bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gaze and discomfort glare, Part 1: Development of a gaze-driven photometry
Authors: Sarey Khanie M , Stoll J , Einhäuser W , Wienold J , Andersen M
Published: July 2016

Discomfort glare is a major challenge for the design of workplaces. The existing metrics for discomfort glare prediction share the limitation that they do not take gaze direction into account. To overcome this limitation, we developed a ‘gaze-driven’ method for discomfort glare assessment. We conducted a series of experiments under simulated office conditions and recorded the participants’ gaze using mobile eye tracking and the luminance distributions using high dynamic range imaging methods. The two methods were then integrated to derive ‘gaze-centred’ luminance measurements in the field of view. The existing ‘fixed-gaze’ and the newly developed ‘gaze-driven’ measurement methods are compared. Our results show that there is a significant difference between the two methods. In this paper, the procedure for integrating the recorded luminance images with the recorded gaze dynamics for obtaining gaze-centred luminance data is described. This gaze-centred luminance data will be compared to the subjective assessment of glare in Part 2 of this study.
Dawning of hope: Practice of and reflections on indigenous teacher education in Taiwan
Authors: Chen Shanhua
Published: July 2016

Teachers more familiar with students’ culture tend to use culturally relevant teaching methods to smooth students’ learning. Most pre-service teachers in Taiwan lack sufficient training for multicultural competence to enable them to embrace indigenous students’ culture and appropriate teaching approaches. In 2013, the Education Act for Indigenous Peoples was revised thereby requiring teachers of indigenous education to comply with the act within five years. It created huge changes and modifications to indigenous teacher education and required teachers who work in indigenous areas to complete ethnic culture and multiculture courses. All levels of government have to institute the Acts requirements within five years. Given the significance of the crucial keys to success of teaching indigenous students, it is important to understand how the government values the development of teachers’ multiculture teaching abilities. Following an outline of the tribal critical race theory (TribalCrit), the status quo of indigenous peoples’ education and teacher training in Taiwan were identified in a discussion of social justice. To make indigenous teacher education more suitable to indigenous peoples’ needs and build up a good foundation for ethnic culture development, the experiences of qualified teachers of indigenous education in the US, Canada, and Australia will be mentioned as examples. The goal for this research is to provide some useful reflections on the subsequent implementation of such efforts, and to get some inspiration for Taiwan's aboriginal teacher education in fulfillment of the Education Act for Indigenous Peoples.
Fish-Derived Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review
Authors: Aucoin Monique , Cooley Kieran , Knee Christopher , Fritz Heidi , Balneaves Lynda G. , Breau Rodney , Fergusson Dean , Skidmore Becky , Wong Raimond , Seely Dugald
Published: July 2016

Background. The use of natural health products in prostate cancer (PrCa) is high despite a lack of evidence with respect to safety and efficacy. Fish-derived omega-3 fatty acids possess anti-inflammatory effects and preclinical data suggest a protective effect on PrCa incidence and progression; however, human studies have yielded conflicting results. Methods. A search of OVID MEDLINE, Pre-MEDLINE, Embase, and the Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED) was completed for human interventional or observational data assessing the safety and efficacy of fish-derived omega-3 fatty acids in the incidence and progression of PrCa. Results. Of 1776 citations screened, 54 publications reporting on 44 studies were included for review and analysis: 4 reports of 3 randomized controlled trials, 1 nonrandomized clinical trial, 20 reports of 14 cohort studies, 26 reports of 23 case-control studies, and 3 case-cohort studies. The interventional studies using fish oil supplements in patients with PrCa showed no impact on prostate-specific antigen levels; however, 2 studies showed a decrease in inflammatory or other cancer markers. A small number of mild adverse events were reported and interactions with other interventions were not assessed. Cohort and case-control studies assessing the relationship between dietary fish intake and the risk of PrCa were equivocal. Cohort studies assessing the risk of PrCa mortality suggested an association between higher intake of fish and decreased risk of prostate cancer–related death. Conclusions. Current evidence is insufficient to suggest a relationship between fish-derived omega-3 fatty acid and risk of PrCa. An association between higher omega-3 intake and decreased PrCa mortality may be present but more research is needed. More intervention trials or observational studies with precisely measured exposure are needed to assess the impact of fish oil supplements and dietary fish-derived omega-3 fatty acid intake on safety, PrCa incidence, treatment, and progression.
Social Influence and Politics in Organizational Research
Authors: Ferris Gerald R. , Perrewé Pamela L. , Daniels Shanna R. , Lawong Diane , Holmes Jeanne J.
Published: July 2016

This special issue of the Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies addresses the topic of “Social Influence and Politics in Organizational Research,” a topic which spans more than a century and represents one of the oldest areas of inquiry in the field. In this article, we first review the literature to extract what we seem to know about this area of the field, and then we shift to an identification of some areas about which we still need to know more. Nine articles were selected to be published in this special issue, and they reflect different aspects of some these “need to know more” areas of social influence and politics in organizations. We believe these articles represent solid contributions to new knowledge in this area, and we hope they stimulate further and renewed scholarly interest.
Young Men, Help-Seeking, and Mental Health Services: Exploring Barriers and Solutions
Authors: Lynch Louise , Long Maggie , Moorhead Anne
Published: July 2016

