bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Textual Legacy of Abū l-Qāsim al-Qušayrī: a Bibliographic Record1
Authors: Nguyen Martin , Chiabotti Francesco
Published: April 2014

Abstract

The present article compiles and presents the textual legacy of the Sufi scholar Abū l-Qāsim ʿAbd al-Karīm b. Hawāzin al-Qušayrī (d. 465/1072), whose writings are especially significant for the fields of Islamic mysticism and theology. Every title that has been ascribed to Qušayrī is provided with an entry in which all known information is given; the contents are surveyed when possible, previous scholarly research concerning the text is noted, and the record of its publication or survival in manuscript is listed. The titles are organized alphabetically according to their respective English transliterations from the Arabic.
La naissance de l’hagiographie marocaine : le milieu soufi de Fès et le Mustafād d’al-Tamīmī (m. 603/1206)
Authors: Sanseverino Ruggero Vimercati
Published: April 2014

Résumé

L’édition du manuscrit du Mustafād fī manāqib al-ʿubbād bi-madīnat Fās wa-mā yalīhā min al-bilād (Le renseignement bénéfique au sujet des faits vertueux et prodigieux des dévots de la ville de Fès et de ses environs) de Muḥammad ʿAbd al-Karīm al-Tamīmī (m. 603/1206), ouvrage que l’on croyait perdu, permet de jeter une nouvelle lumière sur les origines de l’hagiographie marocaine, notamment sur les sources dont elle s’est inspirée et sur les circonstances de son émergence. Rédigé peu avant le célèbre Tašawwuf ilā riǧāl al-taṣawwuf, le Mustafād constitue en effet le premier ouvrage hagiographique du Maroc et ce document significatif est encore assez mal connu dans la recherche occidentale sur l’histoire religieuse du Maghreb.
Muḍṭariban maǧnūnan: A Case of Phraseology and Evolving Motifs of Literary and Medical Love-Sickness in the Tale of Salāmān and Absāl
Authors: Shalev Donna
Published: April 2014

Abstract

The Tale of Salāmān and Absāl presented as a translation from Greek, attributed in the text’s opening lines to Ḥunayn b. Isḥāq, is saturated with references from a wide-ranging variety of sources with an array of religious, cultural and textual orientations; these, as well as its generic affiliations, ideological leanings, location on the spiritual-metaphysical spectrum and Vorlagen have been studied by many. In this paper, I focus on the wording and literary forms of the text, some of which have been glossed over in the rendition of Henry Corbin, by which this text is often known. My point of departure is a collocation which draws on motifs and phraseology from popular sources, the canons of poetry and poetry in prose (including belles lettres elements in the Qurʾān), as well as terminology in medical literature in Arabic and Greek traditions. Through an analysis of phrasing drawing on philological methods of Blachère, Von Grunebaum, Arazi and others, a contextualization of this Tale (which is not covered in research on “profane love theory” e.g. by Lois Giffen) may lead to a reading of this Hermetic text within a repertoire of “romantic” commonplaces and innovations of expression.
Australasian endemic no more: four new species of Miropotes Nixon (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae), with the first record from the Oriental region
Authors: Fernández-Triana J. , van Achterberg C. , Whitfield J.B.
Published: April 2014

Four new species of Miropotes Nixon (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) are described: Miropotes orientalis Fernández-Triana & van Achterberg, from Thailand and Vietnam, and three species from Australia, M. austini, M. neglectus, and M. lordhowensis (all authored by Fernández-Triana and Whitfield). A key to all known 14 species of the genus is provided, as well as brief, software-generated descriptions (Lucid 3.5.4). Miropotes is distributed mostly within the Australasian region, although it is here reported for the first time for the Oriental region. The relationships with other genera of Microgastrinae are briefly discussed.
Historical Issues between Korea and Japan and Judicial Activism: Focus on the Recent Supreme Court Decision on Japanese Forced Labor
Authors: Lee Seokwoo , Cho Youngkwan
Published: April 2014

Abstract

The Supreme Court decision regarding “Compensation for Forced Labor” concerns the victims of forced labor who were employed by Japanese munitions companies for the production of weapons during the colonial era. The victims filed a damage suit against these companies for unlawful acts and for the payment of unpaid wages, for which the Supreme Court upheld their right to compensation and payment of wages. This article describes the progress leading up to these decisions, discusses their significance, and evaluates the implications of judicial activism in these issues that concern Korea’s colonial past.
The View Across the Durand Line
Authors: Gregory Shaun
Published: April 2014

