bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diagnosing external ventricular drain-related ventriculitis by means of local inflammatory response: soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1
Authors: Gordon Monica , Ramirez Paula , Soriano Alex , Palomo Manuel , Lopez-Ferraz Cristina , Villarreal Esther , Meseguer Salome , Gomez Maria Dolores , Folgado Carlos , Bonastre Juan
Published: October 2014

Introduction

External ventricular drainage (EVD)-related ventriculitis is one of the most severe complications associated with the use of EVDs. Establishing an early and certain diagnosis can be difficult in critically ill patients. We performed this prospective study to evaluate the usefulness of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) determination in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the diagnosis of ventriculitis.

Methods

A prospective observational study was conducted of 73 consecutive patients with EVD. Samples of CSF for culture, cytobiochemical analysis and sTREM-1 determination were extracted three times a week. Ventriculitis diagnosis required a combination of microbiological, cytobiochemical and clinical criteria.

Results

Seventy-three consecutive patients were included. EVD-related ventriculitis was diagnosed in six patients and EVD-colonization in ten patients. Patients without clinical or microbiological findings were considered controls. The median CSF sTREM-1 was 4,320 pg/ml (interquartile range (IQR): 2,987 to 4,886) versus 266 pg/ml (118 to 689); P <0.001. There were no differences when comparing colonized-patients and controls. The best cut-off sTREM-1 value for the diagnosis of ventriculitis was 2,388.79 pg/ml (sensitivity 100%, specificity 98.5%, positive predictive value 85.71%, negative predictive value 100%). CSF proteins, glucose and the ratio CSF/serum glucose were also significantly different (P = 0.001). Serum biomarkers were not useful to diagnose EVD-related infection. These results were confirmed by a case°Control study with ventriculitis patients (cases) and non-ventriculitis (control subjects) matched by age, comorbidities, severity scales and EVD duration (P = 0.004).

Conclusions

CSF sTREM-1 was useful in the diagnosis of ventriculitis, in a similar measure to classical CSF parameters. Furthermore, CSF sTREM-1 could prove the diagnosis in uncertain cases and discriminate between EVD-colonization and infection.
Genome of the house fly, Musca domestica L., a global vector of diseases with adaptations to a septic environment
Authors: Scott Jeffrey G , Warren Wesley C , Beukeboom Leo W , Bopp Daniel , Clark Andrew G , Giers Sarah D , Hediger Monika , Jones Andrew K , Kasai Shinji , Leichter Cheryl A , Li Ming , Meisel Richard P , Minx Patrick , Murphy Terence D , Nelson David R , Reid William R , Rinkevich Frank D , Robertson Hugh M , Sackton Timothy B , Sattelle David B , Thibaud-Nissen Francoise , Tomlinson Chad , van de Zande Louis , Walden Kimberly KO , Wilson Richard K , Liu Nannan
Published: October 2014

Background

Adult house flies, Musca domestica L., are mechanical vectors of more than 100 devastating diseases that have severe consequences for human and animal health. House fly larvae play a vital role as decomposers of animal wastes, and thus live in intimate association with many animal pathogens.

Results

We have sequenced and analyzed the genome of the house fly using DNA from female flies. The sequenced genome is 691 Mb. Compared with Drosophila melanogaster, the genome contains a rich resource of shared and novel protein coding genes, a significantly higher amount of repetitive elements, and substantial increases in copy number and diversity of both the recognition and effector components of the immune system, consistent with life in a pathogen-rich environment. There are 146 P450 genes, plus 11 pseudogenes, in M. domestica, representing a significant increase relative to D. melanogaster and suggesting the presence of enhanced detoxification in house flies. Relative to D. melanogaster, M. domestica has also evolved an expanded repertoire of chemoreceptors and odorant binding proteins, many associated with gustation.

Conclusions

This represents the first genome sequence of an insect that lives in intimate association with abundant animal pathogens. The house fly genome provides a rich resource for enabling work on innovative methods of insect control, for understanding the mechanisms of insecticide resistance, genetic adaptation to high pathogen loads, and for exploring the basic biology of this important pest. The genome of this species will also serve as a close out-group to Drosophila in comparative genomic studies.
SuRFing the genomics wave: an R package for prioritising SNPs by functionality
Authors: Ryan Niamh M , Morris Stewart W , Porteous David J , Taylor Martin S , Evans Kathryn L
Published: October 2014

Identifying functional non-coding variants is one of the greatest unmet challenges in genetics. To help address this, we introduce an R package, SuRFR, which integrates functional annotation and prior biological knowledge to prioritise candidate functional variants. SuRFR is publicly available, modular, flexible, fast, and simple to use. We demonstrate that SuRFR performs with high sensitivity and specificity and provide a widely applicable and scalable benchmarking dataset for model training and validation.

Website: http://www.cgem.ed.ac.uk/resources/
Functional consequences of somatic mutations in cancer using protein pocket-based prioritization approach
Authors: Vuong Huy , Cheng Feixiong , Lin Chen-Ching , Zhao Zhongming
Published: October 2014

Background

Recently, a number of large-scale cancer genome sequencing projects have generated a large volume of somatic mutations; however, identifying the functional consequences and roles of somatic mutations in tumorigenesis remains a major challenge. Researchers have identified that protein pocket regions play critical roles in the interaction of proteins with small molecules, enzymes, and nucleic acid. As such, investigating the features of somatic mutations in protein pocket regions provides a promising approach to identifying new genotype-phenotype relationships in cancer.

