bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Use of the All Patient Refined-Diagnosis Related Group (APR-DRG) Risk of Mortality Score as a Severity Adjustor in the Medical ICU
Authors: Baram Daniel , Daroowalla Feroza , Garcia Ruel , Zhang Guangxiang , Chen John J. , Healy Erin , Riaz Syed Ali , Richman Paul
Published: September 2017

Objective

To evaluate the performance of APR-DRG (All Patient Refined—Diagnosis Related Group) Risk of Mortality (ROM) score as a mortality risk adjustor in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Design

Retrospective analysis of hospital mortality.

Setting

Medical ICU in a university hospital located in metropolitan New York.

Patients

1213 patients admitted between February 2004 and March 2006.

Main results

Mortality rate correlated significantly with increasing APR-DRG ROM scores (p < 0.0001). Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that, after adjusting for patient age and disease group, APR-DRG ROM was significantly associated with mortality risk in patients, with a one unit increase in APR-DRG ROM associated with a 3-fold increase in mortality.

Conclusions

APR-DRG ROM correlates closely with ICU mortality. Already available for many hospitalized patients around the world, it may provide a readily available means for severity-adjustment when physiologic scoring is not available.
Immunological Changes in Mesothelioma Patients and Their Experimental Detection
Authors: Maeda Megumi , Miura Yoshie , Nishimura Yasumitsu , Murakami Shuko , Hayashi Hiroaki , Kumagai Naoko , Hatayama Tamayo , Katoh Minako , Miyahara Naomi , Yamamoto Shoko , Fukuoka Kazuya , Kishimoto Takumi , Nakano Takashi , Otsuki Takemi
Published: September 2017

It is common knowledge that asbestos exposure causes asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma (MM) not only in people who have handled asbestos in the work environment, but also in residents living near factories that handle asbestos. These facts have been an enormous medical and social problem in Japan since the summer of 2005. We focused on the immunological effects of asbestos and silica on the human immune system. In this brief review, we present immunological changes in patients with MM and outline their experimental detection. For example, there is over-expression of bcl-2 in CD4+ peripheral T-cells, high plasma concentrations of interleukin (IL)-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, and multiple over-representation of T cell receptor (TcR)-VB in peripheral CD3+ T-cells found in MM patients. We also detail an experimental long-term exposure T-cell model. Analysis of the immunological effects of asbestos may help our understanding of the biological effects of asbestos.
Prospective Audit of Colonoscopy Practice in a Lebanese University Hospital
Authors: Slim Rita , Khairallah Louisa , Yaghi César , Honein Khalil , Chemaly Marwan , Kheir Bahaa , Sayegh Raymond
Published: September 2017

Background

Colonoscopy has a great impact on diagnosis and management of the diseases of the colon. In general it's a safe and accurate procedure. No evaluation has been done of any endoscopic practices in a country where the practice of medicine is totally private.

Objectives

Prospective audit of technical success and complication rates of both therapeutic and diagnostic colonoscopy.

Setting

One endoscopy unit of a Lebanese university hospital.

Patients and design

407 consecutive colonoscopies were evaluated over a 6-month period. Data were recorded for age and sex of the patients, indication of the colonoscopy, presence of comorbidities, patients risk stratification, administrated dose of anesthetic drugs. Data concerning the procedure itself were also monitored.

Intervention

Completion rate as well as complications reported during or post colonoscopy. All patients were called back by phone 48 hours and 1 month later to identify any related post-procedural complication.

Results

407 patients underwent colonoscopy. All patients were sedated with midazolam, propofol and fentanyl. The overall caecal intubation rate was 99.99%. 70 snare polypectomies and 29 cold forceps excision were performed as well as 5 coagulations with Argon Plasma Coagulation. The most important post-procedural complication was chemical colitis in 2 cases.

Limitations

Patients and endoscopists satisfaction was not evaluated. It's an audit of a single tertiary French affiliated hospital. It does not necessarily reflect what's really happening on a national level.

Conclusion

This audit enabled us to change some of our practices; i.e. rinsing method of endoscopes. It stimulated the team to keep a high performance level without neglecting the risk of potential complications.
Teleradiology and Emergency Neurosurgery-Presence in a Small Asian City State and Need in a Large Canadian Province
Authors: Ng Wai Hoe , Wang Ernest , Ng Ivan , Bernstein Mark
Published: September 2017

Teleradiology involving the transfer of vital patient information such as scan images is an important technology to facilitate effective and efficient provision of neurosurgical care in the setting of scarce resources and geographic isolation.

