bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Profile of Patients Attending as Psychiatric Emergency at General Hospital
Authors: Tulachan P , Chapagain M , Ojha S P , Dhungana S
Published: April 2015

Introduction: Scaling of services in any area requires knowledge of the pattern of illnesses and their various presentations. We therefore conducted this study aiming to see the pattern of neuropsychiatric illness in an emergency department of tertiary care center.  Methods: A prospective study was carried out to assess the pattern of psychiatric morbidity as well as pattern of presenting symptoms in the general emergency room services. Total 340 patients were sought for psychiatric consultation over a period of one and half years from Emergency Room of Tribhuvan University Teaching hospital, Kathmandu.Results: Out of these patients, 281 patients (82.7%) were found to have diagnosable psychiatric disorder. Most of the patients were in the age group of 31-40 years (25.6%), and from valley itself (56.2%).Males (55.9%) outnumbered females. Most common presenting symptoms were disturbed behavior and intentional self harm. Out of the patients who received the diagnosis of Category F- Mental and Behavioral disorders of the ICD-10 (82.7%), 26.8% were suffering from the Neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders and 26.5% were suffering from Mental and behavioral disorder due to psychoactive substance use. From the remaining 17.3% of patients, 14.1% of cases belonged to who attempted intentional self harm and rest were suffering from systemic disorder.Conclusion: Thus, this study emphasizes the importance of clinical and demographic characteristics of patients seeking psychiatric care in emergency service in order provide proper management.J Psychiatric Association of Nepal Vol .3, No.2, 2014, pp: 31-36DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jpan.v3i2.12387
Stigma in Mental Illness: Relative’s Perspective
Authors: Adhikari S R
Published: April 2015

Introduction: Stigma is an important determinant in mental illness, which determines awareness, symptom recognition and treatment adherence. It is an important factor due to which relatives of patients with psychiatric disorders decide treatment and further evaluation. Materials and Methods: This is cross-sectional retrospective study done at medical college. Valid and standardized rating scales along with socio-demographic profile were used to assess perception, awareness and attitude regarding stigma against mental illness among relatives of patients who have mental illness.Results: Most family members did not perceive themselves as being avoided by others because of their relative’s hospitalization, half reported concealing the hospitalization at least to some degree. Both the characteristics of the mental illness (the stigmatizing mark) and the social characteristics of the family were significantly related to levels of family stigma. Care givers whose relative had experienced an episode of illness within the past 6 months reported greater avoidance by others. Conclusion: Stigma experienced by relatives is pervasive and everlasting. It deeply affects emotional, social and occupational aspects of care giver also which leads to concealment of their patient’s illness, which have long term detrimental situations and non-compliance of medications.J Psychiatric Association of Nepal Vol .3, No.2, 2014, pp: 37-42DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jpan.v3i2.12393
Phenomenology Of Delirium: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Referred Cases Of Delirium
Authors: Verma S K , Pandey A K , Adhikari B R , Mallick L
Published: April 2015

Introduction: Studies from developing countries are few, on phenomenology of Delirium, even though it is a common diagnosis among psychiatric referrals. We studied the phenomenology of delirium in a teaching hospital in western region of Nepal by using standard assessment methods. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the phenomenological characteristics of delirium based on Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98 (DRS–R98). Methods: All consecutive patients of delirium who were referred to department of psychiatry for assessment were enrolled over a period of 12 months. Socio-demographic variables and other medical information were collected by using standardized data-collection forms developed by the department of Psychiatry. Assessments were based on all available information obtained from the patients, caregivers, medical staff, and medical records. Results and conclusions: A total of 62 cases were studied out of which 83.9% were male. Mean age of the subjects was 47 years. Mean delirium severity was 21.35 (SD=3.54). Orientation, attention and short term memory was impaired in all of the cases. Long term memory impairment was noted in 98.4% of cases. Sleep wake cycle disturbance was present in 60 (96.8%) cases, perceptual abnormalities in 49 (79%) cases, some form of delusion was present in 19 (30.6%), lability of affect could be appreciated in 27(43.5%). Language, thought process abnormalities and impaired visuo-spatial ability was present in 19 (30.6%), 3 (4.8%) and 13 (21%) cases respectively.J Psychiatric Association of Nepal Vol .3, No.2, 2014, pp: 43-47DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jpan.v3i2.12394
Cohabitation Reform in England and Wales: Equality or Equity
Authors: Wong Simone
Published: April 2015

The law of cohabitation and the succession rights of cohabitants in England and Wales have been subject to separate reviews recently by the Law Commission for England and Wales. Even though the Law Commission's recommendations have not been implemented by the British government, the reviews raise some interesting, if not challenging, issues regarding the need to formally recognize cohabitation. A key argument for extending rights to cohabitants is the increased social acceptance of cohabitation as an alternative form of partnering and child bearing to marriage—that cohabitation, albeit not formalized, may be equally committed and stable and should not therefore be discriminated against. The article is concerned with two issues: the criteria adopted for determining cohabitants' qualification and the benefits that accrue from such qualification. It will examine whether a normative commitment to the promotion of stable, committed, and interdependent cohabitation has helped to secure equality for cohabitants, through more equitable treatment in terms of remedies upon termination of the relationship. The article argues that this objective has not been achieved and that giving cohabitation equivalent value to formalized relationships is heavily dependent on the meanings we attach to norms such as commitment and (inter)dependence.
Vulnerability, Equality, and Animals
Authors: Deckha Maneesha
Published: April 2015

