bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Breakthrough Pain Management in Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy: A National Survey on Behalf of the Palliative and Supportive Care Study Group
Authors: Caravatta Luciana , Ramella Sara , Melano Antonella , Trippa Fabio , Santacaterina Anna , Bacchiddu Simonetta , Mandoliti Giovanni , Mantini Giovanna 
Published: May 2015

Aims To assess the contribution of radiation oncologists in Italy in current management of breakthrough pain (BtP). Methods In 2012, the Palliative and Supportive Care Study Group of the Italian Association of Radiation Oncology (AIRO) proposed a survey. All Italian radiation oncologists were individually invited to complete an online questionnaire regarding their management of BtP in patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment. Results A total of 303 Italian radiation oncologists (of 330 who had access to the Web site) completed the questionnaire over an 8-month period. Some important differences were shown in pain intensity assessment by validated measurement scales, as well as in setting and prescribing analgesic therapy to prevent procedural pain. These differences were also reviewed and discussed related to international guidelines and data available from the literature. Conclusions Compared to other medical professionals, the involvement of radiation oncologists in cancer pain management remains marginal, at least in Italy. More than 70% of radiation oncologists directly optimized the analgesic therapy during the treatment course and more than 50% implemented specific treatment for BtP. However, the ability of the radiation oncologist to manage BtP could be improved. In order to increase the consciousness of systematic symptom measurement and to spread the knowledge of the best type of analgesic drugs to be used, training events promoted by national associations, such as AIRO, and a collaborative multidisciplinary approach of the management of cancer pain will be promoted.
Identification of the Interaction Network of Hub Genes for Melanoma Treated with Vemurafenib Based on Microarray Data
Authors: Quan Liangliang , Wang Yang , Liang Jiulong , Shi Jie , Zhang Yu , Tao Kai 
Published: May 2015

Aims and background The objective of this study was to identify possible biomarkers and to explore the mechanisms of suppression of vemurafenib on melanoma progression. Methods GSE42872 affymetrix microarray data were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database for further analysis. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between vehicle-treated samples and vemurafenibtreated samples were identified. Gene ontology and pathway enrichment analysis of DEGs were performed, followed by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction. Furthermore, the functional modules of the PPI network were screened using BioNet analysis tool. Finally, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis was performed for DEGs in the module. Results In total, 794 upregulated transcripts corresponding to 214 genes and 977 downregulated transcripts corresponding to 325 genes were screened. The downregulated DEGs were significantly enriched in pathways such as cell cycle, DNA replication, and p53 signaling pathway. Upregulated DEGs were significantly enriched in phosphatidylinositol signaling system and inositol phosphate metabolism. Significantly enriched functions of downregulated DEGs were mitotic cell cycle, nuclear division, DNA metabolic process, cell cycle, and mitosis. Upregulated DEGs were mainly enriched in single multicellular organism process and multicellular organismal process. Moreover, cell division cycle 6, checkpoint kinase 1 (CHEK1), E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and phosphoinositide-3-kinase, regulatory subunit 1-α (PIK3R1) of the module were remarkably enriched in pathways such as cell cycle, apoptosis, focal adhesion, and DNA replication. Conclusions Cell division cycle 6, CHEK1, E2F1, EGFR, and PIK3R1 of the module and their relative pathways, cell cycle, and focal adhesion might play important roles of suppression of vemurafenib on melanoma progression.
Docetaxel, Capecitabine and Concurrent Radiotherapy for Gastric Cancer Patients with Postoperative Locoregional Recurrence
Authors: Xie Jian , Liang Ning , Qiao Lili , Su Lei , Li Kai , Luo Hui , Zhang Jingxin , Zhang Jiandong 
Published: May 2015

