bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A testemunha ocular: algumas considerações sobre 1934 de Alberto Moravia
Authors: Iozzi Adriana
Published: July 2016

Este artigo procura contextualizar a obra de 1934, do escritor italiano Alberto Moravia, no âmbito do panorama da literatura italiana contemporânea, ressaltando os aspectos referentes à crise do intelectual na sociedade contemporânea.
Sonho de Fernando Pessoa, poeta e fingidor
Authors: Moraes Maria Cristina Milani de
Published: July 2016

Texto extraído de Sogni di sogni, Palermo, Sellerio, 1992.
Erri de Luca: non ora, non qui
Authors: Fabris Mariarosaria
Published: July 2016

O tema central do primeiro romance de Erri de Luca é a conquista da palavra como meio para comunicar com os outros e, sobretudo, como meio para fazer reviver a memória e expressar os próprios sentimentos.
Violenza di temi e violenza di linguaggio in L´editore di nanni Balestrini
Authors: Caprara Loredana De Stauber
Published: July 2016

Dezessete anos após a morte de um conhecido editor milanês, num atentado terrorista nunca esclarecido, um grupo de seus ex-colaboradores e amigos decidem realizar um filme sobre aquela trágica morte. Mas o que realmente aconteceu e qual foi a verdadeira personalidade do editor morto? O romance, relato do falimento do filme, mediante a técnica do patchwork, permite ao autor relatar todas as opiniões sem se pronunciar.
Agostini, quadrinhos comis fumetti
Authors: Cagnin Antonio Luiz
Published: July 2016

Ao analisar o caráter pioneiro da obra de Ângelo Agostini, o autor reflete sobre o surgimento das histórias em quadrinhos.
Onde o vermelho e o verde são cores muito estranhas
Authors: Berella Gabriela Kvacek
Published: July 2016

Proposta de leitura da obra de Carlo Levi, Cristo si è fermato a Eboli.
O jardim dos Finzi-Contini: o ocaso de uma comunidade
Authors: Rozenchan Nancy
Published: July 2016

O ocaso da comunidade judaica de de Ferrara na visão de Giorgio Bassani em O jardim dos Finzi-Contini.
Role of the CD39/CD73 Purinergic Pathway in Modulating Arterial Thrombosis in Mice
Authors: Covarrubias Roman , Chepurko Elena , Reynolds Adam , Huttinger Zachary M. , Huttinger Ryan , Stanfill Katherine , Wheeler Debra G. , Novitskaya Tatiana , Robson Simon C. , Dwyer Karen M. , Cowan Peter J. , Gumina Richard J.
Published: July 2016

Objective—

Circulating blood cells and endothelial cells express ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase-1 (CD39) and ecto-5′-nucleotidase (CD73). CD39 hydrolyzes extracellular ATP or ADP to AMP. CD73 hydrolyzes AMP to adenosine. The goal of this study was to examine the interplay between CD39 and CD73 cascade in arterial thrombosis.

Approach and Results—

To determine how CD73 activity influences in vivo thrombosis, the time to ferric chloride–induced arterial thrombosis was measured in CD73-null mice. In response to 5% FeCl
3
, but not to 10% FeCl
3
, there was a significant decrease in the time to thrombosis in CD73-null mice compared with wild-type mice. In mice overexpressing CD39, ablation of CD73 did not inhibit the prolongation in the time to thrombosis conveyed by CD39 overexpression. However, the CD73 inhibitor α-β-methylene-ADP nullified the prolongation in the time to thrombosis in human CD39 transgenic (hC39-Tg)/CD73-null mice. To determine whether hematopoietic-derived cells or endothelial cell CD39 activity regulates in vivo arterial thrombus, bone marrow transplant studies were conducted. FeCl
3
-induced arterial thrombosis in chimeric mice revealed a significant prolongation in the time to thrombosis in hCD39-Tg reconstituted wild-type mice, but not on wild-type reconstituted hCD39-Tg mice. Monocyte depletion with clodronate-loaded liposomes normalized the time to thrombosis in hCD39-Tg mice compared with hCD39-Tg mice treated with control liposomes, demonstrating that increased CD39 expression on monocytes protects against thrombosis.

Conclusions—

These data demonstrate that ablation of CD73 minimally effects in vivo thrombosis, but increased CD39 expression on hematopoietic-derived cells, especially monocytes, attenuates in vivo arterial thrombosis.
Evaluation of Early Healing Profile and Neointimal Transformation Over 24 Months Using Longitudinal Sequential Optical Coherence Tomography Assessments and 3-Year Clinical Results of the New Dual-Therapy Endothelial Progenitor Cell Capturing Sirolimus-Eluting Combo Stent
Authors: Lee Stephen W.L. , Lam Simon C.C. , Tam Frankie C.C. , Chan Kelvin K.W. , Shea Catherine P. , Kong Shun-Ling , Wong Anthony Y.T. , Yung Arthur , Zhang Lei-Wei , Tse Hung-Fat , Wu Karl K.Y. , Chan Raymond , Haude Michael , Mehran Roxana , Mintz Gary S. , Maehara Akiko
Published: July 2016

Background—

Current monotherapy drug-eluting stents are associated with impaired healing, neoatherosclerosis, and late stent thrombosis. The healing profile and neointimal transformation of the first dual-therapy endothelial progenitor cell–capturing sirolimus-eluting stent are unknown.

