Serial TV Musicals: A Taxonomy

During the 2010s, American network television experienced an unprecedented influx of musical television series such as Glee, Smash, and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. By engaging with television studies, musical theatre studies, semiotics, and affect theory I seek to categorize these programs within a distinct genre of musical I call the serial TV musical. Serial TV musicals are fictional television series which use music as a necessary part of their storytelling mechanism. Musical numbers in this capacity can act to advance the plot on the scale of the episode, arc, season, or series as well to elaborate characterization or relationships. The music in these shows may be original or interpolated. Because of the nature of television, serial TV musicals have slower pacing than other genres of American musicals and as a result complicate plot beyond the romantic union of characters or the dramatic transformation of a protagonist. I begin with a taxonomic approach to delineate what constitutes a serial TV musical and defend its significance as a category. I then go into some of the television theory that grounds my argument and begin to present examples of the distinctness of serial TV musicals. I briefly discuss musical episodes of non-musical TV shows because they are the most similar to musical series, and then I discuss Crazy Ex-Girlfriend as an extended example of the conventions of this televisual musical genre

Myocardial contractility improvement after coronary artery by-pass grafting in a 1-year observation: The role of myocardial viability assessment

Background: Left ventricular (LV) contractility impairment in coronary artery disease patients may be the effect of heart muscle hibernation due to chronic ischemia. Revascularization is the only method to restore contractile function in these patients. The time and degree of LV function improvement have not been precisely determined, and the published data are discordant. The aim of our study was to evaluate the time of myocardial contractility recovery after surgical revascularization in patients with systolic LV dysfunction in relation to the results of echocardiography stress tests. Methods: The study included 50 patients with multivessel coronary artery disease and decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF < 40%) qualified for coronary artery by-pass grafting. The intervention was preceded by rest echocardiography, low dose dobutamine stress test (5-10 &#181;g/kg/min) and by low dose dipyridamole stress test (0.24 mg/kg during 4 min) performed on the next day. Consecutive rest echocardiograms were performed immediately after the intervention and after 3, 6 and 12 months. LVEF and the index of left ventricular contractility (WMSI, wall motion score index) were evaluated at each examination. Results: During 1-year follow-up after coronary artery by-pass grafting (CABG), significant improvement in LV systolic function was observed (LVEF increased, WSMI reduced), with major changes occurring over the first 6 months. The correlation of echocardiography parameters (EF, WMSI) at stress tests and during 1-year follow-up showed that the strongest relationship exists between the change in WMSI both in dobutamine and dipyridamole stress tests and the improvement in WMSI observed after 6 months. Conclusions: LV function improvement after CABG in patients with systolic LV dysfunction was most pronounced 3 to 6 months after the intervention. Both types of stress tests are characterized by similar diagnostic value for assessing LV myocardial viability. WMSI calculated during stress was identified to have the strongest prognostic value. (Cardiol J 2007; 14: 246-251

The value of dobutamine stress echocardiography in predicting clinical improvement following coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction

Background: Recent years have seen an increasing number of patients with multivessel coronary artery disease and left ventricular systolic dysfunction being qualified for cardiac surgery. Identification of patients who are likely to benefit most from revascularisation procedures poses a considerable problem. The aim of the study was to assess the value of dobutamine stress echocardiography in predicting the clinical course following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with ischaemic left ventricular dysfunction. Methods: Fifty patients with multivessel coronary artery disease and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF < 40%) who were qualified for CABG were included in the study. Resting echocardiography and a small-dose (5&#8211;10 &#181;g/kg/min) dobutamine test were performed before the procedure. Subsequent tests were repeated after the procedure and at 3.6 and 12 months. A combined endpoint of death, repeat hospitalisations, NYHA stage, severity of angina and left ventricular systolic function was evaluated. Results: Two factors were found to affect the prognosis adversely following CABG in both univariate and multivariate analysis: a history of hypertension (p = 0.039, OR 4.9, 95% CI 1.4-17.1) and lack of improvement in contractility in at least 4 segments during the dobutamine test (p = 0.0003, OR 37.2, 95% CI 6.3-218.4). An improvement in contractility in at least 4 segments of the left ventricle is the most important prognostic factor. Conclusions: The results of the dobutamine stress test have a more potent prognostic value than clinical or demographic parameters in predicting clinical improvement. Patients with negative results of the test represent the group with the gravest prognosis. (Cardiol J 2007; 14: 174-179

