bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dexmedetomidine Sedation for Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia Ablation Is Not Associated With Alteration of Arrhythmia Inducibility
Authors: Slupe Andrew M. , Minnier Jessica , Raitt Merritt H. , Zarraga Ignatius Gerardo E. , MacMurdy Karen S. , Jessel Peter M.
Published: April 2018

BACKGROUND:

Dexmedetomidine (Dex) is an attractive agent for procedural sedation due to its unique pharmacodynamic profile, specifically affording predictable sedation without concurrent respiratory depression. However, Dex has previously been reported to prevent or terminate arrhythmias. The purpose of this study was to investigate paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) inducibility and homeostatic stability during electrophysiology studies (EPSs) and ablation when a standardized Dex protocol was used as the primary sedation agent.

METHODS:

We performed a retrospective review of 163 consecutive procedures for PSVT ablation that received Dex as the primary sedative with adjunct fentanyl and midazolam boluses (DEX-FENT-MIDAZ). This cohort was compared to 163 consecutive control procedures wherein strictly fentanyl and midazolam were used for sedation. The primary outcome reviewed was PSVT inducibility assessed before ablation. Reviewed secondary outcomes included level of sedation and intraprocedure hemodynamics and oxygenation.

RESULTS:

The arrhythmia profiles of the DEX-FENT-MIDAZ and control cohorts were very similar. The overall incidence of a “negative” EPSs in which arrhythmia was not induced was 24% in the DEX-FENT-MIDAZ group and 26% in the control group (P = .7). Unintended deep sedation was significantly less with DEX-FENT-MIDAZ (4.3% vs 27%; P ≤ .0001). However, DEX-FENT-MIDAZ use was associated with a higher incidence of intraprocedure hypotension.

CONCLUSIONS:

Dex sedation during EPSs is not associated with a reduction in PSVT inducibility. The therapeutic utility of Dex during EPS arises from the predictable sedation Dex affords but is associated with an increased incidence of intraprocedure hypotension.
Resistin Is a Novel Marker for Postoperative Pain Intensity
Authors: Hozumi Jun , Sumitani Masahiko , Nishizawa Daisuke , Nagashima Makoto , Ikeda Kazutaka , Abe Hiroaki , Kato Ryoji , Kusakabe Yoshiomi , Yamada Yoshitsugu
Published: April 2018

BACKGROUND:

Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (adipokines) associated with adipose tissue can modulate inflammatory processes and lead to systemic inflammatory conditions such as metabolic syndrome. In the present pilot study, we investigated 3 major adipokines (leptin, adiponectin, and resistin) and 2 nonspecific proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-6) with regard to their association with postoperative pain intensity.

METHODS:

We analyzed a total of 45 single-nucleotide polymorphisms of the adipokines in 57 patients with postlaparotomy pain. We adjusted for multiple testing to reduce the chance of false-positive results by controlling the false discovery rate. Serum levels of the adipokines and proinflammatory cytokines were measured in another 36 patients undergoing laparotomy. A stepwise multiple linear regression analysis using these measurements and opioid dosages as independent variables was performed to explore the factors associated with postoperative pain.

RESULTS:

Only 1 variant of the resistin gene (rs3745367) demonstrated a significant association with postoperative pain (P < .002). Patients exhibiting homozygosity for the minor alleles (n = 7; numerical rating scale [NRS], 2.3 ± 1.3) demonstrated lower pain intensity compared with those exhibiting homozygosity for the major alleles (n = 29; NRS, 3.8 ± 1.0; P = .004) and heterozygosity for the minor alleles (n = 21; NRS, 4.2 ± 0.8; P < .001). Only serum resistin levels showed a positive association with postoperative pain.

CONCLUSIONS:

A genetic variant of resistin and serum resistin levels were associated with postoperative pain intensity, while other adipokines and cytokines exhibit no such association. Resistin can alter the inflammatory responses in postoperative wounds, although it could be a determinant factor that is independent of inflammatory processes. Resistin may be a novel marker for postoperative pain intensity.
Low Level of Vegetative State After Traumatic Brain Injury in a Swiss Academic Hospital
Authors: Stretti Federica , Klinzing Stephanie , Ehlers Ulrike , Steiger Peter , Schuepbach Reto , Krones Tanja , Brandi Giovanna
Published: April 2018

BACKGROUND:

No standards exist regarding decision making for comatose patients, especially concerning life-saving treatments. The aim of this retrospective, single-center study was to analyze outcomes and the decision-making process at the end of life (EOL) in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a Swiss academic tertiary care hospital.

METHODS:

Consecutive admissions to the surgical intensive care unit (ICU) with stays of at least 48 hours between January 1, 2012 and June 30, 2015 in patients with moderate to severe TBI and with fatality within 6 months after trauma were included. Descriptive statistics were used.

RESULTS:

Of 994 ICU admissions with TBI in the study period, 182 had an initial Glasgow Coma Scale <13 and a length of stay in the ICU >48 hours. For 174 of them, a 6-month outcome assessment based on the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) was available: 43.1% (36.0%–50.5%) had favorable outcomes (GOS 4 or 5), 28.7% (22.5%–35.9%) a severe disability (GOS 3), 0.6% (0%–3.2%) a vegetative state (GOS 2), and 27.6% (21.5%–34.7%) died (GOS 1). Among the GOS 1 individuals, 45 patients had a complete dataset (73% men; median age, 67 years; interquartile range, 43–79 years). Life-prolonging therapies were limited in 95.6% (85.2%–99.2%) of the cases after interdisciplinary prognostication and involvement of the surrogate decision maker (SDM) to respect the patient’s documented or presumed will. In 97.7% (87.9%–99.9%) of the cases, a next of kin was the SDM and was involved in the EOL decision and process in 100% (96.3%–100.0%) of the cases. Written advance directives (ADs) were available for 14.0% (6.6%–27.3%) of the patients, and 34.9% (22.4%–49.8%) of the patients had shared their EOL will with relatives before trauma. In the other cases, each patient’s presumed will was acknowledged after a meeting with the SDM and was binding for the EOL decision.

