bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How do we listen to popular music in Europe?
Authors: Marc Isabelle
Published: April 2013

In this reflective article, I endeavour to raise a number of questions concerning popular music reception in contemporary Europe. First, popular music is described as a form of human communication where, it is argued, the verbal message should not be too easily overlooked. In this sense,
I present two paradigms of listening to popular music: one, which is centred on the music and another, which is verbally focused. Drawing from several examples, the ways in which the verbal message in a song is appropriated by an individual or by a community are shown to be determined by complex
factors, among which vernacular culture and language are crucial. For this reason, in the multilingual and multicultural European context, the study of the reception of popular music needs to draw on modern language, cultural and translation studies.
Daughter of the Mediterranean, docile European: Dalida in the 1950s
Authors: Lebrun Barbara
Published: April 2013

In the nineteenth century, as colonial expansion abroad paralleled industrialization at home, West Europeans developed the conception of the foreign Other as ‘uncivilized’, a seductive yet simplified object, fit for the gaze of the powerful. In western art, literature and
photography, a romantic conception of the ‘Mediterranean’ solidified, whereby those living in the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea were represented as ‘natural’, childlike and untamed. The same essentialist and reductive approach to a ‘Mediterranean’
identity is identifiable in the early songs and performance of Dalida (1933–1987), an Egyptian-born, Italian female singer who became France’s most commercially successful female artist of the second half of the twentieth century. This article contextualizes the early success of
Dalida in France, between 1956 and 1961, demonstrating that the singer’s ‘Mediterranean’ image was carefully engineered by male professionals who selected her song lyrics, music and performance. Because Dalida’s early success in France coincided with the Algerian War,
the singer’s oriental provenance was strictly ignored, and her ‘Mediterranean’ identity instead remapped onto the northern shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Analysing Dalida’s early career allows us to examine the evolution of ‘Mediterranean’ imaginings in
French popular culture, and observe the politics of racial and gendered representation in the field of popular music at the tail end of the colonial era
Complexation of Cm(III) and Eu(III) with 2,6-bis(5-(2,2-dimethylpropyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine and 2-bromohexanoic acid studied by time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy
Authors: Bremer Antje , Geist Andreas , Panak Petra J.
Published: April 2013

The complexation of Cm(III) and Eu(III) with 2,6-bis(5-(2,2-dimethylpropyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine (C5-BPP) and 2-bromohexanoic acid as lipophilic anion has been investigated by time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy. Upon increasing ligand concentration three different Cm(III)-C5-BPP species with emission bands at 604.1 nm, 607.9 nm and 611.4 nm, respectively, are found and attributed to complexes with one, two and three C5-BPP molecules in the inner coordination sphere. Comparison with results of TRLFS experiments without 2-bromohexanoic acid shows that the C5-BPP ligand is able to completely displace the lipophilic anion from the inner coordination sphere, forming [Cm(C5-BPP)3]3+complexes. This complex is also found in the organic phase of an extraction experiment performed with Cm(III), demonstrating that the lipophilic anion required for the extraction is not directly coordinated to the metal ion in the species formed during extraction. In case of Eu(III) the number of different species formed cannot be determined accurately. Nevertheless, the formation of the complex [Eu(C5-BPP)3]3+in the presence of 2-bromohexanoic acid is confirmed.
Americium, curium and neodymium analysis in ECRIX-H irradiated pellet: sample preparation for TIMS measurements
Authors: Esbelin Eric , Buravand E. , Béjaoui S. , Lamontagne J. , Bonnerot J.M.
Published: April 2013

This paper concerns quantitative isotopic analysis of Am, Cm and Nd contained in an irradiated AmO1.62/MgO pellet. The complete analysis protocol is described, from dissolution of the pellets in a shielded line to the laboratory glove separation processes box for TIMS analysis. Emphasis is placed on the separation processes: by ion exchange resin in a hot cell and by HPLC in the laboratory. Intermediate measurements by X-ray fluorescence, alpha spectrometry, and ICP-AES are described.
An electrochemical route to prepare planar 204Tl sources for the calibration of beta surface contamination monitors
Authors: Gandhi Shyamala S. , Kumar Manoj , Chakravarty Rubel , Nuwad J. , Udhayakumar J. , Dash Ashutosh
Published: April 2013

This paper describes the utility of the electrochemical technique for the preparation of a circular planar 204Tl source required for the calibration of beta surface contamination monitors. The electrolytic cell, the experimental set up used and the process of deposition are described. The factors that influence the electrodeposition of 204Tl onto the circular copper substrate were investigated and a careful control has been exercised to ensure an optimum deposition of the 204Tl activity onto the substrate. The morphology of the deposited layer was examined by SEM, AFM and EDS analyses. Sources containing ∼3.7 MBq (∼0.1 mCi) 204Tl on a copper sheet of 20 mm diameter working area were prepared and housed in a holder. Quality control tests on the leachability, distribution of activity and stability of the source were performed to ensure compliance with regulatory safety requirements.
Adsorption interaction of carrier-free thallium species with gold and quartz surfaces
Authors: Serov A. , Eichler Robert , Dressler Rugard , Piguet D. , Türler Andreas , Vögele A. , Wittwer David , Gäggeler H. W.
Published: April 2013