Methods and Results—

In this prospective, single-center study, 61 patients treated with the Combo stent had optical coherence tomography at baseline, early follow-up (4 monthly groups in a 1:2:2:1 ratio from 2 to 5 months), 9 months, and 24 months. Optical coherence tomography early strut coverage increased from 77.1% to 92.5% to 92.7% to 94.9% between 2 and 5 months. At 9 months, the major adverse cardiac event rate was 1.64%, and angiographic in-stent late loss was 0.24 mm (0.08–0.40). The 36-month major adverse cardiac event rate was 3.3%. From 9 to 24 months, neointimal regression was confirmed by optical coherence tomography: neointimal thickness (median [first quartile and third quartile]), 0.14 mm (0.08 and 0.21) versus 0.12 mm (0.07 and 0.19),
P
<0.001; neointimal volume, 29.9 mm
3
(22.1 and 43.2) versus 26.2 mm
3
(19.6 and 35.8),
P
=0.003; and percent neointimal volume, 17.8% (12.2 and 21.2) versus 15.7% (11.2 and 19.4),
P
=0.01. No definite or probable late stent thrombosis was recorded.

Conclusions—

With additional endothelial progenitor cell–capturing technology, the Combo stent exhibits a unique late neointimal regression (from 9 to 24 months) that has not been reported in any drug-eluting stents, translating into good 36-month clinical results with minimal restenosis and no late stent thrombosis. This is the first study testing the concept of using a longitudinal sequential optical coherence tomography protocol to continuously document early healing profile and late neointimal transformation, predicting long-term outcomes of a new novel stent platform.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifiers: NCT01274234, NCT01756807, and NCT02263313.
Predictors of Initial Revascularization Versus Medical Therapy Alone in Patients With Non–ST-Segment–Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome Undergoing an Invasive Strategy
Authors: Wijeysundera Harindra C. , Sidhu Mandeep S. , Bennell Maria C. , Qiu Feng , Ko Dennis T. , Knudtson Merril L. , Tu Jack V. , Boden William E.
Published: July 2016

Background—

Although an invasive strategy is a class I clinical practice guideline for non–ST-segment–elevation acute coronary syndromes, there is wide variation in the proportion of patients who undergo revascularization despite early angiography. We sought to identify the predictors of early revascularization versus medical therapy alone in patients with non–ST-segment–elevation acute coronary syndrome undergoing an invasive strategy and to assess their clinical outcomes.

Methods and Results—

We assessed revascularization status by percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting within 7 days of the index angiogram in all patients with non–ST-segment–elevation acute coronary syndrome who underwent an invasive strategy in Ontario, Canada, from October 1, 2008, to October 31, 2013, with follow-up through December 31, 2014. The primary outcome was mortality. Multivariable hierarchical logistic models identified predictors of revascularization, and multivariable Cox models with treatment strategy as a 3-level time-varying covariate assessed the relationship between revascularization status and clinical outcomes. We identified 50 302 patients of whom 34 288 (68.2%) underwent revascularization (percutaneous coronary intervention: 28 011 and coronary artery bypass grafting: 6277). There was a 2-fold variation in revascularization rates across hospitals. A higher risk presentation significantly predicted revascularization (odds ratio, 1.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.18–1.35), as did having the angiogram by an interventional cardiologist (odds ratio, 1.76; 95% confidence interval, 1.57–1.98). Revascularized patients with either percutaneous coronary intervention (hazard ratio, 0.64; 95% confidence interval, 0.60–0.69) or coronary artery bypass grafting (hazard ratio, 0.53; 95% confidence interval, 0.47–0.60) had improved survival compared with medically treated patients.

Conclusions—

Although the majority of patients with non–ST-segment–elevation acute coronary syndrome who underwent an early invasive approach received revascularization, there was wide variation. Revascularization was associated with significantly improved survival.
Institutional Control and Climate Change Activism at COP 21 in Paris
Authors: Orr Shannon K.
Published: July 2016

The 21st meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris faced two particular challenges: the growth of civil society participation in the negotiations, and significant security concerns following the terrorist attacks on the city two weeks prior to the start of the negotiations. This report reflects on the impacts of these two challenges through an overview of civil society participation at the COP, highlighting the implications for the accountability of the negotiations.
Teaching and Learning from Environmental Summits: COP 21 and Beyond
Authors: Selin Noelle E.
Published: July 2016

High-profile environmental summits like the recent Paris climate conference (COP 21) offer an opportunity to incorporate real-world, timely issues into teaching and learning about global environmental governance. Using COP 21 as an example, this Forum article summarizes the ways that contemporary environmental summits can be incorporated into university-level education, providing content and context to help address the challenges of interdisciplinary sustainability education. Faculty members have incorporated COP-21-related content in ways ranging from traditional lectures and discussions to field trips, which have contributed to a broad range of course content and learning goals. However, the challenges of including environmental summits in educational settings include knowledge-based, normative, and structural barriers. While environmental summits can be an effective way to incorporate knowledge of global environmental governance into interdisciplinary education, more resources, experimentation, and extensions beyond climate change are needed.
Minilateralism or the UNFCCC? The Political Feasibility of Climate Clubs
Authors: Gampfer Robert
Published: July 2016