Methods

In this study, we developed a protein pocket-based computational approach to uncover the functional consequences of somatic mutations in cancer. We mapped 1.2 million somatic mutations across 36 cancer types from the COSMIC database and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) onto the protein pocket regions of over 5,000 protein three-dimensional structures. We further integrated cancer cell line mutation profiles and drug pharmacological data from the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) onto protein pocket regions in order to identify putative biomarkers for anticancer drug responses.

Results

We found that genes harboring protein pocket somatic mutations were significantly enriched in cancer driver genes. Furthermore, genes harboring pocket somatic mutations tended to be highly co-expressed in a co-expressed protein interaction network. Using a statistical framework, we identified four putative cancer genes (RWDD1, NCF1, PLEK, and VAV3), whose expression profiles were associated with overall poor survival rates in melanoma, lung, or colorectal cancer patients. Finally, genes harboring protein pocket mutations were more likely to be drug-sensitive or drug-resistant. In a case study, we illustrated that the BAX gene was associated with the sensitivity of three anticancer drugs (midostaurin, vinorelbine, and tipifarnib).

Conclusions

This study provides novel insights into the functional consequences of somatic mutations during tumorigenesis and for anticancer drug responses. The computational approach used might be beneficial to the study of somatic mutations in the era of cancer precision medicine.
Methotrexate in chronic-recurrent calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease: no significant effect in a randomized crossover trial
Authors: Finckh Axel , Mc Carthy Geraldine M , Madigan Anne , Van Linthoudt Daniel , Weber Marcel , Neto David , Rappoport Georges , Blumhardt Sandra , Kyburz Diego , Guerne Pierre-Andre
Published: October 2014

Introduction

Calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) may cause severe arthropathy, major joint destruction and treatment options are limited. The aim of this study was to test the therapeutic efficacy of methotrexate (MTX) in chronic or recurrent CPPD arthropathy.

Methods

Patients with CPPD arthropathy were randomized to receive either weekly subcutaneous injections of 15 mg/week of MTX or placebo (PBO) for three months, in a double-blind, crossover randomized controlled trial. Inclusion criteria comprised definite CPPD disease, recurrent arthritis or persistent polyarthritis, and an insufficient response to NSAIDs, glucocorticoids or colchicine. The primary outcome was an improvement in the disease activity scores based on 44 joints (DAS44). The analysis was performed on an intent-to-treat basis.

Results

We randomized 26 patients, and compared 25 treatment periods on MTX with 21 treatment periods on PBO. Baseline characteristics were balanced between the groups. The evolution of the DAS44 was not statistically significantly different between groups (median DAS44 decreased by −0.08 on MTX versus −0.13 on PBO, after three months, P = 0.44). Furthermore, pain levels remained stable in both groups (median change in VAS Pain −1 unit on MTX and 0 on PBO, P = 0.43), and none of the secondary outcomes was significantly different between the two groups. Minor adverse events (AE) did not differ in frequency between the groups, but the only serious AE occurred on MTX (bicytopenia).

Conclusions

The results of this trial with MTX in this older population with chronic or recurrent CPPD arthropathy suggest no strong effect of MTX on disease activity.

Trial registration

EudraCT No: 2007-003479-37. Registered 26 April 2008
Hypoxia and vitamin D differently contribute to leptin and dickkopf-related protein 2 production in human osteoarthritic subchondral bone osteoblasts
Authors: Bouvard Béatrice , Abed Elie , Yéléhé-Okouma Mélissa , Bianchi Arnaud , Mainard Didier , Netter Patrick , Jouzeau Jean-Yves , Lajeunesse Daniel , Reboul Pascal
Published: October 2014

Introduction

Bone remodelling and increased subchondral densification are important in osteoarthritis (OA). Modifications of bone vascularization parameters, which lead to ischemic episodes associated with hypoxic conditions, have been suspected in OA. Among several factors potentially involved, leptin and dickkopf-related protein 2 (DKK2) are good candidates because they are upregulated in OA osteoblasts (Obs). Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the hypothesis that hypoxia may drive the expression of leptin and DKK2 in OA Obs.

Methods

Obs from the sclerotic portion of OA tibial plateaus were cultured under either 20% or 2% oxygen tension in the presence or not of 50 nM 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (VitD3). The expression of leptin, osteocalcin, DKK2, hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (Hif-1α) and Hif-2α was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction and leptin production was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of Hif-1α, Hif-2α, leptin and DKK2 was reduced using silencing RNAs (siRNAs). The signalling pathway of hypoxia-induced leptin was investigated by Western blot analysis and with mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors.

Results

The expression of leptin and DKK2 in Obs was stimulated 7-fold and 1.8-fold, respectively (P <0.05) under hypoxia. Interestingly, whereas VitD3 stimulated leptin and DKK2 expression 2- and 4.2-fold, respectively, under normoxia, it stimulated their expression by 28- and 6.2-fold, respectively, under hypoxia (P <0.05). The hypoxia-induced leptin production was confirmed by ELISA, particularly in the presence of VitD3 (P <0.02). Compared to Obs incubated in the presence of scramble siRNAs, siHif-2α inhibited VitD3-stimulated leptin mRNA and protein levels by 70% (P =0.004) and 60% (P <0.02), respectively, whereas it failed to significantly alter the expression of DKK2. siHif-1α has no effect on these genes. Immunoblot analysis showed that VitD3 greatly stabilized Hif-2α under hypoxic conditions. The increase in leptin expression under hypoxia was also regulated, by p38 MAPK (P <0.03) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (P <0.05). We found that the expression of leptin and DKK2 were not related to each other under hypoxia.

