bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A retrospective analysis of hand tapping as a longitudinal marker of disease progression in Huntington’s disease
Authors: Collins Lucy M , Lazic Stanley E , Barker Roger A
Published: February 2014

Background

Current clinical assessments of motor function in Huntington’s Disease (HD) rely on subjective ratings such as the Unified Huntington’s Disease Rating scale (UHDRS). The ability to track disease progression using simple, objective, inexpensive, and robust measures would be beneficial.

Methods

One objective measure of motor performance is hand-tapping. Over the last 14 years we have routinely collected, using a simple device, the number of taps made by the right and left hand over 30 seconds in HD patients attending our NHS clinics.

Results

Here we report on a longitudinal cohort of 237 patients, which includes patients at all stages of the disease on a wide range of drug therapies. Hand tapping in these patients declines linearly at a rate of 5.1 taps per year (p < 0.0001; 95% CI = 3.8 to 6.3 taps), and for each additional year of age patients could perform 0.9 fewer taps (main effect of age: p = 0.0007; 95% CI = 0.4 to 1.4). Individual trajectories can vary widely around this average rate of decline, and much of this variation could be attributed to CAG repeat length. Genotype information was available for a subset of 151 patients, and for each additional repeat, patients could perform 5.6 fewer taps (p < 0.0001; 95% CI = 3.3 to 8.0 taps), and progressed at a faster rate of 0.45 fewer taps per year (CAG by time interaction: p = 0.008; 95% CI = 0.12 to 0.78 taps). In addition, for each unit decrease in Total Functional Capacity (TFC) within individuals, the number of taps decreased by 6.3 (95% CI = 5.4 to 7.1, p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Hand tapping is a simple, robust, and reliable marker of disease progression. As such, this simple motor task could be a useful tool by which to assess disease progression as well therapies designed to slow it down.
Immune approaches to the treatment of breast cancer, around the corner?
Authors: Criscitiello Carmen , Esposito Angela , Gelao Lucia , Fumagalli Luca , Locatelli Marzia , Minchella Ida , Adamoli Laura , Goldhirsch Aron , Curigliano Giuseppe
Published: February 2014

Immunotherapy for the treatment of breast cancer can be categorized as either (a) specific stimulation of the immune system by active immunization, with cancer vaccines, or (b) passive immunization, such as tumor-specific antibodies (including immune modulators) or adoptive cell therapy that inhibit the function of, or directly kill, tumor cells. We will present the current information and the future perspectives of immunotherapy in patients with breast cancer, including the prognostic role of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, immune signatures, targeted therapies modulating the immune system, and tumor antigen cancer vaccines. Active immunotherapy in breast cancer and its implementation into clinical trials have been largely a frustrating experience in the last decades. The concept that the immune system regulates cancer development is experiencing a new era of interest. It is clear that the cancer immunosurveillance process indeed exists and potentially acts as an extrinsic tumor suppressor. Also, the immune system can facilitate tumor progression by sculpting the immunogenic phenotype of tumors as they develop. Cancer immunoediting represents a refinement of the cancer immunosurveillance hypothesis and resumes the complex interaction between tumor and immune system into three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape. Major topics in the field of immunology deserve a response: what do we know about tumor immunogenicity, and how might we therapeutically improve tumor immunogenicity? How can we modulate response of the immune system? Is there any gene signature predictive of response to immune modulators? The success of future immunotherapy strategies will depend on the identification of additional immunogenic antigens that can serve as the best tumor-rejection targets. Therapeutic success will depend on developing the best antigen delivery systems and on the elucidation of the entire network of immune signaling pathways that regulate immune responses in the tumor microenvironment.
Semi-Empirical Nonlinear Site Amplification from NGA-West2 Data and Simulations
Authors: Seyhan Emel , Stewart Jonathan P.
Published: February 2014

We analyze NGA-West2 data and simulations to develop a site amplification model that captures ground motion scaling with V S30 and soil nonlinear effects. We parameterize nonlinearity as the gradient of site amplification with respect to peak acceleration for reference (firm) sites. Both data analyses and simulations indicate nonlinearity for sites with V S30 < 500 m/s and spectral periods T < ∼3 s. Following approximate removal of nonlinear effects from the data, we evaluate V S30-scaling of ground motions, which is most pronounced for T ≥ ∼0.2 s and saturates for hard rock sites. Regional trends in V S30-scaling and nonlinearity were not found to be sufficiently robust to justify inclusion in our model. We apply the site amplification model to derive site factors now approved for building code applications. Principal causes of changes relative to previous values are reduction of the reference velocity (at which amplification is unity) to 760 m/s and reduced nonlinearity.
Prospective Study of Fertility Concerns and Preservation Strategies in Young Women With Breast Cancer
Authors: Ruddy Kathryn J. , Gelber Shari I. , Tamimi Rulla M. , Ginsburg Elizabeth S. , Schapira Lidia , Come Steven E. , Borges Virginia F. , Meyer Meghan E. , Partridge Ann H.
Published: February 2014

Purpose

Most research regarding fertility in young women with breast cancer has focused on long-term survivors. Little is known about how fertility concerns affect treatment decisions or fertility preservation strategies at the time of initial cancer diagnosis.

Patients and Methods

As part of an ongoing prospective multicenter cohort study, we surveyed women with newly diagnosed early-stage breast cancer at age ≤ 40 years. The baseline survey included sociodemographic, medical, and treatment data as well as a modified Fertility Issues Survey, including fertility concern and preservation items. Univariable and multivariable modeling were used to investigate predictors of greater fertility concern.

