bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Towards a model of language contact and change in the English-lexifier creoles of Africa and the Caribbean
Authors: Yakpo Kofi
Published: May 2017

The Afro-Caribbean English-lexifier Creoles (AECs) exhibit fascinating combinations of disparate typological characteristics. I present a model of post-formative (“post-creolization”) contact and change and provide a comprehensive inventory of contact constellations in Africa and the Caribbean. I conduct a comparative analysis of causative constructions in seven African and Caribbean AECs, argue for the notional separation of the traditional creolist terms “superstrate”, “lexifier”, “substrate” and “adstrate”, and account for the linguistic-structural relevance of these distinctions. The model can explain the typological diversity within and across the AECs, help elucidate their genealogical and areal differentiation, and contribute to our understanding of the processes and outcomes of language contact and change in multilingual ecologies.
Third person present tense markers in some varieties of English
Authors: Calle-Martín Javier , Romero-Barranco Jesús
Published: May 2017

In British Standard English, number in the verb phrase is exclusively characterized by the use of the -sinflection with the third person singular present tense. World Englishes present a high level of variation as the uninflected third person singular and the inflected third person plural may also occur in these contexts. This paper pursues four objectives: a) to analyse the use of present third person inflections and compare their distribution in different varieties of English; b) to assess the occurrence of forms across speech and writing, text categories and the informants’ age and gender; c) to classify the instances by type of subject (nominal vs. pronominal); and d) to evaluate the impact of proximity agreement, notional agreement and the existence of intervening elements in the choice of the inflection. Our evidence comes from the New Zealand, Indian, Singaporean and Hong Kong components of the International Corpus of English.
Transforming Islam among Roma communities in the Balkans: a case of popular religiosity
Authors: Trofimova Ksenia
Published: May 2017

In recent decades, numerous popular shrines devoted to saints have emerged in Romani settlements, usually in urban areas. At first sight, these shrines and the veneration of saints are reminiscent of the cult of saints and tombs common in regional Muslim traditions and beyond, and possess particular local features. A detailed analysis of this local case shows new meanings and forms the “wider” tradition gains under new conditions. This paper explores the way the regional Muslim tradition of worshiping holy sites is localized and elaborated within popular religious practice of certain Romani communities in the Balkans. Specifically, it focuses on the contestation of the issues of authenticity and marginality of this vernacular practice in order to reveal the peculiarity of images and meanings Islam gains at the intra-confessional level in a quite heterogeneous social and cultural environment. The material discussed in this paper was collected during ethnographic fieldwork conducted between 2011 and 2014 in Serbia, Macedonia, and Kosovo.
National museums, national myths: constructing socialist Yugoslavism for Croatia and Croats
Authors: Palhegyi Joel
Published: May 2017

This article concerns two national museums in Croatia during the socialist period, the Museum of the Revolution of the Peoples of Croatia and the Historical Museum of Croatia. Both state-developed institutions were intimately tied to the process of nationalization as they helped articulate the place of the Croatian nation within the ideology of supranational Yugoslavism founded on the ideas of socialist patriotism, brotherhood and unity, self-management, national assertion, and South Slavic culture and community. This paper therefore traces the development and collapse of Yugoslavism in Croatia's national narrative by analyzing how these museums adapted the mythology of socialist Yugoslavism for a particularly Croatian context. Specifically, this paper investigates the ways in which these museums operated in an often ambiguous national-supranational discourse in order to reinforce the historical precedents of Croatia as part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. I argue that these museums were envisioned by party elites and museum curators alike as essential to the project of building socialist Yugoslavism by adapting and altering Croatia's previous national pantheon of heroes, places, objects, and events to fit into a larger and distinctly supranational Yugoslav framework.
Institutionalised conflict, subaltern worker rebellions and insurgent unionism: casual workers’ organisation and power resources in the South African Post Office
Authors: Dickinson David
Published: May 2017

Across the globe, the increasing number of precarious workers has (re)created bifurcated labour markets. This paper looks at casual worker mobilisation in the South African Post Office. Attention is paid to one group of workers, the Mabarete, and the way they projected power in a classification struggle pursued though violence and intimidation, rather than moral or symbolic power. Their struggle was spatially and morally sculpted by the communities in which they lived, but was not social movement unionism. Why the Mabarete transformed – from the successful organisation structure that had evolved to registered union – is addressed through two alternative models of industrial engagement: the use of official, legal frameworks in which conflict is institutionalised and that of subaltern worker rebellions in which extra-legal, covert forms of power are mobilised. Insurgent unionism, it is argued, can be understood as the combination of, or oscillation between, these two alternatives.
Electrochemically applied potentials induce growth and metabolic shift changes in the hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima MSB8
Authors: Hirano Shin-ichi , Matsumoto Norio
Published: May 2017

