bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CLASSIFICATION OF URBAN FEATURE FROM UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE IMAGES USING GASVM INTEGRATION AND MULTI-SCALE SEGMENTATION
Authors: Modiri M. , Salehabadi A. , Mohebbi M. , Hashemi A. M. , Masumi M.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. The use of UAV in the application of photogrammetry to obtain cover images and achieve the main objectives of the photogrammetric mapping has been a boom in the region. The images taken from REGGIOLO region in the province of, Italy Reggio -Emilia by UAV with non-metric camera Canon Ixus and with an average height of 139.42 meters were used to classify urban feature. Using the software provided SURE and cover images of the study area, to produce dense point cloud, DSM and Artvqvtv spatial resolution of 10 cm was prepared. DTM area using Adaptive TIN filtering algorithm was developed. NDSM area was prepared with using the difference between DSM and DTM and a separate features in the image stack. In order to extract features, using simultaneous occurrence matrix features mean, variance, homogeneity, contrast, dissimilarity, entropy, second moment, and correlation for each of the RGB band image was used Orthophoto area. Classes used to classify urban problems, including buildings, trees and tall vegetation, grass and vegetation short, paved road and is impervious surfaces. Class consists of impervious surfaces such as pavement conditions, the cement, the car, the roof is stored. In order to pixel-based classification and selection of optimal features of classification was GASVM pixel basis. In order to achieve the classification results with higher accuracy and spectral composition informations, texture, and shape conceptual image featureOrthophoto area was fencing. The segmentation of multi-scale segmentation method was used.it belonged class. Search results using the proposed classification of urban feature, suggests the suitability of this method of classification complications UAV is a city using images. The overall accuracy and kappa coefficient method proposed in this study, respectively, 47/93% and 84/91% was.
EVALUATION AND ANALYSIS OF URMIA LAKE WATER LEVEL FLUCTUATIONS BETTWEN 1998-2006 USING LANDSAT IMAGES AND TOPEX ALTIMETRY DATA
Authors: Zahir N. , Ali A.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. The Lake Urmiah has undergone a drastic shrinkage in size over the past few decades. The initial intention of this paper is to present an approach for determining the so called “salient times” during which the trend of the shrinkage process is accelerated or decelerated. To find these salient times, a quasi_continuous curve was optimally fitted to the Topex altimetry data within the period 1998 to 2006. To find the salient points within this period of time, the points of inflections of the fitted curve is computed using a second derivative approach. The water volume was also computed using 16 cloud free Landsat images of the Lake within the periods of 1998 to 2006. In the first stage of the water volume calculation, the pixels of the Lake were segmented using the Automated Water Extraction Index (AWEI) and the shorelines of the Lake were extracted by a boundary detecting operator using the generated binary image of the Lake surface. The water volume fluctuation rate was then computed under the assumption that the two successive Lake surfaces and their corresponding water level differences demonstrate approximately a truncated pyramid. The analysis of the water level fluctuation rates were further extended by a sinusoidal curve fitted to the Topex altimetry data. This curve was intended to model the seasonal fluctuations of the water level. In the final stage of this article, the correlation between the fluctuation rates and the precipitation and temperature variations were also numerically determined. This paper reports in some details the stages mentioned above.
TOWARD SEMANTIC WEB INFRASTRUCTURE FOR SPATIAL FEATURES' INFORMATION
Authors: Arabsheibani R. , Ariannamazi S. , Hakimpour F.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. The Web and its capabilities can be employed as a tool for data and information integration if comprehensive datasets and appropriate technologies and standards enable the web with interpretation and easy alignment of data and information. Semantic Web along with the spatial functionalities enable the web to deal with the huge amount of data and information. The present study investigate the advantages and limitations of the Spatial Semantic Web and compare its capabilities with relational models in order to build a spatial data infrastructure. An architecture is proposed and a set of criteria is defined for the efficiency evaluation. The result demonstrate that when using the data with special characteristics such as schema dynamicity, sparse data or available relations between the features, the spatial semantic web and graph databases with spatial operations are preferable.
UAV PHOTOGRAMMETRY: A PRACTICAL SOLUTION FOR CHALLENGING MAPPING PROJECTS
Authors: Saadatseresht M. , Hashempour A. H. , Hasanlou M.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. We have observed huge attentions to application of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in aerial mapping since a decade ago. Though, it has several advantages for handling time/cost/quality issues, there are a dozen of challenges in working with UAVs. In this paper, we; as the Robotic Photogrammetry Research Group (RPRG), will firstly review these challenges then show its advantages in three special practical projects. For each project, we will share our experiences through description of the UAV specifications, flight settings and processing steps. At the end, we will illustrate final result of each project and show how this technology could make unbelievable benefits to clients including 3D city realistic model in decimetre level, ultra high quality map production in several centimetre level, and accessing to a high risk and rough relief area for mapping aims.
INVESTIGATON OF SEA LEVEL CHANGE ALONG THE BLACK SEA COAST FROM TIDE GAUGE AND SATELLITE ALTIMETRY
Authors: Avsar N. B. , Kutoglu S. H. , Jin S. , Erol B.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. In this study, we focus on sea level changes along the Black Sea coast. For this purpose, at same observation period the linear trends and the components of seasonal variations of sea level change are estimated at 12 tide gauge sites (Amasra, Igneada, Trabzon-II, Sinop, Sile, Poti, Batumi, Sevastopol, Tuapse, Varna, Bourgas, and Constantza) located along the Black Sea coast and available altimetric grid points closest to the tide gauge locations. The consistency of the results derived from both observations are investigated and interpreted. Furthermore, in order to compare the trends at the same location, it is interpolated from the trends obtained at the altimetric grid points in the defined neighbouring area with a diameter of 0.125° using a weighted average interpolation algorithm at each tide gauge site. For some tide gauges such as Sevastopol, Varna, and Bourgas, it is very likely that the trend estimates are not reliable because the time-spans overlapping the altimeter period are too short. At Sile, the long-term change for the time series of both data types do not give statistically significant linear rates. However, when the sites have long-term records, a general agreement between the satellite altimetry and tide gauge time series is observed at Poti (~20 years) and Tuapse (~18 years). On the other hand, the difference of annual phase between satellite altimetry and tide gauge results is from 1.32° to 71.48°.
DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF A MOBILE SENSOR BASED THE BLIND ASSISTANCE WAYFINDING SYSTEM
Authors: Barati F. , Delavar M. R.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. The blind and visually impaired people are facing a number of challenges in their daily life. One of the major challenges is finding their way both indoor and outdoor. For this reason, routing and navigation independently, especially in urban areas are important for the blind. Most of the blind undertake route finding and navigation with the help of a guide. In addition, other tools such as a cane, guide dog or electronic aids are used by the blind. However, in some cases these aids are not efficient enough in a wayfinding around obstacles and dangerous areas for the blind. As a result, the need to develop effective methods as decision support using a non-visual media is leading to improve quality of life for the blind through their increased mobility and independence. In this study, we designed and implemented an outdoor mobile sensor-based wayfinding system for the blind. The objectives of this study are to guide the blind for the obstacle recognition and the design and implementation of a wayfinding and navigation mobile sensor system for them. In this study an ultrasonic sensor is used to detect obstacles and GPS is employed for positioning and navigation in the wayfinding. This type of ultrasonic sensor measures the interval between sending waves and receiving the echo signals with respect to the speed of sound in the environment to estimate the distance to the obstacles. In this study the coordinates and characteristics of all the obstacles in the study area are already stored in a GIS database. All of these obstacles were labeled on the map. The ultrasonic sensor designed and constructed in this study has the ability to detect the obstacles in a distance of 2cm to 400cm. The implementation and the results obtained from the interview of a number of blind persons who employed the sensor verified that the designed mobile sensor system for wayfinding was very satisfactory.
Case Study Methodology: Flexibility, Rigour, and Ethical Considerations for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
Authors: Pearson Marion L , Albon Simon P , Hubball Harry
Published: December 2015

