bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Client Attitudinal Stance and Therapist-Client Affiliation: A View from Grammar and Social Interaction
Authors: Muntigl Peter , Knight Naomi , Horvath Adam O. , Watkins Ashley
Published: December 2015

Although it is widely acknowledged in psychotherapy research that the de-velopment and maintenance of positive relational bonds are central to the therapeutic process, the ways that therapists and clients become affiliated through discourse and interaction has not received very much attention. Taking up this concern from a conversation analytic perspective, this paper explores how therapists and clients negotiate affiliation around clientsâ€™ affective and evaluative talk or attitudinal stance. In order to illustrate the application of our method, we have chosen to analyze audio- and video-recordings of two clinically relevant interactional contexts in which client stance constructions frequently occur: (1) client narratives; (2) client disagreements with therapists. We show that therapist responses to client attitudinal stances play an important role not only in securing affiliation and positive relational bonds with clients, but also in moving the interaction in a therapeutically relevant direction.
Text Analysis within Quantitative and Qualitative Psychotherapy Process Research: Introduction to Special Issue
Authors: Gioacchino Gelo Omar Carlo , Salcuni Silvia , Colli Antonello
Published: December 2015

The present paper introduces the special issue on Text Analysis in Quantitative and Qualitative Psychotherapy Process Research. The motivation for this special issue grew out of recognition of the following: (1) both quantitative and qualitative psy-chotherapy process research (PPR) make extensive use of text analysis (TA); (2) TA presents different characteristics that serve different aims in quantitative and qualitative PPR; and (3) researchers are not always fully aware of these differences in explicit and systematic ways. The present paper, together with the special issue it introduces, aims at stimulating a more explicit and systematic methodological reflection on the different ways in which TA may be used in quantitative and qualitative PPR. We first outline the general differences between TA in quantitative and qualitative PPR; then, we describe the extent to which the papers in this special issue illustrate these differences. Finally, we conclude by stressing that PPR may significantly benefit from researchers becoming more fully aware of the differences.
The Role of Non-Verbal Interaction in a Short-Term Psychotherapy: Preliminary Analysis and Assessment of Paralinguistic Aspects
Authors: Rocco Diego , Mariani Rachele , Zanelli Diego
Published: December 2015

Analysis at a paralinguistic level of communication, already conceptualized within the multiple code theory, would appear to be very important in order to fully describe the quality of the patient-therapist relationship. In this study the therapeutic process and microprocess are analyzed taking into consideration a specific paraverbal aspect (speech rate) present in patient and therapist's communication. More specifically, in this paper we aim to investigate the relationship between the speech rate of both patient and therapist with the linguistic aspects of their referential process as obtained by the IDAAP dictionaries, relating to three sessions belonging to different phases of the psychotherapy. The results show that there are many significant correlations between the considered values. These findings are interpreted as an expression of the alignment between patient and therapist which can be linked to the outcome of the psychotherapy.
A study of personality subtypes in treatment seeking obese patients
Authors: Gullo Salvatore , Lo Coco Gianluca , Salerno Laura , La Pietra Federica , Bruno Vincenzo
Published: December 2015

Previous research has not been able to identify a distinct personality style that refers specifically to obese individuals. The purpose of this investigation was to explore whether different personality-based groups can be identified in obese individuals, as has been shown with eating disorder patients. Data were collected from 149 obese patients (BMI = 37.3, Â± 6.4; 83% female) seeking dietary treatment and psychological support for their weight problems. Participants completed the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory III (MCMI-III; Millon, 1997) and a battery of eight measures assessing psychological distress, mood states, eating behaviors, obesity-related quality of life, and interpersonal problems. The MCMI-III personality scales were cluster analysed to classify participants into personality subtypes. Three personality clusters were retained (externalizing, internalizing, high-functioning), and several differences in the validating variables emerged across the three personality subtypes. The internalizing group reported the greatest level of personality distress and an increased likelihood of poor psychosocial functioning and high eating behavior symptoms. Findings support the clinical utility of personality subtypes in obesity. Future work is needed to identify causal pathways between personality typologies and eating disorders in obese individuals.
Emotion-Abstraction Patterns and Cognitive Interventions in a Single Case of Standard Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Authors: Sassaroli Sandra , Brambilla Romina , Cislaghi Eva , Colombo Roberta , Cislaghi Eva , Centorame Francesco , Veronese Guido , Favaretto Ettore , Fiore Francesca , Veronese Guido , Ruggiero Giovanni Maria
Published: December 2015