The adsorption interactions of thallium and its compounds with gold and quartz surfaces were investigated. Carrier-free amounts of thallium were produced in nuclear fusion reactions of alpha particles with thick gold targets. The method chosen for the studies was gas thermochromatography and varying the redox potential of the carrier gases. It was observed that thallium is extremely sensitive to trace amounts of oxygen and water, and can even be oxidized by the hydroxyl groups located on the quartz surface. The experiments on a quartz surface with O2, He, H2 gas in addition with water revealed the formation and deposition of only one thallium species – TlOH. The adsorption enthalpy was determined to be Δ H
SiO2

ads(TlOH) = −134 ± 5 kJ mol−1. A series of experiments using gold as stationary surface and different carrier gases resulted in the detection of two thallium species – metallic Tl (H2 as carrier gas) and TlOH (O2, O2+H2O and H2+H2O as pure carrier gas or carrier gas mixture) with Δ H
Au
ads(Tl) = −270 ± 10 kJ mol− and Δ H
Au
ads(TlOH) = −146 ± 3 kJ mol−1. These data demonstrate a weak interaction of TlOH with both quartz and gold surfaces. The data represent important information for the design of future experiments with the heavier homologue of Tl in group 13 of the periodic table – element 113 (E113).
Structures of a co-crystal of tautomers of (E)-N-7-chloro-4-(2-methoxycinnamolyhydrazinyl)quinoline and a single tautomer of the 4-methoxy analogue
Authors: de Souza Marcus V. N. , Bispo Marcelle L. F. , Alcantara Camila C. de , Wardell Solange M. S. V. , Wardell James L.
Published: April 2013

A crystal structure determination confirmed that the product from 7-chloroquinilin-4-ylhydrazine and 4-methoxycinnanamic acid had been isolated from MeOCH2CH2OH solution as [(E)-N′-7-chloro-4-(4-methoxycinnamolyhydrazinyl)quinoline, 1. In contrast, recrystallization of the 2-MeO derivative, 2, from the same solvent, produced a 1 : 1 co-crystalline mixture of two tautomers, namely (E)-N′-7-chloro-4-(2-methoxycinnaämolyhydrazinyl)quinoline and 7-chloro-4(1 H)quinolinone 3-(2-methoxycinnamoyl)hydrazone, molecules A and B, respectively. Molecules 1 and 2A have “L”-shapes and, in general, have very similar conformations, which differ from that of 2B, mainly arising from the rotation about the (O)C—N(N) bond within the linker unit between the quinolone and methoxyphenyl rings. In both 1 and 2, the 3-dimensional supramolecular arrangements involve strong N—H…N, N—H…O, C—H…O and C—H…π hydrogen bonds, while additionally in 2, there are π…π, C—Cl…π and C—H…Cl intermolecular interactions.
Platinum-Based and Platinum-Doped Layered Superconducting Materials: Synthesis, Properties and Simulation
Authors: Ivanovskii Alexander L.
Published: April 2013

In 2011, the newest group of layered high-temperature superconductors were discovered: platinum-based quaternary 10-4-8 (Ca10(Pt4As8)(Fe2As2)5) and 10-3-8 ((CaFe1–xPtxAs)10Pt3As8) phases with superconducting transition temperatures (TC) up to 35–38 K. Intensive studies have been carried out to investigate their preparation and properties. This finding stimulated much activity in search of related materials and has attracted increased attention to platinum as a component of layered superconductors. This review presents experimental and theoretical results devoted to two main groups of superconducting materials with platinum: Pt-based materials (where Pt forms individual sub-lattices inside building blocks of corresponding phases such as SrPtAs, SrPt2As2 and LaPt2B2C) and Pt-containing materials, where Pt acts as a dopant. Synthesis, basic properties and simulation of these materials are covered.
Crystallographic Properties of Ruthenium
Authors: Arblaster John W.
Published: April 2013

The crystallographic properties of ruthenium at temperatures from absolute zero to the melting point at 2606 K are assessed following a review of the literature published between 1935 and to date. Selected values of the thermal expansion coefficients and measurements of length changes due to thermal expansion have been used to calculate the variation with temperature of the lattice parameters, interatomic distances, atomic and molar volumes and densities. The data is presented in the form of Figures, Equations and Tables.
Effects of plastic hatching timing carry over through metamorphosis in red‐eyed treefrogs
Authors: Touchon Justin C. , McCoy Michael W. , Vonesh James R. , Warkentin Karen M.
Published: April 2013

