bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Colonic Necrosis in a 4-Year-Old with Hyperlipidemic Acute Pancreatitis
Authors: Patton Tiffany J. , Sentongo Timothy A. , Mak Grace Z. , Kahn Stacy A.
Published: January 2016

Here we report the case of a 4-year-old male with severe acute pancreatitis due to hyperlipidemia, who presented with abdominal pain, metabolic abnormalities, and colonic necrosis. This colonic complication was secondary to the extension of a large peripancreatic fluid collection causing direct serosal autodigestion by pancreatic enzymes. Two weeks following the initial presentation, the peripancreatic fluid collection developed into a mature pancreatic pseudocyst, which was percutaneously drained. To our knowledge, this is the youngest documented pediatric case of colonic necrosis due to severe pancreatitis and the first descriptive pediatric case of a colonic complication due to hyperlipidemia-induced acute pancreatitis.
Chlorophyllin Bait Formulation and Exposure to Different Spectrum of Visible Light on the Reproduction of Infected/Uninfected SnailLymnaea acuminata
Authors: Kumar Navneet , Singh D. K. , Singh Vinay Kumar
Published: January 2016

Fasciolosis is a waterborne disease, caused byFasciolaspecies. SnailLymnaea acuminatais an intermediate host of these flukes. Control of snail population is major tool in reducing the incidences. Variation in light intensity and wavelength caused significant changes in reproduction pattern of snails. Maximum fecundity was noted with bait containing carbohydrate (starch, 468 ± 0.10/20 snails) or amino acid (serine, 319 ± 0.29/20 snails) as attractant. Sublethal feeding of chlorophyllin bait with starch or serine attractant to infected and uninfected snails caused significant reduction in fecundity, hatchability, and survivability. These significant changes are observed in snails exposed to different spectral band of visible light and sunlight. Maximum fecundity of 536 ± 2.0 and minimum of 89.3 ± 0.4 were noted in snails not fed with bait and exposed to sunlight and red spectral band, respectively. There was complete arrest in the fecundity of infected and uninfected snails and no survivability of uninfected snails after 48 h feeding with bait containing chlorophyllin + attractant. Minimum hatchability (9.25 ± 0.5) was noted in red light exposed, chlorophyllin + starch fed infected snails and hatching period of bait fed snails was prolonged. Conclusively, chlorophyllin bait and red light reduce reproduction capacity in snails.
Expression and Role of the ErbB3-Binding Protein 1 in Acute Myelogenous Leukemic Cells
Authors: Nguyen Le Xuan Truong , Zhu Li , Lee Yunqin , Ta Lynn , Mitchell Beverly S.
Published: January 2016

Purpose: The ErbB3-binding protein 1 (Ebp1) has been implicated in diverse cancers as having either oncogenic or tumor suppressor activities. The present study was undertaken to determine the effects of Ebp1 expression in AML cells and to determine the mechanisms by which Ebp1 promotes cell proliferation in these cells.

Experimental Design: The expression of Ebp1 was studied in mononuclear cells obtained from the peripheral blood of 54 patients with AML by Western blot analysis. The effects of Ebp1 expression on proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression and cell proliferation was measured using Western blot analysis, immunoprecipitation, in vitro ubiquitination, and colony-forming assays. The role of Ebp1 in promoting rRNA synthesis and cell proliferation was evaluated by measuring the level of pre-rRNA and the recruitment of Pol I to rDNA.

Results: Ebp1 is highly expressed in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cells and regulates the level of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) synthesis by binding to RNA Polymerase I (Pol I) and enhancing the formation of the Pol I initiation complex. Ebp1 also increases the stability of PCNA protein by preventing its interaction with Mdm2, for which it is a substrate.

Conclusions: These results demonstrate an important role of Ebp1 in promoting cell proliferation in AML cells through the regulation of both rRNA synthesis and PCNA expression. Clin Cancer Res; 22(13); 3320–7. ©2016 AACR.
Dabigatran Versus Warfarin for Atrial Fibrillation in Real-World Clinical Practice
Authors: Romanelli Robert J. , Nolting Laura , Dolginsky Marina , Kym Eunice , Orrico Kathleen B.
Published: January 2016

Background—

Trial data for the benefits and risks of dabigatran versus warfarin in the treatment of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation are lacking. We sought to review real-world observational evidence for the comparative effectiveness and safety of these agents.

Methods and Results—

A systematic search of multiple databases was conducted from first available date to March 10, 2015 for longitudinal, observational studies comparing dabigatran with warfarin. Two reviewers evaluated studies for eligibility and extracted hazard ratios for ischemic stroke and gastrointestinal and intracranial bleeding. hazard ratios were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis. Metaregression was performed to assess treatment-effect heterogeneity. We identified 232 unique citations. Seven retrospective cohort studies met study eligibility criteria, with 348 750 patients and a mean follow-up of 2.2 years. In pooled analyses, dabigatran-150 mg was not superior to warfarin in preventing stroke (hazard ratio, 0.92; 95% confidence interval, 0.84–1.01;
P
=0.066), but had a significantly lower hazard of intracranial bleeding (0.44; 0.34–0.59;
P
<0.001). Dabigatran-150 mg had a significantly greater hazard of gastrointestinal bleeding than warfarin (1.23; 1.01–1.50;
P
=0.041), which was potentiated in studies of older (elderly) versus younger populations (median/mean age, ≥75 versus <75 years; β=1.53; 95% confidence interval, 1.10–2.14;
P
=0.020).