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) assumes that therapeutic change de-pends mainly on change of cognitive content, while, from a theoretical viewpoint, other processes are excluded. This study aims to explore standard CBT interventions using a model of therapeutic change that includes both emotional and cognitive processes, i.e., the therapeutic cycle model (TCM; Mergenthaler, 1985; 1996), which describes the pro-cesses of therapeutic change in terms of cycles involving both emotional arousal and ab-stract thinking activation. We classified standard CBT interventions in three main are-as: assessing, disputing, and reframing biased beliefs. In 10 individual cognitive therapy sessions with a 30-year-old patient affected by a panic disorder with agoraphobia (PDA), this study aimed to explore whether cognitive interventions are not only related to abstract thinking but also to the emotional activation phases of TCM. Three inde-pendent judges assessed the presence of cognitive therapeutic interventions using the Comprehensive Psychotherapeutic Interventions Rating Scale (CPIRS; Trijsburg et al., 2002). A software program measured the TCM cognitive and emotional variables. The measures revealed significant correlations between cognitive therapeutic interventions and phases of abstract thinking activation during the therapeutic process. The results clarified the role of cognitive interventions in the therapeutic process as a useful instru-ment aimed to increase reality testing.
A Microanalytical Look at Mutual Regulation in Psychotherapeutic Dialogue: Dialogic Discourse Analysis (DDA) in Episodes of Rupture of the Alliance
Authors: Martinez Guzman Claudio , Tomicic Alemka , Medina Lorena , Krause Mariane
Published: December 2015

Objective: The psychotherapeutic process, like any intimate relationship between two human beings, involves mutual and self regulation processes that support effective communication. In psychotherapy, such regulatory processes are relevant to maintain a positive working alliance and contribute to therapeutic change. Rupture episodes in the alliance and their resolution constitute key moments in which mentioned regulatory processes are manifested.This article shows a micro-analysis of episodes of rupture of the alliance using Dialogic Discourse Analysis (DDA) to depict mutual regulation process in the psychotherapeutic dialogue.Â Method: The Dialogic Discourse Analysis (DDA) is a microanalytic procedure that makes it possible to identify discursive strategies associated with the processes of construction, failure and restoration of the psychotherapeutic dialogue. This analytic tool was applied to 34 episodes of rupture of the alliance taken from a long-term psychoanalytic therapy.Â Results: An emergent model about the discursive regulatory process in episodes of rupture of the alliance was developed, distinguishing between the overcoming and repairing processes of the alliance ruptures.Conclusion: The core issue in the resolution of ruptures seems to be regulating the tension between the participants. The way by which both repairing and overcoming processes account for two alternatives for regulating this tension is discussed. It is proposed that the strategies that are the most repairing would facilitate the occurrence of psychotherapeutic change. Additionally, the discussion focuses on the value of DDA as a microanalytical methodology that makes it possible to comprehensively account for these processes.Â Â
Experiences of nurses caring for mental health care users in an acute admission unit at a psychiatric hospital in the Western Cape Province
Authors: Sobekwa Zintle C. , Arunachallam Sathasivan
Published: December 2015

Background: Caring for mental health care users (MHCUs) with mental illnesses is a major task that confronts nurses globally. It has been argued that caring for this group of patients is accompanied by unique challenges. Despite the available abundance of data about nursing patients suffering from mental illnesses, little is known about the lived experiences of nurses who care for MHCUs in acute admission units in the Western Cape province.Objectives: This study’s aim is to explore and describe the lived experiences of nurses who care for MHCUs in an acute admission unit at a psychiatric hospital in the Western Capeprovince.Methods: A qualitative, descriptive, phenomenological study was conducted. A purposive sampling procedure was applied which resulted in a sample that comprised eight nurses. Indepth, individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted with these eight participants. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim and the researcher utilised Collaizzi’s method to analyse collected data.Results: Both positive and negative experiences were reported. Positive experiences werethe recovery of patients, teamwork, and passion for caring. Negative experiences were thefeelings of being unappreciated and unsupported by authorities. Physical assault by MHCUs,shortage of staff, increased workload and burnout was also reported.Conclusions: In-service training about management of aggression needs to be provided,debriefing sessions to deal with burnout needs to be arranged, and research to quantify levelsof burnout should be conducted.
The Syriac versions of Old Testament quotations in Matthew
Authors: Van Rooy Herrie F.
Published: December 2015

