bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Symbolic meanings of women’s dress on Korean film  from the fifties
Authors: Yoon Jinyoung , Yim Eunhyuk
Published: February 2015

The mid-20th century, covering the end of the colonial rule and the Korean War, represented for Korea a period of tumultuous changes in the people’s way of life as well as their value system. Women grew more active in professional and social capacities, and began to claim a status equal to that of men as their economic role within the family expanded. The just claim for a foray beyond the family boundaries, coming from women married to upper-middle-class husbands and consequently enjoying an opulent lifestyle, becomes a major theme of the film .

In it, we find a variety of female roles, ranging from not just the then oft-discussed ‘liberated wives’, but also to college students, single professionals, housewives with husbands in positions of prestige, and businesswomen. These characters’ appearance, including their dress, makeup and body awareness, also function as symbols expressing the message and social role each character represents. The study examines the 1956 film  to explore how the conflict between the social environment surrounding the female characters, conventional values and self - image manifest themselves in their dress and the changes thereof in both family and broader social life, and to determine what symbolic significance such manifestations have.
Meaning-Centered Group Psychotherapy: An Effective Intervention for Improving Psychological Well-Being in Patients With Advanced Cancer
Authors: Breitbart William , Rosenfeld Barry , Pessin Hayley , Applebaum Allison , Kulikowski Julia , Lichtenthal Wendy G.
Published: February 2015

Purpose

To test the efficacy of meaning-centered group psychotherapy (MCGP) to reduce psychological distress and improve spiritual well-being in patients with advanced or terminal cancer.

Patients and Methods

Patients with advanced cancer (N = 253) were randomly assigned to manualized eight-session interventions of either MCGP or supportive group psychotherapy (SGP). Patients were assessed before and after completing the treatment and 2 months after treatment. The primary outcome measures were spiritual well-being and overall quality of life, with secondary outcome measures assessing depression, hopelessness, desire for hastened death, anxiety, and physical symptom distress.

Results

Hierarchical linear models that included a priori covariates and only participants who attended ≥ three sessions indicated a significant group × time interaction for most outcome variables. Specifically, patients receiving MCGP showed significantly greater improvement in spiritual well-being and quality of life and significantly greater reductions in depression, hopelessness, desire for hastened death, and physical symptom distress compared with those receiving SGP. No group differences were observed for changes in anxiety. Analyses that included all patients, regardless of whether they attended any treatment sessions (ie, intent-to-treat analyses), and no covariates still showed significant treatment effects (ie, greater benefit for patients receiving MCGP v SGP) for quality of life, depression, and hopelessness but not for other outcome variables.

Conclusion

This large randomized controlled study provides strong support for the efficacy of MCGP as a treatment for psychological and existential or spiritual distress in patients with advanced cancer.
Biology and therapy of inherited retinal degenerative disease: insights from mouse models
Authors: Veleri Shobi , Lazar Csilla H. , Chang Bo , Sieving Paul A. , Banin Eyal , Swaroop Anand
Published: February 2015

Retinal neurodegeneration associated with the dysfunction or death of photoreceptors is a major cause of incurable vision loss. Tremendous progress has been made over the last two decades in discovering genes and genetic defects that lead to retinal diseases. The primary focus has now shifted to uncovering disease mechanisms and designing treatment strategies, especially inspired by the successful application of gene therapy in some forms of congenital blindness in humans. Both spontaneous and laboratory-generated mouse mutants have been valuable for providing fundamental insights into normal retinal development and for deciphering disease pathology. Here, we provide a review of mouse models of human retinal degeneration, with a primary focus on diseases affecting photoreceptor function. We also describe models associated with retinal pigment epithelium dysfunction or synaptic abnormalities. Furthermore, we highlight the crucial role of mouse models in elucidating retinal and photoreceptor biology in health and disease, and in the assessment of novel therapeutic modalities, including gene- and stem-cell-based therapies, for retinal degenerative diseases.
Optimal Life Cycle Unemployment Insurance
Authors: Michelacci Claudio , Ruffo Hernán
Published: February 2015

We argue that US welfare would rise if unemployment insurance were increased for younger and decreased for older workers. This is because the young tend to lack the means to smooth consumption during unemployment and want jobs to accumulate high-return human capital. So unemployment insurance is most valuable to them, while moral hazard is mild. By calibrating a life cycle model with unemployment risk and endogenous search effort, we find that allowing unemployment replacement rates to decline with age yields sizeable welfare gains to US workers. (JEL D91, E24, J13, J64, J65)
Polio Eradicators Use Integrated Analytical Models to Make Better Decisions
Authors: Thompson Kimberly M. , Duintjer Tebbens Radboud J. , Pallansch Mark A. , Wassilak Steven G.F. , Cochi Stephen L.
Published: February 2015