Environmentally cued plasticity in hatching timing is widespread in animals. As with later life‐history switch points, plasticity in hatching timing may have carryover effects that affect subsequent interactions with predators and competitors. Moreover, the strength of such effects of hatching plasticity may be context dependent. We used red‐eyed treefrogs, Agalychnis callidryas, to test for lasting effects of hatching timing (four or six days post‐oviposition) under factorial combinations of resource levels (high or low) and predation risk (none, caged, or lethal Pantala flavescens dragonfly naiads). Tadpoles were raised in 400‐L mesocosms in Gamboa, Panama, from hatching until all animals had metamorphosed or died, allowing assessment of effects across a nearly six‐month period of metamorphosis. Hatching early reduced survival to metamorphosis, increased larval growth, and had context‐dependent effects on metamorph phenotypes. Early during the period of metamorph emergence, early‐hatched animals were larger than late‐hatched ones, but this effect attenuated over time. Early‐hatched animals also left the water with relatively longer tails. Lethal predators dramatically reduced survival to metamorphosis, with most mortality occurring early in the larval period. Predator effects on the timing of metamorphosis and metamorph size and tail length depended upon resources. For example, lethal predators reduced larval periods, and this effect was stronger with low resources. Predators affected metamorph size early in the period of metamorphosis, whereas resource levels were a stronger determinant of phenotype for animals that metamorphosed later. Effects of hatching timing were detectable on top of strong effects of larval predators and resources, across two subsequent life stages, and some were as strong as or stronger than effects of resources. Plasticity in hatching timing is ecologically important and currently underappreciated. Effects on metamorph numbers and phenotypes may impact subsequent interactions with predators, competitors, and mates, with potentially cascading effects on recruitment and fitness.
Low mortality in tall tropical trees
Authors: Thomas R. Q. , Kellner J. R. , Clark D. B. , Peart D. R.
Published: April 2013

The dynamics of the tallest trees in tropical forests are of special interest due to their carbon content, canopy dominance, and the large canopy gaps created when they die. Known ecological mechanisms that may influence tall tree survival lead to conflicting predictions. Hydraulic stress and exposure to high winds and desiccation should increase death rates, yet the tallest trees have the greatest access to light and escape damage caused by falling boles and branches. The uncertainty in tall tree mortality rates has been difficult to address due to their low density, which makes mortality rates challenging to estimate accurately. Here, we use a combination of LiDAR remote sensing and field measurements to show that the mortality rate over 8.5 years among individuals >40 m tall in 444 ha of lowland Neotropical rain forest was 1.2% per year, less than half the landscape‐scale average for all canopy trees (2.7% per year). The low mortality is likely explained by species‐specific traits that decrease the mortality risk and/or ecological advantages of height that outweigh the risks. Regardless of the mechanisms, the low mortality rate has important implications for tropical forest carbon budgets, as we estimated that a single tall individual represents 2–11% of total live aboveground carbon stocks per hectare. Our findings suggest that height‐specific dynamics may be surprisingly different from traditional diameter‐specific dynamics, emphasizing the importance of extending ecological studies to investigate the role of tree height in forest dynamics.
MARSPEC: ocean climate layers for marine spatial ecology
Authors: Sbrocco Elizabeth J. , Barber Paul H.
Published: April 2013

Ecological niche models are widely used in terrestrial studies to address critical ecological and evolutionary questions related to past and future climate change, local adaptation and speciation, the discovery of rare endemics, and biological invasions. However the application of niche models to similar questions in marine ecosystems has lagged behind, in part due to the lack of a centralized high‐resolution spatial data set representing both benthic and pelagic marine environments. Here we describe the creation of MARSPEC, a high‐resolution GIS database of ocean climate layers intended for marine ecological niche modeling and other applications in marine spatial ecology. MARSPEC combines information related to topographic complexity of the seafloor with bioclimatic measures of sea surface temperature and salinity for the world ocean. We derived seven geophysical variables from a high‐resolution raster grid representing depth of the seafloor (bathymetry) to characterize six facets of topographic complexity (east–west and north–south components of aspect, slope, concavity of the seafloor, and plan and profile curvature) and distance from shore. We further derived 10 bioclimatic variables describing the annual mean, range, variance, and extreme values for temperature and salinity from long‐term monthly climatological means obtained from remotely sensed and in situ oceanographic observations. All variables were clipped to a common land mask, interpolated to a nominal 1‐km (30 arc‐second) grid, and converted to an ESRI raster grid file format compatible with popular GIS programs. MARSPEC is a 10‐fold improvement in spatial resolution over the next‐best data set (Bio‐ORACLE) and is the only high‐resolution global marine data set to combine variables from the benthic and pelagic environments into a single database. Additionally, we provide the monthly climatological layers used to derive the bioclimatic variables, allowing users to calculate equivalent MARSPEC variables from anomaly data for past and future climate scenarios. A detailed description of GIS processing steps required to calculate the MARSPEC variables can be found in the metadata.
Gonadotoxic Effects of DBCP: A Historical Review and Current Concepts
Authors: Hwang Kathleen , Eisenberg Michael L. , Walters Rustin C. , Lipshultz Larry I.
Published: April 2013

Dibromo-chloro-propane (DBCP), a persistent liphophilic brominated organochlorine, has been produced for
agricultural purposes as a nematocide since the 1950s. Widespread use due to its effectiveness as a pesticide continued
until the late 1970s when early reports of its toxicity emerged from the laboratories, particularly its impact on
spermatogenesis and other adverse reproductive health effects. Since then innumerable cases and studies have surfaced
with clear impact after exposure to DBCP, however, the sustained effect of this exposure has yet to be completely
understood. As a result of these studies, environmental agencies banned almost all agricultural uses of DBCP in the
United States in the late 1970s. This review will try to balance the known toxicity of DBCP with a scientific assessment of
published data and a summary of the legal issues that have resulted.
Ocular injuries caused by airsoft guns: Ten-year experience
Authors: Jovanovic Milos , Bobic-Radovanovic Anica , Vukovic Dragan , Knezevic Miroslav , Risovic Dusica
Published: April 2013

