bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Helping the clinician help me: towards listening in cancer care
Authors: Snowden Austyn , White Craig A , Christie Zara , Murray Esther , McGowan Clare , Scott Rhona
Published: October 2014

Despite global support for the ideal of shared decision making, its enactment remains difficult in practice. The UK charity, Macmillan Cancer Support, attempted to incorporate the principles of shared decision making within a programme of distress management in Scotland. Distress management begins by completing the Distress Thermometer (DT). Although the DT is a screening tool, its function in this programme was extended to facilitate collaborative communication within a consultation. The aim of this grounded theory was to analyse the patient experience of the process. Nineteen people underwent semi-structured interviews focused on their experience of distress management. Participants were a mixed-cancer cohort aged 40–79 years. Findings were discussed in a structured manner with a further 14 service users and carers, and 19 clinical specialists in cancer. Constant comparison of all data revealed that the process of positive distress management could best be explained by reference to the core category: ‘helping the clinician help me’. The emergence of this core category is detailed by situating its development within the iterative nature of the grounded theory method.
Management of patients with actinic keratoses
Authors: Hepplewhite Alison
Published: October 2014

Actinic keratoses (AKs) are precancerous skin lesions that develop on sun-exposed sites, such as the head, neck, hands and lower legs. Clinically, they present as red scaly patches and distribution can range from isolated lesions to extensive disease. This article considers the incidence and aetiology of AKs. The focus of discussion is on relevance to practice, outlining current treatment options and clarifying the support and guidance patients require in order to manage their condition effectively. Overall, the article aims to raise awareness of the condition so that health professionals caring for patients at risk of AK are better equipped to recognise the problem and identify when patients require treatment or referral to a specialist department.
PHMB: an effective antimicrobial in wound bioburden management
Authors: Butcher Martyn
Published: October 2014

The effective management of bacterial bioburden is an essential element of wound care. Recent years have seen the increased use of topical antimicrobial dressings to control colonisation and infection, yet there is concern that some may inhibit wound healing and may have systemic sequelae ( World Union of Wound Healing Societies (WUWHS), 2008 ). This article focuses on the safety and effectiveness of PHMB, an antimicrobial compound that is relatively underused in the UK, and argues that it is an effective option for the management of bacterial colonisation and infection.
Superabsorbent dressings for copiously exuding wounds
Authors: Faucher Nathalie , Safar Helene , Baret Mylène , Philippe Anne , Farid Rachida
Published: October 2014

Exudate control is important in the management of both acute and chronic wounds. A new category of absorbent dressings that contain superabsorbent particles promises high absorbency. The aim of this multicentre, prospective, non-comparative observational study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and absorbent capacity of a superabsorbent dressing. Fifteen inpatients and outpatients with highly exuding wounds were included. Most patients (n=8) (53%) had chronic wounds; 20% (n=3) had ulcerating tumours. The superabsorbent dressing was used as a primary or a secondary dressing. Assessment was on day 0 (start), day 3 and day 7 (end of study). The study looked at wound bed and periwound skin condition, exudate production, pain upon dressing removal, reason for dressing removal, and frequency of dressing changes. A clinical visual scoring tool was used, together with digital photographs, which were assessed by the same experienced clinician. All 15 patients completed the study, during which no adverse events were noted. At day 7, maceration had reduced from 46.7% (n=7) at day 0 to 6.7% (n=1). After only 3 days, dressing change frequency was reduced from once daily to twice weekly in 80% (n=12) of patients. The superabsorbent dressing seems to reduce complications associated with exudate production, stimulate wound healing and increase patient comfort; it may also save time and costs for caregivers.
Prevention of bilateral amputation in a non-concordant patient
Authors: King Jeanette
Published: October 2014

As chronic wounds, venous leg ulcers (VLUs) are costly and impact significantly on a patient's quality of life. This case study focuses on the key considerations for wound management of bilateral venous leg ulcers in a 45-year-old mother who had undergone multiple admissions with sepsis secondary to the ulcers and whose life was considered at risk. The primary concern was to stabilise the patient, and then to determine the aetiology of the leg ulcers and develop a treatment plan. Kerraboot (Crawford Healthcare) was chosen to dress the wound initially as it is relatively quick and easy to apply while being atraumatic, manages exudate and facilitates autolytic debridement ( Harvey, 2006 ). After 12 days debridement was complete and granulation tissue was observed to the skin surface level. At this time, the patient's condition had stabilised and the wound aetiology could then be determined. The ulcers were confirmed as venous and were subsequently managed with compression bandaging. They continued to heal, reducing in size by 60% after a further 3 months. By agreeing a highly individualised wound treatment plan with the patient that was tailored to both her needs and those of the wound, and by continually reviewing and revising this plan, bilateral amputation was avoided in this previously non-concordant patient.
Reducing upper extremity deep vein thrombosis when inserting PICCs
Authors: Brewer Carol
Published: October 2014

While peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) provide a positive contribution in the delivery of intravenous therapies, complications following insertion can occur. One of the more common of these is upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT). Several elements of insertion are contributory factors. Research has been undertaken on patient assessment, catheter materials and size, insertion site, tip position and ultrasound placement, as well as on the value of anticoagulants. The resulting evidence informs opinion and shapes clinical practice. Inserting clinicians and advance-level nurses have a responsibility to reduce the incidence of UEDVT and improve outcomes following PICC insertion.
Zero central-line infections in a 550-bedded district general hospital
Authors: Jackson Andrew , Cooper Sarah
Published: October 2014

The dominance of central-line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) prevention has become a powerful far-reaching endeavour in recent years. Surveillance is well established as an infection ‘occurrence’ reporting mechanism. Unfortunately, surveillance is rarely described in the literature as a component of CLABSl prevention. This changed in 2009 following the introduction of a preventative CLABSI surveillance initiative. Upon completion of the 2011 period of surveillance, the authors were able to demonstrate the insertion of 1012 catheters, which equalled 7522 line days and a 12-month period of zero CLABSI.
A curriculum to ensure nursing staff competency
Authors: Maylor Miles E
Published: October 2014

Nurses and healthcare assistants (HCAs) involved in tissue viability are expected to be competent, but there is little agreement over how to define competence or the expertise required by people filling different roles. Most training in England is provided in house by tissue viability nurses or interested non-specialists; England is lagging behind Scotland and Wales in terms of learning materials and other resources. Staff members at a strategic health authority were surveyed so a consensus could be reached over a basic curriculum for tissue viability and the competence expected of nurses and HCAs at different levels of seniority. Respondents agreed that five topics should be covered by both nurses and HCAs: wound healing; leg ulceration; pressure ulceration; diabetic foot; and skin care. Levels of expertise and competence would depend on seniority. The curriculum provides a checklist that local tissue viability nurses can use as a basis for training colleagues. Trusts and educational providers should set a curriculum for tissue viability and standards of competence.
Quality of life after ileo-anal pouch formation: patient perceptions
Authors: Perrin Angie
Published: October 2014

This article describes a qualitative study, exploring the experiences of six individuals who have undergone an ileo-anal pouch formation and their subsequent lifestyle after this reconstructive surgical procedure. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether individuals who had an ileo-anal pouch believed themselves to have a good quality of life and a lifestyle that was not compromised as a result of surgery. The themes that emerged through the interviews were common to several participants and reflected their life, the decisions they were required to make and the resources available in order for them to do so. The outcome of this study, using a phenomenological approach, highlights that some individuals restrict their lifestyle, while others do not and are prepared to live with the consequences. The literature overwhelmingly concludes that the ileo-anal pouch procedure is a safe and efficient procedure with high patient satisfaction and good functional outcome, which should be recommended as a long-term option for ulcerative colitis and familial adenomatous polyposis sufferers. However, some patients curtail their lifestyle by restricting diet, altering meal patterns and minimising social activities to maintain day-to-day living with an ileo-anal pouch.
What we know now: pouch surgery 40 years on
Authors: Williams Julia
Published: October 2014

For many patients, ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (also called ileo-anal pouch surgery) not only eradicates disease but also preserves the anal sphincter, enabling the patient to defecate in the normal way. Pouch surgery is approaching 40 years and within this time has become the ‘gold standard’ in surgical management for ulcerative colitis and familial adeomatous polyposis. Much of the research over the years has explored surgical techniques and pouch function, failure and satisfaction, as well as long-term follow-up; however, some pouch problems continue to be a mystery. This short article aims to bring us up to date with what we know now that might have been beneficial to know then.
Dietary advice for patients with a stoma
Authors: Cronin Elaine
Published: October 2014

In the enormity of stomal surgery, dietary advice for patients is key to rehabilitation. Yet it is too often overlooked (Porrett and Joels, 1996) and patients are given conflicting advice. These patients desperately want to do what is right. They want to recover, get well and go home. They are therefore happy to follow instructions, but need to understand the rationale for them. The author believes that dietary advice is invaluable and should be offered to all new stoma patients. She also believes that, if dietary advice is presented before and after surgery, in a clear and concise manner, it will equip patients for life with their stoma. Having knowledge brings power and patients are emplowered with a good knowledge base. The formation of a stoma disrupts the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and alters its reabsorptive process, not to mention its flow. Initially, having a stoma is daunting and, for the vast majority of patients, terrifying. Patients need advice from ward or stoma nurses that will give them the confidence to make independent food choices. This, however, takes time, patience and lots of reiteration. Both verbal and written information are helpful. This article sets out to provide an understanding of ostomists’ dietary needs to allow healthcare professionals to provide information with confidence, as and when required.
Caring for vulnerable ostomists: learning disabilities and stoma care
Authors: Parker Michaela
Published: October 2014

