12685 research outputs found
Sort by
“And the people sang in all the ways of the City:” A Speculative Ethnomusicology of Gondor
Get PDFThe music of Gondor is one of the more elusive musical traditions in Middle-earth, described only briefly throughout the text of The Lord of the Rings, and thus often neglected in scholarship on music in the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. However, an ethnomusicological line of inquiry brings to the fore questions of performance, perception, and meaning that contribute to our interpretations of the many levels of symbolic transformation seen in Gondor at the beginning of the Fourth Age. The evidence of both musical activity and silence in Gondor mirrors conclusions that have been documented in real-world ethnomusicological studies in conflict zones, and further supports scholarship on the role of healing and renewal in Tolkien’s articulation of Aragorn’s divine kingship
Platelet Rich Plasma Injections for Orthopedic Conditions
Get PDFObjective: To determine if platelet rich plasma has an effect on improvement in healing, function, and pain levels in orthopedic conditions. Methods: The studies included were a triple blinded randomized control study, randomized control trials, meta-analysis, and systematic reviews. Results: Overall through this research, there is limited evidence on PRP injections for healing purposes, however a significant amount of evidence shows improvement in both function and pain levels with PRP injections over time. Conclusion: The use of PRP injections have shown optimal results over time for both pain and function, however more research is needed to be conducted with a larger sample size to increase the validity of the findings.Keywords: Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), Healing, Function, Pain, Orthopedic Condition
Breast Cancer Prophylaxis in BRCA+ Women
Get PDFObjective: This review should aid in the education of medical professionals on the correct medical practices in prophylaxis of breast cancer in women who have tested positive for the BRCA gene mutation.
Methods: In order to investigate the best form of prophylaxis for BRCA mutation carriers, 2,660 results were available from 2019. Nine studies were selected to evaluate the efficacy of both Tamoxifen and BRRM for the prophylaxis of breast cancer in BRCA gene mutation carriers.
Results: Women who took Tamoxifen had a 10.9% incidence of cancer while those who did not had a 14.3% incidence of cancer but is also found to be dependent on the type of BRCA mutation. Eighty three percent of BRCA1 breast cancers are ER negative while 76% of BRCA2 breast cancers are ER positive. Tamoxifen reduced breast cancer incidence by 62% among BRCA2 carriers due to their ER positive composition while not reducing the incidence of breast cancer in those with BRCA1 gene mutation. Bilateral risk reducing mastectomy provides a 90% risk reduction in breast cancer development but is associated with a 32.8% complication rate.
Conclusions: Overall bilateral risk reducing mastectomy (BRRM) is statistically the better option for breast cancer prophylaxis over Tamoxifen but decisions need to be made on a personal and multidisciplinary approach. Tamoxifen is not thoroughly researched for this indication and has many side effects while BRRM involves major surgery that can possibly lead to cosmetic complications.
Keywords: BRCA gene mutation, tamoxifen, tamoxifen side effects, mastectomy, mastectomy complications, breast cancer prophylaxi
How Do Older Adults Define a Good Death? A Scoping Review
Get PDFA scoping literature review of the concepts of ‘good death’ and ‘dying well’ among older adults was conducted. The purpose was to identify aspects that older adults specifically considered important in defining a ‘good death’. The search revealed five articles published between 2005 and 2019 that met inclusionary criteria for the review. Primary among the views of the older adults in these studies of a ‘good death’ was the desire to avoid being a burden to families; done so by dying pain-free/peacefully (preferably in sleep) and preparing in advance by involving family in decisions and funeral/estate planning. Family support throughout the dying process was also seen as important. What constitutes a good death is unique to each individual but knowing the conceptions of older adult cohorts, although not homogeneous, may guide discussions near the end of life
Changes in Ground Beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) Species Assemblages after Removal of Red Pine (Pinus resinosa) Overstory on Dry Sand Prairie Sites in Michigan