Individuals and teams engaging in the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) in multidisciplinary higher education settings must make decisions regarding choice of research methodology and methods. These decisions are guided by the research context and the goals of the inquiry. With reference to our own recent experiences investigating pedagogical and curricular practices in a pharmacy program, we outline case study methodology as one of the many options available for SoTL inquiry. Case study methodology has the benefits of flexibility in terms of the types of research questions that can be addressed and the data collection methods that can be employed. Conducted with proper attention to the context of the case(s) selected, ethical treatment of participants, and data management, case studies also have the necessary rigour to be credible and generalizable. In the matter of generalization, however, we recommend that the readers of a case study draw their own conclusions about the applicability of the findings to other settings.
Les particuliers et les groupes qui sont actifs dans le haut savoir en matière d’enseignement et d’apprentissage (ACEA) dans les milieux pluridisciplinaires de l’enseignement supérieur doivent prendre des décisions en ce qui concerne le choix des méthodologies et des méthodes de recherche. Ces décisions sont guidées par le contexte de la recherche et par les objectifs de l’interrogation. En nous basant sur nos propres expériences récentes quand nous avons examiné des pratiques pédagogiques et curriculaires dans un programme de pharmacie, nous décrivons la méthodologie des études de cas comme l’une des nombreuses options disponibles pour les interrogations en ACEA. La méthodologie des études de cas a l’avantage d’être souple en ce qui a trait aux types de questions de recherche qui peuvent être étudiées et aux méthodes de collecte de données qui peuvent être employées. Quand elles sont menées avec l’attention requise pour le contexte des cas choisis, le traitement éthique des participants et la gestion des données, les études de cas présentent également la rigueur nécessaire pour être crédibles et généralisables. Toutefois, en ce qui concerne la généralisation, nous recommandons que les lecteurs d’une étude de cas tirent leurs propres conclusions concernant le caractère applicable des résultats à d’autres situations.
Analyzing the Efficacy of Pain Management and Continuous Infusion Regional Anesthetic Catheters in the Orthopaedic Setting
Authors: Pantaleon Rodriguez Ulises
Published: December 2015