The sameness logic inherent in many legal quests for equal treatment is objectionable for the differences that it suppresses. Scholars working in various critical orientations (such as queer, feminist, and critical race theories) have discussed how various equality-based campaigns for disadvantaged groups operate according to their own exclusionary premises. While this critique of equality advocacy's adverse effects on other Others is diverse and important, it leaves unexamined how non-humans are Othered by anthropocentric equality claims. Arguments about why animals matter typically measure animals against human metrics of ethical worth such as whether or not they possess a sufficient capacity to reason, suffer, emote, use language, make tools, or exhibit some other trait presumed to define what it means to be human. Post-humanist critiques can thus fortify, similar to the human equality discourses above, the very norms they seek to destabilize and displace. To properly impugn legal and other inequalities, equality campaigns on both sides of the human–non-human divide must abandon their visions of conventional humanity and the sameness logic that sustains them. I argue that vulnerability discourse is a better alternative to equality discourse to advance animals' interests in the law because it does not rely on the concept of equality to stake its claim. Vulnerability discourse, which focuses on the dependence that embodiment engenders, thus has a better chance of respecting difference and avoiding the problematic sameness logic and other anthropocentric premises that block juridical attention from seeing full interests and experiences of injustice that animals can have.
Mechanische Oberflächenbearbeitung durch Mikrostrahlen*
Authors: Weingärtner R. , Hoffmeister J. , Schulze V.
Published: April 2015

Kurzfassung

Vielfältige Verfahren der mechanischen Oberflächenbehandlung erlauben Änderungen der Randschichteigenschaften, die zur Steigerung der Wechselfestigkeit genutzt werden können. Diese Verfahren beruhen auf einer plastischen Verformung der Oberfläche und führen optimalerweise zu Druckeigenspannungen nahe der Oberfläche und einer Verfestigung durch Änderungen des mikrostrukturellen Zustandes, wie der Korngröße oder der Versetzungsdichte. Damit ist auch stets eine Änderung der Topographie verbunden. Häufig wird das Kugelstrahlen verwendet, welches auch die Bearbeitung komplexerer Geometrien erlaubt. Eine Weiterentwicklung davon stellt das Mikrostrahlen dar, bei dem Strahlmittel mit Durchmessern unter 100 μm eingesetzt wird. Neue Anwendungsmöglichkeiten bietet das Verfahren bei der Bearbeitung dünnwandiger Bauteile, die durch die geringeren Strahlintensitäten ermöglicht wird, oder auch bei schwer zugänglichen Bauteilbereichen infolge kleinerer Geometrien des Strahlsystems. Die Charakterisierung der Randschichteigenschaften erfolgt durch Röntgendiffraktometrie, Konfokal- und Rasterelektronenmikroskopie und Aufnahmen an Querschnitten, die mittels fokussierten Ionenstrahls hergestellt wurden. Die Untersuchungen zeigen, dass sich die resultierenden Oberflächeneigenschaften durch Druckeigenspannungen, eine Verfestigung durch Erzeugung nanokristalliner Randschichten sowie eine gegenüber dem Kugelstrahlen vergleichsweise gute Topographie auszeichnen. Die Eindringtiefe des Verfahrens ist hierbei deutlich stärker auf oberflächennahe Bereiche begrenzt als etwa beim Kugelstrahlen. Wechselbiegeversuche zeigen, dass damit eine deutliche Steigerung der Wechselfestigkeit erzielt werden kann. Die Steigerungen der Wechselfestigkeit beim Kugelstrahlen werden dabei für die untersuchten Probengeometrien nach Mikrostrahlen deutlich übertroffen, sodass sich das hohe Potenzial des Verfahrens zur mechanischen Oberflächenbehandlung zeigt.
Schalenhärtung mittels Hochgeschwindigkeits-Abschreckung* Teil 1
Authors: Frerichs F. , Fritsching U. , Lübben Th. , Sander S. , Schüttenberg S.
Published: April 2015

Kurzfassung

Ein zentrales Zieldieser Arbeit war die Ermittlung von Prozessfenstern, innerhalb derer eine Schalenhärtung mit unlegierten Stählen möglich ist. Dabei mussten drei Kriterien erfüllt werden, damit eine Schalenhärtung als sinnvoll angesehen wird: Erstens muss eine ausreichende Härtung am Rand vorliegen und zweitens muss ein signifikanter Härteabfall zum Kern der Bauteile erfolgen. Das dritte und wichtigste Kriterium ist die Erzeugung von möglichst hohen Druckeigenspannungen am Rand durch sehr große Wärmeübergangskoeffizienten, die dazu beitragen sollen, die Lebensdauer der Bauteile zu erhöhen. In den Untersuchungen, die in einer speziellen Anlage für Hochgeschwindigkeits-Abschreckung durchgeführt wurden, ist es gelungen, mit Wasser hohe Wärmeübergangskoeffizienten zu erzeugen und zu messen. Aus den erzielten Ergebnissen der experimentellen Untersuchungen und begleitenden Wärmebehandlungssimulationen konnten Prozessfenster für zylindrische Bauteile aus unlegierten Stählen ermittelt werden, bei denen alle drei oben genannten Bedingungen erfüllt werden. Im letzten Schritt wurden an Zahnrädern und zylindrischen Bauteilen in enger Kooperation mit der Forschungsstelle für Zahnräder und Getriebebau (FZG) an der TU München bzw. der Fa. Hilti Lebensdaueruntersuchungen durchgeführt. Neben experimentellen Untersuchungen an Wellen werden in dieser Arbeit auch ausgewählte Ergebnisse aus den Bereichen Werkzeugauslegung mittels Strömungssimulation, Wärmeübergangsbestimmung, Wärmebehandlungssimulation und Lebensdaueruntersuchungen vorgestellt.
Simulation und experimentelle Validierung von Temperaturen, Härte und Eigenspannungen bei der induktiven Wärmebehandlung*
Authors: Schweizer F. , Asperheim J. I. , Stiele H.
Published: April 2015

