1,721,044 research outputs found

    Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis

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    The present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed

    Variations on the Author

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    “Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship

    Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis

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    We provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis

    Chylous reflux pathologies: diagnosis and microsurgical treatment.

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    Background. This article aims to make a contribution to the present knowledge of the diagnosis and therapy of chylous reflux pathologies, based largely on the authors' clinical experience in the microsurgical treatment of these disorders. Methods. In 47 patients affected by chylostatic disorders the diagnosis was based on the clinical history, physical examination, lymphoscintigraphy, lymphography, ultrasound, CT scanning and lymphangio-MR. In cases of chylous reflux towards the external genitalia or the lower limbs, the puncture of one of the lymphostatic verrucae which may be part of the symptomatology, can be sufficient for the clinical diagnosis. If patients suffer from hypoproteinaemia and/or an intestinal malabsorption syndrome, this should be dealt with to ensure them at least temporary metabolic compensation before surgical treatment, if any. In patients affected by chylous ascites, antigravitational ligatures of incompetent collectors, sometimes associated with lymphovenous shunts, can be a therapeutic solution. Results. We have found that CO2 laser irradiation at very low power achieved full section closure of lymphatic and chylous vessels as complete as if they had been tied. In the case of chyloedema of the external genitalia and of/or the lower limbs, reductive plastic treatment completes the result after antigravitational ligatures and derivative microsurgery. Conclusions. A laser-microsurgical technique used to manage chylous reflux pathologies achieved positive and permanent results, especially after an accurate preoperative diagnostic study to determine the site and nature of the lymphatic and chylous leakage and associated disorders

    Sleeve gastrectomy with concomitant hiatal hernia repair in obese patients: long-term results on gastroesophageal reflux disease

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    Background: Hiatal hernia repair (HHR) during Sleeve Gastrectomy (SG) is recommended when the defect is intraoperatively found; however, the long term effect on gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) remains controversial. Objectives: This study aimed to report long-term follow-up data, at least after 7 years, of SG with concomitant HHR and the outcome on GERD symptoms. Setting: Tertiary-care referral hospital. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed 91 obese patients submitted to SG + HHR with a minimum of 7-years follow-up. The preoperative evaluation included GERD symptoms assessment by a standardized questionnaire, proton pump inhibitor usage evaluation, an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and a barium-swallow esophagogram to detect the presence of HH. At long-term follow-up visit, GERD assessment was performed to evaluate remission, persistence, or new onset of typical GERD symptoms; proton pump inhibitor usage was also investigated. Patients underwent barium-swallow esophagogram and/or upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Results: At long-term evaluation, 2 of 91 patients (2.2%) were lost and 1 patient underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Of patients with preoperative GERD, 60% had GERD resolution; however, 27 of 88 (30.6%) patients reported postoperative GERD symptoms. Among these patients 15 (55.5%) showed the HH recurrence detected by barium-swallow esophagogram. All patients with HH recurrence had esophagitis and 1 case had a Barrett's esophagus. In the remaining 12 patients (44.4%) with postoperative GERD without HH recurrence, the barium-swallow esophagogram showed signs of reflux in reverse Trendelenburg. Conclusions: At long-term follow-up HH recurrence was consistently related to the presence of GERD symptoms and to a high rate of esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus. In all patients with GERD symptoms after SG + HHR, a HH recurrence should be suspected and an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy strongly recommended to rule out esophagitis, and especially Barrett's esophagus

    Sarcopenia: What a Surgeon Should Know

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    Sarcopenia is an increasingly frequent syndrome characterized by generalized and progressive loss of muscle mass, reduction in muscle strength, and resultant functional impairment. This condition is associated with increased risk of falls and fractures, disability, and increased risk of death. When a sarcopenic patient undergoes major surgery, it has a higher risk of complications and postoperative mortality because of less resistance to surgical stress. It is not easy to recognize a sarcopenic patient preoperatively, but this is essential to evaluate the correct risk to benefit ratio. The role of sarcopenia in surgical patients has been studied for both oncological and non-oncological surgery. For correct surgical planning, data about sarcopenia are essential to design a correct tailored treatment

    Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts

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    We conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more sophisticated methods
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