bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Características reprodutivas de ovelhas Morada Nova e Somalis Brasileira
Authors: Sousa Rafael Teixeira de , Gonçalves Juliete de Lima , Fonteles Natália Lívia de Oliveira , Santos Claudiane Morais dos , Ricci Gisele Dela , Albuquerque Fernando Henrique Melo Andrade Rodrigues de , Fernandes Francisco Eden Paiva , Bomfim Marco Aurélio Delmondes
Published: September 2016

Morada Nova and Brazilian Somalis are majorhair sheep breeds of Northeast Brazil. They are exploited for meat and skin, and have characteristics peculiar reproductive ensuring good performance of these breeds even under less favorable conditions for the creation. Both breeds have a high reproductive potential, where females of these groups are annual genetic poliestricas, presenting estrus, ovulation and calving during the whole year. However, reproductive efficiency is important factors in sheep production systems and for various reasons need to be improved in the Brazilian Northeast. The nutritional status is a major factor, when it wants to achieve improvements in the productive and reproductive capacity of the herd, to ensure an appropriate nutritional plan is essential for the increase of zootechnicals parameters.
Atividade sérica de enzimas musculares Ast, Ldh e Ck em equinos submetidos à diferentes tipos de esforço físico na Região de Imperatriz-MA
Authors: Nunes Fernando Loiola , Dantas Manoel de Oliveira , Queiroz Ingrid Karoline Alves de , Silva Lôrrana Cortêz da , Sousa Felipe , Alves Murilo Barros
Published: September 2016

The objetive was to assess the levels of aspartate aminotransferase AST, Creatine Kinase CK and Lactate dehydrogenase LDH in equine region of Imperatriz – MA, being subjected to physical strain 43 animals 08 females and 35 males, divided into 06 groups. 9ml was collected blood prior disinfection jugular vein and collected by puncture into tubes vacutaimer samples were immediately centrifuged at 3000 rpm in the under refrigeration until analysis. By means of a spectrophotometer at wavelength of 340nm , it was determined the enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST) , creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) with commercial kits which were prepared following the methodology of kit . The analysis of variance and mean test between groups showed no variation between sexes ( P < 0.05) . As for the age factor in the young animals the values ​​were higher . The group of animals of the project presented Hippotherapy highest average value and significance between groups for the enzyme LDH (mean 605.00 U / L ± 143.28 U/I -valued ( p < 0.01) elevation of not revealing activity of AST and CK .
The Effects of Joint Cost Allocation on Intra-Firm Trade: A Comparison of Insulating and Non-Insulating Approaches
Authors: Arya Anil , Glover Jonathan C. , Mittendorf Brian
Published: September 2016

While it is generally believed that insulating cost allocations help managers focus their attention on their own actions and shield them from the actions of others, non-insulating schemes can have appeal by encouraging teamwork and/or mutual monitoring among divisions. In this paper, we demonstrate that non-insulating allocations can induce fruitful cooperation among parties even when teamwork and mutual monitoring are nonissues. In particular, we show that in the case of intra-firm trade governed by transfer pricing, non-insulating allocations can permit one division to internalize benefits of private information borne by another and thereby alleviate information-induced trade barriers. Unlike in the traditional case of fostering teamwork, however, the cooperative nature of non-insulating allocation introduced by information differences is distinctly more circumstance-specific. In line with this view, the paper also identifies conditions under which the use of non-insulating allocation shifts divisional incentives in a manner that only adds further tension to trade.
Renal and Systemic Effects of Calorie Restriction in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes With Abdominal Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Ruggenenti Piero , Abbate Manuela , Ruggiero Barbara , Rota Stefano , Trillini Matias , Aparicio Carolina , Parvanova Aneliya , Petrov Iliev Ilian , Pisanu Giovanna , Perna Annalisa , Russo Angela , Diadei Olimpia , Martinetti Davide , Cannata Antonio , Carrara Fabiola , Ferrari Silvia , Stucchi Nadia , Remuzzi Giuseppe , Fontana Luigi ,   on behalf of the C.RE.S.O. Study Group
Published: September 2016

In individuals with type 2 diabetes with abdominal obesity, hyperfiltration is a risk factor for accelerated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decline and nephropathy. In this academic, single-center, parallel-group, prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded end point trial, consenting patients with type 2 diabetes aged >18 years, with waist circumference >94 (males) or >80 (females) cm, serum creatinine <1.2 mg/dL, and normoalbuminuria were randomized (1:1) with permuted blocks to 6 months of a 25% calorie restricted (CR) or standard diet (SD). Primary outcome was measured GFR (iohexol plasma clearance). Analyses were by modified intention to treat. At 6 months, GFR significantly decreased in 34 patients on CR and did not change appreciably in 36 on SD. Changes were significantly different between the groups. GFR and body weight reduction were correlated. GFR reduction was larger in hyperfiltering (GFR >120 mL/min) than nonhyperfiltering patients and was associated with BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, heart rate, HbA1c, blood glucose, LDL-to-HDL cholesterol ratio, C-reactive protein, angiotensin II, and albuminuria reduction and with increased glucose disposal rate (measured by hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps). Protein and sodium intake and concomitant treatments were similar between the groups. CR was tolerated well. In patients with type 2 diabetes with abdominal obesity, CR ameliorates glomerular hyperfiltration, insulin sensitivity, and other cardiovascular risk factors, effects that might translate into long-term nephro- and cardioprotection.
Can Scarabs Argue for the Origins of the Hyksos?
Authors: Ben-Tor Daphna
Published: September 2016