Kurzfassung

Zum Härten großer Bauteile wird häufig das induktive Härteverfahren mit bewegtem Induktor angewandt. Zur Auslegung und Optimierung der induktiven Härteprozesse kann die numerische Simulation genutzt werden, um die Wärmewirkung des bewegten Induktors und die hiermit verbundenen Werkstoffänderungen am realen Bauteil gezielt einzustellen. Der Aufwand experimenteller iterativer Methoden kann hierdurch deutlich verringert werden. Anhand eines industriell eingesetzten Bauteils wird eine rechnerische Methodik vorgestellt, die es erlaubt, die Wärmewirkung eines bewegten Induktors für Austenitisierung, Härteentwicklung aufgrund von Gefügeumwandlungen sowie Entstehung der Eigenspannungen mit geringem Aufwand abzuschätzen. Die Qualität der Berechnungsergebnisse des induktiv gehärteten Bauteils wird anhand experimenteller Messungen von Temperatur, Härte und Eigenspannungen validiert.
Thermodynamic description of the Ti–O system
Authors: Hampl Milan , Schmid-Fetzer Rainer
Published: April 2015

Phase diagram and thermodynamic data of the complete binary Ti–O system are assessed using the Calphad method. The main focus is on the proper description of high temperature titanium monoxide TiO
x
phase using the common compound energy formalism. The structural data of this complex solid solution phase could be successfully modeled together with the phase equilibrium and thermodynamic data, embedded in the comprehensive Ti–O assessment. The presentation of all original phase equilibrium data in the entire system indicates the well or less well established regions in comparison with the calculated phase diagram.
How do sea-ice concentrations from operational data compare with passive microwave estimates? Implications for improved model evaluations and forecasting
Authors: Meier Walter N. , Fetterer Florence , Stewart J. Scott , Helfrich Sean
Published: April 2015

Passive microwave sensors have produced a 35 year record of sea-ice concentration variability and change. Operational analyses combine a variety of remote-sensing inputs and other sources via manual integration to create high-resolution, accurate charts of ice conditions in support of navigation and operational forecast models. One such product is the daily Multisensor Analyzed Sea Ice Extent (MASIE). The higher spatial resolution along with multiple input data and manual analysis potentially provide more precise mapping of the ice edge than passive microwave estimates. However, since MASIE is based on an operational product, estimates may be inconsistent over time due to variations in input data quality and availability. Comparisons indicate that MASIE shows higher Arctic-wide extent values throughout most of the year, largely because of the limitations of passive microwave sensors in some conditions (e.g. surface melt). However, during some parts of the year, MASIE tends to indicate less ice than estimated by passive microwave sensors. These comparisons yield a better understanding of operational and research sea-ice data products; this in turn has important implications for their use in climate and weather models.
Sufi Springs: Air on an Oud String
Authors: Rooney Caroline
Published: April 2015

The initial part of Caroline Rooney's essay offers an incisive account of the author's experience of Cairo in the years leading up to the 2011 uprisings that led to the end of Hosni Mubarak's rule. Rooney's narrative evinces an active Downtown cosmopolitan spirit characterised by a burgeoning sense of ‘audacity’ in forms of arts activism, and its attendant collective spirit of perseverance that increasingly rendered ineffective the repressive manoeuvres of Egypt's disciplinary State. Criticising the impulse to construe the Egyptian revolution in terms of a mimetic desire for a secular democracy on Western lines, Rooney insists that the Arab uprisings consisted, in many respects, of a revolution against Western-style free market neoliberalism. Countering the perpetual cynicism attendant to the latter, Rooney argues, requires a form of politicisation that maintains ‘the ongoing presence of the real as a matter of collective spirit’ – one that can outlast the colonial interlude by resisting the absolutist self-assertion of market fundamentalism and its collusions with ‘diplo-economic cosmopolitanism’ as a mode of class-discriminatory privilege, as well as the compromising nature of right-wing Islam. Rooney moves on to locate a counter-movement based on an alternative form of consciousness that manifests itself ‘as solidarity, as resoluteness, as genuine comradeship, as collective consciousness, as revolutionary faith and [as] festiveness.’ In the last part of her essay, Rooney raises the intriguing case of Sufism, and specifically its mulid rituals and its important role in the Egyptian revolutionary effort, as a relational cultural mode that can survive the will-to-dominance as a persistent and liberatory collective gesture.
Lessons from the South
Authors: Chambers Iain
Published: April 2015