As the regional state with the greatest influence on Afghanistan, Pakistan is pivotal to the prospects for a smooth us/nato transition in Afghanistan and for a stable Afghanistan over the longer term. Despite this, Pakistan has been largely side-lined in us and Afghan efforts to engage the Taliban and find a negotiated peace. The explanations for this lie in part in the strained contemporary us-Pakistan relationship and in historic Afghan-Pakistan antipathy and mutual suspicion, the latter shaped decisively by Afghan-Indian relations. This paper considers the view from Islamabad and argues that Pakistan could be a more constructive player in Afghanistan if the West did more to recognise and accommodate Pakistan’s national interests and paid more attention to Pakistani prescriptions for security problem-solving. It argues for a moratorium on drone strikes and cautions the West not to disengage from Pakistan or subject it to punitive sanctions.
Post-2014 Afghanistan Policy and the Limitations of China’s Global Role
Authors: Wishnick Elizabeth
Published: April 2014

Although China is Afghanistan’s neighbor, strategic partner, and one of its largest foreign investors, it has kept a low profile overall on Afghanistan compared to other states in the region. This article seeks to understand China’s Afghanistan policy within the context of the Chinese government’s overall approach to foreign affairs. A review of China’s Afghanistan policy show a reluctant involvement, with domestic economic and security interests leading and foreign policy following. A final section examines the uncertain policy environment that China faces in devising an Afghanistan policy and some of the scenarios that Chinese scholars envisage for Afghanistan post-2014.
Surirella arctica comb. et stat. nov. (Bacillariophyta)—a rare arctic diatom
Authors: VESELÁ JANA , POTAPOVA MARINA
Published: April 2014

Surirella terryi var. arctica has been described more than 50 years ago from northern Alaska. Since then, it has not been reported in the scientific literature except for a single record. We studied in detail the holotype slide and material of S. terryi var. arctica and several other samples from northern Alaska, and concluded that S. terryi var. arctica differs from the nominate variety and should be placed in a separate species. Surirella arctica comb. et stat. nov. is presented here including a detailed morphological description and light and scanning electron micrographs. Surirella arctica can be easily recognized due to the internally thickened median area and transverse costae, together forming a craticula-like structure on the interior valve surface. This feature is well visible in the light microscope and helps discriminating S. arctica from other Surirella species similar in valve shape, size and other morphological characters. These taxa include S. angusta, S. heardensis and an unknown species from Siberia and Mongolia. The presence of S. arctica has been confirmed to date only from the northern Alaska and likely from the high Arctic in Canada.
Croton lindquistii (Euphorbiaceae): a new arborescent species from western Mexico
Authors: STEINMANN VICTOR W.
Published: April 2014

Croton lindquistii, a new species in Croton subg. Geiseleria sect. Eluteria subsect. Eluteria, is described and illustrated. It occurs in the tropical deciduous forests of western Mexico from Sonora to Oaxaca. The species is economically important, and during the past four decades, plants have been extensively harvested for their straight, hard, and durable trunks that are used as fence posts and stakes in agricultural fields. Although the exact affinities of C. lindquistii are unknown, it is similar to both C. niveus and C. pseudoniveus. It differs from the former by having ovate to cordiform leaves, fruiting pedicels less than 3 mm long, and spiciform thyrses that are very compact with the axis obscured by the buds. It differs from the latter by having 15–16 stamens per flower and stellate-pubescent ovaries and fruits. The name Croton fantzianus has been misapplied to Croton lindquistii. A key is provided that distinguishes the new species from the five other members of Croton sect. Eluteria subsect. Eluteria that have ovaries and fruits with stellate pubescence.
Inferring Difficulty: Flexibility in the Real-time Processing of Disfluency
Authors: Heller Daphna , Arnold Jennifer E , Klein Natalie , Tanenhaus Michael K
Published: April 2014

Upon hearing a disfluent referring expression, listeners expect the speaker to refer to an object that is previously unmentioned, an object that does not have a straightforward label, or an object that requires a longer description. Two visual-world eye-tracking experiments examined whether listeners directly associate disfluency with these properties of objects, or whether disfluency attribution is more flexible and involves situation-specific inferences. Since in natural situations reference to objects that do not have a straightforward label or that require a longer description is correlated with both production difficulty and with disfluency, we used a mini-artificial lexicon to dissociate difficulty from these properties, building on the fact that recently learned names take longer to produce than existing words in one’s mental lexicon. The results demonstrate that disfluency attribution involves situation-specific inferences; we propose that in new situations listeners spontaneously infer what may cause production difficulty. However, the results show that these situation-specific inferences are limited in scope: listeners assessed difficulty relative to their own experience with the artificial names, and did not adapt to the assumed knowledge of the speaker.
Between Purity and Hybridity
Authors: Rajão Raoni , Duque Ricardo B.
Published: April 2014

This article examines the foundation myths of Brazil in the last two centuries, paying particular attention to the relationship between these myths and governmental attitudes toward the hybridity of Northern and Southern ethnic and technoscientific entities. Based upon this examination, the article argues that it is important to consider both the wider temporal frames and the shifts and sedimentations that have formed current foundation myths and shaped their relation to science and technology. Postcolonial science technology studies theories illuminate aspects of this trajectory, but our analysis suggests a more complex scenario that involves internal political dynamics and the work of local intellectuals. We argue that the example of Brazilian social scientists should encourage scholars to go beyond the current focus on breaking the myths of technoscience and undertake mythmaking initiatives with wider societal resonances.
Did the Great Recession Influence Retirement Plans?
Authors: Szinovacz Maximiliane E. , Davey Adam , Martin Lauren
Published: April 2014