In the Gospel of Matthew 10 quotations from the Old Testament are introduced by a formula containing the verb πληροῦν. This article explores the rendering of 9 of these 10 quotations in 3 Syriac versions of the New Testament, namely the Peshitta and the 2 versions of the Old Syriac Gospels (Sinaiticus and Curetonianus). The question addressed is the relationship of the Syriac versions to one another, to the Peshitta of the Old Testament and to the Greek Gospel. For the quotations in Matthew, their relationship to the Hebrew and Greek Old Testament is very important. In the quotations discussed, the Greek New Testament did not make much use of the Septuagint as it is known today. The Old Testament Peshitta influenced the Old Syriac, but not to the same extent in all instances. This influence could have been through Tatian’s Diatessaron. Tatian probably used the text of the Old Testament Peshitta for the quotations of the Old Testament in the gospels. In instances where the Curetonianus and the Sinaiticus differ, it could demonstrate attempts to bring the text closer to the Greek New Testament. The New Testament Peshitta normally started with a text close to the Old Syriac, but frequently adapted it to bring it closer to New Testament Greek.Die Siriese weergawes van die Ou-Testamentiese aanhalings in Matteus. Die Evangelie van Matteus het 10 aanhalings uit die Ou Testament wat deur ’n formule met die werkwoord, πληροῦν, ingelei word. Hierdie artikel ondersoek die weergawe van 9 van die 10 aanhalings in drie Siriese weergawes van die Nuwe Testament, naamlik die Peshitta en die twee weergawes van die Ou Siriese Evangelies (Sinaiticus en Curetonianus). Die vraagstuk handel oor dieverhouding van die drie Siriese weergawes tot mekaar, tot die Peshitta van die Ou Testament en die Griekse Evangelie. Vir die aanhalings in Matteus is hulle verhouding tot die Hebreeuse e Griekse Ou Testament baie belangrik. In die aanhalings wat bespreek word, maak die Griekse Nuwe Testament nie veel van die Septuagint gebruik soos dit vandag bekend is nie. Die Ou Testament Peshitta het die Oud Siriese Evangelies beïnvloed, maar nie tot dieselfde mate in al die voorbeelde nie. Hierdie invloed kon geskied het via Tatianus se Diatessaron. Tatianus het waarskynlik die teks van die Peshitta van die Ou Testament vir die Ou-Testamentiese aanhalings in die Evangelies gebruik. In die gevalle waar die Curetonianus en die Sinaiticus verskil, is die verskille waarskynlik te wyte aan pogings om die teks nader aan die Griekse Nuwe Testamentte bring. Die Nuwe Testament Peshitta het waarskynlik met ’n teks naby aan die Oud Siriese begin, maar het dit dikwels aangepas om dit nader aan die Griekse Nuwe Testament te bring.
Results of early cranial decompression as an initial approach for damage control therapy in severe traumatic brain injury in a hospital with limited resources
Authors: Charry José D. , Rubiano Andrés M. , Nikas Christine V. , Ortíz Juan C. , Puyana Juan C. , Carney Nancy , Adelson P. David
Published: December 2015

Introduction: Severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) is a disease that generates significant mortality and disability in Latin America, and specifically in Colombia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the 12-month clinical outcome in patients with sTBI managed with an early cranial decompression (ECD) as the main procedure for damage control (DC) therapy, performed in a University Hospital in Colombia over a 4-year period. Materials and Methods: A database of 106 patients who received the ECD procedure, and were managed according to the strategy for DC in neurotrauma, was analyzed. Variables were evaluated, and the patient outcome was determined according to the Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS) at 12 months postinjury. This was used to generate a dichotomous variable with “favorable“ (GOS of 4 or 5) or “unfavorable“ (GOS of 1–3) outcomes; analysis of variance was performed with the Chi-square, Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney and Fisher tests. Results: An overall survival rate of 74.6% was observed for the procedure, At 12 months postsurgery, a favorable clinical outcome (GOS 4–5) was found in 70 patients (66.1%), Unfavorable outcomes in patients were associated with the following factors: Closed trauma, an Injury Severity Score >16 , obliterated basal cisterns, subdural hematoma as the main injury seen on the admission computed tomography, and nonreactive pupils observed in the emergency department. Conclusion: Twelve months outcome of patients with sTBI managed with ECD in a neuromonitoring limited resource University Hospital in Colombia shows an important survival rate with favorable clinical outcome measure with GOS.
DOPA-sparing strategy in the treatment of young onset Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Rana Abdul Qayyum , Saleh Mohamad , Yousuf Muhammad Saad , Mansoor Wasim , Hussaini Syed , Rahman Maniza , Iqbal Zohair
Published: December 2015

Context: Late onset Parkinson’s disease (LOPD) is a neurodegenerative disorder afflicting individuals of ages 60 and older. However, 5–10% of cases can begin earlier between the ages 20 to 40, and are classified as young onset Parkinson disease (YOPD). Aim: In turn, this study aims to observe the trend in the choice of drug administered to patients with both YOPD and LOPD, with particular emphasis on this trend in its relation to the practice background of the neurologist. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a community based Parkinson’s disease and movement disorder clinic. Statistical Analysis Used: Using a retrospective chart review data was obtained and analysed. Results: The results showed that 83% of general neurologists prescribed levodopa to their patients with YOPD, whereas movement-disorder specialists took a different approach altogether. They opted not to use levodopa and, in its stead, prescribed a mixture of alternate drugs.
Establishing a psychosomatic clinic in a low resource setting: Process, challenges, and opportunities
Authors: Menon Vikas , Sarkar Siddharth , Thomas Shijo
Published: December 2015