Iain Chambers' essay challenges explanations of the Arab Spring emerging from the Occidental media, arguing that the terms of engagement set by the Arab revolts can no longer be unilaterally defined by the West. Chambers stresses the centrality of the Mediterranean as an increasingly evident site of confluence between East and West and between North and South. He goes on to argue that the events of the Arab Spring reopen the Western cultural and political lexicon, and put into question the historical alliance between Christianity and the universalising discourses of modernity. Ideas regarding the individual, the public sphere, political agency, religion, secularism and the state are necessarily being renegotiated in the context of the uprisings. The lived experiences of the Arab Spring slip beyond Western constructions of the events to expose the political and cultural burden of a modernity that may no longer be determined or managed single-handedly by the West. The Arab uprisings have occurred in the same time frame as protests in several European capitals, particularly since the fiscal collapse of 2008, and while there are distinct differences in these social unrests there is also, Chambers observes, a common factor: the rejection of the hypocrisies of the modern state. The new perspectives emerging from this confluence of experience around the shores of the Mediterranean may yield a more radical humanism within social, cultural, and political formations that are not automatically circumscribed by the global dictates of neoliberalism.
CONTAGION AND DOWNSIDE RISK IN THE REIT MARKET DURING THE SUBPRIME MORTGAGE CRISIS
Authors: CHEN Ming-Chi , TSAI Hsiu-Jung , SING Tien-Foo , YANG Chih-Yuan
Published: April 2015

This study empirically tests the contagion effects in stock and real estate investment trust (REIT) markets during the subprime mortgage crisis by using daily stock- and REIT-markets data from the following countries and international bodies: the United States, the European Union, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, and the global REIT market. We found a significant and positive dynamic conditional correlation (DCC) coefficient between stock returns and REIT returns. The results revealed that the REIT markets responded early to market shocks and that the variances were higher in the post-crisis period than in the pre-crisis period. Evidence supporting the contagion effects includes increases in the means of the DCC coefficients during the post-crisis period. The Japanese and Australian REIT markets possess the lowest time-varying downside systematic risks. We also demonstrated that the “DCC E-beta” captures more significant downside linkages between market portfolios and expected REIT returns than does the standard CAPM beta.
THE DYNAMIC OF RETURNS AND VOLATILITY OF MALAYSIAN LISTED PROPERTY COMPANIES IN ASIAN PROPERTY MARKET
Authors: RAZALI Muhammad Najib
Published: April 2015

This paper examines the dynamics of return and dynamic volatility across the Malaysian and pan-Asian countries’ listed property companies market over the period January 1998 to August 2012. Listed property companies’ portfolios have the potential to offer high returns and low risks for long-term investments for individuals as well as institutional investors. As such, it is important to assess the return and volatility level of the Malaysian listed property companies market in the dynamic region of pan-Asian countries. This paper uses ARCH and GARCH models to empirically examine the dynamic volatility of listed property companies in 12 pan-Asian countries. The findings revealed that for the past 14-years Malaysia experienced moderately high volatility levels in term of investment in listed property companies. This study will contribute significantly to the empirical literature on the volatility dynamics of the Malaysian property market in international real estate portfolios. In particular, the findings from the study will be useful for international investors to better understand the potential portfolio implications of investing in the Malaysian real estate market.
MULTICRITERIA EVALUATION OF COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL ZONE DEVELOPMENT
Authors: KOMAROVSKA Andželika , USTINOVICHIUS Leonas , SHEVCHENKO Galina , NAZARKO Lukasz
Published: April 2015

The article presents the results of the analysis of Vilnius district commercial-industrial zones. The criteria of analysis are: geographic location, plots and/or groups of plots in the area, operating and planning activities of companies as well as the infrastructure and transport communications development at the engineering level. A theoretical model for investment strategy selection is introduced to identify the possibilities of investment attractiveness. The principle of the investment option with the system of characterizing indicators for development is offered to reflect the lack of cohesion between practical investment promotion and sustainable development of the territories’ indicators.
Clinical Remission in Patients with Active Psoriatic Arthritis Treated with Adalimumab and Correlations in Joint and Skin Manifestations
Authors: Van den Bosch Filip , Kavanaugh Arthur , Kron Martina , Kupper Hartmut , Mease Philip J.
Published: April 2015

Objective.

Adalimumab (ADA) was evaluated for its efficacy in patients with moderate to severely active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and for the presence of correlations in disease change variables.

Methods.

Patients with inadequate response to standard PsA therapy were given 40 mg of ADA every other week for up to 12 weeks or 20 weeks. Outcome variables encompassed tender joint count (TJC), swollen joint count (SJC), physician’s global assessment (PGA) of psoriasis, Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), patient’s global assessment (PtGA) of disease activity and pain, C-reactive protein, as well as composite measures of disease activity. Patients with inactive skin disease symptoms at baseline were excluded from the remission analyses.

Results.

Of 268 patients with active baseline joint and skin disease and data available at Week 12 following open-label ADA therapy, 73 achieved joint remission (27.2%, TJC ≤ 1 + SJC ≤ 1) and 144 achieved skin remission criteria (53.7%, PGA = clear/almost clear). Simultaneous joint and skin remission criteria were achieved in 16.0% and 24.8% of patients at weeks 12 and 20, respectively. In patients who did not achieve skin and/or joint remission, 12-week ADA treatment improved mean clinical and functional scores. Joint remission was more frequently associated with achieving clinically relevant outcomes including HAQ, PtGA disease activity, and PtGA pain compared to skin remission. No correlation between improvement in skin and joint disease was observed.

Conclusion.