Achieving global polio eradication requires that global stakeholders coordinate and cooperate to invest human and financial resources in interventions that prevent virus transmission. Reaching this goal depends on effective tools and interventions, and their optimal use. Poliovirus transmission occurs in a complex global system with rapidly evolving viruses that readily cross international borders. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one of four spearheading partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), initiated a collaboration with Kid Risk, Inc. to develop and apply integrated analytical models to answer high-stakes policy questions related to managing the risks of polioviruses with consideration of human health and economic outcomes. Over the last decade, the collaboration innovatively combined numerous operations research and management science tools, including simulation, decision and risk analysis, system dynamics, and optimization to help policy makers understand and quantify the implications of their choices. These integrated modeling efforts helped motivate faster responses to polio outbreaks, leading to a global resolution and significantly reduced response time and outbreak sizes. Insights from the models also underpinned a 192-country resolution to coordinate global cessation of the use of one of the two vaccines after wild poliovirus eradication (i.e., allowing continued use of the other vaccine as desired). Finally, the model results helped us to make the economic case for a continued commitment to polio eradication by quantifying the value of prevention and showing the health and economic outcomes associated with the alternatives. The work helped to raise the billions of dollars needed to support polio eradication. The investments will prevent devastating cases of polio and realize an estimated $40–$50 billion in net benefits by the countries covered by the GPEI, while protecting the significantly larger net benefits enjoyed by the countries that stopped wild poliovirus transmission without support of the GPEI.
Research roundup—February 2015
Authors: Richens Yana
Published: February 2015

In this section, a range of brief synopses of recently published articles from around the world that may be of interest to midwives is presented. The aim of this roundup is to provide an overview, rather than a detailed summary, of the research papers selected. Should you wish to look at any of the papers in more detail, a full reference is provided.
Managing atopic eczema in adults
Authors: Watkins Jean
Published: January 2015

Atopic eczema is common in children, but often resolves by adulthood. Jean Watkins discusses how to manage the condition in persistent cases
Reducing deaths from asthma
Authors: Waddell Deborah
Published: January 2015

The UK has one of the highest death rates from asthma in Europe. Deborah Waddell highlights the key findings of the National Review of Asthma Deaths and explains how practice nurses can improve care for their patients
Managing erectile dysfunction in diabetes
Authors: Moussa Nasima , Hill Marie C , Claydon Anne , Klufio Alison
Published: January 2015

Nasima Moussa, Marie C Hill, Anne Claydon and Alison Klufio examine the impact of erectile dysfunction on patients with diabetes and the importance of recognition and support
Bespoke CPD for practice nurses
Authors: Crouch Sarah , Page Sonia , Wright Toni , Jackson Carrie
Published: January 2015

Continuing professional development (CPD) for practice nurses is essential. In this article, a programme of bespoke CPD is discussed and evaluated
Current Evidence and Future Perspectives on the Effective Practice of Patient-Centered Laboratory Medicine
Authors: Hallworth Mike J , Epner Paul L , Ebert Christoph , Fantz Corinne R , Faye Sherry A , Higgins Trefor N , Kilpatrick Eric S , Li Wenzhe , Rana S V , Vanstapel Florent
Published: February 2015

BACKGROUND

Systematic evidence of the contribution made by laboratory medicine to patient outcomes and the overall process of healthcare is difficult to find. An understanding of the value of laboratory medicine, how it can be determined, and the various factors that influence it is vital to ensuring that the service is provided and used optimally.

CONTENT

This review summarizes existing evidence supporting the impact of laboratory medicine in healthcare and indicates the gaps in our understanding. It also identifies deficiencies in current utilization, suggests potential solutions, and offers a vision of a future in which laboratory medicine is used optimally to support patient care.

To maximize the value of laboratory medicine, work is required in 5 areas: (a) improved utilization of existing and new tests; (b) definition of new roles for laboratory professionals that are focused on optimizing patient outcomes by adding value at all points of the diagnostic brain-to-brain cycle; (c) development of standardized protocols for prospective patient-centered studies of biomarker clinical effectiveness or extraanalytical process effectiveness; (d) benchmarking of existing and new tests in specified situations with commonly accepted measures of effectiveness; (e) agreed definition and validation of effectiveness measures and use of checklists for articles submitted for publication. Progress in these areas is essential if we are to demonstrate and enhance the value of laboratory medicine and prevent valuable information being lost in meaningless data. This requires effective collaboration with clinicians, and a determination to accept patient outcome and patient experience as the primary measure of laboratory effectiveness.
From suits to robes: The use of African inspired apparel as a communication tool in the mid-twentieth-century American avant-garde jazz community
Authors: Cottle C. Adam , Cottle Frederick S. , Bell Thomas W.
Published: February 2015

Many musicians working in the avant-garde of American jazz in the post-Civil Rights era publicly aligned themselves with black power cultural ideologies. The Afrocentric fashions worn by some of these musicians were a visual representation of their cultural beliefs and endure as a major component of the musical form’s legacy. This article reevaluates these performers’ standing in popular culture, recognizing them as fashion innovators on top of being musical revolutionaries. These musicians’ adventurous style lives on in popular culture through fashion statements in hip hop, neo soul and other musical genres.
All black everything: Gothic cloak and swagger in contemporary hip hop
Authors: Sollee Kristen
Published: February 2015

