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Across the world, countries have engaged in different iterations of curriculum change, and one of the common denominators of reform is the proposal of more agency for teachers around curriculum making. This is not an easy task for teachers. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the discussion about the effects that international ERASMUS+ mobilities have had on the power of curricular agency of teachers from two European countries. This work is based on an empirical investigation of a qualitative nature which collected the testimonies of four school headmasters, a deputy principal and eleven teachers from Ireland and Portugal, teaching different curriculum matters, who were involved in the ERASMUS+ programme. Our findings evidence a very positive impact on secondary teachers' capacity to self‐organize and achieve agency in relation to curriculum making by adapting their knowledge and skills, learnt through the mobility, to their own culture and context through collaborative communities of practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The natural history of compensated cirrhosis due to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has not been completely characterized. The aim of the present study was to assess the incidence and risk factors of acute decompensation of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and extrahepatic cancers. This was a multicenter, retrospective, cohort study including 449 patients with compensated cirrhosis due to NAFLD. We calculated cumulative incidences and used competitive risk analysis to determine the risk factors associated with decompensation and cancer development. Over a median of 39 months of follow‐up, 124 patients (28%) presented acute decompensation. The most frequent decompensation was ascites (21%) followed by hepatic encephalopathy (15%), variceal bleeding (9%), and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (3%). Acute‐on‐chronic liver failure was diagnosed in 6% of patients during follow‐up. Liver function parameters and specifically an albumin level below 40 g/L were independently associated with an increased risk of decompensation. The presence of ischemic heart disease was independently associated with acute decompensation. Seventy‐eight patients (18%) developed hepatocellular carcinoma or extrahepatic cancers during follow‐up (51 and 27, respectively). Conclusion: Patients with compensated cirrhosis due to NAFLD are at high risk of severe liver complications, such as the development of acute decompensation, in a relative short follow‐up time. This population is at high risk of hepatic and extrahepatic cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Table 1 Clinical characteristics and outcomes of three patients with Barrett's esophagus and esophageal varices treated with a modified endoscopic mucosal resection technique and radiofrequency ablation. 15169247-a8bbd557.mp4 In conclusion, EMR of dysplastic lesions in Barrett's esophagus with underlying esophageal varices, followed by RFA for complete eradication, is feasible. 2 a-c Sequence of the modified band-ligation-assisted endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). a The target lesion. b The esophageal varices are ligated distal to the target lesion to "block" the blood flow prior to EMR. c Post-EMR defect. [Extracted from the article]

The performance monitoring unit (PMU) in multiprocessor system-on-chips (MPSoCs) is at the heart of the latest measurement-based timing analysis techniques in critical embedded systems. In particular, hardware event monitors (HEMs) in the PMU are used as building blocks in the process of budgeting and verifying software timing by tracking and controlling access counts to shared resources. While the number of HEMs in current MPSoCs reaches hundreds, they are read via performance monitoring counters whose number is usually limited to 4–8, thus requiring multiple runs of each experiment in order to collect all desired HEMs. Despite the effort of engineers in controlling the execution conditions of each experiment, the complexity of current MPSoCs makes it arguably impossible to completely remove the noise affecting each run. As a result, HEMs read in different runs are subject to different variability, and hence, those HEMs captured in different runs cannot be “blindly” merged. In this work, we focus on the NXP T2080 platform where we observed up to 59% variability across different runs of the same experiment for some relevant HEMs (e.g., processor cycles). We develop a HEM reading and merging (HRM) approach to join reliably HEMs across different runs as a fundamental element of any measurement-based timing budgeting and verification technique. Our method builds on order statistics and the selection of an anchor HEM read in all runs to derive the most plausible combination of HEM readings that keep the distribution of each HEM and their relationship with the anchor HEM intact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Duodenal tumours are uncommon, but they can cause significant morbidity and mortality. As stomach and colon are a more common site of gastrointestinal malignancies, radiologists sometimes neglect the duodenum. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can accurately locate and characterize mass-forming duodenal lesions, making them invaluable for the differential diagnosis and determining management strategies such as biopsy or surgery. Although conventional endoscopy continues to play an important role in the diagnosis of duodenal tumors, MDCT and MRI are very useful for evaluating the duodenal wall, extraduodenal space, and surrounding viscera, as well as the intraluminal content seen on endoscopy. This pictorial review aims to illustrate the most common benign and malignant mass-forming duodenal lesions and to focus on the imaging features that are most helpful in reaching the correct diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is a self-contained introduction to the R package ercv and to the methodology on which it is based through the analysis of nine examples. The methodology is simple and trustworthy for the analysis of extreme values and relates the two main existing methodologies. The package contains R functions for visualizing, fitting and validating the distribution of tails. It also provides multiple threshold tests for a generalized Pareto distribution, together with an automatic threshold selection algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well accepted that, at the global scale, the Gutenberg-Richter (GR) law describing the distribution of earthquake magnitude or seismic moment has to be modified at the tail to properly account for the most extreme events. It is debated, though, how much additional time of earthquake recording will be necessary to properly constrain this tail. Using the global CMT catalog, we study how three modifications of the GR law that incorporate a corner-value parameter are compatible with the size of the largest observed earthquake in a given time window. Current data lead to a rather large range of parameter values (e.g., corner magnitude from 8.6 to 10.2 for the so-called tapered GR distribution). Updating this estimation in the future will strongly depend on the maximum magnitude observed, but, under reasonable assumptions, the range will be substantially reduced by the end of this century, contrary to claims in previous literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Previously, microvascular cerebral blood flow (CBF) response to a mild head-of-bed (HOB) elevation has been shown to be altered in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) by diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS). We have hypothesized that early CBF response is related to the functional outcome.Methods: Patients with a non-lacunar AIS in the anterior circulation were monitored by DCS to measure relative CBF (ΔrCBF) on the frontal lobes bilaterally during a 0°-30° HOB elevation at early (≤ 12) or late (> 12) hours from symptom onset. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores were recorded at baseline at 24 and at 48 h. Functional outcome was measured by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 3 months.Results: Thirty-eight (n = 38) AIS patients [baseline NIHSS = 19 (interquartile range: 16, 21)] were studied. ΔrCBF decreased similarly in both hemispheres (p = 0.4) when HOB was elevated and was not associated with baseline and follow-up NIHSS scores or patient demographics. At the early phase (n = 17), a lower or paradoxical ΔrCBF response to HOB elevation was associated with an unfavorable functional outcome (mRS > 2) in the ipsilesional (but not in the contralesional) hemisphere (p = 0.010). ΔrCBF response in the late acute phase was not related to mRS.Conclusions: Early CBF response to mild HOB elevation in the ipsilesional hemisphere is related to functional outcome. Further studies may enable optical monitoring at the bedside to individualize management strategies in the early phase of AIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A wide spectrum of abnormalities can affect the duodenum, ranging from congenital anomalies to traumatic and inflammatory entities. The location of the duodenum and its close relationship with other organs make it easy to miss or misinterpret duodenal abnormalities on cross-sectional imaging. Endoscopy has largely supplanted fluoroscopy for the assessment of the duodenal lumen. Cross-sectional imaging modalities, especially multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), enable comprehensive assessment of the duodenum and surrounding viscera. Although overlapping imaging findings can make it difficult to differentiate between some lesions, characteristic features may suggest a specific diagnosis in some cases. Familiarity with pathologic conditions that can affect the duodenum and with the optimal MDCT and MRI techniques for studying them can help ensure diagnostic accuracy in duodenal diseases. The goal of this pictorial review is to illustrate the most common non-malignant duodenal processes. Special emphasis is placed on MDCT features and their endoscopic correlation as well as on avoiding the most common pitfalls in the evaluation of the duodenum.Teaching points: • Cross-sectional imaging modalities enable comprehensive assessment of duodenum diseases.• Causes of duodenal obstruction include intraluminal masses, inflammation and hematomas.• Distinguishing between tumour and groove pancreatitis can be challenging by cross-sectional imaging.• Infectious diseases of the duodenum are difficult to diagnose, as the findings are not specific.