ADA was effective in achieving strict criteria for remission in joint or skin disease in many patients with active PsA within 12 weeks and sustained through 20 weeks. (NCT00235885)
Direct Health Costs of Inflammatory Polyarthritis 10 Years after Disease Onset: Results from the Norfolk Arthritis Register
Authors: Nikiphorou Elena , Davies Charlotte , Mugford Miranda , Cooper Nicola , Brooksby Alan , Bunn Diane K. , Young Adam , Verstappen Suzanne M.M. , Symmons Deborah P.M. , MacGregor Alex J.
Published: April 2015

Objectives.

To explore the change in direct medical costs associated with inflammatory polyarthritis (IP) 10 to 15 years after its onset.

Methods.

Patients from the Norfolk Arthritis Register who had previously participated in a health economic study in 1999 were traced 10 years later and invited to participate in a further prospective questionnaire-based study. The study was designed to identify direct medical costs and changes in health status over a 6-month period using previously validated questionnaires as the primary source of data.

Results.

A representative sample of 101 patients with IP from the 1999 cohort provided complete data over the 6-month period. The mean disease duration was 14 years (SD 2.1, median 13.6, interquartile range 12.6–15.4). The mean direct medical cost per patient over the 6-month period was £1496 for IP (inflated for 2013 prices). This compared with £582 (95% CI £355–£964) inflated to 2013 prices per patient with IP 10 years earlier in their disease. The increased cost was largely associated with the use of biologics in the rheumatoid arthritis subgroup of patients (51% of total costs incurred). Other direct cost components included primary care costs (11%), hospital outpatient (19%), day care (12%), and inpatient stay (4%).

Conclusion.

The direct healthcare costs associated with IP have more than doubled with increasing disease duration, largely as a result of the use of biologics. The results showed a shift in the direct health costs from inpatient to outpatient service use.
The Effect of Disease Severity and Comorbidity on Length of Stay for Orthopedic Surgery in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results from 2 UK Inception Cohorts, 1986–2012
Authors: Nikiphorou Elena , Morris Stephen , Dixey Josh , Williams Peter L. , Kiely Patrick , Walsh David A. , MacGregor Alex , Young Adam
Published: April 2015

Objective.

To examine factors predicting length of stay (LoS) for orthopedic intervention in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods.

LoS for orthopedic intervention was examined in 2 consecutive, multicenter inception cohorts: the Early RA Study (n = 1465, 9 centers) and the Early RA Network (n = 1236, 23 centers). Date, type of orthopedic procedure, and LoS were recorded and validated against national data, the UK National Joint Registry, and the UK Hospital Episode Statistics database. Clinical, laboratory, and radiographic measures and comorbidity recorded at baseline and annually were examined for their predictive power on LoS using regression analysis.

Results.

A total of 770 of 2701 patients (28.5%) had 1602 orthopedic interventions: 40% major (mainly total hip/knee replacements), 24% intermediate (mainly hand/wrist and ankle/foot surgery), and 16% minor (mainly soft tissue surgery). Median (interquartile range) LoS was 8 (5–13), 3 (1–5), and 1 (0–2) days for major, intermediate, and minor interventions, respectively. Older age predicted longer LoS (p < 0.001) whereas a more recent operation year predicted shorter LoS (p < 0.001). Markers of active disease, namely low hemoglobin, high Health Assessment Questionnaire, and high Disease Activity Scores in the first year all predicted longer LoS for all types of surgery (p = 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.05, respectively). Presence of 1 or more major comorbidities predicted longer LoS (p < 0.001).

Conclusion.

Comorbidity and standard clinical and laboratory markers of disease activity affect the LoS for orthopedic surgery in RA, which has important clinical and economic implications, providing a target for improving patient outcomes.
Yoga in Sedentary Adults with Arthritis: Effects of a Randomized Controlled Pragmatic Trial
Authors: Moonaz Steffany Haaz , Bingham Clifton O. , Wissow Lawrence , Bartlett Susan J.
Published: April 2015

Objective.

To evaluate the effect of Integral-based hatha yoga in sedentary people with arthritis.

Methods.

There were 75 sedentary adults aged 18+ years with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or knee osteoarthritis randomly assigned to 8 weeks of yoga (two 60-min classes and 1 home practice/wk) or waitlist. Poses were modified for individual needs. The primary endpoint was physical health [Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) physical component summary (PCS)] adjusted for baseline; exploratory adjusted outcomes included fitness, mood, stress, self-efficacy, SF-36 health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and RA disease activity. In everyone completing yoga, we explored longterm effects at 9 months.

Results.

Participants were mostly female (96%), white (55%), and college-educated (51%), with a mean (SD) age of 52 years (12 yrs). Average disease duration was 9 years and 49% had RA. At 8 weeks, yoga was associated with significantly higher PCS (6.5, 95% CI 2.0–10.7), walking capacity (125 m, 95% CI 15–235), positive affect (5.2, 95% CI 1.4–8.9), and lower Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (−3.0, 95% CI −4.8 – −1.3). Significant improvements (p < 0.05) were evident in SF-36 role physical, pain, general health, vitality, and mental health scales. Balance, grip strength, and flexibility were similar between groups. Twenty-two out of 28 in the waitlist group completed yoga. Among all yoga participants, significant (p < 0.05) improvements were observed in mean PCS, flexibility, 6-min walk, and all psychological and most HRQOL domains at 8 weeks with most still evident 9 months later. Of 7 adverse events, none were associated with yoga.

