bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dale Martin’s Swords for Jesus: Shaky Evidence?
Authors: Downing F. Gerald
Published: February 2015

Although re-examinations of accepted conclusions are to be welcomed, Dale Martin’s recent revisionist article, ‘Jesus in Jerusalem: Armed and Not Dangerous’, is here rebutted. Contra Martin, carrying a sword for self-defence was the default position, not subject to penalty, let alone a token of revolt. ‘Love of Enemies’ is the awkward original teaching of Jesus, read in the light of later interpretations of the fall of Jerusalem and its Temple as divine vengeance. The reduced Passover of the Last Supper accounts betokens later practice, not Jesus’ rejection of his people’s cult.
Response to Downing and Fredriksen
Authors: Martin Dale B.
Published: February 2015

This is a response to criticisms raised by Paula Fredriksen and F. Gerald Downing of my recent JSNT article, ‘Jesus in Jerusalem: Armed and Not Dangerous’. After noting cases where Fredriksen and Downing misrepresent my arguments, I respond to Fredriksen’s disagreement with my interpretation of μάχαιρα as ‘sword’ and to the objections raised by both respondents about the lack of legal evidence for the prohibition of carrying arms in a city. I also address a number of historical and methodological issues raised by both responses.
The advent of the transnational TV format trading system: a global commodity chain analysis
Authors: Chalaby Jean K
Published: February 2015

This article argues that the format business transformed into a trading system in the 2000s, system being defined as a singular transnational space structured by networks of interdependent economic agents, firms, institutions and places. Following the global commodity chain/global value chain approach set out by Immanuel Wallerstein and developed by Gary Gereffi, this article then examines each dimension of the global TV format commodity chain that runs through this trading system. Beginning with the governance structure, this article counter-intuitively asserts that despite the current boom in TV production, it is a buyer-driven chain with power resting firmly in the hands of those making the acquisitions: the broadcasters. Considering the chain’s geographical configuration, this article identifies three tiers of format exporters and specific trade routes along which most TV formats travel. These findings enable us to reassess the claims made by the cosmopolitanization thesis about the nature of media globalization. Contrary to this thesis, this article asserts the need to comprehend media globalization within the context of an expanding capitalist world-system, and shows that the new transnational TV format trade and its commodity chain replicate the inequalities and power structures of former trading systems.
Surgical resection of a giant cardiac fibroma
Authors: Stamp Nikki L , Larbalestier Robert I
Published: February 2015

A 42-year-old woman presented to a regional hospital emergency room with palpitations and was found to be in ventricular tachycardia. Chest radiography demonstrated a massively enlarged cardiac silhouette. Echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a mass within the left ventricular free wall, consistent with a cardiac fibroma. The patient proceeded to have surgical resection of the mass. Left ventricular function was preserved postoperatively.
Association of ABO blood types with the risk of in-stent restenosis
Authors: Pourafkari L , Ghaffari S , Ahmadi M , Tajlil A , Nader ND
Published: February 2015

Objectives:

To investigate the prevalence of in-stent restenosis (ISR) in patients with various ABO blood types.

Methods:

Clinical information from 150 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of ISR and 150 patients with a diagnosis of patent coronary stents in the secondary angiography was collected. Comprehensive demographic and laboratory data, including ABO and Rhesus blood groups, as well as comorbid conditions and vessel and stent characteristics, were recorded for each patient. The association of ABO blood groups with the risk of ISR before and after controlling for coronary risk factors was determined. Categorical data were analyzed with the Chi-square test and numerical values were analyzed with t-tests. Binary logistic regression models were constructed to compare type A and non-A for the frequency of risk factors.

Results:

A total of 392 stents were implanted in 300 patients. Two hundred and fourteen stents (54.6%) were patent and 178 stents (45.4%) were stenosed. Blood group A was significantly more common in the ISR group (43.3% vs. 28.7%, p=0.03). However, the frequencies of other blood types, as well as Rh antigen, were similar between the two groups. Triglyceride and low-density lipoproteins were the only significantly different variables (221 ± 198 mg/dL vs. 138 ± 76 mg/dL, p<0.001 and 108 ± 36 mg/dL vs. 96 ± 73 mg/dL, p=0.04, in type-A vs. non-A, respectively). After matching for coronary risk factors, there was no difference between A blood type patients and their controls.

