bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Atrial Ectopy Predicts Late Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation After Pulmonary Vein Isolation
Authors: Gang Uffe J.O. , Nalliah Chrishan J. , Lim Toon Wei , Thiagalingam Aravinda , Kovoor Pramesh , Ross David L. , Thomas Stuart P.
Published: April 2015

Background—

Late recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after radiofrequency ablation remains significant. Asymptomatic recurrence poses a difficult clinical problem as it is associated with an equally increased risk of stroke and death compared with symptomatic AF events. Meta-analyses reveal that no single preablation patient characteristic efficiently predicts these AF recurrences. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of premature atrial complex (PAC) occurrence with regard to the risk of late AF recurrence after radiofrequency ablation.

Methods and Results—

The study cohort consisted of 124 patients with 7-day Holter recordings at 6 months post radiofrequency ablation for AF. No patients had AF recurrence before this time. Patients were followed-up every 6 months. Holter-detected PACs were defined as any supraventricular complexes occurring >30% earlier than expected. During a median follow-up of 4.2 years (first quartile to third quartile [Q1–Q3]=1.6–4.5), 32 patients (26%) had late recurrences of AF at a median of 462 days (Q1–Q3=319–1026) post radiofrequency ablation. The number of PACs per 24 hours was 248 (Q1–Q3=62–1026) in patients with and 77 (Q1–Q3=24–448) in patients without recurrence of AF (
P
=0.02). Multivariate analysis of the risk of late AF recurrence found ≥142 PACs per 24 hours to have a hazard ratio 2.84 (confidence interval, 1.26–6.43),
P
=0.01.

Conclusions—

This study showed that occurrence of ≥142 PACs per day at 6 months after PVI was independently associated with a significantly increased risk of late AF recurrence. These results could have important clinical implications for the design of post-PVI follow-up.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.anzctr.org.au
. Unique identifier: ACRTN12606000467538.
Prediction of Mortality by Stress Echocardiography in 2835 Diabetic and 11 305 Nondiabetic Patients
Authors: Cortigiani Lauro , Borelli Lucia , Raciti Mauro , Bovenzi Francesco , Picano Eugenio , Molinaro Sabrina , Sicari Rosa
Published: April 2015

Background—

To compare the capability by stress echocardiography results to predict overall mortality in a large unselected cohort of diabetic and nondiabetic patients.

Methods and Results—

The study group comprised 14 140 patients (2835 diabetics and 11 305 nondiabetics) who underwent stress echocardiography for evaluation of known (n=5671) or suspected (n=8469) coronary artery disease. Ischemia at stress echocardiography was observed in 768 (27%) diabetics and 2644 (23%) nondiabetics. During a median follow-up of 30 months (first quartile, 9; third quartile, 63), 1213 patients died. In diabetics, multivariable indicators of mortality were age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06–1.09), rest wall motion abnormality (HR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.83–3.22), and ischemia at stress echocardiography (HR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.34–2.18). In nondiabetics, multivariable indicators of mortality were age (HR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.06–1.08), rest wall motion abnormality (HR, 2.19; 95% CI, 1.86–2.57), male sex (HR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.41–1.93), ischemia at stress echocardiography (HR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.32–1.80), and antischemic therapy at the time of test (HR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.00–1.32). In stress echo negative subjects for ischemia, antischemic therapy showed increased annual mortality in nondiabetic patients with (3.8% versus 3.1%;
P
=0.04) or without rest wall motion abnormality (1.6% versus 0.9%;
P
<0.0001); it failed to do so in diabetic patients with (5.7% versus 5.8%;
P
=0.89) or without rest wall motion abnormality (2.6% versus 1.9%;
P
=0.10).

Conclusions—

Ischemia at stress echocardiography is a strong and independent predictor of total mortality in diabetic as well as nondiabetic patients. Antischemic therapy markedly affects the negative predictive value of stress echocardiography in nondiabetic patients, whereas it is prognostically neutral in the diabetic population.
New Method for Noninvasive Quantification of Central Venous Pressure by Ultrasound
Authors: Xing Chang-Yang , Liu Yuan-Ling , Zhao Mei-Ling , Yang Rui-Jing , Duan Yun-You , Zhang Lian-Hua , Sun Xu-De , Yuan Li-Jun , Cao Tie-Sheng
Published: April 2015

Background—

The central venous pressure (CVP) is essential for assessing the cardiac preload and circulating blood volume in clinic. The invasive CVP measurement by central venous catheter has been reported with various complications. The aim of this study was to develop a new noninvasive method for quantification of CVP by ultrasound.

Methods and Results—

Seventy-six patients who had their CVP monitored for intraoperative or postoperative management were recruited. By accurate location of the collapse point of the internal jugular vein and the center of the right atrium using ultrasound imaging, the height of the fluid column between those 2 points was measured as the noninvasive CVP (CVPn). A total of 118 measurements were performed and compared with the invasive CVP (CVPi). Linear correlation analysis revealed a significant correlation between CVPi and CVPn (preoperative measurements,
r
=0.90;
P
<0.01 and postoperative measurements,
r
=0.93;
P
<0.01). Bland–Altman plots showed a good agreement between CVPi and CVPn with the mean difference of 0.22 mm Hg (preoperative measurements) and −0.09 mm Hg (postoperative measurements), respectively.

