bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Semiquantitative Cough Strength Score for Predicting Reintubation After Planned Extubation
Authors: Duan Jun , Zhou Lintong , Xiao Meiling , Liu Jinhua , Yang Xiangmei
Published: November 2015

Background

Semiquantitative cough strength score (SCSS, graded 0–5) and cough peak flow (CPF) have been used to predict extubation outcome in patients in whom extubation is planned; however, the correlation of the 2 assessments is unclear.

Methods

In the intensive care unit of a university-affiliated hospital, 186 patients who were ready for extubation after a successful spontaneous breathing trial were enrolled in the study. Both SCSS and CPF were assessed before extubation. Reintubation was recorded 72 hours after extubation.

Results

Reintubation rate was 15.1% within 72 hours after planned extubation. Patients in whom extubation was successful had higher SCSSs than did reintubated patients (mean [SD], 3.2 [1.6] vs 2.2 [1.6], P = .002) and CPF (74.3 [40.0] vs 51.7 [29.4] L/min, P = .005). The SCSS showed a positive correlation with CPF (r = 0.69, P < .001). Mean CPFs were 38.36 L/min, 39.51 L/min, 44.67 L/min, 57.54 L/min, 78.96 L/min, and 113.69 L/min in patients with SCSSs of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively. The discriminatory power for reintubation, evidenced by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, was similar: 0.677 for SCSS and 0.678 for CPF (P = .97). As SCSS increased (from 0 to 1 to 2 to 3 to 4 to 5), the reintubation rate decreased (from 29.4% to 25.0% to 19.4% to 16.1% to 13.2% to 4.1%).

Conclusions

SCSS was convenient to measure at the bedside. It was positively correlated with CPF and had the same accuracy for predicting reintubation after planned extubation.
Lived Experience of the Intensive Care Unit for Patients Who Experienced Delirium
Authors: Whitehorne Karen , Gaudine Alice , Meadus Robert , Solberg Shirley
Published: November 2015

Background

Delirium is a common occurrence for patients in the intensive care unit and can have a profound and lasting impact on them. Few studies describe the experience of intensive care patients who have had delirium.

Objective

To understand the lived experience of intensive care for critically ill patients who experienced delirium.

Methods

The study participants consisted of 7 men and 3 women, 46 to 70 years old, who had delirium according to the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit. The van Manen method of hermeneutic phenomenology was used, and data collection entailed audio recorded semistructured interviews.

Results

Four themes were detected: “I can’t remember,” “Wanting to make a connection,” “Trying to get it straight,” and “Fear and safety concerns.”

Conclusion

Nurses working in intensive care units need to assess patients for delirium, assess the mental status of patients who have delirium, and help patients and patients’ families learn about and deal with the psychological effects of the intensive care unit experience.
Verifying Placement of Small-Bore Feeding Tubes: Electromagnetic Device Images Versus Abdominal Radiographs
Authors: Bryant Vera , Phang Jean , Abrams Kevin
Published: November 2015

Background

Clinicians are unsure if radiography is needed to confirm correct positioning of feeding tubes inserted with assistance from an electromagnetic system.

Objectives

To compare radiographic reports of feeding tube placement with images generated by an electromagnetic feeding tube placement device.

Methods

The medical records of 200 consecutive patients who had feeding tubes inserted with assistance from an electromagnetic feeding tube placement device were reviewed retrospectively. Radiographic reports of tube site were compared with images generated by the device.

Results

Radiographic evidence of tube sites was available in 188 cases: 184 tubes were located in portions of the gastrointestinal tract. Ninety of the 188 tubes were situated in the optimal site (distal duodenum or jejunum) radiographically. Images generated by the electromagnetic device were available in 176 cases; of these, 52 tubes appeared to end in the expected left lower quadrant. Tubes shown on radiographs to be in other sites also occasionally appeared to end in the left lower quadrant. Nurses using the device did not recognize 4 of the 188 tubes (2.1%) that were inadvertently placed in the lung. No consistent pattern of quadrant distribution was found for tubes positioned in the stomach or proximal duodenum.

Conclusions

Images generated by the electromagnetic tube placement device provided inconsistent results regarding tube location. A small percentage of seriously malpositioned tubes were not detected by using the electromagnetic device. These findings do not support eliminating radiographs to confirm correct tube placement following use of an electromagnetic tube placement device.
APOBEC3 Proteins in Viral Immunity
Authors: Stavrou Spyridon , Ross Susan R.
Published: November 2015

Apolipoprotein B editing complex 3 family members are cytidine deaminases that play important roles in intrinsic responses to infection by retroviruses and have been implicated in the control of other viruses, such as parvoviruses, herpesviruses, papillomaviruses, hepatitis B virus, and retrotransposons. Although their direct effect on modification of viral DNA has been clearly demonstrated, whether they play additional roles in innate and adaptive immunity to viruses is less clear. We review the data regarding the various steps in the innate and adaptive immune response to virus infection in which apolipoprotein B editing complex 3 proteins have been implicated.
Vector-borne diseases of small companion animals in Namibia: Literature review, knowledge gaps and opportunity for a One Health approach
Authors: Noden Bruce H. , Soni Minty
Published: November 2015