CONCLUSIONS:

At our institution, the majority of deaths after TBI follow a decision to limit life-prolonging therapies. The frequency of patients in vegetative state 6 months after TBI is lower than expected; this could be due to the high prevalence of limitation of life-prolonging therapies. EOL decision making follows a standardized process, based on patients’ will documented in the ADs or on preferences assumed by the SDM. The prevalence of ADs was low and should be encouraged.
Reclaiming the Discarded
Authors: Millar Kathleen M.
Published: April 2018

In Reclaiming the Discarded Kathleen M. Millar offers an evocative ethnography of Jardim Gramacho, a sprawling garbage dump on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, where roughly two thousand self-employed workers known as catadores collect recyclable materials. While the figure of the scavenger sifting through garbage seems iconic of wageless life today, Millar shows how the work of reclaiming recyclables is more than a survival strategy or an informal labor practice. Rather, the stories of catadores show how this work is inseparable from conceptions of the good life and from human struggles to realize these visions within precarious conditions of urban poverty. By approaching the work of catadores as highly generative, Millar calls into question the category of informality, common conceptions of garbage, and the continued normativity of wage labor. In so doing, she illuminates how waste lies at the heart of relations of inequality and projects of social transformation.
Direct activation of chordoblasts by retinoic acid is required for segmented centra mineralization during zebrafish spine development
Authors: Pogoda Hans-Martin , Riedl-Quinkertz Iris , Löhr Heiko , Waxman Joshua S. , Dale Rodney M. , Topczewski Jacek , Schulte-Merker Stefan , Hammerschmidt Matthias
Published: April 2018

Zebrafish mutants with increased retinoic acid (RA) signaling due to the loss of the RA-inactivating enzyme Cyp26b1 develop a hyper-mineralized spine with gradually fusing vertebral body precursors (centra). However, the underlying cellular mechanisms remained incompletely understood. Here, we show that cells of the notochord epithelium named chordoblasts are sensitive to RA signaling. Chordoblasts are uniformly distributed along the anteroposterior axis and initially generate the continuous collagenous notochord sheath. However, subsequently and iteratively subsets of these cells undergo further RA-dependent differentiation steps, acquire a stellate-like shape, down-regulate collagen 2a1a gene expression, switch on cyp26b1 expression and trigger metameric sheath mineralization. This mineralization fails to appear upon chordoblast-specific cell ablation or RA signal transduction blockade. Together, our data reveal that despite their different developmental origins, chordoblasts display activities and are regulated very similar to osteoblasts, including their RA-induced transitioning from osteoid-producing cells to osteoid-mineralizing ones. Furthermore, our data point to a requirement for locally controlled RA activity within the chordoblast layer in order to generate the segmented vertebral column.
Endoplasmic reticulum turnover: ER-phagy and other flavors in selective and non-selective ER clearance
Authors: Fregno Ilaria , Molinari Maurizio
Published: April 2018

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a highly dynamic organelle in eukaryotic cells. It is deputed to lipid and protein biosynthesis, calcium storage, and the detoxification of various exogenous and endogenous harmful compounds. ER activity and size must be adapted rapidly to environmental and developmental conditions or biosynthetic demand. This is achieved on induction of thoroughly studied transcriptional/translational programs defined as “unfolded protein responses” that increase the ER volume and the expression of ER-resident proteins regulating the numerous ER functions. Less understood are the lysosomal catabolic processes that maintain ER size at steady state, that prevent excessive ER expansion during ER stresses, or that ensure return to physiologic ER size during recovery from ER stresses. These catabolic processes may also be activated to remove ER subdomains where proteasome-resistant misfolded proteins or damaged lipids have been segregated. Insights into these catabolic mechanisms have only recently emerged with the identification of so-called ER-phagy receptors, which label specific ER subdomains for selective lysosomal delivery for clearance. Here, in eight chapters and one addendum, we comment on recent advances in ER turnover pathways induced by ER stress, nutrient deprivation, misfolded proteins, and live bacteria. We highlight the role of yeast (Atg39 and Atg40) and mammalian (FAM134B, SEC62, RTN3, and CCPG1) ER-phagy receptors and of autophagy genes in selective and non-selective catabolic processes that regulate cellular proteostasis by controlling ER size, turnover, and function.
Examining Gifting Through Social Network Services: A Social Exchange Theory Perspective
Authors: Kim Hee-Woong , Kankanhalli Atreyi , Lee So-Hyun
Published: April 2018