Conclusions—

In real-world clinical practice, dabigatran is comparable with warfarin in preventing ischemic stroke among patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. However, dabigatran is associated with a lower risk for intracranial bleeding relative to warfarin, but—particularly among the elderly—a greater risk for gastrointestinal bleeding. Bleeding outcomes from observational studies are consistent with those from the pivotal Randomized Evaluation of Long-Term Anticoagulation Therapy trial.
Herpesvirus Infections and Childhood Arterial Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Elkind Mitchell S. V. , Hills Nancy K. , Glaser Carol A. , Lo Warren D. , Amlie-Lefond Catherine , Dlamini Nomazulu , Kneen Rachel , Hod Eldad A. , Wintermark Max , deVeber Gabrielle A. , Fullerton Heather J.
Published: January 2016

Background—

Epidemiological studies demonstrate that childhood infections, including varicella zoster virus, are associated with an increased risk of arterial ischemic stroke (AIS). Other herpesviruses have been linked to childhood AIS in case reports. We sought to determine whether herpesvirus infections, which are potentially treatable, increase the risk of childhood AIS.

Methods and Results—

We enrolled 326 centrally confirmed cases of AIS and 115 stroke-free controls with trauma (29 days to 18 years of age) with acute blood samples (≤3 weeks after stroke/trauma); cases had convalescent samples (7–28 days later) when feasible. Samples were tested by commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits for immunoglobulin M/immunoglobulin G antibodies to herpes simplex virus 1 and 2, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and varicella zoster virus. An algorithm developed a priori classified serological evidence of past and acute herpesvirus infection as dichotomous variables. The median (quartiles) age was 7.7 (3.1–14.3) years for cases and 10.7 (6.9–13.2) years for controls (
P
=0.03). Serological evidence of past infection did not differ between cases and controls. However, serological evidence of acute herpesvirus infection doubled the odds of childhood AIS, even after adjusting for age, race, and socioeconomic status (odds ratio, 2.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.2–4.0;
P
=0.007). Among 187 cases with acute and convalescent blood samples, 85 (45%) showed evidence of acute herpesvirus infection; herpes simplex virus 1 was found most often. Most infections were asymptomatic.

Conclusions—

Herpesviruses may act as a trigger for childhood AIS, even if the infection is subclinical. Antivirals like acyclovir might have a role in the prevention of recurrent stroke if further studies confirm a causal relationship.
Consumption of Caffeinated Products and Cardiac Ectopy
Authors: Dixit Shalini , Stein Phyllis K. , Dewland Thomas A. , Dukes Jonathan W. , Vittinghoff Eric , Heckbert Susan R. , Marcus Gregory M.
Published: January 2016

Background

Premature cardiac contractions are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Though experts associate premature atrial contractions (
PAC
s) and premature ventricular contractions (
PVC
s) with caffeine, there are no data to support this relationship in the general population. As certain caffeinated products may have cardiovascular benefits, recommendations against them may be detrimental.

Methods and Results

We studied Cardiovascular Health Study participants with a baseline food frequency assessment, 24‐hour ambulatory electrocardiography (Holter) monitoring, and without persistent atrial fibrillation. Frequencies of habitual coffee, tea, and chocolate consumption were assessed using a picture‐sort food frequency survey. The main outcomes were
PAC
s/h and
PVC
s/hour. Among 1388 participants (46% male, mean age 72 years), 840 (61%) consumed ≥1 caffeinated product per day. The median numbers of
PAC
s and
PVC
s/h and interquartile ranges were 3 (1–12) and 1 (0–7), respectively. There were no differences in the number of
PAC
s or
PVC
s/h across levels of coffee, tea, and chocolate consumption. After adjustment for potential confounders, more frequent consumption of these products was not associated with ectopy. In examining combined dietary intake of coffee, tea, and chocolate as a continuous measure, no relationships were observed after multivariable adjustment: 0.48% fewer
PAC
s/h (95%
CI
−4.60 to 3.64) and 2.87% fewer
PVC
s/h (95%
CI
−8.18 to 2.43) per 1‐serving/week increase in consumption.

Conclusions

In the largest study to evaluate dietary patterns and quantify cardiac ectopy using 24‐hour Holter monitoring, we found no relationship between chronic consumption of caffeinated products and ectopy.
Prognostic Significance of Hyperglycemia in Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Authors: Saxena Anubhav , Anderson Craig S. , Wang Xia , Sato Shoichiro , Arima Hisatomi , Chan Edward , Muñoz-Venturelli Paula , Delcourt Candice , Robinson Thompson , Stapf Christian , Lavados Pablo M. , Wang Jiguang , Neal Bruce , Chalmers John , Heeley Emma ,   for the INTERACT2 Investigators
Published: January 2016

Background and Purpose—

We aimed to determine associations of baseline blood glucose and diabetes mellitus with clinical outcomes in participants of the Intensive Blood Pressure Reduction in Acute Cerebral Hemorrhage Trial (INTERACT2).

