bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modeling of Mineral Dust Emissions with a Weibull Wind Speed Distribution Including Subgrid-Scale Orography Variance
Authors: Menut Laurent 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe modeling of mineral dust emissions requires an extensive knowledge of the wind speed close to the surface. In regional and global models, Weibull distributions are often used to better represent the subgrid-scale variability of the wind speed. This distribution mainly depends on akparameter, itself currently parameterized as a function of the wind speed value. In this study we propose to add the potential impact of the orography variance in the wind speed distribution by changing thekparameter value. Academic test cases are designed to estimate the parameters of the scheme. A realistic test case is performed over a large domain encompassing the northern part of Africa and Europe and for the period 1 January–1 May 2012. The results of the simulations are compared to particulate matter (PM10) surface concentrations and Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) aerosol optical depth and aerosol size distribution. We show that with the orography variance, the simulation results are closer to the ones without variance, showing that this additional variability is not the main driver of possible errors in mineral dust modeling.
Il popolo di San Gennaro
Authors: Mele Francisco 
Published: April 2018

La ricerca parte da un esame del popolo di San Gennaro, a Napoli, come garante della costruzione sempre in divenire dell’identità napoletana, secondo la Teologia del Popolo sviluppata dai teologi e filosofi argentini Lucio Gera, Justino O’Farrell e Juan Carlos Scannone. Il popolo possiede una conoscenza, una razionalità, anche se non teorico-scientifica, che si esprime mediante le celebrazioni liturgiche, le feste religiose, le processioni. Facendo riferimento alla prospettiva mnemostorica (Jan Assmann), San Gennaro è una figura della memoria e non della storia. Applicando la lettura bio-politica elaborata da Michel Foucault, nel culto di San Gennaro, durante la cerimonia delle feste dedicate a San Gennaro, trovano fondamento e legittimazione la Chiesa, lo Stato rappresentato dalle sue istituzioni e il popolo napoletano. Paradossalmente anche la camorra cerca una legittimazione per imporre il suo proprio predominio, nonostante che la sua pretesa venga respinta e condannata sia dallo Stato che dalla Chiesa.
Modeling Human Steering Behavior During Path Following in Teleoperation of Unmanned Ground Vehicles
Authors: Mirinejad Hossein , Jayakumar Paramsothy , Ersal Tulga 
Published: April 2018

Objective: This paper presents a behavioral model representing the human steering performance in teleoperated unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). Background: Human steering performance in teleoperation is considerably different from the performance in regular onboard driving situations due to significant communication delays in teleoperation systems and limited information human teleoperators receive from the vehicle sensory system. Mathematical models capturing the teleoperation performance are a key to making the development and evaluation of teleoperated UGV technologies fully simulation based and thus more rapid and cost-effective. However, driver models developed for the typical onboard driving case do not readily address this need. Method: To fill the gap, this paper adopts a cognitive model that was originally developed for a typical highway driving scenario and develops a tuning strategy that adjusts the model parameters in the absence of human data to reflect the effect of various latencies and UGV speeds on driver performance in a teleoperated path-following task. Results: Based on data collected from a human subject test study, it is shown that the tuned model can predict both the trend of changes in driver performance for different driving conditions and the best steering performance of human subjects in all driving conditions considered. Conclusions: The proposed model with the tuning strategy has a satisfactory performance in predicting human steering behavior in the task of teleoperated path following of UGVs. Application: The established model is a suited candidate to be used in place of human drivers for simulation-based studies of UGV mobility in teleoperation systems.
Cost Analysis of Single-Dose Hepatitis B Revaccination Among Infants Born to Hepatitis B Surface Antigen-Positive Mothers and Not Responding to the Initial Vaccine Series
Authors: Hall Eric W. , Rosenberg Eli S. , Trigg Monica , Nelson Noele , Schillie Sarah 
Published: April 2018

