bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mineralogical properties and internal structures of individual fine particles of Saharan dust
Authors: Jeong Gi Young , Park Mi Yeon , Kandler Konrad , Nousiainen Timo , Kemppinen Osku
Published: April 2016

Abstract. Mineral dust interacts with incoming/outgoing radiation, gases, other aerosols, and clouds. The assessment of its optical and chemical impacts requires knowledge of the physical and chemical properties of bulk dust and single particles. Despite the existence of a large body of data from field measurements and laboratory analyses, the internal properties of single dust particles have not been defined precisely. Here, we report on the mineralogical organization and internal structures of individual fine (< 5 μm) Saharan dust particles sampled at Tenerife, Canary Islands. The bulk of Tenerife dust was composed of clay minerals (81 %), followed by quartz (10 %), plagioclase (3 %), and K-feldspar (2 %). Cross-sectional slices of Saharan dust particles prepared by the focused ion beam technique were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to probe the particle interiors. TEM analysis showed that the most common particle type was clay-rich agglomerate, dominated by illite–smectite series clay minerals with subordinate kaolinite. Submicron grains of iron (hydr)oxides (goethite and hematite) were commonly dispersed through the clay-rich particles. The median total volume of the iron (hydr)oxide grains included in the dust particles was about 1.5 vol% . The average iron content of clay minerals, assuming 14 wt% H2O, was determined to be 5.0 wt%. Coarse mineral cores, several micrometers in size, were coated with thin layers of clay-rich agglomerate. Overall, the dust particles were roughly ellipsoidal, with an average axial ratio of 1.4:1.0:0.5. The mineralogical and structural properties of single Saharan dust particles provide a basis for the modeling of dust radiative properties. Major constituent minerals, such as illite–smectite series clay minerals and iron (hydr)oxides, were commonly submicron- to nano-sized, possibly enhancing their biogeochemical availability to remote marine ecosystems lacking micronutrients.
The potential of clear-sky carbon dioxide satellite retrievals
Authors: Nelson Robert R. , O'Dell Christopher W. , Taylor Thomas E. , Mandrake Lukas , Smyth Mike
Published: April 2016

Abstract. Since the launch of the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT) in 2009, retrieval algorithms designed to infer the column-averaged dry-air mole fraction of carbon dioxide (XCO2) from hyperspectral near-infrared observations of reflected sunlight have been greatly improved. They now generally include the scattering effects of clouds and aerosols, as early work found that absorption-only retrievals, which neglected these effects, often incurred unacceptably large errors, even for scenes with optically thin cloud or aerosol layers. However, these “full-physics” retrievals tend to be computationally expensive and may incur biases from trying to deduce the properties of clouds and aerosols when there are none present. Additionally, algorithms are now available that can quickly and effectively identify and remove most scenes in which cloud or aerosol scattering plays a significant role. In this work, we test the hypothesis that non-scattering, or “clear-sky”, retrievals may perform as well as full-physics retrievals for sufficiently clear scenes. Clear-sky retrievals could potentially avoid errors and biases brought about by trying to infer properties of clouds and aerosols when none are present. Clear-sky retrievals are also desirable because they are orders of magnitude faster than full-physics retrievals. Here we use a simplified version of the Atmospheric Carbon Observations from Space (ACOS) XCO2 retrieval algorithm that does not include the scattering and absorption effects of clouds or aerosols. It was found that for simulated Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) measurements, the clear-sky retrieval had errors comparable to those of the full-physics retrieval. For real GOSAT data, the clear-sky retrieval had errors 0–20 % larger than the full-physics retrieval over land and errors roughly 20–35 % larger over ocean, depending on filtration level. In general, the clear-sky retrieval had XCO2 root-mean-square errors (RMSEs) of less than 2.0 ppm, relative to Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON) measurements and a suite of CO2 models, when adequately filtered through the use of a custom genetic algorithm filtering system. These results imply that non-scattering XCO2 retrievals are potentially more useful than previous literature suggests, as the filtering methods we employ are able to remove measurements in which scattering can cause significant errors. Additionally, the computational benefits of non-scattering retrievals means they may be useful for certain applications that require large amounts of data but have less stringent error requirements.
Amazon forest structure generates diurnal and seasonal variability in light utilization
Authors: Morton Douglas C. , Rubio Jérémy , Cook Bruce D. , Gastellu-Etchegorry Jean-Philippe , Longo Marcos , Choi Hyeungu , Hunter Maria , Keller Michael
Published: April 2016

