bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Revolution and the art of history in France: Daniel Auber’s Gustave III (1833)
Authors: Pottinger Mark
Published: September 2012

Following the July Revolution of 1830, French history writing began to reflect a new personal perspective that allowed many to identify with the earlier revolution of 1789. This immediate association with the past allowed individuals to connect with history in ways that reflected themselves as well as the new political and cultural horizon. French grand opéra represented this desire for historical knowledge by displaying a dramatic narrative akin to the writings of French academic historian Jules Michelet (1798–1874). Through the analysis of the music and libretto of Daniel Auber’s Gustave III (1833) it is shown that the historical narrative found within this so-called’ opéra historique’ embraces the same historiographic narrative of revolution as found in the writings of Michelet. Such an investigation highlights the aesthetic and cultural importance of grand opéra in France as well as the genre’s relationship to national identity in the first half of the nineteenth century.
Georges Bizet’s Carmen and Fin-de-Siècle Spanish national opera
Authors: Christoforidis Michael
Published: September 2012

At the end of the 19th century, Georges Bizet’s Carmen was the most performed opera with a Spanish theme in the Iberian peninsula. It had made its breakthrough into the Spanish repertoire in the late 1880s, just as debates over the state and future of Spanish opera had intensified and were tied to emerging questions of national identity. In a period when full-length Spanish works (zarzuela grande and opera) were struggling to maintain a foothold in the repertoire, Carmen received numerous operatic productions and several adaptations into the Spanish lyric genre of the zarzuela, accelerating the process of acculturation of Bizet’s opera.The main ideologues of Spanish national opera, Felipe Pedrell, Antonio Peña y Goní and Tomás Bretón all engaged critically with Bizet’s “infamous espagnolade,” and it formed the backdrop to a wave of Spanish nationalist operas, from Bretón’s La Dolores (1895) to Manuel de Falla’s La vida breve (1905). This paper will explore the multi-faceted impact of Bizet’s Carmen in shaping the discourses of Spanish national opera, and its stylistic impact upon the new repertory of Spanish operas that were created at the turn of the 20th century.
„The Wealth of the Nations“. Die Stockholmer Oper und die Entwicklung einer nationalen Identität in Schweden
Authors: Ander Owe
Published: September 2012

The changes the Swedish state and the concept of the nation went through during the period 1770–1920 influenced in a number of ways the organization and functioning of the Stockholm Opera. From its beginnings in the 1770s, the Opera rapidly developed into being one of the country’s biggest enterprises. It came to have a long-lasting national importance, and to enjoy a broad social and political support. Political discussions about the Stockholm Opera during the 19th century were characterized by changes of opinion from liberal views favouring its self-financing and privatization, to more nationalistic positions favouring the building up of a tax-financed institution. The paper discusses the Opera as part of the enlightenment project of secularisation, substituting old collective religious rituals with new profane ones. Other factors interacting in a complex way like the changing geographic, ethnic and social structure of Sweden, the development of the financing system, repertory, the nationality of the composers, the musical style as a national or international marker, and the ideological tendency in the Swedish operas are also considered.
„A work so truly English in its story and its music“. Arthur Sullivans Ivanhoe und die Suche nach einer englischen Nationaloper
Authors: Stollberg Arne
Published: September 2012

In order to overcome the persistent cliché of a “land without music,” considerable efforts were made in Great Britain at the end of the 19th century to establish what is now labelled the English Musical Renaissance. One of the movement’s main concerns was to establish both institutionally and artistically a National Opera for the production of English works. In this context, the opening of a newly built opera house, the Royal English Opera, by the impresario Richard D’Oyly Carte in 1891 created a great stir. The Royal English Opera was inaugurated with Arthur Sullivan’s “Romantic Opera” Ivanhoe. Sullivan tried to give his score an especially English flavour without using folksongs or other overtly national musical characteristics. His composition can be seen as a synthesis of German, French and Italian influences, which intentionally mirrors the fusion of the Anglo-Saxon and Norman elements to form the English nation under King Richard the Lionheart as presented in the opera’s plot. Unfortunately the story of D’Oyly Carte’s enterprise was a short one and Sullivan’s opera quickly passed into oblivion.
Mad for Her Country: Melinda’s Insanity, the Puszta, and Nationalist Dramaturgy in Ferenc Erkel’s Bánk bán Act 3
Authors: Schneider David
Published: September 2012