Conclusions—

The new noninvasive CVP quantification method based on the location of both the collapse point of internal jugular vein and the center of right atrium by ultrasound could be used as a reliable approach for monitoring the hemodynamic status in clinic.
Lower Extremity Manifestations of Peripheral Artery Disease
Authors: McDermott Mary McGrae
Published: April 2015

Lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD) is frequently underdiagnosed, in part because of the wide variety of leg symptoms manifested by patients with PAD and in part because of the high prevalence of asymptomatic PAD. In primary care medical practices, 30% to 60% of patients with PAD report no exertional leg symptoms and ≈45% to 50% report exertional leg symptoms that are not consistent with classic intermittent claudication. The prevalence and extent of functional impairment and functional decline in PAD may also be underappreciated. Functional impairment and functional decline are common in PAD, even among those who are asymptomatic. Lower extremity ischemia is also associated with pathophysiologic changes in calf skeletal muscle, including smaller calf muscle area, increased calf muscle fat content, impaired leg strength, and impaired metabolic function. People with severe PAD have poorer peroneal nerve conduction velocity compared with people with mild PAD or no PAD. The degree of ischemia-related pathophysiologic changes in lower extremity muscles and peripheral nerves of people with PAD are associated with the degree of functional impairment. New interventions are needed to improve functional performance and prevent mobility loss in the large number of patients with PAD, including in those who are asymptomatic or who have exertional leg symptoms other than claudication.
Modulating the Vascular Response to Limb Ischemia
Authors: Cooke John P. , Losordo Douglas W.
Published: April 2015

The age-adjusted prevalence of peripheral arterial disease in the US population has been estimated to approach 12%. The clinical consequences of occlusive peripheral arterial disease include pain on walking (claudication), pain at rest, and loss of tissue integrity in the distal limbs; the latter may ultimately lead to amputation of a portion of the lower extremity. Surgical bypass techniques and percutaneous catheter-based interventions may successfully reperfuse the limbs of certain patients with peripheral arterial disease. In many patients, however, the anatomic extent and distribution of arterial occlusion is too severe to permit relief of pain and healing of ischemic ulcers. No effective medical therapy is available for the treatment of such patients, for many of whom amputation represents the only hope for alleviation of symptoms. The ultimate failure of medical treatment and procedural revascularization in significant numbers of patients has led to attempts to develop alternative therapies for ischemic disease. These strategies include administration of angiogenic cytokines, either as recombinant protein or as gene therapy, and more recently, to investigations of stem/progenitor cell therapy. The purpose of this review is to provide an outline of the preclinical basis for angiogenic and stem cell therapies, review the clinical research that has been done, summarize the lessons learned, identify gaps in knowledge, and suggest a course toward successfully addressing an unmet medical need in a large and growing patient population.
Surgical Intervention for Peripheral Arterial Disease
Authors: Vartanian Shant M. , Conte Michael S.
Published: April 2015

The prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is increasing worldwide, with recent global estimates exceeding 200 million people. Advanced PAD leads to a decline in ambulatory function and diminished quality of life. In its most severe form, critical limb ischemia, rest pain, and tissue necrosis are associated with high rates of limb loss, morbidity, and mortality. Revascularization of the limb plays a central role in the management of symptomatic PAD. Concomitant with advances in the pathogenesis, genetics, and medical management of PAD during the last 20 years, there has been an ongoing evolution of revascularization options. The increasing application of endovascular techniques has resulted in dramatic changes in practice patterns and has refocused the question of which patients should be offered surgical revascularization. Nonetheless, surgical therapy remains a cornerstone of management for advanced PAD, providing versatile and durable solutions to challenging patterns of disease. Although there is little high-quality comparative effectiveness data to guide patient selection, existing evidence suggests that outcomes are dependent on definable patient factors such as distribution of disease, status of the limb, comorbid conditions, and conduit availability. As it stands, surgical revascularization remains the standard against which emerging percutaneous techniques are compared. This review summarizes the principles of surgical revascularization, patient selection, and expected outcomes, while highlighting areas in need of further research and technological advancement.
The Genetic Basis of Peripheral Arterial Disease
Authors: Kullo Iftikhar J. , Leeper Nicholas J.
Published: April 2015

Several risk factors for atherosclerotic peripheral arterial disease (PAD), such as dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension, are heritable. However, predisposition to PAD may be influenced by genetic variants acting independently of these risk factors. Identification of such genetic variants will provide insights into underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms and facilitate the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. In contrast to coronary heart disease, relatively few genetic variants that influence susceptibility to PAD have been discovered. This may be, in part, because of greater clinical and genetic heterogeneity in PAD. In this review, we (1) provide an update on the current state of knowledge about the genetic basis of PAD, including results of family studies and candidate gene, linkage as well as genome-wide association studies; (2) highlight the challenges in investigating the genetic basis of PAD and possible strategies to overcome these challenges; and (3) discuss the potential of genome sequencing, RNA sequencing, differential gene expression, epigenetic profiling, and systems biology in increasing our understanding of the molecular genetics of PAD.
Trends in Myocardial Infarction Secondary Prevention: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES), 1999–2012
Authors: Shah Nilay S. , Huffman Mark D. , Ning Hongyan , Lloyd‐Jones Donald M.
Published: April 2015

Background

Nationally representative data evaluating recent trends and future projections of vascular risk factor treatment and control rates in secondary prevention of ischemic heart disease are sparse.