Conclusion:

ISR is significantly more prevalent in individuals with the type A blood group. However, this higher association is most likely due to higher atherogenic conditions in patients within this population.
Late Stage Huntington's Disease: Effect of Treating Specific Disabilities
Authors: Mason Joanne , Andrews Keith , Wilson Elizabeth
Published: February 2015

Huntington's disease is an hereditary degenerative condition resulting, eventually, in physical and mental, behavioural and emotional disability. Four severely affected patients were included in a multiple-baseline, single-case experimental design study to test the hypothesis that occupational therapy for specific activities would Improve function in those activities. There was no evidence of improvement resulting from specific treatment of activities over the 8-month observation period. However, only one patient deteriorated and, therefore it is possible that the occupational therapy input had a generalised effect In preventing the deterioration of activities, it is concluded that, in the severe form of Huntington's disease, intensive therapy for specific activities does not result in Improvement and that a more general programme may be more productive.
Multiple temporalities of knowing in academic research
Authors: Smith Simon
Published: February 2015

Based on ethnographic research at five Czech universities from 2011 to 2013, this article explores how academics make sense of and claims to three qualitatively distinct temporal regimes in which their activities as knowledge producers are inscribed: disciplinary time, career time and project time. This conceptual framework, a modification of Shinn’s distinction between disciplinary, transitory and transversal knowledge-production regimes, seeks to replace images of competition and succession between regimes with images of their recombination and intersection. It enables an interpretation of the empirical findings beyond the indigenous complaint that excessive speed is compromising the quality of knowledge production. The relationship between projects, careers and disciplines emerges from the study as problematic rather than synergistic. In this respect the paper does not contradict the claim by critical theorists that we are witnessing the disintegration of what used to be a functional relationship between the multiple temporalities of academic knowledge production based on standardized career scripts, nor the related claim that this may reflect a deeper crisis of modernity as a predictive regime for the production of futures. It proposes, however, that transversal projects can still be mediators of ‘disciplinary respiration’ insofar as their timeframes are available for variable calibration commensurate with the increasingly heteronomous ways of knowing and knowledge routines that academic researchers practise.
Work and the challenge of autonomy
Authors: Lallement Michel
Published: February 2015

Although ‘autonomy’ is rarely included as an entry in dictionaries of sociology, it is a notion that facilitates understanding of how work and, on a more general level, capitalism have evolved in modern societies. On this point, two schools of thought can be distinguished. The first of these, which is well represented through empirical studies carried out by sociologists, focuses on workplace autonomy (the ability to invent rules that are not imposed by management). The second, which is more closely associated with social philosophy, analyzes the conditions necessary for such autonomy to exist (the ability to define objectives and to identify the means for reaching them, while remaining free from any kind of systematic integration). This article revisits the presuppositions adopted and the methods employed by these two schools of thought, as well as some of the obstacles each of them encounters. The purpose is to shed light upon the many uses to which the notion of ‘autonomy’ is put, to underscore its relevance for sociological theory, and to discern the conditions necessary for studying a new alliance between work and autonomy in an underlying context where cognitive capitalism and unfettered flexibility are becoming common.
Post-closure care of engineered municipal solid waste landfills
Authors: Bagchi Amalendu , Bhattacharya Abhik
Published: February 2015

Post-closure care is divided into perpetual care (PPC) and long-term care (LTC). Guidelines for post-closure care and associated costs are important for engineered municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. In many states in the USA, landfill owners are required to set aside funds for 30–40 years of LTC. Currently there are no guidelines for PPC, which is also required. We undertook a pilot study, using two landfills (note: average landfill capacity 2.5 million MT MSW waste) in Wisconsin, to establish an approach for estimating the LTC period using field data and PPC funding need. Statistical analysis of time versus concentration data of selected leachate parameters showed that the concentration of most parameters is expected to be at or below the preventive action limit of groundwater and leachate volume will be very low, within 40 years of the LTC period. The gas extraction system may need to be continued for more than 100 years. Due to lack of data no conclusion could be made regarding adequacy of the LTC period for the groundwater monitoring system. The final cover must be maintained for perpetuity. The pilot study shows that although technology is available, the financial liability of maintaining a ‘Dry Tomb’ design for landfills is significantly higher than commonly perceived. The paper will help landfill professionals to estimate realistic post-closure funding and to develop field-based policies for LTC and PPC of engineered MSW landfills.
Anaerobic digestion of bio-waste: A mini-review focusing on territorial and environmental aspects
Authors: Cecchi Franco , Cavinato Cristina
Published: February 2015

Scientific and industrial experiences, together with economical and policies changes of last 30 years, bring anaerobic digestion among the most environmental friendly and economically advantageous technologies for organic waste treatment and management in Europe. In this short review, the role of anaerobic digestion of organic wastes is discussed, considering the opportunity of a territorial friendly approach, without barriers, where different organic wastes are co-treated. This objective can be achieved through two proposed strategies: one is the anaerobic digestion applied as a service for the agricultural and farming sector; the other as a service for citizen (biowaste, diapers and wastewater treatment integration). The union of these two strategies is an environmental- and territorial-friendly process that aims to produce renewable energy and fertiliser material, with a low greenhouse gas emission and nutrients recovery. The advantage of forthcoming application of anaerobic digestion of organic wastes, even for added value bioproducts production and new energy carriers, are finally discussed. Among several advantages of anaerobic digestion, the role of the environmental controller was evaluated, considering the ability of minimising the impacts exploiting the biochemical equilibrium and sensitivity as a quality assurance for digestate.
Surface grafting of chitosan shell, polycaprolactone core fiber meshes to confer bioactivity
Authors: Vaidya Prasad , Grove Tijana , Edgar Kevin J , Goldstein Aaron S
Published: February 2015

