The representation of ultra-Orthodox Jewish women as heroines in the novels of four Jewish-American women writers

This dissertation will focus on four popular novels by Jewish-American women writers and the relatively neglected area of the imaginative representation of women’s experiences within post-holocaust Ultra-Orthodoxy. It will explore the notion of what an Ultra-Orthodox heroine is and examine whether a coherent picture of Ultra-Orthodox heroines emerges through a consideration of the similarities and differences between the four texts’ depictions of the Ultra-Orthodox societies in which their characters function. This will include the writers’ use of some recurring tropes: the social conditioning of women, the centrality of the domestic sphere and its relationship to religious obligation and practice, and the duality experienced by the heroines as a result of the conflict between what is considered normative and subversive in their society. I will consider also the significance of the writers’ use of two complementary elements as a means of configuring their characters as both conventionally literary and specifically Jewish heroines. Firstly, the use of features drawn from literary genre: Bildungsroman, domestic novel, melodrama and comedy of manners and secondly the use of what can be read as specifically Jewish feminine models – Binah – intuitive self-knowledge, Aishes Chayil – the woman of valour, Sotah – the fallen woman and Baalat Teshuva – the repentant woman. Some academic work does exist on the four named writers but it is limited in both quantity and scope and there is no work extant on the four novels and the relationship between conventional literary genre and the notion of Jewish heroines within them. It is this that creates the distinctiveness of my dissertation’s approach and contributes to existing knowledge of the subject

Long Swings in Exchange Rates: a Stochastic Control Approach

A regime-switching model to describe the exchange rate dynamics is derived as solution to a stochastic control problem. We assume exchange rates evolve according to some macroeconomic variables whose dynamics could be described by a Brownian motion with a state-dependent drift. The local Monetary Authority is assumed to intervene influencing the evolution of the fundamental, causing the exchange rate to switch from a depreciating to an appreciating regime (and vice versa). We assume the behaviour of the Monetary Authority can be modeled using an optimal control framework where the state variable is represented by the fundamental. The solution of the model allows the determination of an endogenous tolerance band within which the exchange rate freely fluctuates

Angelika Amon (1967-2020):Breakthrough scientist, extraordinary mentor, and loyal friend

Visintin and Marston discuss the life and achievements of Angelika Amon, who passed away on October 29, 2020

Peri-implant diseases and metabolic syndrome components: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is defined as a spectrum of conditions associated with an increased risk of developing CVD and type 2 diabetes. MetS include: hyperglycemia, hypertension, visceral obesity, dyslipidemia with elevated values of triglycerides (TG) and low levels of HDL. The aim of this review is to provide current knowledge of the relationship between MetS, its components and peri-implant diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An electronic literature search was conducted in the English language in several databases. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used for quality assessment of cohort and cross-sectional studies; while systematic reviews were evaluated through AMSTAR; results were reported according to the PRISMA Statement. RESULTS: A total of 272 records were identified through database searching, six studies were included for qualitative analysis. No study directly related to MetS was found, there was inconsistent and controversial evidence regarding association with cardiovascular disease. A higher risk of peri-implantitis was detected in people with hyperglycemia. CONCLUSIONS: Future research should be orientated in assessing the risk of peri-implant diseases, evaluating patient's therapeutic response, analyzing directionality of the relationship between MetS, its components and biologic implant complications. Few studies have investigated the possible relationship between systemic conditions and peri-implant diseases. The aim of this review is to present, in a systematic manner, current evidence and knowledge regarding possible association between cardiovascular disease and implant biologic complications. Out of the one-hundred-eighty-nine studies screened, just five studies were selected for qualitative analysis: three cohort studies (one prospective and two retrospectives) and two cross-sectional studies. According to their results, there is inconsistent and controversial evidence regarding association of cardiovascular disease and implant biologic complications. Future research should be orientated in conducting longitudinal studies, evaluating patients affected by cardiovascular disease rehabilitated with dental implants

Population-based trend analysis of laparoscopic Nissen and Toupet fundoplications for gastroesophageal reflux disease

Background: The Nissen and Toupet fundoplications are the most commonly used techniques for surgical treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. To date, no population-based trend analysis has been reported examining the choice of procedure and short-term outcomes. This study was designed to analyze trends in the use of Nissen versus Toupet fundoplications, and corresponding short-term outcomes during a 10-year period between 1995 and 2004. Methods: A trend analysis was performed of 873 patients (Toupet: 254 patients, Nissen: 619 patients) prospectively enrolled in the database of the Swiss Association for Laparoscopic and Thoracoscopic Surgery. Results: The frequency of the performed techniques remained stable during the observation period (p value for trend 0.206). The average postoperative and total length of hospital stay both significantly decreased during the 10-year period from 5.6 to 4.0days and 6.8 to 4.8days, respectively (both p values for trend <0.001). The average duration of surgery decreased significantly from 141 minutes to 121 minutes (p value for trend <0.001). There was a trend towards less complications in later years (2000-2004) compared to early years (1995-1999, p=0.058). Conversion rates were significantly lower in later years compared with early years (p=0.004). Conclusions: This is the first trend analysis in the literature reporting clinical outcomes of 873 prospectively enrolled patients undergoing Nissen and Toupet fundoplications during a 10-year period. The proportion of laparoscopic Nissen versus Toupet fundoplications remained stable over time, indicating that literature reports of the advantages of one procedure over the other had minimal influence on surgeons' choice of technique. Length of hospital stay, duration of surgery, morbidity, and conversion rate decreased over time, reflecting the learning curve. Clearly, patient outcomes have much improved during the 10-year observation perio