Methods—

INTERACT2 was an international prospective, open, blinded end point, randomized controlled trial of 2839 patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (<6 hours) and elevated systolic blood pressure randomly assigned to intensive (target systolic blood pressure <140 mm Hg) or guideline-based (systolic blood pressure <180 mm Hg) BP management. Associations of hyperglycemia at presentation (>6.5 mmol/L) and combined and separate poor outcomes of death and major disability (scores of 3–6, 3–5, and 6, respectively, on the modified Rankin scale) at 90 days were determined in logistic regression models.

Results—

In 2653 patients with available data, there were 1348 (61%) with hyperglycemia and 292 (11%) with diabetes mellitus. Associations of baseline blood glucose and poor outcome were strong and near continuous. After adjustment for baseline variables, the highest fourth (7.9–25.0 mmol/L) of blood glucose was significantly associated with combined poor outcome (adjusted odds ratio 1.35, 95% confidence interval 1.01–1.80;
P
trend 0.015). Diabetes mellitus also predicted poor outcome (adjusted odds ratio 1.46, 95% confidence interval 1.05–2.02;
P
=0.023), though more important for residual disability than death on separate analysis.

Conclusions—

Hyperglycemia and diabetes mellitus are independent predictors of poor outcome in patients with predominantly mild to moderate severity of intracerebral hemorrhage. These data support guideline recommendations for good glycemic control in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00716079.
On Lips and Tongues in Ancient Hebrew
Authors: Landman Yael
Published: January 2016

This article traces the semantic development of the words śāp̄ah ‘lip’ and lāšon ‘tongue’ through Biblical, Late Biblical, Qumran, and Mishnaic Hebrew. Two semantic changes occupy the focus of this analysis: First, by the time of Mishnaic Hebrew, śāp̄ah had lost its meanings related to the lip’s association with talking, so that it should not be translated ‘speech’ in ambiguous contexts. Second, the semantic widening of lāšon to include the meaning ‘speech’ began to take place in Biblical Hebrew in the context of words from the realm of deceit.
The effects of olfactory and sound signals from dams during prior brief isolation on levels of paternal behaviours in mandarin voles
Authors: Zhang Shuwei , Yu Chengjun , Feng Tuo , Wang Bo , Tai Fadao
Published: January 2016

Although effects of paternal deprivation on offspring have been previously studied, the factors initiating and maintaining paternal care are not very clear. Using socially monogamous mandarin voles, we investigated whether cues from dams affect paternal behaviours. The sires were separated from their pups individually or placed with dams immediately prior to paternal behaviour testing. The results showed that sires kept with dams displayed more huddling behaviour and shorter latency of retrieving than sires isolated individually. Sires placed with dams in a closed box also exhibited less huddling behaviour and longer latency of retrieving than sires placed with dams in an open box. In addition, anosmia, deafness or combination of these two treatments all significantly reduced huddling and licking behaviour compared with sham-operated group respectively. These results suggest that communication between sires and dams especially via olfactory and auditory signals plays an important role in strengthening paternal behaviours.
Drift and activity responses of black flies (Simulium vittatum) in the field: influences of tactile and injury-released stimuli from simulated predation
Authors: Sullivan Aaron M. , Johnson Elyse C.
Published: January 2016

Prey must manage threat from many types of predators; therefore, selection should favor sensory mechanisms that allow the refinement of defensive behavior. To assess responses to tactile and chemical stimuli related to predation, we observed drift and activity of larval black flies (Simulium vittatum) to simulated predator contact intended to imitate benthic and drift predators as well as a combination of tactile and injury-released stimuli. In the field, larvae responded to tactile stimuli applied to the head with a higher frequency of curling and posterior abdominal segments with a higher frequency of drifting. Additionally, chemical cues from injured conspecifics followed by tactile stimuli applied to the head resulted in a higher frequency of drifting than to either cue independently and this effect was more pronounced at night. The results of our study indicate that larval black flies may utilize multiple cues to determine their antipredator and predator avoidance strategies.
Turning Points and International Environments: Multilateral Negotiations in the gatt and the wto
Authors: Crump Larry , Druckman Daniel
Published: January 2016

A turning points analysis is used to capture the negotiating dynamics that occur within the structure of thegattand thewto. Ministerial/Council-level operations and Committee-level operations are distinguished. WithinwtoDoha Development Agenda negotiations (2001–present), we isolate Ministerial/Council-level data and withingatt, we isolate Committee-level data by examining Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights negotiations conducted during thegattUruguay round (1985–1994) and at thewtoDoha Ministerial (2001). A detailed chronology of each case is compiled, followed by the identification of precipitants, departures and consequences, which are the three parts of a turning points analysis. We conclude that the precipitants that led to negotiation turning points in the Ministerial/Council environment are exclusively internal and generally procedural. The precipitants creating turning points within the Committee environment are generally internal and substantive. These conclusions have implications for our understanding of international environments and their impact on negotiation process.
The Impact of Relationship Dynamics on Third-Party Coordination: Perceptions of Third-Party Practitioners in Nepal and the Philippines
Authors: Bhattarai Prakash
Published: January 2016