INTRODUCTION: The study describes ocular injuries caused by airsoft guns
pellets, type of these injuries and their incidence in different age groups.
METHODS: This is a retrospective review of medical charts of patients who
were hospitalized due to airsoft guns ocular injuries in ten-year period
(from 2000 to 2009). Patient?s age, gender, duration of hospitalization, type
of treatment and initial and final visual acuity were analyzed. RESULTS:
Overall 92 patients with ocular injuries caused by airsoft gun pellets were
hospitalized in tenyear period. In all patients only one eye was injured and
there were 72 (78.3%) male patients. Injuries involved ocular adnexa,
anterior and posterior segment of the eye. On initial examination 41 (44.6%)
patients were presented with subconjunctival hemorrhages, 42 (45.6%) with
corneal abrasion, 42 (45.6%) patients had corneal edema, 6 (6.5%) had
traumatic mydriasis, 90 (97.8%) patients exhibited hyphema, 10 (10.9%)
iridodialysis, in 27 (29.3%) patients high intraocular pressure (IOP) was
measured, one patient had subluxation of intraocular lens (IOL) and one
patient had traumatic cataract. Posterior segment findings included vitreous
hemorrhage in 3 (3.3%) patients, retinal hemorrhage in 15 (16.3%) patients,
retinal edema in 35 (38.0%) patients and one patient had globe rupture.
Average duration of hospitalization was 5.7 days (range from 1 to 18 days).
Three patients (3.3%) required eye surgery, eight patients (8.7%) had
anterior chamber washout while rest of the patients were conservatively
managed. Visual acuity at hospital release was significantly improved
comparing to initial visual acuity, ranging from counting fingers at 1 meter
to 20/60 in 7 (8.6%) patients, from 20/50 to 20/30 in 13 (16.0%) patients and
from 20/25 to 20/20 in 61 (75.3%) patients. In 11 patients testing the visual
acuity was not possible because of their young age. CONCLUSION: Injuries
attributed to airsoft guns were confined mostly to anterior segment. There
was also high percentage of severe posterior segment trauma requiring
hospital admission. The most important factors in preventing such injuries
are restricting access to airsoft guns, especially to minors, as well as
mandatory use of protective equipment such as protective eyeglasses.
Surgical management of macular holes-indications and complications
Authors: Stamenkovic Miroslav
Published: April 2013

Macular hole surgery is very demand surgery performed due to fullthickness
macular rupture characterized by abscence of all retinal layers. Indications
for surgery includes stages 3 and 4 regarding to Gass classification. Some
authors sugest surgery for stage 2 but results are promissing only in
anatomical reconstruction. Complications are evident such as cataract, late
macular reopening, retinal tears and detachment, visual field defect etc.
With improving surgical techniques, the rate of complications became lower.
The selection of best anesthesiological technique for hip fracture surgery in older high-risk patients
Authors: Radic Nevenka , Radinovic Kristina , Ille Mihailo , Lesic Aleksandar , Ljubicic-Stojanovic Mirjana , Bumbasirevic Marko
Published: April 2013

Introduction: Hip fracture is a pathological condition, more common in older
age, i.e. in people over 65 years. The prevalence of this disorder is
continuously increasing, simultaneously with higher age limit. In evaluation
of risk for operation and anesthesia, older age itself represents higher risk
and calls for special attention. In selection of anesthesiological technique,
it is more usual to apply neuroaxial block or peripheral nerve block, which
is more advantageous over general anesthesia. CASE REPORT: A female, 80-year
old, patient B.D. was admitted to hospital for hip fracture, with the
diagnosis of the right, lateral, basicervical femoral fracture. On admission,
heart decompensation (decompensated dilated myocardiopathy), pulmonary edema
and the left lateral pleural effusion were established. Due to high risk (ASA
III) of intraoperative and postoperative complications, it was decided to
apply combined peripheral nerve block. Using the neurostimulators, 3-in-1
block, lumbosacral block and sciatic nerve block were applied. During the
operation, the patient was sedated by Propofol and had spontaneous
respiration through the laryngeal mask. Intra- and postoperatively, the
patient?s hemodynamics was stable. Conclusion: Peripheral nerve blocks are
safe and effective anesthesiological technique, which may reduce the
mortality in patients with the hip fracture and maintain the hemodynamic
stability, both during and after the surgical intervention.
Analysis of electrocardiogram in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients
Authors: Lazovic Biljana , Zlatkovic-Svenda Mirjana , Mazic Sanja , Stajic Zoran , Djelic Marina
Published: April 2013