Objectives: Infants born to mothers who are hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive are at risk for perinatal hepatitis B infection. As prevention, these infants receive a series of 3 or 4 doses of hepatitis B vaccine starting at birth and postvaccination serologic testing. Infants with antibody levels <10 mIU/mL are considered vaccine nonresponders and should be revaccinated. The objective of this cost analysis was to assess a single-dose revaccination strategy among infant nonresponders. Methods: We used a decision analytic tree to compare the costs of a single-dose revaccination strategy with the costs of a 3-dose revaccination strategy. The analysis consisted of 3 epidemiologic scenarios that varied levels of previous protection among infants indicated for revaccination. We assumed health outcomes in each strategy were the same, and we evaluated costs from the societal perspective using 2016 US dollars. We conducted sensitivity analyses on key variables, including the minimum required efficacy of a single revaccination dose. Results: In all analyses, the single-dose revaccination strategy was a lower-cost option than the 3-dose revaccination strategy. Under the assumption that all revaccination visits were previously unscheduled, single-dose revaccination reduced the cost per infant by $119.81 to $155.72 (depending on the scenario). Across all scenarios, the most conservative estimate for the threshold efficacy (the minimum efficacy required to result in a lower-cost option) value of single-dose revaccination was 67%. Conclusions: For infants who were born to HBsAg-positive mothers and who were not responding to the initial vaccine series, a single-dose revaccination strategy, compared with a 3-dose revaccination strategy, reduced costs across several scenarios. These results helped inform the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ vote in February 2017 to recommend single-dose revaccination.
Diagnostic Accuracy of Tuning Fork Tests for Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review
Authors: Kelly Elizabeth A. , Li Bin , Adams Meredith E. 
Published: April 2018

Objective(1) To determine the diagnostic accuracy of tuning fork tests (TFTs; Weber and Rinne) for assessment of hearing loss as compared with standard audiometry. (2) To identify the audiometric threshold at which TFTs transition from normal to abnormal, thus indicating the presence of hearing loss.Data SourcesPubMed, Ovid Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Scopus and manual bibliographic searches.Review MethodsA systematic review of studies reporting TFT accuracy was performed according to a standardized protocol. Two independent evaluators corroborated the extracted data and assessed risk of bias.ResultsSeventeen studies with 3158 participants, including adults and children, met inclusion criteria. The sensitivity and specificity of the Rinne test for detecting conductive hearing loss ranged from 43% to 91% and 50% to 100%, respectively, for a 256‐Hz fork and from 16% to 87% and 55% to 100% for a 512‐Hz fork. The audiometric thresholds at which tests transition from normal to abnormal ranged from 13 to 40 dB of conductive hearing loss for the Rinne test and from 2.5 to 4 dB of asymmetry for the Weber test. Significant heterogeneity in TFT methods and audiometric thresholds to define hearing loss precluded meta‐analysis. There is high risk of bias in patient selection for a majority of the studies.ConclusionVariability exists in the reported test accuracy measurements of TFTs for clinical screening, surgical candidacy assessments, and estimation of hearing loss severity. Clinicians should remain mindful of these differences and optimize these techniques in specific clinical applications to improve TFT accuracy.
Diversity in Otolaryngology Residency Programs: A Survey of Otolaryngology Program Directors
Authors: Newsome Hillary , Faucett Erynne A. , Chelius Thomas , Flanary Valerie 
Published: April 2018

