bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High-Dose Chemotherapy and Autologous Peripheral-Blood Stem-Cell Transplantation for Relapsed Metastatic Germ Cell Tumors: The Indiana University Experience
Authors: Adra Nabil , Abonour Rafat , Althouse Sandra K. , Albany Costantine , Hanna Nasser H. , Einhorn Lawrence H.
Published: February 2017

Purpose

Patients with relapsed metastatic germ cell tumor (GCT) can be cured with second-line and even third-line regimens. We report survival outcomes of patients treated with high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) and peripheral-blood stem-cell transplantation (PBSCT) at Indiana University between 2004 and 2014.

Patients and Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 364 consecutive patients with GCT who progressed after cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy and were subsequently treated with HDCT and PBSCT. Three hundred forty-one patients received two consecutive courses of HDCT consisting of 700 mg/m2 carboplatin and 750 mg/m2 etoposide, each for 3 consecutive days, and each followed by PBSCT. Twenty-three patients received only a single course of HDCT because of progressive disease or toxicity. Cox proportional hazards models were used to test predictors of disease progression.

Results

The median age was 32 years (range, 17 to 70 years). With a median follow-up of 3.3 years, the 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 60% (95% CI, 55% to 65%) and the 2-year overall survival was 66% (95% CI, 60% to 70%). Three hundred three patients received HDCT as second-line therapy with a 2-year PFS of 63% (95% CI, 57% to 68%), and 61 patients received HDCT as third-line or later therapy with a 2-year PFS of 49% (95% CI, 36% to 61%). In a multivariable analysis, factors associated with disease progression included use of HDCT as third-line or later therapy, platinum-refractory disease, mediastinal primary tumor site, nonseminoma histology, intermediate- or poor-risk disease at the time of GCT diagnosis, and human chorionic gonadotropin ≥ 1,000 mIU/mL at initiation of HDCT. There were nine treatment-related deaths. Secondary leukemia developed in five patients.

Conclusion

This large single-institution study demonstrates that patients with relapsed metastatic GCT are curable by HDCT plus PBSCT even when used in third-line or later therapy.
Clinical Trials in the Genomic Era
Authors: Joffe Erel , Iasonos Alexia , Younes Anas
Published: February 2017

Personalization of therapy to target specific molecular pathways has been placed in the forefront of cancer research. Initial reports from clinical trials designed to select patients for appropriate treatment on the basis of tumor characteristics not only have generated considerable excitement but also have identified several challenges. These challenges include the overcoming of regulatory and logistic difficulties, identification of the best selection biomarkers and diagnostic platforms that can be applied in the clinical setting, definition of relevant outcomes in small preselected patient populations, and the design of methods that facilitate rapid enrollment and interpretation of clinical trials by aggregating data across histologically diverse malignancies with common genetic alterations. Furthermore, because our knowledge of the functional consequences of many genetic alterations lags, investigators and sponsors struggle with choosing between ideal clinical trial designs and more practical ones. These challenges are amplified when more than one biomarker is used to select patients for a combination of targeted agents. This review summarizes the current status and challenges of clinical trials in the genomic era and proposes ways to address these challenges.
Cancer Susceptibility Gene Mutations in Individuals With Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Yurgelun Matthew B. , Kulke Matthew H. , Fuchs Charles S. , Allen Brian A. , Uno Hajime , Hornick Jason L. , Ukaegbu Chinedu I. , Brais Lauren K. , McNamara Philip G. , Mayer Robert J. , Schrag Deborah , Meyerhardt Jeffrey A. , Ng Kimmie , Kidd John , Singh Nanda , Hartman Anne-Renee , Wenstrup Richard J. , Syngal Sapna
Published: February 2017

Purpose

Hereditary factors play an important role in colorectal cancer (CRC) risk, yet the prevalence of germline cancer susceptibility gene mutations in patients with CRC unselected for high-risk features (eg, early age at diagnosis, personal/family history of cancer or polyps, tumor microsatellite instability [MSI], mismatch repair [MMR] deficiency) is unknown.

Patients and Methods

We recruited 1,058 participants who received CRC care in a clinic-based setting without preselection for age at diagnosis, personal/family history, or MSI/MMR results. All participants underwent germline testing for mutations in 25 genes associated with inherited cancer risk. Each gene was categorized as high penetrance or moderate penetrance on the basis of published estimates of the lifetime cancer risks conferred by pathogenic germline mutations in that gene.

Results

One hundred five (9.9%; 95% CI, 8.2% to 11.9%) of 1,058 participants carried one or more pathogenic mutations, including 33 (3.1%) with Lynch syndrome (LS). Twenty-eight (96.6%) of 29 available LS CRCs demonstrated abnormal MSI/MMR results. Seventy-four (7.0%) of 1,058 participants carried non-LS gene mutations, including 23 (2.2%) with mutations in high-penetrance genes (five APC, three biallelic MUTYH, 11 BRCA1/2, two PALB2, one CDKN2A, and one TP53), 15 of whom lacked clinical histories suggestive of their underlying mutation. Thirty-eight (3.6%) participants had moderate-penetrance CRC risk gene mutations (19 monoallelic MUTYH, 17 APC*I1307K, two CHEK2). Neither proband age at CRC diagnosis, family history of CRC, nor personal history of other cancers significantly predicted the presence of pathogenic mutations in non-LS genes.