My name is Ulises Pantaleon Rodriguez and I am a fourth year nursing student currently finishing my integrative practicum and final consolidation on the orthopaedic inpatient surgery floor at University Hospital in London, Ontario. I have had prior placements within this field of nursing and have been drawn towards orthopaedic placements due to my interest in sports medicine and the musculoskeletal system of the body. Through multiple orthopaedic placements I have witnessed first-hand the crippling effects of pain on patients, causing both physical and psychological distress. As a result I have encountered a multitude of different pain management control techniques ranging from pharmacological to non-pharmacological in nature. Through my experience on the orthopaedic inpatient surgery floor, I encountered the use of continuous infusion regional anesthetic catheters, commonly known as nerve block catheters. This innovative pain management technique yielded a plethora of different results for different patients, which sparked my interest into the relevant research and literature on their use. Pain management is one of the most important aspects of nursing care and the health care field as a whole, and it is my belief that healthcare practitioners must remain knowledgeable and educated on the latest techniques.
Smartphone Applications for Mental Health—A Rapid Review
Authors: Hind Julie , Sibbald Shannon L.
Published: December 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this article is to determine what evidence exists about the effectiveness of monitoring and managing mental health via smartphone application. This study aims to inform health care decision makers of available evidence as well as the necessary components and potential barriers to success.
Methods: A rapid review was conducted which yielded eleven primary research studies evaluating nine unique smartphone applications.
Results: The literature demonstrated many benefits of smartphone applications for mental health including: positive perceptions and experiences by patients and doctors as well as their willingness to use the applications to impact their mental health. Further benefits include the apps ability to provide valid and detailed symptom monitoring, to apply proven psychotherapy methods, to improve access to care and to positively impact clinical outcomes. A potential barrier to success addressed by the literature is ensuring patients’ long-term adherence to this treatment method. Key success factors to delivering effective mental health care via a smartphone app include individually tailored apps, adaptive learning, a feedback system, and clinical, peer and technical support.
Conclusions: Preliminary outcomes in this area seem promising. However, there is a limited amount of high-quality research studies and more rigorous scientific investigation into this area is needed.
Transplantation Failure Due to Inadvertent Reversal of Human Donor Corneas
Authors: Parekh Mohit , Ruzza Alessandro , Elbadawy Hossein , Ferrari Stefano , Salvalaio Gianni , Camposampiero Davide , Ponzin Diego
Published: December 2015

Purpose

To emphasize and create awareness of the possibility of inadvertently grafting an inverted corneal button and describe 4 cases that showed this phenomenon on human donor corneas during preservation and transportation from an eye bank.

Methods

Three out of 4 tissues showed inadvertent inversion during transportation and 1 was identified as inverted during preservation in the eye bank. Out of the 3 tissues that were shipped, 2 tissues were transplanted and 1 was identified as inverted prior to transplantation and shipped back to the eye bank.

Results

Four tissues showed inversion at different time points. The anatomy was clearly visible with a naked eye that showed the presence of trabecular meshwork on its outside along with some residual choroid. The endothelial cell count was in the range of transplantation without any mortality even after inversion. The inverted corneas showed a mountain-like shape with grooves as compared to the normal cornea.

Conclusions

Previous reports have identified tissue inversion post-transplantation. We describe inadvertent inversion of donor tissues during preservation and transportation from an eye bank. It is recommended to check the presence of corneo-scleral rim, trabecular meshwork, grooves, and residues of choroid if present inside or outside before transplantation to ensure accurate grafting and avoid transplantation failures.
A Review on Protein Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Nagaraju Kathyayini , Reddy Roopa , Reddy Narendra
Published: December 2015

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been widely recognized and used for controlled drug delivery and in various other fields due to their unique properties and distinct advantages. Both single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and multiwalled (MWCNTs) carbon nanotubes are used and/or studied for potential applications in medical, energy, textile, composite, and other areas. Since CNTs are chemically inert and are insoluble in water or other organic solvents, they are functionalized or modified to carry payloads or interact with biological molecules. CNTs have been preferably functionalized with proteins because CNTs are predominantly used for medical applications such as delivery of drugs, DNA and genes, and also for biosensing. Extensive studies have been conducted to understand the interactions, cytotoxicity, and potential applications of protein functionalized CNTs but contradicting results have been published on the cytotoxicity of the functionalized CNTs. This paper provides a brief review of CNTs functionalized with proteins, methods used to functionalize the CNTs, and their potential applications.
Comparative Polymorphism of BAT-26 between Healthy Individuals and Cancer Patients and Its Cancer Risk Implication for Local Chinese
Authors: Zheng Yanying , Liu Li , Sun Yi , Chen Jie , Wang Jianrong , Zhu Changle , Lai Rensheng , Xie Ling
Published: December 2015

Purpose

BAT-26 is one of the representative markers for microsatellite instability evaluation and presents different polymorphisms in different ethnic populations. The current knowledge of its comparative polymorphism between healthy individuals and cancer patients in the Chinese population is insufficient. This study aims to analyze germline polymorphic variations of BAT-26 between healthy individuals and cancer patients in Chinese from Jiangsu province and the associated cancer risk implications.

Methods

The various BAT-26 alleles and their percentages in cervical cells from 500 healthy women were assessed by direct sequencing. Twenty of these samples were also analyzed by fragment analysis. BAT-26 of blood DNA from 24 healthy individuals and 247 cancer patients was analyzed by fragment analysis.

