bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Baicalin ameliorates polycystic ovary syndrome through AMP-activated protein kinase
Authors: Wang Wei , Zheng Jiahua , Cui Na , Jiang Lei , Zhou Han , Zhang Dan , Hao Guimin
Published: November 2019

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine disorder and regarded as the leading cause of anovulatory infertility. PCOS is characterized by reproductive dysfunction and metabolic disorders. Baicalin (BAL) is one of the most potent bioactive flavonoids isolated from the radix of Scutellaria baicalensis. In the present study, we investigated the potential effects of BAL on PCOS in dehydroepiandrosterone-treated rats. We found that BAL notably reduced the serum levels of free testosterone, total testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, progesterone, and estradiol in PCOS rats. The increase of serum insulin level and HOMA-IR was markedly inhibited by BAL. Moreover, BAL decreased body weights, increased the number of rats with the regular estrous cycle, and ameliorated ovarian histological changes and follicular development in the DHEA-treated PCOS rats. The increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL-1β, and IL-18) and decrease of anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) in PCOS rats were suppressed by BAL. BAL induced a significant decrease in the mRNA expression of steroidogenic enzymes, including 3β-HSD, CYP11A1, CYP19A1, StAR, in ovarian tissues in PCOS rats. Furthermore, BAL inhibited the decrease of AMPK protein level and phosphorylation, the decrease of Akt phosphorylation and the increase of 5α-reductase enzyme 1 expression in ovarian tissues in PCOS rats. The effects of BAL were inhibited by an inhibitor of AMPK, dorsomorphin. The upregulation of AMPK contributed to the beneficial effects of BAL. The results highlight the potential role of BAL for the intervention of PCOS.
Clival defect in the pathogenesis of recurrent meningitis: a case report and literature review
Authors: Emecen Ahmet Naci , Ertekin Reyhan , Baysal Begumhan , Arslan Ferhat , Vahaboglu Haluk
Published: November 2019

Background

Meningitis is a life-threatening infection often associated with high morbidity. Recurrent bacterial meningitis poses a clinical challenge, both clinically and diagnostically. To prevent further recurrences, the underlying causes of recurrent bacterial meningitis should be investigated intensively.

Case presentation

Here, we aim to present a patient referred to our clinic with rhinorrhea and found to theStaphylococcus aureusmeningitis related to a clival defect. The patient reported no history of trauma, surgery, or brain neoplasm, and the cerebrospinal fluid leakage was classified as spontaneous. The patient had two episodes of meningitis in the last 4 years, but etiologic data of the previous episodes were absent. A pneumococcal vaccine was administered following her second attack, suggesting a possibleStaphylococcus aureusinfection due to altered colonization in the sinuses. She was successfully treated with linezolid but refused surgery to correct the defect and was discharged without neurologic sequelae.

Conclusion

Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leakage from the clivus which could provoke recurrent meningitis is a rare situation. In conjunction with appropriate rapid antibiotherapy for the prevention of recurrent meningitis, the removal of anatomical risk factors should be a principal aim. Effective surgical procedures prevent recurrences.
Pattern of Presentation of Patients With Breast Cancer in Iraq in 2018: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Mutar Mohammed Tareq , Goyani Mohammed Saleh , Had Ali Mohammed , Mahmood Aqeel Shakir
Published: November 2019

PURPOSE

This study aims to describe the pattern of presentation of Iraqi female patients with breast cancer by assessing the grades and stages of their cancers at the time of presentation, to identify patients’ main complaints, and to discover whether there is any difference in presentation between patients in Iraq and those in other countries.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This is a retrospective cross-sectional study that was performed in the National Center of Cancer in 2018. The target population was female patients with breast cancer who came to the Center for treatment and follow-up. A sample of 171 patients was drawn from this population. Self-evaluation forms were used in interviews with the patients to collect personal and sociodemographic data; clinical and histologic characteristics of the patients’ tumors were obtained from their medical records. Ethical approval was obtained.

RESULTS

Forty-five percent of the patients were younger than age 50 years, and 25% were younger than age 45 years. In all, 42.9% of the patients were diagnosed with stage III and 25% with stage IV cancer, and metastasis was diagnosed in 24.1%. In our study population, 53.4% of the tumors were found in the right breast, and 3.9% of patients had bilateral breast tumors. The most common histopathologic type was invasive ductal carcinoma (81.4%) followed by invasive lobular carcinoma (6.9%) and tubular carcinoma (5.9%). The patients’ most common complaints were breast lump (71.3%) and pain (18.9%). No correlation was found between tumor stage and breast self-examination, family history, education, occupation, histopathology, or grade.

CONCLUSION

Most of the patients are diagnosed at a late stage when treatment is less effective.
A Cross-Sectional Survey to Determine the Prevalence of Burnout Syndrome Among Anesthesia Providers in Zambian Hospitals
Authors: Mumbwe Mbangu C. , McIsaac Dan , Jarman Alison , Bould M. Dylan
Published: November 2019

BACKGROUND:

Burnout is a psychological syndrome that results from chronic exposure to job stress. It is defined by a triad of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. In research, mostly from high-income countries, burnout is common in health care professionals, especially in anesthesiologists. Burnout can negatively impact patient safety, the physical and mental health of the anesthetist, and institutional efficiency. However, data on burnout for anesthesia providers in low- and middle-income countries are poorly described. This study sought to determine the prevalence of burnout syndrome among all anesthesia providers (physician and nonphysician) working in Zambian hospitals and to determine which sociodemographic and occupational factors were associated with burnout.