Conclusion

Germline cancer susceptibility gene mutations are carried by 9.9% of patients with CRC. MSI/MMR testing reliably identifies LS probands, although 7.0% of patients with CRC carry non-LS mutations, including 1.0% with BRCA1/2 mutations.
Left Ventricular Dysfunction With Trastuzumab Therapy: Is Primary Prevention the Best Option?
Authors: Thavendiranathan Paaladinesh , Amir Eitan
Published: February 2017

The Oncology Grand Rounds series is designed to place original reports published in the Journal into clinical context. A case presentation is followed by a description of diagnostic and management challenges, a review of the relevant literature, and a summary of the authors’ suggested management approaches. The goal of this series is to help readers better understand how to apply the results of key studies, including those published in Journal of Clinical Oncology, to patients seen in their own clinical practice.

A 51-year-old women with left-sided, T2N1, grade 3, estrogen receptor– and progesterone receptor–negative, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)–positive breast cancer was referred to a cardio-oncology clinic for pre–cancer treatment cardiovascular risk assessment. The planned cancer treatment was 3 cycles of FEC (fluorouracil, epirubicin [100 mg/m2 per dose], and cyclophosphamide), followed by 3 cycles of concurrent docetaxel and trastuzumab, followed by maintenance trastuzumab to complete a 1-year course. Other than a prior history of hysterectomy, there was no relevant medical history. Her cardiac history was notable for the absence of prior cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, or hypercholesterolemia. She was a nonsmoker. At initial clinic visit, her blood pressure was 138/84 with an unremarkable cardiovascular examination. Her echocardiography demonstrated normal sinus rhythm at 73 beats per minute. During cancer treatment, she was observed with echocardiography (baseline left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF], 61%; global longitudinal strain, −21.5%), cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR, as part of an ongoing study), high-sensitivity troponin I, and B-type natriuretic peptide ( Table 1 ). Given that her baseline evaluations were negative at her initial visit, we discussed whether there were agents to prevent the rare, but serious, complication of congestive heart failure (HF) associated with anthracycline- and trastuzumab-based therapy.
Clinical Implications of Genetic Mutations in Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Authors: Kennedy James A. , Ebert Benjamin L.
Published: February 2017

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is clonal disorder characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis and a tendency to evolve into acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Genetic studies have enabled the identification of a set of recurrently mutated genes central to the pathogenesis of MDS, which can be organized into a limited number of cellular processes, including RNA splicing, epigenetic and traditional transcriptional regulation, and signal transduction. The sequential accumulation of mutations drives disease evolution from asymptomatic clonal hematopoiesis to frank MDS, and, ultimately, to secondary AML. This detailed understanding of the molecular landscape of MDS, coupled with the emergence of cost- and time-effective methodologies for DNA sequencing has led to the introduction of genetic studies into the clinical realm. Here, we review recent advances in our genetic understanding of MDS, with a particular focus on the emerging role for mutational data in clinical management as a potential tool to assist in diagnosis, risk stratification, and therapeutic decision-making.
Oral Morphine Use in South India: A Population-Based Study
Authors: Rajagopal M.R. , Karim Safiya , Booth Christopher M.
Published: February 2017

Purpose

Access to opioids for pain control is recognized as an urgent issue in low- and middle-income countries. Here we report temporal and regional trends in morphine use in Kerala, India.

Methods

Oral morphine use data for the State of Kerala (2012 to 2015) was used to describe temporal trends, regional variation, and provider characteristics. Total morphine use was calculated for each district of Kerala to derive an annual per capita use rate (milligrams per capita). Each provider was classified as government, private, nongovernment organization (NGO), or NGO partnership.

Results

Oral morphine use for Kerala was 1.32 mg/capita and increased over the study period 27% (from 1.23 mg/capita to 1.56 mg/capita). There was substantial variation in morphine use across districts (range, 0.49 mg/capita to 2.97 mg/capita; six-fold difference). This variation increased over time (19-fold difference in 2015). In 2015, 31% of morphine providers (51 of 167) were government institutions; they delivered 48% of total morphine in Kerala. Corresponding data for other providers are private institutions, 23% of centers and 13% of morphine; NGOs, 41% of centers and 34% of morphine; and NGO partnerships, 5% of centers and 4% of morphine. From 2012 to 2015, the total number of centers increased by 35%, from 124 to 167.

Conclusion

Oral morphine use has increased over time in Kerala but remains substantially lower than estimated need. There is significant geographic variation of use. Efforts are needed to improve palliative care in Kerala and to reduce regional disparities in access to opioids.
Do Perceived Needs Affect Willingness to Use Traditional Chinese Medicine for Survivorship Care Among Chinese Cancer Survivors? A Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Sun Lingyun , Yang Yufei , Vertosick Emily , Jo SungHwa , Sun Guilan , Mao Jun J.
Published: February 2017

Purpose

We aimed to quantify Chinese cancer survivors’ perceived needs for survivorship care and to evaluate whether these needs could impact their willingness to use traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional survey with members of the Beijing Anti-Cancer Association in China. We measured perceived needs with the seven-item Brief Chinese Cancer Survivorship Needs Scale that assesses psychological, functional, nutritional, social, body image, pain, and symptom needs. The outcome variable was willingness to use TCM for survivorship care. We performed multivariable logistic regression analyses to evaluate whether perceived needs are associated with willingness.

