p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 0.31), postpartum and post abortion without listed procedure (p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 1.05), and other antepartum diagnoses with medical complications (p < 0.001; Cohen’s d = 0.77). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the prevalence of HAC was low both in the institutions accredited to attend by SUS and in those of supplementary health; however, its presence contributes to increasing the length of stay in cases of cesarean sections without complications or comorbidities in supplementary health institutions.
Factors associated with the length of hospital stay of women undergoing cesarean section
Authors: Pereira Samire Lopes , Silva Thales Philipe Rodrigues da , Moreira Alexandra Dias , Novaes Taiane Gonçalves , Pessoa Milene Cristine , Matozinhos Isabela Penido , Couto Renato Camargo , Pedrosa Tânia Moreira Grillo , Matozinhos Fernanda Penido
Published: August 2019

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether age group, complications or comorbidities are associated with the length of hospitalization of women undergoing cesarean section. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out between June 2012 and July 2017, with 64,437 women undergoing cesarean section and who did not acquire conditions during their hospital stay. Hospital discharge data were collected from national health institutions, using the Diagnosis-Related Groups system (DRG Brasil). The DRG referring to cesarean section with additional complications or comorbidities (DRG 765) and cesarean section without complications or associated comorbidities (DRG 766) were included in the initial diagnosis. The influence of age group and comorbidities or complications present at admission on the length of hospital stay was assessed based on the means of the analysis of variance. The size of the effect was verified by Cohen’s D, which allows evaluating clinical relevance. The criticality levels were identified using the Duncan test. RESULTS: The longest length of hospital stay was observed in the age group from 15 to 17 years old and among those aged 45 years old or more. The hospital stay of women with complications or comorbidities at the time of admission was also longer. Moreover, it was noted that the increase in criticality level was associated with an increase in the mean length of hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: The length of hospital stay of women is higher among those belonging to the age group ranging from 15 to 17 years old and for those aged 45 years old or more. The presence of associated comorbidities, such as eclampsia, pre-existing hypertensive disorder with superimposed proteinuria and gestational hypertension (induced by pregnancy) with significant proteinuria increase the length of hospital stay. This study enabled the construction of distinct criticality level profiles based on the combination of age groups and the main comorbidities, which were directly related to the length of hospital stay.
Qualitative evaluation of an intervention to reduce energy poverty
Authors: Jacques-Aviñó Constanza , Dvorzak José Luis , Marí-Dell’Olmo Marc , Arjona Dolors Rodriguez , Peralta Andrés , Carrere Juli , Benach Joan , Ramos Cristina , Plana Mònica , López María José
Published: August 2019

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the “Energía, la justa” program, aimed at reducing energy poverty in the city of Barcelona, from the point of view of the target population and the workers involved in the intervention. METHODS: A qualitative, descriptive and exploratory pilot study was carried out, with a phenomenological approach. Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted: to three users, three energy agents who performed interventions in the homes, and six professionals who participated in the program coordination. A thematic content analysis was carried out using Atlas-ti software. Interviews were conducted between October 2016 and March 2017. RESULTS: Trust in a contact person (e.g. social workers) facilitated the participation, although there were difficulties reaching people who had illegal energy supplies, immigrant women or immigrants who subrent properties. Regarding implementation, home visits, energy efficiency advice and the relationship with energy agents were the best assessed aspects. However, not being able to carry out reforms in deteriorated dwellings was considered a limitation. The program also contributed to raise awareness on energy rights, to save on utility bills and to generate tranquility and social support. CONCLUSIONS: Programs such as this one can promote energy empowerment and improve psychosocial status. However, strategies with a gender and equity perspective should be considered to reach other vulnerable groups.
Minstrel Scandals; or, the Restorative White Properties of Blackface
Authors: Hoxworth Kellen
Published: August 2019

In early 2019, a photograph from the 1984 medical school yearbook of Virginia Governor Ralph Northam featuring a blackfaced figure and a figure in a KKK hood sparked a minstrel scandal. Northam issued a contradictory series of admissions and apologies — yet, he remained in office. This incident models how minstrel scandals reproduce dramaturgical structures of blackface minstrelsy, simultaneously appearing to redress antiblack racism while working to restore the enduring racial structures of whiteness.
“In Sorrow Thou Shalt Bring Forth Children”: Docu-Poetic Theatre in Israel
Authors: Shem-Tov Naphtaly
Published: August 2019