Abstract. The complex three-dimensional (3-D) structure of tropical forests generates a diversity of light environments for canopy and understory trees. Understanding diurnal and seasonal changes in light availability is critical for interpreting measurements of net ecosystem exchange and improving ecosystem models. Here, we used the Discrete Anisotropic Radiative Transfer (DART) model to simulate leaf absorption of photosynthetically active radiation (lAPAR) for an Amazon forest. The 3-D model scene was developed from airborne lidar data, and local measurements of leaf reflectance, aerosols, and PAR were used to model lAPAR under direct and diffuse illumination conditions. Simulated lAPAR under clear-sky and cloudy conditions was corrected for light saturation effects to estimate light utilization, the fraction of lAPAR available for photosynthesis. Although the fraction of incoming PAR absorbed by leaves was consistent throughout the year (0.80–0.82), light utilization varied seasonally (0.67–0.74), with minimum values during the Amazon dry season. Shadowing and light saturation effects moderated potential gains in forest productivity from increasing PAR during dry-season months when the diffuse fraction from clouds and aerosols was low. Comparisons between DART and other models highlighted the role of 3-D forest structure to account for seasonal changes in light utilization. Our findings highlight how directional illumination and forest 3-D structure combine to influence diurnal and seasonal variability in light utilization, independent of further changes in leaf area, leaf age, or environmental controls on canopy photosynthesis. Changing illumination geometry constitutes an alternative biophysical explanation for observed seasonality in Amazon forest productivity without changes in canopy phenology.
Metagenomic analyses of the late Pleistocene permafrost – additional tools for reconstruction of environmental conditions
Authors: Rivkina Elizaveta , Petrovskaya Lada , Vishnivetskaya Tatiana , Krivushin Kirill , Shmakova Lyubov , Tutukina Maria , Meyers Arthur , Kondrashov Fyodor
Published: April 2016

Abstract. A comparative analysis of the metagenomes from two 30 000-year-old permafrost samples, one of lake-alluvial origin and the other from late Pleistocene Ice Complex sediments, revealed significant differences within microbial communities. The late Pleistocene Ice Complex sediments (which have been characterized by the absence of methane with lower values of redox potential and Fe2+ content) showed a low abundance of methanogenic archaea and enzymes from both the carbon and nitrogen cycles, but a higher abundance of enzymes associated with the sulfur cycle. The metagenomic and geochemical analyses described in the paper provide evidence that the formation of the sampled late Pleistocene Ice Complex sediments likely took place under much more aerobic conditions than lake-alluvial sediments.
Depth-resolved particle associated microbial respiration in the northeast Atlantic
Authors: Belcher A. , Iversen M. , Giering S. , Riou V. , Henson S. , Sanders R.
Published: April 2016

Abstract. The depth at which sinking particulate organic carbon (POC) is remineralized in the ocean is tightly linked to atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide. Rapid attenuation of downward POC flux typically occurs in the upper mesopelagic (top few hundred meters of the water column), with much slower loss rates deeper in the ocean. Currently we lack understanding of the processes that drive POC attenuation, resulting in large uncertainties in the mesopelagic carbon budget. Attempts to balance POC supply to the mesopelagic in discrete depth layers with respiration by zooplankton and microbes in those layers rarely succeed, with respiration sometimes being 50 % lower than apparent carbon loss in the upper mesopelagic. One term that is often poorly quantified in such budgets is particle associated bacterial respiration, which we hypothesize could serve as the ''missing sink'' for carbon in the upper mesopelagic. Here we test this hypothesis by measuring particle associated microbial respiration, through direct measurements on individual marine snow aggregates collected in situ. We find very low rates of both absolute and carbon specific particle associated microbial respiration (< 3 % d−1), suggesting that this term cannot close the upper mesopelagic carbon budget. The relative importance of particle associated microbial respiration increases with depth, accounting for up to 34 % of POC loss in the lower mesopelagic (128–500 m). We suggest that POC attenuation in the upper mesopelagic is driven by the transformation of large, fast sinking particles to smaller, slowly sinking and suspended particles via processes such as zooplankton fragmentation, and that this shift to non-sinking POC may help to explain imbalances in the mesopelagic carbon budget.
The biogeophysical climatic impacts of anthropogenic land use change during the Holocene
Authors: Smith M. Clare , Singarayer Joy S. , Valdes Paul J. , Kaplan Jed O. , Branch Nicholas P.
Published: April 2016