One of the most intriguing questions about the Second Intermediate Period in Egypt is the origin of the Hyksos—the foreign people who ruled over northern Egypt during this time. Their Levantine origin was conclusively demonstrated by archaeological evidence from Tell el-Dab’a, yet the evidence establishing the particular region they came from (i.e., the northern or southern Levant) is inconclusive, and the question is still the subject of debate. In view of the scarcity of textual sources from this period and the inconclusive archaeological evidence, the significance of the large number of scarabs associated with this period from both Egypt and the Levant is generally recognized. this paper presents evidence based on recent studies of scarabs of this period from both regions, and argues for the southern Levant as the place of origin of the Second Intermediate Period foreign rulers in Egypt.
Pa-Canaan in the Egyptian New Kingdom: Canaan or Gaza?
Authors: Hasel Michael G.
Published: September 2016

The identification of the geographical name “Canaan” continues to be widely debated in the scholarly literature. Cuneiform sources from Mari, Amarna, Ugarit, Aššur, and Hattusha have been discussed, as have Egyptian sources. Renewed excavations in North Sinai along the “Ways of Horus” have, along with recent scholarly reconstructions, refocused attention on the toponyms leading toward and culminating in the arrival to Canaan. This has led to two interpretations of the Egyptian name Pa-Canaan: it is either identified as the territory of Canaan or the city of Gaza. This article offers a renewed analysis of the terms Canaan, Pa-Canaan, and Canaanite in key documents of the New Kingdom, with limited attention to parallels of other geographical names, including Kharu, Retenu, and Djahy. It is suggested that the name Pa-Canaan in Egyptian New Kingdom sources consistently refers to the larger geographical territory occupied by the Egyptians in Asia.
The Indebtedness of Minoan Religion to Egyptian Solar Religion: Was Sir Arthur Evans Right?
Authors: Marinatos Nanno
Published: September 2016

Sir Arthur Evans believed that Minoan religion was highly indebted to Egyptian thought. He saw that the two cultures shared a solar theology expressed via similar iconographical schemes, such as the heraldic arrangement of lions on either side of a column and the astral associations of the goddess known to the Egyptians as Taweret and transmuted by the Minoans into leonine “genii.” Evans’ solar theory was not systematically developed and has scarcely been considered since. Yet it is worth reviving in view of recent finds, especially the excavations of Manfred Bietak at Tell el Dab’a, which prove that contact between the royal courts of Egypt and Crete was close indeed.
Grasping the Griffin: Identifying and Characterizing the Griffin in Egyptian and West Semitic Tradition
Authors: Wyatt Nicolas
Published: September 2016

The griffin is commonly understood to be an eagle-headed winged lion. I argue here that the Egyptian version has a falcon head, identifying it as a form of Horus; as an allomorph of the sphinx (seen most clearly on the axe-head of Ahmose), it represents the ka of the king. A digression into Judeo-Christian iconography argues that the bird among the evangelical symbols, derived from Ezekiel’s vision of the divine chariot, is not an eagle, but a falcon, the four forms being all derived from Egyptian images of the king (as lion, bull, man, and falcon). The iconography of cherubs (commonly supposed to be of Mesopotamian inspiration) is perhaps more directly linked with griffins, since the Hebrew kerûb is claimed to be the source of Greek γρυψ (“griffin”) by J. P. Brown. The other symbolic beast of the Israelite repertoire is usually understood to be serpentine: here I argue that the Hebrew śārāp, “seraph,” is better explained as derived from Egyptian srf/sfr, “griffin,” having the same sense. A semantic (though perhaps not morphological) equivalence of śārāp and kerûb seems reasonable. The frequent incidence of griffins in West Semitic glyptic art in the second and first millennia is shown to perpetuate the Egyptian solar and royal symbolism, which was also transmitted to the Aegean world.
Labeling Ancient Egyptian Complex-Media Varnishes as “Imperial”
Authors: de Vartavan Christian
Published: September 2016

The appearance—and subsequent disappearance—of complex-media varnishes in ancient Egypt coincides chronologically with the rise and fall of Egypt’s imperial ambitions in Asia, and analysis of the constituent oleoresins suggests this is no coincidence. It is therefore suggested that these varnishes be labeled as “imperial,” a useful contribution not only to the history of ancient Egyptian power and trade, but also to ancient Egyptian art and art history in general.
Hathor and Isis in Byblos in the Second and First Millennia BCE
Authors: Tower Hollis Susan
Published: September 2016