Yoldot is a docu-poetic performance that critically presents the affair of the abduction of Jewish children from families that immigrated primarily from Yemen in the 1950s. Facilitated by the healthcare system, the abducted children were put up for illegal adoption. Yoldot frames the events as less of an exception and more a regular phenomenon enabled by the overall orientalist and racist nature of the Israeli medical system.
From Chanel to Halston: The Mythology of Fashion Costumes on Modernist Stages
Authors: Garelick Rhonda
Published: August 2019

When recognizable designer couture costumes the modernist stage, it adds layers of aesthetic, choreographic, and social meaning via extrascenic reference, a capacity to alter and reshape bodily movements, and the relationship to the pleasures and politics of women’s material culture. Onstage couture can confer a kind of contemporary mythological resonance upon performance — what I call the “mythic fashion unconscious.”
Spoken Drama and Its Doubles: Thunderstorm 2.0 by Wang Chong and Théâtre du Rêve Expérimental
Authors: Chun Tarryn Li-Min
Published: August 2019

Thunderstorm 2.0 at the 2018 Under the Radar Festival introduced a modern Chinese classic to US audiences via radical adaptation and an assemblage of textual deconstruction, live-feed video, and Suzhou pingtan performance. It offered a timely interrogation of gender politics and deftly triangulated among tensions of live vs. mediated performance, folk traditions vs. modern drama, Chinese text vs. foreign context, and re-presenting a canonical play vs. flying “under the radar.”
Interlingual = Intercultural in Kayoi Komachi/Komachi Visited: A Noh Chamber Opera
Authors: Holman Anna
Published: August 2019

In their intercultural production Kayoi Komachi/Komachi Visited, creators Colleen Lanki and Farshid Samandari experimented with mixing Japanese noh and Western chamber opera, blending noh and opera music, classical Japanese and English. For this noh opera, which hybridized theatrical styles through language, interlingualism was key to its interculturality.
h-Type indices, partial sums and the majorization order
Authors: Egghe Leo , Rousseau Ronald
Published: August 2019

We study the array of partial sums, P X, of a given array X in terms of its h-type indices. Concretely, we show that h( P X) can be described in terms of the Lorenz curve of the array X and obtain a relation between the sum of the components of P X and the Gini index of X. Moreover, we obtain sharp lower and upper bounds for h-type indices of P X.
Does Commercial Diplomacy Overcome Impediments to International Economic Flows? The Case of Australia
Authors: Fry-McKibbin Renée , Nguyen Than Thuong
Published: August 2019

This article empirically examines the effectiveness of commercial diplomacy in contributing to Australia’s merchandise exports and inbound foreign investment with 181 countries over the period 2010-2015. The combined effect of diplomatic entities increases Australian exports by 12.9 per cent and increases inbound foreign investment by 16.1 per cent compared to countries without representation. Commercial diplomacy is effective when there are impediments to exporting, such as markets being outside the region and having low economic freedom. Commercial diplomacy substantially boosts inbound investment from countries outside and within the region, from emerging and developed markets, and from countries with high levels of economic freedom.
The Global Historical and Contemporary Impacts of Voluntary Membership Associations on Human Societies
Authors: Smith David Horton
Published: August 2019

Reviewed here is global research on how 13 types of Voluntary Membership Associations (MAs) have significantly or substantially had global impacts on human history, societies, and life. Such outcomes have occurred especially in the past 200+ years since the Industrial Revolution circa 1800 CE, and its accompanying Organizational Revolution. Emphasized are longer-term, historical, and societal or multinational impacts of MAs, rather than more micro-level (individual) or meso-level (organizational) outcomes. MAs are distinctively structured, with power coming from the membership, not top-down. The author has characterized MAs as the dark matter of the nonprofit/third sector, using an astrophysical metaphor. Astrophysicists have shown that most physical matter in the universe is dark in the sense of being unseen, not stars or planets.
Deeply mourn the memory of my supervisor, Professor Peiji Chen