Conclusions

Hypoxic conditions via Hif-2 regulation trigger Obs to produce leptin, particularly under VitD3 stimulation, whereas DKK2 is regulated mainly by VitD3 rather than hypoxia.
Immunohistochemical visualization of mouse interneuron subtypes
Authors: Molgaard Simon , Ulrichsen Maj , Boggild Simon , Holm Marie-Louise , Vaegter Christian , Nyengaard Jens , Glerup Simon
Published: October 2014

The activity of excitatory neurons is controlled by a small, but highly diverse population of inhibitory interneurons. These cells show a high level of physiological, morphological and neurochemical heterogeneity, and play highly specific roles in neuronal circuits. In the mammalian hippocampus, these are divided into 21 different subtypes of GABAergic interneurons based on their expression of different markers, morphology and their electrophysiological properties. Ideally, all can be marked using an antibody directed against the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, but parvalbumin, calbindin, somatostatin, and calretinin are also commonly used as markers to narrow down the specific interneuron subtype. Here, we describe a journey to find the necessary immunological reagents for studying GABAergic interneurons of the mouse hippocampus. Based on web searches there are several hundreds of different antibodies on the market directed against these four markers. Searches in the literature databases allowed us to narrow it down to a subset of antibodies most commonly used in publications. However, in our hands the most cited ones did not work for immunofluorescence stainings of formaldehyde fixed tissue sections and cultured hippocampal neurons, and we had to immunostain our way through thirteen different commercial antibodies before finally finding a suitable antibody for each of the four markers. The antibodies were evaluated based on signal-to-noise ratios as well as if positive cells were found in layers of the hippocampus where they have previously been described. Additionally, the antibodies were also tested on sections from mouse spinal cord with similar criteria for specificity of the antibodies. Using the antibodies with a high rating on pAbmAbs, stainings with high signal-to-noise ratios and location of the immunostained cells in accordance with the literature could be obtained, making these antibodies suitable choices for studying the GABAergic system.
Interrelation of Methods and Organizational Forms of Education in New Educational and Information Environment
Authors: ����������  , Nimatulaev M. , ���������  , Magomedov R. , ������  , Savina S.
Published: October 2014

The article analyses new methods and organizational forms of education on the basis of means of information and communication technologies. It reveals interrelation of modern methods and organizational forms of education in the developing educational and information environment. While traditionally methods unambiguously define adequate organizational forms and tutorials, introducing means of information and communication technologies into educational process allows organizational forms or tutorials define training methods. For example, to organize a telecommunicational project a teacher needs to create a problem situation. If we want to make pedagogical experiment by means of a model, it is possible only if we have simulation software. Means start to definepotential of a method of education. The author concludes that new organizational forms open prospects for justification of new methods and tutorials.
Remote Consulting in Education System
Authors: �������  , Sosnina Tatyana
Published: October 2014

This paper presents a new kind of educational consulting � remote consulting. In education system remote consulting is a way tonot only get quality

services, but also gain skills of using means of information and communication technologies.

Introducing innovations into education forces a specialist to develop new competencies, implementing the concept of "education through life";this leads

to the need to find new learning technologies and ways of learning. The author proposes to study forms of synchronous (webinar, e-conference, Skype,

etc.) and asynchronous (e-mail, e-conference, etc.) remote consulting. The researchrevealed that the use of remote consulting by means of internet technology

significantlyextends user�s capability to acquire knowledge.
Introduction: 2013 Daniel H. Wagner Prize for Excellence in Operations Research Practice
Authors: Butler C. Allen , Robinson Randall S.
Published: October 2014

Competition for the 2013 Daniel H. Wagner Prize for Excellence in Operations Research Practice provided the six finalist papers featured in this special issue of Interfaces. The prestigious Wagner Prize—awarded for achievement in implemented operations research and advanced analytics—emphasizes quality and originality of mathematical models and clarity of written and oral exposition. Researchers from MIT, Technion—its Israeli counterpart—and the client organization won the competition for the design and successful implementation of a novel two-phase distribution algorithm, which greatly reduces the cost of delivering print magazines for Yedioth Group, the largest media company in Israel. The impressive hospital emergency department work of the team from Georgia Tech and the Grady Health System garnered a unique second-place-winner award. The remaining finalist papers describe work in optimization of the desk customer services staff for an Italian utility company, logistics optimization for an automotive parts manufacturer, efficient management of pressure in a water distribution network, and improved scheduling for the German Basketball League.
Scheduling the German Basketball League
Authors: Westphal Stephan
Published: October 2014

In this paper, we discuss the problem of finding an optimal schedule for the German Basketball League (BBL) for the 2011–2012 season. A major issue that we address is that most of the games take place in multipurpose arenas that are also used for other events and are thus not always available. In addition, we must minimize the number of successive home or away games, assign the most interesting games to television broadcasting slots, minimize the distance teams must drive on a newly established derby day, and meet team requests for home or away games and to play specific teams.