We review the implementation of teleradiology initiatives in the small city state of Singapore and its potential and need in the large province of Ontario and draw parallels in their strategic implementation. Although it may seem intuitive that teleradiology has greater applications in regions of vast geographical size, the technology has universal usefulness if applied appropriately in any neurosurgical or health care system.
Estimation of the fossil fuel component in atmospheric CO2 based on radiocarbon measurements at the Beromünster tall tower, Switzerland
Authors: Berhanu Tesfaye A. , Szidat Sönke , Brunner Dominik , Satar Ece , Schanda Rüdiger , Nyfeler Peter , Battaglia Michael , Steinbacher Martin , Hammer Samuel , Leuenberger Markus
Published: September 2017

Abstract. Fossil fuel CO2 (CO2ff) is the major contributor of anthropogenic CO2 in the atmosphere, and accurate quantification is essential to better understand the carbon cycle. Since October 2012, we have been continuously measuring the mixing ratios of CO, CO2, CH4, and H2O at five different heights at the Beromünster tall tower, Switzerland. Air samples for radiocarbon (Δ14CO2) analysis have also been collected from the highest sampling inlet (212.5 m) of the tower on a biweekly basis. A correction was applied for 14CO2 emissions from nearby nuclear power plants (NPPs), which have been simulated with the Lagrangian transport model FLEXPART-COSMO. The 14CO2 emissions from NPPs offset the depletion in 14C by fossil fuel emissions, resulting in an underestimation of the fossil fuel component in atmospheric CO2 by about 16 %. An average observed ratio (RCO) of 13.4 ± 1.3 mmol mol−1 was calculated from the enhancements in CO mixing ratios relative to the clean-air reference site Jungfraujoch (ΔCO) and the radiocarbon-based fossil fuel CO2 mole fractions. The wintertime RCO estimate of 12.5 ± 3.3 is about 30 % higher than the wintertime ratio between in situ measured CO and CO2 enhancements at Beromünster over the Jungfraujoch background (8.7 mmol mol−1) corrected for non-fossil contributions due to strong biospheric contribution despite the strong correlation between ΔCO and ΔCO2 in winter. By combining the ratio derived using the radiocarbon measurements and the in situ measured CO mixing ratios, a high-resolution time series of CO2ff was calculated exhibiting a clear seasonality driven by seasonal variability in emissions and vertical mixing. By subtracting the fossil fuel component and the large-scale background, we have determined the regional biospheric CO2 component that is characterized by seasonal variations ranging between −15 and +30 ppm. A pronounced diurnal variation was observed during summer modulated by biospheric exchange and vertical mixing, while no consistent pattern was found during winter.
Cyanobacterial species richness and Nostoc highly correlated to seasonal N enrichment in the northern Australian savannah
Authors: Williams Wendy , Büdel Burkhard , Williams Stephen
Published: September 2017

Abstract. Boodjamulla National Park research station is situated in north-west Queensland in the dry savannah where the climate is dominated by summer monsoons and virtually dry winters. Cyanobacterial crusts almost entirely cover the flood plain soil surfaces in between the tussock grasses. Cyanobacteria fix dinitrogen that is liberated into the soil in both inorganic and organic N forms. Seasonality drives N-fixation and in the savannah, this has a large impact on both plant and soil function. In this research project, we examined the cyanobacterial species richness and bioavailable N spanning the seven months of a typical wet season. We hypothesised that cyanobacterial richness and bioavailable N would peak at the time of the heaviest rains and gradually decline in the latter stages of the wet season. We also anticipated that the abundance of N-fixing cyanobacteria would be correlated to N-fixation and N-enrichment of the surface soils. Over the wet season cyanobacterial richness ranged from 6–19 species. N-fixing Scytonema accounted on average across the season for 74 % of the biocrust in varying proportions throughout the season. Cyanobacterial richness was highly correlated with N-fixation and bioavailable N in 0–1 cm. It was established key N-fixing species such as Nostoc, Symploca and Gloeocapsa significantly enriched soil N although Nostoc was the most influential. Total seasonal N fixation by cyanobacteria demonstrated the variability in productivity according to the number of wet days as well as the follow-on days where the soil retained adequate moisture. Based on total active days per month we estimated that N-soil enrichment via cyanobacteria would be ~ 5.2 kg ha−1 annually which is comparable to global averages. This is a substantial contribution to the nutrient deficient savannah soils that are almost entirely reliant on the wet season for microbial turnover of organic matter. This seasonal pattern in atmospheric N-fixation and transformation to a bioavailable form was also present in C-fixation results from parallel research. Such well-defined seasonal trends and synchronisation in cyanobacterial species richness, N-fixation, bioavailable N and C fixation provide significant contributions to multi-functional microprocesses and soil fertility.
Water-use dynamics of an alien-invaded riparian forest within the Mediterranean climate zone of the Western Cape, South Africa
Authors: Scott-Shaw Bruce C. , Everson Colin S. , Clulow Alistair D.
Published: September 2017