Electrospinning of polyesters (e.g. polycaprolactone) is an attractive approach for fabricating meshes with mechanical properties suitable for orthopedic tissue engineering applications. However, the resultant fused-fiber meshes are biologically inert, necessitating surface grafting of bioactive factors to stimulate cell adhesion. In this study, hydrophilic meshes displaying primary amine groups were prepared by coaxially electrospinning fibers with a chitosan/poly(ethylene oxide) shell and a polycaprolactone core. These chitosan–polycaprolactone fiber meshes were mechanically robust (Young’s modulus of 10.1 ± 1.6 MPa under aqueous conditions) with tensile properties comparable to polycaprolactone fiber meshes. Next, the integrin adhesion peptide arginine–glycine–aspartic acid was grafted to chitosan–polycaprolactone fiber meshes. Cell culture studies using bone marrow stromal cells indicated significantly better initial attachment and spreading on arginine–glycine–aspartic acid–conjugated fiber meshes. Specifically, metabolic activity, projected cell area, and cell aspect ratio were all elevated relative to cells seeded on polycaprolactone and unmodified chitosan–polycaprolactone meshes. These results demonstrate a flexible two-step process for creating bioactive electrospun fiber meshes.
Composition-property relationships for radiopaque composite materials: pre-loaded drug-eluting beads for transarterial chemoembolization
Authors: Kilcup Nancy , Tonkopi Elena , Abraham Robert J , Boyd Daniel , Kehoe Sharon
Published: February 2015

The purpose of this study was to synthesize and optimize intrinsically radiopaque composite embolic microspheres for sustained release of doxorubicin in drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization. Using a design of experiments approach, 12 radiopaque composites composed of polylactic-co-glycolic acid and a radiopaque glass (ORP5) were screened over a range of compositions and examined for radiopacity (computed tomography) and density. In vitro cell viability was determined using an extract assay derived from each composition against the human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, HepG2. Mathematical models based on a D-Optimal response surface methodology were used to determine the preferred radiopaque composite. The resulting radiopaque composite was validated and subsequently loaded with doxorubicin between 0 and 1.4% (wt% of polylactic-co-glycolic acid) to yield radiopaque composite drug-eluting beads. Thereafter, the radiopaque composite drug-eluting beads were subjected to an elution study (up to 168 h) to determine doxorubicin release profiles (UV-Vis spectroscopy) and in vitro cell viability. Radiopaque composites evaluated for screening purposes had densities between 1.28 and 1.67 g.cm−3, radiopacity ranged between 211 and 1450HU and cell viabilities between 91 and 106% were observed. The optimized radiopaque composite comprised 23 wt% polylactic-co-glycolic acid and 60 wt% ORP5 with a corresponding density of 1.63 ± 0.001 g.cm−3, radiopacity at 1930 ± 44HU and cell viability of 89 ± 7.6%. Radiopaque composite drug-eluting beads provided sustained doxorubicin release over 168 h. In conclusion, the mathematical models allowed for the identification and synthesis of a unique radiopaque composite. The optimized radiopaque composite had similar density and cell viability to commercially available embolic microspheres. It was possible to preload doxorubicin into radiopaque composite drug-eluting beads, such that sustained release was possible under simulated physiological conditions.
Construct Validity of Anticipated Work–Family Conflict and Barriers Measures
Authors: Campbell Elizabeth L. , Campbell Vicki L. , Watkins C. Edward
Published: February 2015

The purpose of this study was to explore the occurrence of anticipated work–family conflict (AWFC) in young adults and examine the assumption that AWFC and anticipated work and family barriers were interchangeable constructs. Previous research sought to examine AWFC but due to theoretical and measurement factors, an understanding of it remains contradictory and unclear. Clarification is needed for subsequent research on work and family planning. For this purpose, 120 college students between the ages of 18 to 25 completed six different self-report questionnaires measuring AWFC and barriers. Results were examined to establish construct validity and prevalence rates for AWFC. A multi-trait, multi-method matrix revealed construct validity for some, but not all, AWFC and barriers measures. Low to moderate AWFC prevalence rates were reported overall, and Friedman’s analysis of variance revealed that rates varied by different types of measurement instruments. Thus, methodology emerged as a critical factor for continued AWFC research. Additional implications and future directions for AWFC and barriers are discussed.
Comparative analysis of poly(N-methylpyrrole) and its titanium dioxide nanocomposite film formations against equivalent electrical circuit model for the their corrosion-inhibition effects
Authors: Ates Murat , Kamer Levent , Ozkan Haydar
Published: February 2015