Methods and Results

We evaluated sex‐ and race‐stratified cholesterol, blood pressure, and hemoglobin A1c levels and risk factor treatment and control rates in 1580 individuals who self‐reported a history of myocardial infarction from The National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (
NHANES
) 1999 to 2012. We used weighted linear regression to estimate time trends and created forward linear projections to 2020. Participants were 30% to 41% women, 73% to 85% white, and had a mean age of 63 to 66 years. Cholesterol treatment rates increased and reached above 80% in men and women by 2011–2012, with significant increases in control rates (as then defined) in men to 85% in 2011–2012, with projections to reach 100% by 2020. Cholesterol treatment rates significantly increased in non‐Hispanic whites and Hispanics. Statin use increased significantly to 73% of myocardial infarction survivors by 2011–2012, and aspirin use increased significantly but only to 28% by 2011–2012. There were no changes in blood pressure treatment or control rates by sex, and hypertension treatment increased only in non‐Hispanic blacks. Projected hypertension control rates remained suboptimal.

Conclusions

While temporal trends suggest improvements in cholesterol treatment, unchanged treatment and control of blood pressure and persistently low aspirin use represent missed opportunities. Urgent action is needed to improve secondary prevention rates projected by 2020 to reduce recurrent events in this high‐risk group.
Gender and Realisation of Women’s Right to the City in Tehran
Authors: Rahbari Ladan , Sharepour Mahmoud
Published: April 2015

The right to the city consists of the right to appropriate spaces and participate in processes therein. Appropriation is referred to having share of the space, using it, owning it and valuing it because it has use value. Participation in the city includes decision making, constructing and living in the urban space. Components of right to the city can be approached from three dimensions, namely the politico-economic, physical and socio-anthropological. Based on the three levels of urban analysis introduced by Henry Lefebvre, the three dimensions can be further categorised. The right to the city has not been realised equally for men and women. Structural constraints have limited women’s participation and appropriation of the city. By extracting the components of the two dimensions of the right to the city, and by applying a quantitative methodological approach, this article aims to investigate gender differences in realisation of right to the city in the Iranian capital city.
Female belly colour and bobbing behaviour advertise sexual receptivity in a pelagic-spawning coral reef fish
Authors: LaPlante Lori Hosaka
Published: April 2015

Female nuptial signals (FNSs) advertise reproductive state, individual quality, and are used in intrasexual competition. I explored whether pelagic-spawning pink-belly wrasse (Halichoeres margaritaceus) used red belly colouration and a unique bobbing behaviour as FNSs to advertise spawning readiness. I examined (i) if there was a temporal pattern in belly colour and incidence of bobbing, as each related to spawning; (ii) response of female belly colouration during male courtship behaviours; and (iii) pink belly area as it related to body area and bobbing rate. Temporal patterns were detected, females displayed ephemeral red belly colour and bobbing behaviour prior to spawning; females displaying red belly colouration elicited more courtship behaviour from males than females with white or pink belly colouration, and larger females displayed larger red belly areas. Benefits to advertising spawning readiness in pink-belly wrasse are discussed, including a reduction in mate-searching costs and potential for increased reproductive success through sex-change.
The misbehaviour of a metacognitive monkey
Authors: Sayers Ken , Evans Theodore A. , Menzel Emilie , Smith J. David , Beran Michael J.
Published: April 2015