A growing field within mediation research explores issues of third-party coordination. The existing literature highlights third-party coordination as a problematic but extremely important conflict intervention strategy, but lacks an in-depth explanation of fundamental aspects of third-party coordination. Considering this research gap, this study explores a fundamental theme related to third-party coordination: the influence of third-party relationship dynamics. This theme is elaborated by means of an analysis of two case studies: the Maoist armed conflict of Nepal and the Moro conflict of the Philippines. My research finds that power differences among third parties, their attitudes towards each other, differences in intervention strategies and priorities, the nature of conflicts, and the actions taken by the conflicting parties are key contextual factors that influence the dynamics of third-party relationships. Successful coordination is more likely when there is interdependence and a sense of respect between third parties.
Leopoldstadt, Judenplatz, and Beyond
Authors: Silverman Lisa
Published: January 2016

Discussions of Jews’ relationship to Vienna before 1938 tend to focus on their consumption of Viennese culture, including music, art, literature, and intellectual innovation. However, understanding place as a formative aspect of material culture can help us see another crucial aspect of how Jews—individually and collectively—came to terms with their place in the city. This essay examines the significance of place for Jews in Vienna through a variety of primary sources related to the Judenplatz, the square which is today the city’s premier site of Jewish memory, and Leopoldstadt, the district that encompasses Vienna’s most densely populated Jewish residential area. Memoirs, newspaper articles, caricatures, and maps written by both Jews and non-Jews reveal how the significance of these two areas changed over time, as they became deeply intertwined with the self-perceptions of both Jews and non-Jews. Analyzing how the Judenplatz and Leopoldstadt engaged Jewish difference over time helps us understand how the presence or absence of Jews remained a persistent dialectic in determining the meaning of place in Vienna.
Jewish Settlement in Prohibited Cities
Authors: Mazsu János
Published: January 2016

The article explores the history of Jewish settlement in Hungary over a period of roughly one hundred years. It starts with the turn of the nineteenth century which saw several waves of Jewish immigration in Hungary and was the first important stage of mutual acculturation of the urban societies and Jewish communities. The analysis of this period is essential for the understanding of urban settlement, the subsequent integration, and the controversial processes of assimilation/dissimilation and intra-urban spatial segregation. The second part of the article offers a case study on Debrecen tracing the initial steps of settlement, housing conditions and residence segregation, neighborhood relations, family structure and residence patterns of Jewish families as well as the spatial layout of the established Jewish ritual and community institutions. The closing part of the study strives to reconsider the research methodology on issues of integration, acculturation, and urban segregation based on the findings and resources of the Geoinformatic Social History Database of Debrecen (GISHDD). On the whole, the study seeks to provide a way to rethink the interpretations of the birth of the modern Hungarian nation, as well as processes of acculturation/integration, segregation, and cooperation of ethnic communities in the nineteenth century.
Continuities between Scribal and Print Publishing in Twelfth-Century Song China—The Case of Wang Mingqing’s Serialized Notebooks
Authors: De Weerdt Hilde
Published: January 2016

This article proposes that in Song China, as opposed to early modern England, user publication or the publication of texts by readers quickly adjusted to the print medium. It does so on the basis of an examination of the publishing history of Wang Mingqing’s 王明清 (1127-after 1214) serially published notebook, Huizhu lu 揮麈錄 (Waving the duster) in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries and an analysis of how manuscript and print texts were used and discussed throughout it. The article aims to contribute towards a better understanding of the relationship between print and manuscript at a time when printing had just become a medium for the dissemination of a wide variety of types of knowledge and particularly of twelfth-century perceptions of this relationship. Wang Mingqing’s notebook further illustrates that in notebooks literati collected and published manuscript and print texts of value to them, including those related to recent dynastic history. The display of textual connoisseurship was one of several ways in which growing numbers of men expressed their aspiration for literati status in notebooks from the twelfth century onwards.
Systematic revision of Calligrapha Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)
with pale spots on dark elytra and description of two new species
Authors: GÓMEZ-ZURITA JESÚS
Published: January 2016

In this work, a group of seven species of Calligrapha (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) with pale spots contrasting with dark background of elytra is revised and their distributions specified based on the material studied from sixteen museums. Among these species, two are new and formally described: C. pavimentata sp. nov. and C. zapoteca sp. nov. A pragmatic identification key is provided to identify these taxa and it is proposed that these species belong to four different evolutionary lineages.
Epidorylaimus monhystera sp. n., an atypical species of the genus Epidorylaimus Andrássy, 1986 (Dorylaimida: Qudsianematidae) from Japan
Authors: AHMAD WASIM , IMRAN ZARRIN , ARAKI MASAKI
Published: January 2016

