bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Safety and Efficacy of Liposomal Cytarabine in the Treatment of Neoplastic Meningitis
Authors: Jahn Franziska , Jordan Karin , Behlendorf Timo , Globig Cordula , Schmoll Hans-Joachim , Müller-Tidow Carsten , Jordan Berit
Published: March 2015

Objectives: Although rare, neoplastic meningitis (NM) has been increasingly observed in patients with cancer due to the prolonged course of the disease. Intrathecal chemotherapy with methotrexate or cytarabine with repeating injection schedules of 2-3 times per week is currently the mainstay of treatment. An efficacious and comfortable treatment alternative might be represented by liposomal cytarabine. Methods: In this retrospective study, we reviewed all patients with NM due to solid tumors or hematological malignancies treated with liposomal cytarabine at our institution between March 2004 and September 2011. The primary endpoint was treatment response, which was defined as improvement in neurological symptoms and/or conversion of the initial cerebrospinal fluid cytology and/or response in the radiological findings. The main secondary endpoint was safety. Results: Fifty-one adult patients were evaluable for safety and 44 patients for efficacy. In 36 patients (81.8%), a treatment response was achieved. The median overall survival after diagnosis of NM was 11 months (95% confidence interval 8.8-13.2). Adverse events grade 1-4 occurred in 31 patients (60.8%), whereas grade 3-4 occurred in 18 patients (35.3%). Conclusion: The encouraging efficacy and safety data obtained in our analysis and the convenient administration schedule make intrathecal liposomal cytarabine a favorable treatment option for NM patients.
Treatment of Ureterosciatic Hernia with a Ureteral Stent
Authors: Yanagi Koji , Kan Akinobu , Sejima Takehiro , Takenaka Atsushi
Published: March 2015

A 92-year-old woman was referred to our hospital from a family practice with the chief of complaint of vomiting. Subsequent computed tomography imaging revealed left hydroureteronephrosis without clear evidence of ureteral stones or ureteral tumors and that the lower part of the ureter was shifted to the outside of the cavum pelvis minor from the greater sciatic foramen. Retrograde pyelography was performed, and the shadow of a mass, which constricted and obstructed the distal left ureter, was observed. The patient was diagnosed with ureterosciatic hernia, and a left retrograde ureteral stent was indwelled and the hernia was repaired. Cases of ureterosciatic hernia are very rare. We describe one case of ureterosciatic hernia and review the relevant literature.
Impact of Previous Somatostatin Analogue Use on the Activity of Everolimus in Patients with Advanced Neuroendocrine Tumors: Analysis from the Phase III RADIANT-2 Trial
Authors: Anthony Lowell B. , Pavel Marianne E. , Hainsworth John D. , Kvols Larry K. , Segal Scott , Hörsch Dieter , Van Cutsem Eric , Öberg Kjell , Yao James C.
Published: March 2015

Background/Aims: The phase III placebo-controlled RADIANT-2 trial investigated the efficacy of everolimus plus octreotide long-acting repeatable (LAR) in patients with advanced neuroendocrine tumors (NET) associated with carcinoid syndrome. Here we report a secondary analysis based on the previous somatostatin analogue (SSA) exposure status of patients enrolled in RADIANT-2. Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to receive oral everolimus 10 mg/day plus octreotide LAR 30 mg intramuscularly (i.m.) or to receive matching placebo plus octreotide LAR 30 mg i.m. every 28 days. SSA treatment before study enrollment was permitted. Patient characteristics and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed by treatment arm and previous SSA exposure status. Results: Of the 429 patients enrolled in RADIANT-2, 339 were previously exposed to SSA (95% received octreotide); 173 of 339 patients were in the everolimus plus octreotide LAR arm. All patients had a protocol-specified history of secretory symptoms, but analysis by type showed that more patients who previously received SSA therapy had a history of flushing symptoms (77%), diarrhea (86%), or both (63%) compared with SSA-naive patients (62, 62, and 24%, respectively). Patients who received everolimus plus octreotide LAR had longer median PFS regardless of previous SSA exposure (with: PFS 14.3 months, 95% confidence interval, CI, 12.0-20.1; without: 25.2 months, 95% CI, 12.0-not reached) compared with patients who received placebo plus octreotide LAR (with: 11.1 months, 95% CI, 8.4-14.6; without: 13.6 months, 95% CI, 8.2-22.7). Conclusion: Everolimus in combination with octreotide improves PFS in patients with advanced NET associated with carcinoid syndrome, regardless of previous SSA exposure.
Subclinical Atherosclerosis and Obesity Phenotypes Among Mexican Americans
Authors: Laing Susan T. , Smulevitz Beverly , Vatcheva Kristina P. , Rahbar Mohammad H. , Reininger Belinda , McPherson David D. , McCormick Joseph B. , Fisher‐Hoch Susan P.
Published: March 2015

Background

Data on the influence of obesity on atherosclerosis in Hispanics are inconsistent, possibly related to varying cardiometabolic risk among obese individuals. We aimed to determine the association of obesity and cardiometabolic risk with subclinical atherosclerosis in Mexican‐Americans.