It is without doubt that people with learning difficulties are considered vulnerable and meeting the healthcare needs of this group in society is now recognised as a challenging task. This case study examines the implications of life with a stoma for one particular man with learning difficulties and reflects on the key issues that have influenced his care: stigma and isolation, general healthcare needs for people with learning disabilities and the association with stoma care, and the provision of care and whose role it is. Key findings include inconsistencies between primary, secondary and social care, resulting in lack of integration and flexibility in provision of care; lack of responsibility for care, with a ‘pass the buck’ response; lack of knowledge about stoma care in most care settings; and, as a stoma care nurse, the importance of personal instinct, along with persistence in advocating appropriate levels of care for vulnerable ostomists.
Renal cell cancer: nurses' role in prevention and management
Authors: Noble Helen , Page Karen
Published: October 2014

In both the UK and throughout Europe, more patients are presenting with renal cell cancer (RCC), also known as renal cell carcinoma or kidney cancer. The overall survival rate varies depending on tumour grade, nodal involvement and metastasis. For those with metastasis survival drops to 10%. This article explores the risk factors associated with RCC diagnosis and staging, treatments including drugs and procedures and the role of the nurse in diagnosis and accurate assessment. Nurses are ideally suited to consider the physical, functional, social, and emotional status of their patients In addition, it is essential that the nurse has an understanding of new pharmaceutical therapies, which have been licensed to treat RCC, and a sound knowledge of the possible side effects and nursing management associated with these drugs.
Prostate cancer overview. Part 2: metastatic prostate cancer
Authors: Drudge-Coates Lawrence , Turner Bruce
Published: October 2014

Advances in diagnosis mean that prostate cancer can be detected in the early stages, when options such as surgery and radiotherapy offer curative approaches and active surveillance is appropriate. However, advanced or metastatic disease continues to challenge medical management, which offers only palliative approaches. With such a prognosis, effective treatment of metastatic and metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) is an important element of the management of these patients. The second article of this two-part series focuses on the main management approaches, emerging therapies and nursing roles.
Super-absorbent dressings: how do they perform in vitro?
Authors: Cutting Keith F , Westgate Samantha J
Published: October 2014

The free swell and absorption capacity under compression of six wound dressings that are indicated for moderately to highly exuding wounds was investigated. Measuring in vitro the absorptive capacity and retention under compression is important in terms of clinical efficacy and efficiency. This in vitro comparative study demonstrated that sorbion sachet EXTRA had the highest free swell capacity of the six test dressings and absorbed more than twice the volume (126%) of the test solution than its nearest competitor. When measuring capacity under compression, sorbion sachet EXTRA absorbed 88% more fluid than the nearest competitor.
Reducing avoidable pressure ulcers: an online clinical ordering system
Authors: Acton Claire
Published: October 2014

Healthcare practitioners face diverse challenges presented by an ageing population, reducing funds, public demand for better health care, and a zero tolerance to avoidable healthcare-acquired injuries, such as pressure ulcers. To support the reduction in avoidable pressure ulcers European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel and National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines recommend patient repositioning, the provision of either an active or reactive pressure-redistributing support surface and, for some, complete and permanent off-loading of the tissue.

Guys and St Thomas's NHS Foundation Trust recognised that an evidence-based prevention strategy was required to reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers in line with the Harm Free Care initiative. As part of the prevention strategy, eTRACE was implemented, an online clinical ordering system that uses the patients' clinical risk assessment in conjunction with the Trust's clinical protocols to recommend appropriate equipment selection. Additionally the system supports the organisational and national reporting/management requirements.

This article will review the clinical and economic evidence to support the introduction of eTRACE and how this system has contributed to the Trust's agenda in reducing avoidable pressure ulcers.
The importance of transcultural nursing in cancer care
Authors: Lo Yvonne
Published: October 2014

All patients around the time of cancer diagnosis are emotionally vulnerable. This sense of anxiety is further heightened for patients who are not fully integrated into the society in which they are receiving care because of the cultural shock and language barriers they may face. This article explores the author's experience of caring for a patient from China who was studying in the UK and was admitted with acute promyelocytic leukaemia. The patient had a limited grasp of English and was used to very different cultural norms. Bridging the cultural gap as outlined by Narayanasamy in the ACCESS model (2002) enabled the author to provide the important holistic nursing care that could be easily overlooked in these situations. There is a need for nurses to actively seek to understand cultural differences and take the opportunity to experience transcultural nursing.
Enhanced recovery after surgery: benefits for the stoma care patient
Authors: Burch Jennie , Slater Rebecca
Published: October 2014