Abstract. The first agricultural societies were established around 10 ka BP and had spread across much of Europe and southern Asia by 5.5 ka BP with resultant anthropogenic deforestation for crop and pasture land. Various studies (e.g. Joos et al., 2004; Kaplan et al., 2011; Mitchell et al., 2013) have attempted to assess the biogeochemical implications for Holocene climate in terms of increased carbon dioxide and methane emissions. However, less work has been done to examine the biogeophysical impacts of this early land use change. In this study, global climate model simulations with Hadley Centre Coupled Model version 3 (HadCM3) were used to examine the biogeophysical effects of Holocene land cover change on climate, both globally and regionally, from the early Holocene (8 ka BP) to the early industrial era (1850 CE). Two experiments were performed with alternative descriptions of past vegetation: (i) one in which potential natural vegetation was simulated by Top-down Representation of Interactive Foliage and Flora Including Dynamics (TRIFFID) but without land use changes and (ii) one where the anthropogenic land use model Kaplan and Krumhardt 2010 (KK10; Kaplan et al., 2009, 2011) was used to set the HadCM3 crop regions. Snapshot simulations were run at 1000-year intervals to examine when the first signature of anthropogenic climate change can be detected both regionally, in the areas of land use change, and globally. Results from our model simulations indicate that in regions of early land disturbance such as Europe and south-east Asia detectable temperature changes, outside the normal range of variability, are encountered in the model as early as 7 ka BP in the June–July–August (JJA) season and throughout the entire annual cycle by 2–3 ka BP. Areas outside the regions of land disturbance are also affected, with virtually the whole globe experiencing significant temperature changes (predominantly cooling) by the early industrial period. The global annual mean temperature anomalies found in our single model simulations were −0.22 at 1850 CE, −0.11 at 2 ka BP, and −0.03 °C at 7 ka BP. Regionally, the largest temperature changes were in Europe with anomalies of −0.83 at 1850 CE, −0.58 at 2 ka BP, and −0.24 °C at 7 ka BP. Large-scale precipitation features such as the Indian monsoon, the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), and the North Atlantic storm track are also impacted by local land use and remote teleconnections. We investigated how advection by surface winds, mean sea level pressure (MSLP) anomalies, and tropospheric stationary wave train disturbances in the mid- to high latitudes led to remote teleconnections.
The Last Glacial Maximum in the central North Island, New Zealand: palaeoclimate inferences from glacier modelling
Authors: Eaves Shaun R. , Mackintosh Andrew N. , Anderson Brian M. , Doughty Alice M. , Townsend Dougal B. , Conway Chris E. , Winckler Gisela , Schaefer Joerg M. , Leonard Graham S. , Calvert Andrew T.
Published: April 2016

Abstract. Quantitative palaeoclimate reconstructions provide data for evaluating the mechanisms of past, natural climate variability. Geometries of former mountain glaciers, constrained by moraine mapping, afford the opportunity to reconstruct palaeoclimate, due to the close relationship between ice extent and local climate. In this study, we present results from a series of experiments using a 2-D coupled energy balance–ice flow model that investigate the palaeoclimate significance of Last Glacial Maximum moraines within nine catchments in the central North Island, New Zealand. We find that the former ice limits can be simulated when present-day temperatures are reduced by between 4 and 7 °C, if precipitation remains unchanged from present. The spread in the results between the nine catchments is likely to represent the combination of chronological and model uncertainties. The majority of catchments targeted require temperature decreases of 5.1 to 6.3 °C to simulate the former glaciers, which represents our best estimate of the temperature anomaly in the central North Island, New Zealand, during the Last Glacial Maximum. A decrease in precipitation of up to 25 % from present, as suggested by proxy evidence and climate models, increases the magnitude of the required temperature changes by up to 0.8 °C. Glacier model experiments using reconstructed topographies that exclude the volume of post-glacial ( <  15 ka) volcanism generally increased the magnitude of cooling required to simulate the former ice limits by up to 0.5 °C. Our palaeotemperature estimates expand the spatial coverage of proxy-based quantitative palaeoclimate reconstructions in New Zealand. Our results are also consistent with independent, proximal temperature reconstructions from fossil groundwater and pollen assemblages, as well as similar glacier modelling reconstructions from the central Southern Alps, which suggest air temperatures were ca. 6 °C lower than present across New Zealand during the Last Glacial Maximum.
Sea ice led to poleward-shifted winds at the Last Glacial Maximum: the influence of state dependency on CMIP5 and PMIP3 models
Authors: Sime Louise C. , Hodgson Dominic , Bracegirdle Thomas J. , Allen Claire , Perren Bianca , Roberts Stephen , de Boer Agatha M.
Published: April 2016

Abstract. Latitudinal shifts in the Southern Ocean westerly wind jet could drive changes in the glacial to interglacial ocean CO2 inventory. However, whilst CMIP5 model results feature consistent future-warming jet shifts, there is considerable disagreement in deglacial-warming jet shifts. We find here that the dependence of pre-industrial (PI) to Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) jet shifts on PI jet position, or state dependency, explains less of the shifts in jet simulated by the models for the LGM compared with future-warming scenarios. State dependence is also weaker for intensity changes, compared to latitudinal shifts in the jet. Winter sea ice was considerably more extensive during the LGM, along with state dependence, changes in surface heat fluxes due this sea ice change probably had a large impact on the jet. Models which both simulate realistically large expansions in sea ice and feature PI jets which are south of 50 °S, show an increase in wind speed around 55 °S, and can show a poleward shift in the jet between the PI and the LGM. However models with the PI jet positioned equatorwards of around 47 °S do not show this response: the sea ice edge is too far from the jet for it to respond. In models with accurately positioned PI jets; a +1° difference in the latitude of the sea ice edge tends to be associated with a −0.85° shift in the 850 hPa jet. However, it seems that around 5° of expansion of LGM sea ice is necessary to hold the jet in its PI position. Since observational data supports an expansion of more than 5°, this result suggests that a slight poleward shift and intensification, was the most likely jet change between the PI and the LGM. Without the effect of sea ice, models simulated polewards shifted westerlies in warming climates and equatorward shifted westerlies in colder climates. However, the feedback of sea ice counters and reverses the equatorward trend in cooler climates so that the LGM winds were more likely to have also been shifted slightly poleward.
Growth of a young pingo in the Canadian Arctic observed by RADARSAT-2 interferometric satellite radar
Authors: Samsonov Sergey V. , Lantz Trevor C. , Kokelj Steven V. , Zhang Yu
Published: April 2016