Bioelectrochemical systems are an attractive technology for regulating microbial activity. The effect of an applied potential on hydrolysis of starch in Thermotoga maritima as a model bacterium was investigated in this study. A cathodic potential (−0.6 and −0.8 V) induced 5-h earlier growth initiation of T. maritima with starch as the polymeric substrate than that without electrochemical regulation. Moreover, metabolic patterns of starch consumption were altered by the cathodic potential. While acetate, H2, and CO2 were the major products of starch consumption in the control experiment without electrolysis, lactate accumulation was detected rather than decreased acetate and H2 levels in the bioelectrochemical system experiments with the cathodic potential. These results indicate that the applied potential could control microbial activities related to the hydrolysis of polymeric organic substances and shift carbon and electron flux to a lactate-producing reaction in T. maritima.
Social media, traditional media and party politics in Ghana
Authors: Van Gyampo Ransford Edward
Published: May 2017

The social and political context within which political parties operate has significantly changed in the twenty-first century. The global breakthrough in social media offers numerous possibilities for meaningful and equal participation, as well as chances for new forms of transparency and accountability, in ways that were until recently, unimaginable. This study identifies and discusses the specific ways in which political parties in Ghana have deployed social media in advancing their interest. It raises the challenges that have been encountered by political parties in their quest to tap the advantages of social media in prosecuting their ultimate agenda of capturing political power. It argues succinctly that even though social media has broad advantages, it has severe challenges that undermines its effectiveness and nullifies any attempt to use it as a substitute to traditional media in Ghana. The study recommends an improved use of traditional media as a means of reaching out to people by political parties, as well as the use of social media only as an ‘additional communication luxury’.
Validating a Diabetic Glucose Meter to Assess Walleye Glucose Concentrations
Authors: Ball Emily , Weber Michael John
Published: May 2017

Fisheries biologists have long been interested in monitoring stress in fish by observing changes in glucose concentrations. However, measuring glucose in the field is difficult, time consuming, and expensive. Diabetic glucose meters may provide a rapid, cost-effective monitoring tool that can be used in the field or laboratory, but they need to be evaluated for a particular species before they can be integrated into monitoring programs. Our objective was to evaluate the FreeStyle Lite diabetic glucose meter across a broad range of glucose concentrations exhibited by advanced fingerling Walleyes Sander vitreus (197 ± 20 mm [mean ± SD]; 73.5 ± 18.8 g). Eleven groups of five advanced fingerling Walleyes were chased for up to 10 min with a dip net, sequentially removed at 5-min intervals, and blood samples were collected. Glucose concentrations were determined using both the FreeStyle Lite diabetic glucose meter and the traditional colorimetric laboratory method for individual samples. The percent difference in glucose concentrations (glucose meter minus colorimetric laboratory glucose) was nearly always (95% of observations) within 2 SDs of the average glucose concentration reported by both methods. Costs associated with the use of the glucose meter as well as the required sample size were less for the glucose meter than the colorimetric laboratory method. Combined, results from this study suggest the glucose meter detected changes in glucose concentrations of advanced fingerling Walleyes and offers an alternative method that is cheaper, faster, and less invasive than the traditional colorimetric laboratory method.
Micron-scale Raman amplifier: another progressive step towards the maturity of silicon photonics
Authors: DATTA TANMOY , Sen Mrinal
Published: May 2017

Notice of redundant publication

"Micron-scale Raman amplifier: another progressive step towards the maturity of silicon photonics"

It has been brought to the attention of the editors that this article contains redundancies when compared with an earlier article published by the authors in Datta T and Sen M 2017 Superlattices Microstruct.

109 107–16. The original article was not referenced. These concerns were identified after the article appeared as accepted but before publication of the final version. As a member of COPE this was been investigated in accordance with the COPE guidelines and it was agreed a notice of redundant publication should be applied.

A new model for micron scale all-silicon amplifier has been proposed based on stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) in a slotted photonic crystal waveguide (SPCW). Silicon nanocrystal material is considered to be embedded in the slot of the SPCW to exploit its giant Raman gain coefficient. Moreover, the gain has further been enhanced by using the ultra-high optical confinement of the SPCW. Results of simulations show that the threshold power of a 3 μm long SPCW based Raman amplifier is in the order of merely 500 μW, while the CW Stokes is launched with a power of 50 μW. The simulations also show that a merely 1.5 μm long SPCW can offer ≈3 dB gain even at the 400 Gbps pulse repetition rate. However, pulse shape becomes disrupted by the SRS induced temporal broadening which has further been reduced considerably by operating the Stokes at a different resonance peak in the SRS gain spectrum. With these tremendous performances, the SPCW based Raman amplifier proves its potentiality for application in on-chip optical interconnects and also opens up a pavement for realizing the long desired micron-scale all-silicon Raman laser.
Ecotypes and evolutionary significant units in endangered North African gazelles
Authors: Silva Teresa L , Vale Cândida G , Godinho Raquel , Fellous Amina , Hingrat Yves , Alves Paulo C , Abáigar Teresa , Brito José C
Published: May 2017