Abstract. In South Africa, the invasion of riparian forests by alien trees has the potential to affect the country's limited water resources. Tree water-use measurements have therefore become an important component of recent hydrological studies. It is difficult for South African government initiatives, such as the Working for Water (WfW) alien clearing program, to justify alien tree removal and implement rehabilitation unless hydrological benefits are known. Consequently, water use within a riparian forest along the Buffeljags River in the Western Cape of South Africa was monitored over a 3-year period. The site consisted of an indigenous stand of Western Cape afrotemperate forest adjacent to a large stand of introduced Acacia mearnsii. The heat ratio method of the heat pulse velocity sap flow technique was used to measure the sap flow of a selection of indigenous species in the indigenous stand, a selection of A. mearnsii trees in the alien stand and two clusters of indigenous species within the alien stand. The indigenous trees in the alien stand at Buffeljags River showed significant intraspecific differences in the daily sap flow rates varying from 15 to 32 L day−1 in summer (sap flow being directly proportional to tree size). In winter (June), this was reduced to only 7 L day−1 when limited energy was available to drive the transpiration process. The water use in the A. mearnsii trees showed peaks in transpiration during the months of March 2012, September 2012 and February 2013. These periods had high average temperatures, rainfall and high daily vapor pressure deficits (VPDs – average of 1.26 kPa). The average daily sap flow ranged from 25 to 35 L in summer and approximately 10 L in the winter. The combined accumulated daily sap flow per year for the three Vepris lanceolata and three A. mearnsii trees was 5700 and 9200 L, respectively, clearly demonstrating the higher water use of the introduced Acacia trees during the winter months. After spatially upscaling the findings, it was concluded that, annually, the alien stand used nearly 6 times more water per unit area than the indigenous stand (585 mm a−1 compared to 101 mm a−1). This finding indicates that there would be a gain in groundwater recharge and/or streamflow if the alien species are removed from riparian forests and rehabilitated back to their natural state.
Spatiotemporal variation of Van der Burgh's coefficient in a salt plug estuary
Authors: Shaha Dinesh Chandra , Cho Yang-Ki , Kim Bong Guk , Sony M. Rafi Afruz , Kundu Sampa Rani , Islam M. Faruqul
Published: September 2017

Abstract. Salt water intrusion in estuaries is expected to become a serious global issue due to climate change. Van der Burgh's coefficient, K, is a good proxy for describing the relative contribution of tide-driven and gravitational (discharge-driven and density-driven) components of salt transport in estuaries. However, debate continues over the use of the K value for an estuary where K should be a constant, spatially varying, or time-independent factor for different river discharge conditions. In this study, we determined K during spring and neap tides in the dry (< 30 m−3 s−1) and wet (> 750 m−3 s−1) seasons in a salt plug estuary with an exponentially varying width and depth, to examine the relative contributions of tidal versus density-driven salt transport mechanisms. High-resolution salinity data were used to determine K. Discharge-driven gravitational circulation (K ∼ 0.8) was entirely dominant over tidal dispersion during spring and neap tides in the wet season, to the extent that salt transport upstream was effectively reduced, resulting in the estuary remaining in a relatively fresh state. In contrast, K increased gradually seaward (K ∼ 0.74) and landward (K ∼ 0.74) from the salt plug area (K ∼ 0.65) during the dry season, similar to an inverse and positive estuary, respectively. As a result, density-driven inverse gravitational circulation between the salt plug and the sea facilitates inverse estuarine circulation. On the other hand, positive estuarine circulation between the salt plug and the river arose due to density-driven positive gravitational circulation during the dry season, causing the upstream intrusion of high-salinity bottom water. Our results explicitly show that K varies spatially and depends on the river discharge. This result provides a better understanding of the distribution of hydrographic properties.
The paradoxical evolution of runoff in the pastoral Sahel: analysis of the hydrological changes over the Agoufou watershed (Mali) using the KINEROS-2 model
Authors: Gal Laetitia , Grippa Manuela , Hiernaux Pierre , Pons Léa , Kergoat Laurent
Published: September 2017

Abstract. In recent decades, the Sahel has witnessed a paradoxical increase in surface water despite a general precipitation decline. This phenomenon, commonly referred to as the Sahelian paradox, is not completely understood yet. The role of cropland expansion due to the increasing food demand by a growing population has been often put forward to explain this situation for the cultivated Sahel. However, this hypothesis does not hold in pastoral areas where the same phenomenon is observed. Several other processes, such as the degradation of natural vegetation following the major droughts of the 1970s and the 1980s, the development of crusted topsoils, the intensification of the rainfall regime and the development of the drainage network, have been suggested to account for this situation. In this paper, a modeling approach is proposed to explore, quantify and rank different processes that could be at play in pastoral Sahel. The kinematic runoff and erosion model (KINEROS-2) is applied to the Agoufou watershed (245 km2), in the Gourma region in Mali, which underwent a significant increase of surface runoff during the last 60 years. Two periods are simulated, the past case (1960–1975) preceding the Sahelian drought and the present case (2000–2015). Surface hydrology and land cover characteristics for these two periods are derived by the analysis of aerial photographs, available in 1956, and high-resolution remote sensing images in 2011. The major changes identified are (1) a partial crusting of isolated dunes, (2) an increase of drainage network density, (3) a marked decrease in vegetation with the nonrecovery of tiger bush and vegetation growing on shallow sandy soils, and (4) important changes in soil properties with the apparition of impervious soils instead of shallow sandy soil. The KINEROS-2 model was parameterized to simulate these changes in combination or independently. The results obtained by this model display a significant increase in annual discharge between the past and the present case (p value < 0.001), which is consistent with observations, despite a slight overestimation of the past discharge. Mean annual discharges are estimated at 0.51  ×  106 m3 (2.1 mm yr−1) and 3.29  ×  106 m3 (13.4 mm yr−1) for past and present, respectively. Changes in soil properties and vegetation cover (tiger bush thickets and grassland on shallow sandy soil) are found to be the main factors causing this increase of simulated runoff, with the drainage network development contributing to a lesser extent but with a positive feedback. These results shed a new light on the Sahelian paradox phenomenon in the absence of land use change and call for further tests in other areas and/or with other models. The synergetic processes highlighted here could play a role in other Sahelian watersheds where runoff increase has been also observed.
Influence of uncertain identification of triggering rainfall on the assessment of landslide early warning thresholds
Authors: Peres David J. , Cancelliere Antonino , Greco Roberto , Bogaard Thom A.
Published: September 2017