International research has identified young men as reluctant to seek help for mental health problems. This research explored barriers and solutions to professional help seeking for mental health problems among young men living in the North West of Ireland. A qualitative approach, using two focus groups with six participants each and five face-to-face interviews, was conducted with men aged 18 to 24 years (total N = 17). Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Seven key themes of barriers to professional help seeking were identified: “acceptance from peers,” “personal challenges,” “cultural and environmental influences,” “self-medicating with alcohol,” “perspectives around seeking professional help,” “fear of homophobic responses,” and “traditional masculine ideals.” Five key themes of solutions to these barriers included “tailored mental health advertising,” “integrating mental health into formal education,” “education through semiformal support services,” “accessible mental health care,” and “making new meaning.” Interesting findings on barriers include fear of psychiatric medication, fear of homophobic responses from professionals, the legacy of Catholic attitudes, and the genuine need for care. This study offers an in-depth exploration of how young men experience barriers and uniquely offers solutions identified by participants themselves. Youth work settings were identified as a resource for engaging young men in mental health work. Young men can be encouraged to seek help if services and professionals actively address barriers, combining advertising, services, and education, with particular attention and respect to how and when young men seek help and with whom they want to share their problems.
Statistical issues in the design, conduct and analysis of two large safety studies
Authors: Gaffney Michael
Published: July 2016

Background/Aims:

The emergence, post approval, of serious medical events, which may be associated with the use of a particular drug or class of drugs, is an important public health and regulatory issue. The best method to address this issue is through a large, rigorously designed safety study. Therefore, it is important to elucidate the statistical issues involved in these large safety studies.

Methods:

Two such studies are PRECISION and EAGLES. PRECISION is the primary focus of this article. PRECISION is a non-inferiority design with a clinically relevant non-inferiority margin. Statistical issues in the design, conduct and analysis of PRECISION are discussed.

Results:

Quantitative and clinical aspects of the selection of the composite primary endpoint, the determination and role of the non-inferiority margin in a large safety study and the intent-to-treat and modified intent-to-treat analyses in a non-inferiority safety study are shown. Protocol changes that were necessary during the conduct of PRECISION are discussed from a statistical perspective. Issues regarding the complex analysis and interpretation of the results of PRECISION are outlined. EAGLES is presented as a large, rigorously designed safety study when a non-inferiority margin was not able to be determined by a strong clinical/scientific method. In general, when a non-inferiority margin is not able to be determined, the width of the 95% confidence interval is a way to size the study and to assess the cost–benefit of relative trial size.

Conclusion:

A non-inferiority margin, when able to be determined by a strong scientific method, should be included in a large safety study. Although these studies could not be called “pragmatic,” they are examples of best real-world designs to address safety and regulatory concerns.
Individual, social-environmental, and physical-environmental factors that underlie sense of coherence in Dutch adults
Authors: Swan Emily , Bouwman Laura , Hiddink Gerrit Jan , Aarts Noelle , Koelen Maria
Published: July 2016

Antonovsky’s salutogenesis is a theoretical perspective on health development that explores physical, mental, and social factors that contribute to a ‘healthy life orientation’ and also a theoretical approach to behavior change. Previous studies applying salutogenesis show that a high sense of coherence (SOC), a composite measure from salutogenesis indicating one’s capacity to cope with stress, is associated with a healthy life orientation and lifestyle behaviors, including healthy eating patterns. However, limited evidence exists on the factors that underlie SOC, which could be used to strengthen this capacity as a means to enable healthier eating. Dutch adults ( N = 781) participated in a cross-sectional study examining the relationship between SOC and a set of individual, social-environmental, and physical-environmental factors. The main findings indicate that high SOC was associated with a diverse set of factors including lower doctor-oriented health locus of control; higher satisfaction with weight; higher perceived levels of neighborhood collective efficacy; higher situational self-efficacy for healthy eating; lower social discouragement for healthy eating; and higher neighborhood affordability, accessibility and availability of healthy foods. These findings can inform the design of nutrition interventions that target these factors that strengthen SOC and provide the building blocks for a healthier life orientation.
Ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation for cT1a renal masses in poor surgical candidates: mid-term, single-center outcomes
Authors: Zachos Ioannis , Dimitropoulos Konstantinos , Karatzas Anastasios , Samarinas Michael , Petsiti Argiro , Tassoudis Vassilios , Tzortzis Vassilios
Published: July 2016

Objectives:

Surgical management of small renal masses can be challenging in frail patients and thus modalities such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) have emerged as valid alternative options. The aim of the current study was to present mid-term oncological and functional results on a series of patients with cT1a renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) who were unfit for surgery and underwent RFA using ultrasound guidance under local anesthesia.

Methods:

Data from patients fulfilling the study selection criteria were retrospectively collected. RENAL nephrometry score was used for tumor description. Parametric tests were used for data analysis and survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method.

Results:

Overall, 32 patients (mean±standard deviation age, 72.4 ± 7.6 years) with biopsy-proven RCCs (tumor size, 23.75 ± 10.44 mm and RENAL score, 5.28 ± 1.33) underwent 32 RFA sessions. Twenty-seven patients (84.4%) had low complexity masses and five patients had masses of intermediate complexity (15.6%) according to RENAL score categorization. Over a follow-up period of 22.1 ± 13.7 months, one case of primary treatment failure was recognized (primary technical success 97.0%), and overall, three patients were diagnosed with residual disease (primary technique effectiveness 90.6%). No major complications occurred during the postprocedure 90-day follow up, while no difference was found in serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate pre and post procedure. Patients with intermediate-complexity renal lesions had shorter time to recurrence in comparison to low-complexity masses ( p = 0.002). All patients were alive at the time of study data analysis without diagnosed metastases.