Background: Specialty psychosomatic clinics are a felt need in low- and middle-income countries, but its benefits and challenges have not been reported so far. Aims: To describe the process, challenges, and opportunities that we encountered in setting up a specialty psychosomatic clinic at a government medical college in South India. Methods: The biweekly psychosomatic clinic was located in the Department of Psychiatry and manned by a multimodal team. Structured questionnaires were used to evaluate all patients. All psychiatric diagnoses were made as per International Classification of Diseases-10, clinical descriptions and diagnostic guidelines. Management comprised both pharmacotherapy and psychotherapeutic interventions. Results: A total of 72 patients registered for services in the 1st year of the clinic. The mean age of the sample was 36.6 years (range 14–60 years). A median of 2 years and 19 visits to various care providers had elapsed before their visit to the clinic. The index contact was a general practitioner in the majority of cases though an overwhelming majority (95.6%) had also sought specialist care. The most common diagnostic cluster was the somatoform group of disorders (50.0%). Antidepressants were the most commonly prescribed medications (70.6%). Conclusion: The specialty psychosomatic clinic provided better opportunities for a more comprehensive evaluation of people with medically unexplained symptoms and better resident training and focused inter-disciplinary research. It describes a scalable model that can be replicated in similar resource constrained settings.
Geology and Hydrogeology of Faults on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada: an overview
Authors: Baechler Fred
Published: December 2015

Cape Breton Island provides a hydrogeological view into the roots of an ancient mountain range, now exhumed, glaciated, and tectonically inactive. It exhibits deep crustal faults and magma chambers associated with formation of the Appalachian mountain belt and the Maritimes Basin during the Paleozoic, as well as Mesozoic rifting relating to the opening of the Atlantic Ocean. Cenozoic exhumation brought these features near surface and into the active groundwater flow field where they were impacted by glaciation and fluctuating sea level. The faults have been important from a societal viewpoint in development of municipal groundwater supplies, controlling inflows to excavations, hydrocarbon exploration, quarry development, and geotechnical investigations. Conceptual models presented here outline fault control on groundwater flow based on seven case studies. Future research should focus on basin-bounding faults in support of managing their role in aquifer development and protection, mountain-front recharge, controlling large-magnitude springs, groundwater–stream interaction, and channel morphology. The hydrogeological importance of these faults has historically been underappreciated.
A preliminary assessment of carbon storage suitability in deep underground geological formations of New Brunswick, Canada
Authors: Keighley Dave , Maher Crystal
Published: December 2015

An assessment of the surface and subsurface geology in New Brunswick has identified several regions, close to Large Final Emitters (industrial sites releasing carbon dioxide, CO2, into the atmosphere), underlain by large volumes of various sedimentary rocks that could act as either the reservoir or seal in a carbon storage operation. There is a lack of subsurface data with which to make an assessment for the New Brunswick Platform, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and Northumberland Strait. In the Moncton Basin, the McCully Gas Field is hosted in tight gas sands where it would be difficult to pump down CO2 at an economical rate. The Stoney Creek Oil and Gas Field south of Moncton is not at sufficient depth for CO2 to be in a supercritical state, necessary for compressed storage. Saline reservoirs could underlie suitably large areas around these fields, but again there is limited information on the quality of the potential reservoir rock. In the Bay of Fundy, south of Saint John, one borehole indicates a prospective location that includes a saline reservoir with suitable thickness and wireline-calculated porosity and permeability, a seal with suitable thickness, and limited faulting to potentially compartmentalize the reservoir or, conversely, compromise the continuity of the seal. The major uncertainty is trap volume, which is particularly difficult to assess based on the borehole being the only data point within a 50 km radius. This is also an environmentally sensitive offshore area. Until data deficiencies are addressed, no locations can be recommended for carbon storage.
Impact of historical gold mining activities on marine sediments in Wine Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada
Authors: Little Megan E , Parsons Michael B , Law Brent A , Milligan Timothy G. , Smith John N
Published: December 2015

Past investigations at historical gold (Au) districts in Nova Scotia, Canada have identified elevated concentrations of arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg) in nearby sediments and waters. These metal(loid)s are derived from erosion of mineralized bedrock, and the disposal of mine tailings into the environment during early operations. The Wine Harbour gold district is located along the eastern shore of Nova Scotia, and produced 1329 kg of Au from 75 581 tonnes of crushed rock from 1862 to 1939.The gold occurs in arsenopyrite-bearing quartz-carbonate veins and was extracted using stamp milling and Hg amalgamation. Historical maps document tailings deposits near former stamp mill sites; however, the extent to which these mine wastes influence environmental quality in the adjacent marine environment is uncertain. In this study, we measured metal(loid) concentrations in tailings, marine sediments, and surface waters to assess the lateral and vertical extent of mining-related impacts on Wine Harbour. Chemical analyses of terrestrial and intertidal tailings reveal high concentrations of both As (86–196 000 mg/kg) and Hg (444–320 000 µg/kg). Analyses of marine sediments show a wide range in both As (4–568 mg/kg) and Hg (<5–7430 µg/kg) concentrations. In general, the highest metal(loid) concentrations in sediments were recorded down-gradient of stamp mill sites. Elevated concentrations were also detected in sediments underlying an active mussel aquaculture operation at the western end of the harbour. Results from this study have been used to help assess potential ecosystem and human health risks associated with historical gold mine wastes in the Wine Harbour area.
Variation in the branching pattern of celiac trunk: a case report
Authors: Nayak S. , Aithal A. , Shetty S. , Kumar N. , Ravindra S. , Rao S.
Published: December 2015