METHODS:

A questionnaire was sent to all Zambian anesthesia providers working in private and public hospitals. The questionnaire assessed burnout using the Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey, a validated 22-item survey widely used to measure burnout among health professionals. Sociodemographic and occupational factors postulated to be associated with burnout were also assessed.

RESULTS:

Surveys were distributed to all 184 anesthesia providers in Zambia; 160 were returned. This resulted in a response rate representing 87% of all anesthesia providers in the country. Eighty-six percentage of respondents were nonphysician anesthesia providers. Burnout was present in 51.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 43.2–59.2) of participants. Logistic regression analysis revealed that “not having the right team to carry out work to an appropriate standard” (odds ratio, 2.91, 95% CI, 1.33–6.39; P = .008), and “being a nonphysician” (odds ratio, 3.4, 95% CI, 1.25–12.34; P = .019) were significantly associated with burnout in this population.

CONCLUSIONS:

In a cross-sectional survey of anesthesia providers in Zambia, >50% of the respondents met the criteria for burnout. The risk was particularly high among nonphysician providers who typically work in isolated rural practice. Efforts to decrease burnout rates through policy and educational initiatives to increase the quantity and quality of training for anesthesia providers should be considered.
Association Between Perioperative Hypotension and Delirium in Postoperative Critically Ill Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis
Authors: Maheshwari Kamal , Ahuja Sanchit , Khanna Ashish K. , Mao Guangmei , Perez-Protto Silvia , Farag Ehab , Turan Alparslan , Kurz Andrea , Sessler Daniel I.
Published: November 2019

BACKGROUND:

Postoperative delirium is common in critically ill patients, with a reported incidence of 11%–43%, and is associated with significant morbidity and cost. Perioperative hypotension and consequent brain hypoperfusion may contribute. We, therefore, tested the hypotheses that intraoperative and postoperative hypotension are associated with critical care delirium.

METHODS:

We included 1083 postoperative patients who were admitted directly from an operating room to the surgical intensive care unit. Delirium was assessed with the Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Unit patients at 12-hour intervals. We used a confounder-adjusted Cox proportional hazard survival model to assess the association between the amount of intraoperative hypotension, which was measured as the time-weighted average of mean arterial pressure <65 mm Hg, and delirium while in critical care. Thereafter, we used a Cox model with the lowest mean arterial pressure on each intensive care day as a time-varying covariate to assess the relationship between critical care hypotension and delirium, adjusted for confounders and amount of intraoperative hypotension.

RESULTS:

Three hundred seventy-seven (35%) patients had delirium within the first 5 postoperative days in the surgical intensive care unit. Intraoperative hypotension was moderately associated with higher odds of postoperative delirium. The adjusted hazard ratio associated with 1 mm Hg increase in time-weighted average of mean arterial pressure <65 mm Hg was 1.11 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03–1.20; P = .008). Postoperatively, a 10 mm Hg reduction in the lowest mean pressure on each day in the critical care unit was significantly associated with a higher hazard of delirium, with an adjusted hazard ratio 1.12 (95% CI, 1.04–1.20; P = .003).

CONCLUSIONS:

Both intraoperative and postoperative hypotension are associated with delirium in postoperative critical care patients. The extent to which these relationships are causal remains unknown, but to the extent that they are, hypotension prevention may help reduce delirium and should be studied in prospective clinical trials.
Nutrient regulation of mTORC1 at a glance
Authors: Condon Kendall J. , Sabatini David M.
Published: November 2019

The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway coordinates environmental and intracellular cues to control eukaryotic cell growth. As a pivot point between anabolic and catabolic processes, mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling has established roles in regulating metabolism, translation and autophagy. Hyperactivity of the mTOR pathway is associated with numerous human diseases, including diabetes, cancer and epilepsy. Pharmacological inhibition of the mTOR pathway can extend lifespan in a variety of model organisms. Given its broad control of essential cellular processes and clear relevance to human health, there is extensive interest in elucidating how upstream inputs regulate mTORC1 activation. In this Cell Science at a Glance article and accompanying poster, we summarize our understanding of how extracellular and intracellular signals feed into the mTOR pathway, how the lysosome acts as an mTOR signaling hub, and how downstream signaling controls autophagy and lysosome biogenesis.
Loss of Ca2+ entry via Orai–TRPC1 induces ER stress, initiating immune activation in macrophages
Authors: Nascimento Da Conceicao Viviane , Sun Yuyang , Zboril Emily K. , De la Chapa Jorge J. , Singh Brij B.
Published: November 2019