Results

Among the first 620 eligible respondents included in this analysis, median age was 37 years (range, 17 to 40 years); 425 women (68%) discussed fertility issues with their physicians before starting therapy, and 319 (51%) were concerned about becoming infertile after treatment. Because of concerns about fertility, four women (1%) chose not to receive chemotherapy, 12 (2%) chose one chemotherapy regimen over another, six (1%) considered not receiving endocrine therapy, 19 (3%) decided not to receive endocrine therapy, and 71 (11%) considered receiving endocrine therapy for < 5 years; 65 (10%) used fertility preservation strategies. Greater concern about fertility was associated with younger age, nonwhite race, not having children, and receipt of chemotherapy.

Conclusion

Many young women with newly diagnosed breast cancer have concerns about fertility, and for some, these substantially affect their treatment decisions. Only a minority of women currently pursue available fertility preservation strategies in this setting.
Cost Effectiveness of EML4-ALK Fusion Testing and First-Line Crizotinib Treatment for Patients With Advanced ALK-Positive Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Djalalov Sandjar , Beca Jaclyn , Hoch Jeffrey S. , Krahn Murray , Tsao Ming-Sound , Cutz Jean-Claude , Leighl Natasha B.
Published: February 2014

Purpose

ALK-targeted therapy with crizotinib offers significant improvement in clinical outcomes for the treatment of EML4-ALK fusion–positive non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We estimated the cost effectiveness of EML4-ALK fusion testing in combination with targeted first-line crizotinib treatment in Ontario.

Patients and Methods

A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted using a Markov model from the Canadian Public health (Ontario) perspective and a lifetime horizon in patients with stage IV NSCLC with nonsquamous histology. Transition probabilities and mortality rates were calculated from the Ontario Cancer Registry and Cancer Care Ontario New Drug Funding Program (CCO NDFP). Costs were obtained from the Ontario Case Costing Initiative, CCO NDFP, University Health Network, and literature.

Results

Molecular testing with first-line targeted crizotinib treatment in the population with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC resulted in a gain of 0.011 quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) compared with standard care. The incremental cost was Canadian $2,725 per patient, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was $255,970 per QALY gained. Among patients with known EML4-ALK–positive advanced NSCLC, first-line crizotinib therapy provided 0.379 additional QALYs, cost an additional $95,043 compared with standard care, and produced an ICER of $250,632 per QALY gained. The major driver of cost effectiveness was drug price.

Conclusion

EML4-ALK fusion testing in stage IV nonsquamous NSCLC with crizotinib treatment for ALK-positive patients is not cost effective in the setting of high drug costs and a low biomarker frequency in the population.
Impact of Oophorectomy on Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Women With a BRCA1 or BRCA2 Mutation
Authors: Finch Amy P.M. , Lubinski Jan , Møller Pål , Singer Christian F. , Karlan Beth , Senter Leigha , Rosen Barry , Maehle Lovise , Ghadirian Parviz , Cybulski Cezary , Huzarski Tomasz , Eisen Andrea , Foulkes William D. , Kim-Sing Charmaine , Ainsworth Peter , Tung Nadine , Lynch Henry T. , Neuhausen Susan , Metcalfe Kelly A. , Thompson Islay , Murphy Joan , Sun Ping , Narod Steven A.
Published: February 2014

Purpose

The purposes of this study were to estimate the reduction in risk of ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal cancer in women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation after oophorectomy, by age of oophorectomy; to estimate the impact of prophylactic oophorectomy on all-cause mortality; and to estimate 5-year survival associated with clinically detected ovarian, occult, and peritoneal cancers diagnosed in the cohort.

Patients and Methods

Women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation were identified from an international registry; 5,783 women completed a baseline questionnaire and ≥ one follow-up questionnaires. Women were observed until either diagnosis of ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal cancer, death, or date of most recent follow-up. Hazard ratios (HRs) for cancer incidence and all-cause mortality associated with oophorectomy were evaluated using time-dependent survival analyses.

Results

After an average follow-up period of 5.6 years, 186 women developed either ovarian (n = 132), fallopian (n = 22), or peritoneal (n = 32) cancer, of whom 68 have died. HR for ovarian, fallopian, or peritoneal cancer associated with bilateral oophorectomy was 0.20 (95% CI, 0.13 to 0.30; P < .001). Among women who had no history of cancer at baseline, HR for all-cause mortality to age 70 years associated with an oophorectomy was 0.23 (95% CI, 0.13 to 0.39; P < .001).

Conclusion

Preventive oophorectomy was associated with an 80% reduction in the risk of ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal cancer in BRCA1 or BRCA2 carriers and a 77% reduction in all-cause mortality.
The legal status of regional or minority languages: Ukrainian and foreign experience
Authors: Витман Константин , Vitman Konstantin
Published: February 2014

The legal status of regional or minority languages in

Ukraine, Post-Soviet space and European understanding is studied.

The author proves that Ukraine stretches the meaning of

regional languages, provided by European Charter for Regional

or Minority Languages. The regional languages rather play the

role of the largest national minorities’ languages than disappearing

ones in Ukraine. National minorities did not get appropriate

protection of their language rights that is why they had to take

advantage of international legal rules. Ukraine had to extend the

concept of “regional language” to the largest national minorities’

languages to use international law effectively. Thus, the legal status

of regional languages has been changed in national language

law.