Results

Compared with the sequencing results, 122.6-122.9 bp, 123.4-123.8 bp and 124.1-124.8 bp corresponded to the A25, A26 and A27 alleles, respectively. The 524 healthy individuals showed 4.58%, 92.18% and 3.24% of A25, A26 and A27, respectively. The variant alleles A18, A24, A28, A29 and A32 were only found in cancer patients, accounting for 0.81%, 0.40%, 0.40%, 0.40% and 0.40%, respectively; the A25, A26 and A27 alleles in cancer patients accounted for 6.48%, 77.33% and 13.77%.

Conclusions

Healthy individuals had a stable BAT-26 profile within the quasimonomorphic variation range (QMVR), but cancer patients harbored variant alleles outside QMVR and showed a trend from quasimonomorph to polymonomorph, suggesting that variant alleles of BAT-26 in germline cells may be regarded as a potential marker of higher cancer risk in the Chinese population from Jiangsu province.
Risk Factors Associated with Arteriovenous Fistula Failure after First Radiologic Intervention
Authors: Romann Alexandra , Beaulieu Monica C. , Rhéaume Pascal , Clement Jason , Sidhu Ravindar , Kiaii Mercedeh
Published: December 2015

Purpose

Improving arteriovenous fistula (AVF) patency is an integral part of the care of hemodialysis patients, often requiring procedures such as percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). However, these interventions may fail to reduce AVF dysfunction and failure. The purpose of this study was to determine predictive factors for subsequent AVF failure post-PTA.

Methods

Data from 155 consecutive AVFs in 155 patients at a single institution who had undergone a first PTA and had at least 1 year of follow-up data were analyzed. Using survival analysis, we assessed primary and secondary patency, and identified predictive factors taking into account competing risks.

Results

Of the 155 patients, 52% required multiple subsequent PTAs; 32% of the AVFs were not in use prior to the first PTA. At first PTA, 83% had outflow vein stenosis (OVS), 26% had multiple stenoses and 43% of stenoses were longer than 2 cm. During follow-up, 1-, 2-, 3-year postintervention primary patency was 41%, 32%, 32% and secondary patency was 80%, 71% and 68%. AVFs with stenoses greater than 2 cm or OVS were at higher risk of requiring multiple PTAs (p = 0.04, 0.006). Factors associated with requiring a second PTA included stenosis greater than 2 cm (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.2-2.9), OVS (HR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.1-5.4) and primary renal diagnosis of diabetes or renal vascular diseases (HR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.1-2.9); after adjustments for competing risks, OVS and stenosis length remained associated with requiring subsequent PTAs.

Conclusions

The location and size of the AVF stenosis at first PTA appear to be consistent factors associated with worse postintervention primary patency.
Simultaneous Right Ventricular to Pulmonary Artery Pressure Gradient Measurement Using a Single Venous Access Technique
Authors: Castellanos Jorge , Quevedo Henry C.
Published: December 2015

Purpose

The pullback gradient technique is commonly used to evaluate pulmonic stenosis; however, it only represents a one-time measurement of valvular stenosis. Instead, simultaneous peak-to-peak gradients account for the data variability being best suited to discern the severity of the stenosis, but requires two different venous accesses. Here, we demonstrate the feasibility and high fidelity hemodynamic tracings of a new technique for evaluation of pulmonary valve stenosis by using a single venous access.

Methods

We present a patient scenario suggesting pulmonic stenosis. Given the possible therapeutic intervention, we decided to use a single large bore (8-French) venous access.

Results

Simultaneous peak-to-peak gradients were obtained from high fidelity hemodynamic tracings measured using two small-size catheters located in the right ventricle (RV) and pulmonary artery (PA), respectively. The procedure had no complications.

Conclusions

We present a technique using single venous access for simultaneous RV and PA pressure measurement that is easy to perform and, importantly, it may be safer than exposing the patient to multiple venous accesses.
The Pipeline Technique: A Simple Endovascular Technique for Creation of a Jump Graft Bypass
Authors: Chen Matt Chiung-Yu , Weng Mei-Jui
Published: December 2015

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to describe a technique by which a bypass was created percutaneously with two overlapping covered stents for salvage of a thrombotic right brachial-axillary arteriovenous graft without recanalizable outflow.

Methods and results

With the pipeline technique, a 16 cm bypass tract covered with two overlapping Viabahn stents between the hemodialysis graft and the right subclavian vein was created as an alternative access outflow. The hemodialysis graft was successfully salvaged without complications and functioned well for more than 6 months except for one thrombosis which occurred 147 days after its salvage.

Conclusions

We describe an endovascular bypass technique using a sheath-dilator set and two angiographic catheters to salvage a thrombotic hemodialysis graft.
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Systemic Intraoperative Anticoagulation during Arteriovenous Access Formation for Dialysis
Authors: Smith George E. , Souroullos Panos , Cayton Thomas , Harwood Amy , Carradice Daniel , Chetter Ian C.
Published: December 2015

Purpose

Surgical arteriovenous fistula (AVF) or graft (AVG) is preferred to a central venous catheter for dialysis access. Surgical access may suffer thrombosis early after placement and systemic anticoagulation during surgical access formation may increase patency rates but would be expected to increase bleeding-related complications. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials was conducted to examine the impact of systemic anticoagulation on access surgery perioperative bleeding and patency rates.