Conclusions:

Percutaneous RFA of small RCCs using ultrasound-based guidance under local anesthesia can be an effective alternative method for managing patients who are unfit for surgery.
Neurokinin-1 inhibitors in the prevention of nausea and vomiting from highly emetogenic chemotherapy: a network meta-analysis
Authors: Abdel-Rahman Omar
Published: July 2016

A network meta-analysis of the comparative effectiveness of neurokinin 1 (NK-1) inhibitors in the prophylaxis of highly emetogenic chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting has been conducted. Eligible studies included randomized trials evaluating aprepitant, fosaprepitant, netupitant (NEPA), casopitant and rolapitant containing regimens in the setting of highly emetogenic chemotherapy. Primary outcomes of interest include complete response (CR) and rate of no significant nausea. After preclusion of ineligible studies, 19 studies were included in the final analysis. The majority of the regimens containing NK-1 inhibitors (including NEPA, aprepitant/palonosetron (palono)/dexamethasone (dexa), casopitant/granisetron (grani) or ondansetron (ondan)/dexa, aprepitant/ondan/dexa) are better than regimens not containing them (palono/dexa, ondan/dexa, grani/dexa) in terms of achieving a CR in the overall phase. Moreover, casopitant/grani or ondan/dexa and aprepitant/grani or ondan/dexa are better than rolapitant/ondan or grani/dexa in terms of CR achievement [odds ratio (OR) 1.62, 95% credible interval (CrI) 1.14–2.23, and OR 1.28, 95% CrI 1.01–1.59, respectively]. Taking into consideration the limitations of cross-trial comparisons, regimens containing neurokinin inhibitors are associated with higher CR rates than regimens not containing them. Moreover, casopitant and aprepitant regimens seem to be more effective than rolapitant regimens.
Introducing purposeful activity kits in a hand rehabilitation practice: Effects on clinical practice patterns and job satisfaction among occupational therapy practitioners
Authors: Dy Laura B , Yancosek Kathleen E
Published: July 2016

Introduction

Facilitating function through occupation and purposeful activity is the basic tenet of occupational therapy. However, the majority of research in hand rehabilitation clinics continues to focus on biomechanical interventions. The purpose of this research was to study practice patterns and personal opinions of occupational therapy practitioners before and after providing purposeful activity kits to an outpatient occupational therapy hand clinic.

Methods

Mixed-method design to evaluate an 8-week intervention of providing purposeful activity kits to a busy, military outpatient hand clinic. A paper survey was administered to nine occupational therapy practitioners before and after the intervention. Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews.

Results

A descriptive analysis indicated an increase in the use of activities, crafts, and occupation after the introduction of the purposeful activity kits. Practitioners consistently reported time as the top factor in their inability to incorporate more purposeful activities. Qualitative results support use of the new activities during both intervention and evaluation due to the focus on function and ease of use of the kits.

Conclusion

Purposeful activities can enhance any rehabilitation clinic in an organized, cost-effective manner. Practitioners responded positively toward the added equipment; however, it will take time and effort to adjust the theoretical decision making of practitioners. Additional participants and length of intervention is needed.
Effects of Within-Talker Variability on Speech Intelligibility in Mandarin-Speaking Adult and Pediatric Cochlear Implant Patients
Authors: Su Qiaotong , Galvin John J. , Zhang Guoping , Li Yongxin , Fu Qian-Jie
Published: July 2016

Cochlear implant (CI) speech performance is typically evaluated using well-enunciated speech produced at a normal rate by a single talker. CI users often have greater difficulty with variations in speech production encountered in everyday listening. Within a single talker, speaking rate, amplitude, duration, and voice pitch information may be quite variable, depending on the production context. The coarse spectral resolution afforded by the CI limits perception of voice pitch, which is an important cue for speech prosody and for tonal languages such as Mandarin Chinese. In this study, sentence recognition from the Mandarin speech perception database was measured in adult and pediatric Mandarin-speaking CI listeners for a variety of speaking styles: voiced speech produced at slow, normal, and fast speaking rates; whispered speech; voiced emotional speech; and voiced shouted speech. Recognition of Mandarin Hearing in Noise Test sentences was also measured. Results showed that performance was significantly poorer with whispered speech relative to the other speaking styles and that performance was significantly better with slow speech than with fast or emotional speech. Results also showed that adult and pediatric performance was significantly poorer with Mandarin Hearing in Noise Test than with Mandarin speech perception sentences at the normal rate. The results suggest that adult and pediatric Mandarin-speaking CI patients are highly susceptible to whispered speech, due to the lack of lexically important voice pitch cues and perhaps other qualities associated with whispered speech. The results also suggest that test materials may contribute to differences in performance observed between adult and pediatric CI users.
The effect of adenotonsillectomy for childhood sleep apnoea on cardiorespiratory control
Authors: Baumert Mathias , Pamula Yvonne , Martin James , Kennedy Declan , Ganesan Anand , Kabir Muammar , Kohler Mark , Immanuel Sarah A.
Published: July 2016

The efficacy of adenotonsillectomy for relieving obstructive sleep apnoea symptoms in children has been firmly established, but its precise effects on cardiorespiratory control are poorly understood.