Conclusion.

Preliminary evidence suggests yoga may help sedentary individuals with arthritis safely increase physical activity, and improve physical and psychological health and HRQOL. Clinical Trials NCT00349869.
Outcome Domains and Measures in Total Joint Replacement Clinical Trials: Can We Harmonize Them? An OMERACT Collaborative Initiative
Authors: Singh Jasvinder A. , Dohm Michael , Sprowson Andrew P. , Wall Peter D. , Richards Bethan L. , Gossec Laure , Hawker Gillian A. , Riddle Daniel L. , Buchbinder Rachelle
Published: April 2015

Objective.

To develop a plan for harmonizing outcomes for people undergoing total joint replacement (TJR), to achieve consensus regarding TJR outcome research.

Methods.

The TJR working group met during the 2014 Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) 12 meeting in Budapest, Hungary. Multiple conference calls preceded the face-to-face meeting. Brief presentations were made during a 1.5-h meeting, which included an overview of published systematic reviews of TJR trials and the results of a recent systematic review of TJR clinical trial outcome domains and measures. This was followed by discussion of potential core set areas/domains for TJR clinical trials (as per OMERACT Filter 2.0) as well as the challenges associated with the measurement of these domains.

Results.

Working group participants discussed which TJR clinical trial outcome domains/areas map to the inner versus outer core for core domain set. Several challenges were identified with TJR outcomes including how to best measure function after TJR, elucidating the source of the pre- and post-TJR joint pain being measured, joint-specific versus generic quality of life instruments and the importance of patient satisfaction and revision surgery as outcomes. A preliminary core domain set for TJR clinical trials was proposed and included pain, function, patient satisfaction, revision, adverse events, and death. This core domain set will be further vetted with a broader audience.

Conclusion.

An international effort with active collaboration with the orthopedic community to standardize key outcome domains and measures is under way with the TJR working group. This effort will be further developed with new collaborations.
L’Europe, combien de divisions ?
Authors: Martinache Igor
Published: April 2015

L’Europe cristallise aujourd’hui bien des tensions. Mais, de même qu’elle représente une construction institutionnelle sans précédent, les débats qu’elle suscite ne suivent pas les lignes de clivage habituelles, obligeant à sortir des alternatives simplistes et à réinterroger des notions que l’on croyait familières : marché, démocratie, intégration, solidarité sociale et bien d’autres. Une seule chose est sûre : si elle divise aujourd’hui, il ne faudrait pas oublier en ces temps agités que l’Union fait la force.
La construction européenne : un refus originel de la démocratie
Authors: Salais Robert
Published: April 2015

Nombre d’économistes (et, plus largement, d’Européens) s’étonnent que si peu soit fait, pour transformer en profondeur les règles du marché et de la finance à l’échelle mondiale et sortir de la crise économique. En fait, l’issue recherchée par les tenants de l’ordre mondial marchand financiarisé est avant tout politique. Pour paraphraser le Guépard dans le livre de Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, comment tout bouger sans que rien ne change ? La conjecture [1] est que la construction européenne constitue une sorte de laboratoire grandeur nature de certaines des solutions politiques envisagées pour sauvegarder cet ordre mondial. L’un des principaux enjeux réside dans le contrôle des aspirations des peuples. Pour éviter cela, comment continuer à les impliquer dans l’existant sans pour autant céder à ces aspirations 1  ?
Les métamorphoses de l’intégration
Authors: Favell Adrian
Published: April 2015

La pensée progressiste envisage généralement l’« intégration » comme la finalité ultime du processus d’immigration. Néanmoins, face à la montée de sentiments anti-immigrés en Europe – ces derniers ciblant désormais tout autant des citoyens européens de l’Est et du Sud que les Musulmans ou les Africains sans-papiers – la pertinence de ce concept nécessite d’être remis en question.
Petite présentation de la christologie historique du Pape S. Léon le Grand
Authors: Pidolle Laurent
Published: April 2015

Le Tome à Flavien du Pape S. Léon le Grand (440-461), chef-d’œuvre christologique, est bien connu. Beaucoup moins connue est la christologie historique dont il procède. Cet article, reprenant l’argument d’un livre à paraître, fait découvrir combien l’Écriture reçue de la Tradition est l’âme de cette christologie qui nous montre le Christ accomplissant toute l’histoire en l’attirant à Lui du haut de la Croix. C’est la permanence d’Israël, son antithèse manichéenne et des relents de paganisme qui font fleurir la christologie léonienne du cœur même de la prédication liturgique et kérygmatique aux chrétiens de Rome.
Survival of Effector CD8+ T Cells during Influenza Infection Is Dependent on Autophagy
Authors: Schlie Katrin , Westerback Ashley , DeVorkin Lindsay , Hughson Luke R. , Brandon Jillian M. , MacPherson Sarah , Gadawski Izabelle , Townsend Katelin N. , Poon Vincent I. , Elrick Mary A. , Côté Helene C. F. , Abraham Ninan , Wherry E. John , Mizushima Noboru , Lum Julian J.
Published: April 2015