The recent recession constitutes one of the macro forces that may have influenced workers’ retirement plans. We evaluate a multilevel model that addresses the influence of macro-, meso-, and micro-level factors on retirement plans, changes in these plans, and expected retirement age. Using data from Waves 8 and 9 of the Health and Retirement Study ( N = 2,618), we find that individuals with defined benefit plans are more prone to change toward plans to stop work before the stock market declined, whereas the opposite trend holds for those without pensions. Debts, ability to reduce work hours, and firm unionization also influenced retirement plans. Findings suggest retirement planning education may be particularly important for workers without defined pensions, especially in times of economic volatility.
Building competition and breaking cartels? The legislative and judicial regulation of political parties in common law democracies
Authors: Gauja Anika
Published: April 2014

This article presents a comparative analysis of the legal regulation of political parties as competitors in, and as entrants to, the electoral contest. Laws that regulate ballot access and the registration of political parties as ‘official’ electoral actors are examined in four established common law democracies: Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The article explores the ways in which these regulations are used to control the degree of party competition in each system, and how some specific laws might privilege some parties (for example, incumbents) over others. Specifically, the article analyses the role that the courts play as interpreters and adjudicators of these laws in different constitutional contexts – shaping the contours of party competition and legitimate political activity based on their understandings of constitutional freedoms, effective elections and governance arrangements, and particular normative conceptions of the role of political parties in modern societies.
Political legitimacy, fragmentation and the rise of party-formation costs in contemporary Latin America
Authors: Scherlis Gerardo
Published: April 2014

This article contributes to the study of party regulation in contemporary Latin America in two main ways. Firstly, it identifies a so far overlooked process by which four countries (Argentina, Colombia, Mexico and Peru) raised party-formation costs in the past decade, an unprecedented process in third-wave Latin American democracies. Secondly, it offers a tentative answer to the question of why this process took place in this specific set of countries. This answer brings to the fore the issues of political parties’ legitimacy and party fragmentation as sources of electoral reform. The article argues that the countries that passed these reforms are those in which the ruling political elites perceived increasing levels of fragmentation as a result of previous reforms that had opened up the political system. These prior reforms were enacted as a response to established parties’ loss of legitimacy. The findings support the more general distinction between reforms initiated due to legitimacy crises and reforms resulting from changing balances of power. In this way the article also contributes to the broader debate on the factors that explain different types of electoral reforms in Latin America.
Is steel wire closure of sternotomy better than polyester suture closure?
Authors: Malhotra Amber , Garg Pankaj , Bishnoi Arvind Kumar , Pendro Varun , Sharma Pranav , Upadhyay Madhav , Gandhi Sanjay
Published: April 2014

Introduction

Median sternotomy is the preferred approach for open heart surgeries. The sternotomy incision is predominantly closed with either steel wire or polyester suture. The type of material used is primarily based on the surgeon’s choice, and both materials achieve a good result. No prospective clinical study has been undertaken to evaluate differences in the incidence of wound infection and the degree of pain associated with both techniques.

Patients and methods

Our randomized controlled double-blind study included 200 adults undergoing single-valve replacement. The technique of surgery, apart from the material used for sternal closure, was the same in both groups. Postoperatively, patients were analyzed for wound infection and wound pain based on the ASEPSIS score and Numeric Pain Rating Score, respectively.

Results

The polyester suture group had a significantly higher mean ASEPSIS score, indicating a higher incidence of wound infection, and more late wound complications. The polyester suture group also had a significantly higher mean pain score. The steel wire group had significantly higher mediastinal drain output in the first 48 h after surgery.

Conclusion

The use of polyester suture for sternal closure in adult patients results in increased wound infection, wound pain, and late wound complications, but lower mediastinal drain output.
Age-related macular degeneration patients’ awareness of nutritional factors
Authors: Stevens Rebekah , Bartlett Hannah , Walsh Rachel , Cooke Richard
Published: April 2014

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of visual impairment in older adults in the United Kingdom. This study sought to characterise AMD patients who seek the services of the Macular Society, and determine the level and source of their dietary knowledge. A questionnaire was designed, validated, and administered to 158 participants. The questions covered demographic data and knowledge of nutrition and supplementation. The mean age of participants was 79 years; 61% of them were female, and 27% were registered visually impaired. Only 55% of the participants thought diet was important for eye health, 63% felt that they had not received enough information about AMD. The participants reported that their information mainly came from non-professional support groups. Most participants identified healthy food, but could not say why, and were not able to identify carotenoid rich foods. The results of the study will inform design of education and dissemination methods regarding dietary information.
‘A really good teaching strategy’: Secondary students with vision impairment voice their experiences of inclusive teacher pedagogy
Authors: Whitburn Ben
Published: April 2014