Enhanced recovery can be seen as the use of evidence and research that when used for patients undergoing stoma–forming surgery (and other surgery) leads to a better recovery ( Lassen et al, 2009 ; Ahmed et al, 2010 ). Moving patients towards adopting an opinion that ‘up and mobile’ immediately after surgery is the pathway to success, and is an essential element in implementing enhanced recovery after surgery. It can lead to several clinical benefits, including fewer complications (e.g. infection) and a shorter length of time in hospital ( Faiz et al, 2008 ). While having a shorter length of stay is positive, it does result in less time being available to the ostomate (person with a stoma) to become proficient with their stoma care. Changes need to be made to nursing services to encompass this new challenge; for example, the use of preoperative training tools. These changes can result in satisfied ostomates ( Bryan and Dukes, 2010 ) who have fewer post-discharge problems with their stoma. This article outlines the concept of enhanced recovery after surgery and its benefits for patients with a stoma.
A comparison between intravenous and subcutaneous immunogobulin
Authors: Braine Mary E , Woodall Amanda
Published: October 2014

Multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) is a rare immune-mediated disease that presents with predominantly distal motor weakness in one or more limbs without sensory loss. Symptoms may give rise to functional impairment and consequently may affect quality of life. High-dose intravenous immunoglobulin's therapy (IVIg) is the current mainstay treatment, however, subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIg) is emerging as a viable alternative. The purpose of this study was to explore the patients' experience of SCIg and ascertain if those receiving it had an improved quality of life and treatment satisfaction compared to those receiving IVIg. Using a mixed method approach this paper will present its findings and key implications for clinical and research practice are considered. The results from this study suggest that home SCIg therapy may prove a more desirable treatment option than IVIg for a proportion of MMN patients.
Patterns in Orthoptera biodiversity. II. The cultural dimension
Authors: Bidau Claudio J.
Published: October 2014

The relationship between orthopterans and humanity has multiple faces. They are excellent subjects of research in all areas of biology, but they may be from a mild nuisance to formidable enemies as in the case of plague locusts. However, many species have been since long ago, providers of aesthetic pleasure, nutrition and folk medicine practices. In this review, I explore three subjects that fall within the fields of ethnoentomology and cultural entomology namely, the use of orthopterans as food, their medicinal utilisation, and their role as pets and entertainment.
Separation and Enhanced Detection of Anesthetic Compounds Using Solid Phase Micro-Extraction (SPME)–Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: Nwaneshiudu Ikechukwu C. , Nwaneshiudu Chinwe A. , Schwartz Daniel T.
Published: October 2014

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) was used along with Raman spectroscopy (RS) to separate and enhance the detection of five anesthetic compounds (halothane, propofol, isoflurane, enflurane, and etomidate) from aqueous and serum phases. Raman signals in the spectral ranges 250–450 cm−1 and 950–1050 cm−1 allowed the unique characterization of all five compounds when extracted into the PDMS phase. The SPME-RS detection of clinically relevant concentrations of aqueous propofol (6.5 μM) and halothane (200 μM) is shown. We quantify the partition coefficient for aqueous halothane in PDMS as log K = 1.9 ± 0.2. Solid-phase micro-extraction of the anesthetics makes their detection possible without the strong autofluorescent interference of serum proteins. Because of low solubility and/or weak Raman scattering, we found it challenging to detect enflurane, isoflurane, and etomidate directly from the aqueous phase, but could we do so with SPME enhancement. These studies show the potential of SPME-RS as a method for the direct detection of anesthetics in blood.
Enhanced Performance from a Hybrid Quenchometric Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) Silica Xerogel Gaseous Oxygen Sensing Platform
Authors: Zhou Bin , Liu Ke , Liu Xin , Yung Ka Yi , Bartsch Carrie M. , Heckman Emily M. , Bright Frank V. , Swihart Mark T. , Cartwright Alexander N.
Published: October 2014

A complex of salmon milt deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium (CTMA) forms an organic-soluble biomaterial that can be readily incorporated within an organically modified silane-based xerogel. The photoluminescence (PL) intensity and excited-state luminescence lifetime of tris(4,7′-diphenyl-1, 10′-phenanathroline) ruthenium(II) [(Ru(dpp)3]2+, a common O2 responsive luminophore, increases in the presence of DNA-CTMA within the xerogel. The increase in the [Ru(dpp)3]2+ excited-state lifetime in the presence of DNA-CTMA arises from DNA intercalation that attenuates one or more non-radiative processes, leading to an increase in the [Ru(dpp)3]2+ excited-state lifetime. Prospects for the use of these materials in an oxygen sensor are demonstrated.
Quantitative Tradeoffs between Spatial, Temporal, and Thermometric Resolution of Nonresonant Raman Thermometry for Dynamic Experiments
Authors: McGrane Shawn D. , Moore David S. , Goodwin Peter M. , Dattelbaum Dana M.
Published: October 2014