Conservation planning of threatened taxa relies upon accurate data on systematics, ecological traits and suitable habitats. The genus Gazella includes taxa with distinct morphologies and ecological traits, but close phylogenetic relationships. The North African Gazella cuvieri and Gazella leptoceros loderi share morphological and physiological characters but the former is darker and found in mountain areas, while the latter is lighter and associated with sand dunes. Here we aim to assess the genetic distinctiveness of these taxa, to characterize their ecological niches and to identify potential occurrence areas, by analysing 327 samples across North-West Africa. Phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial (CYTB) and five nuclear gene fragments (KCAS, LAC, SPTBN1, PRKCI and THYR) show that both taxa comprise a single monophyletic group. However, ecological niche-based modelling suggests that populations of these taxa occupy distinct geographic areas and specific environments. Predicted areas of sympatry were restricted, as a consequence of local sharp transitions in climatic traits. The lack of genetic differentiation between these taxa suggests they should be lumped into G. cuvieri, while ecological and morphological differences indicate they correspond to distinct ecotypes. Conservation planning of G. cuvieri should consider the preservation of both mountain and lowland ecotypes to maintain the overall adaptive potential of the species. This integrative approach provides valuable insights in identifying evolutionary units and should be extended to other gazelles.
Observational hints of a real age spread in the young LMC star cluster NGC 1971
Authors: Piatti Andrés E. , Cole Andrew
Published: May 2017

We report that the serendipitous young Large Magellanic Cloud cluster NGC 1971 exhibits an extended main-sequence turn-off (eMSTO) possibly originated mostly by a real age spread. We used CT1 Washington photometry to produce a colour–magnitude diagram (CMD) with the fiducial cluster features. From its eMSTO, we estimated an age spread of ∼170 Myr (observed age range 100–280 Myr), once observational errors, stellar binarity, overall metallicity variations and stellar rotation effects were subtracted in quadrature from the observed age width.
Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Hypofractionated Radiotherapy for Glioblastoma
Authors: Shah Jennifer L , Li Gordon , Shaffer Jenny L , Azoulay Melissa I , Gibbs Iris C , Nagpal Seema , Soltys Scott G
Published: May 2017

Glioblastoma is the most common primary brain tumor in adults. Standard therapy depends on patient age and performance status but principally involves surgical resection followed by a 6-wk course of radiation therapy given concurrently with temozolomide chemotherapy. Despite such treatment, prognosis remains poor, with a median survival of 16 mo. Challenges in achieving local control, maintaining quality of life, and limiting toxicity plague treatment strategies for this disease. Radiotherapy dose intensification through hypofractionation and stereotactic radiosurgery is a promising strategy that has been explored to meet these challenges. We review the use of hypofractionated radiotherapy and stereotactic radiosurgery for patients with newly diagnosed and recurrent glioblastoma.
Surgical Treatment of Mesiotemporal Lobe Epilepsy: Which Approach is Favorable?
Authors: Schmeiser Barbara , Wagner Kathrin , Schulze-Bonhage Andreas , Mader Irina , Wendling Anne-Sophie , Steinhoff Bernhard Jochen , Prinz Marco , Scheiwe Christian , Weyerbrock Astrid , Zentner Josef
Published: May 2017

BACKGROUND

Mesiotemporal lobe epilepsy is one of the most frequent causes for pharmacoresistant epilepsy. Different surgical approaches to the mesiotemporal area are used.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze epileptological and neuropsychological results as well as complications of different surgical strategies.

METHODS

This retrospective study is based on a consecutive series of 458 patients all harboring pharmacoresistant mesiotemporal lobe epilepsy. Following procedures were performed: standard anterior temporal lobectomy, anterior temporal or key-hole resection, extended lesionectomy, and transsylvian and subtemporal selective amygdalohippocampectomy. Postoperative outcome was evaluated according to different surgical procedures.

RESULTS

Overall, 1 yr after surgery 315 of 432 patients (72.9%) were classified Engel I; in particular, 72.8% were seizure-free after anterior temporal lobectomy, 76.9% after key-hole resection, 84.4% after extended lesionectomy, 70.3% after transylvian selective amygdalohippocampectomy, and 59.1% after subtemporal selective amygdalohippocampectomy. No significant differences in seizure outcome were found between different resective procedures, neither in short-term nor long-term follow-up. There was no perioperative mortality. Permanent morbidity was encountered in 4.4%. There were no significant differences in complications between different resection types. In the majority of patients, selective attention improved following surgery. Patients after left-sided operations performed significantly worse regarding verbal memory as compared to right-sided procedures. However, surgical approach had no significant effect on memory outcome.