In 375 children enrolled in the Childhood Adenotonsillectomy Trial, randomised to undergo either adenotonsillectomy (n=194) or a strategy of watching waiting (n=181), respiratory rate, respiratory sinus arrhythmia and heart rate were analysed during quiet, non-apnoeic and non-hypopnoeic breathing throughout sleep at baseline and at 7 months using overnight polysomnography.

Children who underwent early adenotonsillectomy demonstrated an increase in respiratory rate post-surgery while the watchful waiting group showed no change. Heart rate and respiratory sinus arrhythmia were comparable between both arms. On assessing cardiorespiratory variables with regard to normalisation of clinical polysomnography findings during follow-up, heart rate was reduced in children who had resolution of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, while no differences in their respiratory rate or respiratory sinus arrhythmia were observed.

Adenotonsillectomy for obstructive sleep apnoea increases baseline respiratory rate during sleep. Normalisation of apnoea–hypopnoea index, spontaneously orviasurgery, lowers heart rate. Considering the small average effect size, the clinical significance is uncertain.
Near-surface modeling challenges highlighted at SEG/DGS Near-Surface Modeling Workshop
Authors: Al-Saad Riyadh , Bridle Ralph
Published: July 2016

In conjunction with the March GEO 2016 conference held in Manama, Bahrain, SEG hosted a joint workshop with the Dhahran Geoscience Society (DGS), focusing on near-surface modeling challenges. This is the second workshop on the topic. The goal was to follow up on 2014 discussions from the first workshop and share recent case studies and advancements in emerging technologies addressing near-surface modeling, imaging, and characterization challenges.
Improving patient care through CPD: revised guidance from the Royal College of Psychiatrists
Authors: Brookes Guy
Published: July 2016

Continued learning is essential to doctors' safe and effective practice throughout their careers. To improve the care they provide, they need not only to acquire new knowledge and skills but also to consider how their current practice compares and what they need to change. Such reflection is not usually automatic; time, and often help from peers, is needed to make it effective; formalised, this is continuing professional development (CPD). Revised guidance from the Royal College of Psychiatrists emphasises the importance of linking learning to improved practice through reflection and promotes the CPD peer group's role in supporting psychiatrists to do this.
Lessons from akrasia in substance misuse: a clinicophilosophical discussion
Authors: Radoilska Lubomira , Fletcher Keron D.
Published: July 2016

This article explores the philosophical concept of akrasia, also known as weakness of will, and demonstrates its relevance to clinical practice. In particular, it challenges an implicit notion of control over one's actions that might impede recovery from substance misuse. Reflecting on three fictional case vignettes, we show how philosophical work on akrasia helps avoid this potentially harmful notion of control by supporting a holistic engagement with people for whom substance misuse is a problem. We argue that such engagement enhances their prospects of recovery by focusing on agency over time, as opposed to individual lapses.
Why do we need a social psychiatry?
Authors: Ventriglio Antonio , Gupta Susham , Bhugra Dinesh
Published: July 2016

Human beings are social animals, and familial or social relationships can cause a variety of difficulties as well as providing support in our social functioning. The traditional way of looking at mental illness has focused on abnormal thoughts, actions and behaviours in response to internal causes (such as biological factors) as well as external ones such as social determinants and social stressors. We contend that psychiatry is social. Mental illness and interventions in psychiatry should be considered in the framework of social context where patients live and factors they face on a daily basis.
Negative results in phase III trials of complex interventions:
Cause for concern or just good science?
Authors: Crawford Mike J. , Barnicot Kirsten , Patterson Sue , Gold Christian
Published: July 2016

Not all interventions that show promise in exploratory trials will be
supported in phase III studies. But the high failure rate in recent trials
of complex mental health interventions is a concern. Proper consideration of
trial processes and greater use of adaptive trial designs could ensure
better use of available resources.
Correlation between afferent rearrangements and behavioral deficits after local excitotoxic insult in the mammalian vestibule: an animal model of vertigo symptoms?
Authors: Gaboyard-Niay Sophie , Travo Cécile , Saleur Aurélie , Broussy Audrey , Brugeaud Aurore , Chabbert Christian
Published: July 2016

Damage to inner ear afferent terminals is believed to result in many auditory and vestibular dysfunctions. The sequence of afferent injuries and repair, as well as their correlation with vertigo symptoms remains poorly documented. In particular, information on the changes that take place at the primary vestibular endings during the first hours following a selective insult is lacking. In the present study we combined histological analysis with behavioral assessments of vestibular function in a rat model of unilateral vestibular excitotoxic insult. Excitotoxicity resulted in an immediate but transient alteration of the balance function that was resolved within a week. Concomitantly, vestibular primary afferents underwent a sequence of structural changes followed by spontaneous repair. Within the first two hours after the insult, a first phase of pronounced vestibular dysfunction coincided with extensive swelling of afferent terminals. In the next 24 hours, a second phase of significant but incomplete reduction of the vestibular dysfunction was accompanied by a resorption of swollen terminals and fiber retraction. Eventually, within one week, a third phase of complete balance restoration occurred. The slow and progressive withdrawal of the balance dysfunction correlated with full reconstitution of nerve terminals. Competitive re-innervation by afferent and efferent terminals that mimicked developmental synaptogenesis resulted in full re-afferentation of the sensory epithelia. By deciphering the sequence of structural alterations that occur in the vestibule during selective excitotoxic impairment, this study offers new understandings on how a vestibular insult develops in the vestibule and how it governs the heterogeneity of vertigo symptoms.
MicroRNA screening identifies a link between NOVA1 expression and low level of IKAP/ELP1 in Familial dysautonomia
Authors: Hervé Mylène , Ibrahim El Chérif
Published: July 2016