Abstract. Uncertainty in rainfall datasets and landslide inventories is known to have negative impacts on the assessment of landslide–triggering thresholds. In this paper, we perform a quantitative analysis of the impacts that the uncertain knowledge of landslide initiation instants have on the assessment of landslide intensity–duration early warning thresholds. The analysis is based on an ideal synthetic database of rainfall and landslide data, generated by coupling a stochastic rainfall generator and a physically based hydrological and slope stability model. This dataset is then perturbed according to hypothetical reporting scenarios, that allow to simulate possible errors in landslide triggering instants, as derived from historical archives. The impact of these errors is analysed by combining different criteria to single-out rainfall events from a continuous series and different temporal aggregations of rainfall (hourly and daily). The analysis shows that the impacts of the above uncertainty sources can be significant. Errors influence thresholds in a way that they are generally underestimated. Potentially, the amount of the underestimation can be enough to induce an excessive number of false positives, hence limiting possible landslide mitigation benefits. Moreover, the uncertain knowledge of triggering rainfall, limits the possibility to set up links between thresholds and physio-geographical factors.
Integrating field, textural and geochemical monitoring to track eruption triggers and dynamics: a case-study from Piton de la Fournaise
Authors: Gurioli Lucia , Di Muro Andrea , Vlastélic Ivan , Moune Séverine , Villeneuve Nicolas , Bachèlery Patrick , Valer Marina , Thivet Simon , Boudoire Guillaume , Peltier Aline , Ferrazzini Valerie , Métrich Nicole , Benbakkar Mhammed , Cluzel Nicolas , Constantin Christophe , Devidal Jean-Luc , Fonquernie Claire , Hénot Jean-Marc
Published: September 2017

Abstract. The 2014 eruption at Piton de La Fournaise (PdF), la Reunion, which occurred after 41 months of quiescence, began with surprisingly little precursory activity, and was one of the smallest so far observed at PdF in terms of duration (less than 2 days) and volume (less than 0.4 Mm3). The pyroclastic material was composed of spiny-opaque, spiny-iridescent, and fluidal scoria along with golden pumice. Density analyses performed on 200 lapilli reveal that the spiny-opaque clasts are the densest (1600 kg/m3) and richest in crystals (54 vol%), and the golden pumices are the lightest (400 kg/m3) and poorest in crystals (14 vol%). The connectivity data indicate that the fluidal and golden (Hawaiian-like) clasts have more isolated vesicles (up to 40 %) than the spiny (Strombolian-like) clasts (0–5 %). These textural variations are linked to primary pre-eruptive magma storage conditions. The golden and fluidal fragments track the hotter portion of the melt, in contrast to the spiny fragments which mirror the cooler portion of the shallow reservoir. Progressive tapping of these distinct portions leads to a decrease in the explosive intensity from early fountaining to Strombolian activity. The geochemical results confirm the absence of new hot input of magma and confirm the involvement of a single, shallow, differentiated magma source, possibly related to residual magma from the November 2009 eruption. We found that the eruption was triggered by water exsolution, favoured by the shallow depth of the reservoir, rather than cooling and chemical evolution of the stored magma.
Flexible parallel implicit modelling of coupled thermal–hydraulic–mechanical processes in fractured rocks
Authors: Cacace Mauro , Jacquey Antoine B.
Published: September 2017

Abstract. Theory and numerical implementation describing groundwater flow and the transport of heat and solute mass in fully saturated fractured rocks with elasto-plastic mechanical feedbacks are developed. In our formulation, fractures are considered as being of lower dimension than the hosting deformable porous rock and we consider their hydraulic and mechanical apertures as scaling parameters to ensure continuous exchange of fluid mass and energy within the fracture–solid matrix system. The coupled system of equations is implemented in a new simulator code that makes use of a Galerkin finite-element technique. The code builds on a flexible, object-oriented numerical framework (MOOSE, Multiphysics Object Oriented Simulation Environment) which provides an extensive scalable parallel and implicit coupling to solve for the multiphysics problem. The governing equations of groundwater flow, heat and mass transport, and rock deformation are solved in a weak sense (either by classical Newton–Raphson or by free Jacobian inexact Newton–Krylow schemes) on an underlying unstructured mesh. Nonlinear feedbacks among the active processes are enforced by considering evolving fluid and rock properties depending on the thermo-hydro-mechanical state of the system and the local structure, i.e. degree of connectivity, of the fracture system. A suite of applications is presented to illustrate the flexibility and capability of the new simulator to address problems of increasing complexity and occurring at different spatial (from centimetres to tens of kilometres) and temporal scales (from minutes to hundreds of years).
Uma análise dos processos presentes em enunciados de um livro didático de inglês: uma perspectiva sistêmico-funcional de práticas de ensino e aprendizagem
Authors: Costa Patrícia Helena da Silva , Tilio Rogério Casanovas
Published: September 2017