Climate clubs, or “minilateralism,” are increasingly advocated as a way to move global climate governance forward. Minilateralism supposedly carries structural advantages that facilitate effective climate governance. Some have cautioned, however, that climate clubs lack political legitimacy, commanding little domestic public support. Consequently, small coalitions might not always be politically feasible, even if they could deliver substantial mitigation. Design features like the emission share regulated, commitment structure, club goods, and sanctions against nonmembers could help mitigate this deficit. I report results from conjoint experiments testing these propositions that were conducted with nationally representative samples in the United States and India. The findings indicate that minilateral approaches per se tend to receive low public support, but that support can be increased by certain configurations of design elements, especially through a combination of club goods for members and sanctions against nonmember countries. Climate clubs therefore need careful institutional design to be politically feasible.
Nanotechnology and Global Environmental Politics: Transatlantic Divergence
Authors: Rodine-Hardy Kirsten
Published: July 2016

Nanotechnology has been celebrated as driving a new global industrial revolution that has the potential to harness economic growth and remediate the environment, yet could pose risks to health and the environment. Two of the largest economic actors, the EU and the US, have made very different regulatory decisions toward nanotechnology. The EU introduced an official definition of nanotechnology and created several new nano-specific regulations in recent years, whereas the United States has followed more of a “wait and see” policy. I argue that politics, not technology, best explains the divergence between the US and the EU in creating nano-specific regulations, and I introduce a regulatory regime framework to show why, how, and where politics affect divergent environmental politics. To support this argument, I employ comparative case analysis of the EU and US from 2000 to 2015.
Taxonomic revision of Collaria Provancher, 1872 (Hemiptera: Miridae) with the description of a new species from the Afrotropical region
Authors: MORALES IRINA , FERREIRA PAULO S. F. , FORERO DIMITRI
Published: July 2016

Collaria Provancher (Mirinae: Stenodemini) is a genus of grass-feeding plant bugs with 14 recognized species. The present work presents a taxonomic revision of the genus, including redescriptions of all species and the description of C. schwartzi sp. nov. from Central and Eastern Africa. The female genitalia of C. boliviana and C. villiersi, and the male and female genitalia of C. improvisa and C. obscuricornis are described for the first time. New distributional records for the Neotropical region are provided. A key to separate all the species and illustrations of the male and female genitalia of almost all the species are included. We highlight the need to produce better series of specimens with accurate host-plant data.
Revision of the genus Eueupithecia Prout, 1910 from Argentina (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Sterrhinae)
Authors: HAUSMANN AXEL , HEARD TIM A. , KAY FERNANDO MC , RAGHU S.
Published: July 2016

A new species is described from Argentina: Eueupithecia vollonoides sp. n. and a differential diagnosis from E. cisplatensis Prout, 1910 is given. The genus Eueupithecia Prout, 1910 (Sterrhinae), so far having been retained to be monotypic, includes two species now.
Redescription of Bythotrephes arcticus Lilljeborg, 1901 (Crustacea:Cladocera: Onychopoda) and confirmation of an independent species status of the distant Transcaucasian populations of the genus Bythotrephes Leydig
Authors: KOROVCHINSKY NIKOLAI M.
Published: July 2016

Two species of the genus Bythotrephes Leydig, B. arcticus Lilljeborg and B. transcaucasicus Behning, forming a group of close species, are redescribed on the basis of type material and other materials from Northern Eurasia. They were investigated with the application of detailed morphological analysis, including intra- and interpopulation variability and the original scheme of morphometric measurements. The lectotypes and paralectotypes of the species were selected. B. arcticus compared with other species of the genus, seem more evolutionary primitive and less specialized, judging from its large body size, comparatively short tl I, short and straight caudal process, well developed distal setae on two proximal endopodital segments of tl I, and large number of claws. B. arcticus tends to occur in small and shallow water bodies, while B. transcaucasicus was predominantly found in pelagic zone of large and deep Transcaucasian lakes. B. arcticus is probably mainly distributed along the tundra and northern forest area of the Eurasian continent and the nearest islands from Scandinavia to Eastern Siberia. Its documented easternmost locality is situated near the northern part of the Yenisei River, whereas B. transcaucasicus was recorded in the second half of 19th–first half of 20th century in three closely situated mountain lakes in Turkey, Georgia, and Armenia. The presence of B. arcticus in Northern Kazakhstan and B. transcaucasicus in the distant Transcaucasia is linked with their (or their ancestor) hypothetical displacement to the south in the period of ice ages. More recent surveys of Transcaucasian lakes have not revealed the presence of B. transcaucasicus. The rare findings of this species in the past can imply that it could also be missed in the process of collecting but, on the other hand, it cannot be excluded that B. transcaucasicus become extinct as a result of an anthropogenic or other impact on Transcaucasian lakes.
Rhynchorhina mauritaniensis, a new genus and species of wedgefish from the eastern central Atlantic (Elasmobranchii: Batoidea: Rhinidae)
Authors: SÉRET BERNARD , NAYLOR GAVIN J.P.
Published: July 2016