We present several algorithmic approaches and show how these models fit the BBL’s requirements. In this process, we prove that the classic models, which the BBL had applied previously and many other leagues still apply, are too limited to meet these requirements. We show that canonical schedules do not have the desired properties. We proved to the BBL that mirrored schedules cannot meet its needs, and thus convinced it to use nonmirrored schedules for the first time in its history. The BBL’s requirements are typical of sports leagues; therefore, the approaches presented are also applicable to many other sports leagues. We implemented our approach in scheduling software that we developed for the BBL and applied to its 2011–2012 season scheduling.
The IQ of the Crowd: Understanding and Improving Information Quality in Structured User-Generated Content
Authors: Lukyanenko Roman , Parsons Jeffrey , Wiersma Yolanda F.
Published: October 2014

User-generated content (UGC) is becoming a valuable organizational resource, as it is seen in many cases as a way to make more information available for analysis. To make effective use of UGC, it is necessary to understand information quality (IQ) in this setting. Traditional IQ research focuses on corporate data and views users as data consumers. However, as users with varying levels of expertise contribute information in an open setting, current conceptualizations of IQ break down. In particular, the practice of modeling information requirements in terms of fixed classes, such as an Entity-Relationship diagram or relational database tables, unnecessarily restricts the IQ of user-generated data sets. This paper defines crowd information quality (crowd IQ), empirically examines implications of class-based modeling approaches for crowd IQ, and offers a path for improving crowd IQ using instance-and-attribute based modeling. To evaluate the impact of modeling decisions on IQ, we conducted three experiments. Results demonstrate that information accuracy depends on the classes used to model domains, with participants providing more accurate information when classifying phenomena at a more general level. In addition, we found greater overall accuracy when participants could provide free-form data compared to a condition in which they selected from constrained choices. We further demonstrate that, relative to attribute-based data collection, information loss occurs when class-based models are used. Our findings have significant implications for information quality, information modeling, and UGC research and practice.
How do you solve a problem like Facebook?
Authors: Chinn Teresa
Published: October 2014

The world's largest social network is used by more than a third of the UK population. So how can health visitors tap into the potential of Facebook, asks Teresa Chinn.
What does current evidence advocate as best practice in skin care for the healthy term infant?
Authors: Forsyth Nichola
Published: October 2014

Caring for newborn babies’ skin is a subject about which parents frequently seek advice from health visitors. An increase in incidences of eczema and other dry skin conditions ( Simpson et al, 2009 ) means it is vital that the advice given is based on current evidence that will promote skin integrity from the beginning of extrauterine life. This article reviews the current evidence available to support bathing practices and the advice regarding applying oils to an infant's skin. It also considers advice on using moisturisers and emollients and the importance of being able to demonstrate correct application of these products to maximise benefits and reduce symptoms when dry skin conditions develop.
Inspiration and food for thought at the Marcé Society conference
Authors: Hanley Jane
Published: October 2014

The International Marcé Society for Perinatal Mental Health Biennial Scientific Conference gave professionals from all over the world an opportunity to learn about the latest research and practice in the field of perinatal mental health.
Research roundup: October 2014
Authors: Salmon Debra , Brook Judy , Potter Barbara
Published: October 2014

In this section, a range of brief synopses of recently published articles that may be of interest to health visitors is presented. The aim of this roundup is to provide an overview, rather than a detailed summary, of the research papers selected. Should you wish to look at any of the papers in more detail, a full reference is provided.
Critical civic consciousness: Exploring the US civic opportunity gap with Giroux and Freire
Authors: Pope IV Alexander
Published: October 2014

This conceptual article describes critical civic consciousness, a new theoretical framework suitable for engaging in research on school-based civic engagement opportunities when they occur. The framework incorporates elements of Giroux’s critical citizenship and Freire’s conscientização to critically examine existing descriptions of the civic opportunity gap in the United States. Critical civic consciousness offers a means of conceptualizing civic engagement opportunities that moves beyond the common sense correlation between in-school experiences and later ‘real-world’ applications that permeates existing research on the topic. Teachers, students and researchers can link classroom experiences to desired outcomes by focusing on the interactions between classroom members. This framework is specifically concerned with the civic opportunity gap associated with civic and social studies education in the United States but has implications for civic education in other contexts.
Citizenship education in Canada: ‘Democratic’ engagement with differences, conflicts and equity issues?
Authors: Bickmore Kathy
Published: October 2014