Familial dysautonomia (FD) is a rare neurodegenerative disease caused by a mutation in intron 20 of the IKBKAP gene (c.2204+6T>C), leading to tissue-specific skipping of exon 20 and decrease of IKAP/hELP1 synthesis. Small non-coding RNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs) are important posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression and play an essential role in the nervous system development and function. To better understand the neuronal specificity of IKAP/hELP1 loss, we examined expression of miRNAs, in human olfactory ecto-mesenchymal stem cells (hOE-MSCs) from 5 control individuals and 5 FD patients. We profiled the expression of 373 miRNAs using microfluidics and reverse transcription coupled to quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) on two biological replicate series of hOE-MSC cultures from healthy controls and FD patients. This led to the total identification of 26 dysregulated miRNAs in FD, validating the existence of a miRNA signature in FD. We then selected the nine most discriminant miRNAs for further analysis. The signaling pathways affected by these dysregulated miRNAs were largely within the nervous system. In addition, many targets of these dysregulated miRNAs were previously demonstrated to be affected in FD models. Moreover, we found that four of our nine candidate miRNAs target the neuron-specific splicing factor NOVA1. We demonstrated that overexpression of miR-203a-3p leads to a decrease of NOVA1, counter-balanced by an increase of IKAP/hELP1, supporting a potential interaction between NOVA1 and IKAP/hELP1. Altogether, these results reinforce the choice of miRNAs as potential therapeutic targets and suggest that NOVA1 could be involved as a regulator of FD pathophysiology.
Three-Fibre-Based Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy for Estimation of Total Solid Content in Natural Rubber Latex
Authors: Inagaki Tetsuya , Nozawa Daisuke , Shimomura Yoshiaki , Tsuchikawa Satoru
Published: July 2016

It is shown that three-fibre-based diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, based on spatially resolved near infrared spectroscopy in the wavelength range 850–1060 nm, is a promising method for the measurement of quality in natural rubber latex samples. Absorbance ratios were defined as the ratio of light intensity detected at distances ρ and ρ + Δ from the emitter fibre. A relative absorbance ratio γ was then calculated using the absorbance ratios at three wavelengths. Parameter γ had a strong linear correlation with total solid content in latex (range 0.3′-0.6 g g−1) with a coefficient of determination value of 0.98 and root mean square error for total solid content of 0.014 g g−1. Although the near infrared spectra measured by conventional transmission or reflectance spectroscopy were highly affected by the scattering coefficient in the sample, simulation results in this study showed that the effects of scattering in the samples on γ can be reduced.
Are Chinese Growth and Inflation Too Smooth? Evidence from Engel Curves
Authors: Nakamura Emi , Steinsson Jón , Liu Miao
Published: July 2016

China has experienced remarkably stable growth and inflation in recent years according to official statistics. We use systematic discrepancies between cross-sectional and time-series Engel curves to construct alternative estimates of Chinese growth and inflation. Our estimates suggest that official statistics present a smoothed version of reality. Official inflation rose in the 2000s, but our estimates indicate that true inflation was still higher and consumption growth was overstated. In contrast, inflation was overstated and growth understated during the low-inflation 1990s. These patterns hold for the food Engel curve, and for numerous other categories, such as grain as a fraction of food. (JEL C82, E21, E23, E31, O11, P24)
Case Report: 84 year-old woman with alien hand syndrome
Authors: Qureshi Ihtesham Aatif , Korya Daniel , Kassar Darine , Moussavi Mohammed
Published: July 2016

Background:

Alien hand syndrome [AHS] is a rare and ill-defined neurological disorder. It produces complex, goal-directed motion of one hand that is involuntarily instigated. This syndrome characteristically arises after brain trauma, brain surgery, stroke or encephalitis. We describe a case of AHS in a patient who had a previous episode of subarachnoid hemorrhage affecting the left frontal lobe and corpus callosum.

Case presentation:

An 84-year-old woman presented to the emergency department complaining of headaches and several episodes of her left arm moving as if it was groping around trying to grab at her own body. A computed tomography scan of the head demonstrated an acute left superior frontal hemorrhage with compression of the corpus callosum. Transcranial Doppler report showed no significant abnormality in the insonated vessels. After being stabilized for the acute bleed, she was treated with clonazepam 0.5 mgat night for the uncontrolled hand movements. Her movements resolved by her next month follow up. The diagnosis of AHS was made based on her clinical presentation, characterization of the movement and localization correlating with findings in neuroimaging.