The ship recycling conundrum: an econometric analysis of market dynamics and industry trends

Ship recycling has received considerable attention during the last two decades for a variety of reasons and the industry is currently under a thorough scrutiny with the likelihood of the adoption of a new multilateral convention under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). This study applies econometric modeling to a unique dataset to provide a holistic insight into the dynamics of the ship recycling market. The dataset contains information on 51,112 ships over 100 gt and includes 748,621 events over a period of 29 years. The binary logistic regression models used provide insights for a shipping-related sector that has received scant scholarly attention in the past. It is expected that these contributions will provide empirical support for the ongoing IMO discussions in this important field

A small-molecule inhibitor of Haspin alters the kinetochore functions of Aurora B

By phosphorylating Thr3 of histone H3, Haspin promotes centromeric recruitment of the chromosome passenger complex (CPC) during mitosis. Aurora B kinase, a CPC subunit, sustains chromosome bi-orientation and the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC). Here, we characterize the small molecule 5-iodotubercidin (5-ITu) as a potent Haspin inhibitor. In vitro, 5-ITu potently inhibited Haspin but not Aurora B. Consistently, 5-ITu counteracted the centromeric localization of the CPC without affecting the bulk of Aurora B activity in HeLa cells. Mislocalization of Aurora B correlated with dephosphorylation of CENP-A and Hec1 and SAC override at high nocodazole concentrations. 5-ITu also impaired kinetochore recruitment of Bub1 and BubR1 kinases, and this effect was reversed by concomitant inhibition of phosphatase activity. Forcing localization of Aurora B to centromeres in 5-ITu also restored Bub1 and BubR1 localization but failed to rescue the SAC override. This result suggests that a target of 5-ITu, possibly Haspin itself, may further contribute to SAC signaling downstream of Aurora B

Directive (EU) 2019/1 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Guarantees for the Protection of the Fundamental Rights of a Party to Anti-Monopoly Proceedings in Poland: Selected Issues