The increasing popularity of social network services (SNS) presents an opportunity to offer gifting services through SNS. For givers, gifting can be an important means to enhance social relationships. On the other hand, for SNS providers, members’ gifting can serve as a major source of revenue. As SNS providers continue to face challenges in generating revenues, understanding how to stimulate gifting through SNS can allow them to profit from members’ relationships. However, there is little understanding of what drives members’ gifting through SNS, with limited prior research on online gifting. Thus motivated, we develop a research model of the antecedents of SNS gifting that builds on social exchange theory and prior gifting literature, and incorporates the unique aspects of such gifting (that we refer to as microgifting, with low-price digital voucher gifts). The theoretical model was validated through a field study, in which both subjective and objective data were collected from an SNS that has been successful in offering such gifting services. Our findings highlight the effects of perceived worth, SNS gifting experience, and the number of SNS friends on the frequency of SNS gifting. The results also show that expected benefits (i.e., reciprocity, pleasure, relationship support, convenience, and immediacy of gift sending) and costs (i.e., impersonality) indirectly impact SNS gifting frequency through the assessment of perceived worth. The study contributes to research by adding to our understanding of this new approach of gifting through SNS, i.e., microgifting. It also lends insights on how SNS providers can offer such services to tap this source of revenue.
Anatomy and physiology, 10. The respiratory system
Authors: Peate Ian
Published: April 2018

This article discusses the role and function of the respiratory system. The key function of the respiratory system is to ensure that the body takes in enough oxygen from the atmosphere for it to perform its functions—every cell in the body needs oxygen—while at the same time disposing of excess carbon dioxide. The combined process of intake of oxygen and removal of carbon dioxide is called respiration. The role of the upper and lower respiratory tracts is discussed.

Understanding the anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system and how this system functions can help the healthcare assistant and assistant practitioner (HCA and AP) provide care that is safe and effective. A glossary of terms and a short quiz are included at the end of the article.
La incorporación de las mujeres a la segunda enseñanza pública en Extremadura (1900-1936)
Authors: Redondo Castro Cristina , Grana Gil Isabel , Sanchidrián Blanco Carmen
Published: April 2018

En este artículo pretendemos ofrecer una aproximación acerca de la incorporación de la mujer a los estudios secundarios de los Institutos de Cáceres y Badajoz, conocidos como Institutos Históricos extremeños, en el primer tercio del siglo XX. Principalmente, el foco de interés se ha centrado en conocer la evolución que experimentó esa incorporación de las mujeres a la educación secundaria y las causas que favorecieron o dificultaron su desarrollo. En Extremadura, la evolución de la segunda enseñanza estuvo marcada por el desarrollo socioeconómico de la región, que mostraba unas características muy peculiares, y que fueron determinantes en la estructura social, cultural y económica de la misma. A pesar de ello, estas circunstancias no impidieron el acceso de las mujeres a los estudios de bachillerato.
La expresión de las cátedras ambulantes «Francisco Franco» en Castilla y León. Una recreación de las misiones culturales dirigidas por y para las mujeres
Authors: García Redondo Eva
Published: April 2018

El estudio de la historia regional de la educación se torna imprescindible en un contexto globalizado en el que la suma de las particularidades ofrece un marco comparado de conocimiento. En el artículo que sigue aportamos un análisis de las acciones desarrolladas por las Cátedras Ambulantes en una realidad comarcal asentada en las actuales provincias que componen Castilla y León. En este sentido, son escasos los trabajos que apuestan por una visión regional siendo dilatadísima la nómina que, por el contrario, lo hacen del contexto nacional. Es ahí donde radica nuestro interés investigador optando para ello por el uso del método históricopedagógico en combinación, como no cabría ser menos al tratarse de un espacio físico y periodo dilatado, del enfoque sociohistórico. Gracias a ambos obtenemos un documento que demuestra la preponderancia de este territorio en el conjunto estatal, siendo sus aportaciones imprescindibles en la construcción de la Obra.
La circulación de la escuela nueva en Brasil (1933-1958): entre prescripciones e innovaciones
Authors: Valdemarin Vera Teresa , De Lima Bueno Manuela Priscila
Published: April 2018

El presente artículo enfoca la circulación de las concepciones vinculadas al ideario de la Escuela Nueva en Brasil entre los años 1930 y (1958?), desde las prescripciones destinadas a introducir nuevas prácticas pedagógicas en las instituciones formadoras y, por medio de ellas, atender las demandas sociales y educacionales del país. Tomando como fuentes documentales la legislación educacional, los programas prescritos para la formación de profesores e informes producidos por comisarios de la enseñanza, se procura reunir orientaciones producidas en diferentes instancias de poder para captar la combinación entre léxico renovador, limitaciones del sistema educacional y prácticas que se pretendía diseminar y que, al final, produjeron tensión entre concepciones y experiencias prácticas, caracterizando una innovación marcada por la apropiación selectiva de las pretensiones de la renovación pedagógica.
Regepe Integra a Altmetrics: Mais um Avanço
Authors: Nassif Vânia Maria Jorge
Published: April 2018

