Remapping the World in Film: Fiction and Truth in Nazi Cinema

The enquiry sheds new light on three blockbusters produced under National Socialism: Leni Riefenstahl's famous propaganda piece Triumph of the Will (1934), Veit Harlan's anti-Semitic hate film Jew Süss (1940) and Josef von Baky's fantasy comedy Münchhausen (1943). In their frequent use of collective imaginative geographies, all three movies approach 'truth' and 'authenticity' via depictions of geographical patterns. My reading of these films popular in the Third Reich highlights the how and why of place manipulation. The article further explores Nazi cinema's complex amalgam of visual aesthetics and geopolitics, yielding possible insights into the regime’s specific contradictions

The central role of the prefrontal cortex in directing attention to novel events

The physiological basis for the striking decrease of attention to novel events following frontal lobe injury is poorly understood. In this study, event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded from patients with frontal lobe damage and matched subjects, who controlled the duration of viewing of background, novel and target stimuli. Frontal lobe patients did not differ from normal controls in terms of age, education, estimated IQ or mood. However, they were judged to be more apathetic as measured by self-report and informants' ratings. Patients with frontal lobe damage exhibited markedly reduced amplitude of the novelty P3 response and the duration of viewing of novel stimuli. In contrast, injury to the frontal lobes had a limited impact on P3 amplitude and behavioural responses (viewing duration and reaction time) to target stimuli. A strong correlation was found between measures of apathy and both attenuated P3 amplitude and viewing duration in response to novel but not target stimuli. Differences in amplitude of the novelty P3 response explained a large portion of the variance associated with duration of viewing of novel stimuli. After controlling for the influence of P3 amplitude, there was no association between frontal lobe injury and reduced viewing of novel stimuli. The results of this study suggest that frontal lobe damage leads to diminished visual attention to novel events through its disruption of neural processes underlying the novelty P3 response. These processes appear to regulate the allocation of attentional resources and early exploratory behaviours, and are not limited to immediate orienting responses. Damage to the frontal lobes may prevent the generation of a signal which indicates that a novel event in the environment requires additional attention due to its potential behavioural significance. The disruption of these processes is likely to contribute to the apathy observed in patients after injury to the frontal lobes

Promoting Successful Cognitive Aging: A Comprehensive Review

Promoting successful cognitive aging is a topic of major importance to individuals and the field of public health. This review presents a coherent framework not only for evaluating factors, protective activities, and enhancing agents that have already been proposed, but also ones that will be put forward in the future. The promotion of successful cognitive aging involves the dual goals of preventing loss of information processing capacity and cognitive reserve, and enhancing brain capacity and cognitive reserve. Four major lines of evidence are available for evaluating whether a proposed factor promotes successful cognitive aging: 1) epidemiologic/cohort studies; 2) animal/basic science studies; 3) human "proof-of-concept" studies; and 4) human intervention studies. Each line of evidence has advantages and limitations that will be discussed. Through illustrative examples, we trace the ways in which each method informs us about the potential value of several proposed factors. Currently, lines of converging evidence allow the strongest case to be made for physical and cognitively stimulating activities. Although epidemiological data seem to favor the use of statins to lower the risk of dementia, more definitive recommendations await further randomized controlled studies. There is presently no clear evidence that antioxidants or Ginkgo biloba promote successful cognitive aging. The impact of resveratrol, fish oil, and a long list of other proposed agents needs to be determined. Clinicians remain well-positioned to identify and aggressively treat vascular risk factors, diabetes, sleep disorders, and other conditions that may reduce brain capacity, and to encourage activities that can build cognitive reserve

Why are spine surgery patients lost to follow-up?

Long-term outcome studies are frequently hindered by a decreasing frequency of patient follow-up with the treating surgeon over time. Whether this attrition represents a “loss of faith” in their index surgeon or the realities of a geographically mobile society has never been assessed in a population of patients undergoing spinal surgery. The purpose of this article is to determine the frequency with which patients who have undergone prior surgery and develop new problems attempt to follow-up with their index spine surgeon. The study design was a population survey. All patients seen at two university-based spine centers over a 3-month period were surveyed regarding prior spine surgery. The questionnaire asked details of the previous operation, whether the patient had sought follow-up with their index surgeon, why the patient did not continue treatment with that surgeon, and whether the patient was satisfied with their prior treatment. Sixty-nine patients completed the survey. Prior operations were lumbar (53 patients) and cervical (16). When asked the reason for not seeing their prior surgeon, 10 patients (15%) stated that they (the patient) had moved and 16 (23%) responded that their surgeon no longer practiced in the area. Thirteen (19%) were unhappy with their previous care, 22 (32%) were seeking a second opinion, and 7 (10%) were told they needed more complex surgery. Thirty-seven (54%) discussed their symptoms with their original surgeon before seeking another surgeon. Although 32 patients (46%) had not discussed their new complaints with their index surgeon, only 3 patients (4%) chose not to return to their prior surgeon despite having the opportunity to do so. Forty-nine patients (71%) were satisfied with their prior surgical care, and 42 patients (61%) would undergo the index operation again. Most of the patients seen at the authors' practices after undergoing prior spine surgery elsewhere failed to follow up with their prior spine surgeon for geographical reasons. It appears that the majority of patients who develop new spinal complaints will seek out their treating surgeon when possible. This suggests that patient attrition over long-term follow-up may reflect a geographically mobile population rather than patient dissatisfaction with prior treatment