Aims and background This study aimed to assess the efficacy of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) with docetaxel and capecitabine versus docetaxel and capecitabine chemotherapy for gastric cancer patients with postoperative locoregional recurrence. Methods From 2008 to 2011, 81 patients with locoregional recurrence after curative resection of gastric cancer were enrolled. Thirty-nine (CCRT group) received involved-field radiotherapy with oral capecitabine (twice daily, 5 days/week) and intravenous infusion of docetaxel (once weekly). The remaining 42 patients (chemotherapy group) were treated with oral capecitabine (twice daily, days 1-14) followed by intravenous infusion of docetaxel (days 1 and 8). The overall response rate, overall symptom control rate, toxicity or adverse reactions, and overall survival (OS) were compared. Results The overall response rate (CR+PR) was significantly higher in the CCRT group (79.5%) than the chemotherapy group (54.8%). In CCRT individuals, the control rates for bleeding, pain, and dysphagia/obstruction were 87.5%, 75%, and 71.4%, respectively, versus 63.2%, 50%, and 28.6% in the chemotherapy group. CCRT patients had a better symptom control rate than the chemotherapy group (52.5% vs. 80%). Adverse reactions were non-significantly more severe in CCRT patients. Finally, median OS was longer in the CCRT vs. chemotherapy group (14.2 vs. 6.4 months). Conclusions Involved-field radiotherapy with docetaxel and capecitabine was effective and well tolerated. These findings provide further insight into the role of CCRT in gastric cancer. However, this was not a randomized controlled study and the number of patients was relatively small, suggesting that cautious interpretation of cumulative estimates is warranted.
Hope in Severe Disease: A Review of the Literature on the Construct and the Tools for Assessing Hope in the Psycho-oncologic Setting
Authors: Piccinelli Claudia , Clerici Carlo Alfredo , Veneroni Laura , Ferrari Andrea , Proserpio Tullio 
Published: May 2015

Aims and background Research on the topic of hope began a long time ago but, more recently, interest in this construct has focused mainly on the development of psychometric tools for its assessment. The 2 steps of the present article are defining the construct of hope by completing a preliminary review of the literature and analyzing the tools used to assess hope in the setting of oncologic medicine, conducting a systematic review of the existing scientific literature. Methods and Study Design Our study was conducted in 2 stages. The first stage involved a nonsystematic preliminary review of the literature, the second a systematic search in all the medical journals contained in the Medline database as of 2012. The literature identified at the first stage was divided according to several topical categories, i.e., theoretical, empirical, and clinical works on the construct of hope. In the second systematic search, we identified the main psychometric tools used to measure hope in the field of clinical oncology and assessed their validity. Results A total of 22 articles were identified. What emerged when we pooled the findings of our 2 lines of research was that, despite its broad theoretical definitions, the construct of hope can be broken down to a few constituent elements when hope is studied using currently available psychometric tools. In particular, these identified constituent elements were coping, spiritual well-being, quality of life, distress, and depression. Conclusions The factors contained in the construct of hope include temporality, future, expectancy, motivation, and interconnectedness. The review of the scientific literature does not reveal a clear definition of hope. Multidisciplinary studies are needed to communicate different perspectives (medical, psychological, spiritual, theological) among each other for better definition of the constituent elements of hope in order to support the hope with specific interventions.
Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer in Lombardy: A Survey by the Lombardy Group of the Italian Association for Radiation Oncology
Authors: Merlotti Anna , Di Muzio Nadia , Antognoni Paolo , Filippone Francesco , Bianchi Ernestina , Castiglioni Simona , Bruschieri Lorenza , Lvaldi Giovanni , De Cicco Luigi , Marzoli Luca , Orecchia Roberto 
Published: May 2015

Aims In 2013, a survey was conducted to analyze the available resources and their use in the radiation treatment of patients with malignancies of the head and neck region in Lombardy, on behalf of the Lombardy group of the Italian Association of Radiation Oncology. Methods A questionnaire was sent to 26 of 34 radiotherapy centers active in the region. Two centers were excluded because they did not treat head and neck cancers (Besta Neurological Institute and Cyberknife center), 4 had started their activity in 2013 or late 2012, and 2 satellite centers had their results included in the main center's response. Items investigated included number of patients with head and neck cancer treated in 2012, general technical issues, and integration with surgery and chemotherapy. Results Twenty-four questionnaires were returned (92% response rate). There was a good consistency on the use of radiotherapy in different settings, whereas integration with chemotherapy showed more heterogeneous data. Treatment techniques were 3D conformal radiotherapy or intensity-modulated radiotherapy with image-guided radiotherapy in most cases and a low rate of treatment-related death was observed. Conclusions This survey provides important data on the use of radiotherapy resources for patients with head and neck cancer in Lombardy. The data offer the opportunity to further investigate issues that could better standardize head and neck cancer treatment and allocate resources across the region.
Morphological and Functional Analysis of a Cohort of Patients Undergoing Orthotopic Ileal Neobladder
Authors: Pirola Giacomo Maria , Micali Salvatore , Territo Angelo , Sighinolfi Maria C. , Beato Alessandra , Bianchi Giampaolo 
Published: May 2015