Conducting polymers have been used for many years as coating materials against corrosion. However, the coated materials absorb water over time resulting in reduction of resistivity and anticorrosion properties. In this study, poly( N-methylpyrrole) (P( N-MPy)) and P( N-MPy)/titanium dioxide ((TiO2) nanocomposite films were synthesized in 0.5 M oxalic acid solution on Al 1050 electrode by chronoamperometric method. The modified electrodes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray analysis, Fourier transform infrared–attenuated transmission reflectance, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and Tafel extrapolation techniques. The corrosion tests results were obtained in 3.5% sodium chloride (NaCl) solution by Tafel plots. In addition, the equivalent electrical circuit model of P( N-MPy) and P( N-MPy)/TiO2 nanocomposite films were investigated in 3.5% NaCl solution at different time periods. The EIS study of the polymer and nanocomposite were analyzed by Matlab program and for the first time Tina, the equivalent electrical circuits program, was used.
Real Earnings Management and Future Performance
Authors: Tabassum Naila , Kaleem Ahmad , Nazir Mian Sajid
Published: February 2015

Managers manipulate firm’s earnings through real activities to show good performance in the current period. This article determines whether there is any impact of these earnings manipulation in future financial performance or not. A panel data analysis technique generalized least square (GLS) method was used for analysis. The sample includes 119 firms listed in Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) for the years 2004–2011. The article provides evidence that firms engaged in real earnings management (REM) activities through sales manipulation to report higher earnings have worse financial performance in future. It reveals that earnings manipulation seems helpful and appealing in current situation but creates problems in future.
Genetic and Developmental Perspective of Language Abnormality in Autism and Schizophrenia
Authors: Wang Haoran George , Jeffries Joseph Joel , Wang Tianren Frank
Published: February 2015

Language and communication through it are two of the defining features of normally developed human beings. However, both these functions are often impaired in autism and schizophrenia. In the former disorder, the problem usually emerges in early childhood (~2 years old) and typically includes a lack of communication. In the latter condition, the language problems usually occur in adolescence and adulthood and presents as disorganized speech. What are the fundamental mechanisms underlying these two disorders? Is there a shared genetic basis? Are the traditional beliefs about them true? Are there any common strategies for their prevention and management? To answer these questions, we searched PubMed by using autism, schizophrenia, gene, and language abnormality as keywords, and we reconsidered the basic concepts about these two diseases or syndromes. We found many functional genes, for example, FOXP2, COMT, GABRB3, and DISC1, are actually implicated in both of them. After observing the symptoms, genetic correlates, and temporal progression of these two disorders as well as their relationships more carefully, we now infer that the occurrence of these two diseases is likely developmentally regulated via interaction between the genome and the environment. Furthermore, we propose a unified view of autism and schizophrenia: a single age-dependently occurred disease that is newly named as Systemic Integral Disorder: if occurring in children before age 2, it is called autism; if in adolescence or a later age, it is called schizophrenia.
The economic case for gender equality in the European Union: Selling gender equality to decision-makers and neoliberalism to women’s organizations
Authors: Elomäki Anna
Published: February 2015

Scholarship on gender and the European Union (EU) has consistently pointed out that EU gender equality policies have always been embedded in the logic of the market and that the economic framing has had negative impacts on the content and concepts of these policies. This article provides novel insights into this discussion by combining a discursive approach focused on framings with insights of feminist economists and examining how the relationship between gender equality and the economy has been conceptualized in EU policy documents from the 1980s up until the present day. The article identifies the key actors and processes behind the escalation of economic arguments for gender equality and makes visible the economic assumptions that underpin EU gender equality policy. It argues that in recent years the European institutions have intentionally developed and propagated a market-oriented gender equality discourse, the economic case for gender equality, which highlights the macroeconomic benefits of gender equality. The economic case reaffirms the gender-biased assumptions of neoclassical economic theory and legitimizes the EU’s current economic priorities and policies, many of which are detrimental to gender equality. The European Commission represents the argument that gender equality contributes to economic growth as an innovative way to promote gender equality. However, the economic case represents a risk for gender equality advocates, because it may tame the emerging feminist criticism of the EU’s economic policies and governance.
Upholding labour standards through corporate social responsibility policies in China
Authors: Yu Xiaomin
Published: February 2015

The use of corporate social responsibility (CSR) concepts and practices including voluntary codes of conduct in China has grown considerably over the past decade, providing an opportunity to examine the dynamics and impacts of codes of conduct in stemming labour abuses. This article uses an in-depth case study of the implementation of codes of conduct at a Chinese supplier factory for Reebok, a leading brand in the global athletic footwear industry, to explore how and why codes of conduct, as a privatised form of global labour regulation, are effective in some respects but also ineffective in other respects in terms of improving labour standards in the global production system. This article sheds light on the influences of a variety of related factors that are embedded in overlapping international, industrial, national and local contexts to contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the effectiveness of codes of conduct at curbing labour abuses.
Be honest and help me prepare for the future
Authors: Holland Anne E , Fiore Julio F , Goh Nicole , Symons Karen , Dowman Leona , Westall Glen , Hazard Anita , Glaspole Ian
Published: February 2015