Namibia has a rich history in veterinary health but little is known about the vector-borne diseases that affect companion dogs and cats. The aim of this review is to summarise the existing published and available unpublished literature, put it into a wider geographical context, and explore some significant knowledge gaps. To date, only two filarial pathogens (Dirofilaria repens and Acanthocheilonema dracunculoides) and three tick-borne pathogens (Babesia canis vogeli, Hepatozoon canis and Ehrlichia canis) have been reported. Most studies have focused solely on dogs and cats in the urban Windhoek and surrounding areas, with almost nothing reported in rural farming areas, in either the populous northern regions or the low-income urban areas where animal owners have limited access to veterinary services. With the development of several biomedical training programmes in the country, there is now an excellent opportunity to address zoonotic vector-borne diseases through a One Health approach so as to assess the risks to small companion animals as well as diseases of public health importance.
Redécouverte de la diphyllobothriose dans la region des lacs sub-alpins français
Authors: Dupouy-Camet Jean , Yéra Hélène
Published: November 2015

La diphyllobothriose à Diphyllobothrium latum est réapparue dans la région des lacs sub-alpins et, en particulier, du lac Léman, il y a une quinzaine d’année, probablement en raison d’une popularité croissante des préparations à base de poisson cru. Sa résurgence a été l’occasion de mettre au point des techniques d’identification moléculaire du parasite, utilisables à la fois pour les oeufs, les anneaux et les larves. Les poissons des lacs d’Annecy et du Bourget sont indemnes. La prévalence de la parasitose chez les poissons du lac Léman et l’incidence de la maladie humaine dans la région apparaissent en diminution par rapport à d’autres enquêtes effectuées il y a quelques années. Le parasite est néanmoins toujours présent dans la région du lac Léman. Des enquêtes régulières auprès des laboratoires d’analyses médicales de la région et des examens réguliers des filets de perche et de quelques brochets seraient des données simples à recueillir et, à même, de permettre une surveillance épidémiologique de la parasitose.
Dysfunction of Fiscal Equalization Mechanisms in the System of Local Government Finances in Poland
Authors: Poniatowicz Marzanna , Wyszkowska Dorota
Published: November 2015

The main objective of this paper is to determine the substance of equalization systems and the causes and effects of their use in local finances, as well as the analysis of the differences of existing equalization mechanisms in selected countries. However, the specific objective is the identification of the key drawbacks and dysfunctions of the equalization system in Poland and to propose specific recommendations in the context of introducing necessary reforms. The authors of the paper present the view that firstly, actions should be undertaken to strengthen the financial autonomy of Polish local government entities, and only later, as a result, build a new equalization system adapted to the level of revenue and expenditure independence and different expenditure needs of local government in Poland.
A Study of Knowledge-Based Resource and Controlled Modes in Taiwan Governmental Organizations
Authors: Chiou Chi-Ho
Published: November 2015