The Egyptian goddesses Hathor and Isis both appear in Byblos under various guises and circumstances during the second and first millennia BCE. In fact, Hathor, who received cult in many foreign locales, is attested in Byblos in the third millennium. This discussion explores the presence of each of these deities in Byblos after describing their respective Egyptian backgrounds, the circumstances under which is attested in Byblos, how and why each arrived there, and instances when, despite some uncertainty, one or the other is assumed to have been present.
A Cuneiform Legal Presence in “The Report of Wenamun”?
Authors: Campbell James Elliott
Published: September 2016

This article poses a question concerning the possible source(s) of the appearance, in an eleventh-century-BCE Egyptian narrative, of a legal injunction that, surprisingly, finds its closest written analogue in eighteenth-century Babylonian law. The author attempts to answer that question by postulating that the long process of idea transfer could have been facilitated by the Hurrians, a very culturally influential people often overlooked in general studies and discussions of the ancient Near East. This possible cuneiform legal presence in “The Report of Wenamun” (P. Moscow 120) concerns a Babylonian juridical concept known as šurqa(m) mullû(m), which involves, under particular conditions, the replenishment of the value of stolen goods to a victim of theft through municipal compensation. This concept is found on the law stele of Babylonian ruler Hammurabi, as well as in the laws of the Hurrian-influenced Hittites and the Hurrian-controlled municipality of Nuzi in the northeastern Mesopotamian kingdom of Arrapha. The potential Hurrian influence inside the pharaonic palace of Egypt, through royal marriages in the fifteenth, fourteenth, and thirteenth centuries, will also be discussed.
Applying a Multi- Analytical Approach to the Investigation of Ancient Egyptian Influence in Nubian Communities: The Socio- Cultural Implications of Chemical Variation in Ceramic Styles
Authors: Carrano Julia , Smith Stuart T. , Herbst George , Girty Gary H. , Carrano Carl J. , Ferguson Jeffrey R.
Published: September 2016

This article reviews published archaeological research that explores the potential of combined chemical and petrographic analyses to distinguish manufacturing methods of ceramics made From Nile river silt. The methodology was initially applied to distinguish the production methods of Egyptian and Nubian- style vessels found in New Kingdom and Napatan Period Egyptian colonial centers in Upper Nubia. Conducted in the context of ongoing excavations and surveys at the third cataract, ceramic characterization can be used to explore the dynamic role pottery production may have played in Egyptian efforts to integrate with or alter native Nubian culture. Results reveal that, despite overall similar geochemistry, x-ray fluorescence (XRF), instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), and petrography can distinguish Egyptian and Nubian-style ceramic traditions based on the relative degree of compositional homogeneity and subtle differences in paste recipes. This in turn indicates that cultural differences in craft production were sustained over time within the ethnically mixed communities of Upper Nubia. Based on these positive results, the methodology shows potential for addressing additional research questions in the Nile Valley, and a current research plan by the authors applies these same techniques to an evaluation of the role of ceramic craft centralization in the rise of the native Nubian Kerma state.
A Devastated Foreign Landscape Depicted in Luxor Temple
Authors: Phelps Danielle
Published: September 2016

A relief of Ramesses II located on the exterior western wall of the Processional Colonnade Hall of Luxor Temple portrays a devastated landscape surrounding an unnamed town. Analysis of the vegetation represented in this relief may indicate the general location of the unnamed town and is of interest to our understanding of Egyptian military interaction with the area—possibly indicating the time of year the town was destroyed.
The Dead and Their Images: An Egyptian Etymology for Hebrew ’ôb
Authors: Hays Christopher B. , LeMon Joel M.
Published: September 2016

The term ’ôb has long been a philological mystery for scholars of classical Hebrew and Israelite religion. It does not seem to mean the same thing in all instances, and its etymology is unclear and contested. The present article argues that an Egyptian etymology for the term is most likely, and that it refers both to the dead and to cultic images of them used in necromancy and ancestor worship.
A Geographical Analysis of the Injunctive in the Amarna Letters from Syria-Palestine and its Relevance for Egyptian Imperialism
Authors: Siddal Luis Robert
Published: September 2016

The Amarna Letters from Syria-Palestine were written in a mixed language comprising the lingua franca, Akkadian, and what appears to be the local West-Semitic or “Canaanite” language. One of the more distinguishing features resulting From this combination of the two languages is the use of the injunctive form, limited in this article to the jussive (Canaanite) and precative (Akkadian), which were equivalents in the respective languages. Yet while both verbal forms are injunctive and express a wish or an indirect command, the scribes of Syria-Palestine were by no means consistent in their preference for one or the other form. This article maps the geographical pattern of the use of the injunctive, revealing a clear division: the northern and central cities preferred the precative and the southern and coastal cities elected for the jussive. The phenomenon is explained in terms of the regions’ place in the Egyptian empire and the difference in the regions’ familiarity with the Egyptian imperial administration.
Ptolemy II Philadelphus and the Dionysiac Model of Political Authority
Authors: Goyette Michael
Published: September 2016