Thanks to European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages

the idea of regional language got implanted in language policy terminology.

That is why the lawmakers decided not to decline it during

new language Act working out. The Ukrainian experience exemplifies

modification of the legal status of regional languages, its

adaptation to language situation and has no analogs in Post-Soviet

space.
Political and legal nature of the presidential oath institute (based on comparative analysis of constitutions)
Authors: Стойко Елена , Stoyko Elena
Published: February 2014

In the article the institute of president oath is considered as political and legal act. Its legal nature appears: in acquisition of the status of head of state by person and his restoration to duty; obligingness of its objure; formal termination the cadence previous head of state; sanctions for its violations. The political character of this oath is presented by: its historical origin from coronation and intronization; political importance of presidential institute, underlined by the presence of all branches of power and public character of procedure; value context (respect the constitution and national laws, act in the interests of people, secure territorial integrity and independence); religious elements to enhance the legitimacy of new president; demonstration of unity the system of public administration through identical oath texts of president and members of parliament; mention the peculiarities of political organization of state and its history.
On reception of the American two-party system experience in modern Russia: pros and cons
Authors: Байбакова Лариса , Baybakova Larisa
Published: February 2014

Lately there has been a lot of talk in Russian political

circles about the desirability of transition from a multiparty to twoparty system. It is believed that today its American model is one of the most effective mechanisms of representative form of government.

Several attempts to create a two-party system have been undertaken

in Russia for the last decade and a half, but it was not possible

to implement this idea. After the elections in September 2013 a

number of politicians have proposed to create a two-party system

of government, considering that current ruling party «Yedinaya Rossiya

(United Russia)» requires an adequate party rival. In prospects

one cannot exclude the creation in Russia of a two-party system,

but in present conditions it is difficult to assess the degree of its

effectiveness. On the one hand, its functioning is conducive to a

Federal form of government and majority system of election of senior officials, and on the other, there are centrifugal trends in the

dynamics of political processes, strengthened after the laws adopted

over the last decade on the liberalization of procedure of

registration of political parties. In this regard a number of sociopolitical

movements demand to make amendments in the electoral

legislation, aimed at the consolidation of political forces or

parties with similar policy.
Local injection of autologous bone marrow cells to regenerate muscle in patients with traumatic brachial plexus injury
Authors: Hogendoorn S. , Duijnisveld B. J. , van Duinen S. G. , Stoel B. C. , van Dijk J. G. , Fibbe W. E. , Nelissen R. G. H. H.
Published: February 2014

Objectives

Traumatic brachial plexus injury causes severe functional impairment of the arm. Elbow flexion is often affected. Nerve surgery or tendon transfers provide the only means to obtain improved elbow flexion. Unfortunately, the functionality of the arm often remains insufficient. Stem cell therapy could potentially improve muscle strength and avoid muscle-tendon transfer. This pilot study assesses the safety and regenerative potential of autologous bone marrow-derived mononuclear cell injection in partially denervated biceps.

Methods

Nine brachial plexus patients with insufficient elbow flexion (i.e., partial denervation) received intramuscular escalating doses of autologous bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells, combined with tendon transfers. Effect parameters included biceps biopsies, motor unit analysis on needle electromyography and computerised muscle tomography, before and after cell therapy.

Results

No adverse effects in vital signs, bone marrow aspiration sites, injection sites, or surgical wound were seen. After cell therapy there was a 52% decrease in muscle fibrosis (p = 0.01), an 80% increase in myofibre diameter (p = 0.007), a 50% increase in satellite cells (p = 0.045) and an 83% increase in capillary-to-myofibre ratio (p < 0.001) was shown. CT analysis demonstrated a 48% decrease in mean muscle density (p = 0.009). Motor unit analysis showed a mean increase of 36% in motor unit amplitude (p = 0.045), 22% increase in duration (p = 0.005) and 29% increase in number of phases (p = 0.002).

Conclusions

Mononuclear cell injection in partly denervated muscle of brachial plexus patients is safe. The results suggest enhanced muscle reinnervation and regeneration. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2014;3:38–47.
Convergence and its driving factors in Iranian news websites
Authors: Mehrabi Meghdad
Published: February 2014

The term convergence has been widely used in communications to refer to different media issues such as conglomeration of media corporations, changing behaviour of new media users and use of technological affordances among other things. There are debates about driving forces of media convergence. Whereas media owners consider convergence as a tool for more profits, critics express concerns about media monopoly as a result of organizational convergence. However, journalists regard convergence as a way to present more attractive and precise news. This article is an attempt to explore main aspects of convergence related to relationship among media organizations and characteristics of media contents in the context of Iranian online news papers. I also analyse essential factors that drive convergence for Iranian online newspapers and compare the findings with conditions of online news media in the United States. This article is significant since it expands existing knowledge about media convergence in Iranian context. The findings of this research can be helpful for news organizations to improve the quality of their news websites through different forms of convergence. Finally, implications for future research on convergence in contexts similar to Iran are provided.
INFLUENCE OF THE RESULTS OF UHECR DETECTION ON THE LHC EXPERIMENTS
Authors: Petrukhin Anatoly A.
Published: February 2014