In stark contrast to the widespread popularity of the Gothic literary genre in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, goth music and goth fashion were largely relegated to subculture from their inception in the late 1970s. Over the past decade, however, goth fashion has moved past its musical counterpart into ubiquity, stretching its shadow-laced fingers across popular culture and into contemporary hip hop as artists incorporate goth aesthetics and Gothic literary themes into their expanding style lexicons. From the ‘Ghetto Gothic’ fashions of A$AP Rocky and Mykki Blanco to the monochromatic macabre videos of Jay-Z and Kanye West, the sartorial signs of the doomed undead are now de rigueur in rap, and washes of reverb-laden guitar beneath mournful Anglo-European voices are no longer prerequisites for sepulchral style. Contrary to the authenticity-obsessed goth scene, this phenomenon can be viewed as momentary ‘Gothic drag’, or more in keeping with hip hop culture, as ‘aesthetic sampling’ that mirrors the long-standing tradition of music sampling in rap. Rather than standing in opposition to classic definitions of goth subculture or Gothic literary tropes, the cultural syncretism in today’s hip hop serves to revitalize and recontextualize the entire macabre genre, rendering it more inclusive of diversity and free from its characteristic restraints.
SÊNECA. Agamêmnon. Tradução, introdução, posfácio e notas José Eduardo dos Santos Lohner. 1. ed. São Paulo: Globo, 2009. 253 p. ISBN 978-85-250-4663-5
Authors: Vieira Brunno V. G.
Published: February 2015

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Bíos e hibridização: biografia cristã e pagã
Authors: Ipiranga Jr Pedro
Published: February 2015

O presente trabalho enfoca a formação e a função de algumas obras de teor biográfico, mas que apresentam características acentuadas de outros gêneros discursivos, obras pagãs como Sobre o fim de Peregrino de Luciano de Samósata, obras cristãs, como Atos de Paulo e Tecla e os Atos de Pedro, entre outros Atos Apócrifos. Pretende-se uma rediscussão do gênero do bíos como uma forma sincrética de outros gêneros e, de certa forma, um como um gênero-moldura, em que a hibridização possa ser parte de sua constituição. Por essa perspectiva, são analisadas as diversas formas de hibridismos, como por exemplo, os entrecruzamentos e assimilações entre o gênero biográfico e a narrativa romanesca. Ensaiamos, a partir de tal problemática, elaborar uma categoria diferenciada relativa à hibridização que se processa em tais narrativas, buscando discernir o efeito buscado enquanto páthos do discurso que suscita prazer, engajamento e crença em leitores e ouvintes.
Horácio, Odes I,33 e a recepção da poesia amorosa
Authors: Vasconcellos Paulo Sérgio de
Published: February 2015

Este artigo estuda um aspecto da ode I,33 de Horácio: a recepção da poesia elegíaca romana em chave biografista. Horácio apresenta como biográfico o que o poeta elegíaco Álbio (não importa aqui se se trata de Tibulo, como geralmente se crê) cantou em seus versos, celebrando uma puella de nome Glycera. Este poema é um exemplo, dentre muitos, de testemunhos de uma indistinção entre autor empírico e persona poética, que se costuma associar a uma leitura de tipo romântico, mas que, na verdade, é comum na recepção da poesia subjetiva na Antiguidade. Não queremos dizer, evidentemente, que Horácio lê ingenuamente os versos de outro poeta, mas que se refere a eles sem distinguir, no gênero elegíaco, autor empírico e persona poética, como é comum nos diálogos metapoéticos da poesia latina, um capítulo da recepção da poesia em primeira pessoa que merece a atenção dos estudiosos.
Breve história da crítica da Literatura Latina
Authors: Martins Paulo
Published: February 2015

Este artigo apresenta um panorama da crítica literária aplicada à poesia latina da Antiguidade. Principia pelas leituras biográficas do século dezenove e primeira metade do vinte e passa a discutir a alteração radical que se seguiu, a partir de Allen (1950) que, com base na arquitetura poética que permeia esses poemas, os via como construções ficcionais absolutas. Entretanto, após o radicalismo dessa crítica antibiografista, uma terceira possibilidade está sendo estudada atualmente: se o poeta dá seu próprio nome ou utiliza o nome de personagens historicamente identificáveis, isto deve ser considerado como um elemento extra ao iocus poético – ele, o poeta, está intencionalmente tornando as fronteiras entre a res ficta e a verdade histórica indistintas. Assim, a parte final do artigo discutirá as implicações dessa nova visão sobre os gêneros poéticos e historiográficos.
O poeta, a amada e o rival: contributos para um retrato
Authors: Gonçalves Jorge Miguel Tomé
Published: February 2015

Neste breve estudo centramos a nossa atenção na elegia erótica latina. A maioria dos poemas que constituem o corpus deste género tem como tema central o amor entre uma persona poética e uma puella nas suas várias facetas e vicissitudes. Esta relação é assimétrica e instável, sendo perceptível, em muitos momentos, a figura sempre ameaçadora do rival que obra para a separação dos amantes. Ao longo deste trabalho percebemos como a persona poética é retratada como frágil, submissa e dependente da amada. Esta, por seu turno, é pintada como bela, insensível, gananciosa e instável, em suma, bela e demoníaca, ao passo que a figura do rival, nas suas várias configurações, é encarada de forma disfémica e negativa. No final, tentamos apontar uma justificação para estes retratos.
Jumping Features at Ski Resorts: Good Risk Management?
Authors: Shealy Jasper E. , Scher Irving , Johnson Robert J. , Rice John A.
Published: February 2015