Epidorylaimus monhystera sp. n. is described and illustrated from Japan. The new species is characterized by having 1.12-1.33 mm long body, lip region offset by slight constriction, odontostyle 15–16 μm and odontophore 18-20 μm long, guiding ring single, pharyngeal expansion gradual, vulva transvers, female genital system mono-opisthodelphic, anterior branch completely absent and tail elongated-conoid, ventrally arcuate. It is distinctive from all other species of the genus Epidorylaimus in having mono-opisthodelphic female genital system. Its relationship with other monodelphic genera of Qudsianematidae is also discussed and an emended diagnosis of the genus Epidorylaimus is provided with list of valid species, key for their identification and a diagnostic compendium.
A new species of the genus Polyodaspis Duda, 1933 (Diptera: Acalyptratae: Chloropidae) from Central Asia with a key to the Palaearctic species
Authors: NARTSHUK E.P.
Published: January 2016

A new species, Polyodaspis ferulae n. sp., from Central Asia (Uzbekistan) is described. The species was collected on inflorescences of Ferula foetida (Apiaceae). Siphonella levicola Becker in Becker and Stein, 1913 described from Iran is synonymized with Polyodaspis sulcicollis (Meigen, 1838) based on investigation of the holotype. A key to 9 species of the genus Polyodaspis Duda, 1933 is proposed with illustrations of male genitalia. Polyodaspis and Anacamptoneurum Becker, 1903 are treated as separate genera. New localities of P. sulcicollis (Meigen, 1838) from Kazakhstan and Central Asia are given.
Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor (MRMS) Severe Weather and Aviation Products: Initial Operating Capabilities
Authors: Smith Travis M. , Lakshmanan Valliappa , Stumpf Gregory J. , Ortega Kiel L. , Hondl Kurt , Cooper Karen , Calhoun Kristin M. , Kingfield Darrel M. , Manross Kevin L. , Toomey Robert , Brogden Jeff
Published: January 2016

The Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor (MRMS) system, which was developed at the National Severe Storms Laboratory and the University of Oklahoma, was made operational in 2014 at the National Centers for Environmental Prediction. The MRMS system consists of the Warning Decision Support System–Integrated Information suite of severe weather and aviation products, and the quantitative precipitation estimation products created by the National Mosaic and Multi-sensor Quantitative Precipitation Estimation system. Products created by the MRMS system are at a spatial resolution of approximately 1 km, with 33 vertical levels, updating every 2 min over the conterminous United States and southern Canada. This paper describes initial operating capabilities for the severe weather and aviation products that include a three-dimensional mosaic of reflectivity; guidance for hail, tornado, and lightning hazards; and nowcasts of storm location, height, and intensity.
Seasonal Cycle of Mesoscale Instability of the West Spitsbergen Current
Authors: Appen Wilken-Jon von , Schauer Ursula , Hattermann Tore , Beszczynska-Möller Agnieszka
Published: January 2016

The West Spitsbergen Current (WSC) is a topographically steered boundary current that transports warm Atlantic Water northward in Fram Strait. The 16 yr (1997–2012) current and temperature–salinity measurements from moorings in the WSC at 78°50′N reveal the dynamics of mesoscale variability in the WSC and the central Fram Strait. A strong seasonality of the fluctuations and the proposed driving mechanisms is described. In winter, water is advected in the WSC that has been subjected to strong atmospheric cooling in the Nordic Seas, and as a result the stratification in the top 250 m is weak. The current is also stronger than in summer and has a greater vertical shear. This results in an e-folding growth period for baroclinic instabilities of about half a day in winter, indicating that the current has the ability to rapidly grow unstable and form eddies. In summer, the WSC is significantly less unstable with an e-folding growth period of 2 days. Observations of the eddy kinetic energy (EKE) show a peak in the boundary current in January–February when it is most unstable. Eddies are then likely advected westward, and the EKE peak is observed 1–2 months later in the central Fram Strait. Conversely, the EKE in the WSC as well as in the central Fram Strait is reduced by a factor of more than 3 in late summer. Parameterizations for the expected EKE resulting from baroclinic instability can account for the observed EKE values. Hence, mesoscale instability can generate the observed variability, and high-frequency wind forcing is not required to explain the observed EKE.
An Information-Theoretical Score of Dichotomous Precipitation Forecast
Authors: Fekri Majid , Yau M. K.
Published: January 2016

This study presents an information-theoretical score (ITS) with an emphasis on desirable and undesirable mutual information between a series of dichotomous forecast and observation. As ITS makes use of the same contingency table as traditional scores, the performance of threat score (TS), equitable threat score (ETS), and true skill statistics (TSS) are compared with ITS using three different approaches. First, a hypothetical forecast setup is employed to investigate the responses of the scores to bias, phase error, and event frequency. It was found that the desirable mutual information portion of ITS (C+) is closer to TSS, and the undesirable mutual information portion of ITS (C−) reveals the presence of biases and random errors in the forecast. There is also a similarity between ITS and ETS. Second, the sensitivities of ITS and ETS to forecast bias tendency are examined analytically using the critical performance ratio (CPR). It is shown that ITS has a more dynamical response to incremental bias. By increasing the bias, the CPR value of ITS increases more rapidly than that of ETS indicating a higher resistance to hedging. Third, the skill scores on two sets of operational forecasts are applied with respect to a mosaic of observed radar reflectivity. The results show that ITS remains more consistent in its evaluation of skills at different thresholds compared to other scores.
Mobile Spectroscopic Instrumentation in Archaeometry Research
Authors: Vandenabeele Peter , Donais Mary Kate
Published: January 2016