Introduction. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the fourth leading
cause of mortality worldwide. It is defined as a persistent airflow
limitation usually progressive and not fully reversible to treatment. The
diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and severity of disease is
confirmed by spirometry. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease produces
electrical changes in the heart which shows characteristic electrocardiogram
pattern. The aim of this study was to observe and evaluate diagnostic values
of electrocardiogram changes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
patients with no other comorbidity. Material and Methods. We analyzed 110
electrocardiogram findings in clinically stable chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease patients and evaluated the forced expiratory volume in the first
second, ratio of forces expiratory volume in the first second to the fixed
vital capacity, chest radiographs and electrocardiogram changes such as p
wave height, QRS axis and voltage, right bundle branch block, left bundle
branch block, right ventricular hypertrophy, T wave inversion in leads V1-V3,
S1S2S3 syndrome, transition zone in praecordial lead and QT interval.
Results. We found electrocardiogram changes in 64% patients, while 36% had
normal electrocardiogram. The most frequent electrocardiogram changes
observed were transition zone (76.36%) low QRS (50%) and p pulmonale
(14.54%). Left axis deviation was observed in 27.27% patients. Conclusion.
Diagnostic values of electrocardiogram in patients with chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease suggest that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients
should be screened electrocardiographically in addition to other clinical
investigations.
Different response to human recombinant erythropoietin in patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment
Authors: Petkovic Nenad , Ristic Sinisa , Stosovic Milan , Djukanovic Ljubica
Published: April 2013

Introduction. Treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin enabled the
correction of anemia in the patients on regular hemodialysis but large
individual differences in the dose required to achieve the target hemoglobin
level were observed. In this study the erythropoietin resistance index was
calculated in patients on hemodialysis in order to examine variations in the
response to erythropoietin and factors that influence it. Material and
Methods. The study included 48 patients (25 males) of mean age 67.5 years,
who had been on regular hemodialysis in Samac for 43.9 months on average. All
were treated with erythropoietin from the beginning of hemodialysis
treatment. Their response to erythropoietin therapy was estimated by the
erythropoietin resistance index. Results. The use of erythropoietin enabled
the correction of anemia but different doses were needed to achieve and
maintain the target hemoglobin level. The individual weekly dose of
erythropoietin ranged from 15 U/kg/week to 244 U/kg/week and the
erythropoietin resistance index ranged from 0.13 U/kg/week/g/l to 2.46
U/kg/week/g/l. A satisfactory erythropoietin response with erythropoietin
resistance index below 0.5 U/kg/week/g/l was found in 14 (30%) patients,
while 19 (40%) patients had this index above 0.7 U/kg/week/g/l and 10 (21%)
above 0.9 U/kg/week/g/l. Multivariate linear regression analysis detected
C-reactive protein as a significant predictor of erythropoietin resistance
index. Conclusion. Target hemoglobin levels were achieved and maintained by
different doses of erythropoietin in individual patients, which resulted in
great individual differences in response as estimated by the erythropoietin
resistance index. Multivariate analysis indicated C-reactive protein as a
variable significantly associated with this index.
Vojvodinascore - local system for cardiac operative risk evaluation
Authors: Mihajlovic Bogoljub , Dejanovic Jadranka , Mihajlovic Bojan , Popovic Dusan , Panic Milica , Bjeljac Ilija
Published: April 2013

Introduction. The aim of the study was to investigate the prognostic value,
sensitivity and specificity of both the logistic and additive European System
for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (as well as the European System for
Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II and to assess the necessity for
developing a local outcome prediction model in cardiac surgery. Material and
Methods. The research included 406 consecutive patients who had undergone
cardiac surgical procedures at Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases of
Vojvodina from January 2012 to July 2012. The authors compared the predicted
mortality according to the additive and logistic European Systems for Cardiac
Operative Risk Evaluation, the new European System for Cardiac Operative Risk
Evaluation II and the observed mortality (30 days after surgery). Results.
The difference between the predicted and observed mortality regarding the
whole group of 406 operated cardiac patients was not statistically
significant for the additive European System for Cardiac Operative Risk
Evaluation (p=0.081) and the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk
Evaluation II (p=0.164), but it was statistically significant for the
logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (p=0.031). The
areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves are statistically
different from 0.5 for both models (additive and logistic European System for
Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation), as well as for the European System for
Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II. However, the proper classification of
the patients has not been observed since their sensitivity and specificity
are not satisfactory. Conclusion. The additive and logistic European Systems
for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation overestimate while the European System
for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II underestimates the risk in cardiac
surgery. We believe that a locally derived model would be of great use in the
everyday clinical practice since it would faithfully illustrate the actual
state of patient population of the region where it was developed. At the same
time it would provide the accurate prediction of surgical outcome.
Influence of age and length of service on the level of stress and burnout syndrome
Authors: Stanetic Kosana , Tesanovic Gordana
Published: April 2013