Results

A total of 600 patients were invited, with a response rate of 81%. The mean (standard deviation) score of the perceived needs scale (0 to 10) was 4.4 (2.2), with the majority of participants endorsing nutritional (72%), symptom (65%), and psychological (54%) needs. Among survivors, 387 (80%; 95% CI, 76% to 83%) were willing to use TCM for survivorship care. In multivariable analysis, a higher perceived needs score (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.33; 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.56; P < .001) was associated with greater willingness to use TCM. Specifically, nutritional (OR, 3.17; 95% CI, 1.79 to 5.62; P < .001) and symptom needs (OR, 3.15; 95% CI, 1.79 to 5.55; P < .001) had the strongest relationship.

Conclusion

A higher level of perceived needs, especially in the areas of nutrition and symptoms, was associated with greater willingness to use TCM for survivorship care.
Individualized Strategy for Dosing Luteinizing Hormone–Releasing Hormone Agonists for Androgen-Independent Prostate Cancer: Identification of Outcomes and Costs
Authors: Wagmiller Jennifer A. , Griggs Jennifer J. , Dick Andrew W. , Sahasrabudhe Deepak M.
Published: February 2017

Purpose

Continuing androgen suppression is the current standard in men with androgen-independent prostate cancer (AIPC). An individualized strategy, wherein luteinizing hormone–releasing hormone agonists (LH-RHas) are redosed when serum testosterone approaches a non-castrate level, may decrease costs without worsening outcomes. To understand possible outcomes, we performed a cost-utility analysis comparing individualized and fixed LH-RHa dosing strategies in men with AIPC.

Methods

The model used a societal perspective, a 5-year time horizon, and 3% annual cost discounting. The model accounted for direct costs of androgen suppression. Utilities were varied in accordance with published preference data.

Results

Under base-case assumptions, individualized LH-RHa dosing yielded 1.089 expected quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), compared with 1.094 expected QALYs for fixed LH-RHa dosing. In cost analysis, lifetime per-patient costs for androgen suppression were estimated to be $5,694 for individualized LH-RHa dosing and $9,157 for fixed LH-RHa dosing. Applied to the total population, a strategy of individualized LH-RHa dosing would cost $170 million for androgen suppression, compared with $274 million for fixed LH-RHa dosing. Under these assumptions, adopting the individualized strategy resulted in $692,600 gained from a societal perspective for each QALY lost (the decremental cost utility).

Conclusion

The results suggest that an individualized LH-RHa dosing strategy would be associated with moderate savings on an individual basis but substantial savings on a population basis, and would not adversely affect quality of life or life expectancy. Further research is needed to establish the effects of this strategy on symptoms and survival, as well as patient satisfaction and true costs.
Competitive Funding Strategies for the Conquer Cancer Foundation of ASCO
Authors: Bekaii-Saab Tanios , Goel Sanjay , Dickerson Adrien , Von Roenn Jamie , Thompson Michael A. , Tsao Anne S.
Published: February 2017

Purpose:

The Conquer Cancer Foundation (CCF), the philanthropic arm of ASCO, is responsible for funding innovative clinical research. CCF wants to broaden its donor base instead of relying predominantly on health-care companies. Our Leadership Development Program (LDP) group was tasked with identifying potential donor sources and making recommendations to increase funding.

Materials and Methods:

We selected three sources to research: the general public, crowdsourcing/social media, and ASCO members. We subsequently focused our efforts on ASCO members, of whom only 2% to 3% are donors to CCF and < 8% are repeat donors. To analyze this low rate, we sent out two separate surveys to various groups of members within ASCO.

Results:

We identified lack of knowledge as a major deterrent to giving; surprisingly, even those who hold ASCO leadership positions or participated in committees lacked knowledge about CCF funding. Also, the misconception that ASCO is rich and does not need philanthropic support deterred giving; however, respondents would donate if given the right message that stresses the need of continued member-led donations.

Conclusion:

ASCO members, including those in leadership positions, need to be engaged more aggressively to support CCF. Increased education and updating the CCF message is likely to provide the greatest impact on higher member donation, repeated donations, and facilitate CCF’s goal of diversifying its donor base away from healthcare companies. Furthermore, we recommend using technology, such as mobile applications, and providing incentives and visibility to major donors.
Two-Dimensional (2D) Nanomaterials towards Electrochemical Nanoarchitectonics in Energy-Related Applications
Authors: Khan Ali Hossain , Ghosh Srabanti , Pradhan Bapi , Dalui Amit , Shrestha Lok Kumar , Acharya Somobrata , Ariga Katsuhiko
Published: February 2017

Designing nanoscale components and units into functional defined systems and materials has recently received attention as a nanoarchitectonics approach. In particular, exploration of nanoarchitectonics in two-dimensions (2D) has made great progress these days. Basically, 2D nanomaterials are a center of interest owing to the large surface areas suitable for a variety of surface active applications. The increasing demands for alternative energy generation have significantly promoted the rational design and fabrication of a variety of 2D nanomaterials since the discovery of graphene. In 2D nanomaterials, the charge carriers are confined along the thickness while being allowed to move along the plane. Owing to the large planar area, 2D nanomaterials are highly sensitive to external stimuli, a characteristic suitable for a variety of surface active applications including electrochemistry. Because of the unique structures and multifunctionalities, 2D nanomaterials have stimulated great interest in the field of energy conversion and storage. This review highlights recent progress in the synthesis of a variety of 2D nanomaterials and their applications in energy conversion and storage. Finally, opportunities and some critical challenges in these fields are addressed.
Autopercepção de saúde e aspectos clínico-funcionais dos idosos atendidos em uma unidade básica de saúde no norte do Brasil
Authors: Poubel Priscilla Barros , Lemos Edna Lamar da Costa , Araújo Fernando Costa , Leite Glereston Gomes , Freitas Iany da Silva , Silva Rafael Moisés de Assis , Borralho Thaíssa Gomes , Pires Carla Andréa Avelar
Published: February 2017