Methods

We included randomised controlled trials testing systemic anticoagulation during access formation versus a control group without systemic anticoagulation reporting bleeding complications and access patency. Medline, Embase, CENTRAL and CINAHL were searched up to March 2015.  Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool and the Jadad score. Meta-analysis was performed using Cochrane Revman® software.

Results

Searches identified 445 reports of which four randomised studies involving 411 participants were included. Three studies pertained to AVF only and one included both AVF and AVG. Systemic anticoagulation led to increased bleeding events in all access [four trials; risk ratio (RR) 7.18; confidence interval (CI), 2.41 to 21.38; p<0.001]. Patency was not improved for all access (four trials; RR, 0.64; CI, 0.37 to 1.09; p = 0.10) but was improved when AVF analysed alone (three trials; RR, 0.57; CI, 0.33 to 0.97; p = 0.04).

Conclusions

The use of intraoperative systemic anticoagulation during access formation is associated with a highly significant increased risk of bleeding-related complications. A significant improvement in AVF patency was seen, though not when AVF and AVG were analysed together.
Should Patients be on Antithrombotic Medication for their First Arteriovenous Fistulae?
Authors: Murley Alexander , Wijewardane Anika , Wilmink Teun , Baharani Jyoti
Published: December 2015

Purpose

Evidence on the effect of antithrombotic medication on reducing early and late fistula failure is inconclusive. Antithrombotic use carries risks in patients with end-stage renal failure and could increase the risk of needling complications as a result of bleeding. The objectives of this study are to determine the effect of antithrombotic agents on early and late fistula failure and on the risk of interrupted start of cannulation of the fistula.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of two prospectively maintained databases of access operations and dialysis sessions of 671 patients who had their first fistula between 2004 and 2011. Early failure was defined as failure to reach six consecutive dialysis sessions at any time with two needles on the index form of access. Fistula survival was defined as the time from when the fistula was first used to fistula abandonment.

Results

Primary failure was similar between patients on antiplatelet (18.8%), anticoagulants (18.4%) or no antithrombotic medication (18.8%; p = 0.998). Antithrombotic medication did not have an effect on AVF survival (p = 0.86). Antithrombotic medication did not increase complicated cannulation rates, defined as the percentage of patients failing to achieve six uninterrupted dialysis sessions from the start (p = 0.929).

Conclusions

Antithrombotic medication had no significant effect on primary failure rate, long-term fistula survival or initial complicated cannulation rates in our study. This suggests that patients already on antithrombotic medication can continue taking them without increasing the risk of interrupted dialysis.
Leydig Cell Tumour and Giant Adrenal Myelolipoma Associated with Adrenogenital Syndrome: A Case Report with a Review of the Literature
Authors: Altieri Vincenzo M. , Altieri Barbara , Castellucci Roberto , Alba Stefano , Bottone Francesco , Fragalà Eugenia , Mirone Vincenzo , Greco Francesco
Published: December 2015

Context

Male patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) may develop bilateral testicular adrenal rest tumours (TARTs). These tumours, in most cases, regress with glucocorticoid therapy and their histological differentiation from Leydig-cell tumors is quite difficult.

Objective

The aim of this study was to differentiate the histological and clinical features of the TARTs from those of the Leydig-cell tumours.

Methods

The authors report a case of bilateral Leydig-cell tumour associated with giant bilateral adrenal myelolipoma in a male with adrenogenital syndrome who was submitted to a bilateral orchiectomy.

Results

Testicular neoplasia continue to grow despite adequate hormonal treatment and a bilateral orchiectomy was performed. The histopathological examination of the specimen ultimately confirmed the diagnosis of bilateral Leydig-cell tumour.

Conclusions

This case shows the importance of all the relevant examinations, blood chemistry analysis, and instrumental tests in the differential diagnosis of TARTs and other testicular tumours.
Islands as the Origin/End of the World: Ethnographic Imaginations from the Penghu (Taiwan) and Yaeyama (Okinawa) Islands
Authors: Chu Huei-chu
Published: December 2015

This paper conducts a contrapuntal reading of literary texts by Lu Ze-zhi (Penghu) and Sakiyama Tami (Yaeyama), and explores how ethnographic representations of folk beliefs, rituals, and customs are appropriated to expose the barren realities of the remote islands. Analyzing these literary productions as social criticism and social practice, I explore how the literary experiments of the authors function to challenge both the orientalist gaze of modernized societies and the self-orientalizing inclinations in local cultural movements. Defining the two works as counter-narratives of the linear progressive discourse of modernity, I discuss how modernist/postmodernist representations of auto/anti-ethnographic imagination from the islands can help us to interrogate the humanist fantasies of disembodiment and autonomy by exposing the wretched bodies of the islanders.
“Frappons L'usurpateur!”: The Rehearsal of Shakespearean Revolution in Victor Hugo's Cromwell
Authors: Heffernan Julián Jiménez
Published: December 2015