Wprowadzenie oraz części 1–3 i 5 opracowała Anna Piszcz, część 4 opracowała Magdalena Knapp, a wnioski są wspólne.This article presents how Chapter 2 of Directive (EU) 2019/1 of the European Parliament and of the Council (the ECN+ Directive) has been transposed into Polish law. This Chapter refers to the fundamental rights of undertakings in proceedings concerning infringements of Articles 101 and 102 TFEU. The article discusses selected issues related to the correctness of the transposing legislation. It formulates a critical assessment of the content of the Polish legislation and proposes how these provisions could be amended. The authors conclude that even in areas where Chapter 2 is quite self-explanatory, the legislation, being excessively restrained, needed a different approach from the legislature. Next, the scope of the transposing provisions related to the right to be heard, legal professional privilege and privilege against self-incrimination is too narrow, and in the case of the statement of objections, what was done is ‘false’ implementation.Artykuł powstał w ramach projektu „Wzmacnianie egzekwowania prawa konkurencji przez organy ochrony konkurencji Państw Członkowskich UE: Problemy proceduralne w Czechach i w Polsce” (PPN/BCZ/2019/1/00007), który jest współfinansowany przez Narodową Agencję Wymiany Akademickiej.Anna Piszcz: [email protected] Knapp: [email protected] Piszcz - Uniwersytet w Białymstoku, PolskaMagdalena Knapp - Uniwersytet Warszawski, PolskaBernatt M., Convergence of Procedural Standards in the European Competition Proceedings. „The Competition Law Review” 2012, nr 8(3).Bernatt M., Botta M., Svetlicinii A., The Right of Defense in the Decentralized System of EU Competition Law Enforcement: A Call for Harmonization from Central and Eastern Europe, „World Competition: Law and Economics Review” 2018, nr 41(3).Bernatt M., Turno B., Zasada legal professional privilege w projekcie zmiany ustawy o ochronie konkurencji i konsumentów, „internetowy Kwartalnik Antymonopolowy i Regulacyjny” 2013, nr 2(1).Błachucki M., Supervision over the International Activities of National Competition Authorities (the Polish Experience), (w:) M. Błachucki (red.), International Cooperation of Competition Authorities in Europe: From Bilateral Agreements to Transgovernmental Networks, Warszawa 2021.Botta M., The Right of Defense in the ECN + Directive. Florence Competition Programme Annual Training, Advanced Competition Seminar, 2018, http://fcp.eui.eu/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2019/02/2_BOTTA-seminar-ECN-13.8.2017.pdf.Dobosz K., Scheibe M., Pierwsze uwagi i wątpliwości po przedstawieniu projektu antymonopolowej dyrektywy efektywnościowej, „Przegląd Prawa Publicznego” 2017, nr 6.Durande S., Williams K., The practical impact of the exercise of the right to be heard: A special focus on the effect of Oral Hearings and the role of the Hearing Officers, „Competition Policy Newsletter” 2005, nr 2.Kolasiński M., Influence of the General Principles of Community Law on Polish Antitrust Procedure, „Yearbook of Antitrust and Regulatory Studies” 2010, nr 3(3).Korycińska-Rządca P., Ochrona tajemnic strony postępowania antymonopolowego w sprawach praktyk ograniczających konkurencję, Warszawa 2020.Korycińska-Rządca P., Uprawnienia dochodzeniowe Prezesa Urzędu Ochrony Konkurencji i Konsumentów a Dyrektywa Parlamentu Europejskiego i Rady (UE) 2019/1 – wybrane zagadnienia, „Białostockie Studia Prawnicze” 2023, nr 28(4).Korycińska-Rządca P., Zorková E., Harmonisation of the Powers of NCAs in EU Member States. A Few Remarks on the Basis of the Experience of the Czech Republic and Poland After the Deadline for Transposition of the ECN+ Directive Has Passed, „internetowy Kwartalnik Antymonopolowy i Regulacyjny” 2023, nr 1(12).Kowalik-Bańczyk K., Procedural Autonomy of Member States and the EU Rights of Defence in Antitrust Proceedings, „Yearbook of Antitrust and Regulatory Studies” 2012, nr 5(6).Materna G., Projekt dyrektywy ECN+ (omówienie w aspekcie potrzeby kolejnej nowelizacji polskiego prawa ochrony konkurencji), „internetowy Kwartalnik Antymonopolowy i Regulacyjny” 2018, nr 2(7).Michałek M., Right to Defence in EU Competition Law: The Case of Inspections, Warszawa 2015.Michałek-Gervais M., Protection of the Fundamental Rights of Companies under the ECN+ Directive: A Milestone or a Missed Opportunity?, (w:) M. Błachucki (red.), International Cooperation of Competition Authorities in Europe: From Bilateral Agreements to Transgovernmental Networks, Warszawa 2021.Mlostoń-Olszewska A., Wolność od samooskarżania w postępowaniach w sprawach praktyk ograniczających konkurencję w świetle standardów ochrony praw podstawowych, Warszawa 2022.Moisejevas R., Nasutavičienė J., Guarantees of Human Rights in Competition Proceedings in the European Union and the Republic of Lithuania, „Białostockie Studia Prawnicze” 2019, nr 24(2).Nazzini R., Some Reflections on the Dynamics of the Due Process Discourse in EC Competition Law, „The Competition Law Review” 2005, nr 2(1).Rea M., New Scenarios of the Right of Defence Following Directive 1/2019, „Yearbook of Antitrust and Regulatory Studies” 2019, nr 12(20).Targański B., Judicial Review of Decisions Relating to Inspections of the President of the Polish Office of Competition and Consumer Protection – Between the Judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in Case Delta Pekárny v. The Czech Republic and the Judgement of the Polish Constitutional Tribunal of 16 January 2019 in Case P 19/17, „Białostockie Studia Prawnicze” 2019, nr 24(2).Wils W.P.J., Fundamental Procedural Rights and Effective Enforcement of Articles 101 and 102 TFEU in the European Competition Network, „World Competition” 2020, nr 43(1).28416517

Apoptosis-related gene expression in glioblastoma (LN-18) and medulloblastoma (Daoy) cell lines

The expression of apoptosis genes in a commercial pre-designed low-density array from Applied Biosystems was evaluated in two human brain cancer cell models, LN-18 and Daoy (HTB-186™) in comparison to the reference human primary endothelial cells under basic conditions. Analysis of the gene expression in the cancer cell lines compared to the normal control revealed features reflecting anti-apoptotic and inflammatory characteristics of the former. There was an overall downregulation of apoptosis-stimulating genes in both cancer cell lines, along with an upregulation of certain apoptosis inhibitors. A number of genes demonstrated statistically significant changes in their expressions, including BAX (BCL2-associated X protein); the CARD4/NLR family, CARD domain containing 4; CASP10 (caspase 10, apoptosis-related cysteine peptidase); DAP1 (death-associated protein kinase 1), and BIRC5 (baculoviral IAP repeat-containing 5). Anti-apoptotic potential in both cell lines was demonstrated by changes in the Bax:Bcl-2 ratio and downregulation of the APAF1 gene in LN18 cells. There was also significant downregulation of extrinsic signals and the TNF/FADD/inflammatory cascade, and upregulation of caspase inhibitors (IAPs). These results provided a novel molecular characterization of important human cancer cell lines, which might provide a useful research tool for investigating the experimental model of the CNS cell