The cosmic ray energy region 1015 ÷ 1017TeV corresponds to LHC energies 1 ÷ 14TeV in the center-of-mass system. The results obtained in cosmic rays (CR) in this energy interval can therefore be used for developing new approaches to the analysis of experimental data, for interpreting the results, and for planning new experiments. The main problem in cosmic ray investigations is the remarkable excess of muons, which increases with energy and cannot be explained by means of contemporary theoretical models. Some possible new explanations of this effect and other unusual phenomena observed in CR, and ways of searching for them in the LHC experiments are discussed.
DO WE SEE THE ‘IRON PEAK’?
Authors: Erlykin Anatoly D. , Wolfendale Arnold W.
Published: February 2014

Recent measurements of the cosmic ray (CR) energy spectrum in the PeV region and above have confirmed the remarkable sharpness of the knee and revealed another structure at about 70PeV which we call the ‘Iron Peak’. The position and the shape of this structure lead us to associate its likely origin with the same single source responsible for the the knee. We have analysed the shape of the single source spectrum and concluded that its mass composition is rather similar to that for the bulk of CR in the TeV ÷ PeV region. Since it is generally accepted that these CR originate mainly in supernova explosions, this gives an additional argument in favour of our single source being a supernova remnant.
DETECTION OF A CHANGE OF SLOPE IN THE SPECTRUM OF HEAVY MASS COSMIC RAYS PRIMARIES BY THE KASCADE-GRANDE EXPERIMENT
Authors: Chiavassa A. , Apel W. D. , Arteaga-Velázquez J. C. , Bekk K. , Bertaina M. , Blümer J. , Bozdog H. , Brancus I. M. , Cantoni E. , Cossavella F. , Daumiller K. , De Souza V. , Di Pierro F. , Doll P. , Engel R. , Engler J. , Finger M. , Fuchs B. , Fuhrmann D. , Garino F. , Gils H. J. , Glasstetter R. , Grupen C. , Haungs A. , Heck D. , Hörandel J. R. , Huber D. , Huege T. , Kampert K.-H. , Kang D. , Klages H. O. , Link K. , Łuczak P. , Ludwig M. , Mathes H. J. , Mayer H. J. , Melissas M. , Milke J. , Mitrica B. , Morello C. , Oehlschläger J. , Ostapchenko S. , Palmieri N. , Petcu M. , Pierog T. , Rebel H. , Roth M. , Schieler H. , Schoo S. , Schröder F. G. , Sima O. , Toma G. , Trinchero G. C. , Ulrich H. , Weindl A. , Wochele J. , Wommer M. , Zabierowski J.
Published: February 2014

KASCADE-Grande is an extensive air shower experiment devoted to the study of cosmic rays in the 1016 ÷ 1018 eV energy range. The array is composed by different detectors allowing independent measurements of the number of muons (Nμ) and charged particles (Nch) of extensive air showers (EAS). These two observables are then used to study the primary energy spectrum, separating the events in two samples, on the basis of the shower size ratio, corrected for attenuation in the atmosphere, lnNμ/ lnNch. The two samples represent the light and heavy mass groups of the primaries. In the studied energy range only the spectrum of heavy primaries shows a significant change of slope, the energy (estimated using the QGSJET II hadronic interaction model) of this feature is in agreeement with the expectations of a rigidity dependent knee feature.
NEUTRINOLESS DOUBLE BETA DECAY: AN EXTREME CHALLENGE
Authors: Ferroni Fernando
Published: February 2014

Neutrino-less Double Beta Decay is the only known way to possibly resolve the nature of neutrino mass. The chances to cover the mass region predicted by the inverted hierarchy require a step forward in detector capability. A possibility is to make use of scintillating bolometers. These devices shall have a great power in distinguishing signals from alfa particles from those induced by electrons. This feature might lead to an almost background-free experiment. Here the Lucifer concept will be introduced and the prospects related to this project will be discussed.
EROSITA: AGN SCIENCE, BACKGROUND DETERMINATION, AND OPTICAL FOLLOW-UP SPECTROSCOPY
Authors: Boller Thomas
Published: February 2014

More than 20 years after the highly impacting ROSAT all-sky survey in the soft X-ray spectral range, we are close to the next major X-ray all/sky surveys with eROSITA. eROSITA will be the primary instrument on-board the Russian “Spectrum–Roentgen–Gamma” (SRG) satellite which will be launched from Baikonur in 2014 and placed in an L2 orbit. It will perform the first imaging all-sky survey in the medium energy X-ray range up to 10 keV with an unprecedented spectral and angular resolution. The eROSITA all sky X-ray survey will take place in a very different context than the ROSAT survey. There is now a wealth of complete, ongoing and planned surveys of the sky in broad range of wavelengths from the gamma, X-ray to the radio. A significant amount of science can be accomplished through the multi-frequency study of the eROSITA AGN and cluster sample, including optical confirmation and photometric redshift estimation of the eROSITA extended sources and AGNs. Optical spectroscopy has been, and will for the foreseeable future be, one of the main tools of astrophysics allowing studies of a large variety of astronomical objects over many fields of research. The fully capitalize on the eROSITA potential, a dedicated spectroscopic follow-up program is needed. 4MOST is the ideal instrument to secure the scientific success of the eROSITA X-ray survey and to overcome the small sample sizes together with selection biases that plagued past samples. The aim is to have the instrument commissioned in 2017, well matched to the data releases of eROSITA and Gaia. The design and implementation of the 4MOST facility simulator aimed to optimize the science output for eROSITA is described in necessary details.
PLANO NACIONAL DE EDUCAÇÃO: POLÍTICA DE ESTADO PARA A EDUCAÇÃO
Authors: Salermo Soraia Kfouri , Kfouri Samira Fayez , Lopes Rosana Pereira
Published: February 2014