This article examines the way in which Julius Caesar and other related plays by Shakespeare helped to closely shape both the themes and ideological structure in Victor Hugo's Cromwell. Traditional approaches to the Shakespeare-Hugo conjunction have limited their analysis to the two critical texts by Hugo, the Preface to Cromwell and his book William Shakespeare. These approaches tend to be vague and ingenuous, as they commonly take at face value whatever Hugo had to say about his plays, without verifying whether Shakespeare is actually or not a determinant influence in his dramatic oeuvre. By exploring textual parallelisms between Shakespeare's plays and Cromwell, this article aims to lay down a firmer textual basis for this important comparative site. The analysis is moreover conducted within a speculative frame that accords to the category of revolution a decisive role in Hugo's poetics. A logic of resurrectionary iteration and uncanny causality is held to govern the process of literary appropriation by means of which a prominent exponent of Romantic freedom reactivates Shakespearean transgression in order to deploy an English historical drama of usurpation, revolution and tyrannicide. Recent work on Julius Caesar by Richard Wilson and other critics lends support to my claims.
Images of Narcissus: Figuring Identity in José Lezama Lima and Pier Paolo Pasolini
Authors: Benvegnù Damiano
Published: December 2015

The figure of Narcissus has always exerted an uncanny power of attraction. The story of the beautiful boy, who falls in love with his own reflected imago and then dies in the moment of recognition, seems in fact to concern every subject in his own process of identification. Many writers have thus reused Narcissus as a metaphor for the artistic subject, where the mirror image and the death of the boy display the intrinsic tragic duplicity of every work of literature. This article explores differences and similarities between the works of two poets—José Lezama Lima (1910–1976) and Pier Paolo Pasolini (1922–1975)—who have explicitly used Narcissus in their poems. Particularly, it focuses on Lezama Lima's earliest published production, the poem Muerte de Narciso (1937) (Death of Narcissus), and on Pasolini's overarching double collection of poetry in Friulian, La meglio gioventù (1954) (The Best Youth) and La nuova gioventù (The New Youth) (1975). The comparison demonstrates how both Pasolini and Lezama, albeit the differences between Italian and Cuban approach to modernity and modernism, have used the figure of Narcissus as an image of the poetic subject in order to define a double dialectics of identity and dissemination.
El residuo de la función generalizada (Formula)
Authors: Aguirre Manuel A. , Aguirre Rébora Emilio
Published: December 2015

No disponible
Delegated Legislation in Nigeria: The Challenges of Control
Authors: Benson Jemina
Published: December 2015

Delegated Legislation in Nigeria: The Challenges of Control

In considering how society generally is regulated, most times focus is always on Acts of parliament that are passed by the legislative arm of government. However, delegated legislation is another aspect of law making that is of immense importance for the regulation of any given society. This form of lawmaking being a deviation from the norm has some challenges in terms of control. This article seeks to examine some of these challenges emphasising that adequate parliamentary scrutiny will prevent the harbouring of bad-quality legislation.
Brazilian Civil Procedure in the ‘Age of Austerity’?
Authors: Gidi Antonio , Zaneti Hermes
Published: December 2015

Brazilian Civil Procedure in the ‘Age of Austerity’?

The current debate in Brazilian Civil Procedure revolves around efficiency, legal certainty, and access to justice, not austerity. As a matter of fact, the debate over austerity is nonexistent in Brazil so far. By expanding the access to justice to a broader portion of the society, the legal system increased the number of cases and the costs associated with the judicial system. But the excess litigation and expense associated with the expansion of access to justice has contradictorily curtailed access to justice. This new situation demands new efforts to increase efficiency and legal certainty, while still increasing access to justice.
Ouderen in veilige handen
Authors: Pattiwael J. , Brons I.
Published: December 2015

Dutch policies against elder abuse

This survey covers the Dutch Health Department’s policy against elder abuse, which is described in the program Actieplan ‘Ouderen in veilige handen’. Elder abuse can involve physical and/or psychological violence, but also negligence and financial abuse. To combat elder abuse it is crucial to create a climate in which the problem can be discussed openly. Also various actors on the regional and local level in society should be involved to prevent and tackle the problem. Homecare services and other social workers have been trained to signal elder abuse and provide help when the burden for informal caregivers becomes too heavy.
Een kwestie van integraal slim slaan?
Authors: Cremers L.M. , de Kluijs E.J.H.
Published: December 2015

The prosecution of financial abuse of the elderly

In this article the authors discuss the opportunities and challenges they experience from the criminal investigation of financial exploitation of the elderly. By sharing knowledge and experience, they stress that the all party approach in this distressing problem, from the viewpoint of criminal investigations, will achieve the best results. This article could thus be seen as a first step, and invitation, to discuss future interventions and policymaking on fighting the exploitation of the elderly to prevent, detect and investigate these crimes.
De enquêteprocedure als verzoekschriftprocedure en het kort geding als dagvaardingsprocedure, de verschillen en onderlinge verhouding
Authors: Kemp B.
Published: December 2015

De enquêteprocedure als verzoekschriftprocedure en het kort geding als dagvaardingsprocedure, de verschillen en onderlinge verhouding