A cada edição, a REGEPE consolida-se como um importante meio de divulgação e discussão de trabalhos científicos, visando o avanço de pesquisas na área do Empreendedorismo e Gestão de Pequenas Empresas. É com grande alegria que iniciamos o ano de 2018 com algumas novidades.  O v.7, n.1 de 2018 estreia as publicações no sistema ahead of print. Este procedimento consiste em publicar artigos indicados pelos revisores e aprovados pelo Corpo Editorial da REGEPE, antes mesmo da composição final do número. Esta prática editorial propicia a rápida divulgação dos artigos, disponibilizando-os aos leitores na sua forma definitiva, além de dar visibilidade das produções dos autores. Tão logo completa-se o número de artigos, a edição é encerrada e o número subsequente é iniciado. O artigo publicado ahead of print amplia a divulgação da REGEPE e alcança novos usuários, satisfazendo as necessidades da comunicação cientifica atual.Além disso, recebe um DOI (Digital Object Identifier), código único permanente, que pode ser adicionado a documentos eletrônicos para sua rastreabilidade rápida e sem ambiguidades.No que se refere ao sistema editorial da REGEPE, o site informa as métricas alternativas: presença em redes sociais dos artigos, número de downloads e estatísticas das edições e por países (ver Barros, 2015). Essa métrica alternativa de impacto (Altmetrics), vem sendo adotada por bases de dados bibliométricas nacionais e internacionais (Scielo, Ebsco e Scopus). Na imagem abaixo, é possível observar a “altmetria” dos artigos publicados e as respectivas edições anteriores.
Comentarios de libros: Comentario a Vanina Ferreccio: La Larga sombra de la prisión. Una etnografía de los efectos extendidos del encarcelamiento
Authors: Mancini Inés
Published: April 2018

Comentario a Vanina Ferreccio: La Larga sombra de la prisión. Una etnografía de los efectos extendidos del encarcelamientoPrometeo, Buenos Aires, 2017
A class of new exact solutions of the system of PDE for the plane motion of viscous incompressible fluids in the presence of body force
Authors: Ahmed Mushtaq , Khan Waseem Ahmed
Published: April 2018

The purpose of this paper is to indicate a class of exact solutions of the system of partial differential equations governing the steady, plane motion of incompressible fluid of variable viscosity with body force term to the right-hand side of Navier-Stokes equations. The class consists of the stream function characterized by the equation Â in polar coordinates Â and Â where Â and Â are continuously differentiable functions and the function Â is such that Â where a non-zero constant is Â and overhead prime represents derivative with respect to . When Â or Â we show exact solutions for given one component of the body force for both the cases when the function Â is arbitrary and when it is not. For the arbitrary function case, Â appears in the coefficient of a linear second order ordinary differential equation showing a large numbers of solutions of this equation. This in turn establishes an infinite set of exact solutions to the problem concerned however; we show three examples of such exact solutions. The alternate case fixes Â and provides viscosity as derivative of temperature function for Â and . Anyhow, we find an infinite set of streamlines, the velocity components, viscosity function, generalized energy function and temperature distribution.
Evaluation of aspiration, nebulization and oxygenization practices of patients with a tracheostomy
Authors: Karaca Türkan , Derya İster Emine
Published: April 2018

Aim: The aim of the study is to determine the frequency of aspiration, nebulization and oxygenization practices and factors that affect these practices after tracheostomy operation in seven days period.Method: This cross-sectional study was carried out in internal intensive care unit in a university hospital in Turkey. The sample of the study consisted of 60 patients with tracheostomy. Data was collected by using two forms. First one was patient descriptive characteristics form and second one was patient observation form about aspiration, nebulization and oxygenization practices.Results. Mean of aspiration number was 9.9±1.3, and aspiration was carried out more frequently than oxygeniation (8.4±1.7) and nebulization (6.5±1.5) practices. Patients’ age, their habit of cigarette smoking and having chronic disease situations affect aspiration, nebulization and oxygenization practices patients with tracheostomy (p<0.001).Conclusions. The frequency of aspiration, nebulization and oxygenization practices was changed according to post-operation days and affected by some of patients’ descriptive characteristics.
Posture analysis of Turkish National Weightlifting Team
Authors: İnce İzzet , Akkuş Hasan
Published: April 2018

In this study, it was aimed to examine the posture structures of the Turkish National Weightlifting Team. The study was conducted on 12 volunteer male athletes who were present in the candidate team of the senior weightlifting national team and represented our country at least 5 in international competitions and were 27.3 ± 4.2 years old.Posture measurement was done as anterior and lateral from knee, vertebrale colon, shoulder, and region of head. Visual Basic software was used in the analysis of posture.Symmetry of right eye (19.1±5.2 deg), left eye (16.7±5.1 deg), right shoulder (4.2±3.8 deg), left shoulder (4.8±4.6 deg), right chest (7.5±3.2 deg), left chest (7.7±2.4 deg), left hip (22.5±5.8 deg), right hip (22.3±5.97 deg), valgus superior angle (173.7±5.3 deg), valgus inferior angle (169.9±6.1 deg), were determined in the anterior evaluation. Cervical superior angle (5.7±2.2 deg), cervical inferior angle (25.3±7.7 deg), dorsal superior angle (25.9±5.4 deg), inferior angle (6.9±3.4 deg), lumbal superior angle (9±2.2 deg), lumbal inferior angle (24.5±1.8 deg), pupliteal superior angle (172.7±3.2 deg), pupliteal inferior angle (167.4±2.7 deg), average pupliteal angle (167,4±2,7deg) were determined in the lateral evaluation.In conclusion, intensive posture deformity was found in the National Weightlifting Team. The cause of deformity can be originating from lack of content of the training and technical mistakes
Behavioral Implications of International Social Media Advertising: An Investigation of Intervening and Contingency Factors
Authors: Johnston Wesley J. , Khalil Shadab , Nhat Hanh Le Angelina , Cheng Julian Ming-Sung
Published: April 2018