Introduction This study was conducted between January 2001 and December 2013 to evaluate patient's outcomes after radical cystectomy and orthotopic ileal neobladder from a morphological and functional point of view at a median follow-up of 2 years. Materials and Methods A total of 48 eligible patents were included. We first report our technical modifications to Studer's neobladder. Sequently, after a medium follow-up of two years, we assessed morphology of the reservoir and voiding functionality of this patients cohort, submitting them to specific questionnaires and to uroflowmetry. Results Early and late postoperative data are available for 36 patients. From the morphological follow-up, 2 years after surgery, six patients had hydroureteronephrosis for vescico-ureteral reflux in four cases (11% of total) and uretero-neobladder anastomosis stenosis in the other two (5.6% of total). Neobladder shape always remained spherical, with a relative right lateralization in eight cases (22.2%). Regarding the nine patients subjected to uroflowmetry, seven (77.7%) highlighted the lack of postvoid residual urine, with a maximum urinary flow rate within the normal range in six of them. Discussion Improvements in surgical technique may help to reduce complications rate. From uroflowmetry analysis, we can observe that the mean filling pressure following surgery was relatively stable and urinary flow rate was mostly satisfactory. In patients without postvoid residual urine, all referred absence of daily incontinence and good quality of life. Conclusion From this morpho-functional evaluation, our orthotopic Studer-modified ileal neobladder seems an ideal solution for urinary diversion, presenting functional features similar to native bladder and assuming a well-defined morphology, not changing in time.
The Essential Role of Cooperative Law
Authors: Fici Antonio 
Published: May 2015

The Essential Role of Cooperative Law
The idea that cooperative law is essential for the development of cooperatives is not new, but only lately is it spreading rapidly within cooperative circles and urging representative entities of the cooperative movement to take concrete actions. Also in light of this renewed interest towards the cooperative legal theory, this article will seek to demonstrate that recognizing and protecting a distinct identity based on a specific purpose constitute the essential role of cooperative law. The article will subsequently discuss, also from a comparative legal perspective, the nature and essence of the cooperative purpose and some related regulation issues.
Ownership, Governance and Related Trade-Offs in Agricultural Cooperatives
Authors: Iliopoulos Constantine 
Published: May 2015

Ownership, Governance and Related Trade-Offs in Agricultural Cooperatives
Agricultural cooperatives represent a key institutional arrangement in the world food and agriculture industries. Understanding these business organizations by adopting multi-disciplinary perspectives serves both scholarly and societal needs. This article addresses two issues: (1) how agricultural cooperatives choose from a plethora of ownership and governance features and (2) what are the main trade-offs cooperatives face in making these choices. Both issues have important implications for the efficiency of collective entrepreneurship organizations in food supply chains and thus for food nutrition security and food quality. The article proffers observations based on the extant literature and the author’s field experience. It is concluded that agricultural cooperatives choose ownership and governance features in an attempt to attract risk capital for investments while optimizing collective decision-making efficiency. The main trade-offs that cooperatives address while making these choices are between (1) investor mentality and member-patron control, (2) organizational complexity and vagueness of ownership rights, (3) the need for risk capital and member control, (4) organizational complexity and member control and (5) management monitoring costs and the costs of collective decision-making. These observations are highly relevant for organizational scholars, cooperative practitioners and policymakers as they inform decision-making in cooperatives in more than one way.
Legal Motherhood and Parental Responsibility
Authors: Budzikiewicz Christine , Vonk Machteld 
Published: May 2015