A new wedgefish, Rhynchorhina mauritaniensis gen. et sp. nov., is described from three specimens collected in the shallow waters of the shoal “Banc d’Arguin”, off Mauritania (Eastern Central Atlantic). The new genus is mainly distinguished from its close relatives, members of the genus Rhynchobatus, by its snout shape, more broadly rounded like that of the shark-ray Rhina ancylostoma, instead of being typically wedge-shaped as in Rhynchobatus species. The new species resembles the common West African wedgefish, Rhynchobatus lubberti, in having a similar colour pattern, but differs in snout shape. The new genus is supported as genetically distinct by comparative analysis of the mitochondrial NADH2 gene.
A re-appraisal of the widely-distributed freshwater crab genus Sinopotamon Bott, 1967, from China, with establishment of a new genus (Crustacea: Decapoda: Potamidae)
Authors: SHIH HSI-TE , HUANG CHAO , NG PETER K. L.
Published: July 2016

Freshwater crabs of the genus Sinopotamon Bott, 1967 (family Potamidae) are widely distributed along the Yangtze River (= Chang Jiang) drainage and are endemic to China. Two distinct clades can be distinguished within Sinopotamon s. lato. on the basis of morphological and molecular data. One clade corresponds to Sinopotamon s. str., with the type species Potamon (Potamon) davidi Rathbun, 1904, and 11 other species, all which occur in the Sichuan Basin (including Sichuan Province and Chongqing City) and reach the border areas of adjacent Shaanxi, Hubei, and Guizhou provinces. A new genus, Longpotamon gen. nov., is proposed for the second clade, with Sinopotamon exiguum Dai, 1997, designated as the type species. Sinopotamon s. str. can be distinguished from Longpotamon gen. nov. by the shape of the male telson and by characters of the male first gonopod and the female vulvae. These differences are supported by the mitochondrial 16S rDNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) genetic data. Longpotamon gen. nov. is the largest clade, with 73 known species and a wide distribution along the Yangtze River drainage extending north to the Yellow River drainage and south to the eastern side of Wuyishan Range. The two genera overlap in the Sichuan Basin and the adjacent provinces.
Hail Day Frequency Trends and Associated Atmospheric Circulation Patterns over China during 1960–2012
Authors: Li Mingxin , Zhang Qinghong , Zhang Fuqing
Published: July 2016

Based on a comprehensive collection of hail observations and the NCEP–NCAR reanalyses from 1960 to 2012, the long-term trends of hail day frequency in mainland China and the associated changes in atmospheric circulation patterns were analyzed. There was no detectable trend in hail frequency from 1960 to the early 1980s, but a significant decreasing trend was apparent in later periods throughout most of China and in particular over the Tibetan Plateau from the early 1980s and over northern and northwestern China from the early 1990s. Hail frequency in southern China did not decrease as significantly as in other regions over the last couple of decades. An objective classification method, the obliquely rotated T-mode principal component technique, was used to investigate atmospheric circulation patterns. It was found that 51.85% of the hail days occurred during two major circulation types, both of which were associated with cold frontal systems in northern China. More specifically, the synoptic trough in East Asia, signified by the meridional circulation at 850 hPa, became considerably weaker after 1990. This change in the synoptic pattern is consistent with a weakening trend in the East Asian summer monsoon, the primary dynamic forcing of moisture transport that contributes to the generation of severe convection in northern China. The long-term variability of hail day frequency over the Tibetan Plateau was more strongly correlated with the change in mean freezing-level height (FLH) than the strength of the East Asian monsoon.
Intermodel Uncertainty in ENSO Amplitude Change Tied to Pacific Ocean Warming Pattern
Authors: Zheng Xiao-Tong , Xie Shang-Ping , Lv Liang-Hong , Zhou Zhen-Qiang
Published: July 2016

How El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) will change under global warming affects changes in extreme events around the world. The change of ENSO amplitude is investigated based on the historical simulations and representative concentration pathway (RCP) 8.5 experiments in phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5). The projected change in ENSO amplitude is highly uncertain with large intermodel uncertainty. By using the relative sea surface temperature (SST) as a measure of convective instability, this study finds that the spatial pattern of tropical Pacific surface warming is the major source of intermodel uncertainty in ENSO amplitude change. In models with an enhanced mean warming in the eastern equatorial Pacific, the barrier to deep convection is reduced, and the intensified rainfall anomalies of ENSO amplify the wind response and hence SST variability. In models with a reduced eastern Pacific warming, conversely, ENSO amplitude decreases. Corroborating the mean SST pattern effect, intermodel uncertainty in changes of ENSO-induced rainfall variability decreases substantially in atmospheric simulations forced by a common ocean warming pattern. Thus, reducing the uncertainty in the Pacific surface warming pattern helps improve the reliability of ENSO projections. To the extent that correcting model biases favors an El Niño–like mean warming pattern, this study suggests an increase in ENSO-related SST variance likely under global warming.
Revisiting Whether Recent Surface Temperature Trends Agree with the CMIP5 Ensemble
Authors: Lin Marena , Huybers Peter
Published: July 2016

