195 research outputs found
Review of : Carolin Ostermann, 2015, Cognitive Lexicography. A New Approach to Lexicography Making Use of Cognitive Semantics [Lexicographica. Series Mayor 149], Berlin/Boston, Walter De Gruyter. In RESLA, Revista Española de Lingüística Aplicada/Spanish Journal of Applied Linguistics, 2017/1, pp. 1-12.
No full textReview of : Carolin Ostermann, Cognitive Lexicography. A new approach to lexicography making use of cognitive semantics. (Lexicographica. Series Maior, 149) Berlin/Boston: Walter De Gruyter, 2015, xi + 380 pages, ISBN 978-3-11-042744 8 (HBK); e-ISBN (PDF) 978-3-11-042416-4; e-ISBN (EPUB) 978-3-11-042428-7. The author of this book provides a positive answer to the long-debated question whether or not lexicographers need to know about linguistics (among others, Rundell, 2012). In the same way as lexicography is seen by some as ‘art and craft’ (Landau, 2001), and the ‘poor relation’ of lexicology (Lipka,1995, p. 381), there are arguments—also hard-line—against the potential contributions of linguistics to lexicography (for one, Wierzbicka, 1985, p. 5). Without going all the way to endorsing a theory of lexicography (e.g., Tarp, 2008), arguments on the other side take a positive view of the relationship between linguistics and lexicography. In this context, this book takes as its starting point the premise that lexicography can benefit greatly from neighboring disciplines in linguistics and, more specifically, from Cognitive Linguistics and Cognitive Semantics. This is Cognitive Lexicography. With the title of Chapter 1, it represents “A new approach to lexicography,” in the sense that the full potential of this approach has not been explored yet. With works such as Kövecses and Csábi (2014) and Xu (2015), the author clearly reflects the main developments in applications of cognitive linguistics to lexicography. Whereas the suggested methodology can accommodate new features, it is also hoped that further research takes suggestions on cross-referencing between entries to a further stage, which envisages tailoring dictionary macro-structure and arranging entries and meanings according to the needs of individual users. This may enhance vocabulary learning by focusing on the systematicity of language. To give one example, Kövecses and Csábi (2014, pp. 136-137) point out that “a simply alphabetically arranged dictionary may become a systematically arranged group of entries at a click, if it is made possible that, for instance, we can select words and expressions that describe ANGER or LOVE, in order to see what source domains these use, or words and expressions that contain the word fire in order to see what target domains there may be.” In short, Cognitive Lexicography in the electronic age can adapt dictionaries and dictionary entries specific user needs, goals and profiles, thus playing a major part in making so-called ʽlexicographersʼ dreamsʼ (de Schryver 2003) come true
Management of chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura: targeting insufficient megakaryopoiesis as a novel therapeutic principle
No full textAndreas Rank, Oliver Weigert, Helmut OstermannMedizinische Klinik III – Grosshadern, Klinikum der Ludwig Maximilians-Universitaet Munich, Munich, GermanyAbstract: Traditionally, anti-platelet autoantibodies accelerating platelet clearance from the peripheral circulation have been recognized as the primary pathopysiological mechanism in chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Recently, increasing evidence supports the co-existence of insufficient megakaryopoiesis. Inadequate low thrombopoietin (TPO) levels are associated with insufficient proliferation and differentiation of megakaryocytes, decreased proplatelet formation, and subsequent platelet release. Recently two novel activators of TPO receptors have been made available: romiplostim and eltrombopag. In several phase III studies, both agents demonstrated increase of platelet counts in about 80% of chronic ITP patients within 2 to 3 weeks. These agents substantially broaden the therapeutic options for patients with chronic ITP although long-term results are still pending. This review will provide an update on the current conception of underlying mechanisms in ITP and novel, pathophysiologically based treatment options.Keywords: immune thrombocytopenia, romiplostim, eltrombopag, megakaryopoiesi
Disabled access points on the railroad