• The most common cause of nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding is peptic ulcer disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The epistemological thinking of Ernst Mach has roots in the transformations of the life sciences that took place in the 19th century. This fact was the starting point for analyzing his ideas about knowledge that were developed in several fundamental works, namely The Science of Mechanics and The Analysis of Sensations. In this study we intend to highlight the biological roots of Mach's thinking, taking the routes he chose in his approaches to the themes "instinctive knowledge", "biological origin of knowledge" and "economy of thought" and find in them some relevant aspects of his epistemology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel method is presented for the determination of the ultimate capacity of masonry solid shear walls based on simple models resulting from equilibrium considerations. Some basic principles determining the acceptability of the models are firstly stated. Based on these rules, specific models are proposed for solid shear walls subjected to either distributed or concentrated loading. The performance of the models and their applicability for the estimation of the ultimate capacity is shown by comparison with experimental results and advanced numerical simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Systemic amyloidosis is a rare but life-threatening complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), most cases being reported among Crohn''s disease (CD) patients. The only two available retrospective studies showed a prevalence ranging from 0.9% to 3% among CD patients. Aims: To evaluate the prevalence of secondary systemic amyloidosis in a large IBD cohort of a referral centre, and to describe its clinical characteristics and outcome. Methods: Patients diagnosed with amyloidosis were identified among 1006 IBD patients included in the IBD database of our centre, and their medical records were carefully reviewed. Results: Among a total of 1006 IBD patients, 5 cases of amyloidosis were identified, all of them with CD, resulting in a prevalence of 0.5% for IBD and 1% for CD. Two patients died after developing renal failure. Two patients were treated with anti-TNF agents, showing a clinical improvement of their amyloidosis. Conclusions: Secondary amyloidosis occurs mainly in long-lasting, complicated, Crohn''s disease and seems to be as prevalent among IBD patients as previously reported. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background. In the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), it remains unclear whether human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)—infected injection drug users (IDUs) have durations of survival similar to those for comparable HIV-uninfected IDUs. The goal of this study was to compare survival durations of HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected IDUs for the period 1987—2004. Methods. Demographic data, drug use characteristics, and biological markers were obtained at the time of admission to a substance abuse treatment program. The outcome of interest was the duration of survival after admission, and the primary exposure was HIV infection. Vital status was ascertained by means of the mortality register by the end of 2004. Three calendar periods, which were defined on the basis of use of specific therapies, were considered: 1987—1991 (the antiretroviral monotherapy era), 1992-1996 (the dual combination therapy era and the era when methadone was introduced in Spain), and 1997—2004 (the era of HAART and of established methadone programs). We used Cox regression methods allowing for late entries to handle the contribution of persons who survived a given period and entered the following period with nonzero time. We compared HIV uninfected and HIV-infected IDUs with adjustments for age, sex, and duration of follow-up after admission. Results. A total of 1209 IDUs were admitted to the hospital during the period from January 1987 through December 2004, and 1181 were eligible for the study. The majority (81.3%) of patients were men. The mean age (± standard deviation) at admission was 27.8±5.6 years, and the mean duration of injection drug use (± standard deviation) was 7.6±5.0 years. The prevalences of HIV and hepatitis C virus infections were 59.0% and 92.3%, respectively, and the total duration of follow-up was 10.116 person-years. Although survival duration for HIV-uninfected IDUs in 1997—2004 was similar to the duration in earlier periods, the duration for HIV-infected IDUs improved significantly since 1997 (P < .01). Furthermore, among patients admitted in the last period, the survival durations for HIV-uninfected and HIV-infected IDUs was virtually the same (relative hazard, 0.89; 95% confidence interval, 0.44-1.81). Conclusions. The duration of survival of HIV-infected IDUs has improved substantially since 1997, reaching rates similar to the rates for HIV-seronegative IDUs who accessed the health care system in the era of HAART. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important body of quantitative linguistics is constituted by a series of statistical laws about language usage. Despite the importance of these linguistic laws, some of them are poorly formulated, and, more importantly, there is no unified framework that encompasses all them. This paper presents a new perspective to establish a connection between different statistical linguistic laws. Characterizing each word type by two random variables—length (in number of characters) and absolute frequency—we show that the corresponding bivariate joint probability distribution shows a rich and precise phenomenology, with the type-length and the type-frequency distributions as its two marginals, and the conditional distribution of frequency at fixed length providing a clear formulation for the brevity-frequency phenomenon. The type-length distribution turns out to be well fitted by a gamma distribution (much better than with the previously proposed lognormal), and the conditional frequency distributions at fixed length display power-law-decay behavior with a fixed exponent α ≃ 1.4 and a characteristic-frequency crossover that scales as an inverse power δ ≃ 