Recent research on multi-faceted citizenship education policy and practice in Canada illustrates five enduring themes of interest to educators around the world. First, citizenship education policy mandates reveal diverse goals for ‘good’ or ‘active’ citizen engagement, critical and inclusive awareness, and skills. Students from different social identity and status locations tend to have unequal citizenship learning experiences, and school education is often disconnected from their lived experiences and concerns. Second, intersecting questions of national and ethno-cultural identity and social justice are prominent in Canadian curricular rhetoric, although achievement of inter-group equity, mutual understanding and justice is elusive. Third, although transnational issues and perspectives are increasingly included, some Canadian curricula seem to reinforce ignorance and stereotypes about other nations and peoples and about the causes of global problems such as war. Much of the global citizenship education activity in Canadian schools seems to be focused on co-curricular activities, often emphasizing charity fundraising, leaving the causes of human misery largely uninterrogated. Fourth, curriculum policy discourse in civics, social sciences, language and media literacy emphasizes the importance of student-centred pedagogy for development of critical thinking skills, while typical classroom practice seems often to retain teacher-centred transmission approaches. Last, implicit citizenship education is embedded in day-to-day school-related activities and relationships: patterns of discipline and conflict management, community service activities, and student voice and leadership roles. Thus active, engaged citizenship, attentive to multicultural diversity, is a prominent goal in recent Canadian citizenship education policy and programming – yet in practice, Canadian students (especially those from less privileged backgrounds) have few opportunities to practice democratically relevant citizenship learning in school.
Mapping the civic education policy community in Canada: A study of policy actors’ attitudes
Authors: Bell Stephanie , Lewis J. P.
Published: October 2014

Although civic education in Canada is typically seen as the responsibility of the provincial public school system and despite the fact that youth disengagement is widely accepted as a problem, civic education is a policy area that does not receive sustained attention from either the public or government. However, attention to the problem of political apathy and ignorance in Canada continues to grow and the number of policy actors in both governmental and non-governmental settings is increasing. The growing civic education policy network and community is occurring in a vacuum of policy ambiguity and ambivalence. In an attempt to better understand the civic education policy network in Canada we surveyed both federal and provincial government and non-governmental actors. In our survey, we asked policy actors to rank other policy actors in terms of collaboration, trust, influence and reliance in the policy network. In addition to this we asked the actors about their attitudes on the policy outcomes of civic education policy in relation to political behaviour and political knowledge. Our findings suggest that the policy network is highly centralized with federal government actors and a handful of national non-government actors. Also, we found that civic education policy actors in Canada generally agree on both political knowledge and political behaviour policy outcomes.
Service or service-learning? A review of recent educational policies in England
Authors: Peterson Andrew , Warwick Paul
Published: October 2014

This article presents a critique of recent state educational policy provision in England that has aimed at young people’s (14–19 years of age) learning through active citizenship. We argue that whilst the statutory introduction of Citizenship education within English secondary schools has helped to advance the links between ‘service’ and ‘learning’ there is clear evidence that the quality and depth of such educational opportunities remains inconsistent across schools. Recent educational initiatives such as the Youth Community Action (YCA) programme and the National Citizen Service (NCS) have once again raised the possibility of young people learning through participating in their communities. We argue that despite their intentions these programmes have failed to integrate the pedagogical processes necessary for meaningful education for active citizenship. In critiquing these policy initiatives we make a case for a greater integration of ‘service-learning’ theory and practice within policies that relate to active citizenship. Service-learning provides a more cohesive framework for a critical, creative and collaborative pedagogy to accompany young people’s experiences of community engagement; a central requirement in developing responsible and active citizens. We argue that making clear connections to service-learning is an important proposal at a time when the nature of Citizenship education within the English National Curriculum has been revised in terms of content and scope.
Reviews
Authors: Davies Ian , Bhopal Kalwant , Sant Edda , Munip Omar
Published: October 2014

Reinventing Evidence in Social Enquiry: Decoding Facts and Variables, Richard Biernacki (2012) Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 199 pp. ISBN: 9781137007278, p/bk, £19.99

Disposed to Learn: Schooling, Ethnicity and the Scholarly Habitus, Megan Watkins and Greg Noble (2013) Bloomsbury, 166 pp., ISBN: 9781441177117, p/bk, £24.99

Progressive education. A critical introduction, John Howlett (2013) London: Bloomsbury, 306 pp., ISBN: 9781441141729, p/bk, £22.49

Young Citizens of the World; Teaching Elementary Social Studies through Civic Engagement, Marilynne Boyle-Baise and Jack Zevin (2014) Oxon: Routledge, 225 pp., ISBN: 9780415826495, p/bk, £31.99
Occupying Paris: The First Survey Exhibition of Latin American Art
Authors: Greet Michele
Published: October 2014

The first survey of Latin American art ever to be held anywhere in the world took place in Paris at the Musée Galliera in 1924. Rather than showcasing a particular stylistic tendency, organizers conceived of Latin American heritage as the unifying factor behind the show, giving
rise to an exhibition format that would persist for the rest of the twentieth century. The stylistic eclecticism of the exhibition compelled critics and audiences to ponder the existence of a Latin American aesthetic and to attempt to pin down characteristic traits common to the region. This
article examines the content, reviews and ramifications of this foundational exhibition of Latin American art.
Cuban Art and Culture In and Around the 1939 New York World’s Fair
Authors: Temkin Susanna
Published: October 2014

Displays of Cuban art and culture were present at a number of sites associated with the 1939 New York World’s Fair. At the fairgrounds, allegorical murals and sculptures decorated the Cuban national pavilion, while dancers performed at the independently owned Cuban Village in
the Amusement Zone. In Manhattan, the Riverside Museum displayed Cuban artworks as part of the US government-sponsored Latin American Exhibition of Fine and Applied Art. This article explores how the concerns and tensions between the organizers of these diverse contexts, each with unique political,
economic and cultural motivations, informed presentations of Cuban art and culture in and around the 1939 New York World’s Fair.
Feeling the Past: Display and the Art of Memory in Latin America
Authors: Giunta Andrea
Published: October 2014