Authors: LI GANG
Published: August 2019

Professor Peiji Chen, an internationally renowned paleontologist, passed away in Xi’an at 4:30 a.m. on July 9, 2019, at the age of 83.
A fossil black fungus gnat from the lowermost Eocene amber of France (Diptera: Sciaridae)

Authors: CAMIER MARIE , NEL ANDRE
Published: August 2019

The extant fly family Sciaridae currently comprises a great quantity of fossil species (Evenhuis, 1994; Röschmann & Mohrig, 1995; fossilworks Gateway to the Paleobiology Database). Many of them were originally attributed to the genus Sciara, the oldest one being Sciara burmitina Cockerell, 1917 from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. Mohrig & Röschmann (1994) revised several Sciara species described from the Middle Eocene Baltic amber and transferred them to different extant sciarid genera. From France, only compression fossils have been described by Théobald (1937), one from the Late Eocene and seven from the Oligocene. Here we describe the first Sciaridae from the Lowermost Eocene Oise amber (France). Blagoderov et al. (2010) previously described a Lygistorrhinidae sciaroid from the same amber.
Four new Lower Barremian amber outcrops from Northern Lebanon

Authors: MAKSOUD SIBELLE , TALEB KHALED , AZAR DANY
Published: August 2019

Amber is a fossilized plant resin that is preserved and modified throughout geological time (Langenheim, 1969). The complexity of the chemical composition of amber makes it unique considering the preservation of biological inclusions in their 3D pristine and minute details (Langenheim, 2003). Its age ranges between a few millions and 320 million years (mid-Carboniferous) (Sargent Bray & Anderson, 2009). During the past two to three decades, the discoveries worldwide of new amber outcrops have increased. There is no doubt that Jurassic Park in 1993, the famous American science fiction adventure thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg and based on the novel of the same name by Michael Crichton, played a noticeable role in making amber more popular. Before this date, interest in amber was mainly restricted to Baltic and Caribbean countries, though amber occurrence was known from several localities worldwide.
New species of Tingiphatnoma from Cretaceous Burmese amber
(Heteroptera, Tingidae)

Authors: HEISS ERNST , GUILBERT ERIC
Published: August 2019

Since the beginning of the 21st century the rich amber deposits in Kachin State in Northern Myanmar, famous for their excellently preserved biotic inclusions, attracted the interest of scientists (Grimaldi et al., 2002; Ross, 2019). Hundreds of arthropod taxa were described since, including five genera and six species of the lacebug family Tingidae: Spinitingis ellenbergeri, Burmacader multivenosus (Heiss & Guilbert, 2013); Tingiometra burmanica (Heiss et al., 2015); Burmacader lativentris (Heiss & Guilbert, 2018); Paraphatnomacader huarongcheni, Tingiphatnoma bispinosa (Guilbert & Heiss, 2018).
The Neotropical species of Clistopyga (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Pimplinae). Part V: the C. diazi species group, with the description of three new species
Authors: BORDERA SANTIAGO , PALACIO EDGARD , MARTÍNEZ JUAN JOSÉ
Published: August 2019

The Neotropical pimpline Clistopyga diazi species group is revised. Three species, C. albovittata, C. lapacensis and C. speculata are described as new. The species C. diazi Porter and C. lopezrichinii (Blanchard) are redescribed and illustrated. An identification key to all Neotropical species of the group is provided.
A Polymer Responsive to Reactive Oxygen Species for Safe, Efficient Chemo-Photodynamic Combined Cancer Therapy
Authors: Lu Ji , Hao Na , Sun Qin , Liu Zengjin , Liu Li , Xu Long , He Bin , Sun Changzhen
Published: August 2019

Combining photodynamic therapy (PDT) and chemotherapy can improve anti-cancer efficacy. In this study, a novel copolymer PTPP combining thioketal and protoporphyrin was synthesized and tested for antitumor activity. Self-assembled PTPP micelles loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) showed uniform
size, narrow particle size distribution and greater antitumor activity in vivo and in vivo than DOX-loaded micelles made from the commonly used material mPEG-PCL. Under laser irradiation, the photosensitizing protoporphyrin of DOX/PTPP produces abundant reactive oxygen species
(ROS) that directly kill tumor cells as well as destroy the micelles themselves, leading to drug release. The ROS and DOX then act synergistically against the tumors. These ROS-responsive, laser-sensitive polymeric micelles may be useful for combining PDT and chemotherapy.
An Updated Severe Hail and Tornado Climatology for Eastern Colorado
Authors: Childs Samuel J. , Schumacher Russ S.
Published: August 2019