No full textKurzfassung In unserer Gesellschaft leben Menschen, die körperlich, geistig oder seelisch behindert sind. Behinderungen können sich als Folge von Krankheit, Unfällen und Gewalteinwirkungen (z.B. Kriegsfolgen) ergeben.Für ein menschenwürdiges Leben sind Leistungen wichtig, die Gleichberechtigung und Selbstbestimmung fördern. Daher ist es die Aufgabe der Politik und der Gesellschaft, Menschen mit besonderen Bedürfnissen in allen Lebensbereichen zu integrieren. Neben zahlreichen anderen Lebensbereichen stellt der Fahrgastwechsel im (Eisen)Bahnverkehr für Passagiere mit eingeschränkter Mobilität erhebliche Probleme dar.Sie benötigen grundsätzlich mehr Zeit als andere Passagiere, und insbesondere Rollstuhlfahrer zählen zu jenen Fahrgastgruppen, die beim Einstieg in eine Bahn mit den stärksten Einschränkungen konfrontiert sind.Ziel dieser Diplomarbeit ist im Hinblick auf derartige Probleme in den Einstiegsbereichen einen Überblick über vorhandene Einstiegssysteme zu schaffen, diese Systeme hinsichtlich spezifischer Vor - und Nachteile zu evaluieren, und eine Beurteilung des aktuellen Standes der tatsächlich angebotenen Einstiegshilfen und der im Umgang damit vorliegenden Erfahrungen zu geben. Im Rahmen dieser Diplomarbeit wurde in einem ersten Schritt eine Umfrage unter mehr als 120 Eisenbahnverkehrsunternehmen (EVU) in 30 verschiedenen Ländern zur Erhebung des gegenwärtigen Zustandes durchgeführt. Um die wichtigsten Informationen, technische Details der individuellen Lösungen, und damit gemachte Erfahrungen zu diesem Thema zu erlangen wurde ein Fragebogen mit 15 Fragen auf Deutsch und Englisch vorbereitet, und per Brief oder E-mail an die EVU geschickt. Es gingen teils sehr umfangreiche Antworten von mehr als 35 dieser Adressaten ein.Bei heutigen Schienenfahrzeugen werden je Betreiber verschiedene Systeme der Einstiegshilfe verwendet. Mehr als 90 Prozent dieser Systeme sind 4 großen Gruppen, Rampen, Hublifte, Tritte, und Spaltüberbrückungen zuzuordnen.Als ideale Einstiegshilfe für behinderte Menschen kann der Schiebetritt oder die Spaltüberbrückung angesehen werden. Diese Beurteilung ist einerseits damit zu begründen, dass diese Systeme im Betrieb ohne Personaleinsatz funktionieren (psychologischer Vorteil für behinderte Menschen) und die MitarbeiterInnen der Eisenbahnen beim Einsatz von Trittsystemen als Einstieghilfe keine Vorinformation benötigen, und andererseits auf den sehr geringen Zeitaufwand (der Einsatz der Tritte erfordert normalerweise weniger als 10 Sekunden), die hohe Zuverlässigkeit und die allgemeine Zufriedenheit zurückzuführen. Aufgrund teils technischer, teils wirtschaftlicher Gegebenheiten (vor Allem müssen die Niveaus von Zug und Bahnsteig etwa gleich sein) können die Eisenbahngesellschaften nicht derartige Systeme in der Regel kaum oder gar nicht zum Einsatz bringen, und sie müssen daher auf andere Systeme, wie Rampen oder Hublifte für behinderte Menschen zurückgreifen. Der folgende Abschnitt widmet sich den Eigenschaften von Rampen und Hubliften, den Vor- und Nachteilen der verschiedenen Ausführungen und den Rahmenbedingungen für den jeweiligen Einsatz.Für Rampen gilt ein Neigungswinkel von 17% als oberes Limit für die Benützung durch Rollstuhlfahrer. Daraus ergibt sich unmittelbar eine Beschränkung des Einsatzes auf Bahnsteige, deren Niveau maximal 380 mm unterhalb des Wagenniveaus liegt (in der Regel werden bereits ab Niveauunterschieden von 250 mm Hublifte verwendet). Damit ist die Bahnsteighöhe für die Bahngesellschaften das wichtigste Kriterium für die Auswahl zwischen Rampen und Hubliften als Einstiegshilfe. Sowohl bei Rampen, als auch bei Hubliften kann man vier konstruktive Untergruppen unterscheiden: sie können jeweils entweder manuell oder elektromechanisch betrieben werden, und entweder bahnsteigseitig oder fahrzeuggebunden vorliegen, wobei alle Kombinationsmöglichkeiten verwirklicht sind. Die elektromechanische, fahrzeuggebundene Ausführung ist dabei jeweils die Nutzer-freundlichste, aber auch teuerste Variante.Im Vergleich mit jeweils konstruktiv entsprechenden Hubliften sind Rampen generell wesentlich billiger, zuverlässiger und weniger zeitaufwändig, was sich in den Bewertungen durch Kunden und Personal niederschlägt. Es muss aber nochmals darauf hingewiesen werden, dass bei niedrigen Bahnsteigen (Niveauunterschied zwischen Zug und Bahnsteig zwischen 250mm und 760mm) Hublifte unerlässlich als Einstiegshilfe sind.Deshalb tragen manchmal nationale Züge mindestens einen elektromechanischen fahrzeuggebundenen Hublift mit.Abstract Our society comprises many people who are hindered physically, mentally or emotionally. Disabilities can arise from illness, accidents and acts of violence (such as consequences of war). For a humane life the achievements which promote equal rights and self-determination are important. Therefore, it is the task of politics and society to integrate people with special needs in all areas of life. Beside numerous other areas of life, entry and exit of passengers at railway stops poses considerable problems for passengers with limited mobility.Generally they need more time than other passengers, and in particular wheelchair users represent the group of passengers that