ObjectiveAs the population of the United States becomes increasingly racially and ethnically diverse, it is important that the medical profession reflect these changes. Otolaryngology has previously been identified as one of the surgical subspecialties with the smallest presence of those underrepresented in medicine. In the context of this study, the term underrepresented in medicine is defined as blacks, Latinos, Native American, and Native Hawaiians. The purpose of this study was to describe the current state of otolaryngology residency programs in terms of diversity of resident and faculty cohort, explore general interviewing practices, and investigate recruitment of underrepresented in medicine applicants.Study DesignSurvey via electronic questionnaire.SettingAcademic otolaryngology residency programs.Subjects and MethodsA 14‐item survey was distributed to 105 program directors asking them to consider their program's past 15 years of existence.ResultsWith a response rate of roughly 30%, we found that over one‐third of responding programs had matriculated 1 or fewer underrepresented in medicine residents. There was a statistically significant association between the number of underrepresented in medicine faculty and the number of underrepresented in medicine residents matriculated (P =. 02).ConclusionThe authors stress the importance of underrepresented in medicine faculty mentorship. Although not statistically significant in this study, increasing the number of underrepresented in medicine applicants interviewed, as well as recommending outreach programs, may help to improve underrepresented minority matriculation into residency programs as demonstrated in the literature.
U.S. Feminism, 1968 and Mediated Collective Intellectuality
Authors: Bratich Jack Z. 
Published: April 2018

In response to the editorial call to examine the legacy of 1968 and critical intellectual formations, this short paper maps some of the feminist intellectual practices in and out of the university system around that era. The paper focuses on intellectuality defined via three features: publication, pedagogy, and peer development; in sum, peer transmission of analysis and know-how. Along the way, we find parallel educational institutions, small scale media production, biopolitical information transmission, and underground support networks. 1968 was a pivotal year for the development of collective intelligence within movements, forged through media ecologies, using academia as a site and resource while not being contained in it. This feminist intellectual production illuminates contemporary feminist mediated intellectuality as part of the “Long ’68.”
Concomitant Chemoradiotherapy Followed by Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Parotid Gland Undifferentiated Carcinoma
Authors: Airoldi Mario , Gabriele Anna Maria , Gabriele Pietro , Pedani Fulvia , Marchionatti Sara , Succo Giovanni , Beatrice Fabio , Bumma Cesare 
Published: April 2018

Aims and background Undifferentiated carcinoma of the parotid gland is a poor-prognosis lesion. Results in unresectable lesions, treated with radiotherapy alone, are very disappointing. Methods Six patients with T3-4 N0-1 inoperable lesions were treated with conventional radiotherapy (64-70 Gy, 2 Gy per fraction 5 times a week) and concomitant cisplatin (100 mg/m2, days 1, 22 and 43). Four weeks after radiotherapy, adjuvant chemotherapy (cisplatin, 80 mg/m2, day 1, + VP16, 100 mg/m2, days 1, 3 and 5, q = 3 weeks, for 3 cycles) was given. Results A median dose of 66 Gy (range, 64-70 Gy) was delivered, and all patients recived 3 courses of cisplatin during radiotherapy. Five of 6 patients recived all three chemotherapeutic adjuvant courses. Two months after the end of treatment, 3 CR (50%), 2 PR (33%) and 1 NC (16%) was observed. Median CR and PR duration was 26+ and 10 months, respectively. Median overall survival was 18 months. No severe acute or late toxicity was observed. Conclusions Concomitant chemoradiotherapy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy in advanced unresectable undifferentiated parotid carcinoma is feasibile and well tolerated. The high percentage of long-lasting CR is encouraging.
Fourteen-Day Infusion of Ifosfamide in the Management of Advanced Breast Cancer Refractory to Protracted Continuous Infusion of 5-Fluorouracil
Authors: Di Lauro Vincenzo , Spazzapan Simon , Lombardi Davide , Paolello Concetta , Scuderi Cristina , Crivellari Diana , Magri Maria Donatella , Veronesi Andrea 
Published: April 2018