Throughout the Ptolemaic era, the Greek rulers of Egypt had to tackle complex issues pertaining to the nature of their dominion over peoples who were in many ways culturally, socially, and politically distinct. This paper examines how, despite these differences, Ptolemy II Philadelphus found a way to connect with both the Greek and Egyptian segments of his population by identifying himself with the god Dionysus. Although a Greek deity, Dionysus possessed specific associations that would have resonated with elements of Egyptian religion and culture. These connotations would have promoted the perception of Philadelphus as a legitimate and benevolent ruler capable of transcending cultural boundaries. The grand procession in the Ptolemaia festival has been characterized by Dorothy J. Thompson as a form of propaganda for the ruling family. Similarly, the various forms of evidence presented in this paper suggest that Dionysus would have been a convenient political vehicle in this syncretic environment. Such an approach on the part of Philadelphus was highly innovative and effective, and influenced the political identity assumed by later Ptolemaic rulers.
The Amarna Letters from Tyre as a Source for Understanding Atenism and Imperial Administration
Authors: Siddall Luis Robert
Published: September 2016

It has long been recognized that the corpus of letters from Tyre discovered in the Amarna letter archive contain a number of Egyptianisms. Scholars have also recognized the presence of some West Semitic traits in the corpus, which are typical of the letters from Syro-Palestine. However, the intellectual context of those linguistic/cultural traits of the letters has not been adequately investigated. This paper examines the Egyptianisms and West Semiticisms in the light of the contemporary religious movement in Egypt, Atenism, and the New Kingdom imperial administration. We conclude that the evidence from these letters indicates that more traditional aspects of Egyptian royal ideology might still have been current during the Amarna Period and propose that there was a pragmatic purpose for the Egyptianisms and West Semiticisms: Abi-milki, the governor of Tyre, was attempting to appeal to the Egyptian imperial administration.
Elysion and Egypt
Authors: Marinatos Nanno , Anderson A. Sebastian
Published: September 2016

The purpose of this paper is to present a novel synthesis of Archaic Greek cosmography and to highlight the role of the Near East—and especially Egypt—in the formation of Greek imagination about the beyond. The time span under examination is the era between the eighth and seventh centuries BCE, the so- called Orientalizing period. It will be argued that a coherent Greek cosmology was formulated at this time by Hesiod and Homer, and that this cosmology is comprehensible only by reference to a cosmic map that is reconstructed here. Further, it will be argued that Egyptian motifs concerning the afterlife were adopted by the Greeks, but that the fundamental Egyptian metaphysical philosophy that the sun revives the dead was not borrowed. Finally, it will be argued that itinerant singers transmitted the motifs during the Orientalizing period.
Spatial Use of the Twelfth Dynasty Harbor at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis for the Seafaring Expeditions to Punt
Authors: Bard Kathryn A. , Fattovich Rodolfo
Published: September 2016

Recent excavations at the Middle Kingdom harbor at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis, on the Red Sea, have uncovered evidence of shrines aligned along the shore as well as harbor facilities farther inland, including eight manmade caves located above an ancient lagoon that extended considerably inland from where the present- day shoreline is located. The harbor was used for the seafaring expeditions to Punt, located somewhere in the southern Red Sea region. Hieroglyphic and hieratic texts on stelae, seal impressions, and ostraca—along with associated pottery—have aided in dating the use of different features at the site to the early and later Twelfth Dynasty.
Overland Boat Transportation During the Pharaonic Period: Archaeology and Iconography
Authors: Creasman Pearce Paul , Doyle Noreen
Published: September 2016

Pharaonic Egyptian needs for waterborne transport surpassed the convenience of geography. Several obstacles— chiefly the lack of a water passage from the Nile Valley to the Red Sea and the unnavigable waters of the Second Cataract—had to be overcome. The Egyptians achieved this by techniques of hull construction, by architectural means, and by the employment of vehicles. Vehicles also functioned for the ceremonial transport of boats and boat- shaped shrines. This paper is a survey of the methods of overland boat transportation during the pharaonic period, with an emphasis on the archaeological and iconographic evidence.
Ahhotep’s Silver Ship Model: The Minoan Context
Authors: Wachsmann Shelley
Published: September 2016

The tomb of Ahhotep (I) contained two metal ship models—one gold, the other silver—and a four-wheeled carriage. The models are anomalous in time and material. While the gold model represents a typical papyriform wood- planked Nile vessel, the silver model finds its closest parallels with a contemporaneous Minoan/Cycladic vessel crewed by ten rowers, exemplified by the rowed ship in the Miniature Frieze from the West House in Akrotiri on Thera. This conclusion is further supported by a long tradition of metal ship models in the Aegean. The silver model may be a copy of an actual ship or of a model of a ship. Ahhotep’s models and carriage may represent booty captured by either Kamose or Ahmose during their battles against Avaris (Tell el-Dab’a) and subsequently interred with their mother. If this interpretation is correct, it could indicate a Minoan presence at Tell el-Dab’a during the Hyksos period.
The West Beyond the West: The Mysterious “Wernes” of the Egyptian Underworld and the Chad Palaeolake
Authors: Schneider Thomas
Published: September 2016