Abstract. Advancements in radar technology are increasing our ability to detect Earth surface deformation in permafrost environments. In this paper we use satellite Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (DInSAR) to describe the growth of a large, relatively young pingo in the Tuktoyaktuk Coastlands. High-resolution RADARSAT-2 imagery (2011–2014) analyzed with the Multidimensional Small Baseline Subset (MSBAS) DInSAR revealed a maximum 2.7 cm yr−1 of domed uplift located in a drained lake basin. Satellite measurements suggest that this feature is one of the largest diameter pingos in the region that is presently growing. Observed changes in elevation were modeled as a 348  ×  290 m uniformly loaded elliptical plate with clamped edge. Analysis of historical aerial photographs suggested that ground uplift at this location initiated sometime between 1935 and 1951 following drainage of the residual pond. Uplift is largely due to the growth of intrusive ice, because the 9 % expansion of pore water associated with permafrost aggradation into saturated sands is not sufficient to explain the observed short- and long-term deformation rates. The modeled thickness of ice-rich permafrost using the Northern Ecosystem Soil Temperature (NEST) was consistent with the maximum height of this feature. Modeled permafrost aggradation from 1972 to 2014 approximated elevation changes estimated from aerial photographs for that time period. Taken together, these lines of evidence indicate that uplift is at least in part a result of freezing of the sub-pingo water lens. Seasonal variations in the uplift rate seen in the DInSAR data closely match the modeled seasonal pattern in the deepening rate of freezing front. This study demonstrates that interferometric satellite radar can detect and contribute to understanding the dynamics of terrain uplift in response to permafrost aggradation and ground ice development in remote polar environments. The present-day growth rate is smaller than predicted by the modeling and no clear growth is observed at other smaller pingos in contrast with field studies performed mainly before the 1990s. Investigation of this apparent discrepancy provides an opportunity to further develop observation methods and models.
De la transformación a la bancarización de las cajas de ahorros españolas: un análisis de los resultados perseguidos
Authors: Gutiérrez Fernández Milagros , Fernández Torres Yakira , Palomo Zurdo Ricardo
Published: April 2016

Esta investigación tiene su origen en el proceso de reordenación que ha acontecido en el sector bancario español. Dicha reestructuración se ha llevado a cabo para tratar de reducir las dudas sobre la viabilidad de las entidades bancarias a medio y largo plazo y así poder restituir de nuevo la confianza en el sector. Aunque la crisis económico-financiera ha afectado a todo el sector bancario, ha sido el subsector de las cajas de ahorros el que ha experimentado la mayor transformación mediante fusiones, absorciones y a través de Sistemas Institucionales de Protección –SIP-, y el que se ha visto sometido al denominado proceso de bancarización. Considerando lo anterior, la presente investigación se centra en el estudio de las cajas de ahorros para trata de comprobar si dicha transformación y consiguiente proceso de bancarización ha permitido que se satisfagan los objetivos perseguidos con la reordenación bancaria. Para ello, se analiza la evolución de magnitudes económico-financieras relevantes para el sector bancario durante el período comprendido entre 1999 y 2012. Los resultados sugieren que no todas las cajas de ahorros han visto mejorados sus ratios de eficiencia, solvencia, brecha financiera y obra social, lo que indica que aún queda bastante por hacer para lograr solventar los problemas que afectan al sector estudiado.
A Primer on the Accounting and Reporting Requirements for Not-for-Profit Organizations
Authors: Engel Cole J.
Published: April 2016

Over the past 20 years, not-for-profit organizations (NPOs) in the United States and across the globe have become increasingly entrenched in the market economy. NPOs conduct business, employ individuals, and compete in the global marketplace. The federal government, institutions of higher education, and health care organizations are three primary examples of NPOs. Each has much in common with business entities. However, the differences between them have profound implications for financial reporting. This is primarily because they are all required to follow complex accounting and reporting requirements that fall under the jurisdictions of various governing bodies. First, this article explores the establishment of an NPO, discusses the generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) followed in preparing financial statements, and summarizes the differences between the not-for-profit and for-profit environments. Second, this article explores the accounting and reporting requirements of the federal government, colleges and universities, and health care organizations.
Sequential versus Concomitant Surgery of Glaucoma Drainage Implant and Boston Keratoprosthesis Type 1
Authors: Patel Varun , Moster Marlene R. , Kishfy Louis , Barkan Julian , Zhan Tingting , Raber Irving M. , Ayres Brandon D. , Pro Michael J. , Waisbourd Michael
Published: April 2016

Purpose

To compare sequential versus concomitant surgery of glaucoma drainage implant (GDI) and Boston keratoprosthesis type 1 (KPro).