Aims and background Ifosfamide is an active drug in advanced breast cancer. Short-term continuous infusion schedules have been evaluated with encouraging results. The aim of the study was to evaluate in patients with advanced breast cancer a 14-day infusion schedule previously tested at our center in soft tissue sarcomas. Methods From July 1998 to February 2000, 26 consecutive patients with heavily pretreated breast cancer, progressing during protracted continuous infusion of fluorouracil, were treated with ifosfamide at the dose of 800 mg/m2/day for 14 consecutive days by means of an eiastomeric pump via an indwelling Groshong catheter. The median age of the patients was 52 years (range, 32-67) and median PS was 1 (range, 1-3). All patients were pretreated with anthracyclines or taxanes; the median number of chemotherapy lines in the metastatic phase was 2 (range, 1-4). Predominant metastatic sites were soft tissues in 5 patients, lung in 6, liver in 7 and serosal cavities in 3. Results Twenty-four patients were assessable for response. Two complete responses and 2 partial remissions were noted, for an overall 16.6% response rate. The duration of responses was 3+, 5, 8 and 10 months, respectively. Stabilization or minor response was observed in 2 more patients. The main toxic effect was myelosuppression (grade 1-2 in 15 patients, grade 3-4 in 4). Other toxicities included nausea in 14 patients (grade 3 in 2) and grade 1-2 vomiting in 2 patients. Hair loss or alopecia was universal. Conclusions The regimen yielded some clinically useful responses with acceptable toxicity. Its evaluation in less advanced cases appears to be warranted.
Bcl-2 Expression in Primary Uveal Melanoma
Authors: Sulkowska Mariola , Famulski Waldemar , Bakunowicz-Lazarczyk Alina , Chyczewski Lech , Sulkowski Stanislaw 
Published: April 2018

Aims Uveal malignant melanoma is the most common intraocular tumor. The aim of this study was the analysis of bcl-2 oncoprotein expression in this tumor type. The melanomas were evaluated according to tumor location and patient age and sex. The relationship between bcl-2 expression and histological type, clinicopathologic stage and the presence of a set of predetermined morphological parameters was analyzed. Methods The study involved 39 patients with ocular melanomas treated with surgery alone between 1983 and 1997. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues were treated with anti-bcl-2 antibody (Dako No M0887). Immunolocalization of the bcl-2 oncoprotein was performed using the labeled streptavidin biotin (LSAB) method. bcl-2 expression in neoplastic cells was evaluated in a semiquantitative manner: lack of reactivity was defined as bcl-2 negative, reactivity present in less than 30% of cells as low bcl-2, and reactivity in more than 30% of cells as high bcl-2. The percentage of cells with a positive reaction was assessed independently by two pathologists, and the results were subjected to statistical analysis using Fischer's exact test. Results and conclusion No statistically significant correlation was found between the expression of bcl-2 oncoprotein and the clinicopathologic features analyzed. However, the high percentage of tumors with positive expression of this oncoprotein suggests that it plays a significant role in the biology of uveal melanoma.
Cervical Cancer Epidemiology in Friuli Venezia Giulia
Authors: Vicario Gianni , French Susan , Little D'Anna , Forgiarini Ornella , Bidoli Ettore , Zanier Loris , Franceschi Silvia 
Published: April 2018

Aims and background Until 1998 there was opportunistic screening in Friuli Venezia Giulia (FVG). Beginning in 1999, formal screening efforts were organized. The regional cancer registry was established in 1998, and data on incidence was collected for the period 1995–98. The scope of this study is to provide baseline data on the incidence of invasive cervical cancer in FVG for further examination of trends in incidence and of the effectiveness of screening efforts. Methods Data from the regional cancer registry database was examined and linked with data from the regional pap smear screening database. Results The incidence of cervical cancer in FVG was 8.6 per 100,000. Most women were diagnosed in stages I and II. Most cervical cancers (80%) were squamous cell. Opportunistic screening in FVG reached 39.8% of the total female population. Analysis by local health unit showed heterogeneous data. Conclusions FVG has one of the highest incidence rates of cervical cancer in italy. Approximately 1/3 of the diagnoses were in women over the age of 65. Pap smear screening prior to the formal program covered a low percentage of the female population. Screening efforts in the future should focus on screening coverage in the older female population.
Locally Advanced Breast Cancer in the Elderly: A Major Challenge Requiring Effective and Appropriate Treatment
Authors: Brancato Giovanna , Gandolfo Luigi , Privitera Antonio , Donati Marcello , Amodeo Corrado 
Published: April 2018