Memory is a compelling and recurring topic in contemporary art. This article examines the mechanisms through which Latin American exhibitions and artists’ urban interventions have addressed the violent and traumatic pasts suffered under decades of dictatorships. The representations
of these brutal pasts are activated through images and museographic devices that involve not only the architecture of museums and other sites of memory, but also the choreography and experience of the visitor. I argue that even such formal and abstract structures bear an underlying purpose
and politics, which is to produce an emotional contact with the past. By analyzing display sites and artworks dealing with trauma, this article problematizes the relationship between space, memory and history.
Exhibition Reviews
Authors: Wall Sarah J. , Coates Maria Alejandrina , Puric Biljana , Öztürk Rana , Skerritt Henry
Published: October 2014

Théâtre du Monde Curated by Jean-Hubert Martin, La Maison Rouge, Paris, 19 October 2013–12 January 2014, first shown at Museum of Old and New Art, Berriedale, 25 June 2012–8 April 2013

Luis Paredes, Escapes Y Refugios Curated by Bayardo Blandino in collaboration
with Centro de Artes Visuales Contemporáneo de Mujeres an las Artes CAVC/MUA, Museo Para la Identidad Nacional, Tegucigalpa, 5 November 2013–12 January 2014

In Praise of Deserters Curated by Corrado Salzano, Inex Film, Belgrade, 16–28 November 2013

13th Istanbul Biennial:
Mom, Am I Barbarian? Curated by Fulya Erdemci, various sites around Istanbul, 14 September–20 October 2013

Sakahàn: International Indigenous Art Curated by Greg A. Hill, Candice Hopkins and Christine Lalonde, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, 17 May – 2 September 2013
A Phenomenological Investigation of Divers’ Lived Experience of Imagery
Authors: Post Phillip G. , Simpson Duncan , Young Greg , Parker Jack Frederick
Published: October 2014

Phenomenological interviews were conducted with 15 skilled divers (M=29.87 years; SD=8.30), ranging in competitive level from college to Olympic, to explore their lived experience of using imagery. Qualitative analysis of interview data revealed a total of 696 meaning units which were used to produce a final thematic structure consisting of four higher order themes: time and place, perfecting the dive, mentally preparing, and constructing the image. The results suggest that skilled divers’ imagery is an active process (i.e., includes different perspectives, speeds, and overt movements) and they use imagery for several purposes (i.e., physical and psychological). Results unique to the present study were divers’ manipulations of imagery speed, the incorporation of body movements during their imagery rehearsal to enhance the kinesthetic sensation associated with their desired image, the use of imagery aids to augment their imagery practice, and the use of imagery to focus and avoid distractions during competition. These specific nuances of divers’ use of imagery offer several practical applications for sport psychology consultants and coaches interested in implementing imagery interventions with this athlete population.
A new approach to bracket prediction in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament based on a dual-proportion likelihood
Authors: Gupta Ajay Andrew
Published: October 2014

The widespread proliferation of and interest in bracket pools that accompany the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament have created a need to produce a set of predicted winners for each tournament game by people without expert knowledge of college basketball. Previous research has addressed bracket prediction to some degree, but not nearly on the level of the popular interest in the topic. This paper reviews relevant previous research, and then introduces a rating system for teams using game data from that season prior to the tournament. The ratings from this system are used within a novel, four-predictor probability model to produce sets of bracket predictions for each tournament from 2009 to 2014. This dual-proportion probability model is built around the constraint of two teams with a combined 100% probability of winning a given game. This paper also performs Monte Carlo simulation to investigate whether modifications are necessary from an expected value-based prediction system such as the one introduced in the paper, in order to have the maximum bracket score within a defined group. The findings are that selecting one high-probability “upset” team for one to three late rounds games is likely to outperform other strategies, including one with no modifications to the expected value, as long as the upset choice overlaps a large minority of competing brackets while leaving the bracket some distinguishing characteristics in late rounds.
Coercion, Credibility, and Mid-Air Interceptions of Military Planes
Authors: Pitsoulis Athanassios , Schwuchow Soeren C.
Published: October 2014

Pointing out the remarkable levels of hostile interaction in the air space over contested territory between states like China and Japan or Greece and Turkey we argue that air space incursions can be interpreted as a rational strategy with ultimately political aims. In our interpretation deliberate intrusions of military aircraft into sensitive air space serve as an indirect risk-generating mechanism, as they will trigger scrambles of the opposed government’s air force which may escalate into a military crisis. We derive testable hypotheses from a game-theoretic model, which we developed in earlier work to explore the strategic logic behind this risk-generating mechanism more rigorously. In order to test whether the model’s predictions regarding the effect of short-term economic developments on the states’ interaction hold, we built a database of daily event observations from the Hellenic National Defence General Staff reports of the last 4 years, containing time series data of Turkish intrusions into Greek-claimed air space and the number of dogfights between Greek and Turkish fighter planes. What we find is that not only Greek engagements of Turkish intruders but also massed, provocative Turkish intrusions have become significantly less likely after the onset of the Greek economic crisis. These findings are well in line with the predictions of the model and thus supportive of our theory.
Influence of the physicochemical environment on membrane-protein binding: investigation using a fabricated PVDF membrane
Authors: Ahmad Abdul L. , Ideris Norhidayah , Seng Ooi Boon , Chun Low Siew , Ismail Asma
Published: October 2014