Mobile instrumentation is of growing importance to archaeometry research. Equipment is utilized in the field or at museums, thus avoiding transportation or risk of damage to valuable artifacts. Many spectroscopic techniques are nondestructive and micro-destructive in nature, which preserves the cultural heritage objects themselves. This review includes over 160 references pertaining to the use of mobile spectroscopy for archaeometry. Following a discussion of terminology related to mobile instrumental methods, results of a literature survey on their applications for cultural heritage objects is presented. Sections devoted to specific techniques are then provided: Raman spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, and less frequently used techniques. The review closes with a discussion of combined instrumental approaches.
Nondestructive Determination of the Age of 20th-Century Oil-Binder Ink Prints Using Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR FT-IR): A Case Study with Postage Stamps from the Łódź Ghetto
Authors: Bower Nathan W. , Blanchet Conor J.K. , Epstein Michael S.
Published: January 2016

The ability to determine the production date for a painting or print would be of great benefit in the forensic detection of fakes and forgeries as well as in art history and conservation. Changes in the pigments used at different times have been invaluable in detecting incongruities that suggest fraud, but relatively little work has been published that uses the chemical changes in oil binders as they dry to determine when an ink print or an oil painting was made. Using attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopy and samples with known dates, we calibrate the drying of oil binders in inks and paints and cross-validate the paints with pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS). We apply the ink calibration to a case study involving the age determination of possible philatelic counterfeits from a World War II Jewish Ghetto in Occupied Poland, obtaining a date of 1946 ± 6 (1 s, n = 9) for the genuine stamps, and 1963 ± 16 (1 s, n = 19) for the various reproductions.
The Colors of Keith Haring: A Spectroscopic Study on the Materials of the Mural Painting Tuttomondo and on Reference Contemporary Outdoor Paints
Authors: Cucci Costanza , Bartolozzi Giovanni , De Vita Marco , Marchiafava Veronica , Picollo Marcello , Casadio Francesca
Published: January 2016

To date, little attention has been given to the scientific investigation of modern and contemporary mural paintings. This paper reports on: (1) the in situ spectroscopic analyses of the mural Tuttomondo (1989) painted by Keith Haring (1958–1990) in Pisa (Italy); and (2) the laboratory characterization of acrylic paints produced by Caparol Italy GmbH & Co., the original supplier of paint materials to the artist for the mural. Ultraviolet (UV), visible (Vis), and near-infrared (NIR) fiber optic reflectance spectroscopy (FORS) measurements were carried out in situ. The Caparol paint samples were characterized using benchtop instrumentation including both dispersive and Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR; with sample pre-treatment to remove filler interference in the fingerprint region), and UV-Vis-NIR FORS. This combined analytical approach confirmed that the materials used by Haring for the mural Tuttomondo have the same composition of the new Caparol acrylic paints, except for the case of the yellow pigment. This information offers valuable documentation for the materials history and for the conservation of a mural painting that is considered the last great public work by Haring.
Combined Spectroscopic Analysis of Beads from the Tombs of Kindoki, Lower Congo Province (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Authors: Rousaki Anastasia , Coccato Alessia , Verhaeghe Charlotte , Clist Bernard-Olivier , Bostoen Koen , Vandenabeele Peter , Moens Luc
Published: January 2016

Raman spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis are commonly applied to archaeological objects as a fast and nondestructive way to characterize the materials. Here, micro-Raman spectroscopy and chemometrics on handheld XRF results were used to completely characterize beads found during archaeological excavations in the Congo. Metallic objects, organogenic materials, and glass beads were studied. Special attention was paid to the glassy materials, as they seem to be of European production. The matrix family and crystalline phases assemblage, as well as the results from principal components analysis on the elemental data, were used to define groups of beads of similar composition, and therefore probably of similar origin. This research project establishes the feasibility of this approach to archaeological glasses, and can be used to confirm and support the bead typologies used by archaeologists.
Quantitative Chemical Analysis of Archaeological Slag Material Using Handheld X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry
Authors: Scott Rebecca B. , Eekelers Kim , Degryse Patrick
Published: January 2016