The ratio of Stokes to anti-Stokes nonresonant spontaneous Raman can provide an in situ thermometer that is noncontact, independent of any material specific parameters or calibrations, can be multiplexed spatially with line imaging, and can be time resolved for dynamic measurements. However, spontaneous Raman cross sections are very small, and thermometric measurements are often limited by the amount of laser energy that can be applied without damaging the sample or changing its temperature appreciably. In this paper, we quantitatively detail the tradeoff space between spatial, temporal, and thermometric accuracy measurable with spontaneous Raman. Theoretical estimates are pinned to experimental measurements to form realistic expectations of the resolution tradeoffs appropriate to various experiments. We consider the effects of signal to noise, collection efficiency, laser heating, pulsed laser ablation, and blackbody emission as limiting factors, provide formulae to help choose optimal conditions and provide estimates relevant to planning experiments along with concrete examples for single-shot measurements.
Laser-Induced Fluorescence Detection of Hot Molecular Oxygen in Flames Using an Alexandrite Laser
Authors: Kiefer Johannes , Zhou Bo , Zetterberg Johan , Li Zhongshan , Alden Marcus
Published: October 2014

The use of an alexandrite laser for laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy and imaging of molecular oxygen in thermally excited vibrational states is demonstrated. The laser radiation after the third harmonic generation was used to excite the B–X (0-7) band at 257 nm in the Schumann–Runge system of oxygen. LIF emission was detected between 270 and 380 nm, revealing distinct bands of the transitions from B(0) to highly excited vibrational states in the electronic ground state, X ( v > 7). At higher spectral resolution, these bands reveal the common P- and R-branch line splitting. Eventually, the proposed LIF approach was used for single-shot imaging of the two-dimensional distribution of hot oxygen molecules in flames.
Raman Spectroscopy of Soft Musculoskeletal Tissues
Authors: Esmonde-White Karen
Published: October 2014

Tendon, ligament, and joint tissues are important in maintaining daily function. They can be affected by disease, age, and injury. Slow tissue turnover, hierarchical structure and function, and nonlinear mechanical properties present challenges to diagnosing and treating soft musculoskeletal tissues. Understanding these tissues in health, disease, and injury is important to improving pharmacologic and surgical repair outcomes. Raman spectroscopy is an important tool in the examination of soft musculoskeletal tissues. This article highlights exciting basic science and clinical/translational Raman studies of cartilage, tendon, and ligament.
The Role of Colony Size on Tunnel Branching Morphogenesis in Ant Nests
Authors: Gautrais Jacques , Buhl Camille , Valverde Sergi , Kuntz Pascale , Theraulaz Guy
Published: October 2014

Many ant species excavate nests that are made up of chambers and interconnecting tunnels. There is a general trend of an increase in nest complexity with increasing population size. This complexity reflects a higher ramification and anastomosis of tunnels that can be estimated by the meshedness coefficient of the tunnelling networks. It has long been observed that meshedness increases with colony size within and across species, but no explanation has been provided so far. Since colony size is a strong factor controlling collective digging, a high value of the meshedness could simply be a side effect of a larger number of workers. To test this hypothesis, we study the digging dynamics in different group size of ants Messor sancta. We build a model of collective digging that is calibrated from the experimental data. Model's predictions successfully reproduce the topological properties of tunnelling networks observed in experiments, including the increase of the meshedness with group size. We then use the model to investigate situations in which collective digging progresses outward from a centre corresponding to the way tunnelling behaviour occurs in field conditions. Our model predicts that, when all other parameters are kept constant, an increase of the number of workers leads to a higher value of the meshedness and a transition from tree-like structures to highly meshed networks. Therefore we conclude that colony size is a key factor determining tunnelling network complexity in ant colonies.
The delivery of recreation programs: Students gain entry level management skills through service learning
Authors: Zimmermann Jo An M , Dupree Jessica , Hodges Jan S
Published: October 2014

Service learning is a well-established pedagogy within higher education. Specifically, service learning allows students to engage in 'real world' activitites to practice skills and reflect upon their own competence. To enhance the effectiveness of service learning, instructors need to consider a multitude of learning influences. This study adhered to the tenants of the Social Cognitive Theory (Bandura, 1986; Schunk, 2004) to engage students in service learning activities related to entry level administrative competencies. Data analysis included a content analysis of reflection papers to determine how many times competencies expected of entry level recreation professionals were mentioned. Students percieved the acquisition of competencies consistent with entry level competencies identified within the recreation industry. Results contribute to the development of effective assignments to facilitate the acquisition of desired professional competencies.
Challenging, eye-opening, and changing. U.S. teacher training in Korea: Creating experiences that will enhance global perspectives
Authors: Oh Kevin , Nussli Natalie
Published: October 2014

This case study explored the short-term international experience of pre-service teachers to create and enhance global perspectives. These teachers (n=5), all female graduate students at a university in the U.S., were fully immersed in a foreign culture for three weeks while teaching English to primary and secondary students in Korea. Pre-, during-, and post-data were collected to investigate how the participants work and live while being completely immersed in a new culture. Eight themes emerged from the analysis of multiple qualitative instruments: (a) language barrier, (b) being the minority, (c) cultural differences and cultural shock, (d) student participation and teaching methods, (e) classroom management, (f) underestimation of English language learners, (g) finding confidence as a teacher and instructional flexibility, and (h) support systems. Overall, teachers expressed a transformation in both their teaching philosophy and cultural perspectives despite the short duration of the experience. They also reported that this linguistic and cultural immersion not only advanced their global perspective but also provided them with the necessary tools and understanding to work with diverse populations more emphatically and effectively. The findings suggest that additional teacher training is needed to increase pre-service teachers’ cultural competence and responsiveness to better address the needs of today’s diverse student populations.
Alliances and Contestations in the Legal Production of Space: The Case of Bali
Authors: Wardana Agung
Published: October 2014