In the past, the majority of research on governmental organizational control and the establishment of a control system focused on the possession of authority itself, but ignored the contribution of knowledge-based resources, which has been increasingly valued by researchers in recent years. Taking the perspective of knowledge-based resource, this thesis examines the relationship between control premises and control modes, and its influence on governmental organization in Taiwan. The research found: 1.intangible knowledge-based resource contribution also plays a key role in the control system; 2.knowledge-based resources has a significant influence on output control, process control, and social control; 3.the variables of governmental agencies and service units do not have different views on the knowledge resources and controlled mode. The results have enlarged the research scope of controlled theories in governmental organizations, thus providing a valuable reference for the design and application of a practical control system.
An algorithm for the numerical solution of the multivariate master equation for stochastic coalescence
Authors: Alfonso L.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. In cloud modeling studies, the time evolution of droplet size distributions due to collision–coalescence events is usually modeled with the Smoluchowski coagulation equation, also known as the kinetic collection equation (KCE). However, the KCE is a deterministic equation with no stochastic fluctuations or correlations. Therefore, the full stochastic description of cloud droplet growth in a coalescing system must be obtained from the solution of the multivariate master equation, which models the evolution of the state vector for the number of droplets of a given mass. Unfortunately, due to its complexity, only limited results were obtained for certain types of kernels and monodisperse initial conditions. In this work, a novel numerical algorithm for the solution of the multivariate master equation for stochastic coalescence that works for any type of kernels, multivariate initial conditions and small system sizes is introduced. The performance of the method was seen by comparing the numerically calculated particle mass spectrum with analytical solutions of the master equation obtained for the constant and sum kernels. Correlation coefficients were calculated for the turbulent hydrodynamic kernel, and true stochastic averages were compared with numerical solutions of the kinetic collection equation for that case. The results for collection kernels depending on droplet mass demonstrates that the magnitudes of correlations are significant and must be taken into account when modeling the evolution of a finite volume coalescing system.
A modelling case study of a large-scale cirrus in the tropical tropopause layer
Authors: Podglajen A. , Plougonven R. , Hertzog A. , Legras B.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. We use the Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) model to simulate a large-scale tropical tropopause layer (TTL) cirrus, in order to understand the formation and life cycle of the cloud. This cirrus event has been previously described through satellite observations by Taylor et al. (2011). Comparisons of the simulated and observed cirrus show a fair agreement, and validate the reference simulation regarding cloud extension, location and life time. The validated simulation is used to understand the causes of cloud formation. It is shown that several cirrus clouds successively form in the region due to adiabatic cooling and large-scale uplift rather than from ice lofting from convective anvils. The equatorial response (equatorial wave excitation) to a midlatitude potential vorticity (PV) intrusion structures the uplift. Sensitivity tests are then performed to assess the relative importance of the choice of the microphysics parametrisation and of the initial and boundary conditions. The initial dynamical conditions (wind and temperature) essentially control the horizontal location and area of the cloud. On the other hand, the choice of the microphysics scheme influences the ice water content and the cloud vertical position. Last, the fair agreement with the observations allows to estimate the cloud impact in the TTL in the simulations. The cirrus clouds have a small but not negligible impact on the radiative budget of the local TTL. However, the cloud radiative heating does not significantly influence the simulated dynamics. The simulation also provides an estimate of the vertical redistribution of water by the cloud and the results emphasize the importance in our case of both re and dehydration in the vicinity of the cirrus.
Role of methyl group number on SOA formation from aromatic hydrocarbons photooxidation under low NOx conditions
Authors: Li L. , Tang P. , Nakao S. , Chen C.-L. , Cocker III D. R.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. Substitution of methyl groups onto the aromatic ring determines the SOA formation from the aromatic hydrocarbon precursor. This study links the number of methyl groups on the aromatic ring to SOA formation from aromatic hydrocarbons photooxidation under low NOx conditions (HC / NO > 10 ppb C : ppb). Aromatic hydrocarbons with increasing numbers of methyl groups are systematically studied. SOA formation from pentamethylbenzene and hexamethylbenzene are reported for the first time. A decreasing SOA yield with increasing number of methyl groups is observed. Linear trends are found in both f44 vs. f43 and O / C vs. H / C for SOA from aromatic hydrocarbons with zero to six methyl groups. An SOA oxidation state predictive method based on benzene is used to examine the effect of added methyl groups on aromatic oxidation under low NOx conditions. Further, the impact of methyl group number on density and volatility of SOA from aromatic hydrocarbons is explored. Finally, a mechanism for methyl group impact on SOA formation is suggested. Overall, this work suggests as more methyl groups are attached on the aromatic ring, SOA products from these aromatic hydrocarbons become less oxidized per mass/carbon.
Characterization of Mediterranean hail-bearing storms using an operational polarimetric X-band radar
Authors: Vulpiani G. , Baldini L. , Roberto N.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. This work documents the effective use of X-band radar observations for monitoring severe storms in an operational framework. Two severe hail-bearing Mediterranean storms that occurred in 2013 in southern Italy, flooding two important Sicilian cities, are described in terms of their polarimetric radar signatures and retrieved rainfall fields. The X-band dual-polarization radar operating inside the Catania airport (Sicily, Italy), managed by the Italian Department of Civil Protection, is considered here. A suitable processing is applied to X-band radar measurements. The crucial procedural step relies on the differential phase processing, being preparatory for attenuation correction and rainfall estimation. It is based on an iterative approach that uses a very short-length (1 km) moving window, allowing proper capture of the observed high radial gradients of the differential phase. The parameterization of the attenuation correction algorithm, which uses the reconstructed differential phase shift, is derived from electromagnetic simulations based on 3 years of drop size distribution (DSD) observations collected in Rome (Italy). A fuzzy logic hydrometeor classification algorithm was also adopted to support the analysis of the storm characteristics. The precipitation field amounts were reconstructed using a combined polarimetric rainfall algorithm based on reflectivity and specific differential phase. The first storm was observed on 21 February when a winter convective system that originated in the Tyrrhenian Sea, marginally hit the central-eastern coastline of Sicily, causing a flash flood in Catania. Due to an optimal location (the system is located a few kilometers from the city center), it was possible to retrieve the storm characteristics fairly well, including the amount of rainfall field at the ground. Extemporaneous signal extinction, caused by close-range hail core causing significant differential phase shift in a very short-range path, is documented. The second storm, on 21 August 2013, was a summer mesoscale convective system that originated from a Mediterranean low pressure system lasting a few hours that eventually flooded the city of Syracuse. The undergoing physical process, including the storm dynamics, is inferred by analyzing the vertical sections of the polarimetric radar measurements. The high registered amount of precipitation was fairly well reconstructed, although with a trend toward underestimation at increasing distances. Several episodes of signal extinction were clearly manifested during the mature stage of the observed supercells.