Handheld X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) has seen a dramatic increase in use for archaeological projects. The attraction of the technique is its portable and nondestructive nature. In many cases, the archaeological artefacts in question cannot be destructively sampled, or the piece itself cannot be sent to an analytical laboratory. One of the current research interests associated with the Sagalassos project is the study of the Roman iron industry. Previously exported iron slag and ore from the site and the surrounding area was subjected to laboratory chemical analyses. These indicated that different ores were being utilized in the production of iron in different periods. In order to further the project the slag material still in the site depot needed to be analyzed. However, recent legislative changes mean that materials can only be analyzed on-site. Since samples could not be taken and destructive chemical analysis was no longer feasible, a portable, nondestructive technique was required. Handheld XRF can easily provide qualitative data, but these data are only comparable to other handheld XRF qualitative data, from the same device. Quantitative data gathering is possible, but can be more problematic, particularly when the material in question is heterogeneous in nature. A calibration file was created using the manufacturer’s software and “in-house” standards made from the pre-quantified samples of iron slag available in the laboratory. In order to make the calibration as robust as possible, the composition of the standards was analyzed statistically to determine which of these created bias and leverage for specific elements. These standards were then omitted from the calibration for that element. The calibration was tested in the laboratory using samples of iron slag previously analyzed with wet chemistry, and the results indicated that most sample analyses showed <30% error. Results with a >30% error were found in samples which contained very low or very high quantities of the analyzed element, i.e., outside the limits of the calibration. The handheld XRF and the associated calibration file were then used to provide a semi-quantified chemical characterization of the samples in the field depot.
Using Nondestructive Portable X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometers on Stone, Ceramics, Metals, and Other Materials in Museums: Advantages and Limitations
Authors: Tykot Robert H.
Published: January 2016

Elemental analysis is a fundamental method of analysis on archaeological materials to address their overall composition or identify the source of their geological components, yet having access to instrumentation, its often destructive nature, and the time and cost of analyses have limited the number and/or size of archaeological artifacts tested. The development of portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) instruments over the past decade, however, has allowed nondestructive analyses to be conducted in museums around the world, on virtually any size artifact, producing data for up to several hundred samples per day. Major issues have been raised, however, about the sensitivity, precision, and accuracy of these devices, and the limitation of performing surface analysis on potentially heterogeneous objects. The advantages and limitations of pXRF are discussed here regarding archaeological studies of obsidian, ceramics, metals, bone, and painted materials.
Zero-Sum Democracy? The Effects of Direct Democracy on Representative Participation
Authors: Peters Yvette
Published: January 2016

Direct democracy has received increasing attention in the past decades, from both the academic and political spheres. Moreover, institutions of direct democracy have also been introduced more frequently throughout the world, often with the aim of improving the democratic process. However, the impact of direct democracy on the behaviour of the citizenry in representative democracy is not yet clear. This study therefore focuses on the relationship between the institutions of direct democracy and turnout in representative elections. I expect that when institutions of direct democracy fulfil a task that is traditionally part of representative democracy, electoral participation declines (zero-sum proposition). Conversely, institutions where citizens are free to add new issues to the political arena (initiatives) would positively affect turnout (positive-sum proposition). I test my argument for a panel of democracies between 1980 and 2005, and find that some institutions of direct democracy compete with representative democracy while others complement it.
Variable Findings for Drug‐Induced Sleep Endoscopy in Obstructive Sleep Apnea with Propofol versus Dexmedetomidine
Authors: Capasso Robson , Rosa Talita , Tsou David Yung‐An , Nekhendzy Vladimir , Drover David , Collins Jeremy , Zaghi Soroush , Camacho Macario
Published: January 2016

Objective

To compare VOTE classification findings (velum, oropharyngeal‐lateral walls, tongue base, and epiglottis) for drug‐induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) among patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) using 2 sedation protocols.

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

Single tertiary institution.

Subjects

Patients with OSA who underwent DISE.

Methods

A total of 216 patients underwent DISE between November 23, 2011, and May 1, 2015. DISE findings based on VOTE classification were compared between patients receiving the propofol‐ and dexmedetomidine‐based sedation protocols.

Results

Patients with OSA (N = 216; age, 44.3 ± 11.7 years; body mass index, 27.9 ± 4.8 kg/m2) underwent DISE with intravenous administration of propofol (n = 52) or dexmedetomidine (n = 164). There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups in baseline apnea‐hypopnea index, oxygen desaturation index, Mallampati score, tonsil size, Epworth Sleepiness Scale score, peripheral oxygen saturation nadir, age, sex, or body mass index. Patients in the propofol group had a significantly increased likelihood of demonstrating complete tongue base obstruction (75%, 39 of 52) versus partial or no obstruction (25%, 13 of 52) in the anterior‐posterior dimension, as compared with the dexmedetomidine group (complete obstruction: 42.7%, 70 of 164; partial or no obstruction: 57.3%, 94 of 164; odds ratio: 4.0; 95% confidence interval: 2.0‐8.1; P =. 0001). Obstruction of other airway subsites was not significantly different.

Conclusion

Use of propofol versus dexmedetomidine to induce sedation may have a significant effect on the pattern of upper airway obstruction observed during DISE. Randomized prospective studies are indicated to confirm these initial findings.
Gender and family caregiving at the end-of-life in the context of old age: A systematic review
Authors: Morgan Tessa , Ann Williams Lisa , Trussardi Gabriella , Gott Merryn
Published: January 2016

Background:

As societies age and governments attempt to manage within constrained health budgets by moving care into community settings, women will be called upon to provide more palliative care in old age. However, little is known about gendered disparities for caregivers of people over the age of 65 years.