The controversy over the provincial spatial planning regulation for Bali Province reflects the dynamic of Balinese society in the era of regional autonomy. The dynamic is polarised between expanding the tourism and real estate industry for economic reasons and constraining such expansion for the sake of protecting Bali’s environment and culture. Thus, the law governing space becomes an essential means to intervene in crafting the relations between competing interests over space. The application of the law itself is also complicated by the condition of legal pluralism which provides different and sometimes conflicting sources of legality to be used to justify the interests of legal actors. This article aims at highlighting how space is produced in a pluralistic legal setting and examining whose interests are served by the condition of legal pluralism in contemporary Bali. Employing socio-legal methods with Lefebvre’s conception of space and legal pluralism as an integrating analytical framework, the article contributes to the literature on spatial planning law in Indonesia that is dominated by “legal centralism” and a given notion of space.
Preparation of water-dispersive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) conductive nanoparticles in lignosulfonic acid solution
Authors: Deng Yonghong , Li Zhuoxi , Qiu Xueqing , Zhao Dacheng
Published: October 2014

Lignosulfonic acid (LS) has been applied both as dispersant and dopant for chemical polymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT). EDOT is successfully polymerized in LS aqueous solutions, resulting in a water-dispersive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) conductive nanoparticle (PEDOT:LS). The structure, intermolecular interaction, and performance of the PEDOT:LS were investigated by ultraviolet-visible-Near-infrared spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and surface resistivity tester. Results were interpreted in a way that PEDOT:LS is a polyelectrolyte complex, in which the highly hydrophobic PEDOT is in the inner part of the particle and the LS-rich layer with high hydrophilicity is on its surface. During oxidizing reaction of EDOT to PEDOT in LS, the water-insoluble PEDOT product is adsorbed on the surface of water-soluble LS by electrostatic attraction and forms PEDOT:LS polyelectrolyte complexes. In this process, excess LS is needed to be adsorbed on the surface of PEDOT:LS complexes. The process is driven by π-π interaction to increase the water solubility and contributes to a continuous polymerization. The PEDOT:LS as coating has a good conductivity, transparency, humidity resistance, water resistance, and thermal stability and can be used as high-performance antistatic agents.
Covariate adjusted differential variability analysis of DNA methylation with propensity score method
Authors: Kuan Pei Fen
Published: October 2014

It has been proposed recently that differentially variable CpG methylation (DVC) may contribute to transcriptional aberrations in human diseases. In large scale epigenetic studies, potential confounders could affect the observed methylation variabilities and need to be accounted for. In this paper, we develop a robust statistical model for differential variability DVC analysis that accounts for potential confounding covariates by utilizing the propensity score method. Our method is based on a weighted score test on strata generated propensity score stratification. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first proposed statistical method for detecting DVCs that adjusts for confounding covariates. We show that this method is robust against model misspecification and achieves good operating characteristics based on extensive simulations and a case study.
Estimating point and density forecasts for the US economy with a factor-augmented vector autoregressive DSGE model
Authors: Bekiros Stelios , Paccagnini Alessia
Published: October 2014

Although policymakers and practitioners are particularly interested in dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) models, these are typically too stylized to be applied directly to the data and often yield weak prediction results. Very recently, hybrid DSGE models have become popular for dealing with some of the model misspecifications. Major advances in estimation methodology could allow these models to outperform well-known time series models and effectively deal with more complex real-world problems as richer sources of data become available. In this study we introduce a Bayesian approach to estimate a novel factor augmented DSGE model that extends the model of Consolo et al. [Consolo, A., Favero, C.A., and Paccagnini, A., 2009. On the Statistical Identification of DSGE Models. Journal of Econometrics, 150, 99–115]. We perform a comparative predictive evaluation of point and density forecasts for many different specifications of estimated DSGE models and various classes of VAR models, using datasets from the US economy including real-time data. Simple and hybrid DSGE models are implemented, such as DSGE-VAR and tested against standard, Bayesian and factor augmented VARs. The results can be useful for macro-forecasting and monetary policy analysis.
Aeschylus’ scholia and the hypomnematic tradition: an investigation
Authors: Ercoles Marco
Published: October 2014

Even if no ancient commentaries on Aeschylus are preserved, there is evidence that they did exist: this is collected and discussed in the first part of this work. Particularly interesting is the possibility of a Late Antique
Evidence for Stabilizing Selection on Codon Usage in Chromosomal Rearrangements ofDrosophila pseudoobscura
Authors: Fuller Zachary L , Haynes Gwilym D , Zhu Dianhui , Batterton Matthew , Chao Hsu , Dugan Shannon , Javaid Mehwish , Jayaseelan Joy C , Lee Sandra , Li Mingmei , Ongeri Fiona , Qi Sulan , Han Yi , Doddapaneni Harshavardhan , Richards Stephen , Schaeffer Stephen W
Published: October 2014