The correlation between the behavior of a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane toward protein binding at different physicochemical environments was investigated. The PVDF membrane was first fabricated and characterized to understand its morphological, polymorph and intrinsic characteristics. The results confirmed that the membrane had a microporous, symmetric structure and high hydrophobicity and electronegativity. The membrane was further tested under different physicochemical environments by modifying the type of protein and pH medium used. The results showed that different proteins and pH values contribute to different membrane-protein binding mechanisms. Overall, the results of PVDF membrane-protein binding were satisfactory and demonstrated the ability of the membrane to capture various proteins or reagents.
Einheitlicher Europäischer Aufsichtsmechanismus: Bankenaufsicht durch die EZB
Authors: Lehmann Matthias , Manger-Nestler Cornelia
Published: October 2014

Wenn ab November 2014 die Aufsicht über große und systemrelevante Kreditinstitute den Mitgliedstaaten entzogen und der EZB übertragen wird, führt dies zu einer fundamentalen Veränderung im europäischen Mehrebenengefüge. Als Herzstück der Bankenunion markiert der einheitliche Aufsichtsmechanismus einen richtungsweisenden Schritt auf dem Weg zu einer integrierten, weil zentralisierten Überwachung von Großbanken in der Eurozone. Der Beitrag stellt die Details der neuen Regelung dar und unterzieht diese einer ordnungspolitischen Kritik.
Schutz alter Menschen bei Anlagegeschäften
Authors: Wedemann Frauke
Published: October 2014

„Demographische Alterung und das Recht“ – die wissenschaftliche Auseinandersetzung mit dieser Thematik steckt in Deutschland noch in den Kinderschuhen. Zu den Bereichen, die trotz großer Relevanz bisher einer Aufarbeitung harren, gehört der Schutz alter Menschen bei Anlagegeschäften. Selbst in den USA, dem Mutterland des „elder law“, fehlt es an umfassenden Untersuchungen. Der vorliegende Beitrag möchte hier Pionierarbeit leisten. Er bietet eine Problemexposition und analysiert die Möglichkeiten zur Verbesserung des Schutzes alter Anleger.
Europäisches Insiderrecht 2.0 – Konzeption und Grundsatzfragen der Reform durch MAR und CRIM-MAD
Authors: Veil Rüdiger
Published: October 2014

Der Rat und das Europäisches Parlament haben die von der Kommission 2011 vorgeschlagene Marktmissbrauchsverordnung und die Richtlinie über strafrechtliche Sanktionen für Insiderhandel und Marktmanipulationen verabschiedet. Dieser Beitrag entfaltet die Konzeption und Grundsatzfragen des neuen Insiderrechts. Im Mittelpunkt steht die mit der Verordnungsgesetzgebung einhergehende weitere Europäisierung der Regelungsmaterie. Ferner werden die wichtigsten Neuregelungen analysiert. Dies sind die Vorschriften zur Definition der Insiderinformation, die Insiderverbote und das erstmals gesetzlich normierte Handelsverbot für Führungskräfte vor Veröffentlichung von Finanzberichten.
Issuers obligations under the new Market Abuse Regulation and the proposed ESMA guideline regime: a brief overview
Authors: Di Noia Carmine , Milič Mateja , Spatola Paola
Published: October 2014

The present work briefly analyses some selected topics of the new European Market Abuse framework, in particular with reference to issuers’ obligations.

The package of the reform originally proposed by the Commission on 2011 was composed of two legislative proposals: (i) a regulation on insider dealing and market manipulation which is going to replace directive 2003/6/EC and its implementing measures; and (ii) a directive specifically concerning criminal sanctions for insider dealing and market manipulation.

The work takes into consideration the text of the regulation adopted by the European Parliament in its plenary setting on September, 10th, 2013 and the ESMA’s Discussion Paper published in November 2013.

Paragraph II deals with the critical notion of inside information for the purpose of insider trading and for issuers’ duty to disclose, underlining ESME’s approach with reference to the twofold notion of inside information in the directive 2003/6/EC and examining the definition of art. 6 of the new regulation in the light of the decision of the European Court of Justice in the case Marcus Geltl against Daimler AG. ThereTherefore fore, it analyses the marginal utility of the delay as a remedy for the communication of information not sufficiently mature and the importance of the ESMA’ s guidelines for the definition of the conditions of the delay. The new rules on rumours and market soundings, never tackled in the directive 2003/6/EC, will be also commented. Paragraph III analyses the content and the scope of insider lists. Taking into consideration the timing of the public disclosure and the conditions for the delay set forth in art. 12, par. 3 of the proposed regulation, this work sounds out the concrete function of insider lists, especially with reference to the list of “occasional insider”, and evaluates the effectiveness of the proposed ESMA’s implementing regime. Paragraph IV deals with managers’ transactions, tackling with some specific problems such as the shortened timing of notification, the low threshold for the communication of managers’ transactions and the possibility for Member States to raise this threshold.
Die Regulierung der Vergütung von Fondsmanagern – zum Umgang mit Copy-paste-Gesetzgebung nach der Finanzkrise
Authors: Engert Andreas
Published: October 2014