Conclusion:

We document a rare neurologic disorder seen in patients presenting with a history of previous strokes and a typical description of involuntary and unintentional, uncontrolled unilateral arm movements with repetitive grasping. The present case has a combination of frontal and callosal lesions.  These findings appear to support a potential destruction leading to the rare syndrome.
Transnationalism and nostalgia: Gianfranco Pannone’s ‘American Trilogy’
Authors: Brioni Simone
Published: July 2016

The article examines Gianfranco Pannone’s ‘American Trilogy’ – Piccola America. Gente del Nord a Sud di Roma/‘Little America. People from the North to the South of Rome’ (1991), Lettere dall’America/‘Letters from America’ (1995) and L’America a Roma/‘America in Rome’ (1998) – showing how the trilogy employs the documentary genre not only as a way to inform the audience, but to question the way in which imagination shapes reality and vice versa. First, Lettere dall’America is examined in light of the topos of letter writing in other literary and cinematic works featuring the Italian emigration to the United States. Second, the article analyses how the migration from north-east Italy to the Pontine Marshes in central Italy is represented in Piccola America. Third, I discuss how L’America a Roma highlights the presence of southern migrants interpreting Mexicans in Italian westerns. Pannone uses documentaries to interrogate the fictional construction of America, and questions the view that narratives of migration are the objective reflection of ‘real’ experiences. Investigating the connection between nostalgia and the narration of history, this article also shows how the presence of a nostalgic vein in the trilogy is aimed at rethinking ‘Italian’ national history in a transnational dimension.
Book Reviews
Authors: Minier Márta , O’Leary Alan , Bonifazio Paola , Benci Jacopo , O’Rawe Catherine
Published: July 2016

Mussolini’S Dream Factory: Film Stardom in Fascist Italy, Stephen Gundle (2013) New York and Oxford: Berghahn, 336 pp., ISBN: 9781782382447, h/bk, ISBN: 9781782382454, institutional e-book, £28.04

Un Nuovo Cinema Politico Italiano? Vol I: Lavoro, Migrazione, Relazioni Di Genere, Luciana D’Arcangeli, William Hope and Silvana Serra (EDS) (2013) Kibworth Beauchamp: Troubadour, 304 pp., ISBN: 9781780885414, p/bk, £14.95

Un Nuovo Cinema Politico Italiano? Volume II: Il Passato Sociopolitico, Il Potere Istituzionale, La Marginalizzazione, William Hope, Silvana Serra and Luciana D’Arcangeli (EDS) (2014) Leicester: Troubador, 270 pp., ISBN: 9781783065318, p/bk, £ 14.95

Blow-Up. Antonioni’s Classic Film and Photography, Walter Moser and Klaus Albrecht Schröder (EDS) (2014) Ostfildern: Hatje Cantz Verlag, 280 pp., ISBN: 9783775737371, p/bk, €35.00

The Operatic and the Everyday in Post-War Italian Film Melodrama, Louis Bayman (2014) Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 240 pp., ISBN: 0748656424, h/bk, £70
Notes from the Editors, July-August 2016
Authors: The Editors -
Published: July 2016

buy this issueCommenting in the January 1973 issue of Monthly Review on the declining condition of the U.S. economy, Paul Sweezy brought back the question of "secular stagnation," first advanced by Keynes's leading follower Alvin Hansen in the late 1930s. "The U.S. economy," Sweezy wrote, in an article entitled "Notes on the U.S. Situation at the End of 1972," "is experiencing at one and the same time a cyclical boom and secular stagnation." The resurfacing of stagnation, he suggested, was the product in part of the U.S. attempt to unwind from the Vietnam War, which had previously been lifting the economy.… A couple of months after the publication of Sweezy's article, in March 1973, the New York Times, seeking to quiet the widening anti-capitalist protests, ran a series of articles on its op-ed page under the general heading of "Capitalism, for Better or Worse." The series concentrated on the two phenomena of the weakening of economic prosperity and the decline of military spending resulting from the drawing down of the Vietnam War. One of these articles, misleadingly entitled "Taking Stock of War," appearing on March 14, was written by Paul Samuelson, then considered to be the leading neoclassical economist in the United States. Click here to purchase a PDF version of this article at the Monthly Review website.
UK Monopoly Capitalism: Applying a North American Brand to Britain
Authors: Matthews David
Published: July 2016

During the past decade, persistent excess productive capacity, at levels exceeding at times 25 percent, has blighted the British economy, along with rates of unemployment not experienced for two decades, with the result that a substantial proportion of the economy's productive resources remain underutilized. Orthodox economic theory often ascribes such phenomena to a lack of capital for investment. However, in the same period, interest rates have been historically low, and the UK corporate sector has accumulated increasing reserves of surplus capital. Clearly, there has been no shortage of capital for investment. The failure to invest stems not from the supply of capital, but instead from the paucity of investment opportunities, suggesting that British capitalism is mired in stagnation.Click here to purchase a PDF version of this article at the Monthly Review website.
Classical Single Factor Optimisation of Parameters for Phenolic Antioxidant Extraction from Tamarind Seed (Tamarindus indica)
Authors: Sarkar Atreyi , Ghosh Uma
Published: July 2016