Methods and Results

Participants (n=503) were drawn from the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort. Metabolic health was defined as <2 of the following: blood pressure ≥130/85; triglyceride ≥150 mg/dL; high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol <40 mg/dL (men) or <50 mg/dL (women); fasting glucose ≥100 mg/dL; homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance value >5.13; or high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein >3 mg/L. Carotid intima media thickness (
cIMT
) was measured. A high proportion of participants (77.8%) were metabolically unhealthy; they were more likely to be male, older, with fewer years of education, and less likely to meet daily recommendations regarding fruit and vegetable servings. One‐third (31.8%) had abnormal carotid ultrasound findings. After adjusting for covariates, mean
cIMT
varied across the obesity phenotypes (
P
=0.0001); there was no difference among the metabolically unhealthy regardless of whether they were obese or not. In multivariable analysis, after adjusting for covariates, cardiometabolic risk (
P
=0.0159), but not obesity (
P
=0.1446), was significantly associated with subclinical atherosclerosis.

Conclusions

In Mexican‐Americans, cardiometabolic risk has a greater effect on early atherosclerosis development than body mass index. Non‐obese but metabolically unhealthy participants had similar development of subclinical atherosclerosis as their obese counterparts. Interventions to maintain metabolic health among obese and non‐obese patients may be a more important goal than weight loss alone.
Repentance in Paul’s Letters
Authors: Schnabel Eckhard J.
Published: March 2015

Paul rarely uses the terms µετάνοια / µετανοεῖν (“repentance” / “repent”), but word statistics should not be accorded too much weight. Besides using these terms to describe the process of returning to God by regretting one’s transgressions, Paul uses other terms and phrases in order to express the need to, and the reality of, changing mind and heart, outlook and behavior. It can be demonstrated that Paul knows the Jewish doctrine of repentance, that his missionary preaching calls for repentance, that his theological discourse presupposes repentance, that his rhetorical discourse in his letters includes the discourse of repentance, and that his ethical discourse entails exhortations to repentance.
The Coherence Based Genealogical Method as a Tool for Explaining Textual Changes in the Greek New Testament
Authors: Wasserman Tommy
Published: March 2015

This article discusses the advantages of the the Coherence Based Genealogical Method (cbgm), not only as a tool for reconstructing the text of the New Testament, but also for surveying the history of readings and for explaining textual changes. The cbgm promises to detect readings, which have emerged several times independently in the textual tradition. The method is applied to selected examples in 1 John 5:6 and Jude 4, which are relevant to the issue of “orthodox corruption,” as raised by Bart D. Ehrman. The results speak against deliberate textual changes as effects of early Christological controversies in these particular passages. Rather the textual changes reflect other typical behaviour on the part of the scribes throughout the history of transmission.
Characterization of new polymorphic microsatellite loci for the lesser tree frog (Dendropsophus minutus)
Authors: Oyamaguchi Hilton M. , Oyamaguchi Hilton M. , Okubo Ryo P. , Oyamaguchi Hilton M. , Okubo Ryo P. , Pollinger John P.
Published: March 2015

Dendropsophus minutus is a widely distributed species in South America and presents great phenotypic variation which has led to taxonomic confusion. Herein we describe nine microsatellite loci for D. minutus discovered by genomic shotgun sequencing using Roche 454 pyrosequencing. These microsatellite loci were tested on a panel of 29 individuals. All nine loci were polymorphic (11-22 alleles) with observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.42 to 0.90 and expected heterozygosity from 0.75 to 0.94. Three loci deviated from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. These characterized polymorphic markers for D. minutus will enable investigation of fine scale population structure, evolutionary processes, and clarify taxonomic status. This genetic information will be useful in conservation decisions regarding on this apparently wide distributed species.
Behavioural persistence during an agonistic encounter differentiates winners from losers in green anole lizards
Authors: Wilczynski Walter , Black Michael P. , Salem Scarlett J. , Ezeoke Chisom B.
Published: March 2015

Agonistic encounters featuring ritualized displays precede the establishment of dominance relationships in many animals. We investigated the predictive value of the amount of display behaviour (number and duration of displays) vs. quickness to display (latency to express a display behaviour) in determining the outcome of aggressive interactions and establishment of dominant vs. subordinate status in male green anole lizards, Anolis carolinensis. Similar-sized males were paired and observed for ninety minutes as they established social status. We recorded the number, duration (where appropriate) and latencies to first expression for multiple behavioural display components (head bob A, B and C, dewlap displays, open mouth displays, pushups, lateral displays) and colour changes (eyespot presence and body colour changes). Males that eventually won and became the dominant male had significantly higher counts and durations with the exception of Bob C counts, pushup counts and open mouth duration. Future dominants also maintained a green body colour longer than future subordinates, which had brown shades more often and for longer durations. Latency to first express a display component was shorter in future dominants for head bobs A and C, dewlap and open mouth displays when all data were considered. However, all significant latency differences disappeared when data only from pairs in which both males displayed a behaviour were included in the analysis. Counts, durations, and latencies were highly correlated with each other within individuals. The results indicate that behavioural display patterns during an initial display contest predict the outcome of the interaction, with the amount of display behaviour being the best predictor of whether a male will win or lose the contest and hence become dominant or subordinate. These results are consistent with the idea that displays are honest signals of a male’s physiological capacity or stamina, and hence fighting and resource holding ability.
Male-biased sex ratios and plasticity in post-insemination behaviour in the New Zealand stick insect Micrarchus hystriculeus
Authors: Kelly Clint D.
Published: March 2015