is confronted with the strongest restrictions when entering a train.In the light of these known problems in the entry areas, the aim of this thesis is to provide an overview of existing boarding aid systems, and to evaluate these systems in terms of specific advantages and disadvantages, and to give a judgment of the current state of the actually offered boarding aid systems and the practical experiences gained with these systems. Within this thesis as a first step, a survey of more than 120 railway undertakings (RUs) in 30 different countries was carried out to learn the current state of affairs. To obtain the most relevant information, technical details of individual solutions, and thus experiences gained on this subject, a questionnaire with 15 questions in English and German was prepared and sent by letter or e-mail to the RUs. Some very detailed responses from more than 35 of these recipients were obtained. Today's railway operators apply a whole range of different systems of boarding aid. More than 90 percent of these systems can be assigned to 4 major groups, namely ramps, lifts, steps, and gap-bridge constructions. In principle sliding steps and gap-bridging can be considered as ideal boarding aid systems to support disabled people when entering or leaving trains. This judgment on the one hand is based on the fact that these systems do not depend on extra staff assignment for operation (which represents a distinct psychological advantage for disabled people), and the railway organizations do not need any advance information when operating step systems as boarding aid, and, on the other hand, on the very short times required (the application of the steps ordinarily requires less than 10 seconds), combined with high reliability and general acceptance by customers. Due to partly technical, partly economic circumstances, (i. e. as long as the levels of all trains and platforms are not virtually identical) the railway companies actually cannot provide such systems as a rule or even not at all, and, hence, they have to apply other systems, such as ramps or lifts, for the boarding of disabled people.The following section deals with the properties of ramps and lifts, the advantages and disadvantages of various models and frameworks for the particular application. For ramps an inclination angle of 17% is considered as an upper limit for the use by wheel chair drivers. Consequently, ramps can only be applied on platforms whose level lies less than 380 mms below the train level (as a practical rule, lifts are already used whenever the differences in levels are beyond 250 mms). Thus for the railway companies the height of the platform is the most important criterion for the choice between ramps and lifts as an entrance help.With both ramps, as well as lifts there exist four constructive sub-groups: each can be operated either manually or electromechanically, and they are either platform-based or vehicle-based, and all possible combinations are existing. In each case the electromechanical, vehicle-based variant is the most user-friendly, but also the most expensive option. When comparing the respective pairs of constructively equivalent devices, ramps generally are substantially cheaper, more reliable and less time consuming, what is also reflected in the evaluation by customers and staff. However, it must be pointed out again that for low-level platforms (difference in level between train and platform between 250 mms and 760 mms) lifts are essential as a boarding aid system. Therefore, national trains sometimes carry at least one electromechanical vehicle-based lift.<br /
Early response to antibiotic treatment in European patients hospitalized with complicated skin and soft tissue infections: analysis of the REACH study
No full textBackground
The treatment of complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTI) is challenging and many patients do not receive adequate first-line therapy. REACH (REtrospective Study to Assess the Clinical Management of Patients With Moderate-to-Severe cSSTI or Community-Acquired Pneumonia in the Hospital Setting) was a retrospective observational study of cSSTI patients in real-life settings in European hospitals. In this analysis, we review characteristics and outcomes of patients with an early response (≤72 hours) compared with those without an early response to treatment. We also compare the results according to two differing definitions of early response, one of which (Definition 1) requires resolution of fever within 72 hours, in line with previous US FDA guidelines.
Methods
Patients were adults hospitalized with cSSTIs 2010–2011 and requiring treatment with intravenous antibiotics. Clinical management, clinical outcomes and healthcare resource use were assessed using a descriptive analysis approach.