Uma política de Estado para a Educação pela construção do Plano Nacional de Educação (PNE) passa por avanços e recuos num processo histórico contraditório. Propomos resgatar aspectos do movimento histórico e suas perspectivas para tentar compreender a lógica deste processo, do Manifesto dos Pioneiros da Escola Nova, redigido por Fernando de Azevedo em 1932, ao atual Projeto de Lei n. 8035/2010, que ora tramita no Congresso Nacional. A história recente conta com precedentes importantes ao processo atual de discussões, debates para a construção de um novo Plano Nacional de Educação, o qual resultou num documento final da Conferência Nacional de Educação (CONAE/2010). Este trabalho é fruto de um projeto de pesquisa de cunho qualitativo desenvolvido na Universidade Estadual de Londrina, partindo do pressuposto que um projeto de escola não se dissocia de um projeto de Estado que busca compreender os reflexos da Política Educacional nos projetos de educação em unidades escolares. Observamos que o atual Projeto de Lei para o PNE apresenta-se contraditório com as justificativas que o acompanham, bem como com o documento final da CONAE/2010, o qual foi considerado documento referência. Estamos diante de um desafio que é a conquista de um Plano Nacional de Educação como instrumento político que se traduza num projeto de educação de qualidade social, reafirmando a educação como direito público.http://dx.doi.org/10.14572/nuances.v24i2.2477
A SENSIBILIDADE E A ÉTICA COMO MEDIADORAS NA PRÁTICA PEDAGÓGICA DE UM EDUCADOR MUSICAL
Authors: Borges Maria Helena Jayme
Published: February 2014

O objetivo central desta pesquisa - feita em uma abordagem qualitativa, focalizando um estudo de caso – é propor que os educadores musicais realizem um trabalho que melhor possibilite ao aluno refletir, desenvolver sua sensibilidade, pensar sobre a sua conduta, a dos outros, construir seu próprio caminho social, moral e intelectual. A hipótese levantada foi a de que isso se torna possível quando o professor, guiado por princípios éticos, procura oferecer ao aluno um ambiente propício ao desenvolvimento de sua sensibilidade e autonomia cuja aquisição se apresenta, ao mesmo tempo, como condição e produto do ensino do piano, da forma como é proposto neste trabalho. A fundamentação teórica foi buscada nos trabalhos de Piaget e dos autores que estudaram o desenvolvimento da autonomia na criança e no adolescente considerando, em especial, a metodologia ativa e o ambiente escolar enquanto responsáveis pela criação de condições favoráveis ao desenvolvimento da autonomia e da consciência estética do aluno. O trabalho visa também, como objetivo derivado e complementar, oferecer sugestões para uma metodologia, estratégias e técnicas direcionadas ao ensino do piano, levando em conta o desenvolvimento da autonomia. A análise e discussão dos resultados permitiram não apenas confirmar a hipótese levantada como, também, oferecer as sugestões metodológicas propostas.http://dx.doi.org/10.14572/nuances.v24i2.2484
OS CAMINHOS DA MOBILIZAÇÃO PARA O ENFRENTAMENTO DA ESCA: DESPOLITIZAÇÃO E RESISTÊNCIA
Authors: Leal Maria Lúcia Pinto , César Maria Auxiliadora
Published: February 2014

Este artigo trata de analisar características do processo de mobilização das ONGs – Organizações não Governamentais – para o enfrentamento da exploração sexual contra crianças e adolescentes (ESCA) no Brasil, na passagem da última década de 1990 para esta primeira década do século XXI. O ponto de partida é a mobilização dos movimentos sociais em defesa e garantia dos direitos da criança e do adolescente. Para lograr este objetivo procura-se contextualizar e trazer argumentos políticos, econômicos e sociais para auxiliar a análise entre a relação Estado e sociedade que, devido a transformações conjunturais ocorridas, processaram alterações que mudaram a natureza dessa relação no período analisado.http://dx.doi.org/10.14572/nuances.v24i2.2485
ATITUDES SOCIAIS EM RELAÇÃO À INCLUSÃO: O CURSO DE PEDAGOGIA DA FACULDADE DE CIÊNCIAS E TECNOLOGIA DA UNESP
Authors: Fonseca-Janes Cristiane Regina Xavier , Omote Sadao
Published: February 2014

Os ideais da educação inclusiva podem ser efetivados por meio de atitudes sociais favoráveis à inclusão, uma vez que estas podem reorganizar crenças e cognições sobre as diferenças, direcionar a afetividade de modo a ser favorável com relação a elas e, principalmente, direcionar a ação para a sua aceitação. A partir dessa perspectiva, o presente estudo tem por objetivo comparar as atitudes sociais em relação à inclusão, mantidas pelos mesmos participantes no início e no final do processo formativo do curso de Pedagogia da Faculdade de Ciência e Tecnologia da UNESP. Neste estudo participaram 34 estudantes do curso de Pedagogia. A coleta de dados foi realizada com os mesmos participantes em dois momentos distintos: no primeiro e no quarto ano do curso. Os dados foram coletados por meio da Escala Likert de Atitudes Sociais em relação à Inclusão – ELASI, que é um instrumento construído e validado para a mensuração de atitudes sociais em relação à inclusão. Os escores de atitudes sociais desses participantes foram comparados por meio da prova Wilcoxon. A diferença é altamente significante (p < 0,0001), indicando terem ocorrido mudanças expressivas nas atitudes sociais desses estudantes em relação à inclusão, tornando-se mais favoráveis no final do curso, comparativamente ao início da formação. Uma das possíveis variáveis para a mudança de atitudes sociais pode ter sido a estrutura curricular do curso, uma vez que constam no processo de formação duas disciplinas obrigatórias sobre a temática. Essas disciplinas são “Fundamentos da Educação Inclusiva” e “Libras, Tecnologia da Informação e Comunicação na Educação”. As atitudes são formadas como conseqüência da ação da pessoa com a tomada de conhecimento do ambiente social. As atitudes se desenvolvem por meio de vários fatores e por meio da experiência e da aprendizagem e pensamos que isto foi proporcionado aos participantes ao longo do curso.http://dx.doi.org/10.14572/nuances.v24i2.2486
Habilidad viso-motriz y deficiencia intelectual : estudio de validez para el Bender-SPG.
Authors: Porto Noronha Ana Paula , Angeli Dos Santos Acácia Aparecida , Marín Rueda Fabián Javier
Published: February 2014