Known and unknown unknowns: uncertainty estimation in satellite remote sensing
Authors: Povey A. C. , Grainger R. G.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. This paper discusses a best-practice representation of uncertainty in satellite remote sensing data. An estimate of uncertainty is necessary to make appropriate use of the information conveyed by a measurement. Traditional error propagation quantifies the uncertainty in a measurement due to well-understood perturbations in a measurement and in auxiliary data – known, quantified "unknowns". The under-constrained nature of most satellite remote sensing observations requires the use of various approximations and assumptions that produce non-linear systematic errors that are not readily assessed – known, unquantifiable "unknowns". Additional errors result from the inability to resolve all scales of variation in the measured quantity – unknown "unknowns". The latter two categories of error are dominant in under-constrained remote sensing retrievals, and the difficulty of their quantification limits the utility of existing uncertainty estimates, degrading confidence in such data. This paper proposes the use of ensemble techniques to present multiple self-consistent realisations of a data set as a means of depicting unquantified uncertainties. These are generated using various systems (different algorithms or forward models) believed to be appropriate to the conditions observed. Benefiting from the experience of the climate modelling community, an ensemble provides a user with a more complete representation of the uncertainty as understood by the data producer and greater freedom to consider different realisations of the data.
Characterization of active and total fungal communities in the atmosphere over the Amazon rainforest
Authors: Womack A. M. , Artaxo P. E. , Ishida F. Y. , Mueller R. C. , Saleska S. R. , Wiedemann K. T. , Bohannan B. J. M. , Green J. L.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. Fungi are ubiquitous in the atmosphere and may play an important role in atmospheric processes. We investigated the composition and diversity of fungal communities over the Amazon rainforest canopy and compared these communities to fungal communities found in terrestrial environments. We characterized the total fungal community and the metabolically active portion of the community using high-throughput DNA and RNA sequencing and compared these data to predictions generated by a mass-balance model. We found that the total community was primarily comprised of fungi from the phylum Basidiomycota. In contrast, the active community was primarily composed of members of the phylum Ascomycota and included a high relative abundance of lichen fungi, which were not detected in the total community. The relative abundance of Basidiomycota and Ascomycota in the total and active communities was consistent with our model predictions, suggesting that this result was driven by the relative size and number of spores produced by these groups. When compared to other environments, fungal communities in the atmosphere were most similar to communities found in tropical soils and leaf surfaces. Our results demonstrate that there are significant differences in the composition of the total and active fungal communities in the atmosphere, and that lichen fungi, which have been shown to be efficient ice nucleators, may be abundant members of active atmospheric fungal communities over the forest canopy.
Change in coccolith morphology by responding to temperature and salinity in coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi (Haptophyta) isolated from the Bering and Chukchi Seas
Authors: Saruwatari K. , Satoh M. , Harada N. , Suzuki I. , Shiraiwa Y.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. Strains of the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi (Haptophyta) collected from the subarctic North Pacific and Arctic Oceans during the R/V MIRAI cruise in 2010 (MR10-05) were established as clone cultures and have been maintained in the laboratory at 15 °C and 32 ‰ salinity. To study the physiological responses of coccolith formation to changes in temperature and salinity, growth experiments and morphometric investigations were performed on two strains of MR57N isolated from the northern Bering Sea (56°58' N, 167°11' W) and MR70N at the Chukchi Sea (69°99' N, 168° W). This is the first report of a detailed morphometric and morphological investigation of Arctic Ocean coccolithophore strains. The specific growth rates at the logarithmic growth phases in both strains markedly increased as temperature was elevated from 5 to 20 °C, although coccolith productivity (the percentage of calcified cells) was similar at 10–20 % at all temperatures. On the other hand, the specific growth rate of strain MR70N was affected less by changes in salinity in the range 26–35 ‰, but the proportion of calcified cells decreased at high and low salinities. According to scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations, coccolith morphotypes can be categorized into Type B/C on the basis of their biometrical parameters, such as length of the distal shield (LDS), length of the inner central area (LICA), and the thickness of distal shield elements. The central area elements of coccoliths varied from grilled type to closed type when temperature was increased or salinity was decreased, and coccolith size decreased simultaneously. Coccolithophore cell size also decreased with increasing temperature, although the variation in cell size was slightly greater at the lower salinity level. This indicates that subarctic and arctic coccolithophore strains can survive in a wide range of seawater temperatures and at lower salinities due to their marked morphometric adaptation ability. Because all coccolith biometric parameters followed the scaling law, the decrease in coccolith size was caused simply by the reduced calcification. Taken together, our results suggest that calcification productivity may be used to predict future oceanic environmental conditions in the Polar Regions.
Potential genesis and implications of calcium nitrate in Antarctic snow
Authors: Mahalinganathan K. , Thamban M.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. Among the large variety of particulates in the atmosphere, calcic mineral dust particles have highly reactive surfaces that undergo heterogeneous reactions with nitrogen oxides contiguously. The association between Ca2+, an important proxy indicator of mineral dust and NO3–, a dominant anion in the Antarctic snow pack was analysed. A total of 41 snow cores (~ 1 m each) that represent snow deposited during 2008–2009 were studied along coastal–inland transects from two different regions – the Princess Elizabeth Land (PEL) and central Dronning Maud Land (cDML) in East Antarctica. Correlation statistics showed a strong association (at 99 % significance level) between NO3– and Ca2+ at the near-coastal sections of both PEL (r = 0.72) and cDML (r = 0.76) transects. Similarly, a strong association between these ions was also observed in snow deposits at the inland sections of PEL (r = 0.8) and cDML (r = 0.85). Such systematic associations between Ca2+ and NO3– is attributed to the interaction between calcic mineral dust and nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere, leading to the possible formation of calcium nitrate (Ca(NO3)2). Forward and back trajectory analyses using HYSPLIT model v. 4 revealed that Southern South America (SSA) was an important dust emitting source to the study region, aided by the westerlies. Particle size distribution showed that over 90 % of the dust was in the range < 4 μm, indicating that these dust particles reached the Antarctic region via long range transport from the SSA region. We propose that the association between Ca2+ and NO3– occurs during the long range transport due to the formation of Ca(NO3)2. The Ca(NO3)2 thus formed in the atmosphere undergo deposition over Antarctica under the influence of anticyclonic polar easterlies. However, influence of local dust sources from the nunataks in cDML evidently mask such association in the mountainous region. The study indicates that the input of dust-bound NO3– may contribute a significant fraction of the total NO3– deposited in Antarctic snow.
Error Analysis and Its Relevance to Teaching ESL Composition
Authors: Ciesielkiewicz Monika , Ciesielkiewicz Monika
Published: November 2015