The duration of mate guarding by males is predicted to vary in accordance with the risk of sperm competition or mate encounter rate. Mate guarding is predicted to be prolonged under a male-biased sex ratio because the risk of sperm competition is high or the mate encounter rate is low. A consistently male-biased sex ratio should thus select for greater mate fidelity, and reduced plasticity in guarding behaviour, by males. Micrarchus hystriculeus Westwood (Phasmatodea) is a sexually size dimorphic stick insect in which males form prolonged post-insemination associations with their mates and whose populations have a consistently male-biased sex ratio. My laboratory experiments showed, as predicted, little plasticity by males in the duration of their post-insemination association. Although mate guarding duration is similar under male- and female-biased sex ratios, males clasped the genitalia of their mates significantly more often under a male-biased sex ratio, suggesting that males intensify their guarding with increasing risk of sperm competition.
Recent Developments in eu Environmental Policy and Legislation
Authors: Gordeeva Yelena M.
Published: March 2015

This section briefly describes the significant political initiatives and acts of legislation in the environmental field adopted from June until November 2014.
Revisions in the South American Calandrinia caespitosa complex (Montiaceae)
Authors: Elvebakk Arve , FLORES ANA ROSA , WATSON JOHN MICHAEL
Published: March 2015

Calandrinia caespitosa is one of seven species currently recognized in Calandrina sect. Acaules. It has been interpreted by all recent studies to represent a single species with variable flower colours. It is here shown that, on the contrary, this entity is a complex which includes four distinct species. C. caespitosa inhabits depressions at elevations between 2500 and 4000 m in the Andes mountains between 29º S and 36º S. It is morphologically characterized in having 6–8 ellipsoid, flamboyant red petaloids, yellowish-green towards the base. Its typification is discussed, while the synonyms C. diffusa and C. densiflora are neotypified on specimens preserved at K. C. skottsbergii grows in dry, gravelly mountains in central Patagonia from ca. 38–47o S. It has 6–12 petaloids which are truncate and longer and broader than those of C. caespitosa, orange or rarely yellow, and capsules much larger than those of C. caespitosa. A deviating species pair occurs in southern Patagonia: C. fuegiana with white or pinkish petaloids and C. ranunculina with yellow petaloids. The latter species is described in this study as new to science. Both C. fuegiana and C. ranunculina share a rather small, weakly zygomorphic perianth with 2+4 petaloids which open for a short period, and then close to allow for self-pollination when the anthers move towards the stigma. This is interpreted here as an adaptation to the very strong winds prevailing in their habitats. C. fuegiana grows in screes and snow beds in the high mountains from 47º S to near 52o S, in addition to an isolated distribution area further south in the mountains near Lago Fagnano in Tierra del Fuego at c. 54o 30′ S. Its capsules are large and similar to those of C. skottsbergii, except that they curve distinctly when mature. C. ranunculina, on the other hand, has adapted to the lowland steppes of southern Patagonia (49º to 54º S), and has very distinct, short and urn-shaped capsules with strongly recurving valves. No hybrids between these species have been detected where any of them meet. A distribution map and a table including comparison of 30 characters between the species are also presented, as well as SEM images of seeds, which also differ morphologically between the species.
List of the type-specimens of Reduviidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) in the Triatomines Collection of the Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Brazil
Authors: RODRIGUES JULIANA MOURÃO DOS SANTOS , MOREIRA FELIPE FERRAZ FIGUEIREDO , CORDEIRO ISABELLE DA ROCHA SILVA , DE ALMEIDA MAGALY DOLSAN , JURBERG JOSÉ
Published: March 2015

The Triatomines Collection of the Oswaldo Cruz Institute (CTIOC) holds 90 holotypes, seven syntypes, and 619 paratypes of the family Reduviidae, distributed in 44 genera and nine subfamilies: Chryxinae, Emesinae, Hammacerinae, Harpactorinae, Peiratinae, Reduviinae, Stenopodainae, Triatominae, and Vesciinae. A detailed list containing nomenclatural, taxonomic, and locality information about all these types is herein presented for the first time.
Redescription of Pethia melanomaculata (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from Sri Lanka
Authors: BATUWITA SUDESH , MADUWAGE KALANA , SUDASINGHE HIRANYA
Published: March 2015

The name Pethia melanomaculata (Deraniyagala) is available for the Sri Lankan fish previously referred to P. ticto, being distinguished from its Indian congeners by the combination of the following characters; having ½4/1/3½ scales in transverse line on body; body depth 32.4–41.5% of standard length (SL); head length (HL) 26.1–29.2% of SL; snout length 25.3–35.6% of HL; eye diameter 24.4–31.9% of HL; a small black humeral spot on lateral-line scales 3 or 4; a black spot on caudal peduncle, on scales 16–18 of the lateral line series; 3 unbranched dorsal-fin rays, the last one strongly serrated, with 8–11 serrae.
Multidecadal Changes in the Relationship between ENSO and Wet-Season Precipitation in the Arabian Peninsula
Authors: Kang In-Sik , Rashid Irfan Ur , Kucharski Fred , Almazroui Mansour , Alkhalaf Abdulrahman K.
Published: March 2015