Metacognition, the monitoring of one’s own mental states, is a fundamental aspect of human intellect. Despite tests in nonhuman animals suggestive of uncertainty monitoring, some authors interpret these results solely in terms of primitive psychological mechanisms and reinforcement regimes, where ‘reinforcement’ is invariably considered to be the delivery and consumption of earned food rewards. Surprisingly, few studies have detailed the trial-by-trial behaviour of animals engaged in such tasks. Here we report ethology-based observations on a rhesus monkey completing sparse-dense discrimination problems, and given the option of escaping trials (i.e., responding ‘uncertain’) at its own choosing. Uncertainty responses were generally made on trials of high objective difficulty, and were characterized by long latencies before beginning visible trials, long times taken for response, and, even after controlling for difficulty, high degrees of wavering during response. Incorrect responses were also common in trials of high objective difficulty, but were characterized by low degrees of wavering. This speaks to the likely adaptive nature of ‘hesitation’, and is inconsistent with models which argue or predict implicit, inflexible information-seeking or ‘alternative option’ behaviours whenever challenging problems present themselves. Confounding models which suggest that nonhuman behaviour in metacognition tasks is driven solely by food delivery/consumption, the monkey was also observed allowing pellets to accumulate and consuming them during and after trials of all response/outcome categories (i.e., whether correct, incorrect, or escaped). This study thus bolsters previous findings that rhesus monkey behaviour in metacognition tasks is in some respects disassociated from mere food delivery/consumption, or even the avoidance of punishment. These and other observations fit well with the evolutionary status and natural proclivities of rhesus monkeys, but weaken arguments that responses in such tests are solely associated with associative mechanisms, and instead suggest more derived and controlled cognitive processing. The latter interpretation appears particularly parsimonious given the neurological adaptations of primates, as well as their highly flexible social and ecological behaviour.
Defences of a Neotropical harvestman against different levels of threat by the recluse spider
Authors: Segovia Júlio M.G. , Del-Claro Kleber , Willemart Rodrigo Hirata
Published: April 2015

The threat sensitive hypothesis predicts that animals modulate the defensive behaviour with the level of threat. Therefore, responses to predator cues may differ from responses to the actual predator in close range. Also, in high threat situations, prey would be expected to use their most dangerous defences. The recluse spider Loxosceles gaucho (Araneae, Sicariidae) is known to prey upon well defended harvestmen such as the laniatorid Mischonyx cuspidatus (Opiliones, Gonyleptidae), which has been reported to use tanathosis, chemical defences, pinching with sharp apophyses on legs, chelicerae and pedipalps. Because of harvestmen’s dependence on chemical stimuli, we tested if M. cuspidatus would change its locomotory behaviour in the presence of chemicals of the recluse spider (low threat situation: spider vs blank vs chemical control; one at a time). Subsequently, we tested harvestmen behaviour in the presence of the spider in close range, a high-threat situation. Finally, we looked at the survival rate of spiders after being pierced by sharp apophyses that M. cuspidatus have on legs IV. The harvestmen only showed defensive behaviours in the high threat situation. Surprisingly, their mostly known defensive behaviours (chemical defence, tanathosis, pinching with chelicerae and pedipalps) were not seen even in the high threat situation. This is the first evidence that these behaviours are not used against a natural predator that has an almost 80% predation success when attacking harvestmen. Pinching with the sharp legs IV apophyses may perforate but do not kill the spiders. We highlight the importance of the traditional descriptive approach with natural predators to understand the specificities of defensive behaviours against different types of predator.
Testing the predation stress hypothesis: behavioural and hormonal responses to predator cues in Allegheny Mountain dusky salamanders
Authors: Fonner Christopher W. , Woodley Sarah K.
Published: April 2015

The predation stress hypothesis posits that exposure to predators and/or predator cues causes release of glucocorticoid hormones which coordinate behavioural responses that facilitate predator avoidance. We measured responses to short-term and repeated exposure to predator-derived kairomones in Allegheny Mountain dusky salamanders (Desmognathus ochrophaeus). Salamanders expressed predator avoidance behaviours (reduced locomotion, reduced mating behaviour) in the presence of predator kairomones. However, plasma glucocorticoids after short-term exposure to predator kairomones were similar to levels after exposure to controls. After repeated exposure to predator-derived kairomones, locomotory activity and plasma glucocorticoids were similar compared to controls. There was no evidence of habituation to predator kairomones. Overall, results did not support the predation stress hypothesis in Allegheny Mountain dusky salamanders in either an acute or chronic context. Use of glucocorticoids to mediate antipredator responses may occur when predation pressure is unpredictable, and when energetic and opportunity costs of linking glucocorticoids to anti-predator responses are low.
A new species of Regabellator Siebenaller & Hessler, 1981 (Isopoda, Asellota, Nannoniscidae) from the Amundsen Sea shelf (Southern Ocean)
Authors: Kaiser S. S. M.
Published: April 2015

Based on benthic material collected during the BIOPEARL (Biodiversity, Phylogeny, Evolution and Adaptive Radiation of Life in Antarctica) II expedition on board RRS “James Clark Ross” a new nannoniscid species,Regabellator brixorumsp. n., is described from the Pine Island Bay continental shelf, western Amundsen Sea (Antarctica). The new species most closely resemblesRegabellator armatus(Hansen, 1916) but can be distinguished from this species by possessing ventral spines on pereonites 1-4, the shape of the cephalothorax anterior margin and the length of the pereonite 7 ventral spine. The genusRegabellatorhas been previously recorded from the North and South-eastern Atlantic and here exclusively from the deep sea (1946 m and below). The new species represents the first record of the genusRegabellatorfrom the Antarctic continental shelf and thus greatly extends hitherto known latitudinal and bathymetric ranges for this genus.
Reproductive dependence of a branchiobdellidan annelid on its crayfish host: confirmation of a mutualism
Authors: Creed Robert P. , Creed Robert P. , Lomonaco Joshua D. , Creed Robert P. , Lomonaco Joshua D. , Thomas Michael J. , Creed Robert P. , Lomonaco Joshua D. , Thomas Michael J. , Meeks April , Creed Robert P. , Lomonaco Joshua D. , Thomas Michael J. , Meeks April , Brown Bryan L.
Published: April 2015