Get PDFGround beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) species assemblages were studied at sites on the Huron-Manistee National Forests in Newaygo County, Michigan. The goal was to monitor changes in carabid diversity on areas where mature red pine (Pinus resinosa Sol. ex Aiton) was removed during the 1996-1997 winter and compare with carabid diversity at nearby natural dry sand prairie sites, natural oak-pine barrens, and uncut red pine stands. The red pine had been planted on dry sand prairie sites during 1940-1950. Sampling with pitfall traps occurred during May-August in both 1996 and 1997, but only July-August in 1999. Overall, 16,259 carabid specimens were collected, representing 92 species of which one was a new state record for Michigan: Dicaelus furvus furvus Dejean. Of the 92 species, 27 were collected in the uncut red pine stands, 41 in the natural dry sand prairie sites, 28 in the natural oak-pine barrens, and 77 in the clearcut areas. Of all 41 species collected in the dry sand prairie sites, 27 (66%) of these were collected in the clearcut sites in 1997, 30 (73%) in 1999, and 34 (81%) for both years combined. Carabid abundance peaked in June in the red pine and oak-pine sites, compared with August for the clearcut sites. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination indicated considerable overlap in the carabid composition for the red pine and oak-pine collections, but more distinct assemblages for the dry sand prairie and clearcut sites. Of the 92 species, 41 (45%) were significant indicator species for a particular habitat
A Quadriocellar Hedychridium caeruleum (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae) from Manitoba, Canada
Get PDFA specimen of Hedychridium caeruleum (Norton) with four ocelli was discovered in Manitoba, Canada. The supernumerary ocellus is located to the right of the ocellar triangle, which otherwise appears normal. This is the first report of an ocellar or ocular teratology within Chrysididae, adding to the small body of literature currently available on supernumerary ocelli within Hymenoptera. This is the first published record of H. caeruleum in Canada
Elwing and the Isle of Seabirds: Tolkien\u27s Towers and the Lais of Marie de France
Get PDFDuring the late 1920s-1930s, J.R.R. Tolkien was engaged in writing numerous poetic lays, many of which he never completed. At the same time, he was engaging in a series of revisions of his grand mythology of Middle-earth, the tales which were posthumously published as The Silmarillion. As he was working on these various projects simultaneously or serially, we should not be surprised to see repeated themes, motifs, and tropes. I argue that among these are several of the Aarne-Thompson-Uther (ATU) folktale types, especially 432, a version of the Woman Imprisoned in the Tower (Rapunzel) trope termed The Bird Lover. Tolkien may have been drawing upon a work that he references in his own writings (and was known to have owned by 1920), the twelfth-century lais of Marie de France. More precisely, I demonstrate numerous parallels between the Lai of Yonec of Marie de France and related tales, and argue that the tale of Eärendel and Elwing increasingly both reflected and subverted the ATU 432 trope as Tolkien engaged in revisions in the 1930s
Challenges of anticoagulant treatment in atrial fibrillation with liver disease
Get PDFManaging anticoagulation therapy in individuals with atrial fibrillation who also have liver disease is highly challenging due to altered blood clotting processes and the risk of bleeding due to liver dysfunction. The literature highlights the complex nature of anticoagulant therapy in these patients, emphasizing the need for personalized treatment methods that take into account both thrombosis and bleeding risks. Research has shown a higher occurrence of atrial fibrillation in people with cirrhosis, highlighting the need to find the best anticoagulation methods based on the severity of liver disease and patient-specific factors. The debate over the safety and effectiveness of direct oral anticoagulants compared to traditional drugs like warfarin in cirrhotic patients with atrial fibrillation is still ongoing. Collaborative initiatives between experts in hepatology and cardiology are needed to address the complicated interplay between liver disease and atrial fibrillation, promoting interdisciplinary care models that enhance patient safety and treatment effectiveness. By prioritizing a patient-centered approach guided by extensive research, future directions in the hemostatic management of cirrhotic patients with atrial fibrillation may improve clinical decision-making and therapeutic outcomes
Challenges in diagnosing nasopharyngeal tumors
Get PDFMalignant nasopharyngeal tumors account for approximately 4% of ENT malignant tumor pathology and 1% of all cancers. The diagnosis of nasopharyngeal tumors is often late, the reason being the location in a silent anatomical region in terms of symptomatology and accessibility. Thus, approximately 70% of newly diagnosed patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma unfortunately present with the condition in an advanced local stage. The early signs and symptoms are varied (nasal obstruction, hearing loss, otalgia, headache) and are usually ignored by the patient and even by the doctor in the initial stage of nasopharyngeal tumor evolution. Approximately 5% of patients have systemic metastases at presentation, the most common location being bone. Latent Epstein-Barr virus infection appears to be involved in the pathogenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. There is no exact evidence of how often a nasopharynx tumor’s first sign is unilateral hearing loss. Thus, further work is required to determine that exactly to help patients get diagnosed faster and therefore improving their therapeutical options. This study aims to explore which symptoms are most common as the first indication of NPC, as well as how these symptoms compare to each other in terms of frequency and likelihood of occurrence