Injuries associated with jumping can result in catastrophic and fatal consequences. The concentration of designed jumping features within a segregated part of the resort called a Terrain Park (TP), likely results in an increase in jumping. Hypothesis: Is the increase in TPs associated with an increase of injuries, to include catastrophic and fatal injury? National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) US national data from 1990 to 2010 was used to compute the rates per million resort visits from 1990 to 2010 for trauma related catastrophic and fatal injuries to resort users while skiing and snowboarding. Data from selected resorts was used to estimate the overall incident rate of ski patrol reports per 1000 days of exposure at ten-year intervals for 2000 and 2010. From 1990 to 2010, the number of resorts having one or more TPs with designed jumping features went from none to 94 %. During this time, the rate of fatal and catastrophic injury and the overall incidence of any injury has not changed. The hypothesis that jumping features resulted in increased risk of injury has not been substantiated. TPs may offer benefits. These include a reduction of incidence and severity of injuries to jumpers by providing specifically designed jumping features that are tested before being opened. Segregating jumping may reduce the incidence of individuals being struck by jumpers. The increase in TPs has not been associated with an increase in the catastrophic, fatal, or overall injury rate.
Helmets: What do Snowsport Instructors and Guests Know and Expect?
Authors: Terwiel F. Anne , Dickson Tracey J.
Published: February 2015

Snowsport participants are donning helmets in ever-greater numbers at a time when there is an increasing interest in the long-term impact of repeated concussive and sub-concussive impacts in sport. This interest has been fanned by a wide-reaching media discussion of concussion related to sport injuries, and there have been calls to make helmet use mandatory for snowsport participants. Helmets have been shown to be effective in protecting against lacerations and skull fractures, but there is little evidence that there is a protective effect with regard to concussion. Against that backdrop, the authors were curious as to what snowsport instructors and the general public thinks the risk level of snowsport is, what they believe their helmets will do for them within that risk environment, reasons for helmet use, and whether there is greater knowledge amongst snowsport instructors than the general public. The main reasons for helmet use were linked to safety, while the main reasons for non-helmet use were linked to lack of comfort, reduction in sensory awareness, and a lack of belief in the effectiveness of helmets. Respondents tended to vastly overrate the risk of injury and also to overrate the effectiveness of helmets. There was very little difference in the knowledge level of snowsport instructors and the general public. The snowsport industry would benefit from an education program aimed at both industry professionals and the general public as to the actual risk associated with snowsport participation, and with regard to how effective helmets really are in protecting against concussion.
The Influence of Plasticity on Crack Length Measurements Using the Potential Drop Technique
Authors: Tarnowski K. M. , Davies C. M. , Dean D. W. , Nikbin K. M.
Published: February 2015

The potential drop (PD) technique is one of the most common methods for determining crack growth; however, other factors can also change the resistance of the specimen, which may erroneously be interpreted as crack extension. In tough, ductile materials, plastic strain can cause a significant change in PD. This paper presents an experimental investigation which quantifies the apparent crack extension due to strain prior to the onset of physical crack growth and considers ways to mitigate it. Compact tension, C(T), and single edge notch tension, SEN(T), specimen geometries are considered with a range of crack lengths. The influence of probe location is also considered. The results identify apparent crack extensions of up to 1.0 mm in the absence of any physical crack extension. This can be reduced through careful selection of probe locations. Appropriate locations are suggested for the geometries considered. It is also shown that high constraint geometry can significantly reduce the influence of plasticity on PD.
Space exploration by dendritic cells requires maintenance of myosin II activity by IP3 receptor 1
Authors: Solanes Paola , Heuzé Mélina L , Maurin Mathieu , Bretou Marine , Lautenschlaeger Franziska , Maiuri Paolo , Terriac Emmanuel , Thoulouze Maria‐Isabel , Launay Pierre , Piel Matthieu , Vargas Pablo , Lennon‐Duménil Ana‐Maria
Published: January 2015

Dendritic cells (DCs) patrol the interstitial space of peripheral tissues. The mechanisms that regulate their migration in such constrained environment remain unknown. We here investigated the role of calcium in immature DCs migrating in confinement. We found that they displayed calcium oscillations that were independent of extracellular calcium and more frequently observed in DCs undergoing strong speed fluctuations. In these cells, calcium spikes were associated with fast motility phases. IP3 receptors (IP3Rs) channels, which allow calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum, were identified as required for immature DCs to migrate at fast speed. The IP3R1 isoform was further shown to specifically regulate the locomotion persistence of immature DCs, that is, their capacity to maintain directional migration. This function of IP3R1 results from its ability to control the phosphorylation levels of myosin II regulatory light chain (MLC) and the back/front polarization of the motor protein. We propose that by upholding myosin II activity, constitutive calcium release from the ER through IP3R1 maintains DC polarity during migration in confinement, facilitating the exploration of their environment.
Inhibition of insulin/IGF‐1 receptor signaling protects from mitochondria‐mediated kidney failure
Authors: Ising Christina , Koehler Sybille , Brähler Sebastian , Merkwirth Carsten , Höhne Martin , Baris Olivier R , Hagmann Henning , Kann Martin , Fabretti Francesca , Dafinger Claudia , Bloch Wilhelm , Schermer Bernhard , Linkermann Andreas , Brüning Jens C , Kurschat Christine E , Müller Roman‐Ulrich , Wiesner Rudolf J , Langer Thomas , Benzing Thomas , Brinkkoetter Paul Thomas
Published: February 2015