Multidecadal variations in the relationship between El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Arabian Peninsula rainfall are investigated using observed data for the last 60 years and various atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) experiments. The wet season in the Arabian Peninsula from November to April was considered. The 6-month averaged Arabian rainfall was negatively correlated with ENSO for an earlier 30-yr period from 1950 to 1979 and positively correlated to ENSO for a more recent period from 1981 to 2010. The multidecadal variations can be attributed to the variations in Indian Ocean SST anomalies accompanied by ENSO. In the early 30-yr period, ENSO accompanied relatively large SST anomalies in the Indian Ocean, whereas in the recent 30-yr period it accompanied relatively small SST anomalies in the Indian Ocean. The atmospheric anomalies in the Arabian region during ENSO are combined responses to the Pacific and Indian Ocean SST anomalies, which offset each other during ENSO. The recent El Niño events accompanied negative 200-hPa geopotential height (GH) anomalies over the Arabian region, mainly forced by the Pacific SST anomalies, resulting in an increase of precipitation over the region. In contrast, in the early 30-yr period, Indian Ocean SST anomalies played a dominant role in the atmospheric responses over the Arabian region during ENSO, and the negative GH anomalies and more precipitation over the Arabian region were mainly forced by the negative SST anomalies over the Indian Ocean, which appeared during La Niña. These observed findings are confirmed by various AGCM experiments.
ENSO’s Modulation of Water Vapor Transport over the Pacific–North American Region
Authors: Kim Hye-Mi , Alexander Michael A.
Published: March 2015

The vertically integrated water vapor transport (IVT) over the Pacific–North American sector during three phases of ENSO in boreal winter (December–February) is investigated using IVT values calculated from the Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR) during 1979–2010. The shift of the location and sign of sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the tropical Pacific Ocean leads to different atmospheric responses and thereby changes the seasonal mean moisture transport into North America. During eastern Pacific El Niño (EPEN) events, large positive IVT anomalies extend northeastward from the subtropical Pacific into the northwestern United States following the anomalous cyclonic flow around a deeper Aleutian low, while a southward shift of the cyclonic circulation during central Pacific El Niño (CPEN) events induces the transport of moisture into the southwestern United States. In addition, moisture from the eastern tropical Pacific is transported from the deep tropical eastern Pacific into Mexico and the southwestern United States during CPEN. During La Niña (NINA), the seasonal mean IVT anomaly is opposite to that of two El Niño phases. Analyses of 6-hourly IVT anomalies indicate that there is strong moisture transport from the North Pacific into the northwestern and southwestern United States during EPEN and CPEN, respectively. The IVT is maximized on the southeastern side of a low located over the eastern North Pacific, where the low is weaker but located farther south and closer to shore during CPEN than during EPEN. Moisture enters the southwestern United States from the eastern tropical Pacific during NINA via anticyclonic circulation associated with a ridge over the southern United States.
Trends of MSU Brightness Temperature in the Middle Troposphere Simulated by CMIP5 Models and Their Sensitivity to Cloud Liquid Water
Authors: Zhang Xuanze , Zheng Xiaogu , Sun Zhian , Luo San
Published: March 2015

Only a climate model that is able to simulate well the historical atmospheric temperature trend can be used for estimating the future atmospheric temperature trends on different emission scenarios. Satellite-based Microwave Sounding Unit (MSU) brightness temperature in the middle troposphere (T2) is an important analog of midtropospheric atmospheric temperature. So, there is the need to compare the atmospheric temperature trend simulated by the fifth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) historical realizations and the observed MSU T2. There are two approaches for estimating modeled MSU T2: apply a global-mean static weighting function to generate the weighted average of the modeled temperature at all atmospheric layers and simulate satellite-view MSU T2 using the model’s output as input into a radiative transfer model (RTM).

In this paper, the two approaches for estimating modeled MSU T2 are evaluated. For each CMIP5, it is shown that there exists a model-simulated static weighting function, such that the MSU T2 trend using the weighting function is equivalent to that calculated by RTM. The effect of modeled cloud liquid water on MSU T2 trends in CMIP5 simulations is investigated by comparing the modeled cloud liquid water vertical profile and the weighting function. Moreover, it is found that warming trends of MSU T2 for CMIP5 simulations calculated by the RTM are about 15% less than those using the two traditional static weighting functions. By comparing the model-derived weighting function with the two traditional weighting functions, the reason for the systematical biases is revealed.
The Impacts of Representing the Correlation of Errors in Radar Data Assimilation. Part II: Model Output as Background Estimates
Authors: Jacques Dominik , Zawadzki Isztar
Published: March 2015