Activation of cellular stresses is associated with inflammation; however, the mechanisms are not well identified. Here, we provide evidence that loss of Ca2+ influx induces endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in primary macrophages and in murine macrophage cell line Raw 264.7, in which the unfolded protein response is initiated to modulate cytokine production, thereby activating the immune response. Stressors that initiate the ER stress response block store-dependent Ca2+ entry in macrophages prior to the activation of the unfolded protein response. The endogenous Ca2+ entry channel is dependent on the Orai1–TRPC1–STIM1 complex, and the presence of ER stressors decreased expression of TRPC1, Orai1 and STIM1. Additionally, blocking Ca2+ entry with SKF96365 also induced ER stress, promoted cytokine production, activation of autophagy, increased caspase activation and induced apoptosis. Furthermore, ER stress inducers inhibited cell cycle progression, promoted the inflammatory M1 phenotype, and increased phagocytosis. Mechanistically, restoration of Orai1–STIM1 expression inhibited the ER stress-mediated loss of Ca2+ entry that prevents ER stress and inhibits cytokine production, and thus induced cell survival. These results suggest an unequivocal role of Ca2+ entry in modulating ER stress and in the induction of inflammation.
Measurements of volumetric bone mineral density in the mandible do not predict spinal osteoporosis
Authors: Guo Zhe , Du Xia , Wang Ling , Li Kai , Jiao Jun , Guglielmi Giuseppe , Zhurakivska Khrystyna , Lo Muzio Lorenzo , Blake Glen M , Cheng Xiaoguang
Published: November 2019

Objective:

The objective of this study was to determine whether the trabecular volumetric Bone Mineral Density (vBMD) of the middle, body and angle of the mandible correlates with vBMD of the cervical and lumbar vertebrae in a Chinese population.

Methods and materials:

661 subjects (270 males, 391 females), ranging from 20 to 59 years of age, were recruited for vBMD measurements by quantitative CT (QCT). Basic information (age, height and weight), vBMD of the mandible (middle, body and angle sites), and vBMD of the cervical and lumbar vertebrae were recorded. Spearman’s rank correlation test was used to investigate the association of mandibular with vertebral vBMD.

Results:

The study cohort comprised 661 subjects: 270 (41%) males, 391 (59%) females. Median age in males was 40 (range, 21–59) years. Median age in females was 41 (range, 20–59) years. Values of the Spearman correlation coefficient between mandibular and vertebral vBMD ranged from R = 0.048 to 0.141. In males, the three correlation coefficients between mandibular and cervical vBMD (middle: R = 0.138; body: R = 0.126; angle: R = 0.122) were all statistically significant (p < 0.05). In females, the correlation between the middle mandibular site and cervical site was statistically significant (R = 0.141, p < 0.01). None of the other correlations examined were statistically significant.

Conclusion:

In this study population, mandibular vBMD was at best weakly correlated with cervical and lumbar vertebral vBMD, indicating that mandibular vBMD should be measured independently for the assessment of mandibular bone status.
Parallele Anwendbarkeit von Grundrechtecharta der EU und nationalen Grundrechten
Authors: Pilving Ivo
Published: November 2019

Pursuant to its Article 51 (1), the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights covers the implementation of EU law. Since 2014, the Estonian Supreme Court has applied the assumption that the Charter, in principle, does not preclude parallel applicability of national-level fundamental rights in areas subject to EU law, although the primacy, unity, and effectiveness of EU law must not be compromised thereby. The Member State's margin of appreciation should not be considered a precondition for the relevance of national fundamental rights. Even mandatory norms of EU law, which inevitably require certain national measures (e.g., permission to use a piece of music for sampling as in CJEU case C-476/17: Pelham), do not exclude the applicability of constitutional rights (here, the composer's copyright), though these can justify their restriction. Hence, the relevant piece of EU legislation itself must be valid. The CJEU should follow the principle of constitutional plurality in dialogue with national courts when examining the validity of EU norms restricting national fundamental rights. A parallel analysis of the national constitution and Charter by the competent national court would assist the CJEU in issuing a preliminary ruling. The most favourable standard of the fundamental rights in sense of the Article 53 should not be determined on merely abstract terms. Instead, the results of parallel analysis in light of the pending case should be of decisive importance. One conclusion presented is that in cases of multipolar conflict, there remains the possibility that a even fundamental right of one person that is derived from a national constitution can sometimes justify infringement on the charter-based right of another if there is no secondary legal balance of legal positions. In addition, exceptional situations might exist wherein fundamental principles of national constitutions may be granted precedence over the effectiveness of EU law.
The Principle of Trust for Exceptions to the Non-Regression Clause in the Case of Delict of Negligence
Authors: Feldmanis Laura
Published: November 2019