Presently the work deals with outreaching and exhaustive investigations involving single factor optimisation method, to optimise the parameters for phenolic antioxidant extraction from the seeds of Tamarindus indica. At first the characterization of the seeds has been performed by estimating the total calorie value, carbohydrate, protein, fat, Total Polyphenol Content (TPC), moisture (%), total ash (%), total solid (%), volatile solid (%), fixed carbon (%), bulk density (%), pH and solubility. The effects of solid to solvent ratio (1:10 - 1:30 w/v), ethanol concentration (25 - 100% v/v), extraction time (1 - 24 hours) and extraction temperature (25 - 60°C) have been investigated to optimise the extraction of Total Polyphenol Content (TPC) and Antioxidant capacity determined by Folin - Ciocalteu and FRAP analyses respectively. The solvent extraction conditions have been optimised at solid to solvent ratio of 1:20 w/v, 50% ethanol as solvent and 3 hours of shaking at 40°C.
Stanowisko Komisji Weneckiej dotyczące pozycji ustrojowej sądownictwa konstytucyjnego w demokratycznym państwie prawa
Authors: Suchocka Hanna
Published: July 2016

Debata, jaka toczy się od kilku miesiącu wokół Trybunału Konstytucyjnego, dotyczy jednego z zasadniczych fundamentów państwa prawa, jakim jest miejsce konstytucji w systemie źródeł prawa i związana z tym rola sądownictwa konstytucyjnego w systemie ustrojowym opartym na podziale władz. W toku wielu dyskusji ustrojowych, jakie toczyły się w naszym państwie od 1989 r., aksjomat dotyczący roli konstytucji i autonomii sądu oceniającego zgodność prawa z konstytucją, jako należący do europejskiej i demokratycznej tradycji konstytucyjnej, był nietknięty. Trwająca debata polityczna wydaje się ten aksjomat podważać.Skoro mamy do czynienia z tak ważnym fundamentem demokracji, jakim jest sądownictwo konstytucyjne, trudno się dziwić zainteresowaniu instytucji europejskich zmianami dokonywanymi w tym obszarze w jakimkolwiek państwie europejskim.Szczególną rolę w tym obszarze pełni Komisja Rady Europy nazywana potocznie Komisją Wenecką. Można ją określić jako swoisty organ udzielający doradztwa prawnego państwom z zakresu prawa publicznego. Działa na wniosek danego państwa albo organów europejskich. Komisja wskazuje w swoich opiniach na cały szereg merytorycznych kwestii istotnych dla zapewnienie autonomii i bezstronności sądów konstytucyjnych. Opinie Komisji nie mają charakteru wiążącego. Mimo niewiążącego charakteru, tworzone przez Komisję wenecką soft law jest istotne nie tylko dla państw będących jej członkami, ale także dla państw współpracujących z Komisją. Państwa te bowiem chcą być postrzegane jako należące do wspólnoty państw przywiązanej do idei praw człowieka, demokracji i rule of law w granicach nakreślonych przez Komisję Wenecką. Jako reputation-enhancing community, Komisja Wenecka stwarza państwom możliwość współudziału w przygotowywaniu tych standardów, a zarazem traktowania rekomendacji Komisji jako części swojej suwerennej odpowiedzialności za kształt system prawnego.
Z perspektywy czasu – opinie łodzian o kondycji demokracji
Authors: Murawska Agnieszka
Published: July 2016

Minęło ponad 25 lat budowania nowego systemu w Polsce. Jest to pretekst do podsumowań i odpowiedzi na pytanie badawcze: na jakim poziomie kształtuje się zadowolenie z funkcjonowania demokracji w naszym kraju? Do omawianych wymiarów kondycji demokracji zaliczono: funkcjonowanie demokracji, funkcjonowanie wymiaru sprawiedliwości, funkcjonowanie opieki zdrowotnej, szkolnictwa wszystkich szczebli oraz stan gospodarki.Podstawę empiryczną prezentowanych danych stanowią wyniki reprezentatywnych badań ilościowych zebranych w ramach projektu „Odrodzenie postprzemysłowych miast peryferyjnych” na próbie 700 dorosłych mieszkańców Łodzi. Projekt realizowany był ze środków finansowych Narodowego Centrum Nauki w latach 2011-2014, z kolei badania surveyowe przeprowadzono pod koniec 2012 i na początku 2013 r.Wyniki badania potwierdzają niski poziom zadowolenia z kondycji funkcjonowania demokracji i jego poszczególnych komponentów. Cechą społeczno-demograficzną najbardziej różnicującą stosunek łodzian do demokracji okazał się wiek respondentów.
Zmiana modelu służby cywilnej po nowelizacji ustawy o służbie cywilnej
Authors: Samol Sebastian
Published: July 2016

W artykule omówiono zmiany w zatrudnieniu w służbie cywilnej wynikające z ustawy z 30 grudnia 2015 r. o zmianie ustawy o służbie cywilnej oraz niektórych innych ustaw. W artykule dokonano analizy nowych warunków zatrudnienia na wyższych stanowiskach w służbie cywilnej na podstawie powołania. Przedstawiono też warunki pełnienia funkcji przez Szefa Służby Cywilnej oraz zasady funkcjonowania Rady Służby Publicznej, która zastąpiła dotychczasową Radę Służby Cywilnej.
Zasada aequitas a orzecznictwo podatkowe sądownictwa administracyjnego
Authors: Gomułowicz Andrzej
Published: July 2016