In data assimilation, analyses are generally obtained by combining a “background,” taken from a previously initiated model forecast, with observations from different instruments. For optimal analyses, the error covariance of all information sources must be properly represented. In the case of radar data assimilation, such representation is of particular importance since measurements are often available at spatial resolutions comparable to that of the model grid. Unfortunately, misrepresenting the covariance of radar errors is unavoidable as their true structure is unknown. This two-part study investigates the impacts of misrepresenting the covariance of errors when dense observations, such as radar data, are available. Experiments are performed in an idealized context. In Part I, analyses were obtained by using artificially simulated background and observation estimates. For the second part presented here, background estimates from a convection-resolving model were used. As before, analyses were generated with the same input data but with different misrepresentation of errors. The impacts of these misrepresentations can be quantified by comparing the two sets of analyses. It was found that the correlation of both the background and observation errors had to be represented to improve the quality of analyses. Of course, the concept of “errors” depends on how the “truth” is considered. When the truth was considered as an unknown constant, as opposed to an unknown random variable, background errors were found to be biased. Correcting these biases was found to significantly improve the quality of analyses.
“As long as you live under my roof… ”
Authors: Warnick Bryan R.
Published: March 2015

Why should we respect the rights of parents to control the education of their children? The author probes this question through a thorough philosophical examination of the nature of the parent-child relationship. The labor of parenting, which is performed for the sake of the intimate relationships, the author says, creates a specific right: the right to invite children into a life that the parents value and treasure, often the life that they themselves lead. This ‘right to invite’ allows parents the opportunity to lived shared lives -- lives of common beliefs and commitments -- with their children. While it does not guarantee that children will accept the invitation, the right to invite allows parents the opportunity to expose children to their own way of life.
The Editor’s Note
Authors: Richardson Joan
Published: March 2015

Educators must step up and reach out to ensure that parents know what’s happening and why in an ever-changing education landscape. Beyond respecting the significant relationship between parent and child, educators must remember that parents and community members give schools the right to be in business in the first place. Reaching out to communicate to ensure that parents and community members understand the why and how of what schools do has never been more important for ensuring that public schools get to stay in the business of educating.
Social Changes in Israeli Society and Their Impact on the Importance of Work Outcomes
Authors: Sharabi Moshe
Published: March 2015

Over the last 30 years, Israeli society has undergone dramatic social, political and economic changes, and this study examines changes in the importance of the valued work outcomes between 1981 and 2006. Results are reported for cross-sectional studies conducted in 1981 ( n = 973) and 2006 ( n = 909), which were drawn from representative samples of the Israeli workforce. The samples allow us to examine the cohort effect/generational differences and the ageing effect. The findings reveal substantial differences in work outcome importance over the course of time. Between 1981 and 2006, there was a decrease in the importance of the intrinsic outcome of interest and the social outcome of serving society while the importance of the extrinsic outcomes of income, status and prestige increased. This trend reflects the transformation from a collectivist and altruistic society to an individualist and materialistic society, and can be explained by the generational/cohort effect and ageing effect. The changes in work outcomes over the course of time are explained by political, social and economic factors.
Time to Competency, Reliability of Flexible Transnasal Laryngoscopy by Training Level
Authors: Brook Christopher D. , Platt Michael P. , Russell Kimberly , Grillone Gregory A. , Aliphas Avner , Noordzij J. Pieter
Published: March 2015

Objective

To determine the progression of flexible transnasal laryngoscopy reliability and competency in otolaryngology residency training.

Study Design

Prospective case control study.

Setting

Academic otolaryngology department.

Subjects

Medical students, otolaryngology residents, and otolaryngology attending physicians.

Methods

Fourteen otolaryngology residents from PGY‐1 to PGY‐5 and 3 attending otolaryngologists viewed 25 selected and digitally recorded flexible transnasal laryngoscopies. The evaluators were asked to rate 13 items relating to abnormalities in the oropharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, and subglottis. The level of concern and level of comfort with the diagnosis were assessed. Intraclass correlations were calculated for each topic and by level of training to determine reliability within each class and compare competency versus attending interpretations.

Results

Intraclass correlation of residents compared to attending physicians demonstrated significant improvements by year for left and right vocal fold immobility, subglottic stenosis, laryngeal mass, left and right vocal cord abnormalities, and level of concern. Additionally, pooled vocal cord mobility and pooled results in categories with good attending reliability demonstrated stepwise improvement as well. For these categories, resident reliability was found to be statistically similar to attending physicians in all categories by PGY‐3. There were no trends for base of tongue abnormalities, pharyngeal abnormalities, and pharyngeal and hypopharyngeal masses.

Conclusions

Resident competency for flexible transnasal laryngoscopy progresses during residency to reliability with attending otolaryngologists by the PGY‐3 year over key facets of the examination.
Fingerprinting of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA): specificity, isotypes and subclasses
Authors: Pratesi F , Panza F , Paolini I , Petrelli F , Puxeddu I , Casigliani-Rabl S , Ancillotti D , Alcaro C , Rovero P , Migliorini P
Published: March 2015

Anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) are a family of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-specific autoantibodies that recognize the amino acid citrulline, resulting from the post-translational modification of arginine. Peptidyl arginine deiminase, the enzyme responsible for citrullination, is present in humans in different isoforms with different tissue distribution, enzymatic activity and target specificity; nonetheless, the number of proteins citrullinated in physiological or pathological conditions is wide, but not every citrullinated protein is a target for antibodies. In pre-RA patients the immune response to citrullinated antigens is initially restricted, expands with time and, after the onset of the disease, is relatively stable. ACPA are heterogeneous in terms of not only fine specificity but also isotype and IgG subclasses usage. This heterogeneity may be relevant for the immunopathogenesis of RA, conditioning the interaction of antibodies with complement and Fc receptors.
Institutional Theory and the Natural Environment
Authors: Hoffman Andrew J. , Jennings P. Devereaux
Published: March 2015

This review article summarizes the main tenets of institutional theory as they apply to the topic of the Anthropocene in the domain of organization and the natural environment. But our review is distinctive for two reasons: First, it is focused on providing avenues researching the Anthropocene Era. Second, while based on the trajectory of current, accumulated theory and research, our review is forward-looking in its orientation and thus aimed at guiding future work to explore the emergence of a new social reality in Anthropocene Society. We begin by summarizing the scientific research on the Anthropocene Era, then move to its implications for grand and midrange institutional theory principles, and of institutional principles for the study of it. We end with a call to reenergize and reradicalize the organization and the natural environment field to properly address the magnitude and scope of this shift to the Anthropocene.
Antiquity at the musical margins: rebetika, ‘ancient’ and modern
Authors: Gauntlett Stathis
Published: March 2015

With their insalubrious social connotations, low-brow content and Ottoman musical features, rebetika songs appear unlikely candidates for connection with the revered culture of ancient Greece. Yet this seemingly sacrilegious nexus has repeatedly been contrived by exponents of the genre and by commentators, unlettered and educated alike. It has also exercised the ingenuity of literati, translators, stage directors and graphic artists. The examples surveyed in this article, whether earnest or whimsical, plausible or manifestly deluded, reflect both evolving perceptions of the genre and broader issues of Greek cultural politics. They further exemplify informal mechanisms for disseminating antiquarian knowledge – and misinformation.
Experimental design approach to the optimization of PAHs bioremediation from artificially contaminated soil: application of variables screening development
Authors: Ravanipour Masoumeh , Kalantary Roshanak Rezaei , Mohseni-Bandpi Anoushiravan , Esrafili Ali , Farzadkia Mahdi , Hashemi-Najafabadi Samireh
Published: March 2015

Background

The effectiveness of bioremediation systems for PAH-contaminated soil may be constrained by physicochemical properties of contaminants and environmental factors. Information on what is the most effective factor in bioremediation process is essential in the decision of what stimulations can be taken to assist the biodegradation efficacy.

Methods

In this study, four factors of surfactant (Tween 80), humic acid (HA), salinity and nutrients in a 24 full factorial design were screened in bioremediation of phenanthrene contaminated soil by using a consortium of bacteria.

Results

Between the employed levels of the factors only salinity had not significant effect. Optimal concentrations of surfactant, HA and nutrient were obtained by a response surface design. For phenanthrene biodegradation, a central composite face centred design (CCFD) showed that nutrient, surfactant and HA concentrations had highly significant, significant and insignificant effects, respectively. The best conditions with 87.1% phenanthrene biodegradation were 150 mg HA/Kg soil, 12.68 μg/L surfactant, and nutrients as K2HPO4, 0.8; KH2PO4, 0.2 and KNO3, 1 g/L. A high similarity was between the model prediction and experimental results.

Conclusions

This study showed that nutrient with 81.27% efficiency could be considered as the most effective factor for practical implications of bioremediation process for PAHs contaminated soil cleanup strategies.
Investigation on up-flow anaerobic sludge fixed film (UASFF) reactor for treating low-strength bilge water of Caspian Sea ships
Authors: Emadian Seyyed Mohammad , Rahimnejad Mostafa , Hosseini Morteza , Khoshandam Behnam
Published: March 2015

Background

In order to meet the International Maritime Organization (IMO) objectives, the main purpose of this study was using the cheap and practical wastewater treatment system for low-strength bilge water of Caspian Sea ships; therefore, the low-strength bilge water of the Caspian Sea ships has been treated by up-flow anaerobic sludge fixed film (UASFF) reactor at the ambient temperature.

Results

The reactor operated at two hydraulic retention times (HRTs) of 10 h and 8 h. The organic loading rates (OLR) ranged (0.12-0.6) g chemical oxygen demand (COD)/l.day. At the beginning of the experimental procedure, the sludge was immobilized on the surface of the support materials. After 10 days of batch feeding of the reactor with the wastewater as an acclimation period (with COD removal of 59%), the reactor operated continuously. At the end of the experiment, with the HRT of 8 h and OLR of 0.6 g COD/l.day, the COD and total suspended solid (TSS) removal efficiencies reached the amounts of 75% and 99%, respectively. In addition to the good features of the reactor in removing COD and TSS, the effluent oil concentration was significantly lower than the standard value (15 ppm) which has been laid down for the discharge of the bilge water from ships by the IMO.