Results
The analysis set included 600 patients, of which 363 showed early response with Definition 1 and 417 with Definition 2. Initial treatment modification was frequent, and highest in patients without early response (48.1% with Definition 1). Patients without early response were more likely to have diabetes than those with early response (31.6% vs. 22.9%, respectively) and to suffer from more severe disease (e.g. skin necrosis: 14.8% and 7.7%, respectively), to be infected with difficult-to-treat microorganisms and to have recurrent infections. Furthermore, patients without early response had a higher rate of adverse clinical outcomes (e.g. septic shock) and higher use of healthcare resources. The results obtained with the two definitions for early response were largely similar.
Conclusions
This study highlights the significance of early evaluation of patients in hospitals, in potentially preventing prolonged use of inappropriate or ineffective antibacterial therapy
Advances in ITP - therapy and quality of life - a patient survey.
No full textCurrent guidelines recommend glucocorticoids and splenectomy as standard 1(st) and 2(nd) line treatments for chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). We sought to find out how German ITP-patients are treated with respect to these guidelines. Members of a patient support association ≥18 years with a self-reported history of chronic ITP>12 months were surveyed with a web-based questionnaire. 122 questionnaires were evaluated. 70% of patients had chronic ITP for more than 5 years and 20% an average platelet count of ≤30·10(9)/L. 41% of the patients reported haematomas or petechiae more than once or twice and up to 12 times or more per year and 17% oropharyngeal and nasal bleeds. 11% had been admitted to hospital during the last 12 months. 88% had received or currently receive glucocorticoids, 27% were splenectomised. IVIG had been given to 55%, rituximab to 22%, anti-D to 12%, ciclosporin to 7%, while complementary and alternative medical treatments had been used by 36%. 50 women responded to questions concerning pregnancy. 14 (28%) had been advised not to become pregnant. 23 reported pregnancies and 10 (44%) required treatment for their ITP during pregnancy. Glucocorticoids are the most common therapy for chronic ITP but complementary and alternative treatments already come second and less than ⅓ of patients are splenectomised. This and the frequent use of complementary medicines suggests patients' dissatisfaction with conventional approaches. Many patients receive off-label therapies. There is a major need for adequate counselling and care for pregnant ITP-patients
Reentry after the maximum expiration of a state custodial term in New Jersey: voluntarily maxing out of prison
No full textThis dissertation investigates the phenomenon of inmates voluntarily forgoing early release from prison via parole and instead spending the remainder of their time behind bars. The study highlights how these individuals fare in the community in regards to recidivism after their eventual release. This research allows for a first look into the characteristics of this population, adds to the growing body of knowledge about parole supervision, and illuminates for New Jersey policy makers the effects of allowing inmates to refuse parole.
The investigation was accomplished through an analysis of archival data from the New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJDOC) and the New Jersey State Parole Board (NJSPB). Data were utilized to explore a cohort of previously incarcerated persons returning to New Jersey communities in the year 2005. The analysis compared three different groups within this cohort. Groups include: (1) those who are released from the custody of the NJDOC before the expiration of their sentence via the discretion of the NJSPB and are subjected to a period of parole, (2) those who are not released to parole because of parole denial, and (3) those who are not released to parole supervision because of a voluntary denial of parole consideration on the part of the inmate. The primary outcome, recidivism, was measured in three ways: (1) rearrest, (2) reconviction, and (3) reincarceration for new crimes.