Framed by Béla Bartók’s criticism of Ferenc Erkel’s nationally inappropriate style in his polemic “On Hungarian Music,” this article examines, on the one hand, the overlap between the conventions of the bel canto Italian mad scene and the structure of verbunkos in Act 3, scene 1 of Erkel’s Bánk bán, and, on the other, the dramaturgical and national significance of Erkel’s particular mixture of such international and Hungarian traditions. In particular, I consider the seeming incongruence between the typically celebratory mood of the csárdás and its function as the cabaletta of Melinda’s mad scene as an expression of Hungarian national preoccupation with victimhood (propagated by such foundational national texts as Mihály Vörösmarty’s 1836 Szózat, which has served as Hungary’s “second national anthem”). Melinda’s mad scene takes place on the banks of the Tisza River on the Great Hungarian Plain, a location of central importance to Hungarian national identity. This environment, which Erkel and his librettist invented for the mad scene, reinforces Melinda’s tragic role as a symbol of the nation. With eye and ear attuned to Hungarian traditions on several different levels, a close reading of this scene demonstrates that even when Erkel works within well-worn traditions of the international opera stage, he does so in a manner specifically suited to the spirit of nineteenth-century Hungarian nationalism.
Minerva’s Hat and the Emperor’s Tailcoat: August Adelburg’s Cosmopolitan “National Opera” Zrínyi
Authors: Mikusi Balázs
Published: September 2012

Born to a Croatian father in Constantinople and educated in Vienna, August Adelburg (1830–1873) was a true cosmopolitan. His explicitly “national opera” about Miklós Zrínyi (c1508–1566), a Hungarian national hero of Croatian origins, was premiered in Hungarian translation on 23 June 1868 in the National Theater in Pest. The libretto (originally in German, and adapted by the composer from a drama by Theodor Körner) includes a preface that adumbrates a wholesale theory of cosmopolitanized national opera, as it were. Elaborating his views as expressed in his 1859 essay against Liszt’s On the Gypsies and their music in Hungary, Adelburg insists that the hegemony of the three traditional musical styles—German, French, and Italian—is obsolete, since “the tones have a single expressive language, which is divided into as many dialects as there are musical nations in the world.” At the same time, he also considers the overly use of less “worn-out” national styles misguided, since letting each character sing in the same manner is like “putting a Parisian lady’s hat, instead of an antique helmet, on Minerva’s head, and dressing the Roman emperors in black tailcoat, rather than sagum.” Therefore, a truly up-to-date national opera must in fact be “cosmopolitan” (Adelburg himself uses the term) in its sensitive portrayal of each individual character. Following a brief analysis of some of the most prominent “national” numbers of the work, I conclude by suggesting that Adelburg’s ideas about “cosmopolitanizing the national” render his Zrínyi a kind of mediator between two outstanding Hungarian operas of the period: Mihály Mosonyi’s “all-Hungarian” Szép Ilon (1861), and Ferenc Erkel’s “cosmopolitan” Brankovics György (1874).
Die Umwertung der Idee der Nationaloper um 1900
Authors: Mesterházi Máté
Published: September 2012

The years immediately following the Austro-Hungarian Compromise (1867) would politically have been the best time to make Bánk bán, Ferenc Erkel’s most important opera known in Vienna, thus launching his work in the German cultural area. However, the plot of Bánk bán and Erkel’s personal attitude regarding the Compromise were probably at that time too much of a sensitive issue. In terms of cultural policy the International Exhibition of Music and Theatre at the end of the 19th century could have presented itself as an opportunity to premiere it in Vienna. Instead, Katona’s Bánk bán was presented. One could have expected that Gustav Mahler would stage Bánk bán at the Vienna Court Opera, as he did Dalibor at the beginning of his period as artistic director. Apparently Mahler did never even consider the idea of its staging which may have been connected with both his personal tastes and the unfavourable memories he had of Budapest. The success of Smetana’s Dalibor in winning a wide recognition on German stages around 1900 as opposed to Erkel’s neglect, may partly be explained by its post-Wagnerian musical language. However, since in the meantime opera houses have again been conquered by Italian belcanto and French grand opéra — the two main operatic styles from which Erkel took his inspiration — stylistic reasons clearly cannot explain why his work remains internationally unknown up to this day. One of the reasons for the lack of success may very well be the over-emphasizing by its Hungarian partisans of the opera’s national qualities instead of its inherent dramatic values.
Crowd, mob, and nation in Boris Godunov: What did musorgsky think, and does it matter?
Authors: Taruskin Richard
Published: September 2012