The inclusion of students with vision impairment (VI) into regular classes is typically made possible via a raft of technical accommodations and special educational support. This article reports key findings of a small-scale qualitative Australian study conducted with a group of secondary school students with VI about teachers’ practices that increased their access and autonomy. Participants reported that a combination of (1) using appropriate communication modes, (2) making accessible resources available to students in a timely manner, (3) being able to ‘think outside the box’ about the provision of access to diagrammatic study material, and (4) being approachable outside of scheduled lessons for individual consultations increased their inclusion in the school. Raw data are presented to illustrate the value of these practices to the students. This article concludes with a discussion of the potential of students’ views to the facilitation of inclusive practices, and the broader implication of this to the teaching profession.
Evaluation of diagnostic utility of multidetector computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in blunt pancreatic trauma: a prospective study
Authors: Panda Ananya , Kumar Atin , Gamanagatti Shivanand , Bhalla Ashu Seith , Sharma Raju , Kumar Subodh , Mishra Biplab
Published: April 2014

Background

Blunt pancreatic trauma is an uncommon injury with high morbidity and mortality. Retrospective analyses of computed tomography (CT) performance report CT to have variable sensitivity in diagnosing pancreatic injury. Both a prospective analysis of multidetector CT (MDCT) performance and diagnostic utility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in acute blunt pancreatic injury remain unexplored.

Purpose

To prospectively evaluate the utility of MDCT with MRI correlation in patients with blunt pancreatic trauma using intraoperative findings as the gold standard for analysis.

Material and Methods

The contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) scans of patients admitted with blunt abdominal trauma were prospectively evaluated for CT signs of pancreatic injury. Patients detected to have pancreatic injury on CT were assigned a CT grade of injury according to American Association for Surgery of Trauma classification. MRI was performed in patients not undergoing immediate laparotomy and MRI grade independent of CT grade was assigned. Surgical grade was taken as gold standard and accuracy of CT and MRI for grading pancreatic injury and pancreatic ductal injury (PDI) was calculated. A quantitative and qualitative comparison of MRI was also done with CT to determine the performance of MRI in acute pancreatic injury.

Results

Thirty out of 1198 patients with blunt trauma abdomen were detected to have pancreatic injury on CT, which was surgically confirmed in 24 patients. Seventeen underwent MRI and surgical correlation was available in 14 patients. CT and MRI correctly identified the grade of pancreatic injury in 91.7% (22/24) and 92.86% (13/14) patients, respectively. Both CT and MRI correctly identified PDI in 18/19 and 11/12 patients, respectively, with good inter-modality agreement of 88.9% (kappa value of 0.78). MRI also qualitatively added to the information provided by CT and increased diagnostic confidence in 58.8% of patients.

Conclusion

MDCT performs well in grading pancreatic injury and evaluating pancreatic ductal injury. MRI is useful in evaluation of acute pancreatic trauma as it can increase diagnostic confidence and provide more qualitative information regarding the extent of injury.
Association between interleukin 10 gene polymorphisms and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Chinese population
Authors: Bai Hua , Jing Danqing , Guo Aitao , Yin Shinan
Published: April 2014

Objective

To investigate the relationship between the interleukin 10 ( IL10) gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) −1082 G/A (rs1800896), −819 T/C (rs1800871) and −592 A/C (rs1800872) and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Chinese population.

Methods

This case–control study recruited patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and healthy control subjects. Genotyping of the −1082 G/A (rs1800896), −819 T/C (rs1800871) and −592 A/C (rs1800872) SNPs was conducted and genotype frequencies were compared between the two groups.

Results

The study recruited 364 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 677 healthy controls. Patients carrying the −1082 GG genotype had a significantly increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03, 2.68), as did those patients carrying the −592 AA genotype (adjusted OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.06, 2.53). Subjects carrying both the −1082 GA + GG and −592 AC + AA genotypes had a significantly increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (adjusted OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.24, 3.15).

Conclusions

The SNPs −1082G/A and −592 A/C increased the risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus, and could be potential targets for screening for the early detection of the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Age-related diagnostic utility of rheumatoid factor, anticyclic citrullinated peptide and antikeratin antibodies in Chinese patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Lin Jinpiao , Liu Can , Yang Bin , Ou Qishui
Published: April 2014

Objectives

Retrospective study to evaluate the diagnostic utility of rheumatoid factor (RF), anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA) and antikeratin antibodies (AKA) in a broad age range of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

Clinical and serological data from patients with RA were collected and analysed. Patients were stratified according to age (<16 years [juvenile idiopathic arthritis; JIA], 16–40 years; 41–60 years and >60 years) and sex.

Results

The study included 3725 patients. There were no significant sex-related differences in rates of RF, ACPA or AKA positivity. RF, ACPA and AKA positivity were significantly less common in patients aged <16 years than those aged ≥16 years. There were no other significant differences between age groups.