Introduction. The burnout syndrome is a response to chronic emotional and
interpersonal stressors which are related to workplace. Medicine is one of
the professions at the greatest risk of suffering from burnout syndrome. The
aim of this study was to assess the presence of stress and burnout syndrome
in relation with age and length of service in the family medicine physicians
in the Republic of Srpska. Material and Methods. The study was carried out on
the basis of a questionnaire survey among family medicine physicians in seven
Primary Health Care Centres in the Republic of Srpska from February 1st to
April 30th 2010. The participants fulfilled the questionnaire for
self-assessment of stress level and the Maslach Burnout Inventory, which were
amended with data regarding age, sex, length of service and educational and
vocational level. Results. The study included 199 (83.3%) female and 40
(16.7%) male participants. The physicians aged over 46 years and with the
length of service over 21 years had statistically significant higher level of
stress and emotional exhaustion than younger participants and participants
with shorter length of service. Conclusion. Age and length of service have
important influence on the level of stress and burnout syndrome: the older
the physicians and the higher the length of service the higher the level of
stress and the higher the risk of burnout syndrome.
Manufacturing process of high quality phytopreparation on example of herbal sedative
Authors: Djordjevic Sofija , Dickov Aleksandra , Pavkov Sava , Tadic Vanja , Arsic Ivana , Zugic Ana
Published: April 2013

Introduction. Rational phytotherapy is a modern concept of using
plant-originated drugs which has emerged from the need to improve
phytotherapy in order to make the use of herbal remedies more efficient and
safer. The aim of this study was to give the health-care workers more
information on the manufacturing process of high quality phytopreparation
following principles of Good Manufacturing Practice and Good Laboratory
Practice on the example of herbal sedative, Odoval S? capsules. Material and
Methods. This study was designed to reflect the production process of a
high-quality and safe herbal remedy, starting from defining the formulation
and the production procedure to the quality control of raw materials,
characterization of the final product, and testing stability of active
ingredients in the capsules. Results. Formulation of the phytopreparation,
validation of the production process, quality control and stability testing,
all together have resulted in the production of capsules with defined valeric
acid content (1 mg valeric acid per capsule). Discussion. The preparation is
recommended to relieve the symptoms caused by chronic stress (anxiety,
irritability, fatigue, lack of concentration, heart palpitations) and for
mild insomnia. Conclusion. This paper presents the complete cycle of the
production of a phytopreparation on the example of a new herbal sedative -
Odoval S? capsules.
Monetary determinants of deposit euroization in European post-transition countries
Authors: Tkalec Marina
Published: April 2013

This paper investigates the long-run and short-run relationship between
deposit euroization in twelve European post-transition economies and two
determinants of deposit euroization that are under the influence of monetary
policy: the exchange rate and the interest rate differential. The link
between deposit euroization, exchange rates and interest rate differentials
is investigated using Johansen cointegration and error correction models for
each country separately. The results suggest that changes in both monetary
drivers have significant effects on deposit euroization and are therefore
important for explaining and fighting deposit euroization. Differences
between exchange rate regimes, fixed and managed vs. floating, seem to matter
for deposit euroization.
Efficiency of the Tunisian trade banks: Study by the stochastic frontier approach
Authors: Boutheina Bannour , Moez Labidi
Published: April 2013

In this paper, we propose to evaluate the scores of productive efficiency of
20 Tunisian commercial banks throughout the period 1990-2009. The local
banking landscape was marked, during the studied period, by significant
changes following the adoption, by the Tunisian government, of various
measures of financial liberalization. In order to study the levels of
efficiency cost realized by the Tunisian commercial banks, we propose a
parametric method, named the Stochastic Frontier Approach ?SFA?, on the one
hand, and the determination of the variables explaining the level of
inefficiency (of efficiency) on the other hand. Our results make it possible
to conclude that the banks which obtained the best scores of efficiency are
the BT (99,5%), the BH (98,5%) followed the (94,9%) and de ATB (94,5%).
The application of data envelopment analysis based Malmquist total factor productivity index: Empirical evidence in Turkish banking sector
Authors: Keskin Benli , Degirmen Suleyman
Published: April 2013

The objective of this study is to measure the total factor productivity and
the changes in components of the total factor productivity generated by the
banks in Turkish Banking Sector (TBS) during the period of 2004-2009. Based
on these measurements, we quantify the production efficiency of the banks.
To that end, the total factor productivity is taken as an initial point, and
various performance comparisons are made both within the specified three
sub-groups and among all deposit banks in TBS. Within the context of
performance measurement, we use input and output variables to test technical
efficiency index, which represents a combination of change in technical
efficiency and in technology, and to test a change in total factor
productivity index which comprises a change in pure technical efficiency and
scale efficiency. In the calculation of these indexes, Malmquist total
factor productivity index method is employed. Computed indexes provide us
with the opportunity to make performance comparisons in order to assess
which group and bank have comparatively highest performance among the groups
and banks included in this study. When we consider the effects of 2007-2008
global crises on Turkish economy, notably on TBS, calculating the
performance change ratio for previous periods or estimating the same for the
following periods becomes vital in terms of enduringly changing and
developing banks. The growing competition in TBS forces banks to attach more
importance to productivity factor for sustainable growth purposes. In this
regard, Malmquist total factor productivity index gives us the opportunity
to quantify the changes in total factor productivity over the years.
Accordingly, this study applies group analysis to determine which group is
working efficiently. To do this, Malmquist total factor productivity index
requires the use of panel data and depicts efficiency changes by years,
representing crucial information for us to produce policy implications. In
brief, the test results obtained by this study indicate that the foreign
banks, thanks to positive changes in their technology, technical efficiency
and total factor productivity, are more effective than other private and
state banking groups.
The purchasing power parity in emerging Europe: Empirical results based on two-break analysis
Authors: Mladenovic Zorica , Josifidis Kosta , Srdic Sladjana
Published: April 2013