When Musorgsky revised his opera Boris Godunov in 1871–1872 as a condition for its eventual performance in 1874, he made many changes that went far beyond what the Imperial Theaters demanded of him. Among these changes was the composition of a crowd scene outside Moscow, in which the rebellious populace hails the Pretender, to replace a crowd scene at Red Square in which a submissive, hungry crowd beg Boris for bread. The original scene came, like the rest of the libretto, directly from Pushkin’s eponymous play. The new scene reflected a new view of the historical events, and Musorgsky wrote his own text for it. The two scenes are ideologically at odds, particularly as regards their view of the Russian nation in relation to the Russian people. Moreover, the two scenes share the episode of the Holy Fool and the thieving boys, which Musorgsky transferred from the one score to the other. Obviously, Musorgsky regarded them as incompatible within a single production and thought he had made conflating them impossible. And yet, at the Bolshoy Theater in 1939, the two scenes were indeed played that way, inconsistencies and redundancies be damned. The Bolshoy production (which became widely known through recordings and film) might be written off, the way we tend to write off the art of the Stalinist era, as a politically motivated anomaly. But other productions, including one in San Francisco in 1992, and one that was mounted in 2010 at the Teatro Regio in Torino, have included both scenes without any such evident motivation, possibly because the Bolshoy production is now regarded by some as canonical. Is the historiographical contradiction involving our theme of Opera and Nation to be regarded as a blemish? If not, what considerations can be seen to outweigh it? Can Musorgsky’s political ideas be deduced from the work in which we assume they are embodied? And if they can be, should they be regarded as an aspect of the work that performers need respect?
Electrochemical Performance and Safety of Lithium Ion Battery Anodes Incorporating Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Ganter Matthew J. , DiLeo Roberta A. , Doucett Amanda , Schauerman Christopher M. , Rogers Reginald E. , Gaustad Gabrielle , Landi Brian J.
Published: September 2012

Single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were incorporated into lithium ion battery anodes as conductive additives in mesocarbon microbead (MCMB) composites and as a free-standing support for silicon active materials. In the traditional MCMB composite, 0.5% w/w SWCNTs were used to replace 0.5% w/w SuperP conductive additives. The composite with 0.5% SWCNTs had nearly three times the conductivity which leads to improved electrochemical performance at higher discharge rates with a 20% increase in capacity at greater than a C/2 rate. The thermal stability and safety was measured using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and a 35% reduction in exothermic energy released was measured using the highly thermally conductive SWCNTs as an additive. Alternatively, free-standing SWCNT papers were coated with increasing amounts of silicon using a low pressure chemical vapor deposition technique and a silane precursor. Increasing the amount of silicon deposited led to a significant increase in specific capacity (>2000 mAh/g) and coulombic efficiency (>90%). At the highest silicon loading, the surface area of the electrode was reduced by over an order of magnitude which leads to lower solid electrolyte interface formation and improved safety as measured by DSC.
On Becoming a Better Scientist
Authors: Huey Raymond B.
Published: September 2012

Good scientific research yields insights that are important and general. But the process of learning to do good science is far from simple, and the inherent challenges are often more motivational than scientific. I review various ways that may help scientists (especially young ones) to do better research. Perhaps the most important is to spend time with people who are smart, productive, and enjoy what they are doing: motivation and success are infectious. Trying some risky projects, for which success is not guaranteed, can enhance motivation. Before tackling risky projects, however, seek advice from those with experience; but make your own decision. Always be as self-directed as possible (and as political): actively seek opportunities and don't wait for them to come to you. If you have to learn a skill that is challenging or unpleasant, try to convince yourself that you look forward to learning it. Similarly, develop a high tolerance for repetitive tasks, which are inevitable components of science. In particular, learn to communicate well both in writing and in speaking: treat communication as a vital apprenticeship to be learned. Conflict is inevitable in science, but collaboration with opponents can be a positive way to resolve and grow beyond conflict. Staying fresh becomes a challenge as scientists age, but changing fields, continuing to go to seminars and meetings, and interacting with students and new colleagues can minimize one's personal fossilization.
Near-surface mounted flexural strengthening of reinforced concrete beams with low concrete strength
Authors: Micelli Francesco , De Lorenzis Laura
Published: September 2012

Among the strengthening techniques based on fibre-reinforced polymer composites, the use of near-surface mounted fibre-reinforced polymer reinforcement has recently become an attractive option for increasing flexural and shear strength of deficient reinforced concrete structural elements. In order to widen the existing test database, which is currently more limited than that related to externally bonded fibre-reinforced polymer laminates, this project investigated flexural strengthening by testing six 4·3 m long reinforced concrete beams with 200 mm × 400 mm rectangular cross-section, of which two were control and four were strengthened beams. In the latter, carbon fibre&hyp[hen;-reinforced polymer round bars were embedded in grooves cut onto the bottom concrete surface and filled with a two-component, high-viscosity epoxy paste. The concrete compressive strength was very low (cylinder strength equal to 15 MPa), and all the beams were designed to fail by concrete crushing after yielding of the steel reinforcement. The incidence of debonding failures under these conditions could then be evaluated. The variables investigated were the ratio of internal steel reinforcement and the ratio of fibre-reinforced polymer superficial reinforcement. Experimental results are discussed in this paper, and their comparison with predictions of a simple analytical model is also presented.
Behaviour of clay-fouled ballast under drained triaxial testing
Authors: INDRARATNA B. , TENNAKOON N. , NIMBALKAR S. , RUJIKIATKAMJORN C.
Published: September 2012