Objetivo: O objetivo principal deste trabalho foi conhecer os aspectos clínicos e funcionais e a autopercepção de idosos atendidos em uma unidade básica de saúde localizada em Ananindeua-PA. Materiais e Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevista no domicílio dos usuários ou na sala de espera da unidade de saúde, com auxílio de um protocolo de pesquisa que continha questionamentos da Caderneta de Saúde da Pessoa Idosa. A população amostral foi de 134 idosos. As hipóteses foram avaliadas pelo teste de Qui-quadrado com correção de Yates e Teste G. Para a avaliação da força de associação, foi realizado o cálculo do Odds Ratio. Resultados: A maior parte da população era do gênero feminino, com idade entre 60 e 79 anos, raça parda e escolaridade de 4 a 7 anos de estudo. A doença mais frequente foi hipertensão arterial sistêmica. A maioria dos idosos possuía autopercepção de saúde positiva. Houve associacão estatística da autopercepcão de saúde com a presença de quedas no último ano (p= 0,01), dificuldades para caminhar (p= 0,008) e incapacidade para exercer atividades instrumentais de vida diária (p= 0,02; p=0,02 e p=0,001). Conclusão: Concluiu-se que os idosos avaliados apresentam autopercepção de saúde positiva. Em geral, os dados clínicos e epidemiológicos constatados replicam achados de estudos nacionais. A caracterização desta amostra favorece a formulação de indicadores de saúde e implantação de ações preventivas.
Analysts’ Reputational Concerns, Self-Censoring, and the International Dispersion Effect
Authors: Hwang Chuan-Yang , Li Yuan
Published: February 2017

Stocks with higher forecast dispersion earn lower future returns and have a greater upward bias in the mean reported earnings forecast in international markets. Both phenomena are stronger in countries with more transparent information environments, more developed stock markets, stronger investor protection, greater capital openness, and more intense usage of analysts’ earnings forecasts. Using the 1997–1998 Asian financial crisis as a natural experiment, we find that both phenomena become weaker postcrisis in Malaysia, which imposed capital controls, relative to Thailand and South Korea, which opened their financial markets to foreigners. These results suggest that analysts in countries with greater demand for their forecasts and hence greater concerns for reputations are more likely to self-censor their low forecasts, which leads to a stronger dispersion–bias relation and a stronger dispersion effect.

The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2016.2642 .

This paper was accepted by Wei Jiang, finance.
A wealth of information to apply to lymphoedema management
Authors: Cooper Garry
Published: February 2017

Garry Cooper, Lecturer in Adult Nursing and Lymphoedema, Birmingham City University, considers how increasing knowledge in the field needs to be translated into effective, patient-focused services
Practice education facilitator roles and their value to NHS organisations
Authors: Scott Betsy , Rapson Terri , Allibone Liz , Hamilton Rozi , Mambanje Constance S , Pisaneschi Laura
Published: February 2017

The role of the practice education facilitator (PEF) was introduced to support the management of large student nurse numbers in clinical areas and to monitor and enhance the quality of placements. While much has been written about the activities and roles undertaken by PEFs, less is known about the value of this type of role to the NHS organisations that employ them. This article explores some of the views of PEFs working in a variety of trusts and organisations in London and surrounding counties. There is no consistent job definition and often insufficient support, leading to some PEFs feeling overwhelmed by the work and isolated within the role. Since its introduction, the role has required post holders to work more strategically within their trusts' education remits. However, it was felt by most post holders that the role remains undervalued and the perception is that these posts are vulnerable to budget cuts. The article considers what effect this could have on pre-registration nurse education. The profile of the role needs to be strengthened through consistent job descriptions and streamlining the number of job titles attached to the role.
From staff nurse to nurse consultant: Clinical leadership part 11: leadership and training
Authors: Fowler John
Published: February 2017

John Fowler, independent education consultant, continues to explore the importance of leadership for clinically based nurses, focusing on staff training
Researching violence with children: experiences and lessons from the UK and South Africa
Authors: Radford Lorraine , Lombard Nancy , Meinck Franziska , Katz Emma , Mahati Stanford Taonatose
Published: February 2017

The impact of violence on children’s health and development has had growing attention in global and national politics. Research on children’s experiences of violence has increased in recent years, and this article aims to add to this literature by highlighting key messages and learning points from the experiences of researchers who have worked with children and violence across the different contexts of the UK and South Africa. As qualitative and quantitative researchers, our concepts, aims, methods, resources and approaches were very different, but we all faced similar challenges in working with children and violence in contexts where adults’ views about what violence counted predominated. We argue that children’s participation in research and highlighting children’s own understandings, agency and negotiations in relation to violence are crucial for challenging sometimes unhelpful taken-for-granted views about the impact of violence on children’s lives.
Scared but loving it: Children's enjoyment of fear as a diagnostic marker of anxiety?
Authors: Gilmore Linda , Campbell Marilyn
Published: February 2017