Este trabajo tuvo por objetivo establecer la evidencia de validez convergente por medio del análisis de la asociación entre el la Prueba Gestáltica Viso-Motriz de Bender-Sistema de Puntuación Gradual (B-SPG), el Dibujo de la Figura Humana-Escala Sisto (DFH) y las Matrices Progresivas Coloridas de Raven (CPM). Participaron en el estudio 397 personas, entre los seis y 24 años de edad, con deficiencia intelectual. Los datos fueron obtenidos en la escuela de los niños y de forma individual. Los resultados indicaron una correlación de magnitud moderada entre los tests, confirmando la evidencia de validez para el B-SPG. Además, al comparar los resultados con los baremos de los tres tests se verificó que el desempeño de los sujetos de esta investigación estuvo muy debajo de lo esperado, una vez que el resultado fue semejante o inferior al de niños de seis años de los baremos que aparecen en los manuales de los tests.
Scientometric analysis of research from a feminist perspective.
Authors: Hernández Pozo María del Rocío , Fernández Rius Lourdes Elena
Published: February 2014

In order to build a historical map of scientific production from a feminist perspective and to analyze the central themes that have been studied by the academics from this approach, a search was conducted using SCOPUS an international bibliometric database, for the period between 1960 and July 2013. The search strategy based on the use of four key words produced 54 articles, written by 86 specialists of 14 countries, among them USA, UK, Canada and Australia, 87% written in English and 4% in Spanish. Even though the feminist theoretical approach is interdisciplinary by definition, the main disciplines represented in the sample were social sciences and Psychology. 69% of the articles were written by a single author, and 78% of the authors were women. Citation varied between 137 and zero. The most cited studies were from Canada, USA and the UK. Articles covered a wide variety of themes emphasizing theoretical, methodological and empirical issues in different areas of knowledge. Additionally a very low presence of articles dealing with the impact of the feminist perspective in public policies was observed, as well as very few articles devoted to examine applications of the feminist theory on education. Conclusions highlight the challenge for Latin American feminist researchers to increase their presence in scientific journals with international distribution indexed in SCOPUS, and to increase the quality of specialized Hispanic journals, in order to favor scientific dissemination on the subject in Spanish.
The potential of social representations theory (SRT) for gender equitable research.
Authors: Serrano Oswald Serena Eréndira
Published: February 2014

Strongly rooted in the sociological tradition of social psychology, Social Representations Theory (SRT) has been developing since the sixties as a useful theoretical and practical multidisciplinary social research tool, particularly in European and Latin American contexts. However, since the end of the nineties, and following the consolidation of Social Representations Theory, there has been an important effort to bridge this perspective with other important contemporary critical theories given its emphasis on the way in which social subjects, groups and society as a whole construct and transform meaning rooted in preexisting knowledge and everyday experience. One of the most prolific and promising exchanges has been established between Social Representations Theory and gender equitable research. This article revises the premises of SRT in order to suggest its relevance for and linkages with diverse studies rooted in a gender perspective with a clear equity goal.
Efficient identification of context dependent subgroups of risk from genome-wide association studies
Authors: Dyson Greg , Sing Charles F.
Published: February 2014

We have developed a modified Patient Rule-Induction Method (PRIM) as an alternative strategy for analyzing representative samples of non-experimental human data to estimate and test the role of genomic variations as predictors of disease risk in etiologically heterogeneous sub-samples. A computational limit of the proposed strategy is encountered when the number of genomic variations (predictor variables) under study is large (>500) because permutations are used to generate a null distribution to test the significance of a term (defined by values of particular variables) that characterizes a sub-sample of individuals through the peeling and pasting processes. As an alternative, in this paper we introduce a theoretical strategy that facilitates the quick calculation of Type I and Type II errors in the evaluation of terms in the peeling and pasting processes carried out in the execution of a PRIM analysis that are under-estimated and non-existent, respectively, when a permutation-based hypothesis test is employed. The resultant savings in computational time makes possible the consideration of larger numbers of genomic variations (an example genome-wide association study is given) in the selection of statistically significant terms in the formulation of PRIM prediction models.
Does the Beach-Spawning Grunion Eat Its Own Eggs? Eighth Graders Use Inquiry-Based Investigation to Collect Real Data in a University Laboratory
Authors: Cavanagh J. William , Martinez Kimberly M. , Higgins Benjamin A. , Horn Michael H.
Published: February 2014