Conclusions

The obtained data demonstrated that UASFF reactor is an appropriate system for treatment of a low-strength bilge water.
Looking for Work: Placing Labor in Food Studies
Authors: Besky Sarah , Brown Sandy
Published: March 2015

In this article, we propose a critical framework for labor-sensitive food studies. First, we review recent food studies scholarship on agriculture, which leans heavily toward studies of alternative and small-farmer agriculture. We then overview different analytical and theoretical framings dominant in the study of labor and agriculture in the Americas, tracing work from anthropological analyses of peasant and plantation agriculture, to cultural ecologies of smallholders, to American agrarianism, and finally to studies of commodity chains and the labor process. In the review's penultimate section, we curate scholarship that merges macro-level political economic analysis with detailed narrative and interpretive inquiry into the lives of laborers. We aim for this review to provide groundwork for future intersectional food studies research that is sensitive to the lived experience of waged labor. In our conclusion, we argue for further theoretical and empirical expansion to engage the relationship between labor and food in the twenty-first century.
Sweetness, Power, and Forgotten Food Histories in America's Empire
Authors: Merleaux April
Published: March 2015

In Sweetness and Power Sidney Mintz noted that, during his field work in Puerto Rico in the late 1940s, he “saw sugar being consumed all around me.” In this article I argue that there was nothing inevitable about what Mintz saw Puerto Rican workers eating. I situate their food habits within the longer history of US colonialism and the immediate context of the New Deal and Second World War. In the 1930s and 1940s, people living in the US island territories became prodigious consumers of sweets as they ate their way through the trade surpluses brought by colonial inequality and wartime limitations. They ate sweets alongside locally produced subsistence crops. Rather than treating food producers and consumers as distinct groups, I suggest that we reconsider working-class food histories in order to foreground the questions of power, empire, and capitalism originally raised by Mintz.
MHD waveguide in the outer magnetosphere and mechanisms of its excitation
Authors: Мазур Виталий , Mazur Vitaliy , Чуйко Даниил , Chuiko Daniil
Published: March 2015

The geomagnetic field and plasma inhomogeneities in the outer equatorial part of the magnetosphere are responsible for the existence of the channel with low Alfven speeds, which extends from the nose to the far flanks of the magnetosphere, both in the morning and evening sectors. This channel serves as a waveguide in the fast magnetosonic waves. Travelling along the waveguide (i.e., in the azimuthal direction), an eigenmode undergoes evolution. Parameters of the waveguide vary along the way of the wave propagation and the eigenmode “adapts” to these parameters. Conditions of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability change due to the variation of the solar wind speed along the magnetopause. Conditions of the penetration of solar wind hydromagnetic waves into the magnetosphere change due to the same variation. The wave penetration process turns to the overreflection regime, which sharply amplifies the pump level of the magnetospheric waveguide. The fast mode propagating along the waveguide is accompanied by the Alfven resonance deep within the magnetosphere. Oscillation energy dissipation takes place in the vicinity of the Alfven resonance. Along the magnetic field lines, the Alfven resonance is a standing Alfven wave; thus it reaches the ionosphere and the Earth’s surface. At the same time, no fast waveguide modes localized in the low Alfven speed channel can be observed on the Earth. Waveguide oscillations evolution is investigated in this paper both analytically and numerically taking into account all of the aforementioned factors as the oscilla-tions propagate from the nose to the tail of the magnetosphere. Spectral composition and spatial structure of the oscillations are found. The theory allows for a description of Pc3 and Pc5 pulsations – the most important magnetospheric pulsations. As such it follows that Pc3 are localized on the dayside of the magnetosphere, whereas Pc 5 are localized in the dawn-dusk sectors – in full agreement with the observations.
Influence of Ecological Factors on Population Morbidity Indicators
Authors: Рисник  , Risnik D. , Барабаш  , Barabash A. , Левич  , Levich A. , Булгаков  , Bulgakov N. , Фурсова  , Fursova P.
Published: March 2015

On the Tambov region example a research related to deep-well drinking waters’ composition influence on able-bodied

population morbidity in 16 classes of diseases on the international classification has been performed. Correlation analysis,

contingency tables analysis, local environmental standards calculation method (LES method) have been used for this

purpose. Environment quality control in-situ-technology bases have been presented. Normal range limits of deep-well

waters’ physical and chemical factors, as well as of morbidity in different classes of diseases have been calculated by means

of the LES method.
Model of Community Awareness at Accident on Chemically Hazardous Object: System and Dynamic Approach
Authors: Котосонова  , Kotosonova A. , Дурнев  , Durnev R. , Галиуллина  , Galiullina R.
Published: March 2015

A model of community actions at an accident on chemically hazardous object taking into account the people information level has been presented. The model allows to determine a rational frequency of messages mailing realized by means of cellular communication services and to estimate an informing contribution to protective measures realization. Modeling results will be put into basis for recommendations related to informing of community’s various categories in emergency situation conditions.
Modern Oxidizing and Photo Oxidative Methods of Complexons Destruction in Liquid Radioactive Waste
Authors: Камруков  , Kamrukov A. , Новиков  , Novikov D.
Published: March 2015