Arterial supply for the derivatives of foregut in the abdomen is provided by the branches of the celiac trunk. Celiac trunk is the first ventral branch of abdominal aorta and usually branches into splenic, common hepatic and left gastric arteries. Variations in the branching pattern of celiac trunk are common but in most of the people, they remain asymptomatic and go unnoticed. A good knowledge of these anatomical variations is important for surgeons undertaking various surgeries in the abdominal region and will help to minimise the complications related to abdominal surgery. Clinicians and radiologists should also be aware of any variations in the vascular pattern of the celiac trunk before performing angiographic examinations. In the current case, the celiac trunk divided into two branches; left gastric artery and hepato-splenic trunk. The hepato-splenic trunk further divided into splenic and common hepatic arteries. The common hepatic artery trifitrcated into proper hepatic, gastroduodenal and accessory hepatic arteries. Hepatic artery proper divided into right and left hepatic arteries. The accessory hepatic artery was tortuous and was as large as the left hepatic artery. It gave origin to the right gastric artery and entered the liver through left end of porta hepatis.
Hypoplasia of the vertebral artery in human - a case report
Authors: Campos D.
Published: December 2015

Hypoplasia of the vertebral artery (VA) is rare, and incidentally encountered in radiological imaging techniques. During routine activities in the Laboratory of Human Anatomy from University of Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil, it was observed a 70 years old male cadaver with hypoplasia of the right VA. Thus, the purpose of this study is to report this case of hypoplasia of the VA emphasizing some morphological, functional and clinical data about this rare vascular abnormality, in order to offer useful information to anatomists, radiologists, vascular and head and neck surgeons. Moreover, to our knowledge, this variation has not been cited in recent medical literature.
Morphological variation of head and face shapes in 17-25 years old adult population of Nepal
Authors: Shah S. , Koirala S.
Published: December 2015

Introduction: Cephalic Index and Prosopic Index are very useful anthropometric tool to find out racial and sexual differences and also give a clue to genetic transmission of inherited characteristics from parents to their offspring. Materials and Methods: A descriptive non-interventional cross-sectional study was conducted on normal undergraduate medical students of Nepalese origin from BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Nepal on September 2012. A total of 313 (male=186 and female=127) Nepalese young adult students with their ages ranging from 17-25 years were included for the study after taking permission from institutional ethical board and committee. All the measurements were carried out after careful palpation of the head for anatomical landmarks and measurements were taken to the nearest 1mm. Results obtained were presented as mean and standard deviation. Independent student t test and anova test was applied to find out the gender, geographical and ethnic differences. A “p” value of < 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance. Results: The head and face form of males were hyperbrachicephalic and mesoprosopic respectively and of females were mesocephalic and leptoprosopic respectively.The head and face form of Tibeto-Nepalese were hyperbrachicephalic and mesoprosopic; of Indigenous were brachiocepalic and mesoprosopic and of Indo-Nepalese were mesocephalic and leptoprosopic respectively. Conclusion: Thus the racial factor, gender, geographical and regional variations influences the craniofacial anthropometry especially head and faces form.
Origin and main branches of the cranial and caudal mesenteric arteries in the New Zealand rabbit
Authors: Estruc T. , Nascimento R. , Siston N. , Mencalha R. , Abidu-Figueiredo M.
Published: December 2015