CONCLUSION

Different surgical approaches for mesiotemporal epilepsy analyzed resulted in similar epileptological, neuropsychological results, and complication rates. Therefore, the approach for the individual patient does not only depend on the specific localization of the epileptogenic area, but also on the experience of the surgeon.
Berlin Grading System Can Stratify the Onset and Predict Perioperative Complications in Adult Moyamoya Disease
Authors: Kashiwazaki Daina , Akioka Naoki , Kuwayama Naoya , Houkin Kiyohiro , Czabanka Marcus , Vajkoczy Peter , Kuroda Satoshi
Published: May 2017

BACKGROUND

The grading system for moyamoya disease is not established.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the usefulness of a recently proposed grading system for stratifying the clinical severity and predicting postoperative morbidity in adult moyamoya disease.

METHODS

We investigated 176 hemispheres from 89 adult patients who were diagnosed with moyamoya disease in Japan. Their data were analyzed using the Berlin grading system with minor modifications. After summarizing the numerical values for digital subtraction angiography (1-3 points), magnetic resonance imaging (0-1 points), and single-photon emission computed tomography (0-2 points), 3 grades of moyamoya disease were defined: mild (grade I) = 1 to 2 points, moderate (grade II) = 3 to 4 points, and severe (grade III) = 5 to 6 points. In total, 82 of 161 hemispheres underwent superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery anastomosis and indirect synangiosis. Postoperative neurological morbidity was included within 30 d after surgery.

RESULTS

Preoperative examinations categorized 87 hemispheres as grade I, 39 as grade II, and 50 as grade III. There was a significant correlation between the Berlin grading system and clinical severity (P < .001). Perioperative complications occurred in 12 of 82 (14.6%) hemispheres, including transient ischemic attack in 3 hemispheres, ischemic stroke in 4 hemispheres, symptomatic hyperperfusion in 4 hemispheres, and intracerebral hemorrhage in 1 hemisphere. The Berlin grading system was related to their occurrence (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

The Berlin grading system facilitates the stratification of clinical severity and predicting postoperative neurological morbidity in adult moyamoya disease, thereby suggesting its general usage in clinical practice.
Aneurysm Morphology and Prediction of Rupture: An International Study of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms Analysis
Authors: Mocco J , Brown Robert D , Torner James C , Capuano Ana W , Fargen Kyle M , Raghavan Madhavan L , Piepgras David G , Meissner Irene , III John Huston ,   on behalf of the International Study of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms Investigators
Published: May 2017

BACKGROUND

There are conflicting data between natural history studies suggesting a very low risk of rupture for small, unruptured intracranial aneurysms and retrospective studies that have identified a much higher frequency of small, ruptured aneurysms than expected.

OBJECTIVE

To use the prospective International Study of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms cohort to identify morphological characteristics predictive of unruptured intracranial aneurysm rupture.

METHODS

A case-control design was used to analyze morphological characteristics associated with aneurysm rupture in the International Study of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms database. Fifty-seven patients with ruptured aneurysms during follow-up were matched (by size and location) with 198 patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms without rupture during follow-up. Twelve morphological metrics were measured from cerebral angiograms in a blinded fashion.

RESULTS

Perpendicular height (P = .008) and size ratio (ratio of maximum diameter to the parent vessel diameter; P = .01) were predictors of aneurysm rupture on univariate analysis. Aspect ratio, daughter sacs, multiple lobes, aneurysm angle, neck diameter, parent vessel diameter, and calculated aneurysm volume were not statistically significant predictors of rupture. On multivariate analysis, perpendicular height was the only significant predictor of rupture (Chi-square 7.1, P-value .008).

CONCLUSION

This study underscores the importance of other morphological factors, such as perpendicular height and size ratio, that may influence unruptured intracranial aneurysm rupture risk in addition to greatest diameter and anterior vs posterior location.
ASPECTS, Large Vessel Occlusion, and Time of Symptom Onset: Estimation of Eligibility for Endovascular Therapy
Authors: Mokin Maxim , Pendurthi Aparna , Ljubimov Vladimir , Burgin William S , Siddiqui Adnan H , Levy Elad I , Primiani Christopher T
Published: May 2017

BACKGROUND

Understanding how many patients are eligible for endovascular therapy can help develop more effective stroke systems of care.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the proportion of patients eligible for endovascular therapy.

METHODS

In this single center retrospective cohort study, we identified patients with acute ischemic stroke from large vessel occlusion (LVO) from January 2014 to December 2015. Selection criteria including LVO location, Alberta stroke program early computed tomography score (ASPECTS) range, hospital arrival time, and the use of intravenous thrombolysis were applied to calculate proportions of patients eligible for endovascular therapy.