Despite the rapid growth of social media and the enthusiasm surrounding social media advertising (SMA), scant theoretical and empirical knowledge exists on the cross-border effectiveness of SMA and its influence on consumer behavior in the social media environment. This research develops a four-stage belief–value–attitude–behavior framework to understand the intervening role of SMA value and attitude and reflect how consumers react to SMA across cultures and global social media types. The results confirm the mediating effects of value and attitude and reveal that positive attitude toward SMA increases social media–specific behaviors (i.e., message and social interaction behaviors). The moderating effect results of culture reveal a greater impact of infotainment on SMA value and of credibility on SMA value and attitude in the higher-uncertainty-avoidance culture. Infotainment has a larger effect on SMA value and attitude in global content community sites than in global social networking sites, but there is a reverse moderating effect on the impact of credibility. The research provides a better theoretical understanding of consumers’ behavioral responses to SMA in international marketplaces.
On rational varieties of small rationality degree
Authors: Fusi Davide
Published: April 2018

We prove a stronger version of a criterion of rationality given by Ionescu and Russo. We use this stronger version to define an invariant for rational varieties (we call it rationality degree), and we classify rational varieties for small values of the invariant.
Notes toward The Philosophy of Theatre
Authors: Cull Ó Maoilearca Laura
Published: April 2018

This article draws from the contemporary French thinker François Laruelle to perform a ‘non-philosophical’ analysis of recent literature from the analytic or Anglo-American philosophy of theatre. Much of this literature, I argue, suffers from the problem of application, namely: non- or extra-theatrical assumptions are both brought to bear upon and remain unchallenged by the philosopher’s encounter with theatre – particularly in the form of assumptions as to the nature of philosophy or the role or position of philosophy with respect to other forms of thought, such as theatre and performance. Having sought to articulate some of the problems arising from the conception of the philosophy of theatre as a definitional project, the article then considers – via Laruelle – what kind of ‘stance’ a philosophy of theatre might need to occupy in order not to impose its thought on theatre but to be open to theatre’s thoughts.
Residual heat generated during laser processing of CFRP with picosecond laser pulses
Authors: Freitag Christian , Pauly Leon , Förster Daniel J. , Wiedenmann Margit , Weber Rudolf , Kononenko Taras V. , Konov Vitaly I. , Graf Thomas
Published: April 2018

One of the major reasons for the formation of a heat-affected zone during laser processing of carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP) with repetitive picosecond (ps) laser pulses is heat accumulation. A fraction of every laser pulse is left as what we termed residual heat in the material also after the completed ablation process and leads to a gradual temperature increase in the processed workpiece. If the time between two consecutive pulses is too short to allow for a sufficient cooling of the material in the interaction zone, the resulting temperature can finally exceed a critical temperature and lead to the formation of a heat-affected zone. This accumulation effect depends on the amount of energy per laser pulse that is left in the material as residual heat. Which fraction of the incident pulse energy is left as residual heat in the workpiece depends on the laser and process parameters, the material properties, and the geometry of the interaction zone, but the influence of the individual quantities at the present state of knowledge is not known precisely due to the lack of comprehensive theoretical models. With the present study, we, therefore, experimentally determined the amount of residual heat by means of calorimetry. We investigated the dependence of the residual heat on the fluence, the pulse overlap, and the depth of laser-generated grooves in CRFP. As expected, the residual heat was found to increase with increasing groove depth. This increase occurs due to an indirect heating of the kerf walls by the ablation plasma and the change in the absorbed laser fluence caused by the altered geometry of the generated structures.
Existence of positive solutions for nonlocal p ⁢ ( x ) p(x) -Kirchhoff elliptic systems
Authors: Boulaaras Salah , Guefaifia Rafik , Zennir Khaled
Published: April 2018

In this article, we discuss the existence of positive solutions by using sub-super solutions concepts of the following

{p(x)}

-Kirchhoff system:

\left\{\begin{aligned} &\displaystyle{-}M(I_{0}(u))\triangle_{p(x)}u=\lambda^{%
p(x)}[\lambda_{1}f(v)+\mu_{1}h(u)]&&\displaystyle\text{in }\Omega,\\
&\displaystyle{-}M(I_{0}(v))\triangle_{p(x)}v=\lambda^{p(x)}[\lambda_{2}g(u)+%
\mu_{2}\tau(v)]&&\displaystyle\text{in }\Omega,\\
&\displaystyle u=v=0&&\displaystyle\text{on }\partial\Omega,\end{aligned}\right.

where

{\Omega\subset\mathbb{R}^{N}}

is a bounded smooth domain with

{C^{2}}

boundary

{\partial\Omega}

,

{\triangle_{p(x)}u=\operatorname{div}(|\nabla u|^{p(x)-2}\nabla u)}

,

{p(x)\in C^{1}(\overline{\Omega})}

, with

{1<p(x)}

, is a function satisfying

{1<p^{-}=\inf_{\Omega}p(x)\leq p^{+}=\sup_{\Omega}p(x)<\infty}

, λ,

{\lambda_{1}}

,

{\lambda_{2}}

,

{\mu_{1}}

and

{\mu_{2}}

are positive parameters,

{I_{0}(u)=\int_{\Omega}\frac{1}{p(x)}|\nabla u|^{p(x)}\,dx}

, and

{M(t)}

is a continuous function.
On generalized quasi-Einstein manifolds
Authors: Ahmad Mirshafeazadeh Mir , Bidabad Behroz
Published: April 2018

We study generalized quasi-Einstein manifolds, or briefly, GQE manifolds. Here, we present relations between the Bach, Cotton and D tensors on GQE manifolds. Next, a 3-tensor E which measures the deviation of m-quasi-Einstein manifolds from GQE manifolds is introduced. Among others in dimension 3, it is shown that Bach-flatness implies locally conformally flatness. Furthermore, it is proved that, around a regular point of the fourth-order divergence free Weyl tensor, a GQE manifold is a locally warped product manifold with