State-of-the-art analysis for oxidizing technologies related to destruction of complexons and metalloorganic complexes in

liquid radioactive waste has been carried out. Ways already put into practice, as well as the experimental ones have been

considered. Oxidation by potassium permanganate and hydrogen peroxide and also ozonization and photo oxidation have

been considered in detail. It has been shown that oxidation by potassium permanganate with subsequent filtration leads to

decrease of isotopes activity, but hereby a considerable volume of manganese dioxide is formed. The ozonization application

allows reduce considerably the liquid radioactive waste (LRW) volume, but along with this ozone is the extremely toxic and

explosive substance demanding a special equipment for its production. Efficiency of oxidation by hydrogen peroxide and photo

oxidation without catalysts is low. The special attention has been paid to combined oxidizing methods (AOP) based on use of

ultra-violet (UV) radiation together with ozone and/or hydrogen peroxide. Such methods allow apply the strongest oxidizer –

hydroxyl radical – for LRW processing. Efficiency of AOP-methods and their technological capabilities are substantially defined

by characteristics of used UV radiation sources. A detailed analysis for a wide range of UV radiation possible sources (low

and average pressure mercury lamps, amalgamate lamps, excimer lamps, light-emitting diodes and pulse xenon lamps) has

been carried out, their comparative assessment has been executed. Great potential opportunities for the pulse xenon lamps

providing a continuous range of radiation in UV area and high intensity for a stream of high-vigorous photons have been noted.
Recovery of a mining-damaged stream ecosystem
Authors: Mebane Christopher A. , Eakins Robert J. , Fraser Brian G. , Adams William J.
Published: March 2015

This paper presents a 30+ year record of changes in benthic macroinvertebrate communities and fish populations associated with improving water quality in mining-influenced streams. Panther Creek, a tributary to the Salmon River in central Idaho, USA suffered intensive damage from mining and milling operations at the Blackbird Mine that released copper (Cu), arsenic (As), and cobalt (Co) into tributaries. From the 1960s through the 1980s, no fish and few aquatic invertebrates could be found in 40 km of mine-affected reaches of Panther Creek downstream of the metals contaminated tributaries, Blackbird and Big Deer Creeks.

Efforts to restore water quality began in 1995, and by 2002 Cu levels had been reduced by about 90%, with incremental declines since. Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were early colonizers, quickly expanding their range as areas became habitable when Cu concentrations dropped below about 3X the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s biotic ligand model (BLM) based chronic aquatic life criterion. Anadromous Chinook Salmon (O. tshawytscha) and steelhead (O. mykiss) have also reoccupied Panther Creek. Full recovery of salmonid populations occurred within about 12-years after the onset of restoration efforts and about 4-years after the Cu chronic criteria had mostly been met, with recovery interpreted as similarity in densities, biomass, year class strength, and condition factors between reference sites and mining-influenced sites. Shorthead Sculpin (Cottus confusus) were slower than salmonids to disperse and colonize. While benthic macroinvertebrate biomass has increased, species richness has plateaued at about 70 to 90% of reference despite the Cu criterion having been met for several years. Different invertebrate taxa had distinctly different recovery trajectories. Among the slowest taxa to recover were Ephemerella, Cinygmula and Rhithrogena mayflies, Enchytraeidae oligochaetes, and Heterlimnius aquatic beetles. Potential reasons for the failure of some invertebrate taxa to recover include competition, and high sensitivity to Co and Cu.
Living with uveitis: Clinician and patient perspectives
Authors: Lee Lester J , Agorogiannis Georgios , Papagiannuli Efrosini , Salter Rebecca , Davies Nicola , McCarthy Maxine
Published: March 2015

Uveitis refers to the inflammation of the uvea, and early diagnosis is vital to minimising sight loss. This article provides a clinical overview of the condition and discusses the diagnosis and management of uveitis from the clinician's perspective, providing further insight into ongoing research. Rebecca Salter, mother of seven-year-old Riley, also shares her experience of helping her child to cope with uveitis.
Henshaws Pathway to Independence: A new model of service delivery for people with visual impairment
Authors: Cooper Robert , Ridgway Alan , Doyle Helen
Published: March 2015

There is increasing evidence to show that the circumstances of people with visual impairment in the UK have worsened in recent years and that statutory services are increasingly under pressure. As a voluntary sector provider, changes in the visual impairment sector and in the provision of health and social care meant that an assessment of a new model of service delivery needed to be investigated. This article reviews the changing landscape of service provision for people with sight loss, outlines the findings of current research into the needs of our client group and discusses the implications of these findings, which ultimately led to a new model of service delivery—Henshaws Pathway to Independence.
What next for assessment?
Authors: Walker Mick
Published: March 2015

Schools need to take the bull by the horns when planning for life after national curriculum levels. Mick Walker takes a look at the current situation and advises on next steps
Splitting the soul: Spanish conservatives, anti-secularism and the ‘enemizing’ of Islam
Authors: Weisz Martina L.
Published: March 2015

As elsewhere, perceptions of Muslims and Islam suffered a negative impact in Spain as a consequence of the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States. This trend was particularly noticeable among the conservatives, who traditionally combined the support for Catholic hegemony with an exceptionally warm approach towards Islam and the Arab world. By focusing on the image of Muslims as constructed by the traditionalist newspaper ABC, this article exposes the dynamics underlying the dramatic shift in the perception of Islam among Spanish conservatives at the turn of the twenty-first century, in the context of changing domestic and global scenarios.