The ectosymbiotic branchiobdellidan Cambarincola ingens Hoffman, 1963 can increase the growth and reduce mortality of the crayfish Cambarus chasmodactylus James, 1966. These results suggest that these two species are engaged in a cleaning symbiosis mutualism. However, the potential benefits C. ingens derives from the association, specifically its reproductive dependence on the crayfish, have not been examined experimentally. We conducted two experiments to determine if C. ingens was reproductively dependent on C. chasmodactylus. In the experiments, worms only laid cocoons on live crayfish. Also, significantly more cocoons were laid on larger crayfish which was consistent with a survey of worm and cocoon abundance on crayfish collected from a local river. These results suggest that C. ingens is dependent on its crayfish host for reproduction. The association between C. chasmodactylus and C. ingens is a mutualism, at least under environmental conditions in which crayfish survival and growth are enhanced by the worms.
A revised list of all ghost shrimps (Callianassidea and Thalassinidea) (Decapoda, Pleocyemata) from the Red Sea area, with a new genus, Lepidophthalminus gen. nov. and two new species in the genera Gilvossius and Neocallichirus
Authors: Sakai Katsushi
Published: April 2015

Up to the present, 31 species of the infraorders Callianassidea Dana, 1852, and Thalassinidea Latreille, 1831 have been reported from the Red Sea area, of which nine, viz.,Gilvossius bouvieri(Nobili, 1904),G. gravieri(Nobili, 1905),G. maldivensis(Borradaile, 1904),Notiax amboinensis(De Man, 1888),Lepidophthalmus rosae(Nobili, 1904),Neocallichirus calmani(Nobili, 1904),N. indicus(De Man, 1905),N. vaugelasiDworschak, 2011, andPodocallichirus madagassus(Lenz & Richters, 1881), are reviewed in this paper for further unambiguous classification and identification. As a result of this review, one new genus,Lepidophthalminusgen. nov. and two new species,Gilvossius chichijimaensissp. nov. andNeocallichirus kenyaensissp. nov., are here proposed.
Securing Defence Rights in Transnational Proceedings
Authors: Wade Marianne L.
Published: April 2015

This paper identifies and analyses problems and weaknesses standing in the way of the provision of an effective defence in transnational criminal proceedings. Drawing upon some key findings of the Euroneeds study, it extrapolates results from that examination of eu criminal justice as valid for all transnational justice settings. It is argued that the failure to recognise legally the difference between national and transnational proceedings leads to a lacuna. Transnational criminal law and justice mechanisms are recognised as developed, above all, as tools of repressive criminal procedure leaving individuals facing them stripped of their constitutional identities and corresponding protective rights. It is argued that those creating transnational criminal law and justice mechanisms must recognise and provide for a more balanced system to avoid such contexts acting as constitutional loop-holes and to ensure the provision of defence rights and procedural safeguards in such proceedings.
The Judeo-Spanish Folk Songs in Israel: Sephardic Music and Literature between Survival and Revival
Authors: Refael Shmuel
Published: April 2015

The aim of this article is to examine the growing interest and involvement with Ladino folk songs in Israel in recent years. Its particular focus is on an overview of the stage performances, the rerecording of Ladino songs by a new generation of artists, and the inclusion of Sephardic music in the growing repertoire of Israeli folk music. The article presents a socio-cultural survey that attempts to answer the following questions: Is the growing involvement with Ladino folk songs in the realm of conservation—in other words, repetition—of the age-old Ladino cultural heritage, or are we witnessing a cultural process whose main thrust is appropriation and whose goal is to use new instruments to bring the cultural wealth from the past into the present and present it to a new generation, not necessarily the current generation of the Sephardic ethnic group?
‘Inappropriate’ Voices from the Past: Contextualizing Narratives from the First Group Tour of Olim from Northern Morocco to Their Former Hometowns
Authors: Moreno Aviad
Published: April 2015

This study is based on the analysis of some rare audio recordings from the first organized group tour of olim (Jewish immigrants in Israel) from northern Morocco, to their former hometowns in Morocco. The tour was organized in 1987 by mabat, the principal émigré association of northern Moroccans in Israel during the 1980s. I compare this ‘free-style’-oral audio source with related printed-edited narratives, written by mabat before and after the tour, showing an evolving tension between two forms of narration: the expected ethnic-oriented narration among individuals travelling together as mabat members; and other ‘extra-ethnic’ narratives, encompassing contrasting spontaneous recollections from their childhood in Morocco. The conclusions reveal the often organized nature of vocally expressed ethnic voices; and the dynamic social environments that such voices represent, both before and after aliyah (immigration). The study offers a methodological and theoretical contribution to scholarship on ethnicity formation in Israel.
Love and Miracles: Body, Feminine Self-Image and Family in Narratives by Two Holocaust Survivors from Salonika
Authors: Tamar Alexander
Published: April 2015