Este trabalho investiga a adequação do livro didático de inglês utilizado em um programa de aceleração da SME-RJ, o Programa Acelera Brasil, de natureza sociointeracional. Tomando a Linguística Sistêmico-Funcional como teoria sócio-semiótica de linguagem e utilizando especificamente o Sistema de Transitividade, são analisados os processos presentes nos enunciados das atividades, buscando compreender a natureza das práticas de ensino e aprendizagem que constituem o livro. Os resultados apontam para concepções pedagógicas desvinculadas de questões de criticidade e ideologia, gerando discrepâncias entre o Programa e o livro didático.
Globalization in the margins: toward elements for a sociolin¬guistics of mobility from Indigenous experiences
Authors: Nascimento André Marques
Published: September 2017

Este artigo analisa, desde abordagens da sociolinguística contemporânea e de estudos decoloniais, como a apropriação de infraestruturas de  lobalização por povos indígenas tem gerado novos meios de interação através dos quais podem tornar visíveis suas demandas atuais, assim como tem criado novos ambientes de interações transidiomáticas. A análise enfoca elementos discursivos do rap e de postagens e comentários em redes sociais nas quais são produtivamente usados recursos das línguas indígenas. O principal argumento é que saltos escalares translocais são possibilitados por esta apropriação de infraestruturas de globalização que pode ter efeitos potenciais positivos na vitalidade linguística dos povos indígenas.
Unintended Consequences of Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT)
Authors: Georgiou George Costas
Published: September 2017

Money laundering is illegal world-wide and constitutes a significant economic inefficiency. One must wonder why current anti-money laundering and combating the financing (AML/CFT) efforts are primarily driven by the threat of terrorism and drug-trafficking when the overwhelming majority of illicit money flows is due to other causes, primarily fraud. The significant costs imposed on financial institutions, together with ever increasing levels of regulation mandated by AML/CFT efforts and the minuscule in comparison illicit money flows intercepted by these efforts has thereby resulted in both moral hazard and conflicts of interest for financial institutions. Furthermore, AML/CFT efforts take on a new meaning when one realizes that illicit money, flows not only through traditional banks but also shadow banks and other non-bank financial intermediaries. The costs of compliance are enormous in comparison to the benefits with the “war on terrorism” superseding the more relaxed “war on drugs”, although even the latter was onerous in comparison to the even more relaxed efforts against the more widespread “white-collar” crime of fraud. In this paper, we trace the evolution of the present AML/CFT regime while at the same time assessing the costs and benefits of this government initiative on the efficiency of the financial system both in modern advanced economies and as well as the less developed economies of the world.
The Degree of Competition in the UAE Banking Industry
Authors: Antwi George Owusu , Banerjee Rachna , Mohammed Amal Abeer , Muna-Habib Mariam Juma
Published: September 2017

This paper has made an attempt to assess the degree of competition (or market structure) in the UAE banking sector using the H-statistics established by Panzar-Rosse (1987). Data of six years (2009-2015) have been extracted from various balance sheet and income statements of the banks. Pooled OSL estimator was used to obtain the coefficient. The inputs prices were found to be significant except the input price of labor. Total asset was registered to be positively significant. All other variables were not significant. The results of the study reveal that the UAE banking market structure is characterized by the monopolistic competition. That is, banks earned their revenue as if operating under conditions of monopolistic competition during this period. A robust check was performed to test for validity of PR-model. The results yield E-statistic which is consistent with long-run equilibrium. It is believed that both the small and the larger banks operate relatively equal more in a competitive environment. We recommend that UAE should develop new financial products and services that will provide convenience to customers while improving profitability.
Price Volatility in the Natural Gas Market
Authors: Le Duong Thuy
Published: September 2017

This paper examines the causes and behavior of price volatility in the US natural gas market. Although natural gas prices are among the most volatile, they have received limited academic scrutiny heretofore. The study’s main findings are: (1) the natural gas market is characterized by volatility persistence, (2) predicted volatility increases more following a positive shock than an equal negative shock, (3) there are day-of-the-week and month-of-the-year patterns in this market, (4) surprises in the change in natural gas in storage cause increased volatility, (5) volatility tends to be higher during and immediately after bid week, and (6) volatility tends to be higher on winter days when the temperature is lower than normal. The model developed and employed in this research is an improved procedure for testing and quantifying the hypothesized volatility determinants within a GARCH type model.
Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis through the Lens of Persian Historiography
Authors: Simidchieva Marta
Published: September 2017

Could a French-language “graphic novel” serve as a case study of sabk in Persianate literatures?1 Much depends on how broadly “sabk” and “Persianate literatures” are defined, but one could argue that these categories are capacious enough not to bar a work from being considered on the grounds of the language or genre alone.
Metaphorical Language as a Battleground for Tradition and Newness in Late Mughal Persian
Authors: Dudney Arthur
Published: September 2017