There has been a renewed interest in investigating the role of stabilizing selection acting on genome-wide traits such as codon usage bias. Codon bias, when synonymous codons are used at unequal frequencies, occurs in a wide variety of taxa. Standard evolutionary models explain the maintenance of codon bias through a balance of genetic drift, mutation and weak purifying selection. The efficacy of selection is expected to be reduced in regions of suppressed recombination. Contrary to observations in Drosophila melanogaster, some recent studies have failed to detect a relationship between the recombination rate, intensity of selection acting at synonymous sites, and the magnitude of codon bias as predicted under these standard models. Here, we examined codon bias in 2798 protein coding loci on the third chromosome of D. pseudoobscura using whole-genome sequences of 47 individuals, representing five common third chromosome gene arrangements. Fine-scale recombination maps were constructed using more than 1 million segregating sites. As expected, recombination was demonstrated to be significantly suppressed between chromosome arrangements, allowing for a direct examination of the relationship between recombination, selection, and codon bias. As with other Drosophila species, we observe a strong mutational bias away from the most frequently used codons. We find the rate of synonymous and nonsynonymous polymorphism is variable between different amino acids. However, we do not observe a reduction in codon bias or the strength of selection in regions of suppressed recombination as expected. Instead, we find that the interaction between weak stabilizing selection and mutational bias likely plays a role in shaping the composition of synonymous codons across the third chromosome in D. pseudoobscura.
Early and late mortality and morbidity of elective infrarenal aortic aneurysm repair
Authors: Kovács Hanga , Fehérvári Mátyás , Forgó Bianka , Gősi Gergely , Oláh Zoltán , Csobay-Novák Csaba , Entz László , Szeberin Zoltán
Published: October 2014

Bevezetés/célkitűzés:Az electiv infrarenalis aortaaneurysma (AAA) nyitott műtétje nagy betegforgalmú centrumban alacsony mortalitású, de megterhelő műtét. A stentgraftbeültetés jelentős előnyöket jelenthet a betegek számára. Célunk annak eldöntése volt, hogy eddigi eredményeink alátámasztják-e a stentgraft-implantatio arany standarddá válását.Anyag és módszerek:Egy centrumban végzett retrospektív tanulmány során elemeztük a betegek korai és késői halálozását és szövődményeit.Eredmények:2007–2012 között 431 betegnél végeztünk electiv nyitott műtétet és 59 betegnél stentgraftbeültetést AAA miatt. A korai mortalitás mindkét csoportban 2% alatti, az összes egyéb szövődmény előfordulása a nyitott csoportban 14,4%, a stentgraftos csoportban 11,9% volt. Az intraoperativ vérvesztés és a vérkészítményigény gyakorisága nagyobb, a műtéti idő hosszabb volt a nyitott műtétes csoportban (p< 0,001). Az átlagos utánkövetési idő 37 ± 22 hónap volt. A késői halálozás, a stroke, az acut myocardialis infarctus aránya a vizsgált csoportokban szignifikánsan nem különbözött. A nyitott technikával kezelt betegek 16%-ánál alakult ki később hegsérv (stentgraftcsoport: 0), a stentgraftcsoportban több volt az újabb érműtét (16,2% vs. 6,2%;p= 0,0327).Következtetések:Vizsgálatunkban a korai és késői halálozás mértéke megegyezett, a korai postoperativ szövődmények nem mutattak szignifikáns különbséget a két csoportban. A felhasznált vérkészítmények mennyisége, a postoperativ sérvek és a későbbi intervenciók száma szignifikánsan különbözött. Eredményeink alapján főként a nagy kockázatú betegekben indokolt jelenleg a stentgraftbeültetés. A nyitott műtétben jártas, így alacsony mortalitást elérő centrumokban a fiatalabb, kis kockázatú betegeknél a nyitott aortaműtét továbbra is ajánlható.
The Ends of Tragedy: Schelling, Hegel, and Oedipus
Authors: Goldhill Simon
Published: October 2014

This article compares and contrasts how the texts of Greek tragedy thematize ending and how German idealism, especially Hegel and Schelling, constructed a theory of ending in relation to Greek tragedy. In particular, through Hegel's and Schelling's paradigmatic readings of Oedipus, the article demonstrates a deep-seated commitment to a Protestant Christian teleology that continues, unrecognized, to influence modern readings of Greek tragedy.
Distracting Othello: Tragedy and the Rise of Magic
Authors: Hedrick Donald
Published: October 2014