Legal Motherhood and Parental Responsibility: A Comparative Study on the Tensions between Scientific Knowledge, Social Reality and Personal Identity
For the past 15 to 20 years there has been intense discussion in many European countries how mothers in a crisis situation can be prevented from abandoning or even killing their new born babies. Baby-boxes have been installed in a number of countries and/or possibilities for anonymous birth have been discussed or introduced. The Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed concern over these developments and stated that both developments infringe on the child’s right to know its origins. Both Germany and the Netherlands have taken steps to protect new mothers and their babies in crisis situations by introducing a form of secrecy surrounding the mother’s identity. In Germany this has taken the form of a recently introduced law that keeps the birth and the identity of the mother confidential, in the Netherlands this has taken the form of a protocol drawn up by professionals which aims to keep the birth and the mother’s identity secret. This article will compare and critically discuss these developments in Germany and the Netherlands.
The Incorporation of Intentional Parentage by Female Same-Sex Couples into National Parentage Laws
Authors: Jeppesen de Boer Christina G. , Kronborg Annette 
Published: May 2015

The Incorporation of Intentional Parentage by Female Same-Sex Couples into National Parentage Laws: A Comparison between Danish and Dutch Law
The incorporation of intentional parentage by female same-sex couples in Danish and Dutch law in 2013 has taken place on the premises of the existing parentage law. In Dutch law, the second mother may automatically become the legal parent (formal relationship – anonymous donor) or she may become the legal parent in all other situations by recognition with consent of the mother. In Danish law, the second mother’s parentage may be established in a simple registration procedure, if she has consented to the act of assisted reproduction prior to treatment. When use has been made of a known donor there is no direct presumption favouring the known donor or the second mother in either country. Danish law provides a contractual understanding to be made prior to treatment while Dutch law depends upon the initiative of the parties and to whom the mother gives consent to recognition – with subsequent discretionary power of the court to modify the result. The main difference we associate with a systemized specific legislative approach (Denmark) and discretionary powers of the court to correct the outcome (the Netherlands).
Wie heeft hier de regie?
Authors: van Ooyen-Houben M. , Mein A. 
Published: May 2015

Who is in charge here? Dutch coffee shops in between local, national and international drug policies
Tensions between the central national level and the local level become clearly visible in coffee shop policies, which have to fit within the international VN and EU treaties and strategies, national drug policy principles and local interests of public order. Three cases, all concerning long-term problems of drug tourism, nuisance and crime around coffee shops, illustrate these tensions. In the case of coffee shop Checkpoint near the Belgian border the Public Prosecutor aimed at solving the problem by prosecuting the coffee shop as a criminal network, while the mayor tried to minimize the negative effects by facilitating visitor flows. In the case of the private club and residence criterion in 2012 not all the mayors actually enforced these national criteria. This leads to a bigger emphasis on local tailoring. Thirdly, several mayors have opted for a regulation of cannabis production for coffee shops, while the stance of the national government is that international treaties banning this practice should be respected. The influence of local policies may be small, but in the end the local communities seem crucial when it comes to finding new ways of managing drug problems.
Association between vitamin D and bone mineral density in post-menopausal women with metabolic syndrome
Authors: Dadonienė Jolanta , Čypienė Alma , Rinkūnienė Egidija , Badarienė Jolita , Burca Jelizaveta , Sakaitė Ieva , Kalinauskaitė Goda , Kumpauskaitė Vaiva , Laucevičius Aleksandras 
Published: May 2015