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is recommended for people with interstitial lung disease (ILD); however, the educational content of PR was not designed for this group. This study explored the perspectives of patients and ILD clinicians regarding the educational content of PR for ILD. A qualitative study using individual semi-structured interviews was undertaken. Transcripts were coded independently by two investigators and themes established by consensus. Participants were 18 people with ILD (9 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide 54 (20)% predicted) and 14 clinicians from 5 countries and 5 disciplines. Major themes from patient interviews were the importance of knowing what the future might bring and the need for honesty from clinicians. Most were happy to attend standard PR education sessions but wanted ILD-specific content. Patients wanted information about end-of-life planning and most were happy to discuss it in a group. Among clinicians, there was no consensus regarding whether prognosis should be discussed in PR. Most clinicians supported discussion of advanced care planning, however, some thought it should not be discussed in a group. We conclude that people with ILD have specific educational needs that may not be met in the current PR format. Patients and clinicians have some discordant views about programme content.
Featured Article: Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α dependent nuclear entry of factor inhibiting HIF-1
Authors: Liang Ke , Ding Xue-qin , Lin Chen , Kang Y James
Published: February 2015

The regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) transcriptional activity in the nucleus is related to factor inhibiting HIF-1 (FIH-1). FIH-1 hydrolyzes asparagine at the C-terminal of HIF-1α, preventing the interaction between HIF-1α and its associated cofactors, and leading to suppressed activation of HIF-1. FIH-1 is a cytosolic protein and its entry to the nucleus has to be coordinated with HIF-1α. The present study was undertaken to examine the correlation between HIF-1α and FIH-1 in their nuclear entry. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were treated with dimethyloxalylglycine at a final concentration of 100 µM for 4 h, resulting in an accumulation of HIF-1α and an increase of FIH-1 in the nucleus as determined by Western blot analysis. Pretreatment of the cells with copper (Cu) chelator tetraethylenepentamine at 50 µM in cultures for 24 h reduced both HIF-1α protein levels and the HIF-1α entry to the nucleus, along with decreased FIH-1 protein levels in the nucleus but no changes in the total FIH-1 protein levels in the cells. These effects were prevented by simultaneous addition of 50 µM CuSO4 with tetraethylenepentamine. Gene-silencing of HIF-1α significantly inhibited FIH-1 entry to the nucleus, but did not affect the total protein levels of FIH-1 in the cells. This work demonstrates that the nuclear entry of FIH-1 depends on HIF-1α. Cu deficiency caused a decrease of HIF-1α, leading to suppression of FIH-1 entry to the nucleus.
Analysis of risk factors and diseases associated with atherosclerosis in the progression of carotid artery stenosis
Authors: Batagini Nayara Cioffi , da Silva Erasmo Simão , Pinto Carlos AV , Puech-Leão Pedro , de Luccia Nelson
Published: February 2015

Objective

The objective of this study was to analyze the roles of demographic, clinical, and laboratory factors on the progression of atherosclerotic stenosis in carotid bifurcation. It was based on prospective information from records entered on a specific application form for follow-up outpatients at a tertiary university service.

Methods

Consecutive symptomatic and asymptomatic patients ( n = 210) who had undergone more than one carotid duplex scan but no surgical intervention were selected for the analysis. The patients were divided into two groups: patients whose duplex scans did not show bilateral progression of carotid stenosis and patients with carotid stenosis progression of <50%, 50%–69%, or >70%. Clinical and demographic parameters were compared between groups.

Results

Group II levels of plasma urea (51.6 ± 27.8 mg/dl) and fibrinogen (493.2 ± 113.3 mg/dl) were higher than the Group I levels (43.0 ± 14.9 mg/dl and 441.3 ± 106.7 mg/dl, respectively) with statistical significance (p urea = 0.013 and p fibrinogen = 0.018). Paradoxically, the mean body mass index was higher in Group I (26.4 ± 4.6 kg/m2) than in Group II (24.6 ± 3.9 kg/m2; p = 0.02).

Conclusions

Traditional risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis in a carotid bifurcation are important but not unique. Metabolic and inflammatory factors can contribute to disease progression.
Anatomic and procedural determinants of fluoroscopy time during elective endovascular aortic aneurysm repair
Authors: Ruz Ricardo , Lee Kevin , Power Adam H , DeRose Guy , Forbes Thomas L , Dubois Luc
Published: February 2015

Objective

To identify both the procedural and anatomic factors which determine duration of fluoroscopy during elective endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR).

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed our prospectively maintained EVAR database for the relationship between fluoroscopy time and both procedural (type of graft, configuration, number of components, surgeon) and anatomic factors reflective of aneurysm complexity (15 variables).