The delict of negligence is defined in terms of violation of the duty of care. While that duty entails displaying the level of care required from anyone and necessary for communication in the relevant society, there is no comprehensive list of the standards pertaining to the duty of care, especially as would be foreseeable from an objective perspective. In addition, a question arises: in which case does the person have to take responsibility in accordance with the delict of negligence for damaging a person’s legal rights stemming from a crime committed by a third party, or rather is this specific person’s duty restricted to his own acts. While the answer may seem at first glance to be provided by the non-regression clause, in line with which a person’s intervention within a chain created by the person who caused the original threat rules out the possibility of accusing the person who caused the original threat, the matter is not so simple: exceptions to the non-regression clause exist, and it is not always applicable. Certain principles are employed in the dogmatics of penal law accordingly, to specify how the duty of care and objective predictability are substantiated and how to handle exceptions to the non-regression clause. One of these rules, which is an outgrowth of the traffic rules, is the principle of trust. Applied not just with regard to traffic but also in situations of division of duties and in relation to general communication between people, this principle has been confirmed in Estonian Supreme Court practice. The article considers two significant questions that arise in connection with the principle of trust: firstly, in what cases is there a reason to trust, and, secondly, where is there a reason to doubt? After addressing the meaning of the principle of trust, the paper examines the effect on liability in scenarios wherein the person who originally caused the threat acts out of negligence yet the threat caused by that person is actualised in the form of an act violating legal rights by another, realised in either delict of negligence or an intentional delict. Finally, the article presents the conclusion that it is important to investigate which element of the structure of delict the principle of trust belongs to.
The Concept of Recovery of Credit Institutions in the Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive
Authors: Maarand Märt
Published: November 2019

New regulations, obligations for credit institutions, and powers for authorities were created by the Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive (BRRD). While resolution of a credit institution is clearly defined, it is less clear whether recovery of a credit institution could and should be treated as a separate concept under the BRRD; which elements it encompasses; and how these elements enhance and are linked with the pre-existing prudential regulation, processes, and tools. The problem is that if recovery is to be deemed a differentiable concept, specific legal rules and principles could be applicable that are separate from the prudential or the resolution framework – whether existing ones or other, easily developed rules and principles. This is particularly crucial when authorities exercise powers related to recovery, because following appropriate rules and principles has a direct connection with state liability. In consideration of these issues, the article presents several important conclusions: Firstly, recovery in the sense applied in the BRRD can be distinguished from both the prudential framework and the concept of resolution, on the basis of function; the concept of recovery can be considered to consist of recovery planning, early intervention measures, and two measures of further intervention that can be employed. Some early intervention measures are recovery-specific and broaden the supervisory powers significantly, while others do not and show overlap with supervisory powers derived from the prudential framework. Recovery planning and exercising early intervention measures can take place in parallel with processes connected with the prudential framework while nonetheless maintaining recovery as a usefully separate concept.
Performance Management of the Organization's Personnel on the Example of a Joint-Stock Company «Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant (JSC U-UAZ»)
Authors: Kaurova O.
Published: November 2019

The article describes the concept of “performance management” through the audit of personnel; the defi nition of the audit of personnel, taking into account regional characteristics. The materials of the audit of personnel at the Ulan-Ude Aviation plant are presented. The main problem of large enterprises is the cost of personnel, so the main focus of this study is the audit of personnel costs. Staff costs of the organization — generally recognized for countries with market economies, an integral indicator that includes a set of costs associated with the attraction, remuneration, incentives, solving social problems, organization of work and improvement of working conditions of staff , which ultimately aff ects the effi ciency of staff . In this regard, the author analyzed labor indicators and identifi ed methods to reduce personnel costs.
Methodology for Evaluating the Eff ectiveness of Commodity Portfolio Modifi cations As a Tool for Marketing Audit of Trading Networks
Authors: Шитуев С. , Shituev S.
Published: November 2019

The article discovers the methods of assessing the eff ectiveness of changes in the commodity portfolio aimed at ensuring balanced fi nancial resources of the company. The developed methodology is designed to control compliance of the obtained effect from the change of the commodity portfolio with the expectations of owners and managers of trading networks, what is the function of marketing audit. The proposed methodology is universal and can be used in marketing audit of the commodity portfolio of any organizations considering their specifics.
Legal Regulatory Gaps in Russian Internal Audit: Institutional Aspect
Authors: Карпова О. , Karpova O. , Формулевич Я. , Formulevich Ya.
Published: November 2019

The article defines the role of internal audit in the financial and economic activities of economic entity. The advantages of internal auditing are analyzed. The authors also described the interaction between internal audit and external independent control. Special attention is paid to the problems of the Russian internal audit, namely the formal rules (norms). As a result, the authors propose the ways to eliminate gaps in the legal regulation of the Russian internal audit.
Condition Monitoring of Stepping Excavators during Operation
Authors: Ховард Патрик , Howard Patrick
Published: November 2019

The use of computed tomography slices covering the entire volume of a component has been critical to the advancement of innovative aerospace technologies. Inspection times for these components were often measured in hours, as data were acquired one single computed tomography slice at a time.