Background. The aim of this study was to identify the relation between vitamin D level and mineral bone density in post-menopausal women with metabolic syndrome.
Materials and methods. This study included 100 post-menopausal women at age between 50 and 65 with metabolic syndrome. All participants underwent anthropometric measurements. Laboratory tests were performed to determine lipid profile, serum glucose, creatinine, C-reactive protein, vitamin D (25(OH) D), ionized calcium concentration and urine albumin / creatinine ratio. Bone mineral density of the lumbar spine (L1– L4) and total hip was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.
Results. According to the vitamin D concentration level in the blood all women were divided into four groups: the average failure was observed in 57%, mild failure in 33%, severe failure in 5%; and only 5% of women had normal vitamin levels. The mean 25(OH) D level was 47.40 ± 16.91 nmol/l. According to bone densitometry we found that 77% of all participants had normal bone mineral density, 22% had osteopenia and 5% were diagnosed with osteoporosis. No correlation was found between bone mineral density and 25(OH) D levels. We found a weak positive correlation between high density lipoprotein cholesterol and 25(OH) D (r = 0.3, p
A new mechanism for OH vibrational relaxation leading to enhanced CO2 emissions in the nocturnal mesosphere
Authors: Sharma Ramesh D. , Wintersteiner Peter P. , Kalogerakis Konstantinos S. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractOn the basis of experimental and theoretical studies, this paper proposes a new mechanism that contributes to nocturnal 4.3 µm CO2 emissions. It suggests that collisions of ground state O atoms with highly vibrationally excited OH(v), produced by the reaction of H with O3, remove a substantial fraction of the OH(v) vibrational energy by a fast, spin‐allowed, multiquantum vibration‐to‐electronic energy transfer (ET) process that generates O(1D): OH(v ≥ 5) + O(3P) → OH(0 ≤ v′ ≤ v − 5) + O(1D). The electronically excited O(1D) atom is subsequently deactivated by collisions with N2 in a fast spin‐forbidden ET process that leaves the N2 molecule with an average of 2.2 vibrational quanta. Finally, the vibrational excitation of N2 is transferred by a fast, near‐resonant vibration‐to‐vibration ET process to the asymmetric stretch (v3) mode of CO2, which promptly radiates near 4.3 µm.
Depth‐variant azimuthal anisotropy in Tibet revealed by surface wave tomography
Authors: Pandey Shantanu , Yuan Xiaohui , Debayle Eric , Tilmann Frederik , Priestley Keith , Li Xueqing 
Published: May 2015

AbstractAzimuthal anisotropy derived from multimode Rayleigh wave tomography in China exhibits depth‐dependent variations in Tibet, which can be explained as induced by the Cenozoic India‐Eurasian collision. In west Tibet, the E‐W fast polarization direction at depths <100 km is consistent with the accumulated shear strain in the Tibetan lithosphere, whereas the N‐S fast direction at greater depths is aligned with Indian Plate motion. In northeast Tibet, depth‐consistent NW‐SE directions imply coupled deformation throughout the whole lithosphere, possibly also involving the underlying asthenosphere. Significant anisotropy at depths of 225 km in southeast Tibet reflects sublithospheric deformation induced by northward and eastward lithospheric subduction beneath the Himalaya and Burma, respectively. The multilayer anisotropic surface wave model can explain some features of SKS splitting measurements in Tibet, with differences probably attributable to the limited back azimuthal coverage of most SKS studies in Tibet and the limited horizontal resolution of the surface wave results.
High‐resolution global magnetohydrodynamic simulation of bursty bulk flows
Authors: Wiltberger M. , Merkin V. , Lyon J. G. , Ohtani S. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractA high‐resolution global magnetohydrodynamic simulation is conducted with the Lyon‐Fedder‐Mobarry (LFM) model for idealized solar wind conditions. Within the simulation results high‐speed flows are seen throughout the magnetotail when the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) is southward. Case study analysis of these flows shows that they have an enhancement in BZ and a decrease in density preceding a peak in the flow velocity. A careful examination of the structure within the magnetotail shows that these features are driven by bursts of magnetic reconnection. In addition to the case study, a superposed epoch analysis of flows occurring during a 90 min interval of southward IMF yields statistical properties that are in qualitative agreement with observational analysis of bursty bulk flows (BBFs). For the idealized simulation conditions, the most significant differences with the observational results are a broader velocity profile in time, which becomes narrower away from the center of the current sheet, and a larger density drop after flow passage. The peak BZ amplitude is larger than in observations and precedes the peak in the flow velocity. We conclude that the LFM simulations are reproducing the statistical features of BBFs and that they are driven by spatially and temporally localized reconnection events within the simulation domain.