Introduction: Precise knowledge of variations in arterial vascularization of the abdominal viscera is important for systematization of radiological and surgical anatomy in animals that serve as experimental models and in domestic animals. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the origin and main branches of the cranial and caudal mesenteric arteries in rabbits. Materials and Methods: The anatomical dissections were performed in 30 cadavers of adult rabbits, 15 males and 15 females. Results: The cranial mesenteric artery arose as a single artery in all females and males. The average length of the cranial mesenteric artery in females was 2.63 cm and originated at the level oflst lumbar vertebra in two (13.33%) animals, between the 1st and 2nd lumbar vertebra in four (26.67%), on the 2nd lumbar vertebra in seven (46.67%), between 2nd and 3rd lumbar vertebra in one (6.67%) and at the level of 3rd lumbar vertebra in one (6.67%). The average length of the cranial mesenteric artery in males was 2.56 cm and originated at the level of1st lumbar vertebra in two (13.33%) animals, between the 1st and 2nd lumbar vertebra in two (13.33%), at the level of the 2nd lumbar vertebra in eight (53.33%), between the 2nd and 3rd lumbar vertebra in three (20%). The main ramifications of the cranial mesenteric artery were the caudal pancreatic duodenal, middle colic, jejunal and ileocecocolic arteries. The caudal mesenteric artery arose as a single artery in all females and males. The average length of the caudal mesenteric artery in females was 0.846 cm and originated at the level of 5th lumbar vertebra in three (20%) animals, between the 5th and 6th lumbar vertebra in two (13.33%), at the level of the 6th lumbar vertebra in seven (46.67%), %), between the 6th and 7th lumbar vertebra in two (13.33%) and at the level of the 7th lumbar vertebra in one (6.67%). The average length of the caudal mesenteric artery in males was 0.79 cm and originated at the level of the 5th lumbar vertebra in two (13.33%) animals, between the 5th and 6th lumbar vertebra in one (6.67%), at the level of the 6th lumbar vertebra in seven (46.67%), between the 6th and 7th lumbar vertebra in four (26.67%) and at the level of the 7th lumbar vertebra in one (6.67%). The caudal mesenteric artery arises from the aorta, originating the cranial rectal and left colic arteries. Conclusion: No relation was observed between the mesenteric length and the rostrum-sacral length in rabbits. The origin of the cranial and caudal mesenteric artery is not gender dependent.
An alternative methodology for teaching and evaluation in medical education: crosswords
Authors: Vasconcelos A. , Soares M. , Silva F. , Vasconcelos D.
Published: December 2015

Introduction: Crosswords have been used to complement medical education in a fun way, yet they were not used as a method for the evaluation of students' performance. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the development of crosswords and verify their validity as a method of performance evaluation in embryology. Materials and Methods: We used crossword based on subjects about stages of embryonic development with different levels of difficulty. To validate the crossword as the evaluation method of teaching, two evaluation methods were applied (the traditional and with crosswords, simultaneously) on students of Federal University of Piaui. The performance of students was analyzed with Pearson's correlation coefficient and data were analyzed to check for normal distribution through the Shapiro-Wilk test with significance level of 0.05. The tests were performed on the BioEstat statistical software version 5.0. Results: As result a total of 28 students were evaluated. It was observed that the resulting score of both the traditional and crossword evaluation methods demonstrating normal distribution (p=0.4127 and p=0.7016, respectively), did not present vices and tendencies. The average scores were 7.1 ± 2.0 and 6.9 ± 1.7 for the traditional and crossword evaluation methods, respectively, showing statistically significant difference (p=0.0001; r=0.67), demonstrating a moderate Pearson's correlation between the methods. Conclusion: In conclusion, crosswords may be used as supplementary material for teaching embryology. Also, crossword functioned as validated and reproducible method of performance evaluation that can be used in as alternative and/or complementary teaching of embryology or other disciplines in the medical ield.
Espacios expositivos virtuales: Proyecto UMUSEO, una nueva opción para la difusión artística.
Authors: Caballero Cano Francisco Javier
Published: December 2015

The technology revolution has, in recent years, meant something of a transformation in the way we perceive art and, at the same time, in our way of understanding art exhibition spaces. New works demand updated spaces and different approaches to their care and exhibition. American museums were the first to respond to these changes and begin to put resources behind the necessary objectives. Throughout the 1980s a revolutionary process unfolded which focused on changing attitudes
and opening up to a growing and increasingly diverse audience.
This process soon spread to the rest of the world and gradually museums and exhibition spaces started to become part of an overall impulse of opening-up and conceptual change that, judging by the outcomes, was precisely what society was waiting and asking for. Rather than change their collections, museums changed their interpretation of them, the way in which they were brought to their publics, their approach to external communications and the role of visitors.
New information technologies (particularly the most recent) offer museums the chance to respond to society’s requirements. Hence access to museums takes on a whole new dimension. As well as the traditional uses of the Internet, art online offers two new possibilities: interactivity and the removal of physical barriers. Museums online are open to anybody and everybody, at any time of day, offering easy access and the scope for users to relate directly with a virtual exhibition space. The emergence of the Internet has transcended the barriers of space and time, enabling real-time communication with people from all continents, meaning that messages can be conveyed with limitless reach.
The University of Murcia´s Virtual Museum project – UMUSEO – makes an innovative contribution to the possibilities offered by new technologies in the realm of artistic production and its dissemination. This is a research project designed to be a Centre for a range of art-forms operating exclusively online and specialising in exhibitions relating to the artistic heritage of the University of Murcia.
In the 1960s and 70s questions started to be asked about the role of museums and their future, giving rise to the idea that museums had become passive exhibition centres. Today they are continually evolving, becoming centres of active experimentation in which public participation takes on a special relevance.
Serious games para la puesta en valor de la cultura. Un caso práctico: SUM
Authors: Arambarri Basáñez Jon , Armentia Lasuen Leire , Baeza Santamaría Unai
Published: December 2015