The purpose of the paper is to evaluate the validity of purchasing power
parity (PPP) for eight countries from the Emerging Europe: Hungary, Czech
Republic, Poland, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia, Serbia and Turkey. Monthly data
for euro and U.S. dollar based real exchange rate time series are considered
covering the period: January, 2000 - August, 2011. Given significant changes
in these economies in this sample it seems plausible to assume that real
exchange time series are characterized by more than one time structural
break. In order to endogenously determine the number and type of breaks while
testing for the presence of unit roots we applied the Lee-Strazicich
approach. For two euro based real exchange rate time series (in Hungary and
Turkey) the unit root hypothesis has been rejected. For the U.S. dollar based
real exchange rate time series in Poland, Romania and Turkey the presence of
unit root has been rejected. To assess the adjustment dynamics of those real
exchange rates that were detected to be stationary with two breaks, the
impulse response function is calculated and half-life is estimated. Our
overall conclusion is that the persistence of real exchange rate in Emerging
Europe is still substantially high. The lack of strong empirical support for
PPP suggests that careful policy actions are needed in this region to prevent
serious exchange rate misalignment.
Foreign reserves as hedging instruments in emerging countries
Authors: Spanò Marcello
Published: April 2013

Emerging markets in the last decade increased the stock of foreign reserves
and simultaneously managed to raise GDP growth while leaving short term
foreign debt and investment in net fixed capital nearly unchanged. This work
builds a model able to derive these facts as the result of greater openness
to global goods and financial markets. Emerging countries generate the
observed high ratios of reserves to short term foreign debt to hedge against
volatility of foreign capital inflow with the purpose of stabilising not the
short term but the long term finance available to domestic firms. Numerical
simulations of the model derive the rising level of reserves to short term
foreign debt ratio and about half of the observed rise in GDP growth as a
result of a falling cost of long term finance and the increasing
competitiveness of domestic industry.
Out of sample value-at-risk and backtesting with the standardized pearson type-IV skewed distribution
Authors: Stavroyiannis Stavros , Zarangas Leonidas
Published: April 2013

This paper studies the efficiency of an econometric model where the
volatility is modeled by a GARCH (1,1) process, and the innovations follow a
standardized form of the Pearson type-IV distribution. The performance of the
model is examined by in sample and out of sample testing, and the accuracy is
explored by a variety of Value-at-Risk methods, the success/failure ratio,
the Kupiec-LR test, the independence and conditional coverage tests of
Christoffersen, the expected shortfall measures, and the dynamic quantile
test of Engle and Manganelli. Overall, the proposed model is a valid and
accurate model performing better than the skewed Student-t distribution,
providing the financial analyst with a good candidate as an alternative
distributional scheme.
Regulation FD: A Review and Synthesis of the Academic Literature
Authors: Koch Adam S. , Lefanowicz Craig E. , Robinson John R.
Published: April 2013

SYNOPSIS:

We summarize the empirical evidence regarding Regulation Fair Disclosure (FD) to gauge whether the regulation achieves its stated objectives and to provide insights and direction for future research. Overall, we find that FD's prohibition against the selective disclosure of material information eliminates the information advantage enjoyed by certain investors and analysts and thereby provides a more level playing field for all investors. In addition, a number of firms respond to FD by expanding public disclosures, and the information environment of the average firm does not appear to be adversely affected. However, we find that an unintended consequence of FD is a reduction in the total amount of information available in the market (i.e., a “chilling effect”) for small or high-technology firms. Finally, ongoing research suggests that private access to management continues to provide select analysts or investors with non-material information used to complete the “mosaic” of information.
Is there any Evidence for Regional Atmospheric 14C Offsets in the Southern Hemisphere?
Authors: Hogg Alan , Turney Chris , Palmer Jonathan , Cook Ed , Buckley Brendan
Published: April 2013

Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (CAMS) Tasmanian Huon pine (Lagarostrobos franklinii) decadal measurements for the interval AD 745–855 suggest a mean interhemispheric radiocarbon offset (20 ± 5 yr), which is considerably lower than the previously reported mean interhemispheric offset for the last 2 millennia (44 ± 17 yr). However, comparable University of Waikato (Wk) New Zealand kauri (Agathis australis) measurements show significantly higher values (56 ± 6 yr), suggesting the possibility of a temporary geographic (intrahemispheric) offset between Tasmania, Australia, and Northland, New Zealand, during at least 1 common time interval. Here, we report 9 new Wk Tasmanian Huon pine measurements from the decades showing the largest Huon/kauri difference. We show statistically indistinguishable Wk Huon and Wk kauri 14C ages, thus dispelling the suggestion of a 14C geographic offset between Tasmania and Northland.
Integration of the Old and New Lake Suigetsu (Japan) Terrestrial Radiocarbon Calibration Data Sets
Authors: Staff Richard A , Schlolaut Gordon , Ramsey Christopher Bronk , Brock Fiona , Bryant Charlotte L , Kitagawa Hiroyuki , van der Plicht Johannes , Marshall Michael H , Brauer Achim , Lamb Henry F , Payne Rebecca L , Tarasov Pavel E , Haraguchi Tsuyoshi , Gotanda Katsuya , Yonenobu Hitoshi , Yokoyama Yusuke , Nakagawa Takeshi ,   Suigetsu 2006 Project Members
Published: April 2013