Amduat, one of the Egyptian guides to the underworld, provides specific descriptions and measurements relating to the ﬁrst three hours after sunset, during which the sun god Re passes through an interstitial realm (the ﬁrst hour) before arriving at two gigantic sweet-water oceans (the second and third hours). Rather than seeing in this imagery reﬂections of the unconscious and antecedents of modern psychotherapy (as has been proposed by some modern scholars), the present work argues that the description was inspired by actual knowledge of the environment of the region to the distant southwest of the Nile Valley, beyond the Gilf Kebir and Gebel Uweinat on modern Egypt’s southwest corner. Recent evidence has made plausible that the Abu Ballas Trail connected Egypt with the Chad Basin of Central Africa. Elements of the factual description provided in the Amduat (including environmental and linguistic details; e.g., the hitherto unexplained name “Wernes”) can be corroborated by modern palaeoecological reconstruction of the area as having comprised gigantic palaeolakes, as well as by linguistic and narrative evidence.
"Stop, O Poison, That I May Find Your Name According to Your Aspect”: A Preliminary Study on the Ambivalent Notion of Poison and the Demonization of the Scorpion's Sting in Ancient Egypt and Abroad
Authors: Kousoulis Panagiotis
Published: September 2016

The scope of this paper is to present a novel exposition of the ambivalent notion of poison and venomous agents, especially scorpions, in ancient Egyptian magical literature, seeking contemporary variants in Greek mythos and praxis. Emphasis is given to the notion of change and ambiguity in the usage of the relevant terminology (mtwt, mw-mr, ἰός and φάρμακον, venenum), and the employment of certain intertextual motifs that show the lack of any firm background behind the personification of scorpions and venom as distinct/demonic individuals in the texts under examination. On the contrary, their realization is closely dependent upon the contextual framework and verbal methodology (word play in context and formulae) applied in each case, an issue which parallels the ambiguity of the “demonic” conception in the Egyptian belief system.
Insights into Egyptian Horus Falcon Imagery by Way of Real Falcons and Horus Falcon Influence in the Aegean in the Middle Bronze Age: Part II
Authors: Porter Ray
Published: September 2016

Falcons were a part of everyday life in the Aegean but also appear in Minoan-Mycenaean art in cult capacity as attending a goddess, being the possible ba bird of a deceased person, and in symbolic ornaments of falcon shape with distinct falcon attributes of sharp talons, hooked beaks, and neck curls. These are possibly major signs of Egyptian influence reaching the Cyclades Islands as well as the Aegeanized Egyptian themes of Middle Bronze Age Minoan art. The bird part of Aegean griffins and griffin wings show distinct origins in falcon traits. The triangular hook markings of kestrels’ underwing flight feathers are the basis of the “notched plume” wing pattern of Aegean griffins. The most suggestive presence of the Horus Falcon and the solar disk in the Aegean is the Middle Bronze Age Melos Island pottery bird designs where falcons have large red disk bodies resembling the solar disks of the Egyptian falcon gods.
Egypt and the Chad: Some Additional Remarks
Authors: Schneider Thomas
Published: September 2016

This article is an addendum to the contribution published by the author in JAEI 2:4 (2010). It draws attention to the importance of research on the connection between Egypt and the Chad region with regard to observations made on shared linguistic features, and the recent hypothesis that rock drawings at Gilf Kebir display possible precursors to Egyptian religious concepts. Also published here is away marker discovered in the 1990s on the proposed trajectory of the prolonged Abu Ballas trail into the Chad Basin.
The Eighth Campaign of Thutmose III Revisited
Authors: Mizrachy Yosef
Published: September 2016

One of the most decisive rivalries in the history of the Ancient Near East during the Late Bronze Age was between Egypt and Mitanni. Starting around the beginning of the fifteenth century B.C.E. this rivalry reached its pinnacle during the reign of Thutmose III (1490-1436 B.C.E). Among the military campaigns he directed towards the Levant, his eighth campaign, in year 33 of his reign, has been perceived in scholarly study of this conflict as the highest point. Owing to an exceptional variety of written sources which had been dedicated to its commemoration, as well as the implementation of some unprecedented tactical military moves in the course of this campaign, it won its grandeur, second only to the Megiddo campaign. This paper aims at reanalyzing and reinterpreting the sources concerning the eighth campaign. Further investigations into the sources from the time of Thutmose III and a reconsideration of former views about the significance of this campaign bring us to an alternative conclusion: the eighth campaign was mainly a symbolic display of power, with no more than a demonstrative consequence. The actual confrontation between the parties would take place two years after the eighth campaign.
Effectiveness of Tai Chi for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Conditions: Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Hall Amanda , Copsey Bethan , Richmond Helen , Thompson Jacqueline , Ferreira Manuela , Latimer Jane , Maher Chris G.
Published: September 2016

Background

Tai chi is recommended for musculoskeletal conditions; however, the evidence for its clinical effectiveness is uncertain.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to determine whether tai chi is beneficial for clinical outcomes in people with musculoskeletal pain.

Data Sources

Seven databases were searched: Embase, PEDro, AMED, MEDLINE, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials.

Study Selection

Randomized controlled trials of tai chi for people with a chronic musculoskeletal condition were included.

Data Extraction

Two reviewers extracted data and rated risk of bias. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for individual trials and pooled effect sizes were calculated using a random-effects model.