Childhood fears of objects and events such as spiders, monsters and earthquakes are common, universal and sometimes distressing. At the same time, many children seem to enjoy the thrill of scary ghost stories, ghoulish films, and terrifying theme park rides. It is estimated that around 18% of children are excessively fearful. Although anxiety disorders represent the most common psychopathology in childhood, identification can be difficult because of the diagnostic overlap and co-morbidity of anxiety with other childhood disorders. The present study investigated enjoyment of fear as a potential diagnostic marker of childhood anxiety in a sample of 220 children aged 6-12 years and their parents. Many children reportedly enjoyed scary experiences, with boys and older children displaying greater enjoyment. Children whose parents rated them as excessively anxious experienced significantly less enjoyment of fear. The paper considers possible explanations for this finding and concludes that failure to enjoy scary activities may represent a useful diagnostic marker in the initial identification of childhood anxiety.
Vanhojen pellonmetsitysten tila Länsi-Suomessa
Authors: Kinnunen Kaarlo , Aro Lasse
Published: February 2017

Länsi-Suomessa 1970-luvun vaihteessa tehdyistä pellonmetsityksistä valittiin satunnaisesti 13 mänty-, 10 kuusi- ja 17 rauduskoivualaa. Metsitykset inventoitiin 23 kasvukautta istutuksen jälkeen. Mänty oli vallitsevana enää kahdeksalla alalla, loput viisi alaa olivat muuttuneet lähinnä hieskoivikoiksi. Kuusi ja rauduskoivu olivat säilyneet vallitsevina yhtä kuusialaa lukuunottamatta. Männiköt sijoittuivat pääosin pituusboniteettiluokkiin 24 ja 27, jotka metsämaalla vastaavat puolukka- ja mustikkatyyppejä. Kuusikot jakautuivat tasan pituusboniteettiluokkiin 27, 30 ja 33 (käenkaali-mustikkatyyppi, lehto ja paremmat). Rauduskoivun pituusboniteetit olivat 22–28 (puolukkatyyppi–lehto). Yli puolet aloista oli luokassa 26 (käenkaali-mustikkatyyppi). Rauduskoivut arvioitiin sekä tekniseltä laadultaan että kunnoltaan parhaiksi ja männyt huonoimmiksi. Lukumääräisesti eniten hyvälaatuisia puita oli kuusikoissa ja vähiten hieskoivu- ja haapavaltaisilla aloilla. Eniten vioituksia aiheutti muun puuston kilpailu. Halla vikuutti lähinnä kuusta, surmakka puolestaan aiheutti vioituksia männyllä. Tyypillistä pellonmetsityksille oli suuri alojen välinen vaihtelu. Keskituotos vastasi käenkaali-mustikkatyypin tuotosta metsämailla.
Versolaikkujen ja värivikojen aiheuttajat koivun taimilla
Authors: Lilja Arja
Published: February 2017

Artikkeli on yhteenveto tutkimuksista, joissa käsitellään koivun versolaikkutautia taimitarhoilla ja pellonmetsitysaloilla sekä toimenpiteitä, joilla tautia voidaan torjua. Versolaikkuja aiheuttavista sienistä esitellään tarkemmin Phytophthora cactorum, joka on meillä uusi taudinaiheuttaja.
Työtavan vaikutus hakkuukoneen tuotokseen ja hakkuutähteen kasautumiseen
Authors: Nurmi Juha
Published: February 2017

Hakkuutähteen korjuu energiapuuksi päätehakkuualoilta edellyttää yksioteharvesterityön uudelleen organisointia. Uusien työtapojen tavoitteena on saada hakkuutähteet keruutyötä helpottaviin kasoihin. Työtapojen vaikutus hakkuukoneen ajankäytön jakaumaan, tehotuntituotokseen ja hakkuutähteen kasautumiseen selvitettiin.
Kansalaismielipide metsien suojelusta ja talouskäytöstä
Authors: Hänninen Harri , Karppinen Heimo
Published: February 2017

Tutkimuksessa tarkasteltiin suuren yleisön metsien talouskäyttöön ja suojeluun liittyviä asenteita haastatteluaineiston perusteella. Kansalaisista runsas kolmasosa oli luettavissa metsien talouskäytön lisäämistä kannattaviin ja neljäsosa suojelun lisäämistä kannattaviin. Noin 40 prosenttia suomalaisista kannatti samanaikaisesti sekä metsien talouskäytön että suojelun lisäämistä tai vastusti kumpaakin. Väestön taustapiirteillä kyettiin selittämään vain osittain metsien käyttöön liittyviä asenteita. Suojelumyönteisten metsätiedot olivat talouskäytön kannattajia vähäisemmät. Metsänomistajissa oli suojelun kannattajia lähes saman verran kuin metsää omistamattomissa kansalaisissa mutta talouskäytön kannattajia selvästi enemmän.
Estevastus ja estetyö maastossa liikkuvien koneiden kulkumalleissa
Authors: Saarilahti Martti
Published: February 2017

Artikkelissa tarkastellaan metsäkuljetusten maastoluokituksen ja kulkumallituksen välistä vuorovaikutusta sekä kehitetään teoreettinen viitekehys estevastuksen ja estetyön laskemiseksi. Pienoismallikokeiden, pienen empiirisen aineiston ja kirjallisuustarkastelun avulla yritetään estevastus konkretisoida siten, että tulevissa maastokokeissa estevastuskomponentti voitaisiin ottaa huomioon sekä kokeita suunniteltaessa että tuloksia analysoitaessa.
Metsitystulos Pohjois-Savon kivennäismaapelloilla
Authors: Hynönen Tenho , Saksa Timo
Published: February 2017