2.8 of length, which implies the fulfillment of a scaling law analogous to those found in the thermodynamics of critical phenomena. As a by-product, we find a possible model-free explanation for the origin of Zipf's law, which should arise as a mixture of conditional frequency distributions governed by the crossover length-dependent frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Telomeres are nucleoprotein structures present at the terminal region of the chromosomes. Mutations in genes coding for proteins involved in telomere maintenance are causative of a number of disorders known as telomeropathies. The genetic origin of these diseases is heterogeneous and has not been determined for a significant proportion of patients.Methods: This article describes the genetic characterization of a cohort of patients. Telomere length was determined by Southern blot and quantitative PCR. Nucleotide variants were analyzed either by high-resolution melting analysis and Sanger sequencing of selected exons or by massive sequencing of a panel of genes.Results: Forty-seven patients with telomere length below the 10% of normal population, affected with three telomeropathies: dyskeratosis congenita (4), aplastic anemia (22) or pulmonary fibrosis (21) were analyzed. Eighteen of these patients presented known pathogenic or novel possibly pathogenic variants in the telomere-related genes TERT, TERC, RTEL1, CTC1 and ACD. In addition, the analyses of a panel of 188 genes related to haematological disorders indicated that a relevant proportion of the patients (up to 35%) presented rare variants in genes related to DNA repair or in genes coding for proteins involved in the resolution of complex DNA structures, that participate in telomere replication. Mutations in some of these genes are causative of several syndromes previously associated to telomere shortening.Conclusion: Novel variants in telomere, DNA repair and replication genes are described that might indicate the contribution of variants in these genes to the development of telomeropathies. Patients carrying variants in telomere-related genes presented worse evolution after diagnosis than the rest of patients analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intense geomagnetic storms can cause severe damage to electrical systems and communications. This work proposes a counting process with Weibull inter-occurrence times in order to estimate the probability of extreme geomagnetic events. It is found that the scale parameter of the inter-occurrence time distribution grows exponentially with the absolute value of the intensity threshold defining the storm, whereas the shape parameter keeps rather constant. The model is able to forecast the probability of occurrence of an event for a given intensity threshold; in particular, the probability of occurrence on the next decade of an extreme event of a magnitude comparable or larger than the well-known Carrington event of 1859 is explored, and estimated to be between 0.46% and 1.88% (with a 95% confidence), a much lower value than those reported in the existing literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freight transportation is becoming an increasingly critical activity for enterprises in a global world. Moreover, the distribution activities have a non-negligible impact on the environment, as well as on the citizens' welfare. The classical vehicle routing problem (VRP) aims at designing routes that minimize the cost of serving customers using a given set of capacitated vehicles. Some VRP variants consider traveling times, either in the objective function (e.g., including the goal of minimizing total traveling time or designing balanced routes) or as constraints (e.g., the setting of time windows or a maximum time per route). Typically, the traveling time between two customers or between one customer and the depot is assumed to be both known in advance and static. However, in real life, there are plenty of factors (predictable or not) that may affect these traveling times, e.g., traffic jams, accidents, road works, or even the weather. In this work, we analyze the VRP with dynamic traveling times. Our work assumes not only that these inputs are dynamic in nature, but also that they are a function of the structure of the emerging routing plan. In other words, these traveling times need to be dynamically re-evaluated as the solution is being constructed. In order to solve this dynamic optimization problem, a learnheuristic-based approach is proposed. Our approach integrates statistical learning techniques within a metaheuristic framework. A number of computational experiments are carried out in order to illustrate our approach and discuss its effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution of seismic moment is of capital interest to evaluate earthquake hazard, in particular regarding the most extreme events. We make use of likelihood-ratio tests to compare the simple Gutenberg-Richter power-law (PL) distribution with two statistical models that incorporate an exponential tail, the so-called tapered Gutenberg-Richter (Tap) and the truncated gamma, when fitted to the global CMT earthquake catalog. Although the Tap distribution does not introduce any significant improvement of fit respect the PL, the truncated gamma does. Simulated samples of this distribution, with parameters β = 0.68 and mc = 9.15 and reshuffled in order to mimic the time occurrence of the order statistics of the empirical data, are able to explain the temporal heterogeneity of global seismicity both before and after the great Sumatra-Andaman earthquake of 2004. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]