bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cost of Prescription Drug–Related Morbidity and Mortality
Authors: Watanabe Jonathan H. , McInnis Terry , Hirsch Jan D.
Published: March 2018

Background: Public attention and recent US Congressional activity has intensified focus on escalating medication prices. However, the actual cost of medication use extends beyond the up-front cost of purchasing medicines. It also encompasses the additional medical costs of morbidity and mortality resulting from nonoptimized medication regimens, including medication nonadherence. Objectives: Applying the most current nationally representative data sources, our goal was to estimate the cost of prescription drug–related morbidity and mortality in the United States. Methods: Total costs of nonoptimized prescription drug use and average pathway costs for a patient who experienced a treatment failure (TF), a new medical problem (NMP), or a TF and NMP were modeled in Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA) and TreeAge Pro Healthcare, v2014 (TreeAge Software, Inc, Williamstown, MA), respectively. Results: The estimated annual cost of prescription drug–related morbidity and mortality resulting from nonoptimized medication therapy was $528.4 billion in 2016 US dollars, with a plausible range of $495.3 billion to $672.7 billion. The average cost of an individual experiencing TF, NMP, or TF and NMP after initial prescription use were $2481 (range: $2233, $2742), $2610 (range: $2374, $2848) and $2572 (range: $2408, $2751), respectively. Conclusions: The estimated annual cost of drug-related morbidity and mortality resulting from nonoptimized medication therapy was $528.4 billion, equivalent to 16% of total US health care expenditures in 2016. We propose expansion of comprehensive medication management programs by clinical pharmacists in collaborative practices with physicians and other prescribers as an effective and scalable approach to mitigate these avoidable costs and improve patient outcomes.
Ototoxicity: The Radical Drum Beat and Rhythm of Cochlear Hair Cell Life and Death
Authors: Gauvin David V. , Yoder Joshua , Zimmermann Zachary J. , Tapp Rachel
Published: March 2018

The function and structure of the auditory information processing system establishes a unique sensory environment for the “perfect storm.” The battle between life and death pits the cascade of an apoptotic storm, programmed cell death cascades, against simple cell death (necrosis) pathways. Live or die, the free radical biology of oxygen and hydroxylation, and the destruction of transition metal migration through the mechanical gate sensory processes of the hair cell lead to direct access to the cytoplasm, cytoplasmic reticulum, and mitochondria of the inner workings of the hair cells. These lead to subsequent interactions with nuclear DNA resulting in permanent hearing loss. The yin and yang of pharmaceutical product development is to document what kills, why it kills, and how do we mitigate it. This review highlights the processes of cell death within the cochlea.
The efficacy of drug-eluting stent for recurrent central venous restenosis in a patient undergoing hemodialysis
Authors: Shintaku Sadanori , Sato Tomoyasu , Kawanishi Hideki , Moriishi Misaki , Tsuchiya Shinichiro
Published: March 2018

Introduction:

Recurrent central venous restenosis is problematic in patients with ipsilateral arteriovenous fistula. We report our experience using a drug-eluting stent for the treatment of recurrent central vein restenosis.

Case report:

A 60-year-old man consulted our hospital because of recurrent swelling of his left upper limb with radial-cephalic arteriovenous fistula that originated in the distal forearm. More than 3 years prior, two bare-metal stents were placed for the obstructed lesions in the left subclavian and brachiocephalic venous lesions, and repeated balloon angioplasty for recurrent in-stent stenosis was performed approximately every 3 months. Angiography with iodinated contrast agents revealed an approximately 3-cm-long restenosis at the distal part of the bare-metal stents. One drug-eluting stent (Zilver PTX Drug-Eluting Peripheral Stent; Cook Medical, Bloomington, IN, USA) was deployed at the narrowing lesion, followed by balloon angioplasty. The stenotic lesion was successfully and safely dilated. The patient consulted our hospital 5.5 months after drug-eluting stent placement because of restenosis at the distal part of the drug-eluting stent, but only in a shorter segment than before. Freedom from clinically driven target-lesion revascularization (TLR) extended from 3.1 to 5.5 months after drug-eluting stent placement. Although additional implantation of the second drug-eluting stent was required 14.6 months after the first drug-eluting stent placement, freedom from TLR before/after the second drug-eluting stent placement extended from 4.4 months to more than 8.6 months.

Conclusion:

Drug-eluting stent placement is an effective strategy for recurrent central venous stenosis in patients with ipsilateral arteriovenous fistula. To our knowledge, this is the first report of drug-eluting stent placement for recurrent venous stenosis in a patient undergoing hemodialysis.
A theoretical and experimental study on the stiffness of aerostatic thrust bearings with vacuum preloading
Authors: Huang Ming , Cui Hailong , Liu Pinkuan , Li Mengyang , Zheng Yueqing , Jiang Zhengyi
Published: March 2018