Mitochondrial dysfunction and alterations in energy metabolism have been implicated in a variety of human diseases. Mitochondrial fusion is essential for maintenance of mitochondrial function and requires the prohibitin ring complex subunit prohibitin‐2 (PHB2) at the mitochondrial inner membrane. Here, we provide a link between PHB2 deficiency and hyperactive insulin/IGF‐1 signaling. Deletion of PHB2 in podocytes of mice, terminally differentiated cells at the kidney filtration barrier, caused progressive proteinuria, kidney failure, and death of the animals and resulted in hyperphosphorylation of S6 ribosomal protein (S6RP), a known mediator of the mTOR signaling pathway. Inhibition of the insulin/IGF‐1 signaling system through genetic deletion of the insulin receptor alone or in combination with the IGF‐1 receptor or treatment with rapamycin prevented hyperphosphorylation of S6RP without affecting the mitochondrial structural defect, alleviated renal disease, and delayed the onset of kidney failure in PHB2‐deficient animals. Evidently, perturbation of insulin/IGF‐1 receptor signaling contributes to tissue damage in mitochondrial disease, which may allow therapeutic intervention against a wide spectrum of diseases.
ÖĞRENCİLERİN ZAMAN YÖNETİMİ BECERİLERİ İLE AKADEMİK BAŞARILARI ARASINDAKİ İLİŞKİ: KARABÜK ÜNİVERSİTESİ
Authors: Kibar Burcu , Fidan Yahya , Yıldıran Canan
Published: February 2015

Günümüzde, zaman hızla tüketilmektedir ve hemen herkes zamanının olmamasından yakınmaktadır. İstenen ise belirli bir süre içinde en fazla zamanı değerlendirmektir. Bu, zaman içinde kendimizi yönetmekle mümkündür. Zaman yönetimi, kişinin iş ve özel hayatında etkili ve verimli olmasını sağlar. Zaman yönetimi bilinci, çocukluktan başlar, üniversite döneminde olgunlaşır ve gelişir. Özellikle üniversite öğrencileri için zaman yönetimi, derslerinde iyi notlar almak için hayati önem taşır. Bu nedenle öğrencilerin, zamanlarını nasıl yöneteceklerini ve iyi bir eğitim ve iş hayatına sahip olmak için zaman yönetimi becerilerini nasıl geliştireceklerini öğrenmeleri gerekir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, üniversite öğrencilerinin zaman yönetimi becerileri ile akademik başarıları arasında bir ilişki olup olmadığının belirlenmesidir. Bu amaçla, 2012-2013 Bahar döneminde Karabük Üniversitesi Teknik Eğitim Fakültesi, Mühendislik Fakültesi ve Edebiyat Fakültesi 3. ve 4. sınıflarında öğrenim gören öğrenciler çalışma grubu olarak belirlenmiştir. Çalışma grubuna anket formu uygulanmıştır. Anket formu literatür incelenerek oluşturulmuştur. Araştırma sonucuna göre, öğrencilerin zaman yönetimi becerileri ile akademik başarıları arasında ilişki vardır. Zaman yönetimi becerileri öğrencilerin cinsiyetlerine, sınıf düzeylerine, yaşadıkları yere ve öğrenim gördükleri fakültelere göre değişmektedir.
FİNANSAL OKURYAZARLIK VE PARA YÖNETİMİ DAVRANIŞLARI: ANADOLU ÜNİVERSİTESİ ÖĞRENCİLERİ ÜZERİNE UYGULAMA
Authors: Bayram Seliha Seçil
Published: February 2015

Finansal okuryazarlık, gündelik yaşamda kullanılan finansal enstrümanların seçiminde bilgi temelli kararlar verebilmeyi sağlayan yeterlilik düzeyini ifade etmektedir. Finansal okuryazarlık, aynı zamanda uzun vadeli birikim ve yatırıma dönük kararlarda finansal farkındalığı temel alır. Toplumun dinamik bir kesimi olarak geleceği temsil eden üniversite öğrencileri için finansal okuryazarlık düzeyinin yüksek olması önemlidir. Aile dışında okullarda alınacak eğitim finansal okuryazarlık düzeyini yükseltebilir. Bu çalışmada İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler öğrencilerinin temel düzeyde finansal okuryazarlık seviyesi belirlenmeye çalışılmıştır. Öğrenciler finansal durumlarını yönetmede kendilerini olduğundan daha başarılı olarak algılamaktadır. Bu nedenle, finansal okuryazarlık düzeyinin yükseltilmesini sağlayacak program içeriklerinin eğitim müfredatlarında yer alması gerekmektedir. Finansal okuryazarlık konusunda yaygın bir eğitim sunabilecek internet gibi mecraların kullanılması da katkı sağlayabilir.
Prothrombotic changes due to an increase in thyroid hormone levels
Authors: Horacek Jiri , Maly Jaroslav , Svilias Ioannis , Smolej Lukas , Cepkova Jitka , Vizda Jaroslav , Sadilek Petr , Fatorova Ilona , Zak Pavel
Published: January 2015

Objective

With increasing free thyroxine levels, a gradually rising risk of venous thromboembolism has been described in case–control studies. However, reports on the influence of thyroid hormones on haemostasis, while suggesting a hypercoagulable state in thyrotoxicosis, have often been inconclusive. This study evaluates multiple markers of haemostasis and fibrinolysis in a paired design, making it more sensitive to changes in thyroid hormone levels.

Design

We analysed multiple variables in patients who shifted from severe hypothyroidism to mild hyperthyroidism during thyroid cancer treatment. Those with possible residual disease were excluded.