Contamination or fouling of rail ballast with external fines, including slurried and pumped subgrade material (e.g. clay and silt), is one of the primary reasons for track deterioration. Fouling causes differential settlement of the track, and also decreases the load-bearing capacity, owing to the reduction in the friction angle of the granular assembly. In certain circumstances, fouled ballast needs to be cleaned or replaced to maintain the desired track stiffness, load-bearing capacity and track alignment, all of which influence safety. This paper presents and discusses the results of a series of large-scale triaxial tests conducted on latite basalt, a rail ballast of volcanic origin, commonly used in Australia. Consolidated drained triaxial tests were conducted under three different levels of confining pressure and varying degrees of clay fouling. Stress–strain degradation characteristics are discussed in detail. This paper also describes the non-linear strength envelope and a novel empirical relationship to capture the detrimental effects of clay fouling on the performance of ballasted tracks.
Quantifying stress-induced anisotropy using inter-void constrictions
Authors: SHIRE T. , O'SULLIVAN C. , BARRETO D. , GAUDRAY G.
Published: September 2012

In particulate geomechanics it is common to quantify fabric anisotropy using contact and particle orientations. Measurement of void anisotropy is less common, most likely owing to the difficulties associated with defining individual voids. Here a Delaunay tessellation-based approach is applied to measure anisotropy of the inter-void constriction orientations. This new measure of fabric anisotropy was capable of identifying stress-induced anisotropy in discrete-element modelling true triaxial simulations with spherical particles. A relationship is established between the constriction orientations, the macro-scale principal stress directions and the micro-scale contact normal orientations.
Comparison of enterovirus and adenovirus concentration and enumeration methods in seawater from Southern California, USA and Baja Malibu, Mexico
Authors: Sassoubre Lauren M. , Love David C. , Silverman Andrea I. , Nelson Kara L. , Boehm Alexandria B.
Published: September 2012

Despite being important etiological agents of waterborne illness, the sources, transport and decay of human viruses in recreational waters are not well understood. This study examines enterovirus and adenovirus concentrations in coastal water samples collected from four beaches impacted by microbial pollution: (1) Malibu Lagoon, Malibu; (2) Tijuana River, Imperial Beach; (3) Baja Malibu, Baja California; and (4) Punta Bandera, Baja California. Water samples were concentrated using a flocculation-based skim milk method and dead-end membrane filtration (MF). Viruses were enumerated using cell culture infectivity assays and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-QPCR). Across concentration and quantification methods, enteroviruses were detected more often than adenoviruses. For both viruses, MF followed by (RT)QPCR yielded higher concentrations than skim milk flocculation followed by (RT)QPCR or cell culture assays. Samples concentrated by skim milk flocculation and enumerated by (RT)QPCR agreed more closely with concentrations enumerated by cell culture assays than MF followed by (RT)QPCR. The detection of viruses by MF and (RT)QPCR was positively correlated with the presence of infectious viruses. Further research is needed to determine if detection of viruses by rapid methods such as (RT)QPCR can be a useful water quality monitoring tool to assess health risks in recreational waters.
The bacteriological quality of drinking water in Haldwani Block of Nainital District, Uttarakhand, India
Authors: Rawat Vinita , Jha Sanjay Kumar , Bag Arundhati , Singhai Monil , Rawat Chandra Mohan Singh
Published: September 2012

A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the bacteriological quality of water in Haldwani block, Nainital District, India. Stratified random sampling was used to categorize water sources and consumer points. In total, 108 samples were collected: 15 from the Gola river, 51 from water taps, 24 from water treatment plants and 18 from tube wells. Samples were tested for coliforms by the most probable number technique. Identification of species was done by standard procedures. Of 108 water samples, 58.8% were found to be polluted. All samples of water (n = 15) from different sites of the Gola river were found to be highly contaminated. Out of 24 water treatment plant samples, four samples were found unsatisfactory, while more than half (51.6%) of its supplies to water taps were polluted. From tube wells and their water taps, 88.8 and 60% samples were found safe for drinking respectively. Bacterial contamination of water treatment plants and their supplies indicates significant disparities in the efficiency of water treatment processes. Contamination of water taps of tube wells suggests leakage of pipes. There is an urgent need to improve these services to ensure the supply of safe water for consumers.
Surveillance of human and swine adenovirus, human norovirus and swine circovirus in water samples in Santa Catarina, Brazil
Authors: Garcia L. A. T. , Viancelli A. , Rigotto C. , Pilotto M. R. , Esteves P. A. , Kunz A. , Barardi C. R. M.
Published: September 2012