In this paper, the pressure distribution of aerostatic thrust bearings with vacuum pre-loading was investigated by solving the full Navier–Stokes equations based on the computational fluid dynamics method. The influences of the supply pressure, vacuum pressure, orifice diameter, and gas film thickness on the absolute pressure ratio were investigated. The finite difference method was used to study the effects of the vacuum chamber area, orifice diameter, orifice number, supply pressure, and vacuum pressure on the bearing stiffness. It is confirmed that the orifice diameter and film thickness had a great influence on the absolute pressure ratio, which increased with the reduction in the gas film thickness and the rise in the orifice diameter. The bearing stiffness can be improved by increasing the supply pressure, orifice number or vacuum chamber area or decreasing the orifice diameter or vacuum pressure, which provides useful guidance for the optimization design of aerostatic thrust bearings with vacuum preloading.
Seriously funny: The political work of humor on social media
Authors: Davis Jenny L , Love Tony P , Killen Gemma
Published: March 2018

Research shows a clear intersection between humor and political communication online as “big data” analyses demonstrate humorous content achieving disproportionate attention across social media platforms. What remains unclear is the degree to which politics are fodder for “silly” content production vis-à-vis humor as a serious political tool. To answer this question, we scraped Twitter data from two cases in which humor and politics converged during the 2016 US presidential election: Hillary Clinton referring to Trump supporters as a “basket of deplorables” and Donald Trump calling Hillary Clinton a “nasty woman” during a televised debate. Taking a “small data” approach, we find funny content enacting meaningful political work including expressions of opposition, political identification, and displays of civic support. Furthermore, comparing humor style between partisan cases shows the partial-but incomplete-breakdown of humor’s notoriously firm boundaries. Partisan patterns reveal that the meeting of humor and social media leave neither unchanged.
On the brink of education: Experiences of refugees beyond the age of compulsory education in Austria
Authors: Atanasoska Tatjana , Proyer Michelle
Published: March 2018

This paper offers first-hand accounts of refugees beyond the age of compulsory education having arrived in Austria during the last five years. Their accounts were collected using qualitative interviews and a visual method to allow for different approaches towards their educational biographies. Nine individual and two group interviews (altogether with 16 young people) were conducted, where the majority of the young refugees are from Afghani background. All interviewees were older than 16 years. In addition, five expert interviews were conducted. Their experiences having arrived in a new country, the importance of education for them, and their aspirations in the new system became visible in the interviews. Arbitrary provision and the one-sided language focus of the system present challenges to the core of a (school) system that has proved resistant to the influx of pupils from many different cultural backgrounds for years. The results of this qualitative study show that educational segregation is common for this group, including having less chances to obtain a university entrance exam.
English Narrative Language Growth Across the School Year: Young Spanish–English Dual Language Learners
Authors: Wood Carla , Wofford Mary Claire , Gabas Clariebelle , Petscher Yaacov
Published: March 2018

This study aimed to describe the narrative retell performance of dual language learners (DLLs) in the fall and spring of the school year and examine predictive relationships. Participants included 74 DLLs in kindergarten and first grade from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Microstructural measures included number of different words (NDW), words per minute (WPM), and verb accuracy. Macrostructural measures included number of total story elements and number of different types of story elements. Path analysis models were used to test the relations among variables. Findings indicated that narrative measures were sensitive to developmental differences across the school year. Fall NDW performance in narrative retells was moderately related to both spring NDW and the total number of macrostructural elements in the spring. Spring WPM was uniquely predicted by fall WPM. Authors concluded that narrative retells are sensitive to developmental differences across a school year for DLLs. Findings support the use of narrative retell measures as a promising tool to examine and describe English language growth of young DLLs within a school year.
Below-the-Knee Retrograde Access for Peripheral Interventions: A Systematic Review
Authors: Welling Rutger H. A. , Bakker Olaf J. , Scheinert Dierk , Moll Frans L. , Hazenberg Constantijn E. , Mustapha Jihad A. , de Borst Gert J. , Schmidt Andrej
Published: March 2018

Purpose: To investigate the hypothesis that interventions involving retrograde below-the-knee (BTK) vessel punctures have an acceptably low complication rate and high procedural success. Methods: A systematic review was performed of the MEDLINE and Scopus databases for articles describing the results of BTK retrograde access for peripheral interventions. Outcome measures were access success, procedure success, and complications. A predefined subgroup analysis was performed of prospective studies to reduce the influence of possible reporting bias on outcomes. Results: Nineteen articles, including 3 prospective studies, were selected, including a total of 1905 interventions in 1395 patients (mean age 69.5 years; 918 men). The BTK vessels were punctured in 1168 (61.3%) of these interventions. Access was successful in 94.0% of BTK attempts, 86.0% of all lesions were successfully crossed using a retrograde access, and 84.0% of interventions achieved technical success. Forty-eight (4.1%) distal access site complications were reported. Vessel perforations were seen in 13 (1.1%) interventions, vasospasm in 5 (0.4%), and acute distal occlusions in 5 (0.4%). Predefined subgroup analysis of prospective studies showed similar results (p=0.24). Conclusion: A retrograde approach to facilitate peripheral endovascular interventions is a safe and successful technique and should be considered when an antegrade approach is not possible or fails to cross the lesion. Because of missing data on long-term outcomes and methodological shortcomings, real world data of retrograde access in nonexpert centers remains necessary before this technique can be advised to all interventionists dealing with peripheral artery disease.
A Healthy, Chubby Japanese Man (genki na debu chan)
Authors: Castro-Vázquez Genaro
Published: March 2018