Sirāj al-Dīn ʿAlī Khān, known as Ārzū (d. 1756), made a number of sweeping pronouncements during his impressive career as a poet and philologist in Delhi. He claimed to be the first person in the Persian philological tradition to have noticed the historical ties between Persian and Indian languages. That claim is well known to scholars, but a more obscure but arguably even more important statement appears in the preface of his ʿAṭiyya-i Kubrā (The great gift). He writes that it is the first work to explain “the science of clear statement” (ʿilm-i bayān) in Persian. This article situates this facet of rhetoric in its historical context. By considering several exemplars of contemporary critical discourse, we can reevaluate a dominant paradigm in Persianate literary history, namely, decadence. Modern critics have typically indexed the degree of the apparent degradation in sixteenth- to eighteenth-century Persian literature to its metaphorical complexity. In fact, far from fretting over a decadent and degraded literature, critics like Ārzū were grappling with the possibility of theorizing the integration of new ideas and new metaphors into the rhetorical tradition. Furthermore, the consolidation of rhetorical scholarship in Persian in this period coincided with the expansion of literary production in the north Indian Islamicate context in other languages. Many of the people responsible for translating and reformulating Arabic philological texts in Persian had a stake in both Persian and what would later be called Urdu literature. The implications of this trilingual consciousness have not been satisfactorily explained.
Using a “Messy” Problem as a Departmental Assessment of Undergraduates' Ability to Think Like Psychologists
Authors: Dibartolo Patricia Marten , Duncan Lauren E. , Ly Minh , Rudnitsky Alan N.
Published: September 2017

This article presents a case study of faculty members in a psychology department whose shared questions about pedagogy and learning informed a data-driven curricular review and revision using an open-ended assessment that privileged deep learning. The authors describe the development of this assessment and how its results across the arc of the major led to a revision of the department's curriculum, including the creation of new courses that focused on developing students' abilities to “think like psychologists.” The study indicates that faculty intuitions of potential problems in student learning can be successfully assessed and then addressed through curricular changes.
In Vitro Effects of Arthrocen, an Avocado/Soy Unsaponifiables Agent, on Inflammation and Global Gene Expression in Human Monocytes
Authors: Taylor Jared F , Goudarzi Ramin , Yazdi Puya G , Pedersen Brian Allen
Published: September 2017

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis. Symptomatically characterized by stiffness and pain, OA is a chronic degenerative disease of joints. Of note, there is growing interest in the potential use of plant-based compounds for symptomatic treatment of OA. Arthrocen is a plant-derived agent consisting of a one to two ratio of avocado and soy unsaponifiable extracts. In order to decipher the potential mechanisms of Arthrocen's action at the molecular level, we employed an in vitro assay using cultured human THP-1 cells (a model cell line for monocytes) to study its effects. By pairing protein arrays enriched for inflammatory markers, transcriptomic pathway analysis using RNA-Sequencing, and eicosanoid specific lipidomics, we have begun to unravel its potential mechanism of action. Specifically, we found that Arthrocen can attenuate the inflammatory response at the transcript level while inducing significant changes in numerous cytokines. Furthermore, we discovered that while Arthrocen alone did not increase IL-8 or MCP-1 levels, its presence had a synergistic effect on the observed increase in response to LPS stimulation. Additionally, this synergistic effect of Arthrocen on LPS stimulation of IL-8 and MCP-1 protein levels was also observed at the mRNA level and suggests a regulatory mechanism at the transcriptional level. Interestingly, Arthrocen induced no changes in any of the eicosanoids studied. This multi-omics approach implies that Arthrocen functions at the level of gene transcription to dampen inflammation mediated by monocytes in OA.
Development of Database of Maize Hybrids and Open Pollinated Varieties Released and Notified for Cultivation in India
Authors: Kaul Jyoti , Kumar Ramesh , Nara Usha , Jain Khushbu , Olakh Dhirender , Tiwari Tanu , Yadav Om Prakash , Dass Sain
Published: September 2017

The maize database, first of its kind in India, is a central repository for cultivars i.e. hybrids and open pollinated varieties (OPVs) notified for cultivation in India since the inception of All India Coordinated Maize Improvement Project (AICMIP) in 1957. The database includes the information on cultivars developed from public as well as private breeding programmes. Besides, information on registered germplasm is also given. The database carries image gallery showcasing photographs of cobs/standing crop of the public-bred cultivars released after 1993.The database also presents information about adaptability of cultivars, average yield and disease, and insect-pest resistance along with the parental materials used in breeding programmes. Information on 31 descriptors as per Distinctivity, Uniformity and Stability (DUS) tests in respect of parental lines and their hybrids that were filed for protection under “Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Act, 2001” (PPVFRAct, 2001) has been supplemented. In addition, the database provides contact information on developers of the notified cultivars thereby facilitating interactions among the members of maize community. The information contained within maize database can be accessed at on-line expert system called maize AGRIdaksh (www.iimr.res.in/maizeexpertsystem/www.agridaksh.iasri.res.in/maize). Information on notified cultivars (1961-2010) parental lines and cultivars (1993-2012) filed under PPVFRAct, 2001 can also be accessed at www.iimr.res.in/maizeexpertsystem/maize hybrids and composite varieties released in India. Whereas, information about registered germplasm (2003-2012) can be accessed at www.iimr.res.in/publications.
Glyphosate Effect on Nitrogen Fixation and Metabolization in RR Soybean
Authors: Bomfim Nayane Cristina Pires , Costa Beatriz Gonçalves Pereira , Souza Lucas Anjos , Justino Gilberto Costa , Aguiar Leandro Ferreira , Camargos Liliane Santos
Published: September 2017