Tutkimuksessa selvitettiin 9-, 14- ja 19-vuotiaiden koivun-, kuusen- ja männynviljelyjen onnistumista kivennäismaapelloilla. Inventoitu otos koostui 27 männiköstä, 24 kuusikosta ja 12 rauduskoivikosta. Metsityksen yhteydessä pellot oli pääosin pallekynnetty; joka viides pelto oli muokkaamatta.
Porojen talvilaitumet Suomen poronhoitoalueen etelä- ja keskiosissa 1990-luvun alussa
Authors: Mattila Eero
Published: February 2017

Porojen talvilaitumia on arvioitu valtakunnan metsien inventoinnissa 1970-luvulta lähtien kolme kertaa. Tässä julkaisussa käsitellään uusinta laidunarviointia. Tutkimusta ei tehty Perä-Lapista (Utsjoki, Inari ja Enontekiö). Laidunluokkien alat arvioitiin inventoinnin näytteestä (16 000 koealaa). Talviravintokasvien esiintymistä mitattiin vain pysyvillä koealoilla, joita tuli talvilaitumille (so. kangasmaille) yli 1 500 kpl.
Traducir, el arte de escuchar
Authors: Arbuet Osuna Camila
Published: February 2017

¿Qué movidas se juegan al traducir un ensayo político que va del manifiesto al intimismo? ¿Cómo puede una traducción volver a darle vida a un texto escrito en otro tiempo, otra lengua y para otro público? ¿En qué consisten la fidelidad y la lealtad del traductor? ¿Cuáles son los vínculos entre la traducción y la ansiedad de la escritura política? El presente artículo vuelve sobre estas preguntas y algunas más, utilizando la traducción de Tragedia Moderna de Raymond Williams como disparador para pensarlas. Finalmente, el artículo presenta algunos indicios para la actualización de las tesis centrales de Tragedia Moderna, continuando —con otros recursos— la tarea interpretativa abierta en la traducción.
Renesans baśni
Authors: Gieba Kamila
Published: February 2017

The article’s aim is is to reviw two-volume monograph entitled Fairy tale in Contemporary Cultre  edited by Kornelia Ćwiklak (volume 1: Fairy tale’s limitless potential: literature – art – mass culture , volume 2: The human realm: education – psychoanalisys – art therapy ). Reviewed publication presents theoretical proposals and interpretations of cultural texts related to the fairy tales.
European Dilemmas of the Biological versus Social Father: The Case of Estonia
Authors: Joamets Kristi , Kerikmäe Tanel
Published: February 2017

The current understandings and practices related to biological and social fatherhood raise a crucial legal question about which model of fatherhood determination should be adapted to contemporary society: the model of a biological or social father bearing the rights and obligations related to the child. The general ideologies of being a father and the application of different approaches have been analysed comparatively, also trying to provide the best legal policy to consider when interpreting the rules of parenthood in Estonian Family Law Act and the Estonian legal practice. The paper considers the emerging legal concept of social fatherhood to be an inevitable prerequisite for protection of the interest of the child.
A Simple Method for Limiting Disclosure in Continuous Microdata Based on Principal Component Analysis
Authors: Calviño Aida
Published: February 2017

In this article we propose a simple and versatile method for limiting disclosure in continuous microdata based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Instead of perturbing the original variables, we propose to alter the principal components, as they contain the same information but are uncorrelated, which permits working on each component separately, reducing processing times. The number and weight of the perturbed components determine the level of protection and distortion of the masked data. The method provides preservation of the mean vector and the variance-covariance matrix. Furthermore, depending on the technique chosen to perturb the principal components, the proposed method can provide masked, hybrid or fully synthetic data sets. Some examples of application and comparison with other methods previously proposed in the literature (in terms of disclosure risk and data utility) are also included.
Survey-Based Cross-Country Comparisons Where Countries Vary in Sample Design: Issues and Solutions
Authors: Kaminska Olena , Lynn Peter
Published: February 2017

In multi-national surveys, different countries usually implement different sample designs. The sample designs affect the variance of estimates of differences between countries. When making such estimates, analysts often fail to take sufficient account of sample design. This failure occurs sometimes because variables indicating stratification, clustering, or weighting are unavailable, partially available, or in a form that is unsuitable for cross-national analysis. In this article, we demonstrate how complex sample design should be taken into account when estimating differences between countries, and we provide practical guidance to analysts and to data producers on how to deal with partial or inappropriately-coded sample design indicator variables. Using EU-SILC as a case study, we evaluate the inverse misspecification effect (imeff ) that results from ignoring clustering or stratification, or both in a between-country comparison where countries’ sample designs differ. We present imeff for estimates of between-country differences in a number of demographic and economic variables for 19 European Union Member States. We assess the magnitude of imeff and the associated impact on standard error estimates. Our empirical findings illustrate that it is important for data producers to supply appropriate sample design indicators and for analysts to use them.
Changing Industrial Classification to SIC (2007) at the UK Office for National Statistics
Authors: Smith Paul A. , James Gareth G.
Published: February 2017