Conclusions

RF, ACPA and AKA have better diagnostic value for RA in adult patients than in patients with JIA. A combination of RF, ACPA and AKA serological testing may be a useful diagnostic tool for RA in Chinese adults.
Resistances and Challenges to Liberal Peace Processes
Authors: Iñiguez de Heredia Marta
Published: April 2014

This is a review article of two books that respond to convergences and turning points in how societies undergoing peacebuilding processes respond and engage with such processes. The two books demonstrate that these interventions are not an overpowering and coherent strategy, and even less so a practice. They suffer constraints and blowbacks in such a way that their moral, political and even military power is not as hegemonic or universally applicable as it was once portrayed in the literature. The different use of ‘challenges’ and ‘resistance’ to conceptualise these constraints and blowbacks points to the need for further research on how different actors interact beyond their role as interveners, peacekeepers or local actors.
Does governance structure influence pension fund fees and costs? An examination of Australian not-for-profit superannuation funds
Authors: Tan Monica GS , Cam Marie-Anne
Published: April 2014

The importance of managed fund governance structures has become apparent in recent years. Looking at the Australian not-for-profit pension funds, we find correlations between funds’ internal governance structures and their level of costs. Larger boards are linked to higher investment management fees and expenses, operating expenses and trustee and audit fees. We also find a positive relation between the proportion of independent trustees and investment management fees and expenses and operating expenses. These fund costs increase as the number of board committees and fund size increase. Finally, we observe that the presence of board committees affects different types of fund costs. Overall, these findings suggest that the conventional good governance practices do not benefit superannuation fund members in terms of cost reduction. We find no evidence of economies of scale in cost minimisation, since the relation between fund size and costs is mixed across various governance variables.
Reconstruction of the Medial Patellofemoral Ligament
Authors: Lippacher Sabine , Dreyhaupt Jens , Williams Sean R.M. , Reichel Heiko , Nelitz Manfred
Published: April 2014

Background:

Recent studies have shown that medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction using a standardized technique provides significant improvements in all outcome scoring systems, with low complication rates and good patient satisfaction. Although numerous studies have assessed clinical results, there is little published literature investigating return to sporting activities after reconstruction of the MPFL.

Purpose:

To demonstrate postoperative outcomes and the return-to-sports rate a minimum of 2 years after isolated MPFL reconstruction in a young patient cohort.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

Between 2007 and 2010, a total of 72 isolated MPFL reconstructions (in 68 patients) were performed for recurrent patellar dislocation. Pre- and postoperative knee assessment included a thorough history of symptoms and a clinical examination consisting of crepitus, range of motion, patellofemoral pain, and patellar apprehension. Knee function was assessed using the Kujala score, International Knee Documentation Committee score, Tegner activity score, visual analog scale (VAS), and Activity Rating Scale (ARS).

Results:

Of patients who participated in sports preoperatively (62/68 patients), 100% returned to sports after MPFL reconstruction; 53% returned at equal or higher levels, whereas 47% returned at lower levels. Fifty-four of 68 patients (79.4%) rated themselves as very satisfied or satisfied with the results. The median Kujala score improved significantly from 66 to 87.5 and the median International Knee Documentation Committee score from 60 to 79.8. The median VAS for pain score illustrated significant preoperative to postoperative improvement, from 4 to 2. Conversely, patients’ activity levels according to the Tegner activity score dropped from 4.5 to 4, and the median Activity Rating Scale score dropped from 6 to 3. There was also a persistent instability rate of 10% as well as a slight loss of knee flexion in 24 of 72 knees.

Conclusion:

Reconstruction of the MPFL is a safe and effective treatment for patellofemoral instability without severe trochlear dysplasia and allows most patients to engage in regular sports activities 2 years postoperatively, at least at a recreational level. However, potential complications, such as persistent instability, pain, and loss of flexion, must be considered.
“The Red Dress or the Blue?”
Authors: Fetherstonhaugh Deirdre , Tarzia Laura , Bauer Michael , Nay Rhonda , Beattie Elizabeth
Published: April 2014

Respect for a person’s right to make choices and participate in decision making is generally seen as central to quality of life and well-being. When a person moves into a residential aged care facility (RACF), however, decision making becomes more complicated, particularly if the person has a diagnosis of dementia. Little is known about how staff in RACFs perceive that they support decision making for people with dementia within their everyday practice, and this article seeks to address this knowledge gap. The article reports on the findings of a qualitative study conducted in the states of Victoria and Queensland, Australia with 80 direct care staff members. Findings revealed that the participants utilized a number of strategies in their intention to support decision making for people with dementia, and had an overall perception that “a little effort goes a long way.”
Content Validation of the Comprehension of Written Grammar Assessment for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students
Authors: Cannon Joanna E. , Hubley Anita M.
Published: April 2014