To evaluate under controlled temperature conditions, nutrition and water supply, the influence of glyphosate on nitrogen fixation capacity in Roundup Ready (RR) soybean, BRS Valiosa Roundup Ready. Commercially available seeds were sown in pots containing vermiculite and washed sand (1:1) and after germination, the seeds were inoculated with Bradyrhizobium sp. and kept in nutrient solution without nitrogen, in greenhouse, with temperature control to 27 ºC without photoperiod control, at UNESP, Ilha Solteira, SP. At the vegetative stage, glyphosate was applied at a concentration of 1.8 mg glyphosate/plant once a week. There were two harvests: after 15-21 days after herbicide application, and at reproductive stage. The chlorophyll content in leaves was analyzed and the organs were separated (leaves, roots and nodules) for extraction and quantitation of nitrogenous compounds, in addition to the enzyme allantoinase activity analysis (in vitro) and nitrogenase activity (in vivo). Nodules were counted and weighted. Means were compared by 5% Tukey’s test. It was observed that the application of glyphosate in RR soybeans moderately affected N fixation and assimilation. There were no drastic metabolic changes for the aminoacids, proteins, chlorophylls and ureides in RR soybean treated with glyphosate.
Yam Breeding in Ghana
Authors: Otoo Emmanuel
Published: September 2017

CSIR-Crops Research Institute of Ghana is the National Centre of Specialization (NCOs) for Root and Tuber Crops and migrating into a Regional Centre of Excellence (RCOE) in Root and Tuber research in the West African sub-region. Yam is one of the major root and tuber crops of importance in the sub-region and for that matter the NCOS. Even though yams are indigenous to the West African sub-region, with the exception of Dioscorea alata (Asiatic origin), yams are often aptly described as an orphan crop due to the relatively little research effort compared to its significance in the sub-region in particular and the world at large. Breeding of yams therefore can be a challenge due to little literature available on the subject matter. This paper looks at the historic perspective, what can be done presently and projects into future direction of yam breeding in Ghana and the world at large. It also serves as a guide for yam breeding in particular and root and tuber crops in general.
Path Analysis in Soybean Cultivars Grown under Foliar Spraying and Furrow Inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense
Authors: Zuffo Alan Mario , Júnior Joacir Mario Zuffo , Fonseca Wéverson Lima , Zambiazzi Everton Vinicius , Oliveira Augusto Matias de , Guilherme Scheila Roberta , Mendes Alan Eduardo Seglin , Godinho Sérgio Hebron Maia , Ribeiro Flaviane De Oliveira , Pinto André Rodrigues Salomão
Published: September 2017

The objective of this study was to evaluate, through path analysis, the influence of agronomic characters as a function of foliar spraying and furrow inoculation by Azospirillum brasilense on soybean yield. Two experiments were conducted in the crop years of 2013/14 and 2014/15, grown in Lavras, Minas Gerais. In the first experiment, the experimental design was a randomized block in a factorial 4 × 6, four cultivars (Anta 82 RR®, BRS Favorita RR®, BRS 780 RR®, BRS 820 RR®) and six doses of A. brasilense (0, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700 mL ha-1), with three replications. In the second experiment, the experimental design was a randomized block design, arranged in a 4 × 2 factorial scheme, four cultivars (Anta 82 RR®, BRS Favorita RR®, BRS 780 RR®, BRS 820 RR®) and two treatments with A. brasilense (inoculated and non-inoculated) with three replications. For both experiments, it was established plant height, phytomass of the aerial part, plant height at harvest, first legume insertion, number of legumes, number of grains per legume, mass of one thousand grains and grain yield. In the study with foliar spraying of soybean with A. brasilense, plant height at harvest was the only variable that had a direct effect on soybean grain yield. As such, in the study with furrow inoculation of A. brasilense in soybean, plant height at harvest and number of vegetables were the variables with the greatest direct effects on soybean grain yield.
Essential Oils in the Diet of Crossbred (½ Angus vs. ½ Nellore) Bulls Finished in Feedlot on Animal Performance, Feed Efficiency and Carcass Characteristics
Authors: Rivaroli Dayane Cristina , Do Prado Rodolpho Martin , Ornaghi Mariana Garcia , Mottin Camila , Ramos Tatiane Rogério , Barrado Ana Guerrero , Jorge André Mendes , Do Prado Ivanor Nunes
Published: September 2017

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the animal performance, feed efficiency and carcass characteristics of 27 crossbred bulls (½ Angus vs. ½ Nellore), finished in feedlot for 120 days, with the addition of distinct levels of essential oils in the diets. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized trial and animals were distributed into three treatments: control (CON), addition of 500 mg/kg of DM/animal/day of a mix of essential oils (E500), and addition of 1000 mg/kg of DM/animal/day of a mix of essential oils (E1000). The essential oils supplemented to the diets were based on a combination of vegetal extracts from: oregano, garlic, lemon, rosemary, thymus, eucalyptus and sweet orange. The bulls had an average age of 12±2 months and weight of 243.4±6.8 kg when the trial started. The roughage and concentrate ratio was 10% and 90%, respectively. The inclusion of essentials oils in the diets did not affect final body weight, average daily gain, and feed intake, but there was a tendency for improved feed efficiency for the E500 treatment. The ADG ranged from 1.55 to 1.70. Average DMI and feed conversion were 7.07 kg/day and 4.31, respectively. Essentials oil levels did not affect the carcass characteristics. More studies are needed to elucidate the synergism of combinations of essential oils in the rumen.
Mineral and Metal Levels in Brown Sugar from Organic and Conventional Production Systems
Authors: Luchini Paulo Dirceu , Bettani Silvia Raquel , Bernardi Marta Regina Verruma , Borges Maria Teresa Mendes Ribeiro
Published: September 2017