The activation and expansion of effector CD8+ T cells are essential for controlling viral infections and tumor surveillance. During an immune response, T cells encounter extrinsic and intrinsic factors, including oxidative stress, nutrient availability, and inflammation, that can modulate their capacity to activate, proliferate, and survive. The dependency of T cells on autophagy for in vitro and in vivo activation, expansion, and memory remains unclear. Moreover, the specific signals and mechanisms that activate autophagy in T effector cells and their survival are not known. In this study, we generated a novel inducible autophagy knockout mouse to study T cell effector responses during the course of a virus infection. In response to influenza infection, Atg5−/− CD8+ T cells had a decreased capacity to reach the peak effector response and were unable to maintain cell viability during the effector phase. As a consequence of Atg5 deletion and the impairment in effector-to-memory cell survival, mice fail to mount a memory response following a secondary challenge. We found that Atg5−/− effector CD8+ T cells upregulated p53, a transcriptional state that was concomitant with widespread hypoxia in lymphoid tissues of infected mice. The onset of p53 activation was concurrent with higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that resulted in ROS-dependent apoptotic cell death, a fate that could be rescued by treating with the ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine. Collectively, these results demonstrate that effector CD8+ T cells require autophagy to suppress cell death and maintain survival in response to a viral infection.
Асимптотика спектра оператора Хартри вблизи верхних границ спектральных кластеров. Асимптотические решения, локализованные вблизи окружности
Authors: Pereskokov Alexandr Vadimovich
Published: April 2015

Рассмотрена задача на собственные значения для оператора Хартри с малым параметром перед нелинейностью. Найдены асимптотические собственные значения и асимптотические собственные функции вблизи верхних границ спектральных кластеров, которые образуются около уровней энергии невозмущенного оператора. Вблизи окружности, где локализовано решение, главный член разложения является решением задачи о двумерном осцилляторе.
Полиномиальные интегралы движения в теориях дилатонной гравитации
Authors: Davydov Evgenii Aleksandrovich
Published: April 2015

Исследование современных моделей в гравитации и космологии содержит этап анализа сопутствующих нелинейных динамических систем. Как правило, такие системы не являются интегрируемыми, однако зачастую они допускают наличие дополнительных интегралов движения. На основе характерных свойств динамических систем, возникающих в теориях дилатонной гравитации, сформулирован универсальный алгоритм поиска полиномиальных по импульсу интегралов движения. С его помощью теории дилатонной гравитации с одним скалярным полем исследованы на наличие линейных и квадратичных интегралов движения.
Самосогласованный подход к описанию релаксационных процессов в классических многочастичных системах
Authors: Mokshin Anatolii Vasilievich
Published: April 2015

Концепция временны́х корреляционных функций представляет собой весьма удобный теоретический аппарат для описания релаксационных процессов в многочастичных системах. Это обусловлено тем, что, с одной стороны, корреляционные функции связываются непосредственно с экспериментально измеряемыми величинами (например, интенсивностями в спектроскопических измерениях, коэффициентами переноса через соотношения Кубо-Грина и т. д.), а с другой стороны, применимость данной концепции не ограничивается лишь равновесным случаем. Показано, что в рамках формализма функций памяти и метода рекуррентных соотношений возможно формулирование самосогласованного подхода к описанию релаксационных процессов в классических многочастичных системах, который исключает использование априорных аппроксимаций временны́х корреляционных функций модельными зависимостями, обеспечивает выполнение правил сумм, а также других физических условий. Демонстрируется применимость подхода как при трактовке простейших релаксационных сценариев, так и в развитии микроскопических теорий транспортных явлений в жидкостях, распространения флуктуаций плотности в равновесных простых жидкостях и структурной релаксации в переохлажденных жидкостях. Подход обобщает приближения взаимодействующих мод в реализации Гeтце-Левгезера и корреляционные приближения Юльметьева-Шурыгина.
Теория рассеяния для дельтаобразных потенциалов
Authors: Shabat Alexey Borisovich
Published: April 2015

На примере уравнения Кортевега-де Фриза рассматривается вопрос о расширении рамок метода обратной задачи рассеяния при помощи дельтаобразных потенциалов и их преобразований Дарбу. Задача о свойствах данных рассеяния сводится в этом случае к изучению целых функций спектрального параметра, заданных явно.
Эффект Казимира для совокупности параллельных проводящих поверхностей
Authors: Khusnutdinov Nail Rustamovich , Kashapov Rashid Nailevich
Published: April 2015

Рассматривается энергия Казимира для системы проводящих параллельных плоскостей, обладающих постоянной поверхностной проводимостью. Получено общее выражение для энергии Казимира системы двух, трех и четырех плоскостей. В случае одинакового расстояния между плоскостями энергия обратно пропорциональна кубу расстояния между плоскостями и при малой проводимости не зависит от постоянной Планка и скорости света. Для системы идеально проводящих плоскостей энергия Казимира является суммой энергий Казимира пар соседних плоскостей.
Об операторе Шредингера с суперпозицией короткодействующего и точечного потенциалов
Authors: Gradusov Vitalii Aleksandrovich , Yakovlev Sergei Leonidovich
Published: April 2015