The present paper attempts to establish the most common types of errors that Spanish students of 1st and 2nd year of Bachillerato make in ESL compositions, as well as to identify those that are produced due to the interference from Spanish into English. Once the data was collected, the errors were classified according to the following categories: spelling, vocabulary, grammar-syntax and punctuation. Next, the quantification of errors was also undertaken. The results of this study show that the  Spanish students of Bachillerato produced the following mistakes most frequently: (1) spelling, (2) the incorrect use of commas, (3) the use of prepositions, (4) the incorrect use of words according to their lexical meaning, (5) the articles in English, (6) the number of nouns, (7) subject-verb agreement, (8) the use of adverbs, (9) word order and (10) the use of verb tenses. This paper can help teachers to be more aware of the most typical errors made by Spanish-speaking students in order offer activities that could assist them to master concepts in English that they find most difficult and problematic.
A Scale Structure View of Resultatives in Japanese, Chinese and German
Authors: Li Wenchao
Published: November 2015

This paper provides a scale-based semantics for resultatives in Japanese, Chinese and German, in an effort to arrive at: how adjectival complements and verbs in resultative constructions show sensitivity to the scalar structure. The findings reveal that Japanese accepts both open and closed-scale adjectives but disallows atelic verbs in resultatives. It appears that both telic and atelic verbs are welcome by Chinese resultatives. Adjectival complements in German resultatives are of no diverse distribution, i.e. both open and closed-scale APs are allowed to indicate a result in inherent resultatives and derived resultatives. However, German verbs show sensitivity to the scalar property. The conclusion that one can draw here is that Japanese tends to be a ‘BECOME-focused’ language, with the encoding of resutlatives arriving at morph-syntactic level. German, on the other hand, is likely to be a ‘BE AT-focused’ language. There is no restriction towards adjectives, but verbs show sensitivity to the scalar structure. Chinese is also a ‘BE AT-focused’ language, with resultatives mainly facilitated via syntax. Moreover, neither verbs nor adjectives are sensitive to the scalar structure. 
The Use of Adjective+noun Collocations by Iranian EFL Learners Based on Noun Abstractness
Authors: Ghaniabadi Saeed , Marjane Elham Moradi , Zareian Gholamreza
Published: November 2015

To become proficient language users, EFL learners must be familiar with the accepted and highly used word combinations. Lewis (1997, p.8) contended that competence and proficiency in a language equals acquiring fixed prefabricated items. Collocations are a large part of these word pairs and are defined as “the way in which words co-occur in natural text in statistically significant ways”. He believed that one of the most important subtypes of collocations is adjective + noun. The present study focused on the use of adjective + noun collocations by Iranian EFL learners based on noun abstractness. So, these collocations in written productions of twenty eight students at Hakim Sabzevari University were found and analyzed. The repetitions of high frequent patterns were compared to their frequency in COCA corpus in order to find out whether noun abstractness is a significant factor in learning and using adjective + noun collocations. The results revealed that the adjective + abstract noun collocations were more frequently and more efficiently used by Iranian EFL learners.
Use it or Lose it: Vocabulary Growth in the EFL Writing Classroom
Authors: Al-Humaidi Salma , Al-Hadlaq Mohammed
Published: November 2015