In an earlier study, a weaker trend in global mean temperature over the past 15 years relative to the preceding decades was characterized as significantly lower than those contained within the phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) ensemble. In this study, divergence between model simulations and observations is estimated using a fixed-intercept linear trend with a slope estimator that has one-third the noise variance compared to simple linear regression. Following the approach of the earlier study, where intermodel spread is used to assess the distribution of trends, but using the fixed-intercept trend metric demonstrates that recently observed trends in global mean temperature are consistent () with the CMIP5 ensemble for all 15-yr intervals of observation–model divergence since 1970. Significant clustering of global trends according to modeling center indicates that the spread in CMIP5 trends is better characterized using ensemble members drawn across models as opposed to using ensemble members from a single model. Despite model–observation consistency at the global level, substantial regional discrepancies in surface temperature trends remain.
Hydrologic Changes in Indian Subcontinental River Basins (1901–2012)
Authors: Shah Harsh L. , Mishra Vimal
Published: July 2016

Long-term (1901–2012) changes in hydroclimatic variables in the 18 Indian subcontinental basins were examined with hydrology simulated using the Variable Infiltration Capacity model (VIC). Changepoint analysis using the sequential Mann–Kendall test showed two distinct periods (1901–47 and 1948–2012) for the domain-averaged monsoon season (June–September) precipitation. Hydrologic changes for the entire water budget were estimated for both periods. In the pre-1948 period, a majority of the river basins experienced increased monsoon season precipitation, evapotranspiration (ET), and surface water availability (as defined by total runoff). Alternatively, in the post-1948 period, monsoon season precipitation declined in 11 of the 18 basins, with statistically significant trends in one (the Ganges basin), and most (15) basins experienced significant warming trends. Additionally, in the post-1948 period, the mean monsoon season ET and surface water availability declined in eight (with significant declines in four) basins. The results indicate that changes in ET and surface water availability in the pre- and post-1948 periods were largely driven by the changes in the monsoon season precipitation rather than air temperature, despite prominent warming after 1975. Coupled modes of variability of sea surface temperature (SST) and surface water availability indicated El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) as the leading mode. The second mode was identified as the trend mode for surface water availability in the subcontinental river basins, which was largely driven by SST anomalies in the Indian and Atlantic Ocean regions. This indicates that surface water availability in India’s subcontinental basins may be affected in the future in response to changes in large-scale climate variability.
The Southern Nine
Authors: Abegunrin Olayiwola
Published: July 2016

The following is a brief survey of attempts to organize “two constellations of states” in Southern Africa from the Nigerian perspective of Olayiwola Abegunrin, lecturer in the Department of International Relations, University of Ife, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The focus of this treatment is on “the Southern Nine” member states of the SADCC extending up to the crucial November 1980 donors summit in Maputo.
LES Bouts de Bois de Dieu and XALA: A Comparative Analysis of Female Roles in Sembene's Novels
Authors: Wallace Karen Smyley
Published: July 2016

Both Les Bouts de Bois de Dieu and Xala underscore the significant role to be played by Africa's women, in forging a new world. When secondary plots and characters are put aside, one finds that the consistent focus in both works has been upon the strong base provided by the female configuration: traditional mother/modern daughter. Sembene invests the future of Africa in the hands of the politically astute and committed young women (Adjibidji and Rama), who are supported and encouraged by the more traditional, yet less actively involved female figures (Assitan and Awa). The essence of this female solidarity has been captured in the final scenes of both novels.
Recent Afro-Brazilian Literature: A Tentative Bibliography
Authors: Kennedy James H.
Published: July 2016

In recent years, increased interest in black studies in the U.S. has fostered an upswing in research in Afro-Latin American literature. The explicit focus of most studies, however, has been the works of Afro-Hispanics, while in most instances literature by Brazilians of African descent has been treated only marginally, if at all. This study delineates the factors which have caused literature by Afro-Brazilian authors to remain at the fringes of Afro-Latin American studies in the U.S. and presents an important corpus of literature written by Brazilians of African descent and published since 1960. The study of these works should not only ameliorate the general approach to Afro-Latin American literature current in the U.S. but should at the same time add a new dimension to the field of African diaspora studies as well.
On the Utility Side of the Internet for African Studies and Africa: A Researcher's Experiences
Authors: Pfister Roger
Published: July 2016

This article is based on my recently published Internet for Africanists and Others Interested in Africa: An Introduction to the Internet and a Comprehensive Compilation of Relevant Addresses, Basel/Bern: Basler Afrika Bibliographien/Swiss Society of African Studies, 1996. 140 pp., ISBN 3-905141-67-1.
Performing Inferential Statistics Prior to Data Collection
Authors: Trafimow David , MacDonald Justin A.
Published: July 2016