Methods

Patients who received GDI and KPro in the same eye were divided into 2 groups: GDI placement prior to KPro surgery (sequential group) or GDI placement concomitant with KPro surgery (concomitant group). Main outcome measures were GDI failure, defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) >21 mm Hg, less than a 20% IOP reduction from baseline, or IOP <5 mm Hg on 2 consecutive follow-up visits, any reoperation for glaucoma, or loss of light perception; best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA); and surgical complications.

Results

Thirty-five eyes were included in the study: 17 in the sequential group and 18 in the concomitant group. The cumulative incidence of failure after 5 years of follow-up was 23.5% in the sequential group and 27.8% in the concomitant group (p = 0.250). Mean BCVA was significantly better in the concomitant group after 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and at the last follow-up (p<0.05). Both groups had similar rates of complications (p = 1.000). The most frequent complication was GDI erosion, which occurred in 23.5% (n = 4/17) in the sequential group and in 27.8% (n = 5/18) in the concomitant group (p = 1.000).

Conclusions

Glaucoma drainage implant placement at the time of KPro surgery had similar cumulative incidence of failure, but significantly favorable visual outcomes, compared to sequential surgeries. The most frequent complication was GDI erosion, occurring in approximately one fourth of the patients.
Implant Survival and Patient-Reported Outcomes after Total HIP Arthroplasty in Young Patients with Developmental Dysplasia of the HIP
Authors: Swarup Ishaan , Marshall Astrid C. , Lee Yuo-yu , Figgie Mark P.
Published: April 2016

Background

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a common cause of hip pain in young patients, and may require treatment with total hip arthroplasty (THA). This study evaluates implant survival and describes patient-reported outcomes after primary THA in DDH patients aged 35 or younger.

Methods

A retrospective study with prospective follow-up was conducted at a major academic medical centre. Patient charts were reviewed to identify young THA patients with DDH, and follow-up surveys were conducted to determine implant survival and patient-reported outcomes. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to evaluate implant survival, and the hip disability and osteoarthritis outcome score (HOOS) was used to describe patient-reported outcomes.

Results

This study included 61 patients (75 THAs, 75% follow-up), and the mean time to follow-up was 13 years (range 3-25 years). The 10-year and 20-year implant survival was 87% (95% CI, 78%-94%) and 55% (95% CI, 37%-72%), respectively, and implant survival was significantly better in patients over the age of 25 at the time of surgery (p value <0.01). The mean HOOS patient scores were 83 for pain (SD 20.29), 78 for symptoms (SD 19.72), 83 for ADLs (SD 20.89), and 74 for sports (SD 25.92). Patients that were younger at the time of surgery or required custom implants reported worse HOOS-Symptom scores at follow-up (p value = 0.02).

Discussions

Young patients with DDH have good outcomes after surgery. Patient factors and implant characteristics should be considered when predicting implant survival and outcomes after THA in young patients with DDH.
Case Report: Unilateral Conduction Hearing Loss due to Central venous Occlusion
Authors: Ribeiro Phillip , Patel Swetal , Qazi Rizwan A.
Published: April 2016

Central venous stenosis is a well-known complication in patients with vascular access for hemodialysis. We report two cases involving patients on hemodialysis with arteriovenous fistulas who developed reversible unilateral conductive hearing loss secondary to critical stenosis of central veins draining the arteriovenous dialysis access. A proposed mechanism for the patients’ reversible unilateral hearing loss is pterygoid venous plexus congestion leading to decreased Eustachian tube patency. Endovascular therapy was conducted to treat the stenosis and the hearing loss of both patients was returned to near normal after successful central venous angioplasty.
Treatment Results and Prognostic Factors of Patients with Vulvar Cancer Treated with Postoperative or Definitive Radiotherapy
Authors: Alanyali Senem , Duran Özge , Özsaran Zeynep , Özsaran Aydın , Akman Levent , Solmaz Ulaş , Gökçü Mehmet , Sanci Muzaffer , Aras Arif B.
Published: April 2016

Purpose

Vulvar cancer is a relatively uncommon type of gynecologic cancer. The aim of this study is to analyze the treatment results and prognostic factors of vulvar cancer.

Methods

Forty-four vulvar cancer patients treated between 2000 and 2011 at the Department of Radiation Oncology, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, were retrospectively reviewed. External radiotherapy (RT) was applied with 6-18 MV linear accelerators with 1.8 Gy daily fractions with a median total dose of 50.4 Gy (45-59.4 Gy) for postoperative cases and 64.8 Gy (range 54-66 Gy) for definitive cases. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS 13.0.

Results

Among 44 patients with a median age of 68 years (range 28-86), 14 (31.8%) were treated with curative and 30 (68.2%) were treated with postoperative RT or radiochemotherapy (RCT). According to International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics staging, 11 (25%) had stage IB, 10 (22.7%) had stage II, 6 (13.6%) had stage IIIA, 5 (11.4%) had stage IIIB, and 12 (27.3%) had stage IVA disease. Within a median of 24 months (range 6-135) of follow-up, 11 (27.3%) patients had local recurrence, 8 had regional recurrence, 2 had both local and regional recurrence, and 6 had distant metastases. Five-year locoregional, disease-free, and overall survival rates were 45%, 40%, and 54%, respectively. Older age, poor tumor differentiation, positive surgical margin, and lymphovascular space invasion were found to be important prognostic factors for disease-related outcomes.