Results

A total of 128 patients underwent elective EVAR with a mean fluoroscopy time of 5.7 ± 3.4 min. The type of grafts used consisted of 41 (32%) Zenith, 85 (66.4%) Endurant and 2 (1.6%) Anaconda, with 105 (82%) being bifurcated and 23 (18%) being aorto-uni-iliac (AUI) in configuration. Both the surgeon performing the procedure ( p = 0.001) and graft configuration (bifurcated vs. AUI, p = 0.03) were found to be predictive of fluoroscopy time; while procedural and anatomic variables were not.

Conclusions

The surgeon’s efficiency in the use of fluoroscopy during EVAR is the most important determinant of total fluoroscopy time. Anatomic complexity, make of device, and number of components inserted have minimal impact on duration of fluoroscopy. An endovascular surgeon’s ability to curtail fluoroscopy duration is the key component in minimizing radiation exposure to both the surgical team and the patient.
Endovascular repair of symptomatic carotid artery aneurysm with covered stent: A case report and literature review
Authors: Jahromi Alireza Hamidian , Tan Tze-Woei , Coulter Amy H , Doucet Linda D , Zhang Wayne W
Published: February 2015

Objectives:

Extracranial carotid artery true aneurysm is extremely uncommon, and definite treatment has traditionally involved open surgical repair. Although successful management of the internal carotid artery aneurysms using endovascular stenting and embolization has recently been reported, only a limited number of cases have been reported.

Methods:

We present a case of symptomatic carotid true aneurysm repaired with covered stent and coil embolization of the external carotid artery. We also review the English literature and discuss the epidemiology, causes, diagnosis, and management options of internal carotid artery aneurysms.

Results:

The patient did not have any complications, and was discharged home on the postoperative day 1 in stable condition.

Conclusion:

Our report suggests that endovascular procedure is feasible in the treatment of extracranial carotid artery aneurysms.
Newly Identified Characteristics and Suggestions for Diagnosis and Treatment of Diffuse Leptomeningeal Glioneuronal/Neuroepithelial Tumors
Authors: Lyle Megan R. , Dolia Jaydevsinh N. , Fratkin Jonathan , Nichols Todd A. , Herrington Betty L.
Published: February 2015

Diffuse leptomeningeal glioneuronal tumor is unique for communicating hydrocephalus, diffuse leptomeningeal enhancement, cystic changes, absence of tumor cells in cerebral spinal fluid, and a cell population of both glial and neuronal copositivity. It has likely been misdiagnosed as mixed glioneuronal tumors, oligodendrogliomas, and neuroepithelial tumors. Children with signs of this tumor are often worked up for infection, rheumatologic disease, or disseminated primary malignancy, resulting in unnecessary testing and treatment. We describe a 14-year-old female with recurrent headaches, hydrocephalus, and diffuse leptomeningeal enhancement discovered to be neoplastic 1 year after initial presentation, owing to extensive and unrevealing infectious and immunologic workups. Biopsies revealed atypical cells with markers of both glial and neuronal cells, positivity for OLIG-2, and focal p53 positivity. Great response was seen with temozolomide and craniospinal irradiation. Additionally, we postulate additional diagnostic indicators that may aid in earlier diagnosis and treatment decisions.
Sicker and Poorer
Authors: Yin Na
Published: February 2015

Purpose:

Disabled individuals younger than 65 years are entitled to Medicare coverage through the Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) program, but only if they have completed a 2-year waiting period. This is the first study that uses longitudinal panel data, the Health and Retirement Study, and examines whether and to what extent the health and economic status are affected among disability beneficiaries who are uninsured during the Medicare waiting period.

Methods:

In a quasiexperiment research design, using a difference-in-difference (diff-in-diff) estimator, we compare changes in health and economic outcomes pre-/postentering the DI program for disability beneficiaries with alternative public health insurance and those without.

Results:

The adjusted diff-in-diff estimates suggest that disability beneficiaries who are uninsured during the waiting period, compared to those who are insured, are 13.6 percentage point more likely to report poor health, 6.3 percentage point less likely to be in excellent health, declare more difficulties in activities of daily living, and 30% higher medical expenditures from out of pocket.

Conclusions:

The findings highlight punitive health and economic effects of the Medicare waiting period for uninsured disability beneficiaries. We also discuss the implications of the findings for the Affordable Care Act reform.
Copy number variation and brain structure: lessons learned from chromosome 16p11.2
Authors: Stein Jason L
Published: February 2015

Recent work has linked specific genetic variation found in human populations to risk for developing neuropsychiatric diseases. How that risk is mediated through molecular-, cellular- and systems-level mechanisms now becomes the central question in this field. Two recent papers studying high-penetrance copy number variation at chromosome 16p11.2 find large changes in brain structure, refining hypotheses about the regions of the brain that are affected and implicating specific neurodevelopmental processes in these changes.
Contribution of soil esterase to biodegradation of aliphatic polyester agricultural mulch film in cultivated soils
Authors: Yamamoto-Tamura Kimiko , Hiradate Syuntaro , Watanabe Takashi , Koitabashi Motoo , Sameshima-Yamashita Yuka , Yarimizu Tohru , Kitamoto Hiroko
Published: February 2015