In light of official reports indicating a still prevalent tendency to masculinized obesity and overweight in Japan (Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare, 2015), this article explores the experiences of 28 Japanese men grappling with bodyweight control. Aged between 24 and 67, 3 of the men were postgraduate or undergraduate students, 7 self-employed, 17 company workers and 1 retired. Fourteen hold a university degree, 1 completed senior high school and 10 finished 3-year junior college. Twelve were married and 16 were single. Ten of the participants have been requested to lose weight because of being at risk of developing metabolic diseases, the rest have been called “chubby” ( debu) and all of them have unsuccessfully tried to lose weight. A set of two, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with each participant in Tokyo and Osaka in June and July 2015, 2016, and 2017. Grounded in symbolic interactionism, the interview analysis allows for a reading of the participants’ embodied subjectivity in line with three axes: autodidact self, gendered self, and emotional self. The article highlights how the feminization of care has an effect on the participant’s daily interactions. In conclusion, the article underscores the salience of “emotional attachment” to food (Lupton, 1998, p. 158), the “emotionalization” of food consumption and the emotionalization of the “fat body” in understanding their experiences dealing with corpulence in a country where slimness appears to be “ethnicized.”
Estimation of Profit Efficiency in the Hotel Industry Using a Bayesian Stochastic Frontier Model
Authors: Arbelo Antonio , Arbelo-Pérez Marta , Pérez-Gómez Pilar
Published: March 2018

The present study measured profit efficiency and its determinants in the hotel sector in Spain from 2010 to 2014, using a Bayesian stochastic frontier approach. This model provides estimates of efficiency and more accurate confidence intervals than the traditional frequentist approach. The results revealed that the hotels are operating with significant profit inefficiencies. These inefficiencies are significantly affected by size, location, occupancy rate by region, customer satisfaction, and whether the hotel is affiliated or independent. Finally, the study points out the strategic implications of these findings, to improve the efficiency of the hotels.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension and atrial arrhythmias: incidence, risk factors, and clinical impact
Authors: Mercurio Valentina , Peloquin Grace , Bourji Khalil I. , Diab Nermin , Sato Takahiro , Enobun Blessing , Housten‐Harris Traci , Damico Rachel , Kolb Todd M. , Mathai Stephen C. , Tedford Ryan J. , Tocchetti Carlo G. , Hassoun Paul M.
Published: March 2018

Atrial arrhythmia (AA) occurrence in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) may determine clinical deterioration and affect prognosis. In this study we assessed AA incidence in idiopathic (IPAH) and systemic sclerosis related PAH (SSc‐PAH) and evaluated risk factors, management, and impact on mortality. We collected baseline data from consecutive IPAH or SSc‐PAH patients prospectively enrolled in the Johns Hopkins Pulmonary Hypertension Registry between January 2000 and July 2016. During follow‐up AA onset, treatment, and outcome were recorded. Among 317 patients (201 SSc‐PAH, 116 IPAH), 42 developed AA (19 atrial fibrillation, 10 flutter‐fibrillation, 9 atrial flutter, and 4 atrial ectopic tachycardia) with a 13.2% cumulative incidence. Most events were associated with hospitalization (90.5%). Electrical or pharmacological cardioversion was attempted in most cases. Patients with AA had higher right atrial pressure, pulmonary wedge pressure (P < 0.005), NT‐proBNP (P < 0.05), and thyroid disease prevalence (P < 0.005). Higher mortality was observed in patients with AA, though not statistically significant (LogRank P = 0.323). Similar long‐term mortality between IPAH with AA and SSc‐PAH without AA was observed (LogRank P = 0.098). SSc‐PAH with AA had the worst prognosis. In PAH patients AA occurrence is a matter of significant concern. Therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring sinus rhythm may represent an important goal.
Successful treatment of severe combined post‐ and pre‐capillary pulmonary hypertension in a patient with idiopathic restrictive cardiomyopathy
Authors: Ishihara Satomi , Kioka Hidetaka , Ohtani Tomohito , Asano Yoshihiro , Yamaguchi Osamu , Hikoso Shungo , Toda Koichi , Saito Yoshihiko , Sawa Yoshiki , Yamauchi‐Takihara Keiko , Sakata Yasushi
Published: March 2018

Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) is a rare form of cardiomyopathy that is characterized by restrictive ventricular filling. Elevated filling pressure leads to pulmonary hypertension (PH), which often progresses to combined post‐ and pre‐capillary PH (Cpc‐PH) with increased diastolic pulmonary vascular pressure gradient (DPG) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) caused by longstanding backward hemodynamic consequences of left heart disease (LHD) leading to morphological changes in the pulmonary vasculature. Patients with high PVR undergoing left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation are at increased risk of postoperative right‐sided heart failure requiring concomitant implantation of a right ventricular assist device (RVAD). We report a case of RCM with severe Cpc‐PH due to extremely elevated DPG and PVR. The patient presented recurrent syncope caused by severe PH. Right heart catheterization (RHC) revealed highly elevated DPG 30 mmHg and PVR 25.3 Wood units (WU) and subsequent significant reduction of right ventricular afterload during vasoreactivity testing with inhaled nitric oxide (NO) to DPG 5 mmHg and PVR 10.5 WU. During the administration of pulmonary vasodilators, pulmonary congestion worsened. Second RHC revealed elevated pulmonary arterial wedge pressure (PAWP) and modest decrease of pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) 87 mmHg and PVR 9.6 WU. Therefore, an inotropic agent and systemic vasodilator were added for the treatment of left‐sided heart failure. Targeting elevated filling pressures with both PAH‐specific and heart failure treatment, a further decrease of right ventricular afterload with DPG of 5 mmHg and PVR of 3.8 WU was achieved. In a next step, LVAD was successfully implanted, without need for RVAD, as a bridge to transplantation. This is the first reported case of Cpc‐PH that revealed the potential reversibility of extremely elevated DPG and PVR, and suggests the importance of preoperative RHC‐guided optimized medical PAH‐specific and heart failure treatment before LVAD implantation.
Altered immunoglobulins (A and G) in Ghanaian patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Asare-Anane Henry , Botchey Collins Paa Kwesi , Ofori Emmanuel Kwaku , Boamah Isaac , Crabbe Sandra , Asamoah-Kusi Kwadwo
Published: March 2018