Data Synthesis

Fifteen studies were identified; these studies included people with osteoarthritis (80%), back pain (13%), and headache (7%). Using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) approach, moderate-quality evidence was found that tai chi was more effective than no treatment or usual care at short term on pain (SMD=−0.66 [95% CI=−0.85, −0.48]) and disability (SMD=−0.66 [95% CI=−0.85, −0.46]). The evidence for other outcomes was of low or very low quality and there was little information regarding long-term effects. Thus, although the number of publications in this area has increased, the rigor has not, hindering physical therapists' ability to provide reliable recommendations for clinical practice.

Limitations

The evidence provided in this review is limited by trials with small sample sizes, low methodological quality, and lack of long-term assessment.

Conclusions

In order for tai chi to be recommended as an effective intervention, more high-quality trials with large sample sizes assessing tai chi versus other evidence-based treatments at short term and at long term are needed.
How Much Do School Principals Matter When It Comes to Teacher Working Conditions?
Authors: Burkhauser Susan
Published: September 2016

Teacher turnover is a challenge for U.S. public schools. Research suggests that teachers’ perceptions of their school working conditions influence their leaving decisions. Related research suggests that principals may be in the best position to influence school working conditions. Using 4 years of panel data constructed from the North Carolina Teacher Working Condition Survey, this study uses value-added modeling approaches to explore the relationship between teachers’ perceptions of four measures of their working conditions and their principal. It finds that teacher ratings of the school environment depend on which principal is leading the school, independent of other school and district contextual factors, suggesting districts struggling with teacher turnover should assess climate and use that information to advise and support principals.
A method for safely resecting anterior butterfly gliomas: the surgical anatomy of the default mode network and the relevance of its preservation
Authors: Burks Joshua D. , Bonney Phillip A. , Conner Andrew K. , Glenn Chad A. , Briggs Robert G. , Battiste James D. , McCoy Tressie , O'Donoghue Daniel L. , Wu Dee H. , Sughrue Michael E.
Published: September 2016

OBJECTIVE

Gliomas invading the anterior corpus callosum are commonly deemed unresectable due to an unacceptable risk/benefit ratio, including the risk of abulia. In this study, the authors investigated the anatomy of the cingulum and its connectivity within the default mode network (DMN). A technique is described involving awake subcortical mapping with higher attention tasks to preserve the cingulum and reduce the incidence of postoperative abulia for patients with so-called butterfly gliomas.

METHODS

The authors reviewed clinical data on all patients undergoing glioma surgery performed by the senior author during a 4-year period at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Forty patients were identified who underwent surgery for butterfly gliomas. Each patient was designated as having undergone surgery either with or without the use of awake subcortical mapping and preservation of the cingulum. Data recorded on these patients included the incidence of abulia/akinetic mutism. In the context of the study findings, the authors conducted a detailed anatomical study of the cingulum and its role within the DMN using postmortem fiber tract dissections of 10 cerebral hemispheres and in vivo diffusion tractography of 10 healthy subjects.

RESULTS

Forty patients with butterfly gliomas were treated, 25 (62%) with standard surgical methods and 15 (38%) with awake subcortical mapping and preservation of the cingulum. One patient (1/15, 7%) experienced postoperative abulia following surgery with the cingulum-sparing technique. Greater than 90% resection was achieved in 13/15 (87%) of these patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This study presents evidence that anterior butterfly gliomas can be safely removed using a novel, attention-task based, awake brain surgery technique that focuses on preserving the anatomical connectivity of the cingulum and relevant aspects of the cingulate gyrus.
Modification of electrophysiological activity pattern after anterior thalamic deep brain stimulation for intractable epilepsy: report of 3 cases
Authors: Kim Hae Yu , Hur Yun Jung , Kim Heung-Dong , Park Kang Min , Kim Sung Eun , Hwang Tae Gyu
Published: September 2016

OBJECTIVE

Thalamic stimulation can provoke electroencephalography (EEG) synchronization or desynchronization, which can help to reduce the occurrence of seizures in intractable epilepsy, though the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. Therefore, the authors investigated changes in EEG electrical activity to better understand the seizure-reducing effects of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in patients with intractable epilepsy.

METHODS

Electrical activation patterns in the epileptogenic brains of 3 patients were analyzed using classical low-resolution electromagnetic tomography analysis recursively applied (CLARA). Electrical activity recorded during thalamic stimulation was compared with that recorded during the preoperative and postoperative off-stimulation states in patients who underwent anterior thalamic nucleus DBS for intractable epilepsy.

RESULTS

Interictal EEG was fully synchronized to the β frequency in the postoperative on-stimulation period. The CLARA showed that electrical activity during preoperative and postoperative off-stimulation states was localized in cortical and subcortical areas, including the insular, middle frontal, mesial temporal, and precentral areas. No electrical activity was localized in deep nucleus structures. However, with CLARA, electrical activity in the postoperative on-stimulation period was localized in the anterior cingulate area, basal ganglia, and midbrain.