Typically, in education and psychology research, the investigator collects data and subsequently performs descriptive and inferential statistics. For example, a researcher might compute group means and use the null hypothesis significance testing procedure to draw conclusions about the populations from which the groups were drawn. We propose an alternative inferential statistical procedure that is performed prior to data collection rather than afterwards. To use this procedure, the researcher specifies how close she or he desires the group means to be to their corresponding population means and how confident she or he wishes to be that this actually is so. We derive an equation that provides researchers with a way to determine the sample size needed to meet the specifications concerning closeness and confidence, regardless of the number of groups.
Molecular Changes Involving MEK3–p38 MAPK Activation in Chronic Masticatory Myalgia
Authors: Meng H. , Gao Y. , Kang Y.F. , Zhao Y.P. , Yang G.J. , Wang Y. , Cao Y. , Gan Y.H. , Xie Q.F.
Published: July 2016

The exact mechanism underlying chronic masticatory myalgia (CMM), a conspicuous symptom in temporomandibular disorders, remains unclear. This investigation compared gene expression profiles between CMM patients and healthy subjects. Peripheral blood leukocytes were collected in 8 cases and 8 controls and subjected to whole genome microarray analyses. Data were analyzed with Gene Ontology and interactive pathways analyses. According to Gene Ontology analysis, categories such as ion transport, response to stimuli, and metabolic process were upregulated. The pathway analysis suggested overexpression of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in CMM patients and to a higher degree in a pathway network. Overexpression of representative members of the MAPK pathway—including MAPK kinase 3 ( MEK3), calcium voltage-gated channel auxiliary subunit gamma 2 ( CACNG2), and growth arrest and DNA damage–inducible gamma ( GADD45G)—was validated with real-time polymerase chain reaction. The upregulation of MEK3 was negatively correlated with the age of the CMM group. In the next step, the authors focused on MEK3, the gene that exhibited the greatest degree of differential expression, and its downstream target protein p38 MAPK. The results revealed upregulation of MEK3, as well as phosphorylated MEK3 and phosphorylated p38 MAPK, in CMM patients. These results provide a “fingerprint” for mechanistic studies of CMM in the future and highlight the importance of MEK3–p38 MAPK activation in CMM.
Living Disconnected: Building a Grounded Theory View of Bereavement for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Clute Mary Ann
Published: July 2016

This grounded theory study gathered descriptions the bereavement experience for adults with intellectual disabilities (IDD) through the eyes and voices of a small sample of grief counselors. The counselors described bereaved adults with IDD as individuals who faced potentially heightened effects of the broken attachment bonds, increased risk of coping obstacles, long histories of unrecognized losses, and disenfranchised grief. The participants described bereaved adults with IDD (who sought treatment) as getting pushed to the sidelines to deal with their losses in isolation and confusion. It became evident that though there are many similarities between how all people cope with loss and how people with IDD cope with loss, differences exist. Subtle variations in the experience of loss and grief appear to be driven by culture and beliefs about disability and protection for those with IDD. The participants in this dissertation study contributed foundation data for a theoretical explanation of grief for adults with IDD grounded in data from bereavement counselors.
Productivity in Thanatology
Authors: Doka Kenneth J. , Neimeyer Robert A. , Wittkowski Joachim , Vallerga Michael , Currelley Lorraine
Published: July 2016

To provide a systematic view of the development of scholarly productivity in thanatology, we coded over 1,550 articles published in the field’s leading journals, Omega and Death Studies, for the 20-year period from 1991 to 2010. Tracing trends in the authorship of this evolving literature, we report evidence for (a) the increasing feminization of the field, reflected in the elimination of the gender imbalance in authorship that previously favored male scholars, (b) the emergence of larger and more cohesive networks of collaboration in the production of research, and (c) the diversification in nationality of authorship, signaled by a substantial surge in both the number of countries producing such research and in the percentage of the overall literature arising outside the traditionally American “home base” of the field. Taken together, these trends suggest maturation of thanatology as a scientific area, as well as the productivity of the individual scholars who jointly comprise this interdisciplinary specialty.
Love and Bereavement
Authors: Bar-Nadav Ofri , Rubin Simon Shimshon
Published: July 2016

This research examines how do bereaved wives and partners resemble and differ from their nonbereaved counterparts. Guided by the Two-Track Model of Bereavement, we focused on biopsychosocial functioning and the nature of the ongoing relationship to their partner. The sample included 85 bereaved women who were compared with 87 nonbereaved women currently married or in a stable pair-bond relationship. As predicted, the results demonstrated the continuing impact of bereavement years after the loss, but the pattern of similarities and differences between the groups sheds additional light on the loss experience. The discussion of these findings and their implications conclude the article.
Testing a Theory-Based Model of Suicidality in a Community Sample
Authors: Campos Rui C. , Holden Ronald R.
Published: July 2016

The aim of the present study is to test a theory-based model of suicide in a low-risk nonclinical sample. A community sample of convenience of 200 adults, 102 men and 98 women, responded to the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire, the Center for the Epidemiologic Studies of Depression Scale, the Psychache Scale, the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire, and the Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire Revised. The hypothesized structural equation model, including trait dimensions of self-criticism and neediness, and state dimensions of depression, psychache, perceived burdensomeness, and thwarted belongingness, fit the observed data well and significantly explained 49% of the variance of suicidality.
Patients Feeling Severely Affected by Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Golla Heidrun , Galushko Maren , Strupp Julia , Karbach Ute , Pfaff Holger , Ostgathe Christoph , Voltz Raymond
Published: July 2016