RESULTS

Of 989 patients with acute ischemic stroke, LVO was identified in 224 (23%) cases. Eighty-four percent of patients admitted within 6 h, 75% of patients admitted within 6 to 12 h, and 77% of patients with M1 and internal carotid artery occlusions admitted within 12 to 24 h had favorable ASPECTS for thrombectomy, defined as ASPECTS ≥ 6. Severity of NIHSS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale) was predictive of favorable ASPECTS (odds ratio [OR] 0.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.04-0.74; P = .014 for NIHSS > 10 and OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.12-0.80; P = .014 for NIHSS > 20), whereas time of hospital arrival was not (OR 1.73, 95% CI 0.76-4.03; P = .26). Using all class I, Level of Evidence A American Heart Association guidelines criteria, 4% of patients with acute ischemic stroke were eligible for endovascular therapy. Up to 20% of patients were eligible for endovascular therapy with less restrictive criteria (Class IIb; Level of Evidence C).

CONCLUSION

Depending on the sets of selection criteria, between 4% (the most restrictive criteria) and 20% (the least restrictive criteria) of patients with LVO are potentially eligible for endovascular therapy.
Chinese Communist Party
Authors: Brown Kerry
Published: May 2017

The Communist Party of China (CPC) is the world’s largest political organization, with a history approaching one hundred years. Since its foundation it has been distinctly Chinese. Understanding it involves knowledge of its ideology, its political mission, organization, and narratives of history, as well as its complex and evolving internal composition. Key figures throughout the last ten decades since its foundation in 1921 have also shaped phases of its development, from the immense impact of Mao Zedong to the elite leaders who have succeeded him. The different emphasis of these elite leaders has also supplied a means by which to understand the deep differences between the party when it was coming to power before 1949, and operated as a fugitive force, to when it became the governing party after that date. In the Maoist era up to 1976 the focus was on class struggle and the conduct of mass campaigns. These had immensely destructive outcomes. After 1976, the focus became the material enrichment and modernization of the country. Under Xi Jinping, however, since 2012 there has been an increasing shift back to focusing on ideology and party organization. The link between these separate phases is the desire to create a rich, strong, and powerful country, one that has been restored to its centrality in the region and the world and will never again be subject to colonial or foreign aggression. The CPC has many different dimensions—from its narrative of its own history to its internal language, the cultural aspects of its message, and its links to Chinese traditions and society. In many ways, therefore, studying the CPC today is studying the key events and structures that made modern China. The author would like to thank Jana Gorski for her assistance with the compilation of this article.
Sociology of Music
Authors: McAndrew Siobhan
Published: May 2017

Music is central to cultural life and therefore also often perceived as central to social life. The study of music in society has been of interest to canonic social thinkers, including Weber, Simmel, and Adorno, since the establishment of sociology. The study of music has also concerned scholars in adjacent disciplines, particularly musicology, cultural studies, and economics. In the landmark Distinction, Bourdieu argued, “nothing more clearly affirms ones ‘class,’ nothing more infallibly classifies, than tastes in music” (Distinction: A social critique of the judgement of taste [London: Routledge, 1984], p. 18). Sociologists of music have accordingly been concerned with the importance of musical taste for signifying status and distinguishing cultural hierarchies. Sociologists have also been concerned with the socio-demographic correlates of musical preference, how musicians and the music industry organize to provide music and influence taste, and the education and working conditions of musicians. What tends to distinguish sociology of music from other disciplines is a commitment to the sociological imagination or the use of social research methods—but not necessarily both. And many sociologists of music work across disciplines. Sociologists have also coalesced around the study of different genres, and those contributing in the sociology of particular genres often do so not as sociologists but as music, folklore, or history scholars whose interests have extended to the sociology of music. The American sociology of music tradition has arguably been influenced more heavily by symbolic interactionism and rational choice theory than the European, where critical theory has been more influential. Nevertheless, conceptual and methodological interchange is growing, particularly with the increasing influence of Bourdieu in US sociology. The sociology of race, gender, and sexuality has also influenced the field significantly. This conceptual and methodological diversity means the field has low paradigmaticness. However, this diversity does lead to productive exchange and synthesis of ideas and methods. Notably, there is growing interest in music as a social technology and insights from science and technology studies. As in cultural sociology more broadly, attention is turning to “the music itself,” music as mediating social interaction, and artists and works embedded in wider socio-musical systems using computational tools, particularly network analysis. Data proliferation is generating innovative quantitative work. Qualitative research is also being reinvigorated by new technologies enabling new interview methods, digital ethnography, and computational methods for processing textual data.
Existential Wh-Constructions
Authors: Šimík Radek
Published: May 2017