Der europäische Richtliniengeber hat eine für Banken entworfene Vergütungsregulierung mehr oder minder textgleich auf die Investmentbranche übertragen. Der Beitrag geht der Frage nach, welchen sinnvollen Zielen eine derartige Regulierung bei Fondsverwaltern dienen kann. Dazu wird die theoretische und empirische Forschung zu Risikoanreizen bei Wertpapier-Publikumsfonds sowie Hedgefonds umfassend ausgewertet. Ferner wird untersucht, inwieweit die neuen Regelungen das festgestellte Regulierungsbedürfnis erfüllen können.
EMIR – Überblick und ausgewählte Aspekte
Authors: Schuster Gunnar , Ruschkowski Alexander
Published: October 2014

Mit Inkrafttreten der Europäischen Marktinfrastruktur-Verordnung (EMIR) im August 2012 wurde der Startschuss zu einer tiefgreifenden Umgestaltung der europäischen OTC-Derivatemärkte gegeben. Schrittweise werden Transparenzpflichten, Pflichten zum Risikomanagement und Clearingpflichten eingeführt, die dazu dienen sollen, das Gewirr der OTC-Derivatebeziehungen zu entflechten, sie in wesentlichen Teilen auf besonders regulierte zentrale Gegenparteien (CCP) überzuleiten und die Finanzmarktstabilität zu erhöhen. Der folgende Beitrag untersucht die einschlägigen rechtlichen Instrumente, die bei dieser Neuordnung des Marktes eingesetzt werden, und geht auf einige noch offene Umsetzungsfragen ein.
Anleger und Verbraucher
Authors: Riesenhuber Karl
Published: October 2014

Im Kapitalmarktrecht, im Bereich des Anlegerschutzes, begegnet uns in jüngerer Zeit immer wieder eine neue Figur: Der Verbraucher. Wie stehen Verbraucherschutzrecht und Anlegerschutzrecht zueinander? Wie befruchten sich beide Bereiche; (wie) passen sie zusammen? Bedroht der Verbraucherschutz das Kapitalmarktrecht?
Runter mit den Dispozinsen – aber wie?
Authors: Köndgen Johannes
Published: October 2014

Seit vielen Jahren schon nähert sich das Marktzinsniveau in Deutschland historischen Tiefstständen, und zwar bei den Kredit- wie bei den Einlagezinsen. Beschleunigt hat sich diese Entwicklung, seit die EZB im Jahre 2011 die Märkte mit billigem Geld zu fluten begann. In diesem Marktumfeld konnte die Klage über exorbitant hohe Dispozinsen gesteigerte Resonanz gewinnen. Weil auch noch der Spareckzins inzwischen unter die 1 %-Grenze gefallen ist (und dort wohl auf absehbare Zeit verbleiben wird), während die Dispozinsen ganz überwiegend auf zweistelligem Niveau verharren, hat das Problem die Medien und schließlich auch den rechtspolitischen Diskurs erreicht. Dies rechtfertigt es, das Thema aus den populistischen Niederungen zu holen und auf seine grundsätzlichen ökonomischen und juristischen Relevanzen zu überprüfen.
Der rechtliche Rahmen des algorithmischen Handels inklusive des Hochfrequenzhandels
Authors: Kindermann Jochen , Coridaß Benedikt
Published: October 2014

Am 14. 5. 2013 traten wesentliche Teile des Hochfrequenzhandelsgesetzes in Kraft. Die Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin) hat im Rahmen eines Rundschreibens die organisatorischen Anforderungen an Systeme und Kontrollen für den Algorithmushandel von Instituten konkretisiert und hierzu am 6. 5. 2014 weitere erläuternde FAQs veröffentlicht. Die Regelungen sind grundsätzlich bis zum 1. 7. 2014 umzusetzen. Das Hessische Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Verkehr und Landesentwicklung hat Hinweise zur Kennzeichnung von Algorithmen veröffentlicht. Der Beitrag diskutiert die neuen regulatorischen Vorgaben unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der organisatorischen Anforderungen und gibt einen Ausblick auf die Entwicklungen des Hochfrequenzhandels im Rahmen der Überarbeitung der Finanzmarktrichtlinie.
Boni für Bankiers – Regulierungsauftakt durch das Reichsgesetz über das Kreditwesen (RKWG)
Authors: Körnert Jan , Nehring Oliver
Published: October 2014

Die Praxis der erfolgsabhängigen Vergütung von Bankiers trat nach der Bankenkrise 2007 in den Fokus der Öffentlichkeit, denn trotz sinkender Gewinne erhielten Bankiers Boni in unverhältnismäßigem Umfang. Die daraufhin ergriffenen legislativen Maßnahmen waren nicht der erste Versuch, Bonuszahlungen in Deutschland zu regulieren. Bereits nach der Bankenkrise 1931 strebte man eine Regulierung an. Dieses Streben schlug sich im § 15 RKWG nieder. Die Vorschrift sollte als Lehre aus der Bankenkrise fortan das Verantwortungsbewusstsein von Geschäftsleitern einer Bank mithilfe der Errichtung eines Haftungsfonds materiell steigern. Im Ergebnis zeigen sich zwiespältige Anreizwirkungen und eine eingeschränkte Haftungsqualität der einbehaltenen Anteile am Geschäftsergebnis.