This article presents an in-depth literary analysis of two feminine personal narratives, survivors of the Salonika Holocaust, in an attempt to isolate the unique feminine voice that can be discerned from the narratives through the perception of the body and the female self-image. The two narratives offer two opposite models of behavior: one active, one passive. Aliza Baruch found her future husband in the camp and took care of her brother. Later she gave birth to two children even though she suffered sterilization experiments in Auschwitz. Aliza ascribes her survival to her determined nature, and to the force of love she felt within herself. Mary Nahman, who arrived at Auschwitz married and pregnant, perceived herself as a child who was not conscious of her surroundings but was a recipient of help from everybody. She ascribes her survival to external forces, divine assistance and miracles.
From Grandmother to Grandson—Judeo-Spanish Anecdotes in Israel Today: Emigration, Cultural Accommodation and Language Preservation
Authors: Pinto-Abecasis Nina
Published: April 2015

I examine processes of cultural accommodation and maintenance of the Sephardic tradition as reflected in anecdotes of the generation who immigrated to Israel. The anecdotes reflect traditions and beliefs of Ladino speakers; I study their folkloric and linguistic aspects, while exposing the elements that create humor and reflect dominant social norms. The anecdotes present the obvious and the concealed tensions in Israeli society, yet they have a universal dimension: social conflicts in contacts between cultures, between ethnic groups, between the generation of the parents and that of the children and grandchildren, between next-door neighbors and between diasporas which converge in one social habitat. The article examines elements of performance, including the place of the storyteller in the storytelling situation and the techniques that generate laughter and identification with a marginal group: the group of Ladino speakers in Israel, as they clash with the hegemonic power in the Israeli society.
Introduction
Authors: Chakravartty Anjan
Published: April 2015

In this introduction, I motivate the project of examining certain resonances between ancient skeptical positions, especially Pyrrhonism, and positions in contemporary epistemology, with special attention to recent work in the epistemology of science. One such resonance concerns the idea of suspension of judgment or belief in certain contexts or domains of inquiry, and the reasons for (or processes eventuating in) suspension. Another concerns the question of whether suspension of belief in such circumstances is voluntary, in any of the senses discussed in current work on voluntarism in epistemology, which informs recent discussions of how voluntarism regarding epistemic stances may shed light on positions like scientific realism and antirealism. The aim of this special issue is thus to explore certain analogies and disanalogies between ancient and contemporary debates about skepticism, and to consider whether and to what extent the former can provide insight into the latter.
Realism and Anti-Realism about Science
Authors: Bueno Otávio
Published: April 2015

Pyrrhonists provide a way of investigating the world in which conflicting views about a given topic are critically compared, assessed, and juxtaposed. Since Pyrrhonists are ultimately unable to decide between these views, they end up suspending judgment about the issues under examination. In this paper, I consider the question of whether Pyrrhonists can be realists or anti-realists about science, focusing, in particular, on contemporary philosophical discussions about it. Althoughprima faciethe answer seems to be negative, I argue that if realism and anti-realism are understood as philosophical stances rather than particular doctrines—that is, if they are conceptualized in terms of a mode of engagement, a style of reasoning, and some propositional attitudes—the apparent tension between Pyrrhonism, realism, and anti-realism vanishes. The result is a first step in the direction of bringing Pyrrhonism to bear on contemporary debates in the philosophy of science.
The Agrippan Problem, Then and Now
Authors: Williams Michael
Published: April 2015

Skeptical arguments (or problems) fall into two categories: “Agrippan” and “Cartesian.” The former revolve around what is commonly thought of today as the problem of the regress of justification; the latter make essential use of skeptical hypotheses. Cartesian arguments have no place in Pyrrhonian skepticism. By contrast, the Agrippan Problem seems to play a vital role. Nevertheless, there are reasons to think that Sextus and contemporary epistemologists understand the problem in very different ways. Whereas, in contemporary discussions, the Agrippan argument is taken to lie at the heart of a fully general “problem of knowledge,” it is questionable whether Sextus even considers such a problem. In explaining and defending this claim, I bring out some vital limitations and shortcomings of the Pyrrhonian stance—in particular, Sextus’s radical epistemic quietism—and their implications for the tenability of the Pyrrhonian stance in both Sextus’s time and ours.
Effective Buoyancy, Inertial Pressure, and the Mechanical Generation of Boundary Layer Mass Flux by Cold Pools
Authors: Jeevanjee Nadir , Romps David M.
Published: April 2015