Food and nutrition are basic requirements for the promotion and protection of health. In addition to ensuring the availability of calories for consumption, it is necessary to improve the access to the variety of nutrients offered to the population. The consumption of brown sugar inserts nutrients into the feeding, once it is produced only by the evaporation of the existing water in the sugarcane broth, thus maintaining all the original constituents of the plant. To evaluate the influence of organic and conventional fertilization in the nutritional quality of the brown sugars, a test was conducted with six fertilization systems, in a completely randomized block design with four repetitions. The sugars produced were analysed regarding the contents of the nutrients Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu and the toxic elements Pb and Cd. The results showed that the different fertilization systems influenced the content of the minerals present. Although small, the differences were statistically significant and the treatments provided sugars with nutritional characteristics, with an advantage for the totally organic sugar (using organic fertilizer and corrective) which, in addition to environmental issues, did not present lead contamination.
Study of Heat Treatment in Processing of Pumpkin Puree (Cucurbita moschata)
Authors: Santos Jr L. C. O. , Simão Vanessa , Almeida Júlia Dos Santos Opuski de , Aquino Ana Carolina Moura de Sena , Carasek Eduardo , Amante Edna Regina
Published: September 2017

Pumpkins have richness of nutrients and in puree form may contribute to their greater appreciation in the vegetable processing industry. However, studies are necessary for its processing, since it is part of the group of risk of microbial contamination (pH > 4.5). Thus, this work aimed to study the pumpkin puree processing by heat treatment in autoclave wherein the product was subjected to sterilization by autoclaving at 121 °C to check their microbial load and physicochemical characteristics and to identify the volatile compounds of headspace in stand up pouch packaging. The heat treatment in autoclave for 10, 20 and 30 minutes was effective in eliminating microbial load of the sample (< 1.0 × 101) and also induced the decrease of pH and increase of titratable acidity (TA), total soluble solids (TSS) and total carotenoids. The compounds identified in the headspace after autoclaving were alcohols, aldehydes, alkenes, ketones, esters, ethers and terpenes, many of them aromatic compounds that characterize pumpkin and carotenoid degradation products and acids that justify physicochemical changes after processing.
Seasonal Effects on Starch Contents Evaluated in Cassava Roots
Authors: Proença Genilso Gomes de , Schmidt Carla Adriana Pizarro , Santos José Airton Azevedo dos
Published: September 2017

Starches have a wide range of uses and their consumption has increased over the years, resulting in a growth in the agro-industries that produce them. Cassava is a very important plant for agri-business and one of the main products obtained from its roots is starch. Although cassava can be harvested throughout the year, its quality varies greatly through the seasons; this is because it is influenced by soil and climatic factors, as well as the genetic characteristics of the species. These influences result in seasonal oscillations in root classification based on the starch content available at the time of product delivery. Faced with this problem, the objective of this study was the collection and evaluation of documentary data for 3 years of product quality samples. This was done in order to observe the situation and propose tools that can minimize problems resulting from the quality of raw material received by starch producers throughout the year. It was observed that in the winter period there was an increase in root starch content, despite the differences between the months not being statistically significantly, they are financially representative of this agro-industry sector. At the end of the study, a proposal for a methodology for calculating payment per gram of starch is presented in order to minimize the problem.
Characterization of the Genetic Resources of Farmed Tambaqui in Northern Brazil
Authors: Fazzi-Gomes Paola F. , Melo Nuno F. , Palheta Glauber , Aguiar Jonas , Sampaio Iracilda , Santos Sidney , Moreira Fabiano , Ribeiro-dos-Santos Ândrea K. , Hamoy Igor
Published: September 2017

The present study analyzed the genetic variability and structure of farmed tambaqui in the Brazilian state of Pará, and provided basic information that can be used for the development of programs of monitoring and management of genetic resources in the aquaculture operations of northern Brazil. A total of 216 individuals were sampled from tambaqui farms in Pará. Genotyping was based on a multiplex set of 10 tri- and tetra-nucleotide microsatellite markers. The data were used to calculate genetic diversity indices, expected and observed heterozygosity, the number of alleles per locus, allelic richness, and inbreeding coefficient. Genetic structure was verified using DEST and RST, the genetic signature, and Bayesian analysis. The results showed that the tambaqui farms surveyed have suffered a significant loss of genetic variability, and that they are genetically structured, forming two clusters, one encompassing the farms in western Pará, and the other including the farms from the northeast and southeast regions of the state. These finding provide fundamental insights for the development of effective strategies that will help guarantee productivity and the quality of the tambaqui farms of northern Brazil, and provide a database for the upgrading of the genetic variability of these populations. This study indicated the need for hatcheries in southeastern and northeastern Pará to amplify or renew their breeding stocks, in order to avoid the significant loss of genetic diversity in the tambaqui farms of these regions.