Recent advancements in computed tomography data acquisition technology have moved from the use of linear X-ray detectors to area X-ray detectors that can collect computed tomography data from a component in a single acquisition. The use of area X-ray detectors to collect computed tomography data is often referred to as volumetric computed tomography (VCT) and has reduced data acquisition times for an entire component from hours to minutes. The reduced inspection time provided by VCT has made it practicable to use this technique for the production inspection of advanced components. In order to realize the use of VCT in a production environment, the data produced by the inspection must be analyzed within a time comparable to the time taken by the data acquisition. This paper describes a technique for rapidly analyzing VCT inspection data and the application of that technique to the inspection of turbine airfoils.
Creating Womenâ€™s Identity in Fashion: Objectification Within Norman Norellâ€™s Classic Silhouette
Authors: McCoy Tess
Published: November 2019

An analysis of American designer Norman Norellâ€™s 1951 dinner dress and Norellâ€™s classic silhouette at theTexas Fashion Collection led to the examination of the mid-twentieth century and how misogyny related to thesociety during this time. The investigation of misogyny in the fashion industry began with the evaluation JoanneEntwistleâ€™s article â€œFashion and the Fleshy Body: Dress as Embodied Practiceâ€ which provided the preliminaryunderstanding of femininity, womenâ€™s identity, and fashion. By understanding social theory, feminist theory, andthe history of the mid-twentieth century, I am able to reinvestigate Norellâ€™s work as a perpetuating factor ofmisogyny in fashion. Beyond observations and analysis of Norellâ€™s relationship to feminine identity in fashion,I explore modern fashion and the changing nature of misogyny in the industry since the classic silhouette ofNorman Norell in core fashion areas like Vogue magazine.
Your Future with Madness: The Relationship between Mental Illness and Career Goals
Authors: Montgomery Kylie
Published: November 2019

Does someoneâ€™s mental illness, or lack thereof, affect their career goals? Mental illnesses can affect all parts of someoneâ€™s daily life. They can directly affect the personality traits of a specific person. But, do they also affect someoneâ€™s creativity levels? Do they affect someoneâ€™s future goals? In this study, I examine the exact effect that mental illness has on a personâ€™s career goals and if mental illness can be used as an identifier of someoneâ€™s future path. The results of a unique survey comparing mental health and choice of college majors are presented. They show that students who identify as having anxiety and depression are more likely to identify as being creative and are more likely to major in humanities.
Bike-Share Systems: Accessibility and Availability
Authors: Kabra Ashish , Belavina Elena , Girotra Karan
Published: November 2019

The cities of Paris, London, Chicago, and New York (among many others) have set up bike-share systems to facilitate the use of bicycles for urban commuting. This paper estimates the impact of two facets of system performance on bike-share ridership: accessibility (how far the user must walk to reach stations) and bike-availability (the likelihood of finding a bicycle). We obtain these estimates from a structural demand model for ridership estimated using data from the Vélib’ system in Paris. We find that every additional meter of walking to a station decreases a user’s likelihood of using a bike from that station by 0.194% (±0.0693%), and an even more significant reduction at higher distances (>300 m). These estimates imply that almost 80% of bike-share usage comes from areas within 300 m of stations, highlighting the need for dense station networks. We find that a 10% increase in bike-availability would increase ridership by 12.211% (±1.097%), three-fourths of which comes from fewer abandonments and the rest of which comes from increased user interest. We illustrate the use of our estimates in comparing the effect of adding stations or increasing bike-availabilities in different parts of the city, at different times, and in evaluating other proposed improvements.

This paper was accepted by Vishal Gaur, operations management.
Atitudes de enfermeiros na administração de quimioterápicos em oncologia pediátrica
Authors: Silva-Rodrigues Fernanda Machado , Silva Jennifer Kamila da , Nunes Michelle Darezzo Rodrigues , Cardoso Luciana Gonzaga dos Santos , Nascimento Lucila Castanheira
Published: November 2019

Objetivo: analisar as atitudes de enfermeiros acerca da administração de antineoplásicos em oncologia pediátrica. Método: estudo descritivo, com análise estatística dos dados. Participaram 20 enfermeiros de um hospital de ensino, localizado na capital paulista, que administravam quimioterapia (QT) a crianças e adolescentes. Em 2016, mediante questionário autoaplicável, foram coletados dados de caracterização dos participantes e sobre suas atividades profissionais na administração de QT, que incluíam principais receios e preocupações, além dos potenciais eventos adversos associados à quimioterapia. Resultados: poucos participantes eram especialistas na área de oncologia ou pediatria; a maioria dos profissionais buscou conhecimento e capacitação por iniciativa própria; os enfermeiros classificaram a atividade como complexa e específica para quem possui interesse na área. Conclusão: todos os enfermeiros consideraram a QT o principal tratamento para o câncer infanto-juvenil. O risco de extravasamento e a falta de dispositivos adequados para administração das drogas foram os fatores que mais preocuparam os participantes.
Cartografando casos de violência de gênero em um grupo no Facebook
Authors: Costa Adriane Gomes Araújo , Freixo Alessandra Alexandre
Published: November 2019

Este artigo tem como objetivo mapear sentidos sobre a violência de gênero entre adolescentes de uma escola pública na Bahia, com a mediação de redes sociais. Todo o processo foi desenvolvido a partir de um grupo Facebook Messenger, em que as estudantes foram convidadas a expressarem suas opiniões sobre situações cotidianas que enfrentam em suas relações e as violências que as permeiam. O grupo envolveu nove meninas que debateram sobre três casos: “Sexting”, “Violência de gênero em sala de aula” e “Violando o direito de livre expressão da orientação sexual”. Esta mídia social apresentou-se como um espaço-tempo formativo a ser acionado na escola, visando o protagonismo dos estudantes frente a temáticas relacionadas a gênero e sexualidade.
Post-traumatic necrotising fasciitis of the breast: a case study with literature review
Authors: Gupta Ashish , Gupta Amit , Ravi Bina , Mundra Mukund , Sandhu Harindra , Agrawal Saumya , Anjum Rohik
Published: November 2019