Methods

Ninety patients following total thyroidectomy were tested on two occasions: i) before radioiodine remnant ablation and ii) 6 weeks later, on levothyroxine (lT4) suppression treatment, and the results were compared using the Wilcoxon's test for paired data.

Results

During lT4 treatment, significant increases (all P<0.001) in fibrinogen (from median 3.4 to 3.8 g/l), von Willebrand factor (from 85 to 127%), factor VIII (from 111 to 148%) and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (from 6.5 to 13.9 μg/l) were observed. In addition, the activation times of platelet adhesion and aggregation stimulated with collagen and epinephrine (EPI)/ADP, i.e. closure times in platelet function analyser (PFA-100), were significantly shortened (P<0.001): for EPI from median 148 to 117 s and for ADP from 95 to 80 s. Changes in other tests were less prominent or insignificant.

Conclusions

An increase in thyroid hormone levels shifts the haemostatic balance towards a hypercoagulable, hypofibrinolytic state. This may contribute to the increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality observed even in mild thyrotoxicosis.
Complications of injectable testosterone undecanoate in routine clinical practice
Authors: Middleton T , Turner L , Fennell C , Savkovic S , Jayadev V , Conway A J , Handelsman D J
Published: January 2015

Objective

Injectable testosterone undecanoate (TU) was marketed within the last decade, but its complications in routine clinical practice are not well defined.

Design and methods

Prospective observational study of consecutive TU injections in an Andrology Clinic to estimate the incidence of i) immediate cough/syncope due to pulmonary oil microembolisation (POME), ii) post-injection haematoma and iii) the prevalence of secondary polycythaemia.

Results

In 3022 injections given to 347 patients over 3.5 years, POME was observed after 56 injections (66% mild, 19% severe; 40% with onset before injection completed) in 43 patients. The incidence of 19 (95% CI 14–24) per 1000 injections did not differ between three experienced nurse injectors, but recurrences were more frequent than by chance. No post-injection haematoma was reported including after 269 injections to men taking antiplatelet, anticoagulant or both drugs (upper 95% confidence limit 1%) with 56 not withholding drugs prior to TU administration (upper 95% confidence limit 5.4%). Mean haematocrit was 0.44±0.04 (s.d.) with 25 (7%) >0.50, 14 (4%) >0.52 and 3 (1%) >0.54.

Conclusion

TU injections produce a low incidence of POME with injections by experienced nurses, but recurrence is more frequent than by chance. Post-injection haematoma was not observed even among men using anticoagulant and/or antiplatelet drugs, and polycythaemia was a minor problem rarely requiring treatment other than optimising inter-injection interval.
Defective CFTR-regulated granulosa cell proliferation in polycystic ovarian syndrome
Authors: Chen Hui , Guo Jing Hui , Zhang Xiao Hu , Chan Hsiao Chang
Published: February 2015

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most frequent causes of female infertility, featured by abnormal hormone profile, chronic oligo/anovulation, and presence of multiple cystic follicles in the ovary. However, the mechanism underlying the abnormal folliculogenesis remains obscure. We have previously demonstrated that CFTR, a cAMP-dependent Cl−and HCO3−conducting anion channel, is expressed in the granulosa cells and its expression is downregulated in PCOS rat models and human patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the possible involvement of downregulation of CFTR in the impaired follicle development in PCOS using two rat PCOS models and primary culture of granulosa cells. Our results indicated that the downregulation of CFTR in the cystic follicles was accompanied by reduced expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), in rat PCOS models. In addition, knockdown or inhibition of CFTR in granulosa cell culture resulted in reduced cell viability and downregulation of PCNA. We further demonstrated that CFTR regulated both basal and FSH-stimulated granulosa cell proliferation through the HCO3−/sAC/PKA pathway leading to ERK phosphorylation and its downstream target cyclin D2(Ccnd2) upregulation. Reduced ERK phosphorylation and CCND2 were found in ovaries of rat PCOS model compared with the control. This study suggests that CFTR is required for normal follicle development and that its downregulation in PCOS may inhibit granulosa cell proliferation, resulting in abnormal follicle development in PCOS.
Selection for Silage Yield and Composition Did Not Affect Genomic Diversity Within the Wisconsin Quality Synthetic Maize Population
Authors: Lorenz Aaron J , Beissinger Timothy M , Silva Renato Rodrigues , de Leon Natalia
Published: February 2015

Maize silage is forage of high quality and yield, and represents the second most important use of maize in the United States. The Wisconsin Quality Synthetic (WQS) maize population has undergone five cycles of recurrent selection for silage yield and composition, resulting in a genetically improved population. The application of high-density molecular markers allows breeders and geneticists to identify important loci through association analysis and selection mapping, as well as to monitor changes in the distribution of genetic diversity across the genome. The objectives of this study were to identify loci controlling variation for maize silage traits through association analysis and the assessment of selection signatures and to describe changes in the genomic distribution of gene diversity through selection and genetic drift in the WQS recurrent selection program. We failed to find any significant marker-trait associations using the historical phenotypic data from WQS breeding trials combined with 17,719 high-quality, informative single nucleotide polymorphisms. Likewise, no strong genomic signatures were left by selection on silage yield and quality in the WQS despite genetic gain for these traits. These results could be due to the genetic complexity underlying these traits, or the role of selection on standing genetic variation. Variation in loss of diversity through drift was observed across the genome. Some large regions experienced much greater loss in diversity than what is expected, suggesting limited recombination combined with small populations in recurrent selection programs could easily lead to fixation of large swaths of the genome.
An Evolutionarily Conserved Switch in Response to GABA Affects Development and Behavior of the Locomotor Circuit of Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Han Bingjie , Bellemer Andrew , Koelle Michael R
Published: February 2015

The neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is depolarizing in the developing vertebrate brain, but in older animals switches to hyperpolarizing and becomes the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in adults. We discovered a similar developmental switch in GABA response in Caenorhabditis elegans and have genetically analyzed its mechanism and function in a well-defined circuit. Worm GABA neurons innervate body wall muscles to control locomotion. Activation of GABAA receptors with their agonist muscimol in newly hatched first larval (L1) stage animals excites muscle contraction and thus is depolarizing. At the mid-L1 stage, as the GABAergic neurons rewire onto their mature muscle targets, muscimol shifts to relaxing muscles and thus has switched to hyperpolarizing. This muscimol response switch depends on chloride transporters in the muscles analogous to those that control GABA response in mammalian neurons: the chloride accumulator sodium-potassium-chloride-cotransporter-1 (NKCC-1) is required for the early depolarizing muscimol response, while the two chloride extruders potassium-chloride-cotransporter-2 (KCC-2) and anion-bicarbonate-transporter-1 (ABTS-1) are required for the later hyperpolarizing response. Using mutations that disrupt GABA signaling, we found that neural circuit development still proceeds to completion but with an ∼6-hr delay. Using optogenetic activation of GABAergic neurons, we found that endogenous GABAA signaling in early L1 animals, although presumably depolarizing, does not cause an excitatory response. Thus a developmental depolarizing-to-hyperpolarizing shift is an ancient conserved feature of GABA signaling, but existing theories for why this shift occurs appear inadequate to explain its function upon rigorous genetic analysis of a well-defined neural circuit.
Incentives to Promote Breastfeeding: A Systematic Review
Authors: Moran Victoria Hall , Morgan Heather , Rothnie Kieran , MacLennan Graeme , Stewart Fiona , Thomson Gillian , Crossland Nicola , Tappin David , Campbell Marion , Hoddinott Pat
Published: February 2015

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Few women in industrialized countries achieve the World Health Organization’s recommendation to breastfeed exclusively for 6 months. Governments are increasingly seeking new interventions to address this problem, including the use of incentives. The goal of this study was to assess the evidence regarding the effectiveness of incentive interventions, delivered within or outside of health care settings, to individuals and/or their families seeking to increase and sustain breastfeeding in the first 6 months after birth.

METHODS:

Searches of electronic databases, reference lists, and grey literature were conducted to identify relevant reports of published, unpublished, and ongoing studies. All study designs published in English, which met our definition of incentives and that were from a developed country, were eligible for inclusion. Abstract and full-text article review with sequential data extraction were conducted by 2 independent authors.

RESULTS:

Sixteen full reports were included in the review. The majority evaluated multicomponent interventions of varying frequency, intensity, and duration. Incentives involved providing access to breast pumps, gifts, vouchers, money, food packages, and help with household tasks, but little consensus in findings was revealed. The lack of high-quality, randomized controlled trials identified by this review and the multicomponent nature of the interventions prohibited meta-analysis.

CONCLUSIONS:

This review found that the overall effect of providing incentives for breastfeeding compared with no incentives is unclear due to study heterogeneity and the variation in study quality. Further evidence on breastfeeding incentives offered to women is required to understand the possible effects of these interventions.
Early Orthopedic Retraction of the Premaxilla in Bilateral Complete Cleft Lip and Palate: An Innovative Approach to a Difficult Problem
Authors: Mahmood Rizwan , Flood Tim , Robinson Stephen , Al-Gholmy Mohammed
Published: February 2015

Bilateral cleft lip and palate occurs in 9.2% of cleft patients. Many approaches have been adopted to manage the protrusive premaxillary segment in patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate. Some advocate the use of intraoral appliances, occasionally combined with invasive surgery, which often requires revision at a later date. The authors describe the case of a 3-year-old child born with bilateral cleft lip and palate presenting with a protuberant premaxilla and an overjet greater than 25 mm. Prompt intervention was warranted in this case due to the potential for traumatic compromise to the dentition of the premaxillary segment and a distinct lack of social integration reported by the parents. The patient was managed with a novel, innovative approach using orthodontic traction and minimally invasive surgery. The literature has been reviewed and the patient's subsequent physiological and psychosocial development has been monitored. He has since undergone successful alveolar bone grafting.
A Phase II Study of a Dose-Density Regimen With Fluorouracil, Epirubicin, and Cyclophosphamide on Days 1 and 4 Every 14 Days With Filgrastim Support Followed by Weekly Paclitaxel in Women With Primary Breast Cancer
Authors: Pietri Elisabetta , Andreis Daniele , Fabbri Francesca , Menna Cecilia , Schirone Alessio , Kopf Barbara , Rocca Andrea , Amadori Dino , De Giorgi Ugo
Published: January 2015

Author Summary

Background.