A localized tornado and severe hail climatology is updated and enhanced for eastern Colorado. This region is one of the most active severe weather areas in the United States because of its location immediately east of the Rocky Mountains, intrusions of Gulf of Mexico moisture into a dry climate, and various small-scale topographically forced features such as the “Denver Cyclone.” Since the 1950s, both annual tornado and severe (≥1.0 in.; 1 in. = 25.4 mm) hail reports and days have been increasing across the area, but several nonmeteorological factors distort the record. Of note is a large population bias in the severe hail data, with reports aligned along major roadways and in cities, and several field projects contributing to an absence of (E)F0 tornado reports [on the (enhanced) Fujita scale] in the 1980s. In the more consistently observed period since 1997, tornado reports and days show a slight decreasing trend while severe hail reports and days show an increasing trend, although large variability exists on the county level. Eastern Colorado tornadoes are predominantly weak, rarely above (E)F1 intensity, and with a maximum just east of the northern urban corridor. Severe hail has a maximum along the foothills and shows a trend toward a larger ratio of significant (≥2.0 in.; ≥50.8 mm) hail to severe hail reports over time. Both tornadoes and severe hail have trended toward shorter seasons since 1997, mostly attributable to an earlier end to the season. By assessing current and historical trends from a more localized perspective, small-scale climatological features and local societal impacts are exposed—features that national climatologies can miss.
A Systematic Approach to Assessing the Sources and Global Impacts of Errors in Climate Models
Authors: Schubert S. D. , Chang Y. , Wang H. , Koster R. D. , Molod A. M.
Published: August 2019

We outline a framework for identifying the geographical sources of biases in climate models. By forcing the model with time-averaged short-term analysis increments [tendency bias corrections (TBCs)] over well-defined regions, we can quantify how the associated reduced tendency errors in these regions manifest themselves both locally and remotely through large-scale teleconnections. Companion experiments in which the model is fully corrected [constrained to remain close to the analysis at each time step, termed replay (RPL)] in the various regions provide an upper bound to the local and remote TBC impacts. An example is given based on MERRA-2 and the NASA/GMAO GEOS AGCM used to generate MERRA-2. The results highlight the ability of the approach to isolate the geographical sources of some of the long-standing boreal summer biases of the GEOS model, including a stunted North Pacific summer jet, a dry bias in the U.S. Great Plains, and a warm bias over most of the Northern Hemisphere land. In particular, we show that the TBC over a region that encompasses Tibet has by far the largest impact (compared with all other regions) on the NH summer jets and related variables, leading to significant improvements in the simulation of North American temperature and, to a lesser degree, precipitation. It is further shown that the results of the regional TBC experiments are for the most part linear in the summer hemisphere, allowing a robust interpretation of the results.
Evaluation and Intercomparison of Multiple Snow Water Equivalent Products over the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Bian Qingyun , Xu Zhongfeng , Zhao Long , Zhang Yong-Fei , Zheng Hui , Shi Chunxiang , Zhang Shuai , Xie Conghui , Yang Zong-Liang
Published: August 2019

Snow cover affects the thermal conditions of the Tibetan Plateau through snow–albedo feedback and snowmelt, which, in turn, modulates the Asian summer monsoon climate. An accurate estimation of the snow condition on the Tibetan Plateau is therefore of great importance in both seasonal forecasts and climate studies. Estimation of snow water equivalent (SWE) over the Tibetan Plateau is challenging due to the high altitude, complex terrain, and insufficient in situ observations. Multiple SWE products derived from satellite estimates, reanalyses, regional climate model simulations, and land data assimilations are intercompared in terms of daily, seasonal, and annual variations and are then evaluated against in situ SWE observations. The results show a relatively consistent seasonal to interannual variability of the SWE estimates among the products. The discrepancies in magnitude are large, however, especially in winter and spring. Evaluation against in situ SWE observations indicates that none of these products is capable of accurately characterizing both the spatial pattern and temporal variations.