CONCLUSIONS

Anterior thalamic stimulation could spread electrical current to the underlying neuronal networks that connect with the thalamus, which functions as a cortical pacemaker. Consequently, the thalamus could modify electrical activity within these neuronal networks and influence cortical EEG activity by inducing neuronal synchronization between the thalamus and cortical structures.
Incidence and risk factors for failed medical management of spinal epidural abscess: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Stratton Alexandra , Gustafson Karla , Thomas Kenneth , James Matthew T.
Published: September 2016

OBJECTIVE

Spinal epidural abscess (SEA) is a life-threatening infection. It is uncertain whether medical versus surgical treatment is the ideal initial approach for neurologically intact patients with SEA. Recent evidence demonstrates that initial medical management is increasingly common; however, patients who ultimately require surgery after failed medical management may have a worse prognosis than those whose treatment was initially surgical. The primary objective of this study was to establish the current incidence of failed medical management for SEA. The secondary aim was to identify risk factors associated with the failure of medical management.

METHODS

The authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis by searching electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and PubMed), recent conference proceedings, and reference lists of relevant articles. Studies that reported original data on consecutive adult patients with SEA treated medically were eligible for inclusion.

RESULTS

Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria, which included a total of 489 medically treated patients with SEA. Agreement on articles for study inclusion was very high between the reviewers (kappa 0.86). In a meta-analysis, the overall pooled risk of failed medical management was 29.3% (95% CI 21.4%–37.2%) and when medical to surgical crossover was used to define failure the rate was 26.3% (95% CI 13.0%–39.7%). Only 6 studies provided data for analysis by intended treatment, with a pooled estimate of 35.1% (95% CI 15.7%–54.4%) of failed medical management. Two studies reported predictors of the failure of medical management.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the incidence of failed medical management of SEA was relatively common in published reports, estimates were highly heterogeneous between studies, thus introducing uncertainty about the frequency of this risk. A consensus definition of failure is required to facilitate comparison of failure rates across studies.
Image-guided endoscopic surgery for spontaneous supratentorial intracerebral hematoma
Authors: Sun Guo-chen , Chen Xiao-lei , Hou Yuan-zheng , Yu Xin-guang , Ma Xiao-dong , Liu Gang , Liu Lei , Zhang Jia-shu , Tang Hao , Zhu Ru-Yuan , Zhou Ding-Biao , Xu Bai-nan
Published: September 2016

OBJECTIVE

Endoscopic removal of intracerebral hematomas is becoming increasingly common, but there is no standard technique. The authors explored the use of a simple image-guided endoscopic method for removal of spontaneous supratentorial hematomas.

METHODS

Virtual reality technology based on a hospital picture archiving and communications systems (PACS) was used in 3D hematoma visualization and surgical planning. Augmented reality based on an Android smartphone app, Sina neurosurgical assist, allowed a projection of the hematoma to be seen on the patient's scalp to facilitate selection of the best trajectory to the center of the hematoma. A obturator and transparent sheath were used to establish a working channel, and an endoscope and a metal suction apparatus were used to remove the hematoma.

RESULTS

A total of 25 patients were included in the study, including 18 with putamen hemorrhages and 7 with lobar cerebral hemorrhages. Virtual reality combined with augmented reality helped in achieving the desired position with the obturator and sheath. The median time from the initial surgical incision to completion of closure was 50 minutes (range 40–70 minutes). The actual endoscopic operating time was 30 (range 15–50) minutes. The median blood loss was 80 (range 40–150) ml. No patient experienced postoperative rebleeding. The average hematoma evacuation rate was 97%. The mean (± SD) preoperative Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score was 6.7 ± 3.2; 1 week after hematoma evacuation the mean GCS score had improved to 11.9 ± 3.1 (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Virtual reality using hospital PACS and augmented reality with a smartphone app helped precisely localize hematomas and plan the appropriate endoscopic approach. A transparent sheath helped establish a surgical channel, and an endoscope enabled observation of the hematoma's location to achieve satisfactory hematoma removal.
Safety and Durability of Effect with Long-Term, Open-Label Droxidopa Treatment in Patients with Symptomatic Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension (NOH303)
Authors: Isaacson Stuart , Shill Holly A. , Vernino Steven , Ziemann Adam , Rowse Gerald J.
Published: September 2016

Background: Neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (nOH) is associated with insufficient norepinephrine release in response to postural change.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term safety and durability of efficacy of the norepinephrine precursor droxidopa in patients with symptomatic nOH.

Methods: This multinational study consisted of 3 sequential phases: a 3-month open-label droxidopa treatment phase followed by a 2-week double-blind, placebo-controlled withdrawal phase, and a 9-month open-label extension phase in which all patients received droxidopa. Patients were adults diagnosed with symptomatic nOH associated with Parkinson’s disease, multiple system atrophy, pure autonomic failure, dopamine β-hydroxylase deficiency, or nondiabetic autonomic neuropathy. Efficacy was evaluated using patient- and investigator-reported questionnaire responses and the orthostatic standing test. Safety was assessed through adverse event (AE) reports and vital signs.