Animal and human wastewater can potentially contaminate water sources and the treatment of drinking water may not effectively remove all contaminants, especially viruses. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the viral contamination of water used for human and animal consumption in the city of Concórdia, located in southern Brazil. Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), porcine adenovirus (PAdV), human adenovirus (HAdV) and human norovirus (NoV) were searched for using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). HAdV-positive samples were tested for viral infectivity by plaque assay. The qPCR results showed that PAdV, PCV2 and HAdV genetic material were present in all sampling sites. NoV was absent in all samples. The presence of genetic material from PAdV and PCV2 was detected in 30% and 45% of the 36 analyzed samples, respectively, with an average of 102 gc mL–1 for PAdV and 104 gc mL–1 for PCV2. HAdV was present in 100% of the samples, with an average of 104 gc mL–1. However, in plaque assay, only 36% of the samples were positive. As viable particles of HAdV were found in drinking water, these results confirm that swine manure and human sewage impact surface water and groundwater, endangering water quality and indicating a potential risk to public health.
Survey and genetic characterization of wastewater in Tunisia for Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Cyclospora cayetanensis and Eimeria spp.
Authors: Ben Ayed Layla , Yang Wenli , Widmer Giovanni , Cama Vitaliano , Ortega Ynes , Xiao Lihua
Published: September 2012

The microbial diversity of wastewater used for irrigation and fertilization was assessed using specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays to detect and genotype several pathogenic protists including Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, Cyclospora spp., Eimeria spp. and Enterocytozoon bieneusi. A total of 220 wastewater samples (110 raw, 110 treated) and 12 sludge samples were collected from 2005 to 2008 from 18 treatment plants located throughout Tunisia. Except for Cyclospora, which was detected only once, E. bieneusi (61%), G. duodenalis (28%), Cryptosporidium spp. (27%) and Eimeria spp. (45%) were frequently observed in wastewater and sludge. Sequencing of PCR products showed that C. hominis, C. andersoni, G. duodenalis sub-assemblage A-II and E. bieneusi genotypes D and IV were the most prevalent. An analysis of the distribution of 209 internal transcribed spacer sequences of E. bieneusi originating from wastewater at the 18 treatment plants showed a similar genetic diversity, regardless of the geographical location. The identification of these parasite species and genotypes and of host-specific Eimeria species indicates that the microbial quality of wastewater was impacted by humans, livestock and rodents. Given the public health risks that some of these parasites represent, guidelines on wastewater usage are needed to minimize human exposure to these pathogens.
The Ethics of End-of-Life Care for Patients with ESRD
Authors: Davison Sara N.
Published: September 2012

Patients with ESRD have extensive and unique palliative care needs, often for years before death. The vast majority of patients, however, dies in acute care facilities without accessing palliative care services. High mortality rates along with a substantial burden of physical, psychosocial, and spiritual symptoms and an increasing prevalence of decisions to withhold and stop dialysis all highlight the importance of integrating palliative care into the comprehensive management of ESRD patients. The focus of renal care would then extend to controlling symptoms, communicating prognosis, establishing goals of care, and determining end-of-life care preferences. Regretfully, training in palliative care for nephrology trainees is inadequate. This article will provide a conceptual framework for renal palliative care and describe opportunities for enhancing palliative care for ESRD patients, including improved chronic pain management and advance care planning and a new model for delivering high-quality palliative care that includes appropriate consultation with specialist palliative care.
Predictors of diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Gaballa Mahmoud , Farag Youssef
Published: September 2012

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients representing a huge health and economic burden. Alarming recent data described diabetes as an unprecedented worldwide epidemic, with a prevalence of ∼6.4% of the world population in 2010, while the prevalence of CKD among diabetics was approximately 40%. With a clinical field hungry for novel markers predicting DN, several clinical and laboratory markers were identified lately with the promise of reliable DN prediction. Among those are age, gender, hypertension, smoking, sex hormones and anemia. In addition, eccentric left ventricular geometric patterns, detected by echocardiography, and renal hypertrophy, revealed by ultrasonography, are promising new markers predicting DN development. Serum and urinary markers are still invaluable elements, including serum uric acid, microalbuminuria, macroalbuminuria, urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (u-LFABP), and urinary nephrin. Moreover, studies have illustrated a tight relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and the development of DN. The purpose of this review is to present the latest advances in identifying promising predictors to DN, which will help guide the future research questions in this field. Aiming at limiting this paramount threat, further efforts are necessary to identify and control independent modifiable risk factors, while developing an integrative algorithm for utilization in DN future screening programs.
Coexistent systemic mastocytosis and essential thrombocythemia complicated with monoclonal gammopathy and hypocomplementaemia
Authors: Varkonyi Judit , Rausz Eszter , Pánczél Pál , Sperlagh Melinda , Varga Lilian , Farkas Henriette , Csomor Judit , Füle Tibor , Karádi István
Published: September 2012