Content validation is a crucial, but often neglected, component of good test development. In the present study, content validity evidence was collected to determine the degree to which elements (e.g., grammatical structures, items, picture responses, administration, and scoring instructions) of the Comprehension of Written Grammar (CWG) test are representative of the construct of interest and appropriate for deaf and/or hard of hearing (DHH) students. Using 10 subject matter experts (SMEs) and the Content Validity Index, the quantitative findings showed general support for the content validity of elements of the CWG in assessing the written grammar comprehension of DHH students. Suggested revisions to the test, based on the feedback provided by the SMEs, are discussed.
Strong Correlation Between the 6-Minute Walk Test and Accelerometry Functional Outcomes in Boys With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Authors: Davidson Zoe E. , Ryan Monique M. , Kornberg Andrew J. , Walker Karen Z. , Truby Helen
Published: April 2014

Accelerometry provides information on habitual physical capability that may be of value in the assessment of function in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. This preliminary investigation describes the relationship between community ambulation measured by the StepWatch activity monitor and the current standard of functional assessment, the 6-minute walk test, in ambulatory boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (n = 16) and healthy controls (n = 13). All participants completed a 6-minute walk test and wore the StepWatch™ monitor for 5 consecutive days. Both the 6-minute walk test and StepWatch accelerometry identified a decreased capacity for ambulation in boys with Duchenne compared to healthy controls. There were strong, significant correlations between 6-minute walk distance and all StepWatch parameters in affected boys only ( r = 0.701-0.804). These data proffer intriguing observations that warrant further exploration. Specifically, accelerometry outcomes may compliment the 6-minute walk test in assessment of therapeutic interventions for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Incarceration Heterogeneity and Its Implications for Assessing the Effectiveness of Imprisonment on Recidivism
Authors: Mears Daniel P. , Cochran Joshua C. , Cullen Francis T.
Published: April 2014

Mass incarceration has led to increased interest in understanding the effects of imprisonment. Reviews of criminological theory and research report mixed evidence that incarceration reduces recidivism; indeed, some studies report criminogenic effects. We argue that a better understanding of the heterogeneity of incarceration—including the types and sequences of sanctions and experiences that occur before, during, and after imprisonment—and of incarceration effects among different groups is important for two reasons. First, it can assist with assessing the salience of prior research on the effects of incarceration on recidivism. Second, it serves to identify conceptual and methodological challenges that must be addressed to provide credible assessments of incarceration effects. The paper argues that incarceration likely exerts a variable effect depending on the nature of the prison experience, the counterfactual conditions, including prior sanction history, and the specific populations subject to imprisonment. Implications for theory, research, and policy are discussed.
Significance of Subjective Memory Complaints in the Clinical Setting
Authors: Silva Dina , Guerreiro Manuela , Faria Catarina , Maroco João , Schmand Ben A. , Mendonça Alexandre de
Published: April 2014

Objective:

The clinical significance of subjective memory complaints in the elderly participants, particularly regarding liability of subsequent progression to dementia, has been controversial. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that severity or type of subjective memory complaints reported by patients in a clinical setting may predict future conversion to dementia.

Methods:

A cohort of nondemented patients with cognitive complaints, followed up for at least 2 years or until conversion to dementia, underwent a neuropsychological evaluation and detailed assessment of memory difficulties with the Subjective Memory Complaints (SMC) Scale.

Results:

At baseline, patients who converted to dementia (36.8%) had less years of formal education and generally a worse performance in the neuropsychological assessment. There were no differences in the total SMC score between nonconverters (9.5 ± 4.2) and converters (8.9 ± 4.0, a nonsignificant difference), but nonconverters scored higher in several items of the scale.

Conclusion:

For patients with cognitive complaints observed in a memory clinic setting, the severity of subjective memory complaints is not useful to predict future conversion to dementia.
Performance assessment in hard turning of AISI 1015 steel under spray impingement cooling and dry environment
Authors: Sahu Susant K , Mishra Purna C , Orra Kashfull , Sahoo Ashok K
Published: April 2014

This work investigates the effects of cutting parameters on surface roughness (Ra, µm), cutting temperature (T, °C) at the chip–tool interface and the material removal rate during hard machining of AISI 1015 (43 ± 1 HRC) steel using carbide insert under dry and spray impingement cooling environment. A combined technique using orthogonal array and analysis of variance was employed to investigate the contribution of spindle speed, feed rate, depth of cut and air pressure on responses. It is observed that with spray impingement cooling, cutting performance improves compared to dry cutting. The predicted multi-response optimization setting (N3-f1-d1-P2) ensures minimization of surface roughness, cutting temperature and maximization of material removal rate.
Quelles commémorations pour les cinquante ans de la guerre d’Algérie?
Authors: Bacholle-Bošković Michèle
Published: April 2014

En 2012, l’Algérie célèbre le cinquantième anniversaire de son indépendance et la France commémore la fin d’une guerre qui, jusqu’en 1999, n’a pas été reconnue comme telle et qui continue de hanter la mémoire collective. Cet article revient sur cette année et examine comment le conflit a été commémoré, comment le cinquantenaire a été traité dans la presse et quels livres (dans le domaine général et dans le domaine jeunesse) il a suscités. Ce tour d’horizon politique, diplomatique, culturel, journalistique et éditorial français nous permettra de faire un bilan et d’identifier là où le bât blesse dans le dépassement du conflit au niveau national français.
De la francophonie à la littérature-monde : Les écrivains africains francophones dans tous leurs états − un problème d’épistémologie ?
Authors: Austin de Drouillard Jean-Raoul
Published: April 2014