Results: A total of 102 patients received treatment with droxidopa. Initial improvements from baseline in patient-reported nOH symptom severity and impact on daily activities, evaluated using the Orthostatic Hypotension Questionnaire, exceeded 50% and were maintained throughout the 12-month study. Decreased nOH severity was also reflected in clinician and patient ratings on the Clinical Global Impression questionnaire. Standing systolic and diastolic blood pressures were increased from baseline throughout the study with droxidopa treatment. The most frequently reported AEs were falls, urinary tract infection, and headache. There was a low incidence (≤2%) of cardiac AEs (eg, first-degree atrioventricular block, supraventricular extrasystoles).

Conclusions: Long-term, open-label treatment with droxidopa for up to 12 months was generally well tolerated and provided durable improvements in nOH signs and symptoms.
Stereochemically active lone pair on lead(II) nano 3D supramolecular network: Synthesis, structural characterization, thermal stability and DFT calculation of [Pb(p-2-minh)2]
Authors: Mirtamizdoust Babak , Ghaedi Mehrorang , Taghizadeh Fardin , Safari Reza , Bazrafshan Aliakbar
Published: September 2016

The novel nano lead(II) coordination compound [Pb(p-2-minh)2] (1) (p-2-minh=pyridin-2-ylmethylene-isonicotinohydrazide) was synthesized by a sonochemical method. The new nano structure was characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction, elemental analysis, and thermal analysis. The single-crystal X-ray structure shows that the overall structure of 1 is a discrete coordination compound. This is further extended into a three-dimensional (3-D) supramolecular structure by π -  π and other weak directional intermolecular interactions. The coordination number of the Pb(II) ions is six, PbN4O2. The PbO nanoparticles were obtained by the thermolysis of 1 at 180°C with oleic acid as a surfactant. The average diameter of the nanoparticles was estimated by the Scherrer equation to be 18 nm. The morphology and size of the prepared PbO samples were further observed using SEM.
Theoretical study on the cycloaddition reaction mechanism between ketenimine and acetonitrile
Authors: He Wenxing , Wang Weihua , Tan Xiaojun , Li Ping
Published: September 2016

The cycloaddition reaction mechanism between interstellar molecules ketenimine and acetonitrile has been systematically investigated employing the second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory method in order to better understand the reactivity of heterocumulene ketenimine with acetonitrile. Geometry optimizations and vibrational analyses have been performed for the stationary points on the potential energy surfaces of the system. Calculations show that five-membered cyclic carbene intermediates could be afforded through pericyclic reaction processes between ketenimine and acetonitrile. Through the following intramolecular H-transfer processes, carbene intermediates can be isomerized to the corresponding 2-methylimidazole and 3-methylpyrazole derivatives, respectively. In addition, imidazole and pyrazole compounds can be produced through the intermolecular H-transfer processes on the basis of the formed cyclic carbene intermediates. The present study is helpful to understand the formation of prebiotic species in interstellar space.
The synthesis, characterization and phase stability of tin sulfides (SnS2, SnS and Sn2S3) films deposited by ultrasonic spray
Authors: Kherchachi Imen Bouhaf , Attaf Abdallah , Saidi Hanane , Bouhdjar Adel , Bendjdidi Hamza , Youcef Benkhetta , Azizi Rahil
Published: September 2016

In this study, we will deal with the influences of deposition time on structural, optical and electrical properties of SnxSy films which have grown through ultrasonic spray technique. The SnxSy thin films are deposited on glass substrate at 300°C with a deposition time of t = 2 min-10 min, using two precursors: tin (II) chloride and tin (IV) chloride, respectively. The obtained films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), The UV–VIS–NIR optical transmittance measurements and the electrical resistivity by four -points. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of SnxSy films indicates three phases of SnS2, SnS and Sn2S3 phases crystallites. In addition, this analysis revealed that SnS2 phase stability is superior than SnS and Sn2S3 stability. The results of (UV) spectroscopy visible spectrum demonstrate that films deposited at 10 min are low transmittance in the visible region for two precursors, and a direct band gap found to decrease with increase in deposition time. Electrical measurements indicate that the resistivity behavior depends on the used precursors and deposition time.
A density functional calculation on W doped Nn (n = 1–9) clusters
Authors: Zhao Run-Ning , Lu Zi-Chen
Published: September 2016

Clusters of the WNn ( n = 1–9) forms are investigated theoretically using density functional theory methods. Geometry optimizations are undertaken under the constraint of well-defined point-group symmetries at the (U)B3LYP level employing a pseudopotential method in conjunction with double-zeta basis sets for W atom and 6–31G(d) basis sets for N atoms. In this article, different molecular properties such as total energies, relative stabilities as well as chemical bonding and equilibrium geometries of WNn ( n = 1–9) clusters are systematically calculated and discussed. Theoretical results show that the lowest-energy WNn ( n = 1–9) isomers prefer to interact with N2 units to N3 and N units, moreover, some circle-like low-lying stable WNn structures are considered, which turn out to be less stable than isomers with N2 units as the building blocks, furthermore, W atom is in favorable of chemisorption nitrogen rather than dissociative nitrogen, which is in good agreement with experimental observation. Comparisons theoretical results on geometry and stretching frequency with available experimental and theoretical data are made, a good agreement is obtained. In addition, natural population analyses are calculated in order to elucidate the charge distributions in the clusters.