Eleven months after being interviewed in a study on unmet needs of severely affected multiple sclerosis patients, one participant died by assisted suicide. We reanalyzed the data to find out if our 15 study patients might have brought up the topic of death and dying during episodic interviews that had not primarily addressed this issue. Secondary analysis with regard to the thematic field of death and dying revealed that patients unsolicited brought up this issue within the following categories: “Passing over death and dying,” “Death is not relevant to me,” “We want to keep up the life challenge,” “Death as an option,” and “Wish to have the opportunity to address end of life issues.” We conclude that the topic of death and dying is of importance to these patients, as they spontaneously mentioned it in multiple varieties. Health professionals should individually acknowledge patients' needs to address death and dying.
The Empty Desk
Authors: Dorney Paulette
Published: July 2016

The unimaginable suddenly happens; without warning, a nursing student suddenly dies, creating an aftermath of emotional turmoil for peers and faculty. Upon receipt of the news, classmates are in absolute disbelief and shock, and struggle to comprehend the reality of the death. For many of these young adults, this is the first experience with peer death. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the grief experiences, coping strategies, and reactions of nursing students following the sudden death of a classmate. Purposive sampling yielded nine participants from four different universities who experienced the death of their classmate within the previous year. Nine major themes emerged as the participants reflected on their emotional struggle with grief, both as a peer and a member of a helping profession. This study yielded a rich understanding of the grief experience for nursing students, while providing insights for policy development and supportive interventions for faculty, counselors, and administrators.
Engaging College Undergraduates in Advance Care Planning
Authors: Sanders Sara , Robinson Erin L.
Published: July 2016

Advance care planning (ACP) is a critical part of long-term health-care planning, as no one knows when the ability to make personal medical decisions may be impaired. Many assume ACP is only necessary for older adults or those with life-threatening health conditions; however, there are growing discussions about healthy, young adults also engaging in ACP, as they too suffer from unexpected medical events that limit their ability to make medical decisions. The current study examined the reactions of college students following the completion of their advance care plans and then sharing these plans with friends and family. The students reported that while completing their advance care plans created many emotions, they found the experience to be valuable and facilitated conversations with family and friends about end-of-life care that may not have occurred otherwise.
R.I.P. Kutner: Parasocial Grief Following the Death of a Television Character
Authors: DeGroot Jocelyn M. , Leith Alex P.
Published: July 2016

In 2009, Lawrence Kutner, a character on television’s House, M.D., unexpectedly committed suicide. A Facebook memorial group was created shortly thereafter in memory of the fictional character. A thematic analysis of fan postings on Kutner’s Facebook memorial page revealed evidence of people experiencing parasocial grief as they displayed emotional expressions of grief, reminisced, and advocated for Kutner. Through thematic analysis, we discovered that elements of parasocial relationships, particularly parasocial breakups, were apparent as the members posted evidence of their grief over the loss of a television character. Moreover, this parasocial grief is likely to be disenfranchised, as the death of a television character is typically not recognized by others as a legitimate loss. This study also highlighted the role of social media as an outlet for grief as well as revealed confusion between fiction and reality resulting from social media.
The Bereavement Guilt Scale
Authors: Li Jie , Stroebe Magaret , Chan Cecilia L. W. , Chow Amy Y. M.
Published: July 2016

The rationale, development, and validation of the Bereavement Guilt Scale (BGS) are described in this article. The BGS was based on a theoretically developed, multidimensional conceptualization of guilt. Part 1 describes the generation of the item pool, derived from in-depth interviews, and review of the scientific literature. Part 2 details statistical analyses for further item selection (Sample 1, N = 273). Part 3 covers the psychometric properties of the emergent-BGS (Sample 2, N = 600, and Sample 3, N = 479). Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that a five-factor model fit the data best. Correlations of BGS scores with depression, anxiety, self-esteem, self-forgiveness, and mode of death were consistent with theoretical predictions, supporting the construct validity of the measure. The internal consistency and test–retest reliability were also supported. Thus, initial testing or examination suggests that the BGS is a valid tool to assess multiple components of bereavement guilt. Further psychometric testing across cultures is recommended.
Disgust Sensitivity Accounts for Some But Not All Gender Differences in Death Attitudes
Authors: Bassett Jonathan F.
Published: July 2016

The present study investigated whether gender differences in death attitudes could be attributable to social desirability, locus of control, and disgust sensitivity. A total of 238 university students completed the Multidimensional Fear of Death Scale and the Revised Death Attitude Profile in addition to measures of social desirability, locus of control, and disgust sensitivity. Women scored higher than men on many of the fear dimensions and also on approach and escape acceptance. There were no gender differences on locus of control or social desirability, but women reported more disgust sensitivity than did men. Locus of control was unrelated to any death attitudes. Social desirability was associated only with less reported fear of premature death. Disgust sensitivity was associated with all death attitudes except neutral acceptance. Some but not all of the gender differences in death attitudes were no longer significant when controlling for disgust sensitivity.
Dealing With the Concepts of “Grief” and “Grieving” in the Classroom: Children’s Perceptions, Emotions, and Behavior
Authors: Stylianou Polyxeni , Zembylas Michalinos
Published: July 2016