Z opodatkowaniem wiążą się nie tylko złożone problemy prawne, lecz także etyczne. Uwidaczniają się one w procesie stosowania przepisów prawa. Zdarza się, że prawo podatkowe przeradza się w swoje przeciwieństwo, gdy rygoryzm w wykonywaniu litery prawa przestaje się liczyć z kontekstem społecznym. Właśnie wtedy, z uwagi na złośliwe tłumaczenie prawa (Cyceron), szczególna rola przypada sędziom sądu administracyjnego.Ochrona przed bezprawnym działaniem organów podatkowych wynika z wysokiej wiedzy interpretacyjnej sędziów, sędziowskiej dociekliwości i wnikliwości, moralnej wrażliwości sędziów na prawo, solidności kontroli instancyjnej.Pojawia się też problem relacji norm etycznych wywodzących się z wartości aksjologicznych do norm prawnych. Te relacje są następujące: normy prawne powinny posiadać legitymację aksjologiczną, natomiast normy etyczne legitymacji jurydycznej nie potrzebują. A to oznacza, że niesporne wartości aksjologiczne (dobro, godność, sprawiedliwość, równość, wolność) obowiązują niezależnie od umownie przyjętych w danym czasie konwencji stanowienia prawa. Zawsze więc stają się częścią systemu prawa w państwie. Prawo pozytywne jest wynikiem kompromisu sił politycznych i sił społecznych, które w życiu publicznym odgrywają istotną, ważną rolę. Dlatego też prawo pozytywne nie może być pełnym odbiciem uniwersalnych wartości aksjologicznych. I stąd właśnie pochodzą różnice zakresów pomiędzy obowiązującym systemem prawa a systemem norm etycznych wynikających z uniwersalnych wartości aksjologicznych.
Nakaz dokonywania wykładni prounijnej jako dyrektywa wykładni systemowej
Authors: Rowiński Wojciech
Published: July 2016

Celem artykułu jest próba analizy toczącej się w polskiej nauce prawa dyskusji dotyczącej relacji pomiędzy wykładnią prounijną a wykładnią systemową. Dominująca w polskiej jurysprudencji opinia na temat statusu wykładni prounijnej określa ją jako jedną z dyrektyw wykładni systemowej. Sięgając do podstawowych pojęć teoretyczno prawnych, analizując modele dokonywania wykładni prounijnej proponowane przez doktrynę prawa europejskiego oraz te proponowane przez polską teorię prawa autor dochodzi do wniosku, że nie sposób zaklasyfikować wykładnię prounijną jako jedną z dyrektyw wykładni systemowej.
Research on the Relative Stable Time and Stable Value of Concrete Creep
Authors: Zheng W. , Tang C. , Wang Y.
Published: July 2016

The safety coefficients of structures change due to the creep behavior of concrete, which causes increased deformation and cracks in structures, redistribution of internal stresses, and the loss of prestress. It is an important and significant problem to determine when concrete creep is stable and how much of the creep will occur once it is stable over the projected life of the structure. The relationship between compressive concrete creep and time was obtained during creep experiments, which were conducted using the compressive concrete cube with stress levels of 0.160, 0.261, 0.370, 0.470, 0.568, and 0.668, a loading age of 126 days, and a time under loading of 589 days. The creep compliance function model of linear and non-linear compressive concrete creep under stress levels lower than 0.8 was unified by introducing a creep compliance function amplification coefficient Aj. Relative stable time and relative stable value of concrete creep, with different stress levels, were obtained according to the creep model and regular relative stable time.
Inverse Cauchy problem for fractional telegraph equations with distributions
Authors: Lopushanska H.P. , Rapita V.
Published: July 2016

The inverse Cauchy problem for the fractional telegraph equation $$u^{(\alpha)}_t-r(t)u^{(\beta)}_t+a^2(-\Delta)^{\gamma/2} u=F_0(x)g(t), \;\;\; (x,t) \in {\rm R}^n\times (0,T],$$ with given distributions in the right-hand sides of the equation and initial conditions is studied. Our task is to determinate a pair of functions: a generalized solution $u$ (continuous in time variable in general sense) and unknown continuous minor coefficient $r(t)$. The unique solvability of the problem is established.
Hypercyclic operators on algebra of symmetric analytic functions on $\ell_p$
Authors: Mozhyrovska Z.G.
Published: July 2016

In the paper, it is proposed a method of construction of hypercyclic composition operators on $H(\mathbb{C}^n)$ using polynomial automorphisms of $\mathbb{C}^n$ and symmetric analytic functions on $\ell_p.$ In particular, we show that an "symmetric translation" operator is hypercyclic on a Frechet algebra of symmetric entire functions on $\ell_p$ which are bounded on bounded subsets.
$\omega$-Euclidean domain and Laurent series
Authors: Romaniv O.M. , Sagan A.V.
Published: July 2016

It is proved that a commutative domain $R$ is $\omega$-Euclidean if and only if the ring of formal Laurent series over $R$ is $\omega$-Euclidean domain. It is also proved that every singular matrice over ring of formal Laurent series $R_{X}$ are products of idempotent matrices if $R$ is $\omega$-Euclidean domain.
A class of Julia exceptional functions
Authors: Khoroshchak V.S. , Khrystiyanyn A.Ya. , Lukivska D.V.
Published: July 2016

The class of $p$-loxodromic functions (meromorphic functions, satisfying the condition $f(qz) = pf(z)$ for some $q \in \mathbb{C}\backslash \{0\}$ and all $z \in \mathbb{C}\backslash \{0\}$) is studied. Each $p$-loxodromic function is Julia exceptional. The representation of these functions as well as their zero and pole distribution are investigated.