Conclusions

Prognosis of vulvar cancer remains poor even with a multidisciplinary approach. Molecular prognostic factors need to be defined for individualized treatment options to achieve better treatment results.
The Salesman at Sea: Aquatic Imagery in Death of a Salesman
Authors: Mazeski Brian
Published: April 2016

Recent studies of Arthur Miller's use of figurative language in his plays resituate Miller not as the craggy, unimaginative antithesis to Tennessee Williams, but as a language stylist in his own right, deeply concerned with patterns of imagery, metaphor, and symbolism—all those techniques that make the unity of the aesthetic come alive in a play. This article joins this critical effort to reposition Miller as a language stylist by shedding light on yet another layer of Miller's unique dramatic idiom—the aquatic imagery that pervades Death of a Salesman.
Taking Flight(s): Avian Imagery in Camino Real and After the Fall
Authors: Mandeville Jessica
Published: April 2016

Tennessee Williams's Camino Real and Arthur Miller's After the Fall are two plays clearly informed by the “unease” and disillusionment of the postwar era, and each stands as one of the more experimental, expressionistic plays produced by either playwright. Both plays depict a host of fallen characters in a fallen society, and both, interestingly, employ avian symbols and language in their articulation of three key themes: entrapment and escape, death and rebirth, and the attainment of spiritual elevation.
All My Journals:Arthur Miller Journalas Intro to Literature College Text
Authors: Greenfield Thomas A. , Nolan Megan
Published: April 2016

For an introductory college course in literary studies based entirely on the works of Arthur Miller, the professor obtained a personal copy of the same volume of The Arthur Miller Journal for every student in the class. Hoping to demystify literary scholarship for first-year English majors, the professor used the journal as a regular course textbook, integrating journal-based readings and exercises into otherwise conventional first-year pedagogy in the study of Miller's works. By the end of the course, the professor found that by using their personal copies of the journal throughout the semester, these novice students became surprisingly comfortable and conversant with the world of literary scholarship. Students reported that working with the journal on a daily basis gave the course a sense of professionalism neither they nor the professor had anticipated. Moreover, ongoing interaction with the journal allowed students to develop a significant degree of familiarity with its contents as they revisited the journal's articles throughout the term.
The Illuminators of the Hooked-g Scribe(s) and the Production of Middle English Literature, c. 1460–c. 1490
Authors: James-Maddocks Holly
Published: April 2016

This article integrates an art historical perspective into previous paleographical and linguistic approaches to manuscripts copied by the “hooked-g scribes.” By identifying the work of the illuminators in manuscripts outside of the hooked-g context, it is possible to reconstruct a tentative chronology for the fifteen undated manuscripts of the hooked-g scribes (a group inclusive of multiple copies of works by Chaucer, Lydgate, and Gower). Furthermore, a study of the illuminators reveals regular collaboration between one hooked-g scribe and two border artists, indicating that sustained cooperation between book craftsmen was considered a viable method of book production during the second half of the fifteenth century.
The Myth of Retrospection: Syon Abbey and the Futurity of Lancastrian Legitimation
Authors: Bude Tekla
Published: April 2016

This article argues that the foundation of Syon Abbey by Henry V was a Lancastrian investment in political prophecy and the Revelations of Saint Bridget of Sweden, rather than—as has been generally argued—a space of retrospectival legitimation. It argues, furthermore, that the political and religious claims charted by Syon's foundation are simultaneously insular and international, invested in French land claims as well as in civil politics.
Fantasies of Asian American Kinship Disrupted: Identification and Disidentification in Michael Kang's The Motel
Authors: Lee Fred
Published: April 2016

This article interprets Michael Kang's independent feature The Motel (2005) as a critique of the Asian American fantasy of post- 1965 incorporation into the multicultural US polity. The film discloses that this Asian American Dream is normatively constituted by heteronormative, middle-class, intra-racial kinship. The protagonist Ernest Chin's longing for this kind of normative Asian American family is symptomatic of his identification with the exclusionary norms of the incorporative fantasy. In a moment of disidentification, though, Ernest is able to release his grip on the dream and its reciprocal grip on him. Disidentification, in my usage, is a kind of political action that both disrupts and reworks processes of social formation from within. As a contribution to the critical philosophy of race, my rendition of disidentification draws on recent developments in cultural studies and political theory to address the critical theoretical question of the psychic life of domination.
On the Particular Racism of Native American Mascots
Authors: Tarver Erin C.
Published: April 2016