This article presents an action research study that explores how a fifth-grade classroom of 10- to 11-year-old children in Cyprus perceive the concepts of grief and grieving, after an educational intervention provided space for discussing such issues. It also explores the impact that the intervention program had on children’s emotions while exploring these concepts and illustrates how it affected their behavior. The findings suggest that the intervention had a constructive impact on children’s understandings of grief and grieving along two important dimensions. First, the intervention helped children better define emotional responses to loss (grief). Second, children seemed to overcome their anxiety while talking about grief and grieving and were able to share relevant personal experiences. The study has important implications for curriculum development, pedagogical practice, and teacher training on death education.
The New Forms of Mourning: Loss and Exhibition of the Death on the Internet
Authors: Dilmaç Julie Alev
Published: July 2016

According to some specialists, ceremonial funeral practices are inclined to disappear, particularly as death is an object of repression in contemporary society. However, it seems that new forms of rituals are developing through modern technologies. Virtual tombs, memorial webpages, and the celebration of death anniversaries are now common currency on the Internet. Nonetheless, the overexposure favored by the Web seems to question traditional ways of “living out” one’s grief, subjecting the living and the dead to a redefinition of concepts of time and space, and entailing new forms of interaction.
Meaning Making in Wartime Bereavement: Lessons Learned From Bereaved Parents and Siblings
Authors: Harrington Christina
Published: July 2016

Wartime deaths are traumatic and leave many grieving families in their wake. Yet, the unique, nuanced bereavement needs and experiences of those who remain are largely unknown. This Canadian, qualitative study examined the bereavement experiences of family of origin, bereaved during the mission to Afghanistan. The findings provide rich data on the predominant ways in which family members found and made meaning following the death and the ways in which military culture influenced the meanings made.
Mothers’ Grief, Forgiveness, and Posttraumatic Growth After the Loss of a Child
Authors: Martinčeková Lucia , Klatt John
Published: July 2016

The aim of this study was to investigate maternal grief after losing a child in relation to forgiveness and posttraumatic growth. A sample of 60 grieving mothers from Slovakia completed the following battery: The Texas Revised Inventory of Grief, a modified version of the Enright Forgiveness Inventory, and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory. The results showed a negative association between forgiveness and grief and a strong positive association between forgiveness and posttraumatic growth, which was not moderated by the time elapsed since the loss. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 mothers. The data were analyzed through Consensual Qualitative Research to gain deeper understanding of forgiveness and posttraumatic growth experiences after the loss of a child. Categories and subcategories are discussed.
Posttraumatic Growth and Bereavement
Authors: Lumb Andrew B. , Beaudry Myriam , Blanchard Celine
Published: July 2016

No research drawing from Self-Determination Theory has investigated the bereavement experience of individuals or how motivation can help facilitate posttraumatic growth (PTG) following the death of a loved one. In two cross-sectional studies, university students completed an online survey. Study 1 investigated the contribution of global autonomous and controlled motivation in statistically predicting PTG above and beyond previously researched correlates. Study 2 explored the mediating role of cognitive appraisals and coping in explaining the relationship between global motivation orientations and PTG. Results indicated that in comparison to controlled motivation, autonomous motivation was positively related PTG, even after controlling for previously researched correlates. Mediation results indicated an indirect effect of global autonomous motivation on PTG through task-oriented coping. Collectively, these findings suggest the importance of incorporating motivation into models of PTG. Clinical implications of these findings are also discussed.
Waiting for Godot? Welfare Attitudes in Portugal before and after the Financial Crisis
Authors: Brito Vieira Mónica , Carreira da Silva Filipe , Pereira Cícero Roberto
Published: July 2016

Do attitudes towards the welfare state change in response to economic crises? Addressing this question is sometimes difficult because of the lack of longitudinal data. This article deals with this empirical challenge using survey data from the 2008 European Social Survey and from our own follow-up survey of Spring 2013 to track welfare attitudes at the brink and at the peak of the socio-economic crisis in one of the hardest hit countries: Portugal. The literature on social policy preferences predicts an increased polarisation in opinions towards the welfare state between different groups within society – in particular between labour market insiders and outsiders. However, the prediction has scarcely been tested empirically. A notoriously dualised country, Portugal provides a critical setting in which to test this hypothesis. The results show attitudinal change, and this varies according to labour market vulnerability. However, we observe no polarisation and advance alternative explanations for why this is so.
A Postapartheid Genome
Authors: Foster Laura A.
Published: July 2016

This article examines a genetic ancestry testing program called the Living History Project (LHP) that was jointly organized by a nonprofit educational institute and a for-profit genealogy company in South Africa. It charts the precise mechanisms by which the LHP sought to shape a postapartheid genome through antiracist commitments aimed at contesting histories of colonial and apartheid rule in varied ways. In particular, it focuses on several tensions that emerged within three modes of material-discursive practice within the production of the LHP: subject recruitment, informed consent, and participant reflections. In the end, it argues that several contradictory tensions were central to the making of the LHP’s postapartheid genome and that it should be understood as nonracial rather than antiracist.