Migratory Intradural Disk Herniation and a Strategy for Intraoperative Localization

Study Design Case report. Objective Describe a case of intradural disk herniation and a method for intraoperative localization. Methods Intradural disk herniations are uncommon but well described. The diagnosis of these lesions is often difficult, and sometimes they may be diagnosed only through an intradural exploration after an expected disk fragment cannot be located. We report the case of an intradural disk herniation with an additional diagnostic difficulty—a migrated intradural disk. Results We present the first intraoperative imaging evidence of disk migration and propose a strategy to locate intradural disk fragments prior to durotomy. Conclusion Intradural disk herniations should be suspected when intraoperative findings are not congruent with imaging findings. An intraoperative myelogram may be helpful

Surgeon Specialty Influences Referral Rate for Osteoporosis Management Following Vertebral Compression Fractures

Study Design Retrospective chart review. Objective To evaluate the referral rate for long-term osteoporosis management following vertebral compression fracture treated by different specialties at a single academic institution. Methods Patients undergoing vertebral cement augmentation for painful osteoporotic compression fractures from 2009 to 2014 were identified. Medical records were reviewed to determine if the treating surgeon discussed and/or referred the patient for long-term osteoporosis management. Any referral for or mention of medical long-term osteoporosis management was counted as a positive response. Results were statistically analyzed with chi-square test. Results Two hundred fourteen patients underwent vertebral cement augmentation; 150 met inclusion criteria. Orthopedic surgeons treated 88 patients, neurosurgeons treated 39, and interventional radiology or pain management physicians treated 23. Orthopedic surgeons referred 82% of patients for osteoporosis management, neurosurgeons referred 36%, and interventional radiology/pain management referred 17%. The referral rate was significantly higher for orthopedic surgeons compared with either of the other two groups; there was no significant difference between neurosurgery and interventional radiology/pain management. Conclusions Among physicians who treat osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, orthopedic surgeons more frequently address osteoporosis or refer patients for osteoporosis management compared with neurosurgeons and interventional radiologists or pain management physicians. The results of this study shed light on the disparity in how different specialties approach treatment of osteoporosis in patients with fractures painful enough to require surgery and highlight potential areas for improvement in osteoporosis awareness training

Eficiência diagnóstica de antígenos solúveis de Brucella em testes de imunodifusão e capacidade para diferenciar bovinos vacinados com Brucella abortus CEPA 19

Three soluble antigens were compared by radial immunodiffusion (RID) and agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) tests: a native haptene (NH) from Brucella melitensis 16M, and a polysaccharide (PS) from B. abortus 1119-3, both obtained by non-hydrolytic methods, and the (O-Chain) polysaccharide extracted also from B. abortus 1119-3 but using an hydrolytic method. Three groups of bovine sera were tested: a) Naturally infected (n = 76); b) Non-infected (n = 130) and c) S-19 vaccinated (n = 61); the sensitivity (Se), the specificity (Sp) and the ability to differentiate vaccinated (ADV) were determined in each group a, b and c respectively. The highest Se in the RID test (84.3%) was achieved by NH; while the three antigens gave 100% Sp. The O-Chain showed 100% ADV in this test. In the AGID test PS antigen showed the best Se (86.6%), and all antigens showed 100% of Sp and ADV. Finally, for its production qualities and efficiency the antigens PS and NH represent a promising alternative for complementary diagnosis of brucellosis.Foram comparados três antígenos solúveis: um hapteno nativo (NH) de B. melitensis 16M, um polissacarídeo (PS) obtido de B. abortus 1119-3 e outro polissacarídeo de cadeia O (O-Chain) originado também da última Brucella. Os testes de imunodifusão radial (RID) e imunodifusão em gel de ágar (AGID) foram confrontados com as três classes de soros bovinos: a) infectados naturalmente (n = 76), b) não infectados (n = 130) e c) vacinados com B19 (n = 61) reagindo a testes sorológicos clássicos. Foram determinadas a sensibilidade (Se), a especificidade (Sp) e a capacidade para discriminar vacinados (ADV). A Se mais alta (84,3%) no teste RID foi demonstrada pelo antígeno NH, enquanto os três antígenos tiveram 100% de Sp. O antígeno O-Chain teve 100% de ADV nesse teste. O teste AGID com estes antígenos demonstrou 100% Sp e ADV, enquanto o antígeno PS mostrou uma melhor Se (86,6%). Finalmente, por sua qualidade de produção e eficiência, os antígenos PS e NH representam uma alternativa segura e econômica para o diagnóstico suplementar da brucelose

Natural Disasters in Mamlūk Egypt (1250-1517): Perceptions, Interpretations and Human Responses.