Do students avoid using the words they are unsure of spelling correctly in their writing? Does the use and/or avoidance of newly learned words in writing affect later recall of those words? In this paper, the authors propose that learners' vocabulary growth is hampered by teachers' emphasis on correct spelling and that tolerance of spelling errors is needed to create a positive learning environment in the writing classroom where students can freely and productively use all of their linguistic resources with no fear of being punished. This proposal is based on the assumption that learners are likely to hide their inability to spell words correctly when composing a text, causing these words to remain in their passive vocabulary which in turn would lead to the possibility of them being lost. 
The Appearance of Persian-English Compound Verbs in Persian Structure
Authors: Hadei Marzieh , Ramakrishna Rita A. R.
Published: November 2015

This study pursues an explanation for Persian-English codeswitching in terms of language typological differences. In particular, it aims to show how English verbs occur in Persian structure and identify possible constraints, which occur between Persian and English verbal system. A mixed method design is chosen for the study and data collection includes tape-recordings of spontaneous conversations involving 12 Persian-English bilingual speakers. All bilingual complementiser phrases are transcribed, and all the classified English verbs are analysed to show how they occur in the bilingual, Persian-English complementiser phrases. The findings of the study reveal that the lack of congruity between the verbal system of Persian and English causes some constraints on the insertion of the English verbs. First, in all English elements in the findings of this study, there is noexample that shows English verb occurs as a single unit in the Persian structure. Second, no single case in the findings of this study shows a combination of a Persian verbal morpheme and an English bare infinitive verb. Third, there is no example in the entire corpus that shows the combination of English verb and Persian negation element. Thus, the occurrence of Persian-English bilingual compound verbs is the result of the mentioned constraints between these two languages.
Discursive Silence: A Tool to Read between the Lines in Persian Stories
Authors: Sadeghi Leila
Published: November 2015

According to Hemingway, if a writer knows enough about what he is writing about, he may be silent about seven-eighth of the text (1996: 192). This silence as a notable absence leaves a meaningful trace, which is a marker of written silence. Such silence has an interactive role, employed as a discursive technique in literature to produce a fictional world. Based on this theory, the reader seeks to fill the empty places in the fictional text to understand the story completely. An appropriate device for filling the blanks would be possible through understanding the different six types of silence and its functions. To be exact, the narrative silence is represented in structural, semantic and pragmatic types discussed respectively in three syntagmatic, paradigmatic, and interactive axes. This paper examines these variations of narrative silence in five Persian short stories to analyze the structure of narrative and the creation of the elements of a story by means of silence. The purpose of studying silence is to establish how the narrative structure is based on untold or omitted parts in subtly differing ways, so each kind of silence has its special function in these five stories. Generally, the theory of silence not only proposes a universal pattern for studying fiction, but also suggests a comprehensive analytic tool to study the structuring of narrative that will then allow scholars to differentiate the different silences that constitute styles of fiction writing.

 
Face Threatening Acts in Wayang Golek
Authors: Sukmawan Ramdan , Hestiana Siska
Published: November 2015

This study aims at describing negative and positive face threatening acts of puppetry’s figures in Wayang Golek show. The data use are puppetry figure’s spoken conversation dialogue in Wayang Golek show. The findings to study are the expressions of negative face threatening acts of order and request, suggestion, advice, threat, offer, promise, compliment, expression of strong emotion of hatred and anger toward hearer. The positive face threatening acts are the expressions of disapproval, criticism, contempt, insult, challenge, expression of violent emotion, irreverence, mention of taboo topic, bringing of bad news about hearer, blatant non-cooperation in activity of making non-sequiturs, and use of address terms of status-marked identification in initial encounter. 
Critical Review of the Models of Reading Comprehension with a Focus on Situation Models
Authors: Davoudi Mohammad , Moghadam Hamid Reza Hashemi
Published: November 2015

Research directed at unveiling the complexities of reading skill burgeoned in conjunction with the advancements in the field of psycholinguistics. Tremendous effort has been made to make sense of the complex process of the underlying multi-faceted mechanisms of inference generation during reading. In this respect, the situation models have recently gained ground. In studies focused on reading skill, situation models are of top priority, because they illuminate the interactions among different components including the process of information network activation, strategic and conscious-based inference as well as the textual and meta-textual representations in the readers’ memory. This paper reviews prevalent reading models with a focus on the critical analysis of three foundational situation models including, Event-Indexing, Construction-Integration and StructureBuilding models of comprehension. Unlike the previous research, the orientation of this paper toward situation models is based on their use in second language reading, which is simplified in tune and comprehensive in content. Its implications are beneficial for the wide spectrum of SLA theorists, teachers and students for the reading skill purposes.
Visual Analysis of Magazine Covers
Authors: Behshad Azam , Ghaniabadi Saeed
Published: November 2015