Objectives:

Elevated immunoglobulin levels have been strongly linked to the development and progression of inflammatory disorders such as type 2 diabetes and obesity. This study aimed to evaluate circulating immunoglobulin levels and to identify other metabolic factors that influence humoral immune response among Ghanaian subjects with type 2 diabetes.

Methods:

A comparative cross-sectional study conducted at the National Diabetes Management and Research Center, Accra. Eighty persons with type 2 diabetes were age-matched with 78 controls. Immunoglobulin A, immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M; interleukin 6; fasting blood glucose; glycated hemoglobin; and lipid parameter concentrations were measured. Blood pressure, anthropometry and body composition indices were also assessed.

Results:

Median immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin G (g/L) levels were higher in the case group compared with controls (0.89 vs 0.74, p = 0.043; 7.58 vs 7.29, p < 0.001). Immunoglobulin G, immunoglobulin A and interleukin 6 levels in the case cohort, respectively, associated weakly with fasting blood glucose (r = 0.252, p = 0.001; r = 0.170, p = 0.031; r = 0.296, p = 0.001). There were positive correlations within the control group for immunoglobulin A versus interleukin 6 (r = 0.366, p = 0.001) and within the case group for glycated hemoglobin versus interleukin 6 (r = 0.190, p = 0.020).

Conclusion:

Our data suggest that humoral immune response is altered in subjects with type 2 diabetes and that serum immunoglobulin levels could serve as useful biomarkers in the investigation and management of diabetes mellitus.
Automated quantification of Reuters news using a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis: The Western media image of China
Authors: Aukia Jukka , Heimonen Juho , Pahikkala Tapio , Salakoski Tapio
Published: March 2018

Country images are increasingly popular but controversial policy concepts. The Western news media image of China is consequently a well-explored academic subject. This study contributes to the discussion by considering the news stream of an international news agency to contrast prior studies that analyze small-scale data sets. An automated dictionary method is proposed to analyze two Reuters data corpora RCV1 (1996–1998) and TRC2 (2008–2009) ( N = 1,386,000). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve is employed and its development over time is statistically analyzed. China’s media image was found to be relatively positive in comparison with Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. The results also suggest that economy provides a greater positive impact on the China’s image in Western media than culture, while politics has a negative impact. The results of the automated method are similar to those of a previous study in which a moderately sized data set was manually examined. This suggests that automated sentiment analysis can provide equally reliable observations as manual analysis but with smaller labor costs.
Expanding the Capacity of Otolaryngologists in Kenya through Mobile Technology
Authors: Jayawardena Asitha D. L. , Kahue Charissa N. , Cummins Samantha M. , Netterville James L.
Published: March 2018

Objective

To determine if reliable, objective audiologic data can be obtained by nonotolaryngology and nonaudiology practitioners using novel mobile technology in an effort to expand the capacity for early identification and treatment of disabling hearing loss in the developing world.

Study Design

Cross‐sectional, proof‐of‐concept pilot study.

Setting

Screenings took place during an annual 2‐week otolaryngology surgical mission in October 2016 in semirural Malindi, Kenya.

Subject and Methods

Eighty‐seven patients (174 total ears) were included from 2 deaf schools (n = 12 and 9), a nondeaf school (n = 9), a tuberculosis ward (n = 8), and a walk‐in otology clinic at a local hospital (n = 49). An automated, tablet‐based, language‐independent, clinically validated, play audiometry system and wireless otoscopic endoscopy via an iPhone or laptop platform was administered by Kenyan community health workers (CHWs) and nursing staff.

Results

Various degrees of hearing loss and otologic pathology were identified, including 1 child presumed to be deaf who was found to have unilaterally normal hearing. Other pathology included 2 active perforations, 2 healed perforations, 2 middle ear effusions, and 1 cholesteatoma. CHWs and nursing staff demonstrated proficiency performing audiograms and endoscopy. Patients screened in a deaf school were more likely to complete an unreliable audiogram than patients screened in other settings (P <. 01).