Necrotising fasciitis is a rare infection of the skin and underlying soft tissue. It primarily involves the extremities and rarely the breast. Primary necrotising fasciitis of the breast in a non-lactating, healthy female is rarer still. The authors present the case report of a patient presenting with primary necrotising fasciitis of the breast after sustaining a penetrating injury. The patient was managed successfully with serial debridement and negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). To our knowledge only 19 such cases have been reported in the indexed literature so far. This is also the eighth case globally of primary necrotising fasciitis of the breast in a non-lactating female without any associated immunosuppression, which is the basis of reporting this case.
Barbed suture and glue in skin closure during lower limb arthroplasty: reduced delayed discharge due to wound exudate
Authors: Roumeliotis Leonidas , Graham Niall Mackenzie
Published: November 2019

Objective:

The number of hip and knee replacement performed is rising, causing increased pressure for the timely management of these patients. A dry incision is considered a prerequisite for discharge. This is a retrospective cohort study comparing two treatments for skin closure during elective hip and knee arthroplasty.

Methods:

A barbed monofilament absorbable 3.0 subcuticular suture (Quill), with the additional surface application of n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate glue, was used for the study group and metal clips or a smooth monofilament absorbable 3.0 subcuticular suture (Monocryl) for the control group. Each group comprised 46 hip and 27 knee replacement patients and data on predisposing risk factors for prolonged wound exudate were collected. We have calculated the proportion of patients who have exceeded their expected length of stay due to a wound exudate, the additional days required for the wound to dry and the derived cost.

Results:

No significant differences were identified with regards to risk factors. The study group demonstrated a significantly lower incidence of exudating wounds of excessive duration (1% versus 14%, p=0.005, relative risk: 10; 95% confidence interval: 1.31–76.13). The combined additional stay was 22 days more for the control group, producing an average financial benefit of £80 per patient for the study group. There were seven knee replacement and two hip replacement patients treated with a nozzled glue applicator who presented with delayed (> 2 weeks) wound healing issues.

Conclusion:

Barbed subcuticular suture with surface glue application is a viable option for skin closure after elective lower limb joint arthroplasty and can reduce the incidence of prolonged wound discharge. A brushed glue applicator should be preferred over the nozzled one.
Ambiente construído e bem-estar subjetivo: análise das diferenças entre os usuários dos diferentes modos de transporte
Authors: Barbosa Samios Ariadne Amanda , Larranaga Ana Margarita , Cybis Helena Bettella
Published: November 2019

O bem-estar subjetivo (subjective well-being) tem sido foco de crescente atenção na comunidade acadêmica nas últimas décadas, e especificamente na área de transportes (economia, ambiente urbano, mobilidade e acessibilidade). Os objetivos desse estudo são analisar a existência de diferenças na percepção do ambiente construído entre usuários de transporte ativo, transporte coletivo e transporte individual; e comparar o efeito do ambiente construído no bem-estar para os três grupos de usuários. Utilizando dados de uma pesquisa de atividade física na cidade de São Paulo - Brasil, modelos de equações estruturais multigrupo foram estimados. O estudo mostrou que o ambiente construído influencia o bem-estar dos indivíduos para os três grupos de usuários. Evidenciou a existência de diferenças na percepção do ambiente construído entre os grupos. Os resultados podem contribuir para debates acadêmicos e políticos sobre bem-estar, qualidade de vida e sustentabilidade urbana considerando a falta de investigações empíricas aprofundadas sobre este tópico.
AUTOMATIC EEG CLASSIFICATION USING DENSITY BASED ALGORITHMS DBSCAN AND DENCLUE
Authors: Piorecký Marek , Štrobl Jan , Krajča Vladimír
Published: November 2019

Electroencephalograph (EEG) is a commonly used method in neurological practice. Automatic classifiers (algorithms) highlight signal sections with interesting activity and assist an expert with record scoring. Algorithm K-means is one of the most commonly used methods for EEG inspection. In this paper, we propose/apply a method based on density-oriented algorithms DBSCAN and DENCLUE. DBSCAN and DENCLUE separate the nested clusters against K-means. All three algorithms were validated on a testing dataset and after that adapted for a real EEG records classification. 24 dimensions EEG feature space were classified into 5 classes (physiological, epileptic, EOG, electrode, and EMG artefact). Modified DBSCAN and DENCLUE create more than two homogeneous classes of the epileptic EEG data. The results offer an opportunity for the EEG scoring in clinical practice. The big advantage of the proposed algorithms is the high homogeneity of the epileptic class.
MODEL-BASED SECURITY ANALYSIS OF FPGA DESIGNS THROUGH REINFORCEMENT LEARNING
Authors: Vetter Michael
Published: November 2019