The aim of this paper is to look into ways in which modes are chosen if signs are produced for interpretation and presentation of theories and meanings. Magazine is a complex collection of signs that can be extensively decoded and analyzed by different factors. The most spectacular components are documentary photos, manipulated images and portrait photos. According to the results, many processes (action, symbolic, reaction, and analytical processes), and strategies (e.g. top vs. bottom strategies and margin vs. center), modality modification and color differentiation, are required in representing and interpreting concepts and meanings in this type of discourse. The discourse analysis used here is accomplished based on Halliday’s model of functional-systematic grammar (1976, 2004), which uses three meta functions to describe different communicational modes.
Spelling Errors Made by Arab Learners of English
Authors: Alsaawi Ali
Published: November 2015

Writing is a pivotal system that transfers spoken utterances from being heard to being seen and read. Literacy is appraised not only by reading and writing accurately, but also spelling words correctly. Pedagogically speaking, second language learners (L2) may struggle in their English writing more than first language speakers (L1) due to different reasons. Even among L2 learners, it is believed that Arab learners struggle with English spelling more than any other non-native speakers. This paper, therefore, is an attempt to review recent research and literature on the spelling errors made by Arab learners. In addition, a small experimental study of intermediate high school Saudi students aged 17-18 years old (n = 26) is implemented in a context that has not been explored yet. All participating students were tested before taking part in the study. The results of this study are consistent with previous research, which found that spelling errors made by Arab learners are associated with the impact of their L1. The most common spelling errors are consonant doubling, silent letters, final [e] and vowels in general. It is, thus, indispensable for Arab instructors and stakeholders to scrutinize this dilemma explicitly. 
Adult L2 Learners Need a Reading Comprehension Test: Is it a C-Test or a Cloze Test?
Authors: Rabadi Reem Ibrahim
Published: November 2015

Many language tests are used to measure language learners’ abilities, two of these tests are the cloze test and the C-test. However, insufficient research has done on the usefulness of these tests as reading comprehension tests. Therefore, this study attempts to compare the efficiency of the cloze test with the efficiency of the C-test as reading comprehension tests.  It will explore the main research question if there are any significant differences between the results of the testees on the cloze test and their results on the C-test as reading comprehension tests, in addition to their performance on both tests as advanced level and intermediate level learners. A C-test and a cloze test were administered to 80 international university students at Otto-von-Guericke University in Germany to answer these questions. The statistical analysis used in this study was the (t-test) to test the statistical significance of the differences between the two tests. Results revealed statistically significant differences between the scores of the testees in favour of their scores on the C-test. Furthermore, the results indicated that the cloze test correlated positively with the C-test. Contrary to the findings of previous research indicating that the cloze test is more efficient reading comprehension test than the C-test. It is suggested that this study can be expanded to wider population and to be used for testing the lexical knowledge of language learners.
Determination and Prioritization of Educational Needs of Academic Members in the Area of Educational Assessment
Authors: Basiry Batool , Nasr Ahmadreza , Mirshahjafari Seyedebrahim , Mehrmohammadi Mahmood
Published: November 2015

The main aim of the present study is to prioritize the training needs of academic members of Farhangian University and their assessment. This research method is descriptive-analytical survey, and the qualitative and quantitative methods have been used to carry it out. The statistical population in the qualitative section consisted of all education authorities throughout the country, out of whom 19 were selected using goal-oriented sampling. The quantitative statistical population comprised 181 of permanently employed academic members of Farhangian University which 150 samples were randomly selected. The research data were collected from semi-structured interview and researcher-made questionnaire. In order to determine the validity, content validity and to check the structural validity, operating analysis, and to estimate the reliability of the questionnaires, Cranach’s alpha coefficient was used. The findings showed that the results obtained in the qualitative section are in agreement with those obtained from the qualitative section. According to the research results, the most important educational needs of academic members in the area of assessment are: 1) ability in carrying out the qualitative assessment, 2) ability in carrying out the combined assessment, 3) ability in “skill-oriented” assessment instead of “memory-oriented” assessment. Moreover, the research findings in the qualitative section indicated that the amount of need of academic members of Farhangian University in the area of assessment were more than the medium level.
Retinal Vessel Diameter Changes in Different Severities of Diabetic Retinopathy by SD-OCT
Authors: Shao Qing , Heussen Florian M. , Ouyang Yanling , Hager Annette
Published: November 2015

Purpose

To evaluate retinal vessel diameters in relation to different severity grades of diabetic retinopathy (DR) using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).

Methods

Patients with varying degrees of nonproliferative DR (NPDR) underwent circular OCT scans centered on the optic nerve head using a SD-OCT. These cases were retrospectively reviewed. The presence and severity of DR was assessed using Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study protocols. The 5 largest retinal arterioles and venules were labeled and measured on OCT scans for each patient according to previously published methods. Vertical vessel inner contour diameter, vertical vessel outer contour diameter, and reflectance shadowing width were among the documented parameters.