Wtórny nowotwór złośliwy serca

We present a case of a 58 year-old patient with metastatic malignant cardiac tumour in whom the first manifestation of heart involvement was cardiac tamponade. Kardiol Pol 2010; 68, 12: 1402-140

Interactions Between Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Methylphenidate Administration on Catecholamine Transporter Protein Levels Within the Rodent Prefrontal Cortex

It is theorized that low concentrations of dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) within in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) following traumatic brain injury (TBI) leads to increased risky behavior. Our lab has shown that repeated mild TBI (rmTBI) sex-differentially increases risky behavior in a rodent model. Methylphenidate (MPH) is a psychostimulant drug used to treat symptoms of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), also driven by a hypo-catecholaminergic PFC. MPH elevates catecholamine levels by blocking DA and NE transporters, DAT and NET. While the potential of psychostimulants to treat post-TBI symptoms have been explored, the effects of sub-chronic MPH on transporter levels following rmTBI has not. To investigate this gap, we used the closed head-controlled cortical impact model to induce 3 mild injuries in Long Evans rats of both sexes. Rats received either saline or MPH (2mg/kg) daily for 7 days (4 groups; sham/saline, sham/MPH, rmTBI/saline, rmTBI/MPH). Brain tissue from the medial (mPFC) and orbitofrontal (OFC) regions of the PFC were collected and standard western blotting protocols were used to measure protein levels of NET, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2), catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and monoamine oxidase (MOA). Within the mPFC, female NET and VMAT levels were decreased in the rmTBI/saline group, while the rmTBI/MPH group’s protein levels did not differ from controls. In males, mPFC VMAT levels were decreased in both rmTBI groups. Within the OFC, NET and VMAT levels were decreased in the male rmTBI/MPH group only. These results suggest that rmTBI reduces transporter levels within regions of the PFC and that sub-chronic MPH treatment may produce restorative benefits on these protein levels in female, but not male rodents following rmTBI. We conclude that interactions between rmTBI and MPH on levels of catecholamine regulatory proteins may begin to elucidate sex differential changes in risk-taking behavior following injury and treatment

Demographics and Treatment Strategies Utilized During a Service-Learning Trip to a Medically Underserved Region: Guatemala 2019

Demographics and Treatment Strategies Utilized During a Service-Learning Trip to a Medically Underserved Region: Guatemala 2019 By Anna Chang, SPT, Alex Knapp, SPT, and Holly Roberts, PT, DPT, GCS, NCS BACKGROUND: Students in the Global Health Perspectives in Physical Therapy elective at the University of Puget Sound participated in a five-day service-learning trip. They partnered with a host organization to provide physical therapy services in Zacapa, Guatemala. PURPOSE: Synthesize demographic information and intervention plans to educate physical therapists and students to effectively evaluate and treat medically underserved populations abroad. METHODS: Age, gender, physical therapy diagnosis, and type of intervention were recorded for each patient evaluated or treated by UPS students at rehabilitation clinics during the five-day period. Percentages were extrapolated from this data to reflect the frequency of each appointment type. RESULTS: 106 patients were treated at five clinic sites with ages ranging from 4 months to 86 years old; 72% were orthopedic cases, 8.3% were neurological, and 20% were considered pediatric (ages 0 to 18). Neurologic categorization did not include pediatric diagnoses such as cerebral palsy or spina bifida. 54% of the population seen were female, 45% male. Therapeutic exercise was the most commonly utilized intervention (48% of cases), followed by manual interventions (35%). Medical supplies were provided for 17% of treated patients. Orthopedic cases were most common, 33% of conditions were for lower extremities, 36% involved upper extremity, 25% thoracic or lumbar pain, and 7% neck pain. CONCLUSION: The results of this descriptive inquiry suggest that students who participate in future service-learning experiences in Guatemala should have a robust understanding of upper extremity examination as well as manual therapy and therapeutic exercise intervention skills