A collaborative effort between a junior high school and a nearby university allowed 40 eighth-grade honors students to engage in a scientific investigation within a university laboratory. These students, with their science teachers and university researchers, gathered data on egg cannibalism in a beach-spawning fish and thereby contributed to an ongoing research project. Our objectives were to provide a scientific learning experience for the students and introduce them to a college setting. A survey, given 2.5 years after the investigation, found that most of the students had increased their interest in studying science in college.
Cootie Genetics
Authors: Galloway Katelyn , Anderson Nadja
Published: February 2014

“Cootie Genetics” is a hands-on, inquiry-based activity that enables students to learn the Mendelian laws of inheritance and gain an understanding of genetics principles and terminology. The activity begins with two true-breeding Cooties of the same species that exhibit five observable trait differences. Students observe the retention or loss of traits among first-generation heterozygotes, hypothesize what happened to these traits, and design an experiment to test their hypotheses by mating the first-generation Cooties. With the second generation, Mendel’s principles of segregation and independent assortment of alleles are observed; dominant and recessive traits and tools students need to construct Punnett squares are apparent.
Japan in 2013
Authors: Inoguchi Takashi
Published: February 2014

This article describes the ups and downs and complexities of Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s “Abenomics” and “Abegeopolitics,” political approaches designed to revitalize Japan's economy and restore its national pride and strength, respectively.
China in 2013
Authors: Heberer Thomas
Published: February 2014

In 2013, China’s new party and state leadership specified its domestic and foreign policies in the context of Xi Jinping’s vision of the “Chinese Dream.” A new reform package modifying China’s growth and development model has been announced. In foreign policy, a debate has commenced regarding another side of the “Chinese Dream”: China’s rise as a “Great Power.”
Sri Lanka in 2013
Authors: Wickramasinghe Nira
Published: February 2014

The year 2013 witnessed a further consolidation of the power of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his loyalists of the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance. The country’s high economic growth continued amid allegations of corruption and nepotism. The regime’s past and present human rights record came under serious scrutiny.
Nepal and Bhutan in 2013
Authors: Kantha Pramod K.
Published: February 2014

The political stalemate prevailing in Nepal since the dissolution of the first Constituent Assembly (CA) in 2012 ended with the second CA polls in November. Bhutan’s second parliamentary elections in July and the opposition People’s Democratic Party’s victory over the outgoing Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party) were signs of consolidation of Bhutan’s nascent democracy.
Indonesia in 2013
Authors: Gunn Geoffrey C.
Published: February 2014

Ahead of upcoming elections, expectations ran high in 2013 across the archipelago for a highly pluralistic electorate. With China as a leading trading partner, the backdrop for Indonesia was steady economic growth, albeit checked by a sliding currency, a current account deficit, and a depressing culture of corruption. Mixing commerce and geopolitics, China, the U.S., and Japan all turned to Indonesia to expand their influence.
Less common genotype variants of TP53 polymorphisms are associated with poor outcome in adult patients with adrenocortical carcinoma
Authors: Heinze Britta , Herrmann Leonie J M , Fassnacht Martin , Ronchi Cristina L , Willenberg Holger S , Quinkler Marcus , Reisch Nicole , Zink Martina , Allolio Bruno , Hahner Stefanie
Published: February 2014

Context

The Li–Fraumeni tumor syndrome is strongly associated with adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) and is caused by germline mutations in TP53 in 70% of cases. Also, TP53 polymorphisms have been shown to influence both cancer risk and clinical outcome in several tumor entities. We, therefore, investigated TP53 polymorphisms in a cohort of adult patients with ACC.

Objective

Evaluation of the role of TP53 polymorphisms in adult patients with ACC.

Subjects and methods

Peripheral blood for DNA extraction was collected from 72 ACC patients. Polymorphism analysis was carried out by amplification and sequencing of exons and adjacent intron sections of TP53. Results were correlated with clinical data and the distribution of the polymorphisms was compared with published Caucasian control groups.

Results

Compared with control groups, genotype frequencies of analyzed TP53 polymorphisms among ACC patients were significantly different in three out of four polymorphisms: IVS2+38G>C (G/G, P=0.0248), IVS3ins16 (NoIns/NoIns, P<0.0001; NoIns/Ins, P<0.0001), and IVS6+62A>G (G/G, P<0.0001; G/A, P<0.0001). Overall, the survival of ACC patients, which harbored at least one of the less frequent genotype variants of four analyzed polymorphisms (n=23), was significantly inferior (median survival: 81.0 months in patients with the common homozygous genotypes vs 20.0 months in patients with the less frequent genotypes, HR 2.56, 95% CI 1.66–7.07; P=0.001). These results were confirmed by multivariable regression analysis (HR 2.84, 95% CI 1.52–7.17; P=0.037).