This thesis examines the socio-cultural history of ‎‎“natural” disasters such as earthquakes, ‎floods and droughts in Egypt during the Mamlūk era (1250-‎‎1517). The first part explores ‎what a natural disaster is, and how it is defined in the Arab culture. Here ‎concepts of ‎disaster and interpretation models take center stage. The main argument in this part is that Mamlūk ‎authors reworked interpretations of catastrophes as they knew from pre-Islamic ancient ‎cultures and added new understandings which they gleaned from cross-cultural ‎interactions. The second part gives a systematic analysis of historical disasters, providing a greater insight into the ‎various ways they affected social, political and economic life on the local level.‎ Relying on primary sources, it shows how Mamlūk ‎society ‎shaped responses to these catastrophic events, and to what extent the perception and ‎interpretation had an impact on the socio-cultural ‎handling of natural disasters‎. ‎The answers to all these questions lead to the final and central question of the study: Can Mamlūk Egypt be ‎considered a “culture of disaster” in accordance with Greg Bankoff’s theory

How to formulate for structure and texture via 3D-printing: Design and characterisation of edible and printable feedstock - dairy gels

3D-printing of food is a novel and promising technology capable of creating individualised foods differing in composition, texture, taste or shape. Objects are created layer-by-layer and the most common additive manufacturing technique for food relies on an extrusion process. In order to formulate for structure and texture of food objects via a printing process, in-depth understanding of the solidification mechanism and the material properties is of highest importance. While most of the current research on extrusion printing focuses on pastes and gels, which maintain their shape due to a yield stress, the key challenge of this work lies in a fast, local and irreversible transition of the feedstock from a solution (sol) to a gel. High dairy protein-based materials, which offer health benefits and have high satiating effects, were used to create and tailor novel edible formulations for applications in thermal extrusion printing. First, characterisation of a solidification mechanism suitable for thermal printing of high dairy protein-based feedstock including a fast sol−gel transition was conducted. Investigation of the pH−temperature (T)-route, cold acidification followed by heating, on the rheometer provided evidence that the temperature–time profile used to trigger gelation was comparable to 3D-print-ing but without superimposed flow. The sol–gel transition temperature as determined by rheology was used to mimic dynamic conditions during printing by applying a steep temperature gradient. Firm gels were produced and classified regarding their physical properties and status around the sol–gel transition. Formulations showing preferable characteristics, including a low storage modulus G’ (~ 0.1 Pa) at low temperatures (2°C) followed by a steep increase of G’ during sol–gel transition, were considered to be suitable feedstock for applications in thermal extrusion 3D-printing. Second, the two main dairy proteins (micellar casein and whey protein) were combined to create and to tailor novel edible casein−whey protein suspensions. These formulations were characterised regarding their potential use for extrusion-based 3D-printing and several design rules ii were established. Sol−characteristics at low temperature (2°C) were confirmed, providing a liquid feedstock which could be transferred into a gel via the pH−T-route. The pH at heating during denaturation of the whey proteins as well as the overall protein content were crucial parameters to change the microstructure of casein−whey protein suspensions, e.g. resulting in unwanted pre−gelation (G’ > 1 Pa) at too high protein contents. Formulations with depleted casein micelles (CM), caused by desired dissociation of κ-casein at increased pH at heating, showed lower sol−gel transition temperatures and increased aggregation rates. The aggregation rate (represented by the storage modulus G’) was proposed as a first good indicator for the printability of high dairy protein-based formulations. Furthermore, for the creation of more complex and novel edible formulations, dairy fat was added to casein−whey protein suspensions. The additional product parameter, fat, changed the microstructure as the overall total solid content of the formulations increased. Mechanical treatment was necessary to obtain smaller milk fat particles (< 1 μm) covered with protein, which could mimic the protein behaviour and actively contribute as pseudo-proteins to the gelation process via the pH−T-route. With increasing pH at heating, more depleted casein micelles were found on the surface of mechanically treated fat globules, causing a decrease in the sol−gel transition temperature and an increase in the aggregation rate. At a higher pH at heating, more particles contributed to the gelation per unit area and the surface properties of the fat globules covered with certain proteins, e.g. κ-casein depleted CM, were favourable, shown via electrophoresis and a newly developed protocol for low dose transmission electron cryogenic micros-copy. Several protein−fat formulations with promising aggregation rates could be printed. Overall, this thesis demonstrates that high dairy protein-based formulations with and without additional fat can be used as a novel feedstock for thermal extrusion 3D-printing applications via the pH−T-route, if product- and process parameters are precisely adjusted, and all the established design rules are adhered to