The varved sediment profile of Lake Suigetsu, central Japan, offers an ideal opportunity from which to derive a terrestrial record of atmospheric radiocarbon across the entire range of the14C dating method. Previous work by Kitagawa and van der Plicht (1998a,b, 2000) provided such a data set; however, problems with the varve-based age scale of their SG93 sediment core precluded the use of this data set for14C calibration purposes. Lake Suigetsu was re-cored in summer 2006, with the retrieval of overlapping sediment cores from 4 parallel boreholes enabling complete recovery of the sediment profile for the present “Suigetsu Varves 2006” project (Nakagawa et al. 2012). Over 55014C determinations have been obtained from terrestrial plant macrofossils picked from the latter SG06 composite sediment core, which, coupled with the core's independent varve chronology, provides the only non-reservoir-corrected14C calibration data set across the14C dating range.

Here, physical matching of archive U-channel sediment from SG93 to the continuous SG06 sediment profile is presented. We show the excellent agreement between the respective projects'14C data sets, allowing the integration of 24314C determinations from the original SG93 project into a composite Lake Suigetsu14C calibration data set comprising 808 individual14C determinations, spanning the last 52,800 cal yr.
Drosophila Nimrod proteins bind bacteria
Authors: Zsámboki János , Csordás Gábor , Honti Viktor , Pintér Lajos , Bajusz Izabella , Galgóczy László , Andó István , Kurucz Éva
Published: April 2013

Engulfment of foreign particles by phagocytes is initiated by the engagement of phagocytic receptors. We have previously reported that NimC1 is involved in the phagocytosis of bacteria in Drosophila melanogaster. We have identified a family of genes, the Nimrod gene superfamily, encoding characteristic NIM domain containing structural homologues of NimC1. In this work we studied the bacterium-binding properties of the Nimrod proteins by using a novel immunofluorescencebased flow cytometric assay. This method proved to be highly reproducible and suitable for investigations of the bacteriumbinding capacities of putative phagocytosis receptors. We found that NimC1, NimA, NimB1 and NimB2 bind bacteria significantly but differently. In this respect they are similar to other NIM domain containing receptors Eater and Draper.
Chronic sinusitis pathophysiology: The role of allergy
Authors: Kennedy Joshua L. , Borish Larry
Published: April 2013

Background

Chronic hyperplastic eosinophilic sinusitis (CHES) is an inflammatory disease characterized by eosinophil infiltration of sinus tissue that can present with and without nasal polyps (NPs). Aeroallergen sensitization in CHES occurs regularly, but the causality between allergen sensitivity, exposure, and disease is unclear.

Methods

Allergen is unlikely to directly enter healthy sinuses either by diffusion or ciliary flow, and, even this is more problematic given the loss of patency of the ostia of diseased sinuses. Inflammation and tissue eosinophilia can develop secondary to allergen exposure in the nares, with systemic humoral recirculation of allergic cells including eosinophils, Th2 lymphocytes, and eosinophil precursors that are nonspecifically recruited back to the diseased sinuses.

Results

The possibility of an allergic reaction to peptides derived from bacteria (i.e., Staphylococcus or superantigens) or fungi that colonize the diseased sinus also provides a plausible allergic mechanism.

Conclusion

Treatments of this disease include agents directed at allergic mediators such as leukotriene modifiers and corticosteroids, although this does not necessarily signify that an IgE-dependent mechanism can be ascribed. However, more recently, omalizumab has shown promise, including in patients without obvious aeroallergen sensitization. Although many aspects of the role of allergy in CHES remain a mystery, the mechanisms that are being elucidated allow for improved understanding of this disease, which ultimately will lead to better treatments for our patients who live daily with this disease.
Turkish-Islamic Feminism Confronts National Patriarchy
Authors: Göknar Erdağ
Published: April 2013

This essay compares and contrasts Turkish author Halide Edib’s novel The Shirt of Flame (Duffield & Company, 1921) to the second volume of her memoirs, The Turkish Ordeal (The Century Company, 1928). Both texts have female protagonists and parallel plots and take place during the Allied occupation of Istanbul (1918–23). Both texts are manifestations of an emerging Turkish national master narrative. By highlighting the tensions between the first-person narratives of the novel, the memoir, and the emplottment of the national master narrative, this essay offers an analysis of tensions between cosmopolitan Islamic feminism and secular nationalism. This essay describes how memoir (whether an actual memoir, such as The Turkish Ordeal, or a fictional memoir, such as The Shirt of Flame) constructs the object of its knowledge (the feminist self), and furthermore, how the feminist self can be read either as constitutive of national allegory (as in The Shirt of Flame) or as an allegorical critique of patriarchal nationalism (as in the English-language The Turkish Ordeal). The essay concludes by showing how Halide Edib’s perspective allows for a gendered reading of the national master narrative and the Orientalist/ nationalist binary upon which it is predicated.