The Davies-Jones formulation of effective buoyancy is used to define inertial and buoyant components of vertical force and to develop an intuition for these components by considering simple cases. This decomposition is applied to the triggering of new boundary layer mass flux by cold pools in a cloud-resolving simulation of radiative–convective equilibrium (RCE). The triggering is found to be dominated by inertial forces, and this is explained by estimating the ratio of the inertial forcing to the buoyancy forcing, which scales as H/h, where H is the characteristic height of the initial downdraft and h is the characteristic height of the mature cold pool’s gust front. In a simulation of the transition from shallow to deep convection, the buoyancy forcing plays a dominant role in triggering mass flux in the shallow regime, but the force balance tips in favor of inertial forcing just as precipitation sets in, consistent with the RCE results.
Finding the Minimum Potential Energy State by Adiabatic Parcel Rearrangements with a Nonlinear Equation of State: An Exact Solution in Polynomial Time
Authors: Hieronymus Magnus , Nycander Jonas
Published: April 2015

The problem of finding the state of minimum potential energy through the rearrangement of water parcels with a nonlinear equation of state is discussed in the context of a combinatorial optimization problem. It is found that the problem is identical to a classical optimization problem called the linear assignment problem. This problem belongs to a problem class known as P, a class of problems that have known efficient solutions. This is very fortunate since this study’s problem has been suggested to be an asymmetric traveling salesman problem. A problem that belongs to a class called NP-hard, for which no efficient solutions are known. The difference between the linear assignment problem and the traveling salesman problem is discussed and made clear by looking at the different constraints used for the two problems. It is also shown how the rearrangement of water parcels that minimizes the potential energy can be found in polynomial time using the so-called Hungarian algorithm. The Hungarian algorithm is then applied to a simplified ocean stratification, and the result is compared to a few different approximate solutions to the minimization problem. It is found that the improved accuracy over the approximate methods comes at a high computational cost. Last, the algorithm is applied to a realistic ocean stratification using a technique that splits the minimization problem into smaller bits.
Space–Time Wave Extremes: The Role of Metocean Forcings
Authors: Barbariol Francesco , Benetazzo Alvise , Carniel Sandro , Sclavo Mauro
Published: April 2015

Wave observations and modeling have recently demonstrated that wave extremes of short-crested seas are poorly predicted by statistics of time records. Indeed, the highest waves pertain to wave groups at focusing that have space–time dynamics. Therefore, the statistical prediction of extremes of short-crested sea states should rely on the multidimensional random wave fields’ assumption. To adapt wave extreme statistics to the space–time domain, theoretical models using parameters of the directional wave spectrum have been recently developed. In this paper, the influence of metocean forcings (wind conditions, ambient current, and bottom depth) on these parameters and hence on wave extremes is studied with a twofold strategy. First, parametric spectral formulations [Pierson–Moskowitz and Joint North Sea Wave Project (JONSWAP) frequency spectra with cos2 directional distribution function] are considered to represent the dependence of wave extremes upon wind speed, fetch, and space domain size. Afterward, arbitrary conditions are simulated by using the SWAN numerical model adapted to store the spectral parameters, and the effects on extremes of current- and depth-induced shoaling are investigated. Preliminarily, the space–time extremes prediction model adopted is assessed by means of numerical simulations of Gaussian random seas. Compared to the significant wave height of the sea state and for a given space domain size, results show that space–time extremes are enhanced by opposite currents, whereas they are weakened by increasing wind conditions (wind speed and fetch) and by depth-induced shoaling. In this respect, the remarkable contribution to wave extremes of the size of the space domain is substantiated.
Influence of a Predecessor Rain Event on the Track of Tropical Cyclone Isaac (2012)
Authors: Galarneau Thomas J.
Published: April 2015

Analysis of a predecessor rain event (PRE) over the Straits of Florida ahead of Tropical Cyclone (TC) Isaac on 25 August 2012 is presented. This PRE is unique compared to previously documented PREs in midlatitudes because it occurred over the oceanic subtropics and impacted the track of an approaching TC. The Isaac PRE developed in conjunction with a tropical moisture plume with precipitable water values over 60 mm that intersected a region of mid- and upper-level frontogenesis and warm air advection on the southeast flank of an upper-level trough. The PRE occurred in an environment with more abundant tropical moisture and weaker synoptic-scale forcing for ascent compared to the environments in which midlatitude PREs developed.

The Isaac PRE contributed to the fracture of the upper-level trough through negative potential vorticity advection by convectively driven divergent outflow. Fracture of the upper-level trough and midlevel cyclonic vorticity amplification associated with the PRE acted to steer Isaac south of Florida into the Gulf of Mexico. Forecasts from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction–Global Forecast System (NCEP–GFS) initialized at 0000 UTC 21–24 August 2012 failed to predict the PRE and as a result recurved TC Isaac over Florida and the eastern Gulf of Mexico rather than continued Isaac on a northwest course toward southeast Louisiana. Vorticity inversion and detailed diagnosis of the NCEP–GFS TC track forecast initialized at 0000 UTC 22 August is also presented to assess the relationship between the PRE and TC Isaac’s track.
Perceptions of African American Police Officers on Racial Profiling in Small Agencies
Authors: Wilson Charles P. , Wilson Shirley A. , Thou Malane
Published: April 2015