Deze bijdrage gaat over de verschillen tussen de enquêteprocedure als verzoekschriftprocedure en het kort geding als dagvaardingsprocedure. In beide procedures kunnen voorlopige ordemaatregelen worden verkregen, maar er bestaan belangrijke verschillen. Gedacht kan worden aan bijvoorbeeld het belang dat in de procedure centraal staat alsmede de rol die belanghebbenden spelen.
Het Hof van Justitie van Schumacker tot Kieback: indirecte discriminatie van buitenlandse werknemers in de inkomstenbelasting
Authors: van den Broek J.J.
Published: December 2015

Het Nederlandse en internationale belastingrecht onderscheidt voor de heffing van inkomstenbelasting ingezeten van niet-ingezeten belastingplichtigen. Niet-ingezeten werknemers hebben in de werkstaat meestal geen recht op fiscale tegemoetkomingen in verband met hun persoonlijke of gezinssituatie, zoals hypotheekrenteaftrek. Hoewel dit op zich gerechtvaardigd is, vormt het volgens het Hof van Justitie onder omstandigheden indirecte discriminatie op grond van nationaliteit. Deze bijdrage bespreekt de hoofdlijnen in de jurisprudentie van het Hof van Justitie op dit terrein, inclusief het Kieback-arrest van 18 juni 2015. De Hoge Raad vraagt in laatstgenoemde zaak of Nederland verplicht is om aan een ingezetene van Duitsland die tijdelijk in Nederland gewerkt heeft en vervolgens naar de Verenigde Staten emigreerde, hypotheekrenteaftrek te verlenen in verband met zijn in Duitsland gelegen woning. De verrassende uitkomst van deze procedure illustreert hoe complex Europees rechtersrecht kan zijn.

HvJ 18 juni 2015, zaak C-9/14, Staatssecretaris van Financiën/D.G. Kieback, ECLI:EU:C:2015:406
Physiology and Molecular Phylogeny of Bacteria Isolated from Alkaline Distillery Lime
Authors: Kalwasińska Agnieszka , Felfoldi Tamas , Walczak Maciej , Kosobucki Przemysław
Published: December 2015

This paper presents the results of the research on the number, taxonomic composition, and biochemical properties of bacterial strains isolated from the alkaline Solvay distillery lime, deposited at the repository in Janikowo (central Poland). Fifteen strains out of 17 were facultative alkaliphiles and moderate halophiles, and two were alkalitolerants and moderate halophiles. The number of aerobic bacteria cultured in alkaline lime was approximately 105 CFU ml-1, and the total number of bacteria was 107 cells g-1. According to 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, nine strains belonged to the genus Bacillus, six to the genus Halomonas, one to the genus Planococcus, and one to the genus Microcella. Strains that hydrolyse starch and protein were the most numerous. Esterase (C4) and esterase lipase (C8) were detected in the majority of bacterial strains. Twelve strains exhibited α-glucosidase activity and nine, naphtol-AS-BI-phosphohydrolase activity. The present study proves that alkaliphilic bacteria of this type may constitute a source of potentially useful extremozymes.
Apollinaire, la rime et le rire. « Ça a l’air de rimer »
Authors: Wahl Philippe
Published: December 2015

Guillaume Apollinaire apparaît comme un passeur entre deux siècles, mais aussi entre deux âges de la poésie. Son lyrisme offre un versant ludique à registres multiples (humour, ironie, comique), qui interroge la relation entre poésie et rire dans le contexte moderniste du jeune xxe siècle, entre tradition de l’esprit fumiste et essor du surréalisme. On propose quelques repères dans son parcours sous l’angle des formes poétiques, et plus particulièrement de la rime, lieu d’élection de l’équivoque. Ses textes manifestent des tensions entre héritage et subversion à travers diverses figures littéraires : la réception contrastée des Parnassiens Banville et Coppée, mais aussi la veine ironique d’Allais et Jarry, qu’Apollinaire oriente vers l’autodérision dans le conte « Le poète assassiné ». Sa création poétique oscille entre « l’Ordre » et « l’Aventure », du souvenir de la rime équivoque au déploiement du calembour comme principe dynamique du vers libre. Le choix des trois pièces poétiques mineures retenues par Breton dans son Anthologie de l’humour noir apporte un éclairage sur l’ambivalence de la postérité d’Apollinaire.
Variación química intrasquelética relacionada a la diagénesis en los restos óseos de c/En Gil (Valencia)
Authors: Gallello Gianni , Scopa Silvia , Kuligowski Julia , Bartoli Fulvio , Malegni Francesco , Pastor Agustín
Published: December 2015

El objetivo de esto estudio ha sido definir una estrategia para una correcta selección de muestras de huesos inhumados (femures y costillas) menos afectados por los procesos diagéneticos, determinado los contenidos de elementos mayoritarios, trazas y REEs. Intentando en este modo  de reconstruir el proceso de transición de los elementos  desde el hueso al depósito tafonómico y viceversa. Una atenta selección de las muestras  es determinante para que los análisis químicos  puedan contribuir correctamente a una reconstrucción de la alimentación, las dinámicas de desplazamiento y las enfermedades de las poblaciones antiguas. Las  muestras analizadas pertenecen a individuos hallados en las necrópolis tardo-antiguas  de c/en Gil  situada en la zona céntrica de la ciudad de Valencia.
Investigating combination HIV prevention: isolated interventions or complex system
Authors: Brown Graham , Reeders Daniel , Dowsett Gary W. , Ellard Jeanne , Carman Marina , Hendry Natalie , Wallace Jack
Published: December 2015