As part of the changes to industrial classifications following the United Nations’ revision to the International Standard Industrial Classification, ISIC Rev. 4, the UK moved to its version of a new classification between 2007 and 2011. We describe the processes involved in changing an industrial classification, including model-based adjustment methods and changes to survey designs and operations. We discuss the quality of the approaches used for different time periods in the same series, and the ways in which consistent time series are produced for users of economic statistics. We provide some general evaluation of the changeover, and guidance on the best approaches to follow when updating classifications.
Cost-Benefit Analysis for a Quinquennial Census: The 2016 Population Census of South Africa
Authors: Spencer Bruce D. , May Julian , Kenyon Steven , Seeskin Zachary
Published: February 2017

The question of whether to carry out a quinquennial Census is faced by national statistical offices in increasingly many countries, including Canada, Nigeria, Ireland, Australia, and South Africa. We describe uses and limitations of cost-benefit analysis in this decision problem in the case of the 2016 Census of South Africa. The government of South Africa needed to decide whether to conduct a 2016 Census or to rely on increasingly inaccurate postcensal estimates accounting for births, deaths, and migration since the previous (2011) Census. The cost-benefit analysis compared predicted costs of the 2016 Census to the benefits of improved allocation of intergovernmental revenue, which was considered by the government to be a critical use of the 2016 Census, although not the only important benefit. Without the 2016 Census, allocations would be based on population estimates. Accuracy of the postcensal estimates was estimated from the performance of past estimates, and the hypothetical expected reduction in errors in allocation due to the 2016 Census was estimated. A loss function was introduced to quantify the improvement in allocation. With this evidence, the government was able to decide not to conduct the 2016 Census, but instead to improve data and capacity for producing post-censal estimates.
Implant-prosthetic rehabilitation after radiation treatment in head and neck cancer patients: a case-series report of outcome
Authors: Cotic Jasna , Jamsek Jure , Kuhar Milan , Ihan Hren Natasa , Kansky Andrej , Özcan Mutlu , Jevnikar Peter
Published: February 2017

Background

Slovenia has a high burden of head and neck cancer. Patients are mostly treated with surgery followed by radiation therapy. Advanced surgical and prosthodontic techniques have expanded the rehabilitation options. The aim of the study was to review the outcome of implant-prosthetic treatment after radiation therapy.

Patients and methods

Twenty irradiated head and neck cancer patients who received a removable implant-supported denture at the University Medical Centre Ljubljana were included in the study. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, Cox proportional hazard models and logistic regression were used to assess the implant survival and success rate.

Results

Twenty patients had 100 implants inserted. The estimated implant survival rate was 96% after 1 year and 87% after 5 years. Failures were mostly observed before loading (91.2%). Implants inserted in the transplanted bone were significantly more likely to fail. Out of 89 implants supporting the dentures, 79 implants (88.7%) were successful, meaning that they were functionally loaded and exhibited no pain, radiolucency or progressive bone loss. Prosthetic treatment was significantly less successful in older patients. The attachment system and the number of implants did not have a statistically significant influence on the success rate.

Conclusions

Implant-supported dentures have been shown to be a reliable treatment modality after head and neck cancer surgery and radiation therapy. Possible early failures should be communicated with the patients.
Long-term outcomes of high dose treatment and autologous stem cell transplantation in follicular and mantle cell lymphomas – a single centre experience
Authors: Boltezar Lucka , Pintaric Karlo , Pretnar Jože , Pohar Perme Maja , Novakovic Barbara Jezersek
Published: February 2017

Background

Advanced follicular lymphoma (FL) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) are incurable diseases with conventional treatment. The high dose treatment (HDT) with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), however, offers a certain proportion of these patients the prospect of a prolonged disease-free and overall survival. The aim of this study was to investigate the event free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with FL and MCL treated with ASCT.

Patients and methods

Seventeen patients with FL and 29 patients with MCL were included, 15 of them were transplanted to consolidate the response to second line treatment and 24 to consolidate their first remission, respectively. All were conditioned with total body irradiation (TBI) and high dose cyclophosphamide between 2006 and 2014 and all were transplanted with peripheral blood stem cells.

Results

The estimated 5-year OS for FL was 87.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 59.5%–96.8%) and for MCL 79.3% (95% CI 56.1%–91.1%), respectively. The estimated 5-year EFS for FL was 76.0% (95% CI 48.0%–90.3%) and for MCL 69.8% (95% CI 45.5%–84.8%), respectively. There were no secondary hematological malignancies observed in either group.

Conclusions

Based on above results, the ASCT with TBI is a good treatment option in terms of long-term survival for patients with follicular and mantle cell lymphoma demonstrating a relatively low rate of late toxicities and secondary malignancies.
Contribution of diffusion weighted MRI to diagnosis and staging in gastric tumors and comparison with multi-detector computed tomography
Authors: Arslan Harun , Fatih Özbay Mehmet , Çallı İskan , Doğan Erkan , Çelik Sebahattin , Batur Abdussamet , Bora Aydın , Yavuz Alpaslan , Bulut Mehmet Deniz , Özgökçe Mesut , Çetin Kotan Mehmet
Published: February 2017

Background

Diagnostic performance of Diffusion-Weighted magnetic resonance Imaging (DWI) and Multi-Detector Computed Tomography (MDCT) for TNM (Tumor, Lymph node, Metastasis) staging of gastric cancer was compared.