{(n-1)}

-dimensional Einstein fibers in suitable cases.
Geschlechterungleichheit in Erwerbsorganisationen
Authors: Busch-Heizmann Anne , Rastetter Daniela , Rinke Timothy
Published: April 2018

Auf dem Arbeitsmarkt existieren nach wie vor bestimmte soziale Ungleichheiten zwischen Frauen und Männern, etwa im Hinblick auf die Verortung in unterschiedlichen Berufen und hierarchischen Positionen sowie Verdienste. Andockend an die bisherige Forschung, fragen wir nach der Rolle von Betrieben bei der Generierung geschlechtsspezifischer Arbeitsmarktchancen. Bei dieser Forschungsfrage betrachten wir zum einen „egalitäre“ betriebliche Strukturen (Maßnahmen zur Geschlechtergleichstellung und zur Vereinbarkeit von Familie und Beruf, eine paritätische Geschlechterdemografie im Betrieb und in dessen Leitungspositionen, betriebliche Formalisierung der Beschäftigungspolitik) und ihren Einfluss auf geschlechterbezogene soziale Ungleichheiten. Zum anderen wird, unter Bezugnahme auf den Neo-Institutionalismus, diskutiert, inwieweit sich jene „egalitären“ Strukturen in der Betriebskultur bzw. in der subjektiven Wahrnehmung der Strukturen niederschlagen. Ein besonderes Ziel liegt darin, mögliche Ambivalenzen zwischen positiven und negativen Auswirkungen „egalitärer“ Betriebsstrukturen aufzudecken. Aufbauend auf diese Überlegungen wird auf den weiteren Forschungsstand aufmerksam gemacht, mit dem es möglich ist, eine solche Verschränkung von „Struktur“ und „Kultur“ und ihre Auswirkungen auf geschlechterbezogene soziale Ungleichheiten auf dem Arbeitsmarkt zu untersuchen.
The Narrative Rhetoric in Léa Silhol’s La Tisseuse: Contes de Fées, contes de Failles
Authors: Chen Fanfan
Published: April 2018

The diversity of contemporary French narration renders the canonicaldefinition of le fantastique useless. Writers challenge Todorov’s definition thatthe fantastic emerges as the reader hesitates between the supernatural and thenatural explanation for the unlikely event. Léa Silhol (1967), a storyteller ofmythic-poetic-fantastic style, figures among these writers. An inheritor of romanticfantastic storytelling, Silhol delves into the mental and psychic depth oflegendary figures, mostly goddesses and fairies, to make them question theirown identity and observe humans from their perspective. Her feminine anduniversal writing about the fantastic exemplifies the new-generation Frenchfantastic. Like the mythic tisseuse in her tales, Silhol weaves stories with a newtexture, with an imaginary étoffe. Just as the mythic and legendary weavers areassociated with water, she makes use of it to achieve her verbal alchemy, thenarrative rhetoric of which operates from three angles: mythic, structural, andstylistic. Silhol’s transtextual writing of myths from different cultures createsmythic résonance of the collective unconscious from linguistic différance. Thenarrative structure of the tales embodies the inversion of vision in Bachelardianalchemy of the imagination. Lastly, a scrupulous analysis of the author’s dictionthat corresponds with the thematic threading of tales and their narrative structurewill illustrate her dominant style of harmonism.
Subliminale Modernität
Authors: Hajduk Stefan
Published: April 2018

Is self-reflexivity, as is often maintained, a structural characteristic of literary modernity? To what extent does self-reflexivity provide a specifically modern as well as qualitative criterion which helps to distinguish between aesthetically experimental texts and less advanced ones? Proceeding from a problematization of the concept of modernity, I explore these questions with reference to E.T.H. Hofmann‘s Prinzessin Brambilla. Labelled a ‚Capriccio,‘ the narrative unfolds as an arabesque, in which subjectivity and textuality constitute each other, so that personal as well as semantic identity appear to be multiple. Just as the mythic ‚mirror brightness‘ of the well Udar releases from the constraint of being identical with oneself by transfiguring the „I“ into a reflexive medium of alterity which is sensually perceivable, so the narrative dynamics of the text lead one to produce a reading of it as a figuration of transgression. The thematic analysis leads to a transgression of self-reflexivity, which – on the level of form – is made comprehensible as a narratological transgression. The pluralisation of the I, which is narratively staged through the mirroring of the main character in others, corresponds also with the theatrical self-image of the actor. All in all it is evident that Hoffmann’s narrating en abîme organizes a dimension of the aesthetics of the text as well as of its reception, in which the literary dissolution of the Self gives way to reflexions of reading devoid of a subject. The innovative aspect of this study is the insight it provides into the dynamics of transgression inherent to the binarity of self-reflexivity. Only a poetologically transgressive self-reflexivity qualifies it to be a distinguishing criterion of literary modernity. In taking the aesthetic structures of subjectivity to the threshhold of their deconstitution, this poetically configured subliminality conveys a specifically modern sense of crisis.
Glycolide/L-Lactide Copolymer (PGLA) Fibers Formed by Wet Spinning from Solution and Modified with Ceramic Nanoadditives
Authors: Król Paulina , Szparaga Grzegorz , Mikołajczyk Teresa , Puchalski Michał , Boguń Maciej
Published: April 2018