Although video games and serious games are based on similar technologies, their uses and purposes are completely different. Some examples of what serious games are designed for include achieving objectives, acquiring complex life skills and promoting cooperation at work. The main goal of a serious game is to make culture accessible to everyone using Information and Communication Technologies.
This paper will present the case study of Sum, an on-line serious game which aims to promote Spanish culture as a global culture that has been directly influenced by the historical events that have taken place in the past throughout the country.
“Matera: tales of a city” project: an original multiplatform guide on mobile devices
Authors: Pietroni Eva
Published: December 2015

Matera città Narrata is a project coordinated by CNR ITABC and financed by the Agency of Tourist Promotion of Basilicata region, aimed at the creation of a digital platform able to support the public before and during the visit of Matera (World Heritage since 1993), providing cultural contents by multiple communicative formats and access possibilities. The main components of the project are: 1) the web site, accessible in remote and adapted also from smartphone, 2) cultural contents and applications for mobile devices (old style mobile phone, smartphone, iPad) with different operative systems. Every user can reach cultural contents in a simple way, choosing the communicative format he prefers and supported by the technology he owns. In this paper we'll describe, more in detail, the applications developed.
The Marcus Caelius Project: a transmedial approach to support cultural communication and educational activities at the Civical Archaeological Museum of Bologna
Authors: Bentini Laura , De Luca Daniele , Donati Cristina , Giovetti Paola , Guidazzoli Antonella , Guidi Federica , Marchesi Marinella , Pirotti Alessandro , Spigarolo Micaela
Published: December 2015

The project “Marcus Caelius – the Value of Memory” is a 8 minute short animation movie located in the Roman Bologna at the Augustan Age. It originated with the Civical Archaeological Museum of Bologna in collaboration with Cineca VisIT-Lab. The project emploies a well known historical fact (the Battle of Teutoburg) to enable a philological approach within an emotional/narrative process. New philologically accurate reconstructions (i.e archaeological finds hedged in the Museum’s collection) are integrated with 3D historical sets caming form previous Cineca projects. Mixed movie-making techniques, such as Blender rendering, Chroma key and Machinima animation, implemented an ad hoc production pipeline in order to define times and costs which could be supported by a small production.
The Virtual Museum of the Tiber Valley Project
Authors: Arnoldus Huyzendveld Antonia , Di Ioia Marco , Ferdani Daniele , Palombini Augusto , Sanna Valentina , Zanni Sara , Pietroni Eva
Published: December 2015

The aim of the Virtual Museum of the Tiber Valley project is the creation of an integrated digital system for the knowledge, valorisation and communication of the cultural landscape, archaeological and naturalistic sites along the Tiber Valley, in the Sabina area between Monte Soratte and the ancient city of Lucus Feroniae (Capena). Virtual reality applications, multimedia contents, together with a web site, are under construction and they will be accessed inside the museums of the territory and in a central museum in Rome. The different stages of work will cover the building of a geo-spatial archaeological database, the reconstruction of the ancient potential landscape and the creation of virtual models of the major archaeological sites. This paper will focus on the methodologies used and on present and future results.
Arqueología Virtual en Dispositivos Móviles. Un Caso Práctico: Patrimonio Defensivo Medieval.
Authors: Noguera José M. , Gutiérrez María V. , Castillo Juan C. , Segura Rafael J.
Published: December 2015