Introduction

Treatment as prevention has mobilized new opportunities in preventing HIV transmission and has led to bold new UNAIDS targets in testing, treatment coverage and transmission reduction. These will require not only an increase in investment but also a deeper understanding of the dynamics of combining behavioural, biomedical and structural HIV prevention interventions. High‐income countries are making substantial investments in combination HIV prevention, but is this investment leading to a deeper understanding of how to combine interventions? The combining of interventions involves complexity, with many strategies interacting with non‐linear and multiplying rather than additive effects.

Discussion

Drawing on a recent scoping study of the published research evidence in HIV prevention in high‐income countries, this paper argues that there is a gap between the evidence currently available and the evidence needed to guide the achieving of these bold targets. The emphasis of HIV prevention intervention research continues to look at one intervention at a time in isolation from its interactions with other interventions, the community and the socio‐political context of their implementation. To understand and evaluate the role of a combination of interventions, we need to understand not only what works, but in what circumstances, what role the parts need to play in their relationship with each other, when the combination needs to adapt and identify emergent effects of any resulting synergies. There is little development of evidence‐based indicators on how interventions in combination should achieve that strategic advantage and synergy. This commentary discusses the implications of this ongoing situation for future research and the required investment in partnership. We suggest that systems science approaches, which are being increasingly applied in other areas of public health, could provide an expanded vocabulary and analytic tools for understanding these complex interactions, relationships and emergent effects.

Conclusions

Relying on the current linear but disconnected approaches to intervention research and evidence we will miss the potential to achieve and understand system‐level synergies. Given the challenges in sustaining public health and HIV prevention investment, meeting the bold UNAIDS targets that have been set is likely to be dependent on achieving systems level synergies.
A vocabulary of ancient peptides at the origin of folded proteins
Authors: Alva Vikram , Söding Johannes , Lupas Andrei N
Published: December 2015

The seemingly limitless diversity of proteins in nature arose from only a few thousand domain prototypes, but the origin of these themselves has remained unclear. We are pursuing the hypothesis that they arose by fusion and accretion from an ancestral set of peptides active as co-factors in RNA-dependent replication and catalysis. Should this be true, contemporary domains may still contain vestiges of such peptides, which could be reconstructed by a comparative approach in the same way in which ancient vocabularies have been reconstructed by the comparative study of modern languages. To test this, we compared domains representative of known folds and identified 40 fragments whose similarity is indicative of common descent, yet which occur in domains currently not thought to be homologous. These fragments are widespread in the most ancient folds and enriched for iron-sulfur- and nucleic acid-binding. We propose that they represent the observable remnants of a primordial RNA-peptide world.
Embryonic attenuated Wnt/β-catenin signaling defines niche location and long-term stem cell fate in hair follicle
Authors: Xu Zijian , Wang Wenjie , Jiang Kaiju , Yu Zhou , Huang Huanwei , Wang Fengchao , Zhou Bin , Chen Ting
Published: December 2015

Long-term adult stem cells sustain tissue regeneration throughout the lifetime of an organism. They were hypothesized to originate from embryonic progenitor cells that acquire long-term self-renewal ability and multipotency at the end of organogenesis. The process through which this is achieved often remains unclear. Here, we discovered that long-term hair follicle stem cells arise from embryonic progenitor cells occupying a niche location that is defined by attenuated Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Hair follicle initiation is marked by placode formation, which depends on the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Soon afterwards, a region with attenuated Wnt/β-catenin signaling emerges in the upper follicle. Embryonic progenitor cells residing in this region gain expression of adult stem cell markers and become definitive long-term hair follicle stem cells at the end of organogenesis. Attenuation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling is a prerequisite for hair follicle stem cell specification because it suppresses Sox9, which is required for stem cell formation.
Protein flexibility is required for vesicle tethering at the Golgi
Authors: Cheung Pak-yan Patricia , Limouse Charles , Mabuchi Hideo , Pfeffer Suzanne R
Published: December 2015

The Golgi is decorated with coiled-coil proteins that may extend long distances to help vesicles find their targets. GCC185 is a trans Golgi-associated protein that captures vesicles inbound from late endosomes. Although predicted to be relatively rigid and highly extended, we show that flexibility in a central region is required for GCC185’s ability to function in a vesicle tethering cycle. Proximity ligation experiments show that that GCC185’s N-and C-termini are within <40 nm of each other on the Golgi. In physiological buffers without fixatives, atomic force microscopy reveals that GCC185 is shorter than predicted, and its flexibility is due to a central bubble that represents local unwinding of specific sequences. Moreover, 85% of the N-termini are splayed, and the splayed N-terminus can capture transport vesicles in vitro. These unexpected features support a model in which GCC185 collapses onto the Golgi surface, perhaps by binding to Rab GTPases, to mediate vesicle tethering.