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the feasibility of a non–otolaryngology‐based hearing screening program. This may become an important tool in reducing the impact of hearing loss and otologic pathology in areas bereft of otolaryngologists and audiologists by allowing CHWs to gather important patient data prior to otolaryngologic evaluation.
How cells sense their own shape – mechanisms to probe cell geometry and their implications in cellular organization and function
Authors: Haupt Armin , Minc Nicolas
Published: March 2018

Cells come in a variety of shapes that most often underlie their functions. Regulation of cell morphogenesis implies that there are mechanisms for shape sensing that still remain poorly appreciated. Global and local cell geometry features, such as aspect ratio, size or membrane curvature, may be probed by intracellular modules, such as the cytoskeleton, reaction–diffusion systems or molecular complexes. In multicellular tissues, cell shape emerges as an important means to transduce tissue-inherent chemical and mechanical cues into intracellular organization. One emergent paradigm is that cell-shape sensing is most often based upon mechanisms of self-organization, rather than determinism. Here, we review relevant work that has elucidated some of the core principles of how cellular geometry may be conveyed into spatial information to guide processes, such as polarity, signaling, morphogenesis and division-plane positioning.
Asymmetric Information and Remittances: Evidence from Matched Administrative Data
Authors: Joseph Thomas , Nyarko Yaw , Wang Shing-Yi
Published: March 2018

Using new large-scale, administrative data matching remittances and monthly payroll disbursals, we demonstrate how migrants' earnings in the United Arab Emirates affect their remittances. We consider several types of income changes: Ramadan, weather shocks, a labor reform and returns to time in the UAE. We demonstrate that two key characteristics of the income changes that affect the income elasticity of remittances are the observability of the income and whether the income change is positive or negative. The results are consistent with a private information model where remittances are viewed as payments in an income-sharing contract. (JEL D82, F24, I31, J31, J61, O15)
School Finance Reform and the Distribution of Student Achievement
Authors: Lafortune Julien , Rothstein Jesse , Schanzenbach Diane Whitmore
Published: March 2018

We study the impact of post-1990 school finance reforms, during the so-called “adequacy” era, on absolute and relative spending and achievement in low-income school districts. Using an event study research design that exploits the apparent randomness of reform timing, we show that reforms lead to sharp, immediate, and sustained increases in spending in low-income school districts. Using representative samples from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, we find that reforms cause increases in the achievement of students in these districts, phasing in gradually over the years following the reform. The implied effect of school resources on educational achievement is large. (JEL H75, I21, I22, I24, I28)
OS CONSELHOS DE DIREITOS MUNICIPAIS, AS POLÍTICAS PÚBLICAS DE PROTEÇÃO À CRIANÇA E AO ADOLESCENTE E A PERMANÊNCIA DAS VELHAS ESTRUTURAS DE PODER: UM DESAFIO À CONSOLIDAÇÃO DA DEMOCRACIA PARTICIPATIVA NO BRASIL
Authors: Van der Broocke Bianca Schneider , Pamplona Danielle Anne
Published: March 2018

Os Conselhos de Direitos Municipais previstos no Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente inserem-se no quadro de reordenamento institucional e mudanças de gestão de políticas públicas sociais, vivenciado no Brasil após a Constituição Federal de 1988, cujos principais eixos norteadores foram os princípios da descentralização político-administrativa e a participação popular, culminando com a ênfase na municipalização do atendimento à população infanto-juvenil. Nesse intento, compete ao município protagonizar grande parte de políticas e ações voltadas ao segmento, convocando administradores públicos e sociedade civil organizada numa ação conjunta, na perspectiva de uma democracia participativa. O presente artigo intenta identificar como e por que a atuação desses Conselhos, na prática, não é compatível com a consolidação deste modelo democrático, distanciando-se dos padrões jurídico-políticos aspirados teoricamente desde o momento da Assembleia Constituinte, restando intactos os velhos arranjos estatais institucionais e procedimentais, mediante a permanência de um patrimonialismo arraigado na cultura política brasileira e da concentração de poder nas mãos do chefe do Executivo.
A ADEQUAÇÃO DO INFLEXÍVEL: A VEDAÇÃO ÀS PROVAS ILÍCITAS NO PROCESSO PENAL REVISTA PELA HERMENÊUTICA PÓS GIRO LINGUÍSTICO
Authors: Teixeira Ricardo Augusto de Araújo
Published: March 2018

Este artigo se propõe a pensar quais implicações haveria na vedação à utilização de provas ilicitamente obtidas no processo penal caso se rompesse com os cânones interpretativos do positivismo jurídico do século XIX e se aplicasse a tal questão os avanços decorrentes da superação da filosofia da consciência pela filosofia da linguagem. Há também a tentativa de mostrar os equívocos que vêm sendo cometidos quando da aplicação da teoria da proporcionalidade – tal como formulada por Robert Alexy –, buscando sustentar, inclusive, que mesmo com a utilização de tal técnica não há de fato uma superação dos postulados do positivismo jurídico clássico.
AS TRANSMISSÕES MIDIÁTICAS DAS SESSÕES DE JULGAMENTO DO SUPREMO TRIBUNAL FEDERAL
Authors: Sacchetto Thiago Coelho
Published: March 2018