The relationship between degradation speed of soil-buried biodegradable polyester film in a farmland and the characteristics of the predominant polyester-degrading soil microorganisms and enzymes were investigated to determine the BP-degrading ability of cultivated soils through characterization of the basal microbial activities and their transition in soils during BP film degradation. Degradation of poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA) film was evaluated in soil samples from different cultivated fields in Japan for 4 weeks. Both the degradation speed of the PBSA film and the esterase activity were found to be correlated with the ratio of colonies that produced clear zone on fungal minimum medium-agarose plate with emulsified PBSA to the total number colonies counted. Time-dependent change in viable counts of the PBSA-degrading fungi and esterase activities were monitored in soils where buried films showed the most and the least degree of degradation. During the degradation of PBSA film, the viable counts of the PBSA-degrading fungi and the esterase activities in soils, which adhered to the PBSA film, increased with time. The soil, where the film was degraded the fastest, recorded large PBSA-degrading fungal population and showed high esterase activity compared with the other soil samples throughout the incubation period. Meanwhile, esterase activity and viable counts of PBSA-degrading fungi were found to be stable in soils without PBSA film. These results suggest that the higher the distribution ratio of native PBSA-degrading fungi in the soil, the faster the film degradation is. This could be due to the rapid accumulation of secreted esterases in these soils.
Reviewer acknowledgement 2014
Authors: Grattan Clive
Published: February 2015

Contributing reviewers

The editors of Clinical and Translational Allergy would like to thank all of our reviewers who have contributed to the journal in Volume 4 (2014).
Application of BIM coordination technology to HSR Changhua station
Authors: Lee Weilun , Kang Szumin , Moh Richard , Wu Robert , Hsieh Hungchang , Shu Zhehua
Published: February 2015

The arising trend of building information modeling technology application with innovative and revolutionary approach has changed the workflow and deliberation in A/E/C industry. By considering the condensed schedule of the project, operation safety, and information correctness during design and construction stages, Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation (THSRC) brings BIM technology into Changhua Station construction project. The accumulated massive information helps engineers to coordinate design information among different expertise (architecture, structure, MEP, etc.) into BIM model at earlier phases. The effectiveness of BIM coordination technology increases the design quality and reduces significantly the conflicts of various interfaces. Three-dimension visualized interface increases the problem solving efficiency. During construction stage, construction information is integrated by the model to enhance fluency of construction process among different construction sectors. Application of BIM coordination technology reduces information gap, enhances construction quality and meets the schedule.
A Hybrid BCI speller based on the combination of EMG envelopes and SSVEP
Authors: Lin Ke , Chen Xiaogang , Huang Xiaoshan , Ding Qiang , Gao Xiaorong
Published: February 2015

Recently, much attention has been paid to Hybrid Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI). In this study, we developed a hybrid BCI speller that simultaneously utilized information from both hand Electromyography (EMG) and SSVEP. This cross-modal BCI speller could increase the target number so as to enhance the information transfer rate (ITR). A 60-target hybrid BCI speller was built in this study. A frame-based sampled sinusoidal stimulation method was used to generate the flickering stimulus on the LCD screen. The 60 targets were equally divided into 4 sections, and each section had the same frequency range. EMG signal was used to distinguish different sections. Subjects were required to repeatedly make a fist from 0 to 3 times when the target was shown in section 1 to section 4. Then by extracting the envelope of the EMG signal and calculating the number of peaks of the envelope, we could know which section the target was in. Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) method was used to classify the SSVEP signal. The offline results showed that ITR achieved maximum value when the time window was set to be 2 s. The average classification accuracy of a 2 s time window was 80.5% and information transfer rate was 83.2 bit/min using the proposed hybrid BCI system. While the ITR was 32.7 bit/min for EMG only condition and 58.2 bit/min for SSVEP only condition, which revealed that the hybrid system had better performance than the two single-modal modalities.
Statistical study of medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances using SuperDARN Hokkaido ground backscatter data for 2011
Authors: Oinats Alexey V , Kurkin Vladimir I , Nishitani Nozomu
Published: February 2015

We describe an automated technique to determine parameters of traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) using the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) high frequency (HF) radar data. The technique is based on the analysis of minimum ground backscatter range variations corresponding to different radar beams. Using this technique, we processed the SuperDARN Hokkaido radar data for 2011 and revealed statistical distributions of medium-scale TID (MSTID) azimuth and apparent horizontal velocity. We found four peaks with a distinct diurnal and seasonal dependence in the MSTID azimuth occurrence rate distributions. Northeast MSTID azimuths (20° to 50°) are typical of the summer and equinox morning hours; southeast azimuths (100° to 140°) prevail in the winter daytime; southwest azimuths (190° to 220°) are typical mostly in the summer and equinox nighttime and in the equinox evening; northwest azimuths (280° to 320°) are typical of the summer daytime and evening. The apparent horizontal velocities are generally within the 100 to 160 m/s range. The obtained results agree well with earlier studies by other researchers. However, there are also certain differences. The summer daytime northwestward MSTIDs are not indicated in the earlier studies. The nighttime horizontal velocities are 1.5 to 2 times higher than those in the daytime. Furthermore, winter velocity values are about 1.5 times higher than those in other seasons. These differences might be associated with the peculiarities of the data recorded by different facilities, or the features of the processing techniques, and require further investigation for their interpretation.
Hydrothermal treatment of Ti surface to enhance the formation of low crystalline hydroxyl carbonate apatite
Authors: Yang Soyoung , Lee Sujeong , Bajpai Indu , Kim Sukyoung
Published: February 2015