An account of the specific ill of Native American mascots—that is, the particular racism of using Native Americans as mascots, as distinct from other racist portrayals of Native Americans—requires a fuller account of the function of mascots as such than has previously been offered. By analyzing the history of mascots in the United States, this article argues that mascots function as symbols that draw into an artificial unity 1) a variety of teams existing over a period of time and thereby 2) a community of individuals who are thus able to use that team as their own symbolic locus of unification. This unification of teams and their concomitant communities is accomplished by appeal to a symbol that facilitates a particular fantasy of collective identity. The usage of Native American mascots is racist not only because it involves stereotypical portrayals of Native Americans, but (more specifically) because it treats Native persons simply as a means to symbolic unification—and not, importantly, as members of the community they thus serve. In other words, in these cases mascots work as unifying signifiers precisely by being the purely instrumental facilitator of a group's collective fantasy of itself.
Genealogies of Orientalism and Occidentalism: Sephardi Jews, Muslims, and the Americas
Authors: Shohat Ella , Stam Robert
Published: April 2016

Tracing Orientalism back to the two 1492s—of Iberia and of the Americas—the authors examine Latin America’s ambivalence toward its Moorish-Sephardic heritage. Once belonging to a shared cultural landscape, Muslims and Jews were later seen by Ibero-American authorities as alien excrescences to be symbolically excised from a putatively pure body politic. Modernization came to be synonymous with Occidentalization. Using Gilberto Freyre’s work as a case study, the authors highlight his tracing of both patriarchal authoritarianism and sexual-racial flexibility in relation to Brazil’s Moorish lineage, as well as his recuperation of the Sephardi for the national formation of Brazil’s economy, science, and culture. Freyre’s revisionist project with regards to the Sephardi and the Moor, which offers a Luso-Brazilian apologia of miscegenation, must be understood in light of the omission of the enslaved African-Muslims from official history. The authors outline the “anxious affections” that the Janus-faced figure of the Moor/Sephardi has provoked in the Americas, thus disturbing facile analytical dichotomies of East/West and North/South.
Black Panther Palestine
Authors: Lubin Alex
Published: April 2016

Throughout the 1970s Arab (Mizrahi) Jews built a social movement within Israel to confront their racial exclusion from the promises of Israeli citizenship. The movement crystalized in the formation of the Israeli Black Panther Party, a group that formed solidarity with the U.S. Black Panther Party as well as with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). In this essay I examine the history of the Israeli Black Panthers and identify the global conjunctures that enabled the movement. Of particular focus is the solidarity formed between the U.S. Black freedom movement and the PLO’s “global offensive.” In addition to describing the linked movements of the Black Panthers and the PLO, I consider what this example of internationalism reveals about the possibilities of Diasporic Jewish identities and politics.
Animals and Humans: Some Perspectives from an Eastern Christian Tradition
Authors: Brock Sebastian P.
Published: April 2016

The article looks at the relationship of human beings to animals as seen from the Syriac Christian tradition. In the absence of any detailed discussion of the topic among Syriac authors, the focus of attention is on the general approach of two influential writers, the poet-theologian Ephrem (died AD 373) and the monastic author Isaac the Syrian (7th century), as illustrated above all by their interpretation of the two parts of Gen. 1:26 and the relationship between the "image of God" in which humanity is created and the "dominion/authority" conferred upon it. Also considered is the effect of sanctity upon animals.
Animals Do Have an Interest in Liberty
Authors: Giroux Valéry
Published: April 2016

According to Alasdair Cochrane, liberty can have value for most animals only because it allows them to obtain other desirable things, such as well-being. With this he concludes that humans can continue to use other animals as long as they treat them well. In this article, I reject this conclusion by arguing against the positive conception of liberty in favor of its negative or republican conception. I suggest that it is sufficient for a being to be capable of agency in order to have an interest in liberty, which deserves to be protected by the right to be free.
Animal Law in Australasia: A Universal Dialogue of “Trading Off” Animal Welfare
Authors: Schaffner Joan E.
Published: April 2016

Animal Law in Australasia: Continuing the Dialogue provides a comprehensive, thoughtprovoking discussion and analysis of animal law in Australasia while critiquing the existing paradigm that presumes human desire always outweighs animal suffering and proposing reforms to provide better legal protection for all animals. The authors of each chapter, experts in relevant fields such as academia, private practice, and government, describe the theoretical, practical, and political obstacles faced by animal advocates and offer solutions for changing the status quo. This review provides a summary of the text and notes that although focused on Australasia, the book is relevant worldwide.
Blue-Collar Identity and the "Culture of Losing": Cleveland and the "Save Our Browns" Campaign
Authors: Linden Andrew D.
Published: April 2016

In November 1995, Cleveland football fans began the "Save Our Browns" campaign after owner Art Modell announced he would move the team to Baltimore after the season. By February 1996, the initiative influenced the National Football League’s decision to allow Cleveland to keep the legacy of the Browns and offer the city a new team. Letters found at the Pro Football Hall of Fame show how the Save Our Browns campaign illuminated a "culture of losing"–the combination of a declining city, poor sports teams, and angst from social change–in the greater Cleveland community. I argue that Clevelanders’ fight for the Browns represented their desire for a Cleveland of the past that included an idealized blue-collar identity consisting of expressions of heteronormative, white masculinity. These expressions show how some considered sports more important than other forms of social change in the Rust Belt city in the late-twentieth-century United States.
Tensions in the Third Space: Examining the Digital Visual Culture of Teenagers
Authors: Olson Brad
Published: April 2016