Existential wh-constructions are wh-constructions that have a nominal distribution, an existential (indefinite) meaning, and the superficial appearance of a “bare” wh-clause. They come in two main subtypes—existential free relatives and modal existential wh-constructions—with opinions divided as to how these types are related to each other and whether the latter should be subsumed under the former. An example of an existential free relative is the bracketed part of the Chuj (Mayan) sentence Ay [mach lanin yilani] (literally, Exists [who is me watching], “There is somebody who is watching me,” from Kotek and Erlewine 2016, cited under Existential Free Relatives); an example of a modal existential wh-construction is the bracketed part of the Spanish sentence Tengo [con quien hablar] (literally, I.have [with whom to.speak], “There is somebody I can speak with”). Besides these main types, a number of other wh-constructions have been argued to have an existential interpretation, including transparent free relatives and standard free relatives. Existential wh-constructions have been studied for their intriguing morphological, syntactic, and semantic properties, which include, at least in some cases, a limited syntactic distribution, their unclear categorial status and syntactic size, the mood of their main predicate, and the modality they express. Existential wh-constructions have sparked a controversy concerning their relation to similar constructions, especially embedded wh-questions, headed relatives, and standard free relatives. Existential wh-constructions are generally found in languages that also have standard free relatives, although there are some notable gaps. Most Germanic languages, for instance, have standard free relatives, but they lack existential wh-constructions altogether; many languages of the broader European region (Slavic, Finno-Ugric, Semitic) have standard free relatives and modal existential wh-constructions, but no existential free relatives; finally, some of the Mesoamerican languages that have been investigated (especially Mayan) have standard and existential free relatives but no modal existential wh-constructions.
Art and Propaganda
Authors: Levy Evonne
Published: May 2017

The rise of the propaganda production in World War I coincided with art history’s consolidation as a discipline. Immediately, the modern category “propaganda” was taken up to describe the relations between art, politics (sacred and secular), and power. After World War II, and in the Cold War, the use of the word “propaganda” shifted and many North American and European art historians resisted the categorization of “art” (associated with freedom) and propaganda (associated with fascist instrumentalization), although historians were less troubled by its use for “images.” The end of the Cold War loosened the prohibition on the term, though many art historians still prefer cognate terms, “persuasion” or “rhetorical,” when pointing to the key element of audience and effectiveness; similarly, many speak of “power,” “politics,” or “ideology” when pointing to institutions and their messages. Because there are alternatives for “propaganda,” the emphasis here is on the literature that have engaged the term itself and the problems it poses to art history, including its ongoing toxicity. Because propaganda arts are so closely associated with the modern regimes that perfected their use (communist Russia, fascist Italy, Nazi Germany), one of the major questions in the art historical literature is the appropriateness of the concept before the 20th century and for nonautocratic regimes. While some periods have attracted the term more than others, since Foucault and post–Cold War, there has been at once an understanding of all institutions, sacred and secular, as imbricated in power relations and on the other, a relaxation of rigid definitions of propaganda as “deceptive” or “manipulative.” These factors have opened scholars in art history considerably to a use of the term, although a reductive understanding of propaganda as inherently deceptive still persists. Three main criteria were used in compiling this article: periods of political upheaval or change in government that have attracted the term in particularly dense ways and generated dialogue over these issues; works that explicitly frame the study of objects as propaganda or substitute terms, rhetoric, persuasion, and ideology; and works by historians of images that explicitly engage with the category of propaganda (excluding, with a few exceptions, popular forms like posters as well as film, television, and digital media). Whenever possible, propaganda’s specificity is insisted on here in relation to art, for art poses special problems to the use of the word propaganda, and its invocation in art history often makes an explicit point.
Late Leaf Spot Severity and Yield of New Peanut Breeding Lines and Cultivars Grown Without Fungicides
Authors: Jordan Brian S. , Culbreath Albert K. , Brenneman Timothy B. , Kemerait Robert C. , Branch William D.
Published: May 2017

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) cultivars with resistance or tolerance to Cercospora arachidicola and/or Cercosporidium personatum, the causes of early and late leaf spot, respectively, are needed for organic production in the southeastern U.S. To determine the potential of new breeding lines for use in such production systems, field experiments were conducted in Tifton, GA, in 2014 and 2015 in which nine breeding lines and two cultivars, Georgia-06G and Georgia-12Y, were grown without foliar fungicide applications. In one set of trials, cultivar Georgia-12Y and most of the breeding lines evaluated had early season vigor ratings, early-season canopy width measurements, final plant populations, and pod yield that were greater than those of standard cultivar Georgia-06G. In those trials, final late leaf spot Florida scale ratings were lower and canopy reflectance measured as the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), was higher all the breeding lines than those of Georgia-06G. In another set of trials, two of those same breeding lines had final late leaf spot ratings similar to those of Georgia-12Y in 2014, whereas in 2015, six of those breeding lines had final leaf spot ratings that were lower than those of Georgia-12Y. Yields were similar for Georgia-12Y and all the breeding lines in the Gibbs Farm trials. Across years and breeding lines at the Lang Farm, the relationship between visual estimates of defoliation and NDVI was described by a two sector piecewise regression with NDVI decreasing more rapidly with increasing defoliation above approximately 89%. The utility of NDVI for spot comparisons among breeding lines appears to be limited to situations where there are differences in defoliation. Georgia-12Y and multiple breeding lines evaluated show potential for use in situations such as organic production where acceptable fungicides available for seed treatment and leaf spot control are limited.
Return on investment of advanced practice medical degrees
Authors: Craig Christopher K. , Holmes James H. , Carter Jeffery E.
Published: May 2017

As the United States faces a predicted physician shortage over the next 2 decades, physician assistants (PAs) and NPs are expected to fill the void. At the same time, because education is expensive, student loan and tuition increases have many potential applicants assessing differences in reimbursement and wondering about their return on investment (ROI). An analysis compared PA and NP salaries by incorporating national salary data, federal income tax, and student loans for a comparative analysis of each career pathway.