Hematological neoplasms associated with systemic mast cell disease are most frequently of myeloid origin. There are a few reports, however, of systemic mastocytosis (SM) cases associated with lymphoid or plasma cell neoplasms as well. In this report, the authors present a case of SM (with D816V mutation in the c-KIT gene) associated with JAK2 V617F mutation negative essential thrombocythemia. The leading symptom of the 78-year-old female was recurring hydrothorax that responded only to interferon alpha therapy. During the first year of therapy, the patient developed insulin-dependent diabetes and hypothyroidism. The hematological workup also revealed IgG kappa monoclonal gammopathy that was non-progressive in the following next three years. Low levels of complements without known clinical significance accompanied the entire picture.
Suprapatellar fat pad inflammation in step aerobics athletes: MR imaging evaluation of two cases
Authors: Bintoudi Antonia , Goumenakis Michalis , Karantanas Apostolos
Published: September 2012

Step aerobics is one of the most popular exercises with established benefits to cardiovascular status. This activity is associated with injuries which include patellar or talar chondral lesions, quadriceps tendinopathy, Achilles tendinopathy or tear, shin splints and muscle soreness. The purpose of this case report is to present two step aerobics athletes, suffering from anterior knee pain. We observed that their knee MR examination disclosed only suprapatellar fat pad edema. No other findings were noticed. In addition, we discuss the possible pathogenetic mechanism of this entity which has not been previously reported in the literature.
Use of the omental free flap for reconstruction of degloving hand and foot injuries: two case reports
Authors: Tutkus Vytautas , Vitkus Kestutis , Proskute Dovile
Published: September 2012

Different techniques are used for reconstruction of degloving hand or foot injuries, however the best option has not been found yet. In this paper we present two clinical cases when degloving hand and foot injuries were successfully covered with the omental free flap.
Spontaneous contralateral pneumothorax in a patient with low Body Mass Index
Authors: Nakazawa Kensuke , Ohara Gen , Kagohashi Katsunori , Kurishima Koichi , Ishibashi Atsushi , Satoh Hiroaki
Published: September 2012

Spontaneous pneumothorax is most common in adolescents and young adults. Some of them develop contralateral pneumothorax. In this paper, we report the case of a patient with spontaneous contralateral pneumothorax, whose body mass index (BMI) was 18.8 kg/m2. For either chest physicians or thoracic surgeons, follow up with recognition of increased risk of the contralateral pneumothorax is important especially in patients with contralateral bullous lesions and low BMI.
Interpretation of data in patients with enteral and parenteral nutrition
Authors: Tomova Radka , Tzaneva Penka , Nikolov Marian , Simeonov Vasil
Published: September 2012

Multivariate statistical analysis is performed using clinical data characterizing the state of patients subject to early enteral (EEN) and pareneteral (PN) nutrition after major gastrointestinal surgery. Several patterns of linkage, between the clinical parameters for both groups of observed patients (with mixed (EEN+PN) and with parenteral nutrition only (TPN)), were found and interpreted. Discriminating indices for the internal grouping of patients were found related to the type of nutrition and the clinical status of the patients. It was found that the mixed (enteral and parenteral) nutrition offers better options for the overcoming of the metabolic stress after the surgery.
Massive right-sided colon diverticular bleeding complicated by the transfusion related acute lung injury (TRALI)
Authors: Urošević Ivana , Perčić Ivanka , Knežević Aleksandar , Savić Aleksandar , Savić Ivanka
Published: September 2012

Colonic diverticulosis is a condition which causes extensive bleeding of the lower gastrointestine in 40–50% of cases. In particular, right-sided diverticulosis, although uncommon requires lifesaving colectomy. Transfusion related acute lung injury (TRALI) is a transfusion reaction, which can occur after administration of various blood products. Although life threatening, it can be completely reversed usually within 72 to 96 hours. Here, we report a case of a young Caucasian male hospitalized due to severe anemia, hematochezia and extensive blood loss, all due to lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage from right-sided diverticulosis. These conditions were overlooked endoscopically and diagnosed then treated surgically with the right-sided hemicolectomy. During postoperative course, four hours after the last transfusion, patient developed fever, hypoxia and noncardiogenic pulmonary oedema, but made complete recovery through aggressive oxygen support within 96 hours. The aim of this case was to review current literature, to draw attention to a serious and under-diagnosed transfusion reaction, as well as discuss possible explanations for the diagnostic difficulties that occurred in this case.
Puma, a critical mediator of cell death — one decade on from its discovery
Authors: Hikisz Paweł , Kiliańska Zofia
Published: September 2012

PUMA (p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis) is a pro-apoptotic member of the BH3-only subgroup of the Bcl-2 family. It is a key mediator of p53-dependent and p53-independent apoptosis and was identified 10 years ago. The PUMA gene is mapped to the long arm of chromosome 19, a region that is frequently deleted in a large number of human cancers. PUMA mediates apoptosis thanks to its ability to directly bind known anti-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family. It mainly localizes to the mitochondria. The binding of PUMA to the inhibitory members of the Bcl-2 family (Bcl-2-like proteins) via its BH3 domain seems to be a critical regulatory step in the induction of apoptosis. It results in the displacement of the proteins Bax and/or Bak. This is followed by their activation and the formation of pore-like structures on the mitochondrial membrane, which permeabilizes the outer mitochondrial membrane, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and caspase activation. PUMA is involved in a large number of physiological and pathological processes, including the immune response, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and bacterial and viral infections.
Editorial for
Authors: Dumičić Ksenija , Stirn Lidija , Žerovnik Janez
Published: September 2012