Examina-se neste trabalho a história, os objetivos, o regramento normativo e o debate existente na doutrina jurídica brasileira sobre a inovadora prática adotada pelo Supremo Tribunal Federal de permitir a transmissão ao vivo e integral de parcela das suas sessões de julgamento pelos meios de comunicação em massa. A fim de aclarar as diversas controvérsias relacionadas ao instituto garantidor do direito à informação – de maneira dogmática – recomenda-se a avaliação da prática, considerando-se, especificadamente, as singularidades e a natureza jurídica das competências jurisdicionais atribuídas pela Constituição da República ao Supremo Tribunal Federal.
PANDORA & OS REIS MENDIGOS: CRISE E CARISMA NA SOCIEDADE DA INFORMAÇÃO
Authors: Cunha Paulo Ferreira da
Published: March 2018

A polimórfica e ambígua Sociedade da Informação em que vivemos (também sociedade de crise permanente) encontra-se bastante à mercê da demagogia, do populismo. Teme-se o advento de líderes carismáticos (ainda que de novas formas de carisma) e o reforço de vetores religiosos e políticos fundamentalistas e extremistas pela demissão das repúblicas, que não investiram suficientemente na Educação e na Cidadania. A reflexão sobre as ameaças à Democracia, ao Estado de Direito democrático e aos Direitos Humanos em vários países parece uma tarefa irrenunciável dos Juristas que têm compromisso com a Justiça.
Rett syndrome from bench to bedside: recent advances
Authors: Ehinger Yann , Matagne Valerie , Villard Laurent , Roux Jean-Christophe
Published: March 2018

Rett Syndrome is a severe neurological disorder mainly due to de novo mutations in the methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 gene (MECP2). Mecp2 is known to play a role in chromatin organization and transcriptional regulation. In this review, we report the latest advances on the molecular function of Mecp2 and the new animal and cellular models developed to better study Rett syndrome. Finally, we present the latest innovative therapeutic approaches, ranging from classical pharmacology to correct symptoms to more innovative approaches intended to cure the pathology.
Preliminary evidence that hydrostatic edema may contribute to the formation of diffuse alveolar damage in a Holstein calf model
Authors: Neary Joseph M. , Church Dee
Published: March 2018

Background: Two notable findings of clinically healthy feedlot cattle suggest they may have pulmonary hydrostatic edema during the finishing phase of production: increased pulmonary arterial wedge pressures and pulmonary venous hypertrophy. The goal of this study was to determine if increased pulmonary arterial wedge pressure (PAWP) in a Holstein calf could lead to diffuse alveolar damage consistent with the early, exudative phase of acute interstitial pneumonia of feedlot cattle.

Methods: Six male Holstein dairy calves were given daily subcutaneous injections of the nonspecific ß-adrenergic agonist isoprenaline (10 mg/kg/d), to induce left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, or sterile water for 14 days. On Day 14, pulmonary arterial pressures and wedge pressures were measured, echocardiography performed, and the ratio of mitral valve flow velocity (E) to septal lengthening velocity (e’) calculated. Calves were euthanized on Day 15 and lung lesions semi-quantitatively scored.

Results: Mean PAWP was 12 ± 1 mm Hg in calves that received isoprenaline and 7 ± 1 mm Hg in controls (P = 0.01). Calves that received isoprenaline tended to have greater relative wall thickness than control calves (P = 0.15) and greater E/e’ ratios (P = 0.16), suggestive of concentric hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction, respectively. Calves that received isoprenaline also tended to have a left ventricle and interventricular septum that was 29 ± 10 g heavier than control calves (P = 0.10) when controlling for body mass. Hyaline membranes, the hallmark feature of diffuse alveolar damage, were evident in lung sections from all calves that received isoprenaline but none of the controls.

Conclusions: Consistent with prior pathological and physiological studies of feedlot cattle, this study provides preliminary evidence that cattle presenting with clinical signs and pathology consistent with early stage acute interstitial pneumonia could be attributable to hydrostatic edema associated with left ventricular failure.
An unsupervised disease module identification technique in biological networks using novel quality metric based on connectivity, conductance and modularity
Authors: Mall Raghvendra , Ullah Ehsan , Kunji Khalid , Ceccarelli Michele , Bensmail Halima
Published: March 2018

Disease processes are usually driven by several genes interacting in molecular modules or pathways leading to the disease. The identification of such modules in gene or protein networks is the core of computational methods in biomedical research. With this pretext, the Disease Module Identification (DMI) DREAM Challenge was initiated as an effort to systematically assess module identification methods on a panel of 6 diverse genomic networks. In this paper, we propose a generic refinement method based on ideas of merging and splitting the hierarchical tree obtained from any community detection technique for constrained DMI in biological networks. The only constraint was that size of community is in the range [3, 100]. We propose a novel model evaluation metric, called F-score, computed from several unsupervised quality metrics like modularity, conductance and connectivity to determine the quality of a graph partition at given level of hierarchy. We also propose a quality measure, namely Inverse Confidence, which ranks and prune insignificant modules to obtain a curated list of candidate disease modules (DM) for biological network. The predicted modules are evaluated on the basis of the total number of unique candidate modules that are associated with complex traits and diseases from over 200 genome-wide association study (GWAS) datasets. During the competition, we identified 42 modules, ranking 15th at the official false detection rate (FDR) cut-off of 0.05 for identifying statistically significant DM in the 6 benchmark networks. However, for stringent FDR cut-offs 0.025 and 0.01, the proposed method identified 31 (rank 9) and 16 DMIs (rank 10) respectively. From additional analysis, our proposed approach detected a total of 44 DM in the networks in comparison to 60 for the winner of DREAM Challenge. Interestingly, for several individual benchmark networks, our performance was better or competitive with the winner.
The beta-adrenergic agonist zilpaterol hydrochloride may predispose feedlot cattle to cardiac remodeling and dysfunction
Authors: Neary Joseph M. , Garry Franklyn B. , Gould Daniel H. , Holt Timothy N. , Brown R. Dale
Published: March 2018

Background: The aim of this study was to address producer concerns that the β2-adrenergic agonist zilpaterol hydrochloride, a bovine growth promotant, predisposes cattle to cardiac disease and death. Our objectives were to evaluate the effect of zilpaterol on cardiac function, morphology, and risk of myocardial injury.