Methods:

Salaries were abstracted from the 2012 Bureau of Labor Statistics database. The net present value (NPV) of PA and NP salaries was calculated with a 5% discount rate. Principal and interest for student loans was calculated at a 6% interest fixed-rate loan over 30 years. NPVs were then compared with projected ROI at retirement age. Relative career values were also given to each career choice, based on a retirement age of 65 years, which translates to about 41 years of employment for both PAs and NPs.

Results:

PAs' and NPs' educational loans both equalled $129,484 on total repayment. The median annual salary of a PA was $90,930 and $89,960 for an NP. PA data yielded a 5% NPV of $781,323 compared with $764,348 for NPs. Of note, the 5% NPV of a 4-year nursing degree is $728,436.

Conclusion:

PAs have a slightly higher ROI compared with NPs. These findings may change due to adjustments in nursing training models. Many PA programs allow matriculation immediately after obtaining a bachelor's degree. NP schools often require nursing experience before entering their program. Some schools are considering an accelerated NP program, allowing immediate matriculation after obtaining a bachelor's degree. Because many NP programs have become doctoral degrees, the increased duration of training, higher tuition, and fewer years worked before retirement lower the overall NP ROI. A similar reduction in ROI was considered marginal in PAs who attend residency programs—though these programs are not required for PAs to practice. Comparison of an RN with a 4-year degree to an NP shows little increase in ROI. If interest rates rise, it will become fiscally preferable to remain in a nursing position. Other intangible qualities exist and need further research (for example, weighing the financial aspects with lifestyle or professional satisfaction).
Diffusion of PA innovation
Authors: Everett Christine M. , Quella Alicia
Published: May 2017

The physician assistant (PA) profession is a health workforce innovation. This article discusses whether, after 50 years, the PA profession is still an innovation.
Combination Drug Therapy of Pioglitazone and D-cycloserine Attenuates Chronic Orofacial Neuropathic Pain and Anxiety by Improving Mitochondrial Function Following Trigeminal Nerve Injury
Authors: Lyons Danielle N. , Zhang Liping , Pandya Jignesh D. , Danaher Robert J. , Ma Fei , Miller Craig S. , Sullivan Patrick G. , Sirbu Cristian , Westlund Karin N.
Published: May 2017

Objectives:

The study aim was to determine how peripheral trigeminal nerve injury affects mitochondrial respiration and to test efficacy of combined treatment with 2 Federal Drug Administration approved drugs with potential for improving mitochondrial bioenergetics, pain and anxiety–related behaviors in a chronic orofacial neuropathic pain mouse model.

Methods:

Efficacy of (R)-(+)-4-amino-3-isoxazolidinone (D-cycloserine, DCS), an N-Methyl-D-aspartate antagonist/agonist, and Pioglitazone (PIO), a selective agonist of nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma was investigate in the trigeminal inflammatory compression (TIC) neuropathic nerve injury mouse model. Combined low doses of these drugs (80 mg/kg DCS and 100 mg/kg PIO) were given as a single bolus or daily for 7 days post-TIC to test ability to attenuate neuropathic nociceptive and associated cognitive dependent anxiety behaviors. In addition, beneficial effects of the DCS/PIO drug combination were explored ex vivo in isolated cortex/brainstem mitochondria at 28 weeks post-TIC.

Results:

The DCS/PIO combination not only attenuated orofacial neuropathic pain and anxiety–related behaviors associated with trigeminal nerve injury, but it also improved mitochondrial bioenergetics.

Discussion:

The DCS/PIO combination uncoupled mitochondrial respiration in the TIC model to improve cortical mitochondrial dysfunction, as well as reduced nociceptive and anxiety behaviors present in mice with centralized chronic neuropathic nerve injury. Combining these drugs could be a beneficial treatment for patients with depression, anxiety, or other psychological conditions due to their chronic pain status.
Impact of the Primary Information Source Used for Decision Making on Treatment Perceptions and Regret in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Shaverdian Narek , Kishan Amar U. , Veruttipong Darlene , Demanes D. Jeffrey , Kupelian Patrick , McCloskey Susan , Steinberg Michael L. , King Christopher R.
Published: May 2017

Objective:

To assess the impact of the primary source of information used by prostate cancer patients to select a radiation treatment on their overall treatment experience and on treatment regret.

Methods:

Patients with low to favorable intermediate-risk prostate cancer treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy, or high-dose rate brachytherapy were surveyed. The questionnaire explored the decision-making experience, treatment experience, and treatment regret.