Patients and methods

We used axial T2-weighted images and DWI (b-0,400 and b-800 s/mm2) protocol on 51 pre-operative patients who had been diagnosed with gastric cancer. We also conducted MDCT examinations on them. We looked for a signal increase in the series of DWI images. The depth of tumor invasion in the stomach wall (tumor (T) staging), the involvement of lymph nodes (nodal (N) staging), and the presence or absence of metastases (metastatic staging) in DWI and CT images according to the TNM staging system were evaluated. In each diagnosis of the tumors, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative accuracy rates of DWI and MDCT examinations were found through a comparison with the results of the surgical pathology, which is the gold standard method. In addition to the compatibilities of each examination with surgical pathology, kappa statistics were used.

Results

Sensitivity and specificity of DWI and MDCT in lymph node staging were as follows: N1: DWI: 75.0%, 84.6%; MDCT: 66.7%, 82%;N2: DWI: 79.3%, 77.3%; MDCT: 69.0%, 68.2%; N3: DWI: 60.0%, 97.6%; MDCT: 50.0%, 90.2%. The diagnostic tool DWI seemed more compatible with the gold standard method (surgical pathology), especially in the staging of lymph node, when compared to MDCT. On the other hand, in T staging, the results of DWI and MDCT were better than the gold standard when the T stage increased. However, DWI did not demonstrate superiority to MDCT. The sensitivity and specificity of both imaging techniques for detecting distant metastasis were 100%.

Conclusions

The diagnostic accuracy of DWI for TNM staging in gastric cancer before surgery is at a comparable level with MDCT and adding DWI to routine protocol of evaluating lymph nodes metastasis might increase diagnostic accuracy.
The Representation of Francoist Spain by Two British Women Travel Writers
Authors: Mulligan Maureen
Published: February 2017

This article offers a discussion of two books by British women which describe travels in Spain during the post-war period, that is, during the dictatorship of General Franco. The aim is to analyse how Spanish culture and society are represented in these texts, and to what extent the authors engage with questions of the ethics of travelling to Spain in this period. Two different forms of travel - by car, and by horse - also influence the way the travellers can connect with local people; and the individual’s interest in Spain as a historical site, or as a timeless escape from industrial northern Europe, similarly affect the focus of the accounts. The global politics of travel writing, and the distinction between colonial and cosmopolitan travel writers, are important elements in our understanding of the way a foreign culture is articulated for the home market. Women’s travel writing also has its own discursive history which we consider briefly. In conclusion, texts involve common discursive and linguistic strategies which have to negotiate the specificity of an individual’s travels in a particular time and place. The authors and books referred to are Rose Macaulay’s Fabled Shore: From the Pyrenees to Portugal (1949) and Penelope Chetwode’s Two Middle-Aged Ladies in Andalusia (1963).
The (pro)long(ed) life of a “grand narrative”: the case of Internet forum discussions on post-2004 Polish migration to the United Kingdom
Authors: Galasińska Aleksandra , Horolets Anna
Published: February 2017

The latest wave of migration from Poland to the European Union is unprecedented in its scale. The changed economic and political circumstances of migration trigger the changes in the lived experience of migration as well as its perceptions. Yet, the “grand narrative” of economic migration that was a product of migrant experiences in previous epochs has not disappeared in the new circumstances. This article presents the voices in the debate about post-2004 migration that strongly rely on the “grand narrative” and thereby undermine the uniqueness of this wave of migration. Using the corpus containing postings from one of the leading Polish quality daily newspaper's Internet forum (2005–2010) as data, we analyze the macro-topics and argumentative strategies of contemporary articulations of the economic migration “grand narrative.” We suggest that the resilience of the hegemonic narrative of migration is caused by its being enmeshed in the multi-vector logic of post-1989 systemic transformation.
Word (and other) search sequences initiated by language learners
Authors: Koshik Irene , Seo Mi-Suk
Published: February 2017

This study uses a conversation analytic framework to analyze practices by which language learners display that they are searching for language they have not yet fully acquired, i.e., words, word forms, syntactic structure, or pronunciation. Learners can present their solutions with rising intonation as candidate solutions to be confirmed or corrected by another speaker. They can also elicit a specific lexical item by presenting a more general term with rising intonation. When learners receive an ambiguous response to these search turns, they can initiate repair to disambiguate the import of that response in order to pursue linguistic accuracy, even when communication is displayed as otherwise successful. These search sequences therefore display an orientation to language learning, showing how the participants' situated identities as language learner/student and language expert/teacher are contingently constructed and negotiated in and through their talk and other semiotic resources as the local context evolves.
Landscapes of empathy: spatial scenarios, metaphors and metonymies in responses to distant suffering
Authors: Cameron Lynne , Seu Irene Bruna
Published: February 2017

This study re-analyzes focus group data on responses to human rights abuses, to investigate how participants' experiences in their local social and physical worlds influence empathy with distant suffering others.

Metaphors, metonymies, narratives, and typifying scenarios were identified in the discourse dynamics. Scenarios, metaphors, and metonymies of space and place emerge as particularly significant in the dialogic co-construction of moral reasoning. Embodied experiences, specifically encounters with people begging in the street, become emblematic of perceived threats to personal space that should feel private and secure. Systematic spatial metaphors construct a landscape of empathic understanding with an optimal distance for empathy, neither too close nor too far. Faced with distant suffering others in prompt materials, participants respond with parallel reasoning on the symbolic landscape. Implications for increasing empathic understanding of distant others are discussed.