Results indicate that those who were paroled were less involved in post release criminal activity when compared to the other two groups. However, those who voluntarily spent the rest of their sentence in an incarcerated setting were not significantly more involved in post release criminal activity than those who maxed out of prison due to parole denial. Voluntary and involuntary max outs evidenced similar characteristics in regards to several important variables used to predict recidivism. This evidences that if the ability to decide to forgo parole consideration were taken away from New Jersey inmates, it is unlikely that this population would be granted parole by the releasing authorities of the NJSPB. Policy issues for both the NJSPB as well as the local criminal justice system are discussed.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical references (p. 138-143)by Michael Osterman
Resource use by patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia in Europe : analysis of the REACH study
No full textBackground: Management of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) places a considerable burden on hospital resources. REACH was a retrospective, observational study (NCT01293435) involving adults ≥18 years old hospitalized with CAP and requiring in-hospital treatment with intravenous antibiotics conducted to collect data on current clinical management patterns and resource use for CAP in hospitals in ten European countries.Methods: Data were collected via electronic Case Report Forms detailing patient and disease characteristics, microbiological diagnosis, treatments before and during hospitalization, clinical outcomes and health resource consumption.Results: Patients with initial antibiotic treatment modification (n = 589; 28.9%) had a longer mean hospital stay than those without (16.1 [SD: 13.1; median 12.0] versus 11.1 [SD: 8.9; median: 9.0] days) and higher ICU admission rate (18.0% versus 11.9%). Septic shock (6.8% versus 3.0%), mechanical ventilation (22.2% versus 9.7%), blood pressure support (fluid resuscitation: 19.4% versus 11.4%), parenteral nutrition (6.5% versus 3.9%) and renal replacement therapy (4.2% versus 1.4%) were all more common in patients with treatment modification than in those without. Hospital stay was longer in patients with comorbidities than in those without (mean 13.3 [SD: 11.1; median: 10.0] versus 10.0 [SD: 7.5; median: 8.0] days).Conclusions: Initial antibiotic treatment modification in patients with CAP is common and is associated with considerable additional resource use. Reassessment of optimal management paradigms for patients hospitalized with CAP may be warranted
Early versus later response to treatment in patients with community-acquired pneumonia: analysis of the REACH study
No full textBACKGROUND:
Key goals in the treatment of CAP include early response to treatment and achievement of clinical stability. The US FDA recommends early response endpoints (72 hours after initiation of treatment) in clinical trials for the treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia. REACH (REtrospective Study to Assess the Clinical Management of Patients With Moderate-to-Severe Complicated Skin and Soft Tissue Infections [cSSTI] or CAP in the Hospital Setting) was a retrospective observational study, providing current data on the clinical management and resource burden of CAP in real-life settings in European hospitals. This analysis reviews the characteristics and outcomes of patients showing early positive response to treatment (time to clinical stability [TCS] ≤4 days, as assessed by Halm's criteria) compared with patients with later positive response (TCS >4 days).
METHODS:
Patients were adults, hospitalized with CAP (2010-2011) and requiring in-hospital treatment with intravenous antibiotics.
RESULTS:
Of the 2039 patients included in REACH, 585 (28.7%) had TCS assessed by Halm's criteria: 332 (56.8%) showed early response (median 3.0 days), and 253 (43.2%) showed later response to treatment (median 7.0 days). Use of Halm's criteria varied across participating countries, ranging from 0% (Belgium) to 49.1% (UK). Patient characteristics and relevant medical history were similar between the two groups. There were no notable differences in initial antibiotic therapy between groups, except that more early responders had been treated with amoxicillin-clavulanate and amoxicillin monotherapy (22.6%; 7.5%, respectively) than later responders (5.9%; 1.2%, respectively). Initial treatment modification and re-infection or recurrences were less frequent in early responders compared with later responders (14.2% and 3.3% vs. 34.8% and 5.9%, respectively). Early responders had a shorter duration of hospitalization (mean 9.4 ± SD 7.0; median 8.0 days vs. mean 15.6 ± SD 10.5; median 12.0 days, respectively), lower rate of ICU admission (3.3% vs. 21.3%) and shorter duration of ICU stay (mean 6.2 ± SD 5.7; median 4.0 days vs. mean 10.4 ± SD 10.1; median 8.0 days, respectively) compared with later responders. Mortality was low in both groups.
CONCLUSIONS:
Achieving early clinical stabilization in CAP (≤4 days) is associated with improved outcomes, lower requirement for initial treatment modification or readmission and lower resource use, compared with a later response
Interaction-Driven Giant Orbital Magnetic Moments in Carbon Nanotubes
No full textCarbon nanotubes continue to be model systems for studies of confinement and interactions. This is particularly true in the case of so-called "ultraclean" carbon nanotube devices offering the study of quantum dots with extremely low disorder. The quality of such systems, however, has increasingly revealed glaring discrepancies between experiment and theory. Here, we address the outstanding anomaly of exceptionally large orbital magnetic moments in carbon nanotube quantum dots. We perform low temperature magnetotransport measurements of the orbital magnetic moment and find it is up to 7 times larger than expected from the conventional semiclassical model. Moreover, the magnitude of the magnetic moment monotonically drops with the addition of each electron to the quantum dot directly contradicting the widely accepted shell filling picture of single-particle levels. We carry out quasiparticle calculations, both from first principles and within the effective-mass approximation, and find the giant magnetic moments can only be captured by considering a self-energy correction to the electronic band structure due to electron-electron interactions.QN/van der Zant LabQN/Steele La
Oxidatively Induced Reductive N 2 Binding: A Dinickel-Bridging Bent N 2 Radical Anion and Its Redox-Triggered N 2 Release
No full text- …