Les écrivains africains francophones n’ont jamais été assurés de leur statut. À travers leur exposition à l’éducation coloniale française et aux mécanismes d’assimilation, ils avaient fini par internaliser la culture et les normes sociales françaises. Or, il existe une dimension fondamentale de la spatialité, une filiation épistémologique et une connexion idéologique dans toute œuvre de création. Une des réponses pour sortir de ces contradictions qui tissent ce monde fait de civilisations différentes et divergentes, pourrait être l’élaboration et la capitation consciente et inconscientes des codes fondamentaux des cultures africaines, de ses philosophies, de ses univers historiques, donc, en dernière analyse, l’appréhension d’une épistémologie, ou d’une théorie de la connaissance propre.
Can anisodamine be a potential substitute for high-dose atropine in cases of organophosphate poisoning?
Authors: Wang W , Chen Q-F , Ruan H-L , Chen K , Chen B , Wen J-M
Published: April 2014

A case of organophosphate (OP) poisoning was admitted to the emergency room. The patient accepted treatment with pralidoxime (PAM), atropine, and supporting therapy. It was observed that even after 22 h after treatment, 960 mg of atropine was not enough for the patient to be atropinized. However, a 160-mg follow-up treatment of anisodamine was quite enough for atropinization after 4 h. As a case report, more studies are required before any definite conclusion can be reached regarding the use of anisodamine as a potential substitute for high-dose atropine in cases of OP poisoning.
Bone marrow analysis of immune cells and apoptosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Park JW , Moon SY , Lee JH , Park JK , Lee DS , Jung KC , Song YW , Lee EB
Published: April 2014

Objectives

To examine the immune cell profile in the bone marrow of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and to assess its clinical relevance.

Methods

Sixteen bone marrow samples from 14 SLE patients were compared with seven healthy control samples. The numbers of immune cells and apoptotic cells in the bone marrow were examined by immunohistochemistry. The association between immune cell subsets and clinical features was investigated.

Results

CD4+ T cells, macrophages and plasma cells were more common in the bone marrow of SLE patients than in healthy controls ( p = 0.001, p = 0.004 and p < 0.001, respectively). Greater numbers of CD4+ T cells and macrophages were associated with high-grade bone marrow damage. The percentage of apoptotic cells in bone marrow of SLE patients was significantly higher than that in controls ( p < 0.001) and was positively correlated with the number of plasmacytoid dendritic cells ( p = 0.013). Increased number of plasma cells along with high interleukin-6 expression was correlated with anti-double stranded DNA antibody levels and the SLE disease activity index ( p = 0.031 and 0.013, respectively).

Conclusion

Bone marrow from SLE patients showed a distinct immune cell profile and increased apoptosis. This, coupled with a correlation with disease activity, suggests that the bone marrow may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of SLE.
Immunomodulatory effects of H.P. Acthar Gel on B cell development in the NZB/W F1 mouse model of systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Decker DA , Grant C , Oh L , Becker PM , Young D , Jordan S
Published: April 2014

H.P. Acthar Gel® (Acthar) is a highly purified repository gel preparation of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH1-39), a melanocortin peptide that can bind and activate specific receptors expressed on a range of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-relevant target cells and tissues. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of Acthar in a mouse model of SLE, using an F1 hybrid of the New Zealand Black and New Zealand White strains (NZB/W F1). Twenty-eight week old NZB/W F1 mice with established autoimmune disease were treated with Acthar, Placebo Gel (Placebo), or prednisolone and monitored for 19 weeks. Outcomes assessed included disease severity (severe proteinuria, ≥ 20% body weight loss, or prostration), measurement of serial serum autoantibody titers, terminal spleen immunophenotyping, and evaluation of renal histopathology. Acthar treatment was linked with evidence of altered B cell differentiation and development, manifested by a significant reduction in splenic B cell follicular and germinal center cells, and decreased levels of circulating total and anti-double-stranded DNA (IgM, IgG, and IgG2a) autoantibodies as compared with Placebo. Additionally, Acthar treatment resulted in a significant decrease of proteinuria, reduced renal lymphocyte infiltration, and attenuation of glomerular immune complex deposition. These data suggest that Acthar diminished pathogenic autoimmune responses in the spleen, peripheral blood, and kidney of NZB/W F1 mice. This is the first preclinical evidence demonstrating Acthar's potential immunomodulatory activity and efficacy in a murine model of systemic lupus erythematosus.
Making Headway? Regulatory Compliance in the Shipping Industry
Authors: Sampson Helen , Walters David , James Philip , Wadsworth Emma
Published: April 2014