Accompanying Keith Thomas's account of its defeat by scientific rationality, supernatural magic, which I designate magic1, receives scholarly attention denied the stigmatized magic2—stage magic and the “gulling” practices popularized by Tondon's con artists and pickpockets, who exploited distraction through sleights of hand, body, language, and thought. AsOthello'sparatheatrical “entertainment unconscious,” competing and collaborating with theater, magic2informs the play's sensationalism, gull's gallery, source-tale revisions, and transformation of much traditional tragedy into a genre less about epistemology than about perception. Practicing early modern magicians' fundamentals—conveyance (legerdemain, misdirection) and confederacy—and exposing his own tricks, the entertainer-villain Iago's tactics and handkerchief prop illuminate phenomena such as “inattentional blindness,” important for cognitive psychology, philosophy, neuroscience, and performance. His “helpmeet” wife and apprentice Emilia emulates his misdirecting visual and conversational skills, until their team, echoing a celebrity magician-and-animal partnership, finally implodes. Situated between Montaigne's and Adorno's views on distraction,Othellotransforms wonder from tragic affect into the capitalist distraction pleasure of a discursive entertainment revolution. Its hero-dupe himself adopts magic2technology for a spectacular suicide—arguably the suicide of tragedy's tradition.
Milton and the Tragedy of Nations
Authors: Gregerson Linda
Published: October 2014

Milton's one venture into the genre of tragedy,Samson Agonistes, has prompted a notoriously divided reception among modern critics, not least because it revives the topos of exemplary violence, which the poet had conspicuously rejected inParadise LostandParadise Regained.I propose we consider the underlying Samson plot not simply as the triumph or tragedy of a chosen nation and its representative hero but as the tragic collision between a universalizing faith and a nation's claims to exceptionality. Even after the devastating collapse of England's republican experiment, Milton never wavered in his commitment to the communal as well as the private manifestations of faith. The nation, or a nation equivalent, was an indispensable vehicle for continuing Reform, but the conceptual parameters of that nation, its relation to geographic place, and its rights in relation to other nations and to faiths other than its own posed a foundational dilemma for Milton's dramatic poem.
The Unaccountable Pleasure of Eighteenth-Century Tragedy
Authors: Nussbaum Felicity A.
Published: October 2014

Scholars have been quick to dismiss Georgian tragedy as mere rant and have thus failed to examine why tragic plays were regularly staged in the eighteenth century. This essay explores the “unaccountable pleasure,” in David Hume's words, that spectators of the genre experienced. Hume compared the feeling of witnessing a tragedy to the sweet misery of watching high-stakes gamblers risk their fortunes. Part of the attraction derived from star actresses who performed the mixed genre of tragedy topped off with a comic epilogue in plays such as Edward Moore'sThe Gamester, George Lillo'sThe London Merchant, and David Garrick'sThe Fatal Marriage.This essay argues that eighteenth-century tragedies portray the struggles of a genre caught between a world ruled by poetic justice and one flung about by uncontrollable economic powers. Further, in its democratization of grievable subjects and its metatheatrical relation to the tragic, Georgian tragedy anticipates modern developments of the genre.
To Fall from High or Low Estate? Tragedy and Social Class in Historical Perspective
Authors: Hall Edith
Published: October 2014

In a famous essay, the agnostic bertrand russell hailed tragedy as the highest instantiation of human freedom. tragedy results from human beings' persistence in the conscious, imaginative representation of the plight of humanity in the inhumane universe. Tragedy “builds its shining citadel in the very centre of the enemy's country, on the very summit of his highest mountain; … within its walls the free life continues, while the legions of Death and Pain and Despair, and all the servile captains of tyrant Fate, afford the burghers of that dauntless city new spectacles of beauty” (53-54). Russell's “servile captains of tyrant Fate” are the instruments by which metaphysical compulsion tortures humans—Death and Pain and Despair. Man, instead of allowing himself to be terrorized as “the slave of Fate,” creates tragedy “to preserve a mind free from the wanton tyranny that rules his outward life” (57). By transforming the human condition into tragic art, humans create their own world of resistance, in which they can be the truly free “burghers” of a dauntless new city-state of the mind.
Tragedy and Temporality
Authors: Bushnell Rebecca
Published: October 2014

For many commentators on tragic temporality, tragic time is the “now,” binding the characters—the actors of the catastrophe—in the anxiety and horror of a blinding present moment. As Northrop Frye observed in hisFools of Time, “The basis of the tragic vision is being in time, the sense of the one-directional quality of life, where everything happens once and for all, where every act brings unavoidable and fateful consequences, and where all experience vanishes, not simply into the past, but into nothingness, annihilation” (3). In performance, in particular, that presentness feels relentless: as Stanley Cavell writes, tragic performance “demands a continuous attention to what is happening at each here and now, as if everything of significance is happening at this moment, while each thing that happens turns a leaf of time” (93). This sense of the present mimics our everyday sense of how we live in this world: in David Kastan's words, “Tragic time is, then, the experiential time of human life—a time, that like life itself to which it is inextricably tied, is directional, irreversible, and finite” (80).