Исследуется класс операторов Шредингера, для которых потенциальный член является суммой короткодействующего $V(\boldsymbol{r})$ и точечного потенциалов. Внимание уделено случаю, когда короткодействующий потенциал имеет особенность на носителе $r=0$ точечного взаимодействия. Точечное взаимодействие построено с помощью асимптотики при $\boldsymbol{r}\to 0$ функции Грина оператора Шредингера $-\Delta +V(\boldsymbol{r})$ с короткодействующим потенциалом $V$. Рассмотрены потенциалы, имеющие в начале координат особенность вида $r^{-\rho}$ с $\rho>0$. Исследование производится при помощи интегрального уравнения Липпмана-Швингера. Показано, что если особенность потенциала слабее, чем кулоновская, то асимптотика функции Грина имеет стандартное сингулярное поведение. В случае особенности потенциала вида $r^{-\rho}$ с $1\le\rho<3/2$ в асимптотике функции Грина возникает дополнительная сингулярность. В случае $\rho=1$ дополнительная логарифмическая сингулярность имеет ту же форму, что и в случае кулоновского потенциала. В случае $1<\rho<3/2$ дополнительная сингулярность имеет вид полярной особенности $r^{-\rho+1}$.
Slaughter and carcass characteristics, chemical composition and physical properties of longissimus lumborum muscle of heifers as related to marbling class
Authors: Oler A. , Głowińska B. , Młynek K.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. The experiment involved 68 heifers obtained from Polish Black-and-White Lowland dams (with no more than 50% Holstein Friesian blood) sired by Limousin bulls. The study was arranged to determine the slaughter and carcass traits, chemical composition and physical properties of musculus longissimus lumborum (MLL) as related to the level of marbling, and to examine the correlation between some of the traits mentioned above and the culinary characteristics of meat. The results of the study show that marbling significantly affected the dressing percentage and carcass traits such as subcutaneous fat content, fat of valuable cuts and MLL area. Most of the physico-chemical properties of tested muscles, with the exception of total protein and total collagen content, were related to the level of marbling. Based on the results obtained, it appears that age at slaughter and carcass weight turned out to be poor predictors of colour lightness within all marbling classes. The same conclusion applies to the amount of total collagen in large and strong marbled muscles for shear force value. In turn, soluble collagen content for shear force could be a quite good forecaster of meat tenderness but not in highly marbled muscles. Of all tested slaughter and carcass traits, only MLL fat content seems to be appropriate to assess both: the tenderness and lightness of meat.
Simultaneous reductions in emissions of black carbon and co-emitted species will weaken the aerosol net cooling effect
Authors: Wang Z. L. , Zhang H. , Zhang X. Y.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. Black carbon (BC), a distinct type of carbonaceous material formed from the incomplete combustion of fossil and biomass based fuels under certain conditions, can interact with solar radiation and clouds through its strong light-absorption ability, thereby warming the Earth's climate system. Some studies have even suggested that global warming could be slowed down in the short term by eliminating BC emission due to its short lifetime. In this study, we estimate the influence of removing some sources of BC and other co-emitted species on the aerosol radiative effect by using an aerosol–climate atmosphere-only model BCC_AGCM2.0.1_CUACE/Aero with prescribed sea surface temperature and sea ice cover, in combination with the aerosol emissions from the Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) scenarios. We find that the global annual mean aerosol net cooling effect at the top of the atmosphere (TOA) will be enhanced by 0.12 W m−2 compared with recent past year 2000 levels if the emissions of only BC are reduced to the level projected for 2100 based on the RCP2.6 scenario. This will be beneficial~for the mitigation of global warming. However, both aerosol negative direct and indirect radiative effects are weakened when BC and its co-emitted species (sulfur dioxide and organic carbon) are simultaneously reduced. Relative to year 2000 levels, the global annual mean aerosol net cooling effect at the TOA will be weakened by 1.7–2.0 W m−2 if the emissions of all these aerosols are decreased to the levels projected for 2100 in different ways based on the RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5 scenarios. Because there are no effective ways to remove the BC exclusively without influencing the other co-emitted components, our results therefore indicate that a reduction in BC emission can lead to an unexpected warming on the Earth's climate system in the future.
A new temperature- and humidity-dependent surface site density approach for deposition ice nucleation
Authors: Steinke I. , Hoose C. , Möhler O. , Connolly P. , Leisner T.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. Deposition nucleation experiments with Arizona Test Dust (ATD) as a surrogate for mineral dusts were conducted at the AIDA cloud chamber at temperatures between 220 and 250 K. The influence of the aerosol size distribution and the cooling rate on the ice nucleation efficiencies was investigated. Ice nucleation active surface site (INAS) densities were calculated to quantify the ice nucleation efficiency as a function of temperature, humidity and the aerosol surface area concentration. Additionally, a contact angle parameterization according to classical nucleation theory was fitted to the experimental data in order to relate the ice nucleation efficiencies to contact angle distributions. From this study it can be concluded that the INAS density formulation is a very useful tool to describe the temperature- and humidity-dependent ice nucleation efficiency of ATD particles. Deposition nucleation on ATD particles can be described by a temperature- and relative-humidity-dependent INAS density function ns(T, Sice) with ns(xtherm) = 1.88 ×105 · exp(0.2659 · xtherm) [m−2] , (1) where the temperature- and saturation-dependent function xtherm is defined as xtherm = −(T−273.2)+(Sice−1) ×100, (2) with the saturation ratio with respect to ice Sice >1 and within a temperature range between 226 and 250 K. For lower temperatures, xtherm deviates from a linear behavior with temperature and relative humidity over ice. Also, two different approaches for describing the time dependence of deposition nucleation initiated by ATD particles are proposed. Box model estimates suggest that the time-dependent contribution is only relevant for small cooling rates and low number fractions of ice-active particles.