Virtual archaeology is an interesting way to promote cultural heritage with touristic purposes. This paper proposes to apply virtual reality techniques on mobile devices in order to exploit the unique features provided by these devices: ubiquity and location-awareness. Firstly, we propose a client-server framework that provides realistic 3D maps on mobile devices according to the user’s location. Following, we describe a study case that applies this technology to implement a 3D touristic guide. This guide aims at promoting the territorial organization and defensive buildings during the low Middle Ages in the “Council of Baeza”, Spain. However, the proposed guide can be easily expanded to cover any geographic area and historic age.
Spring and summer contrast in new particle formation over nine forest areas in North America
Authors: Yu F. , Luo G. , Pryor S. C. , Pillai P. R. , Lee S. H. , Ortega J. , Schwab J. J. , Hallar A. G. , Leaitch W. R. , Aneja V. P. , Smith J. N. , Walker J. T. , Hogrefe O. , Demerjian K. L.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. Recent laboratory chamber studies indicate a significant role for highly oxidized low-volatility organics in new particle formation (NPF), but the actual role of these highly oxidized low-volatility organics in atmospheric NPF remains uncertain. Here, particle size distributions (PSDs) measured in nine forest areas in North America are used to characterize the occurrence and intensity of NPF and to evaluate model simulations using an empirical formulation in which formation rate is a function of the concentrations of sulfuric acid and low-volatility organics from alpha-pinene oxidation (Nucl-Org), and using an ion-mediated nucleation mechanism (excluding organics) (Nucl-IMN). On average, NPF occurred on ~ 70 % of days during March for the four forest sites with springtime PSD measurements, while NPF occurred on only ~ 10 % of days in July for all nine forest sites. Both Nucl-Org and Nucl-IMN schemes capture the observed high frequency of NPF in spring, but the Nucl-Org scheme significantly overpredicts while the Nucl-IMN scheme slightly underpredicts NPF and particle number concentrations in summer. Statistical analyses of observed and simulated ultrafine particle number concentrations and frequency of NPF events indicate that the scheme without organics agrees better overall with observations. The two schemes predict quite different nucleation rates (including their spatial patterns), concentrations of cloud condensation nuclei, and aerosol first indirect radiative forcing in North America, highlighting the need to reduce NPF uncertainties in regional and global earth system models.
Short- and long-term variability of spectral solar UV irradiance at Thessaloniki, Greece: effects of changes in aerosols, total ozone and clouds
Authors: Fountoulakis I. , Bais A. F. , Fragkos K. , Meleti C. , Tourpali K. , Zempila M. M.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. In this study, we discuss the short- and the long-term variability of spectral UV irradiance at Thessaloniki, Greece using a long, quality-controlled data set from two Brewer spectrophotometers. Long-term changes in spectral UV irradiance at 307.5, 324 and 350 nm for the period 1994–2014 are presented for different solar zenith angles and discussed in association to changes in total ozone column (TOC), aerosol optical depth (AOD) and cloudiness observed in the same period. Positive changes in annual mean anomalies of UV irradiance, ranging from 2 to 6 % per decade, have been detected both for clear- and all-sky conditions. The changes are generally greater for larger solar zenith angles and for shorter wavelengths. For clear skies, these changes are, in most cases, statistically significant at the 95 % confidence limit. Decreases in the aerosol load and weakening of the attenuation by clouds lead to increases in UV irradiance in the summer, of 7–9 % per decade for 64° solar zenith angle. The increasing TOC in winter counteracts the effect of decreasing AOD for this particular season, leading to small, statistically insignificant, negative long-term changes in irradiance at 307.5 nm. Annual mean UV irradiance levels are increasing from 1994 to 2006 and remain relatively stable thereafter, possibly due to the combined changes in the amount and optical properties of aerosols. However, no statistically significant corresponding turning point has been detected in the long-term changes of AOD. Trends in irradiance during the two sub-periods are not discussed, because the length of the two datasets is too short for deriving statistically significant estimates. The absence of signatures of changes in AOD in the short-term variability of irradiance in the UV-A may have been caused by changes in the single scattering albedo of aerosols, which may counteract the effects of changes in AOD on irradiance. The anti-correlation between the year-to-year variability of the irradiance at 307.5 nm and TOC is clear and becomes clearer as the AOD decreases.
Technical note: On the progress of the 2015–2016 El Niño event
Authors: Varotsos C. A. , Tzanis C. G. , Sarlis N. V.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. It has been recently reported that the current 2015–2016 El Niño could become "one of the strongest on record". To further explore this claim, we performed the new analysis described in detail in Varotsos et al. (2015) that allows the detection of precursory signals of the strong El Niño events by using a recently developed non-linear dynamics tool. In this context, the analysis of the Southern Oscillation Index time series for the period 1876–2015 shows that the running 2015–2016 El Niño would be rather a "moderate to strong" or even a "strong" event and not "one of the strongest on record", as that of 1997–1998.
Comparison of the regional CO2 mole fraction filtering approaches at a WMO/GAW regional station in China
Authors: Fang S. X. , Tans P. P. , Steinbacher M. , Zhou L. X. , Luan T.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. The identification of atmospheric CO2 observation data which are minimally influenced by very local emissions/removals is essential for trend analysis, for the estimation of regional sources and sinks, and for the modeling of long-range transport of CO2. In this study, four approaches are used to filter the atmospheric CO2 observation records from 2009 to 2011 at one World Meteorological Organization/Global Atmosphere Watch (WMO/GAW) regional station (Lin'an, LAN) in China. The methods are based on the concentration of atmospheric black carbon (BC), on a statistical approach (robust extraction of baseline signal, REBS), on CH4 as an auxiliary tracer (AUX), and on meteorological parameters (MET). All approaches do suitably well to capture the seasonal CO2 cycle at LAN. Differences are observed in the average regional mole fractions with annual values in the REBS method at least 1.7 ± 0.2 ppm higher than the other methods. The BC method may underestimate the regional CO2 mole fractions during the winter–spring period and should be treated with caution. The REBS method is a purely statistical method and it may also introduce errors on the regional CO2 mole fraction evaluations, as the filtered trend may be influenced by the "noisy" raw data series. Although there are correlations between CH4 and CO2 mole fractions at LAN, the different source/sink regimes may introduce bias on the regional CO2 estimation in the AUX method, typically in summer. Overall, the MET method seems to be the most favorable because it mainly focuses on the influence of potential local sources and sinks, and considers diurnal variations and meteorological conditions. Using the MET method, the annual growth rate of regional CO2 at LAN is determined to be 3.1 ± 0.01 ppm yr−1 (standard error) from 2009 to 2011.