Methods: A prospective, case-control study was conducted on one feedlot in northern Colorado using convenience sampling of Angus-based steers (n = 80). Pulmonary arterial pressures (mean, systolic, and diastolic) were measured. Plasma cardiac troponin I was measured in a sub-sample of steers that were followed to slaughter (n = 31). The carcass, left ventricle plus inter-ventricular septum, and right ventricle were weighed.

Results: Relative to controls, steers fed zilpaterol hydrochloride had an adjusted left ventricle and septum that was 185 g heavier (95 % CI: 19, 350 g; P = 0.03), a diastolic pulmonary arterial pressure that was 10 mm Hg greater (95 % CI: 3, 17 mm Hg; P = 0.004), and a greater concentration of cardiac troponin I (P = 0.01), a biomarker of myocardial injury. Furthermore, left ventricular mass tended to be positively and deleteriously associated with diastolic pulmonary arterial pressure in steers fed zilpaterol (P = 0.08) but not controls (P = 0.28).

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that zilpaterol hydrochloride induced sufficient left ventricular hypertrophy to cause impaired left ventricular relaxation or diastolic dysfunction and myocardial injury. In conclusion, these results support concerns that, in the feedlot studied, zilpaterol hydrochloride predisposes cattle to cardiac disease.
Modelling risk using Bayes theorem of infection by antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli in rural and urban populations of Ecuador
Authors: Ramirez Cando Lenin Javier , Mátyás Bence , Lozano-Haro Zayda Jaqueline
Published: March 2018

Strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria have become more and more prevalent. This has attracted the attention of health agencies worldwide, leading to an urgent search for mechanisms to put a stop to this phenomenon. This study focuses on estimating the probability of a person in Ecuador (at potential risk) contracting an infection due to ampicillin-resistant Escherichia coli through the consumption of contaminated water, for which a residence area of people was considered in urban or rural areas. The analysis was carried out using the Bayes Theorem and the results show that in the rural population the probability of contracting an infection of this kind is 8.41% whilst in the urban area the probability is 3.57%. These results show an urgent need to provide safe water sources to the population, as well as to instigate an environmental legislation reform that allows for controlling the release of emerging pollutants, including antibiotics.
Training Residents in Hospital Medicine: The Hospitalist Elective National Survey
Authors: Ludwin Steven , Harrison James D. , Ranji Sumant , Sharpe Bradley A. , Kneeland Patrick
Published: March 2018

As the feld of hospital medicine expands, internal medicine residency programs can play a role in preparing future hospitalists. To date, little is known of the prevalence and characteristics of hospitalist‐focused resident rotations. We surveyed the largest 100 Internal Medicine Residency Programs to better understand the prevalence, objectives, and structure of hospitalist‐focused rotations in the United States. Residency leaders from 82 programs responded (82%). The prevalence of hospitalist‐focused rotations was 50% (41/82) with an additional 9 programs (11%) planning to start one. Of these 41 rotations, 85% were elective rotations and 15% were mandatory rotations. Rotations involved clinical responsibilities, and most programs incorporated nonclinical curricular activities such as teaching, research, and work on quality improvement and patient safety. Respondents noted that their programs promoted autonomy, mentorship, and “real‐world” hospitalist experience. Hospitalist‐focused rotations may supplement traditional inpatient rotations and teach skills that facilitate the transition from residency to a career in hospital medicine.
The Influence of Hospitalist Continuity on the Likelihood of Patient Discharge in General Medicine Patients
Authors: van Walraven Carl
Published: March 2018

Hospitalists responsible for specific inpatients may change during their hospitalization. To measure the association of hospitalist continuity with the adjusted daily discharge probability, 6,405 admissions (38,967 patient‐days, 5,208 patients) to a general medicine service at a tertiary care teaching hospital in 2015 were investigated. Continuity was measured as the consecutive number of days – including weekends – a hospitalist treated a particular team of patients. After accounting for important covariables, discharge probability increased significantly with hospitalist continuity; the adjusted daily discharge probabilities for an average patient with a new physician vs. one on service for four continuous weeks were 18.1% and 25.7%, respectively (P < .001). Hospitalist continuity did not influence hospital mortality. Increasing hospitalist continuity could decrease hospital length of stay.
The Flexibility of European Identities
Authors: Godderis Idesbald
Published: March 2018