Histological and immunohistochemical evaluation of mandibular bone tissue regeneration

The purpose of the study was to perform an immunohistochemical and histological evaluation of samples taken from different bone regeneration procedures in atrophic human mandible. 30 patients (15 men and 15 women, age range of 35-60 years), non-smokers, with good general and oral health were recruited in this study and divided into three groups. The first group included patients who were treated with blood Concentration Growth Factors (bCGF), the second group included patients who were treated with a mixture of bCGF and autologous bone, while the third group of patients was treated with bCGF and tricalcium phosphate/hydroxyapatite (TCP-HA). Six months after the regenerative procedures, all patients undergone implant surgery, and a bone biopsy was carried out in the site of implant insertion. Each sample was histologically and immunohistochemically examined. Histological evaluation showed a complete bone formation for group II, partial ossification for group I, and moderate ossification for group III. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated a statistically significant difference between the three groups, and the best clinical result was obtained with a mixture of bCGF and autologous bone

Walking on Water—A Natural Experiment of a Population Health Intervention to Promote Physical Activity after the Winter Holidays

Background: Very few experimental studies exist describing the effect of changes to the built environment and opportunities for physical activity (PA). We examined the impact of an urban trail created on a frozen waterway on visitor counts and PA levels. Methods: We studied a natural experiment in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada that included 374,204 and 237,362 trail users during the 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 winter seasons. The intervention was a 10 km frozen waterway trail lasting 8–10 weeks. The comparator conditions were the time periods immediately before and after the intervention when ~10 kms of land-based trails were accessible to the public. A convenience sample of 466 participants provided directly measured PA while on the frozen waterway. Results: Most trail users were 35 years or older (73%), Caucasian (77%), and had an annual household income >$50,000 (61%). Mean daily trail network visits increased ~four-fold when the frozen waterway was open (median and interquartile range (IQR) = 710 (239–1839) vs. 2897 (1360–5583) visits/day, p < 0.001), compared with when it was closed. Users achieved medians of 3852 steps (IQR: 2574–5496 steps) and 23 min (IQR: 13–37 min) of moderate to vigorous intensity PA (MVPA) per visit, while 37% of users achieved ≥30 min of MVPA. Conclusion: A winter-specific urban trail network on a frozen waterway substantially increased visits to an existing urban trail network and was associated with a meaningful dose of MVPA. Walking on water could nudge populations living in cold climates towards more activity during winter months

The effectiveness and efficiency of diabetes screening in Ontario, Canada: a population-based cohort study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Little is known about the efficiency and effectiveness of the current level of diabetes screening activity in Ontario where there is universal access to health services. Our study aims were to: (i) determine how often Ontarians are screened for diabetes; (ii) estimate screening efficiency based on the number needed to screen (NNS) to diagnosis one diabetes case; (iii) examine the population effectiveness of screening as estimated by the number of undiagnosed diabetes cases.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Ontario respondents of the Canadian Community Health Survey who agreed to have their responses linked to health care data (n = 37,400) provided the cohort. The five-year probabilities of glucose testing and diabetes diagnoses were estimated using a Cox Proportional Hazards Model. We defined NNS as the ratio of diabetes tests to number of diabetes diagnoses over the study period. We estimated the number of undiagnosed diabetes by dividing the number not tested at the end of study period by the NNS.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>80% of women and 66% of men had a blood glucose test within 5 years. The efficiency of screening was estimated by a NNS of 14 among men and 22 among women. 127,100 cases of undiagnosed diabetes were estimated, representing 1.4% of the Ontario adult population. Increasing age, hypertension, immigrant and non-white ethnicity, and number of general practitioner visits were associated with an increased likelihood of having a glucose test (LR χ2 p < 0.001). Low income men were less likely to be tested.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Diabetes screening was high in this population-based cohort of Ontarians. Screening efficiency varied considerably in the population. Undiagnosed diabetes continues to be prevalent and remains concentrated in the highest risk groups for diabetes, especially among men.</p

Obesity and Respiratory Hospitalizations During Influenza Seasons in Ontario, Canada: A Cohort Study

Evidence from the 2009 H1N1 pandemic suggests that severe obesity was a risk factor for serious complications from influenza infection. Our study identifies severe obesity as a risk factor for respiratory hospitalizations during seasonal influenza epidemics