Globalisation has significantly changed the context of governance and regulation at both a national and international level. Such change has driven extensive debate on how to achieve more efficient regulation and better governance within new circumstances. A key concern at the level of the workplace, however, is how compliance with the standards required by regulations – whatever their form – is achieved in practice, and it is this that we are mainly concerned with here. In this article, we make use of a case study undertaken in the shipping industry in the course of which we carefully discussed the drivers of compliance with seafarers and with ship managers, charterers and related personnel. We suggest that a consideration of the perspective of workers and managers is vital in understanding drivers of compliance and therefore to informing debates on effective regulation.
Somatic Cell Reprogramming into Cardiovascular Lineages
Authors: Chen Jenny X. , Plonowska Karolina , Wu Sean M.
Published: April 2014

Ischemic cardiac disease is the leading cause of death in the developed world. The inability of the adult mammalian heart to adequately repair itself has motivated stem cell researchers to explore various strategies to regenerate cardiomyocytes after myocardial infarction. Over the past century, progressive gains in our knowledge about the cellular mechanisms governing fate determination have led to recent advances in cellular reprogramming. The identification of specific factors capable of inducing pluripotent phenotype in somatic cells as well as factors that can directly reprogram somatic cells into cardiomyocytes suggests the potential for these approaches to translate into clinical therapies in the future. Although conceptually appealing, the field of cell lineage reprogramming is in its infancy, and further research will be needed to improve the efficiency of the reprogramming process and the fidelity of the reprogrammed cells to their in vivo counterpart.
With Sincere Regret
Authors: Cummings Alysa , Ciano karin
Published: April 2014

A teacher invests years of effort developing a G/C/T program. Years of building relationships with students and their families. Time spent developing and implementing a curriculum that meets the special needs of a select population. At this point in time, it becomes apparent that this educator will “graduate” ahead of the students in the program, moving on to another job outside the school district. Unfortunately, the school year has already begun.

How do the students react to the news? How is the program affected? Is the teacher the program, or is the torch ultimately passed and continuity insured with a minimum of trauma for the students? What happens after a G/C/T teacher submits a letter that begins, “It is…
Police Consolidation in the News
Authors: Chermak Steven , Scheer Charles , Wilson Jeremy M.
Published: April 2014

Although there is a large body of research on media coverage of crime and criminal justice issues, there is significantly less information about policing issues generally, and there has not been a study that specifically examines how the consolidation of law enforcement agencies has been presented in the news. This study fills this gap. We explore two general themes. First, we detail what issues about consolidation have been emphasized in the news. Second, we examine the types of sources that news reporters have relied on and how they have used them in stories about consolidation.
Computed tomography-based reconstruction and finite element modelling of honeycomb sandwiches under low-velocity impacts
Authors: Crupi Vincenzo , Epasto Gabriella , Guglielmino Eugenio , Mozafari Hozhabr , Najafian Sarah
Published: April 2014

The honeycomb sandwiches are widely used in the transportation engineering for the realization of lightweight and crashworthy structures. However their application requires a better understanding of their impact response. Aims of this paper are the numerical investigation of aluminium honeycomb sandwiches subjected to low-velocity impact tests and the validation of finite element (FE) results. Before and after the low-velocity impact tests at different velocities, three dimensional (3D) reconstructions of the honeycomb panels have been carried out by a computed tomographic system in order to acquire exactly the dimension and the shape of the damage and to obtain information about geometry and cells defects. The FE models have been computed from CT data of the undamaged panels. The direct comparison has been done by superimposing the deformed images obtained from FE analyses and from 3D CT space reconstructions. The numerical model was also validated comparing the FE results with experimental data.
Leadership in the NHS: does the Emperor have any clothes?
Authors: Checkland Kath
Published: April 2014

In this essay, I explore the rise of the concept of ‘leadership’ in the English NHS, highlighting the similarity with a previous shift from (bad, old) ‘administration’ to (good, new) ‘management’. I take a critical look at this discursive shift and highlight some of the overblown claims made for the value of ‘clinical leadership’. I argue that, rather than turning all NHS staff into leaders, we should perhaps tone down the level of our rhetoric and instead emphasize the need for a service full of good followers who will maintain a relentless focus on care, quality and efficiency.
Guided imagery in people with fibromyalgia: A randomized controlled trial of effects on pain, functional status and self-efficacy
Authors: Verkaik Renate , Busch Martine , Koeneman Trees , van den Berg Rianny , Spreeuwenberg Peter , Francke Anneke L
Published: April 2014

Studies on the effects of guided imagery in patients with fibromyalgia show varying results. This randomized controlled trial ( n = 65) aims to give more insight into the effects on pain, functional status, and self-efficacy. Daily pain was assessed with a pain diary using a Visual Analogue Scale. Functional status and self-efficacy were measured at pretest, posttest, and follow-up using the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and the Chronic Pain Self-Efficacy Scale. No effects of guided imagery could be established. Explanations for the diverging results between studies might be found in the content of the exercises, length of the intervention period, and background of participants.