Results

Of 59 eyes from 45 patients examined, 30 (50.2%) and 29 (49.8%) had mild and severe NPDR, respectively. Eyes with severe NPDR had narrower mean arteriolar vertical vessel inner diameter (87.9 ± 10.8 μm), vertical vessel outer diameter (119.1 ± 9.7 μm), and vessel shadow width (78.8 ± 10.9 μm) than eyes with mild NPDR (89.8 ± 12.1 μm, 120.9 ± 12.9 μm, 81.3 ± 15.3 μm). However, the differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.53, 0.55, 0.47). No correlation was shown between the severity of NPDR and arteriolar parameters (p = 0.31, 0.59, 0.75). Wider venular diameters were associated with increasing severity of NPDR (p<0.001, <0.001, 0.007, respectively). The association remained after multivariate adjustment for age, sex, eye, and cataract surgery (p = 0.04, 0.01, 0.007, respectively).

Conclusions

Wider retinal venule diameter was significantly associated with the severity of NPDR by SD-OCT-assisted measurement. Prospective studies would be needed to evaluate whether change in retinal venule could be used as a clinical indicator of DR progression.
Anterior Corneal Surface Irregularity after Descemet-Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty for Bullous Keratopathy
Authors: Spadea Leopoldo , Santamaria Valentina , Vingolo Enzo Maria , Cagini Carlo
Published: November 2015

Purpose

To evaluate irregularity of the anterior cornea before and after Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) for bullous keratopathy and its effect on visual acuity.

Methods

Corneal data were acquired using a topographic unit before and up to 12 months after DSEK. Anterior corneal elevation data were decomposed into a set of Zernike polynomials up to the 8th order within a 6.0-mm diameter region. Total higher-order aberrations (HOAs) and root mean square from the 3rd to 8th order were calculated. The effects of anterior surface irregularity on visual acuity were evaluated.

Results

This clinical study comprised 20 consecutive eyes of 20 patients with bullous keratopathy. The mean corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) was 1.00 ± 0.12 logMAR (SD) preoperatively and 0.24 ± 0.16 logMAR 12 months postoperatively. Before DSEK, corneas with bullous keratopathy had higher total HOAs compared with those in controls (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in anterior surface HOAs between preoperatively and 12 months (p>0.05).

Conclusions

Postoperative CDVA correlated with irregularity of the corneal anterior surface. Corneal anterior HOAs are higher in patients with bullous keratopathy than in controls, and remain higher through 12 months after DSEK. In addition to corneal transparency, regularity of the corneal anterior surface is an important factor in visual acuity after DSEK.
Bilateral Optic Disc Edema as a Presentation of an Obstructing Spinal Plasmacytoma
Authors: Grixti Andre , Bonello Michael , Silver Nicholas , Noonan Carmel , Ziahosseini Kimia
Published: November 2015

Purpose

To report a rare case of bilateral optic disc edema as presentation of an obstructing spinal plasmacytoma.

Methods

Case report.

Results

A 41-year-old healthy man presented with distortion of his peripheral vision for 9 months. He denied headaches or neurologic symptoms. Examination showed bilateral optic disc swelling, radial disc hemorrhages, and absent spontaneous venous pulsations. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance venography were unrevealing. Lumbar puncture showed a normal opening pressure of 19 cm cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CSF protein was significantly elevated at 3.22 g/L (0.10-0.45 g/L). Spinal MRI with contrast revealed a tumor in the T9 vertebral body extending through the disc spaces into T8 and T10, compressing the spinal cord. Computed tomography-guided biopsy confirmed a spinal plasmacytoma. He received radiotherapy to the spine T7-T11 to reduce spinal cord compression followed by a 6-month course of chemotherapy with dexamethasone, cyclophosphamide, and thalidomide. Disc swelling improved on starting radiotherapy with complete resolution 8 months posttreatment. MRI spine showed reduction of tumor.

Conclusions

This case highlights the importance of spinal imaging in patients with normal cranial scans and raised CSF protein levels who lack the typical idiopathic intracranial hypertension phenotype.
Steroid Treatment Resolves Acute Respiratory Failure in Patient Transferred for ECMO
Authors: Koerner Michael M. , Tepolt Francis , Brehm Christoph , Bressler Sonja , Zeriouh Mohamad , Soleimani Behzad , Ruhparwar Arjang , Pae Walter E. , Loebe Matthias , Ghodsizad Ali
Published: November 2015

Introduction

Space-consuming mediastinal tumors can create respiratory failure.

Methods

We are reporting on a case of mediastinal lymphoma, which created respiratory failure in our patient. IV steroid therapy was used in our patient, who presented with end-stage respiratory failure.

Results

Conservative management of our patient was possible without the application of ECMO.

Conclusions

In the right patient population, IV steroid treatment can avoid further deterioration of end-stage respiratory failure.