The paper presents the results of research into glycolide/L-lactide copolymer (PGLA) fiber formation by wet spinning from solution. The selected process conditions led to fibers with a specific tensile strength of more than 35 cN/tex. Furthermore, ceramic nanoadditives such as hydroxyapatite (HAp) and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) were used to obtain fibers with osteoconductive properties. It was found that the ceramic nanoadditives reduced the specific strength of fibers (to 24 cN/tex for β-TCP and to 27 cN/tex for HAp). The paper also presents wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) evaluation of the supramolecular structure of the fibers as well as their porosity parameters and microscopic structure. The obtained fibers were woven into a textile fabric with potential applications in biomedical engineering.
Chromatin 3D – will it make understanding of cancer transformation finally possible?
Authors: Drabik Grażyna , Kaszuba-Zwoińska Jolanta , Wiśniowski Zdzisław , Konieczny Leszek , Roterman Irena
Published: April 2018

Despite enormous progress in molecular analysis of cancer cell genomes, the mechanism of tumorigenesis remains unclear. The information present in the genome is not limited to the DNA sequence itself. Indeed, a significant portion of this information is concealed in the spatial structure of chromatin. Ongoing scientific studies that focus on the three-dimensional structure of chromatin raise hopes of arriving at a general explanation of the cancer transformation phenomenon.
Open Access: Wissenschaft, Verlage und Bibliotheken in der digitalen Transformation des Publikationswesens
Authors: Mittler Elmar
Published: April 2018

Der Beitrag zeigt wie das traditionelle Wechselspiel von Kommodifizierung und Dekommodifizierung wissenschaftlicher Publikationen zwischen Verlagen und Bibliotheken im analogen Zeitalter im Zuge der Digitalisierung sich verändert hat. Der Versuch der Open-Access-Bewegung, Auswüchse der Kommodifizierung zu begrenzen, wurde trotz des erfolgreichen Aufbaus einer weltweiten Open-Access-Infrastruktur durch die Kommerzialisierung auch des Open-Access-Publizierens insbesondere durch internationale Großverlage unterlaufen. Um das für die digitale Transformation der wissenschaftlichen Forschung unverzichtbare Open-Access-Publizieren zu sichern, wird von Konsortien der wissenschaftlichen Community wie SCOAP und DEAL sowie finanzierenden Institutionen wie JISC versucht, mit neuen Finanzierungsmodellen angemessene Kostenstrukturen auch für das Open-Access-Publizieren bei kommerziellen Verlagen zu erreichen. Dabei könnte sich die Umstellung auf den Goldenen Weg des Open-Access-Publizierens als Chance der Verlage erweisen, die Existenz von Publikationsbörsen wie Sci-Hub oder Library Genesis erfolgreich zu eliminieren.
A compact hyperspectral camera for measurement of perfusion parameters in medicine
Authors: Kulcke Axel , Holmer Amadeus , Wahl Philip , Siemers Frank , Wild Thomas , Daeschlein Georg
Published: April 2018

Worldwide, chronic wounds are still a major and increasing problem area in medicine with protracted suffering of patients and enormous costs. Beside conventional wound treatment, for instance kinds of oxygen therapy and cold plasma technology have been tested, providing an improvement in the perfusion of wounds and their healing potential, but these methods are unfortunately not sufficiently validated and accepted for clinical practice to date. Using hyperspectral imaging technology in the visible (VIS) and near infrared (NIR) region with high spectral and spatial resolution, perfusion parameters of tissue and wounds can be determined. We present a new compact hyperspectral camera which can be used in clinical practice. From hyperspectral data the hemoglobin oxygenation (StO2), the relative concentration of hemoglobin [tissue hemoglobin index (THI)] and the so-called NIR-perfusion index can be determined. The first two parameters are calculated from the VIS-part of the spectrum and represent the perfusion of superficial tissue layers, whereas the NIR-perfusion index is calculated from the NIR-part representing the perfusion in deeper layers. First clinical measurements of transplanted flaps and chronic ulcer wounds show, that the perfusion level can be determined quantitatively allowing sensitive evaluation and monitoring for an optimization of the wound treatment planning and for validation of new treatment methods.
Selective screening: isolation of fungal strains from contaminated soils in Austria
Authors: Poyntner Caroline , Prem Max , Mann Oliver , Blasi Barbara , Sterflinger Katja
Published: April 2018

Microorganisms are potent contributors to maintaining a safe environment as they are able to degrade organic toxicants. For environmental applications, mostly bacteria are used while fungal strains have received less attention. However, they are able to degrade highly persistent organic contaminants and survive extreme conditions, and may thus be promising organisms. To find new fungal candidates for these applications, twelve soil samples from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contaminated sites in Austria were used to isolate fungal strains. A microplate screening method using PAH contaminated soil as inoculant was set up to isolate fungal strains being able to live in presence of toluene, hexadecane, or polychlorinated biphenyl 126. Not many microbial strains are known that degrade these three contaminants, while the PAH contamination acted as selective pressure for the soil microbiota. After obtaining pure cultures, the fungal strains were further screened for their ability to live in the presence of one of the three contaminant substrates. The potential for technical application of the 11 best performing strains, identified using ITS and 18S rDNA, is discussed. The presented microtiter plate screening method is a cost efficient and quick approach to identify fungal strains for pollutant degradation and results in candidates with a high relevance for bioremediation techniques.
Do cover crops enhance soil greenhouse gas losses during high emission moments under temperate Central Europe conditions?
Authors: Bodner Gernot , Mentler Axel , Klik Andreas , Kaul Hans-Peter , Zechmeister-Boltenstern Sophie
Published: April 2018