Editorial for

The 11th International Symposium on Operational Research (SOR'11) was organized by Slovenian Society INFORMATIKA - Section for Operational Research (SDI-SOR) in Dolenjske Toplice, Slovenia, during the week of 28 - 30 September 2011. At SOR'11 it was decided to publish a Special Issue of Business Systems Research Journal (SI of BSRJ) on innovative approaches to OR methodology and its applications in business, micro and macro-economics, management, finance, social sciences, energy, environment, transport and other areas. The call for papers for SI of BSRJ was open, and it was directed to the participants of SOR'11 as well as to other researchers and practitioners from the field of OR. We have received 9 submissions for this special issue, some of them being extended journal versions of short conference papers from proceedings (Zadnik Stirn et al., 2011). Each submission was first reviewed by the Guest Editors, and the papers were then blind reviewed by two experts.
Understanding Process Performance Measurement Systems
Authors: Glavan Ljubica
Published: September 2012

Understanding Process Performance Measurement Systems

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the current state of Process Performance Measurement Systems (PPMS) by means of a systematic review of literature. The PPMS literature is reviewed using a systematic approach. Based on an extensive literature review only twelve articles that contain the term PPMS in the title were found. The literature analysis showed that PPMS is a relatively new topic in the area of performance measurement. In order to understand PPMS, it was crucial to explain the concepts of business process management, business performance measurement and Performance Measurement System (PMS) which are well known and used in the literature and practice. PPMS is a special type of PMS that should be used in process-oriented organizations. Limitations of this research lie in the fact that all the conclusions were derived only from the literature, not empirical research. The results presented in the paper continue towards providing an updated overview of the current state of performance measurement, especially PPMS in order to identify the existing research gaps on which ongoing and future research efforts regarding this topic can be focused.
The Country-specific Organizational and Information Architecture of ERP Systems at Globalised Enterprises
Authors: Molnár Bálint
Published: September 2012

The Country-specific Organizational and Information Architecture of ERP Systems at Globalised Enterprises

The competition on the market forces companies to adapt to the changing environment. Most recently, the economic and financial crisis has been accelerating the alteration of both business and IT models of enterprises. The forces of globalization and internationalization motivate the restructuring of business processes and consequently IT processes. To depict the changes in a unified framework, we need the concept of Enterprise Architecture as a theoretical approach that deals with various tiers, aspects and views of business processes and different layers of application, software and hardware systems. The paper outlines a wide-range theoretical background for analyzing the re-engineering and re-organization of ERP systems at international or transnational companies in the middle-sized EU member states. The research carried out up to now has unravelled the typical structural changes, the models for internal business networks and their modification that reflect the centralization, decentralization and hybrid approaches. Based on the results obtained recently, a future research program has been drawn up to deepen our understanding of the trends within the world of ERP systems.
On Concurrent Solutions in Differential Games
Authors: Correa Romar
Published: September 2012

On Concurrent Solutions in Differential Games

We examine solutions in which neither player is worse off from the leadership of one in a policy maker-public game. The loop model of dynamic games is used. Outcome space is dotted with equivalence classes of solutions. The Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) results and their New Keynesian variants might represent one category. The economy is the neighborhood of a market-clearing equilibrium with Pareto-optimal properties modulo frictions. Our interest lies in the ‘old’ Keynesian genus where the representative state is one of involuntary unemployment. Two information sets are relevant. In the first case, agents look to the past and the present. In the second, they are bound by the information provided in the present. The standard analysis pertains to DSGE models under full information. We show, in contrast, that in a situation of structural disequilibrium and feedback information, all parties are better off reneging on the social compact to achieve a superior class of solutions.
Adoption of Business Process Orientation Practices: Slovenian and Croatian Survey
Authors: Škrinjar Rok , Vukšić Vesna , Štemberger Mojca
Published: September 2012

Adoption of Business Process Orientation Practices: Slovenian and Croatian Survey

Process orientation has been empirically linked to corporate performance. Several studies have shown that more process oriented companies perform better than less process oriented companies. Consequently, many researchers attempted to define what makes a company process oriented, which resulted in numerous frameworks and conceptualizations of process orientation. Based on concepts of business process orientation (BPO) the authors have developed and operationalised a concept of extended BPO to study its adoption in two countries, one EU member and one a candidate for EU membership (Slovenia and Croatia, respectively). Extensive field study has been carried out in these countries. The results of the analysis show that there are many statistically significant differences, namely companies in Slovenia have implemented process oriented practices to a higher degree than their counterparts in Croatia. The paper shows the main differences in BPO areas and practices.
The Use of Reference Models in Business Process Renovation
Authors: Pajk Dejan , Štemberger Mojca , Kovačič Andrej
Published: September 2012