The concept of the third space is a broad area of interest for educational researchers, particularly within art education. This realm is often tied closely to elements of popular culture, and may often enter subversive, transgressive, and inane territories. In the 21st century, teenagers are spending vast amounts of time online, engaging in the same informal types of play, socialization, learning, and art making as occur in real life (IRL). Because of these issues, some have responded by exploring the hybrid "third space" between formal and informal learning spaces, both on- and offline. The third space integrates concepts like playful pedagogy into learning, and it is typically seen as a productive co-mingling of teacher and student interests. However, this study traces the third space to its roots as a discourse of dissent and conflict, and examines the unique tensions that arise in this space and their implications for art education. This qualitative case study examines the researcher’s efforts to facilitate a third space for learning in the Digital Arts Workshop (DigArts). This workshop was designed as a third space that intended to facilitate a productive space for tech-savvy teens to meet, work on self-initiated projects, and forge a cooperative community of art makers. This report presents a survey of the digital visual culture of these teenagers, and discusses the various tensions that arise in the third space between teacher and student, formal and informal learning, offline and online.
Video Game Prosumers: Case Study of a Minecraft Affinity Space
Authors: Wu Hong-An
Published: April 2016

As youth are becoming active prosumers of cultural artifacts, it is important to examine the mechanisms that prompt them into self-initiated making. Affinity spaces, which are spaces where groups of "people primarily orient toward a common set of endeavors and social practices in terms of which they attempt to realize these endeavors" (Gee, 2007, p. 196), have been discussed as key informal learning sites that support youth in making their own iterations of popular visual culture. Drawing from theories on informal learning, this study looks at a Minecraft video game affinity space to understand the mechanisms that support and encourage youth video game players to move beyond being consumers of video games and into being producers of artifacts. This case study uses content analysis to investigate the descriptions, discussions, and artifacts produced on Minecraft affinity space r/Minecraft. This study finds that artifacts produced and shared in this affinity space congregate around the themes of news, artifacts inspired by the game, artifacts created through the game, add-ons to the game, and opinions. At the same time, members posit that participating in these affinity spaces through critiquing artifacts produced by other members and producing artifacts of their own is an integral aspect of playing Minecraft. This study implies the need for art educators to further consider digital platforms when designing formal learning experiences and create curriculum that harnesses the informal learning mechanisms supported by affinity spaces.
Identity Tableaux: Multimodal Contextual Constructions of Adolescent Identity
Authors: Lalonde Martin , Castro Juan Carlos , Pariser David
Published: April 2016

Mobile and social media are blurring the social spaces in which teens construct and disseminate representations of identity to their peers. We refer to these representations as identity tableaux. In this paper, we present an unexpected finding from a long-term study investigating the use of mobile media, visual art, and civic engagement to reconnect at-risk youth with their education. Using a framework of hybrid spaces and multimodal media literacies, for our analysis, we looked at the processes adolescents utilize to create and share representations of their identity within the social and intimate spaces that they inhabit. From our analysis of social media posts and interviews, we saw that the participating teens defined their social relationships through representations of affective experiences using context-specific multimodal media literacies. Youth identity formation using mobile and social media is a synergetic relationship between the individual and the collective online.
Informal Youth Cultural Practices: Blurring the Distinction Between High and Low
Authors: Faucher Christine
Published: April 2016

This article argues that art educators need to focus on informal youth cultural practices in order to develop art projects that are meaningful to young people and relevant to their contemporary social media and postmodern artistic context. First, this article reports on doctoral research that examines informal youth cultural practices in cyberspace, or those taken up by young people "behind the scenes" of school art education and institutional curricula. Various methodological approaches, including a multiple case study, were used to understand the lesser-known dimensions of teenagers’ cultural capital. The results underscore the importance of image-processing software in fostering the teenagers’ appropriation skills as well as their technical, artistic, and identity exploration. The results also show that the teenagers’ creative processes and visual productions migrated from their art class to digital social networks. Furthermore, the youth participants, whose informal cultural practices drew from different genres (friendship-driven and interest-driven), expressed a vision of cyberculture focused on the blurring of cultural boundaries. Second, this article examines an art project related to the author’s doctoral research. The project mobilized the viral distribution of gossip on a digital social network and addressed informal youth creative practices through the notion of cultural landmarks. Cultural landmarks refer to key pedagogical resources that connect teenagers with their culture in art education. Cultural landmarks emanating from commercial culture and young people’s informal ways of expressing their inventiveness in digital and analog spaces generated art products and practices that blurred distinctions between high and low culture. Such blurring also happens in the broader context of contemporary art, justifying the need for art educators to consider informal youth cultural practices in their classrooms.