Cover cropping is a key agro-environmental measure in Europe. Cover crops may reduce N2O emissions by reducing soil nitrate content, while easily decomposable residues can enhance greenhouse gas losses. In a field study, emissions from the cover cropped fields compared to the fallow at two climatically different sites (semi-arid vs. humid) in Austria were measured with closed chambers and different driving factors were studied. The height of post-cover crop emissions was compared to gaseous losses during the management operations in the subsequent main crop maize. N2O and CO2emissions following the cover crops were low even at high emission moments compared to the losses induced by the main crop management operations. Highest risk of N2O losses was from mustards due to low C/N ratio and possibly as a consequence of glucosinolate decomposition. CO2emissions in the cover cropped plots were generally higher compared to the fallow, indicating an enhanced soil microbiological activity. Dissolved organic carbon was found as a sensitive indicator related to the greenhouse gas emissions. We concluded that the environmental benefits from cover cropping are not achieved at the cost of an enhanced greenhouse gas emission and that pure stands of late sown brassica cover crops should be avoided to prevent any risk of increased N2O losses.
Clinical performance of a new point-of-care cardiac troponin I test
Authors: Christ Michael , Geier Felicitas , Blaschke Sabine , Giannitsis Evangelos , Khellaf Mehdi , Mair Johannes , Pariente David , Scharnhorst Volkher , Semjonow Veronique , Hausfater Pierre
Published: April 2018

Background:

We evaluated the clinical performance of the Minicare cardiac troponin-I (cTnI), a new point-of-care (POC) cTnI test for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in a prospective, multicentre study (ISRCTN77371338).

Methods:

Of 474 patients (≥18 years) admitted to an emergency department (ED) or chest pain unit (CPU) with symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome (ACS; ≤12 h from symptom onset), 465 were eligible. Minicare cTnI was tested immediately, 3 h and 6 h after presentation. AMI diagnoses were adjudicated independently based on current guidelines.

Results:

The diagnostic performance of the Minicare cTnI test at 3 h was similar for whole blood and in plasma: sensitivity 0.92 vs. 0.90; specificity 0.91 vs. 0.90; positive predictive value (PPV) 0.68 vs. 0.66; negative predictive value (NPV) 0.98 vs. 0.98; positive likelihood ratio (LR+) 10.18 vs. 9.41; negative likelihood ratio (LR–) 0.09 vs. 0.11. The optimal diagnostic performance was obtained at 3 h using cut-offs cTnI >43 ng/L plus cTnI change from admission ≥18.5 ng/L: sensitivity 0.90, specificity 0.96, PPV 0.81, NPV 0.98, and LR+ 21.54. The area under the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve for cTnI whole blood baseline value and absolute change after 3 h curve was 0.93.

Conclusions:

These data support the clinical usefulness of Minicare cTnI within a 0 h/3 h-blood sampling protocol supported by current guidelines for the evaluation of suspected ACS.
Observational studies on macroprolactin in a routine clinical laboratory
Authors: Barth Julian H. , Lippiatt Carys M. , Gibbons Stephen G. , Desborough Robert A.
Published: April 2018

Background:

It is now recommended that all samples with raised prolactin should be examined for the presence of macroprolactin. We performed a retrospective review of our experience of macroprolactin to determine the incidence and the natural history of macroprolactin.

Methods:

A retrospective study of macroprolactin was made in a large clinical laboratory. Macroprolactin was measured on those samples where it is requested and where the total prolactin is >1000 mIU/L. Prolactin was measured using the Siemens Centaur and macroprolactin was measured following polyethylene glycol (PEG)-precipitation.

Results:

The incidence of macroprolactin in samples where the total prolactin was >1000 mIU/L was 36/670 (5.4%). During this period, 12,064 samples were received for prolactin analysis. Over the period since 2006, 22 subjects had a sample with an isolated macroprolactin measurement followed by another sample without macroprolactin after a median period of 0.46 years. Twenty-five subjects had multiple consecutive measurements of macroprolactin lasting a median period of 2.1 years. Fourteen subjects had more than six samples which had been subjected to PEG precipitation. In these subjects, the reproducibility of PEG precipitation over a median of 6 years was 1.1% CV (recovery 75% [26–110] (median [range])).

Conclusions:

The presence of macroprolactin can change over time and we cannot advise that once a test for macroprolactinemia has been performed that it is not necessary to repeat the investigation if a subsequent sample is hyperprolactinemic; nor can one assume that macroprolactin will not develop even if it has been excluded previously.
Assessment of TGF-β and IL10 levels in human brucellosis
Authors: Mohammadnia-Afrouzi Mousa , Ebrahimpour Soheil
Published: April 2018

The recent study assessed TGF-β and IL-10 as immunosuppressive cytokines of the cell
mediated immunity (CMI) against Brucella in the serum of some brucellosis patients.
Serum from 15 patients and 15 healthy individuals were obtained, and then cytokine
concentrations above were investigated. Concentrations of TGF-β induced in the serum of
acute patients (89.73 ± 15.55 ng/ml) were higher than healthy group (58.86 ± 17.89 ng/ml,
P < 0.0001). While, no significant differences were found in the concentration of IL-10
between two groups. Based upon the findings of our study, the contribution of these
cytokines to the pathobiology of infection had been shown. Therefore, assessment of
immunosuppressive cytokines as TGF-β and IL-10 levels may be a potential diagnostic
strategy for patients with brucellosis.