Recent evidence shows that use of anthracycline and taxane adjuvant chemotherapy and dose-dense regimens, consisting of more frequent administration of the drugs, have improved outcomes for breast cancer patients. In this study, we evaluated administration of an epirubicin-based regimen with paclitaxel in a sequential, dose-dense schedule as adjuvant treatment for patients with high-risk primary breast cancer.

Methods.

In a phase II Simon two-stage design study, we evaluated the feasibility of a modified fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FEC) regimen at high dose intensity (fluorouracil 500 mg/m2 i.v. on days 1 and 4, epirubicin 60 mg/m2 i.v. on days 1 and 4, and cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2 i.v. on days 1 and 4; all drugs were administered every 14 days for 3 cycles) with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor support followed by dose-intense weekly paclitaxel 100 mg/m2 for 8 cycles. In 11 patients with breast cancer following quadrantectomy (n = 8) or modified radical mastectomy (n = 3), any grade 3 (G3) or higher nonhematologic toxicity (excluding alopecia, nausea or vomiting, and bone pain, which might be a consequence of the administration of filgrastim) and adherence to the scheduled dose-dense treatment (deliverability) were monitored with the purpose of enrolling an additional 27 patients in the case of a satisfying toxicity profile and deliverability of the planned treatment (at least 7 patients completing the treatment).

Results.

Five of 11 patients experienced G3 or higher nonhematologic toxicity during the FEC regimen. We did not observe G3 or higher nonhematologic toxicity related to paclitaxel treatment. In particular, three patients experienced G3 fatigue, one patient had G3 oral mucositis, three patients had G3 hypokalemia, one patient had G3 syncope, one patient had G3 transaminitis (alanine aminotransferase), one patient experienced G4 pulmonary thromboembolism, and 1 patient had a G3 breast infection. Four of 11 patients received the regimen with a 25% dose reduction of day 1 and 4 administrations of FEC. Seven of 11 patients required FEC delay ≥7 days in at least 1 cycle, regardless of dose intensity. Two patients failed to complete the FEC regimen. Two of the remaining 9 patients were treated with paclitaxel delay ≥7 days in at least one cycle. After a median follow-up of 28 months, 9 patients were continuously disease free.

Conclusion.

The tolerability rate of a dose-density regimen with FEC followed by weekly paclitaxel was considered not promising for completing the accrual of this study.
Is It Important to Adapt Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy to the Visible Clinical Response? An Open Randomized Phase II Study Comparing Response-Guided and Standard Treatments in HER2-Negative Operable Breast Cancer
Authors: Wang-Lopez Qian , Mouret-Reynier Marie-Ange , Savoye Aude-Marie , Abrial Catherine , Kwiatkowski Fabrice , Garbar Christian , DuBray-Longeras Pascale , Eymard Jean-Christophe , Lebouedec Guillaume , Vanpraagh Isabelle , Penault-Llorca Frederique , Chollet Philippe , Cure Hervé
Published: January 2015

Author Summary

Background.

Neoadjuvant treatment provides a unique opportunity to evaluate individual tumor sensitivity. This study evaluated whether a response-guided strategy could improve clinical outcome compared with a standard treatment.

Methods.

Overall, 264 previously untreated stage II–III operable breast cancer patients were randomized to receive either standard treatment (arm A, n = 131), consisting of fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FEC100: 500, 100, and 500 mg/m2, respectively, for 3 cycles) followed by docetaxel (100 mg/m2 for 3 cycles), or adapted treatment (arm B, n = 133), beginning with 2 cycles of FEC100 and switching to docetaxel if tumor size decreased by <30% after 2 cycles or <50% after 4 cycles of FEC100 (ultrasound assessments according to World Health Organization criteria). Otherwise, FEC100 was given for six cycles before surgery. Intent-to-treat analysis was performed.

Results.

Similar results were observed for clinical response (objective response was 54% vs 56%, p = .18), breast conservation surgery (BCS; 67% vs 68%, p = .97), and pathological complete response rate (Chevallier classification: 14% vs 11%, p = .68; Statloff classification: 16% vs 13%, p = .82) between arms A and B. Similar toxicities were observed, even with unbalanced numbers of FEC100 and docetaxel courses.

Conclusion.

Adapted and standard treatments had similar results in terms of tumor response, BCS rate, and tolerability. Further survival outcome data are expected.
Measurement of bar strain during pull-out tests: use of electrical resistance gauge methods under large displacement
Authors: Lee Baeg , Mulheron Mike
Published: February 2015

Two issues make measuring the local bond stress–slip relationship difficult: first, the bar is embedded within the concrete, making measurement of local strain values complex; second, yielding of the steel bar influences the bond stress–slip behaviour. Global bond stress–slip behaviour is generally obtained by measuring the slip that occurs at the free end of the bar during pull-out testing. Several distinct mounting methods have been used to install electrical resistance strain gauges on embedded bars in concrete to obtain local strain data. These methods are reviewed in relation to their ability to deliver reliable and robust data at both small and large values of slip. The use of such strain gauges is found to provide a viable method for assessing the variation in strain along embedded steel bars during pull-out testing. The use of surface-mounted strain gauges leads to high failure rates due to physical damage to either the gauges or their connections. The use of near-surface- and central-groove-mounted strain gauges enables measurement of local bar strain over large displacements. Using data from near-surface-mounted strain gauges, it is shown that in the post-peak region the bond stress increases linearly from the free end of the bar.