Europe suffers from an existential identity crisis, which may seem unmatched in its history. However, this essay argues that hesitance and discussion about the European identity and borders, internal as well as external, have always existed. The first part elaborates on Europe’s most classic internal division, between East and West, and demonstrates that this juxtaposition was invented in the 18th century without any historical foundations. The second part discusses the European identity of a number of peripheral regions in the West: Portugal, Sicily, Ireland, and Scandinavia. It shows that all of these regions have traditionally turned their back to Europe and did only recently acknowledge a European identity. The third part looks for some explanations for these evolutions and also reflects on the consequences for today. It highlights that Greece, the most troublesome country in the current Eurozone crisis, has only in the nineteenth century been acknowledged as the cradle of Europe and that this recognition has favoured Greek expansion under a European banner, up to (the southern part of) Cyprus. Greece and Cyprus, however, have significantly diverged from European developments: being orthodox and Ottoman for centuries, they were excluded from Renaissance and industrialization. This discrepancy reveals that European identities are utmost flexible and will undoubtedly develop further in the future.
What policy of multilingualism can foster European identity formation?
Authors: Stoicheva Maria
Published: March 2018

By the end of the first decade of the 21st Century, European policies on languages were in a situation of flux. Between roughly 1985 and 2005 there was a relatively smooth development characterized by an implicit and explicit commitment to multilingualism. More recently, however, things have appeared rather less clear cut, both internationally and in individual countries. This paper problematizes the interplay between language and identity, which although not a new issue, takes on particular significance in the mobile, interconnected world of the 21st century. Drawing on the data collected in three major surveys in 2012, it touches upon two major issues: 1) the reality of individual multilingualism in fostering the sense of community among Europeans and as a factor for European identity formation; and 2) broadening of the traditional concept of language policy – from its narrow content as language planning of the national or official language to a broader concept including a wider range of agents, types of activities, level of explicitness and concreteness of application. Is there a need to develop specific language policies “beyond the state” in regions or more commonly in multilingual cities as its natural locus? The paper argues that the essentially liberal world view of multilingualism creating mutual understanding is rather more nuanced when it comes to reflections on the impact of language on identity and on European identity in particular. It also argues for re‑scoping and re‑thinking of the European model of multilingualism.
The Crisis of Functionalism and the Reform of European Economic Governance
Authors: Lionello Luca
Published: March 2018

This paper studies the impact of the sovereign debt crisis on the development of the process of European integration and the constitutional framework of the EU. The first section focuses on the causes of the sovereign debt crisis, analysing the structural deficits and weaknesses of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). The second section looks at the reforms, which have been progressively adopted by the Eurozone to overcome the crisis and prevent the collapse of the single currency. The third section reflects on the longstanding contradictions of the integration process, in terms of its legitimacy and effectiveness, which the crisis has definitely highlighted demanding an effective solution. In this regard, the paper argues that the sovereign debt crisis represents a turning point in the history of European unification, marking the limits of the functionalist approach of integration and demanding a re‑launch of the constitutional project in order to provide the monetary union with a veritable economic government.
Wpływ procedury współdecydowania na wyniki reformy wspólnej polityki rolnej Unii Europejskiej 2014-2020
Authors: Kosior Katarzyna
Published: March 2018

Impact of Codecision on the 2014‑2020 Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy The article attempts to assess the impact of co‑decision procedure (ordinary legislative procedure) on the shape of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform for the period 2014‑2020. First, procedural models used in the analysis of decision‑making in the European Union are discussed. The second part of the article highlights the process and the results of recent reforms of the CAP. Legislative proposals of the European Commission and the negotiations between the EU Council, the European Parliament and the Commission concerning the CAP after 2013 are analyzed. The final part of the article evaluates the CAP reform from the perspective of procedural models. The analysis indicates that the new decision‑making procedure has not fundamentally affected the results of the reform. The European Parliament’s role in the process of reforming the CAP has been limited both due to inadequate institutional preparation and insufficient expertise in agricultural policy matters. In some areas, the results achieved under the co‑decision procedure were closer to the status quo point than the results predicted by the model of consultation procedure. The inclusion of the European Parliament to the decision‑making process has not broadened the range of represented interests. On the contrary, one could observe an increased dominance of agricultural interest groups in the decision‑making process. In conclusion, the introduction of co‑decision procedure has not increased the chances for a fundamental reform in the CAP. Also, it has not strengthened the democratic legitimacy of the policy.
Reconstrucción de imaginarios en la Relación Breve de Fray Francisco de Aguilar
Authors: Puente González Marta
Published: March 2018

Reconstruction of Imaginaries in the Brief Relation of Fray Francisco de Aguilar Upon the discovery and colonization of the Americas, sixteenth‑century Spaniards had to face the process of interpretation of the new reality. To do this, they drew on a specific kind of writing, the chronicles of the Indies, and used specific social  imaginary, a way of conceptualizing which comes from Spanish and, more broadly, European cultural traditions. A Hispanic chronicler wrote about the Indians and about himself. The aim of this paper is to analyze one of those texts, the Relación Breve – written by one of the soldiers of Cortés and a Dominican friar, Francisco de Aguilar – in order to define his cultural tradition and his way of addressing the “Other”, an indigenous world. My study shows that the text by Aguilar is a mixture of medieval and Renaissance discourse; the author exposes his judgment about the native inhabitants of the Americas based on his viewpoint of a soldier or of a friar.