Background

Ti and its alloys have been widely used as orthopedic and dental implants due to their outstanding mechanical properties and biocompatibility. However, long time is required to form bond between Ti implant and surrounding tissues. Therefore, these implants necessitate surface treatment such as mechanical/chemical treatment and coating of bioactive materials for improving the osseointegration.

Results

This study was focused on the calcium-phosphate (Ca-P) coating on machined Ti, blasted-Ti (B-Ti), and blasted-NaOH-etched-Ti (BNH) surfaces by hydrothermal method to evaluate the ability of HA formation. Nanostructured morphology was created by NaOH etching on blasted-Ti surface. XRD analysis confirmed the existence of sodium titanate phase on such samples. Rutile and anatase phases along with hydroxyapatite were observed after hydrothermal treatment in Ca-P solution. Substantial hydroxyapatite together with TiO
2
was observed during hydrothermal treatment at 200°C for 12 hrs. Blasted-NaOH-etched samples (BNH-Ti) revealed appreciable bone-like apatite formation as compared to machined-Ti and blasted-Ti (B-Ti) surfaces. However, maximum HA formation was confirmed on Ca-P coated-BNH samples (BNHA-Ti-200-12) by XRD and ICP analysis.

Conclusion

Multistep surface treatment adopted in current study would be effective to enhance HA formation on Ti surface.
Textural and pore size analysis of carbonates from integrated core and nuclear magnetic resonance logging: An Arbuckle study
Authors: Doveton John , Watney Lynn
Published: February 2015

The T2 relaxation times recorded by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) logging are measures of the ratio of the internal surface area to volume of the formation pore system. Although standard porosity logs are restricted to estimating the volume, the NMR log partitions the pore space as a spectrum of pore sizes. These logs have great potential to elucidate carbonate sequences, which can have single, double, or triple porosity systems and whose pores have a wide variety of sizes and shapes. Continuous coring and NMR logging was made of the Cambro-Ordovician Arbuckle saline aquifer in a proposed CO2injection well in southern Kansas. The large data set gave a rare opportunity to compare the core textural descriptions to NMR T2 relaxation time signatures over an extensive interval. Geochemical logs provided useful elemental information to assess the potential role of paramagnetic components that affect surface relaxivity. Principal component analysis of the T2 relaxation time subdivided the spectrum into five distinctive pore-size classes. When the T2 distribution was allocated between grainstones, packstones, and mudstones, the interparticle porosity component of the spectrum takes a bimodal form that marks a distinction between grain-supported and mud-supported texture. This discrimination was also reflected by the computed gamma-ray log, which recorded contributions from potassium and thorium and therefore assessed clay content reflected by fast relaxation times. A megaporosity class was equated with T2 relaxation times summed from 1024 to 2048 ms bins, and the volumetric curve compared favorably with variation over a range of vug sizes observed in the core. The complementary link between grain textures and pore textures was fruitful in the development of geomodels that integrates geologic core observations with petrophysical log measurements.
Twisted orbifold Gromov–Witten invariants
Authors: Tonita Valentin
Published: February 2015

Let χ be a smooth proper Deligne–Mumford stack over ℂ. One can define twisted orbifold Gromov–Witten invariants of χ by considering multiplicative invertible characteristic classes of various bundles on the moduli spaces of stable maps χg,n,d, cupping them with evaluation and cotangent line classes, and then integrating against the virtual fundamental class. These are more general than the twisted invariants introduced by Tseng. We express the generating series of the twisted invariants in terms of the generating series of the untwisted ones. We derive the corollaries which are used in a paper with Givental about the quantum K-theory of a complex compact manifold X.
Better Than Zilch?
Authors: Casati Filippo , Fujikawa Naoya
Published: February 2015

In their paper ‘Zilch’, Oliver and Smiley claim that the word ‘nothing’ can be used as a singular term and that ‘nothing’ as a singular term and the word ‘zilch’ are empty terms, which fail to refer to anything. In this paper, we propose that ‘nothing’ as a singular term and ‘zilch’ can be used to denote null things such as absences, null objects or nothingness. We also claim that, pace their interpretation of Heidegger’s ‘das Nichts’ as an empty term, it should be understood as such a singular term that refers to nothingness.