The Use of Reference Models in Business Process Renovation

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are often used by companies to automate and enhance their business processes. The capabilities of ERP systems can be described by best-practice reference models. The purpose of the article is to demonstrate the business process renovation approach with the use of reference models. Although the use of reference models brings many positive effects for business, they are still rarely used in Slovenian small and medium-sized companies. The reasons for this may be found in the reference models themselves as well as in project implementation methodologies. In the article a reference model based on Microsoft Dynamics NAV is suggested. The reference model is designed using upgraded BPMN notation with additional business objects, which help to describe the models in more detail.
Grounding Early Intervention: Physical Therapy Cannot Just Be About Motor Skills Anymore
Authors: Lobo Michele A. , Harbourne Regina T. , Dusing Stacey C. , McCoy Sarah Westcott
Published: September 2012

This perspective article provides support for 4 interrelated tenets: grounded perceptual-motor experience within cultural and social contexts forms cognition; exploration through early behaviors, such as object interaction, sitting, and locomotion, broadly facilitates development; infants and children with limited exploration are at risk for global developmental impairments; and early interventions targeting exploratory behaviors may be feasible and effective at advancing a range of abilities across developmental domains and time. These tenets emphasize that through the promotion of early perceptual-motor behaviors, broader, more global developmental advancements can be facilitated and future delays can be minimized across domains for infants and children with special needs. Researchers, educators, and clinicians should build on these tenets to further demonstrate the effectiveness of targeted early interventions. The goals of these interventions should be not only to advance targeted perceptual-motor skills in the moment but also to more broadly advance future abilities and meet the early intervention goal of maximizing children's learning potential.
Evidence-Based Indications for Distraction Ankle Arthroplasty
Authors: Smith Nicholas C. , Beaman Douglas , Rozbruch S. Robert , Glazebrook Mark A.
Published: September 2012

Background: The purpose of this study was to review the literature to provide a comprehensive description of the Level of Evidence (LOE) available to support the operative technique of distraction ankle arthroplasty for the current generally accepted indications and make a grade of recommendation for each. Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature was performed (November 2010 to January 2011) using the PubMed database. The abstracts from these searches were reviewed to isolate literature that described therapeutic studies investigating the results of distraction ankle arthroplasty. All articles were reviewed and assigned a classification (I-V) of Level of Evidence. An analysis of the literature reviewed was used to assign a Grade of Recommendation for each current generally accepted indication for distraction ankle arthroplasty. Results: There is insufficient evidence based literature (Grade I) to support or refute the procedure for either: post-traumatic ankle arthritis, arthritis associated with ligamentous instability, primary degenerative joint disease, chondrolysis, deformity associated with arthritis, osteochondral defects and congenital ankle abnormalities. Conclusion: Inadequate evidence based literature exists to support or refute all currently accepted indications for distraction ankle arthroplasty and further high quality, scientific studies are needed upgrade to these recommendations.

Level of Evidence: Systematic Review of Level III Studies
Outcomes of Proximal Chevron Osteotomy for Moderate versus Severe Hallux Valgus Deformities
Authors: Moon Jae-Young , Lee Keun-Bae , Seon Jong Keun , Moon Eun-Sun , Jung Sung-Taek
Published: September 2012

Background: Proximal chevron osteotomy with a distal soft tissue procedure has been widely used to treat moderate to severe hallux valgus deformities. However, there have been no studies comparing the results of proximal chevron osteotomy between patients with moderate and severe hallux valgus. We compared the results of this procedure among these groups. Methods: A retrospective review of 95 patients (108 feet) that underwent proximal chevron osteotomy and distal soft tissue procedure for moderate and severe hallux valgus was conducted. The 108 feet were divided into two groups: moderate hallux valgus (Group A) and severe hallux valgus (Group B). Group A was composed of 57 feet (52 patients) and Group B of 51 feet (43 patients). Average followup was 45 months. Results: Mean American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society hallux metatarsophalangeal-interphalangeal scores were 54.1 points in Group A and 53.0 points in Group B preoperatively, and these improved to 90.8 and 92.6, respectively, at the last followup. Mean hallux valgus angles in Groups A and B reduced from 32.3 and 40.8 degrees, preoperatively to 10.7 and 13.2 degrees, postoperatively. Similarly, mean first intermetatarsal angles in Groups A and B reduced from 15.0 and 19.2 degrees, preoperatively to 9.0 and 9.2 degrees, postoperatively. Conclusion: The clinical and radiographic outcomes of proximal chevron osteotomy with a distal soft tissue procedure were found to be comparable for moderate and severe hallux valgus. Accordingly, our results suggest that this procedure provides an effective and reliable means of correcting hallux valgus regardless of severity of deformity.

Level of Evidence: III, Retrospective Comparative Series