Results:

In total, 322 consecutive patients were surveyed with an 86% (n=276) response rate. In total, 48% (n=132) selected their radiation oncologist as the primary information source, 23% (n=62) selected their urologist, 16% (n=44) selected the Internet, 6% (n=17) selected other patients, and 8% (n=21) selected other. In total, 39% of patients who selected the Internet as their primary information source reported their actual treatment experience to be worse than expected versus 13% of respondents who selected their urologist, 12% who selected other patients, and 2% who selected their radiation oncologist (P<0.01). Similarly, 43% who selected the Internet as their primary information source endorsed treatment regret versus 10% who selected their urologist, and 7% who selected their radiation oncologist (P<0.01). On multivariate regression, only patients who selected the Internet as their primary information source were more likely to endorse treatment regret (odds ratio, 46.47; P<0.001) and a worse treatment perception (odds ratio, 83.33; P<0.001).

Conclusions:

Patients who used the Internet as their primary information source were significantly more likely to endorse treatment regret and a worse than expected overall treatment experience. These data highlight the potential dangers of Internet-based resources and the importance for physicians to proactively counsel patients.
Treatment and Outcomes of Primary Urethra Cancer
Authors: Eng Tony Y. , Chen Tiffany W. , Patel Abhilasha J. , Vincent Jill N. , Ha Chul S.
Published: May 2017

Background:

Urethral cancer is a rare malignancy, representing <1% of all malignancies. Optimal management, due to its rarity, presents as a treatment dilemma for physicians. There is a lack of consensus regarding treatment as large randomized trials cannot be performed; thus, optimal management decisions rely on study of retrospective cases. This is a review of our institutional experience with urethral cancer treated with various treatment modalities.

Methods:

A retrospective chart review was performed on 31 patients treated for primary cancer of the urethra from 1958 to 2008. The patients were stratified by sex, histologic type, stage, date of diagnosis, type of treatment, and last follow-up. Early stage cases were designated as Tis-T2N0M0 and advanced cases were designated as T3-4, N+ or M+. Analysis was performed based on clinical stage, treatment modalities and outcomes.

Results:

Fourteen early stage cases and 17 advanced stage cases of urethral cancer were analyzed. The majority of early stage cases occurred in men (M:F=8:6) and the majority of advanced stage cases occurred in women (M:F=5:12). The most common histology was squamous cell carcinoma for both early and advanced stage cases. Surgery was the preferred modality of treatment for early stage cases (surgery used in 13 cases vs. chemo/radiotherapy used in 1 case) while for advanced cases, radiation ±chemotherapy was commonly used. Overall survival for this series was 45% at mean follow-up of 7 years. Eight of the 14 cases of early stage cancer remained disease free at last follow-up. Comparatively, only 5 of 17 with advanced cancers had no apparent disease at last follow-up. All but one of those patients were treated with combined modality therapy.

Conclusions:

Patients with early stage urethral cancers do well with single modality therapy, whereas patients who present with advanced cancers may benefit from combined modality therapy. More extensive study is required to recommend a particular treatment protocol. However, in this rare malignancy, institutional experiences provide the best evidence currently due to the lack of multi-institutional trials.
A Deceptively Simple Solution for Refractory Melasma: Glycolic Acid Peels and Hydroquinone at Home
Authors: Mashiko Takanobu , Oka Aiko , Osawa Ema , Koshima Isao
Published: May 2017

Although various treatment methods for melasma have developed, substantial improvement of the condition is sometimes difficult. We have experientially found that some of refractory melasma caused by daily friction can easily be treated by using a combination of a peeling agent (20% glycolic acid) and a depigmenting agent (5% hydroquinone) twice daily at home. And here, by performing skin biopsies, we revealed the pathological mechanism: hyperkeratosis caused by repeated physical stimulus, which prevents infiltration of topical therapeutic agents, was dramatically reduced by chemical peeling, resulting that the melanin pigments were effectively cleared by topical hydroquinone.
Trim Labiaplasty
Authors: Furnas Heather J.
Published: May 2017

A labiaplasty is a surgical procedure that reduces the length of redundant labia minora. The trim, also known as edge excision, linear, and amputation labiaplasty, is a technique commonly used. Complications associated with a trim labiaplasty include overresection and scalloped labia edges. This video features an operative technique that aims to reduce labia minora to an appropriate final length with smooth, unscalloped edges.
How to hold an effective meeting
Authors: Koshy Kiron , Liu Alison , Whitehurst Katharine , Gundogan Buket , Al Omran Yasser
Published: May 2017

Meetings are a common occurrence in academic and medical life. However, most of these meetings will be under-productive and inefficient uses of time. In this article, we provide valuable tips on how best to plan a meeting and get the most out of the people in attendance. This includes how to assess whether a meeting is necessary and what form this meeting should take. In addition to this, guidance is divided into before, during, and after the meeting. This guide will provide structure to your meetings and improve the output you and your team gain from them.