Finding potential security weaknesses in any complex IT system is an important and often challenging task best started in the early stages of the development process. We present a method that transforms this task for FPGA designs into a reinforcement learning (RL) problem. This paper introduces a method to generate a Markov Decision Process based RL model from a formal, high-level system description (formulated in the domain-specific language) of the system under review and different, quantified assumptions about the system’s security. Probabilistic transitions and the reward function can be used to model the varying resilience of different elements against attacks and the capabilities of an attacker. This information is then used to determine a plausible data exfiltration strategy. An example with multiple scenarios illustrates the workflow. A discussion of supplementary techniques like hierarchical learning and deep neural networks concludes this paper.
Translating the Gospel in Viking Age England: The Evidence from Two Old Norse Loan Translations from Old English
Authors: Gunn Nikolas
Published: November 2019

A recent resurgence of interest in Old Norse linguistic borrowings in Old English has greatly expanded our knowledge of the contact situation between these two speech communities in the early medieval period and beyond. However, there are a significant number of words that have been considered borrowings in the “other” direction, i. e. from Old English to Old Norse, which have not attracted the same amount of attention in current scholarship. Much of this material requires reassessment and this paper provides a case study of two parallel compound formations in both languages – OE bærsynnig [mann]/ON bersynðugr [maðr] (‘one who is openly sinful; publican’), and OE healsbōc/ON hálsbók (‘phylactery, amulet’, lit. ‘neck-book’) – that have traditionally been considered loan translations from Old English to Old Norse with little evidence other than their formation from cognate elements. In the absence of clear-cut linguistic criteria for identifying loan translations between these two closely related languages, this paper draws on a range of literary evidence to argue for a strong likelihood of a relationship between the two compounds. Both words offer important evidence for biblical translation practices, and contribute to our knowledge about the Christianisation of Norse speaking peoples and Anglo-Norse language contact in Viking Age England.
Matrilineality and Mothers-in-Law in Ama Ata Aidoo’s “Something to talk about on the way to a funeral” and The Dilemma of a Ghost
Authors: Naveira Isabel Gil
Published: November 2019

In the play The Dilemma of a Ghost and the short story “Something to talk about on the way to a funeral”, Ama Ata Aidoo addresses her concern for the loss of matrilineal traditions in Akan communities. Her works portray mothers-in-law who cannot exert their matrilineal role of selecting their daughters-in-law; instead it is their sons – representatives of the patriarchal traditions acquired since the colonial times – the ones who choose a wife without their mothers’ consent or awareness. This article will examine these women’s attempt to deal with dominant strategies and how their role transforms into that of surrogate mothers who leave aside the rejection of the community and / or their sons towards their daughters-in-law and embrace them in order to promote their acceptance and thus be able to maintain the matrilineal society they belong to.
Multi-peak Positive Solutions of a Nonlinear Schrödinger–Newton Type System
Authors: Gheraibia Billel , Wang Chunhua
Published: November 2019

In this paper, we study the following nonlinear Schrödinger–Newton type system:

{

-

ϵ
2

⁢
Δ
⁢
u

+
u

-

Φ
⁢

(
x
)

⁢
u

=

Q
⁢

(
x
)

⁢

|
u
|

⁢
u

,

x
∈

ℝ
3

,

-

ϵ
2

⁢
Δ
⁢
Φ

=

u
2

,

x
∈

ℝ
3

,

\left\{\begin{aligned} &\displaystyle{-}\epsilon^{2}\Delta u+u-\Phi(x)u=Q(x)|u% |u,&&\displaystyle x\in\mathbb{R}^{3},\\ &\displaystyle{-}\epsilon^{2}\Delta\Phi=u^{2},&&\displaystyle x\in\mathbb{R}^{% 3},\end{aligned}\right.

where

ϵ
>
0

{\epsilon>0}

and

Q
⁢

(
x
)

{Q(x)}

is a positive bounded continuous potential on

ℝ
3

{\mathbb{R}^{3}}

satisfying some suitable conditions. By applying the finite-dimensional reduction method, we prove that for any positive integer k, the system has a positive solution with k-peaks concentrating near a strict local minimum point

x
0

{x_{0}}

of

Q
⁢

(
x
)

{Q(x)}

in

ℝ
3

{\mathbb{R}^{3}}

, provided that

ϵ
>
0

{\epsilon>0}

is sufficiently small.
A new Singular Trudinger–Moser Type Inequality with Logarithmic Weights and Applications
Authors: Aouaoui Sami , Jlel Rahma
Published: November 2019

In this paper, we establish a new singular Trudinger–Moser type inequality for radial Sobolev spaces with logarithmic weights. The existence of nontrivial solutions is proved for an elliptic equation defined in

ℝ
n

{\mathbb{R}^{n}}

, relying on variational methods and involving a nonlinearity with doubly exponential growth at infinity.
Dynamic Hedging Strategies Based on Changing Pricing Parameters for Compound Ratchets
Authors: Gaillardetz Patrice , El Khoury Samia
Published: November 2019