Aims and background Breast cancer is the most common tumor in women. As the population above 65 years increases, breast cancer will be a more substantial problem for elderly patients. This work reports our experience in the management of stage III and IV locally advanced breast cancer. Methods Nineteen patients over 65 years of age (mean, 70.3 years) with stage III and IV breast cancers, treated between 1990 and 2000, are considered. The management and outcome are evaluated. Results Nine patients had stage IIIA breast cancer, 7 stage IIIB and 3 stage IV. Sixteen underwent Madden mastectomy and 3 simple mastectomy. Patients at stage HIB and 1 patient at stage IV with T4 tumor received neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. There were no significant postoperative complications. Sixteen patients were given tamoxifen and 10 patients adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients were followed for a median of 36.7 months (range, 6–72 months). In 8 patients with stage III disease, metastasis developed. Two patients had local recurrence of disease. Of the patients at stage IIIA, 6 were free from disease (one died from unrelated causes) and 3 had recurrent disease (2 died). Of the patients at stage IIIB, 2 are disease free and 5 had recurrent disease and died. Of the patients at stage IV, only one is alive. Conclusions Stage and individual characteristics of elderly women influence management. Patients should be managed adequately since most of them are fit enough to undergo treatment.
Recurrence after Treatment by Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP) of High-Grade Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia
Authors: Cecchini Silvia , Visioli Carmen Beatriz , Zappa Marco , Ciatto Stefano 
Published: April 2018

Purpose To evaluate the recurrence rate of high-grade CIN treated by loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) and the optimal follow-up schedule. Method 622 cases of CIN2/3 consecutively treated by LEEP in the Florence screening program, with 66.5 months average follow-up (range, 6–195 months), were evaluated. Recurrence was defined as histological evidence of high-grade CIN. Results The average recurrence rate was 9.1% (52 cases). Recurrence was significantly associated to increasing age (χ2 = 12.73, df = 3, P < 001), CIN grade (10.5 vs 6.1%, χ2 = 3.37, df = 1, P = 0.067), and time interval, with the risk of developing a recurrence highest in the first year (7.4%, 95% confidence interval, 5.3–9.5%.), and rare beyond the third year. Multivariate analysis confirmed a significant independent association of age (particularly over age 40) and CIN grade to the risk of recurrence. Conclusions LEEP is an effective procedure for the treatment of high-grade CIN. Most recurrences after LEEP occur in the first 3 years, and non-recurrent cases at that date may stop intensive follow-up and return to current cytological screening every 3 years.
Postoperative Irradiation in Localized Renal Cell Carcinoma: The Rambam Medical Center Experience
Authors: Gez Eliahu , Libes Michael , Bar-Deroma Raquel , Rubinov Rafael , Stein Moshe , Kuten Abraham 
Published: April 2018

Objective This study evaluated the results of postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy in patients with localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Patients Eighty-six patients (median age, 60 years) with RCC treated by radical nephrectomy were evaluated for the efficacy of postoperative radiotherapy. Twenty-four percent of patients had stage T2, 35% T3a, 36% T3b and 5% T4 disease. Seventy-seven percent had clear cell carcinomas and 23% granular cell or spindle and mixed cell carcinomas. Radiotherapy was given to the renal bed and adjacent lymphatic basin at a median dose of 46 Gy. Results Thirty-two (37%) patients relapsed: 27 (84%) had systemic relapse only and five (16%) had local and systemic relapse; all patients of the latter group had stage T3b disease. The 10-year disease-free and overall survival was 40% and 42%, respectively. Tumor invasion of the renal vessels and stage of disease were correlated with survival. Side effects of radiotherapy were mainly gastrointestinal, but one patient who received right abdominal irradiation died because of liver failure. Conclusion The results of our study are comparable with those reported in the literature. Since postoperative irradiation did not improve the survival of patients with RCC and showed toxicity, it is not recommended.