Conclusion

Some TP53 polymorphisms seem to influence overall survival in ACC patients. This effect was observed for a combination of polymorphic changes rather than for single polymorphisms.
Kisspeptin modulates fertilization capacity of mouse spermatozoa
Authors: Hsu Meng-Chieh , Wang Jyun-Yuan , Lee Yue-Jia , Jong De-Shien , Tsui Kuan-Hao , Chiu Chih-Hsien
Published: February 2014

Kisspeptin acts as an upstream regulator of the hypothalamus–pituitary–gonad axis, which is one of the main regulatory systems for mammalian reproduction.Kiss1and its receptorKiss1r(also known as G protein-coupled receptor 54 (Gpr54)) are expressed in various organs, but their functions are not well understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression profiles and functions of kisspeptin and KISS1R in the reproductive tissues of imprinting control region mice. To identify the expression pattern and location of kisspeptin and KISS1R in gonads, testes and ovarian tissues were examined by immunohistochemical or immunofluorescent staining. Kisspeptin and KISS1R were expressed primarily in Leydig cells and seminiferous tubules respectively. KISS1R was specifically localized in the acrosomal region of spermatids and mature spermatozoa. Kisspeptin, but not KISS1R, was expressed in the cumulus–oocyte complex and oviductal epithelium of ovarian and oviductal tissues. The sperm intracellular calcium concentrations significantly increased in response to treatment with kisspeptin 10 in Fluo-4-loaded sperm. The IVF rates decreased after treatment of sperm with the kisspeptin antagonist peptide 234. These results suggest that kisspeptin and KISS1R might be involved in the fertilization process in the female reproductive tract. In summary, this study indicates that kisspeptin and KISS1R are expressed in female and male gametes, respectively, and in mouse reproductive tissues. These data strongly suggest that the kisspeptin system could regulate mammalian fertilization and reproduction.
Growth Patterns of Large for Gestational Age Children up to Age 4 Years
Authors: Bocca-Tjeertes Inger F.A. , Kerstjens Jorien M. , Reijneveld Sijmen A. , Veldman Karin , Bos Arend F. , de Winter Andrea F.
Published: February 2014

OBJECTIVE:

To determine how growth of large for gestational age (LGA) preterm (PT) children was affected by their PT birth and their LGA status.

METHODS:

This is a community-based cohort study of 1302 PT and 489 full-term (FT) children, born 2002 and 2003.

RESULTS:

We found that growth in height, weight, and head circumference of LGA PT children was well balanced during infancy and that only weight gain accelerated during subsequent years. This led to high BMIs comparable to those of LGA FT children. Being born both LGA and PT resulted in a median growth at the age of 4 years that was 0.1 SD lower for weight (P = .44), 0.1 SD lower for height (P = .48), and 0.5 SD lower for head circumference compared with LGA FT counterparts (P = .016), whereas BMI at age 4 years was equal. Compared with appropriate for gestational age (AGA) PT children, these measures for LGA PT children were 0.9 SD, 0.6 SD, and 0.4 SD (all P < .001) higher, respectively. That led to the BMI of LGA PT children at age 4 years being significantly higher (0.9 points, ie, 0.7 SD) than that of AGA PT and also higher (0.6 points, ie, 0.4 SD) than that of AGA FT children.

CONCLUSIONS:

The growth patterns of LGA PT-born children are distinctly different from other PT or FT children. In particular, we found substantially greater weight gains and relatively higher BMIs among them, which added to their already increased metabolic risks based on their gestational age.
Epidemiology of Male Genital Abnormalities: A Population Study
Authors: Wan Shaw , Wang Yunchao , Gu Shuijun
Published: February 2014

BACKGROUND:

We conducted genital health wellness screens in male kindergarten children between the ages of 3 and 6 years to assess the incidence of congenital abnormalities and their treatment.

METHODS:

We performed genital examinations on 2241 male children in 8 kindergartens. We screened for 4 conditions: phimosis, hypospadias, cryptorchidism, and hydrocele/hernia. We assessed the incidence of these conditions and the effectiveness or lack of their treatment.

RESULTS:

Among this sample, 55.5% children aged 3 to 4 years and 44.1% aged 5 to 6 years were found to have persistent phimosis. The circumcision rate, excluding those performed in conjunction with hypospadias repair, was 2.8%, but it carried a 3.2% complication rate. There was a lower incidence of hypospadias and cryptorchidism than reported in the literature at 0.2% and 0.4%, respectively. Our hypospadias repair rate was 60%, with a success rate of 66.7%. Our cryptorchidism repair rate was only 25%, and all repairs were performed above the age of 5 years. Incidence of hydrocele and hernias was 1.2%, and our treatment rate was 46.2%. Finally, we found high incidence of keloid formation, 73.3%, associated with inguinal incision.

CONCLUSIONS:

There was high prevalence of phimosis in Chinese boys, a natural physiologic condition, up to age 6. There appeared to be lower incidences of hypospadias and cryptorchidism in our screened population. However, there were opportunities for us to improve the diagnosis and treatment of these 2 conditions. Our hydrocele/hernia incidence was on par with literature, but we had a lower treatment rate. Finally, we found a high incidence of keloid formation associated with inguinal incision.
Off-Label Use of Drugs in Children
Authors:   COMMITTEE ON DRUGS, Neville Kathleen A. , Frattarelli Daniel A.C. , Galinkin Jeffrey L. , Green Thomas P. , Johnson Timothy D. ,   MMM, Paul Ian M. , Van Den Anker John N.
Published: February 2014

The passage of the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act and the Pediatric Research Equity Act has collectively resulted in an improvement in rational prescribing for children, including more than 800 labeling changes. However, off-label drug use remains an important public health issue for infants, children, and adolescents, because an overwhelming number of drugs still have no information in the labeling for use in pediatrics. The purpose of off-label use is to benefit the individual patient. Practitioners use their professional judgment to determine these uses. As such, the term “off-label” does not imply an improper, illegal, contraindicated, or investigational use. Therapeutic decision-making must always rely on the best available evidence and the importance of the benefit for the individual patient.