Most assessments of the impact and effects of biased-based policing have been reviewed from the aspect of officer-citizen interaction during traffic stops, with the majority of studies focusing on these occurrences in larger police jurisdictions. Yet police officers themselves, and particularly African American officers, bring a completely different perspective to this issue that has not been fully considered or developed, especially where it concerns the smaller agencies that make up the bulk of the nation’s police community. This study considers the perceptions of African American police officers regarding the presence and impact of biased-based policing in their agencies, as well as their perceptions of the positive or negative effects of their presence in these small local police agencies.
Sibling, Family, and Social Influences on Children’s Theory of Mind Understanding
Authors: Shahaeian Ameneh
Published: April 2015

Although a considerable body of research with samples from Western cultures shows that having siblings influences children’s theory of mind (ToM) understanding, research with samples from other cultures does not always support such findings. The current experiment was designed to examine in detail how family and social environment influence ToM competence in a group of Iranian children from various socioeconomic backgrounds. The participants were 142 preschoolers (4-5 years old) from high-SES (socioeconomic status) urban ( n = 33), low-SES urban ( n = 37), and rural villages ( n = 72). The results failed to show any significant differences between children’s scores on ToM measures among the three subsamples, despite the differences between the number of siblings and playmates and the divergent family backgrounds and social experiences of these children. As such, no significant correlation was found between the number of siblings or playmates these children had and their ToM understanding. However, the number of days children spent playing with peers, and the level of parental interference in siblings’ conflicts, was correlated with children’s ToM understanding. The implications of these results are discussed.
Predictors of Job Accommodations for Individuals With Psychiatric Disabilities
Authors: Chow Clifton M. , Cichocki Benjamin
Published: April 2015

The empirical literature on the impact of psychiatric disability on employment outcomes has consistently shown that individuals with psychiatric disabilities are more likely than those without to experience adverse labor market outcomes. One strategy invoked to address barriers to employment has been reasonable job accommodations, developed originally through the Americans With Disabilities Act legislation. However, little is known about the factors associated with the request for reasonable job accommodations among those with serious psychiatric disabilities. Data for this study come from a longitudinal multisite demonstration project funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Accommodations were reported by individuals with serious mental health disabilities who became employed. Results from logistic regression analysis found that those who disclosed their disability to their employers, who were more severely disabled, and who had positive social relationships were more likely to request accommodations. This study advances our knowledge of the factors that influence the decision of individuals with serious mental health disabilities to seek accommodation in the work environment and offers a framework for guiding rehabilitation counselors in ways that might help to enhance employment outcomes for this population.
Public Administration and the Classical Liberal Perspective
Authors: Aligica Paul Dragos
Published: April 2015

This article argues that despite the widespread perception to the contrary, it is possible to articulate a classical liberal position on public administration that recognizes and confronts the problems of collective governance in the public domain, as opposed to either circumventing them or imposing institutional designs and policy standards not fully in accordance with the nature and structure of the collective phenomena in case. As such, the article revisits, clarifies, and elaborates a classical liberal inspired perspective on the problem of collective action and public governance, arguing for its distinctiveness while articulating its basic conceptual and theoretical elements.
Choline Alleviates Parenteral Nutrition–Associated Duodenal Motility Disorder in Infant Rats
Authors: Zhu Jie , Wu Yang , Guo Yonggao , Tang Qingya , Lu Ting , Cai Wei , Huang Haiyan
Published: April 2015

Background:Parenteral nutrition (PN) has been found to influence duodenal motility in animals. Choline is an essential nutrient, and its deficiency is related to PN‐associated organ diseases. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the role of choline supplementation in an infant rat model of PN‐associated duodenal motility disorder. Materials and Methods: Three‐week‐old Sprague‐Dawley male rats were fed chow and water (controls), PN solution (PN), or PN plus intravenous choline (600 mg/kg) (PN + choline). Rats underwent jugular vein cannulation for infusion of PN solution or 0.9% saline (controls) for 7 days. Duodenal oxidative stress status, concentrations of plasma choline, phosphocholine, and betaine and serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)–α were assayed. The messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression of c‐Kit proto‐oncogene protein (c‐Kit) and membrane‐bound stem cell factor (mSCF) together with the electrophysiological features of slow waves in the duodenum were also evaluated. Results: Rats on PN showed increased reactive oxygen species; decreased total antioxidant capacity in the duodenum; reduced plasma choline, phosphocholine, and betaine; and enhanced serum TNF‐α concentrations, which were reversed by choline intervention. In addition, PN reduced mRNA and protein expression of mSCF and c‐Kit, which were inversed under choline administration. Moreover, choline attenuated depolarized resting membrane potential and declined the frequency and amplitude of slow waves in duodenal smooth muscles of infant rats induced by PN, respectively. Conclusion: The addition of choline to PN may alleviate the progression of duodenal motor disorder through protecting smooth muscle cells from injury, promoting mSCF/c‐Kit signaling, and attenuating impairment of interstitial cells of Cajal in the duodenum during PN feeding.