Equity-Indexed Annuity products (EIAs) are becoming increasingly popular as they are accumulation vehicles that offer participation in the equity market growth while keeping the initial capital protected. This paper focuses in particular on a special type of EIAs; the Compound Ratchet (CR). Sellers of this product retain the right to change one of the pricing parameters on each contract anniversary date while promising not to cross a certain predetermined threshold. Changing these parameters can sometimes have an impact on the value of the EIA, which makes them interesting to study. In order to reproduce the pattern of these changing parameters, a new approach of dynamically hedging the CR EIA and simultaneously protecting the issuer from hedging risk is proposed and tested. Trading can only be done in discrete time, which produces hedging errors. Therefore, the new approach is applied to transfer these errors from the issuer to the buyer by dynamically changing the pricing parameters. The distribution of these parameters is extracted and analyzed.
The new Directive on Contracts for Supply of Digital Content and Digital Services – Conformity Criteria, Remedies and Modifications – Part 2
Authors: Sein Karin , Spindler Gerald
Published: November 2019

This article analyses the core issues of the new digital content directive: the conformity criteria, liability of the trader and the remedies of the consumer for lack of conformity. The authors assess the directive as a welcome step in raising consumer protection on the Digital Single Market, especially as the initial primacy of subjective conformity criteria has been given up and mandatory objective criteria of the digital content/services have been introduced. This gives European consumers a mandatory protection regime shielding them from the widely used liability restriction clauses. The provisions on remedies have been improved and fine-tuned, starting from the flexible hierarchy of the remedies and ending with deletion of the much-criticized maximum harmonising damages provision. The new directive puts liability for the digital content to the retail sector: it is the traders, the contractual partners of the consumer who are liable for the supply and defects of the digital content even if the digital content is provided by third parties (usually the copyright holders). Whereas the directive is maximum harmonising in principle, several important questions such as the liability periods, obligations of the consumer as well as the remedies of the trader are still left to national law. Finally, as the directive is not based on standard contract typology, the transposition could turn out to be challenging for Member States with civil codes where rules on contractual remedies depend upon contract type.
Derlin-1 functions as a growth promoter in breast cancer
Authors: Liu Yansong , Wang Ziming , Liu Handong , Wang Xin , Zhang Zhonghua , Xiao Bin , An Baoming , Zhang Jun
Published: November 2019

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in women. Derlin-1 has been found to be overexpressed in several human cancers in addition to playing an important role in tumor processes; however, the expression patterns and functions of Derlin-1 in human breast cancer are not fully understood. In this study, we found that Derlin-1 overexpression was higher in breast cancer compared to normal samples through TCGA and GTEx database analyses. Kaplan-Meier plotter analysis showed that Derlin-1 was a predicting factor for patient prognosis. Derlin-1 expression was significantly up-regulated in breast cancer tissues (18/30, 60.00%) compared to corresponding paracancerous tissue (9/30, 30.00%,p < 0.05) as detected by immunohistochemistry, and the expression of Derlin-1 was correlated to pathological grading. siRNA interference of Derlin-1 inhibited cell proliferation, which is associated with the promotion of apoptosis and migration. Derlin-1 knockdown suppressed the protein levels of p-AKT and Cyclin D1 while up-regulating Caspase3 and Bax. GEPIA database analysis showed thatMTDHandATAD2were downstream target genes, and the expression ofMTDHand was suppressed in Derlin-1 knockdown cells. Taken together, our results demonstratedATAD2that Derlin-1 is overexpressed in breast cancer and promoted a malignant phenotype through the AKT signaling pathway.
Impoverished pragmatics? The semantics-pragmatics interface from an intercultural perspective
Authors: Kecskes Istvan
Published: November 2019

The semantic-pragmatic interface debate is about how much actual situational context the linguistic signs need in order for them to be meaningful in the communicative process. There is evidence that interlocutors in intercultural interactions rely more

Some of the ideas in the paper are based on chapter six in Kecskes (2019).

on the compositional meaning of linguistic signs (semantics) than contextually supported meaning (pragmatics) because actual situational context cannot help pragmatic implication and interpretation the way it does in L1 communication. At the same time in pragmatic theory there seems to be an agreement between the neo-Gricean account and the post-Gricean account on the fact that the process of implicature retrieval is context-dependent. But will this L1-based contextualism work in intercultural interactions? Is pragmatics impoverished if interlocutors can only partly rely on pragmatic enrichment coming from context and the target language? The paper argues that in fact pragmatics is invigorated rather than impoverished in intercultural communication. A new type of synchronic events-based pragmatics is co-constructed by interlocutors. Instead of relying on the existing conventions, norms and frames of the target language interlocutors create their own temporary frames, formulas and norms. There is pragmaticization of semantics which is a synchronic, (usually) one-off phenomenon in which coded meaning, sometimes without any specific pragmatic enrichment coming from the target language, obtains temporary pragmatic status. This pragmatic enrichment happens as a result of interlocutors’ blending their dictionary knowledge of the linguistic code (semantics) with their basic interpersonal communicative skills and sometimes unusual, not necessarily target language-based pragmatic strategies that suit them very well in their attempt to achieve their communicative goals.