Aim:

To identify and synthesise the empirical literature between 1994 and 2014 that focusses on gender and family caregiving for people over the age of 65 years with a life-limiting illness.

Design:

Systematic review of qualitative and quantitative studies conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Supplemental review using a novel feminist quality appraisal framework.

Data sources:

Search of MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Sociological Abstracts and Gender Studies to find empirical studies on gender and family caregiving at end-of-life in the context of old age.

Results:

Of 19 studies identified, 9 presented thorough gender analyses. Gender themes included why people care, how they care, and the consequences of providing care. Women caregivers experienced a greater degree of mental and physical strain than their male counterparts. This was linked to societal expectation that women should provide a greater degree of care at the end-of-life for family members.

Conclusion:

Palliative family caregiving for older adults is gendered. Gender affects why people care and the consequences of providing care. Palliative care literature needs to incorporate a greater gender focus for future research and policy makers need to be aware of the gendered ramifications of providing more palliative care in the community.
Differences in palliative care quality between patients with cancer, patients with organ failure and frail patients: A study based on measurements with the Consumer Quality Index Palliative Care for bereaved relatives
Authors: Hofstede Jolien M , Raijmakers Natasja JH , van der Hoek Lucas S , Francke Anneke L
Published: January 2016

Background:

Palliative care is rooted in the care for incurably ill cancer patients. Yet today there is a recognised need for palliative care for patients with non-cancer conditions. However, the often unpredictable illness trajectories and the difficulty in predicting the imminence of death in people with non-cancer conditions may hamper the provision of high-quality palliative care.

Aim:

To compare the quality of palliative care provided to patients with cancer, patients with organ failure and frail patients and their relatives.

Design:

An existing dataset was analysed, consisting of data collected through the Consumer Quality Index Palliative Care questionnaire for bereaved relatives.

Setting/participants:

Data were analysed of 456 relatives of deceased patients with cancer, patients with organ failure and frail patients from various care settings in the Netherlands.

Results:

Relatives (e.g. partners or children) of deceased patients with organ failure ( n = 61) were more likely to have negative experiences regarding the expertise of healthcare professionals compared with relatives of patients with cancer ( n = 215). Relatives of frail patients ( n = 180) gave a relatively low rating of the general quality of the care in the last week of the patient’s life, both as regards the care provided to patients ( p = 0.015) and as regards the support to relatives ( p = 0.009).

Conclusion:

Compared with the bereaved relatives of patients with cancer, bereaved relatives of patients with organ failure or frailty were more likely to negatively assess the palliative care provided to both the patient and themselves. Improving professionals’ expertise in palliative care for people with non-cancer conditions is recommended.
Protective effect of diallyl trisulfide against naphthalene-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory damage in mice
Authors: Zhang Fang , Zhang Yongchun , Wang Kaiming , Liu Guangpu , Yang Min , Zhao Zhongxi , Li Shanzhong , Cai Jianhua , Cao Jimin
Published: January 2016

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible protective effects of diallyl trisulfide (DATS) against naphthalene-induced oxidative and inflammatory damage in the livers and lungs of mice. Elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels showed significant hepatic damage after the challenge with 100 mg/kg naphthalene. Hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) contents and the activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) increased significantly, accompanying a decrease in the hepatic activity of total superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) levels after the naphthalene damage. In addition, the serum levels of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and interleukin 8 (IL-8) increased significantly in the groups damaged with naphthalene. The main parameters related to oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in the lungs, including the NO, MPO, and GSH contents, were determined, and the histopathological and immunohistochemical changes in the lung and liver tissues were also observed. In the DATS-treated groups, all of the oxidative and inflammatory damage in the serum, liver, and lung tissues were significantly prevented.
Culture trauma, morality and solidarity
Authors: Alexander Jeffrey C
Published: January 2016

Cultural trauma occurs when members of a collectivity feel they have been subjected to a horrendous event that leaves indelible marks upon their group consciousness, marking their memories forever and changing their future identity in fundamental and irrevocable ways. While this new scientific concept clarifies causal relationships between previously unrelated events, structures, perceptions, and actions, it also illuminates a neglected domain of social responsibility and political action. By constructing cultural traumas, social groups, national societies, and sometimes even entire civilizations, not only cognitively identify the existence and source of human suffering, but may also take on board some significant moral responsibility for it. Insofar as they identify the cause of trauma in a manner that assumes such moral responsibility, members of collectivities define their solidary relationships that allow them to share the suffering of others. Is the suffering of others also our own? In thinking that it might in fact be, societies expand the circle of the ‘we’ and create the possibility for repairing societies to prevent the trauma from happening again. By the same token, social groups can, and often do, refuse to recognize the existence of others’ suffering, or place the responsibility for it on people other than themselves. Empirically, this article extensively considers trauma construction in the case of the Holocaust – the mass murder of Jews by the German Nazis – but also examines trauma processes in relation to African-Americans, indigenous peoples, colonial victims of Western and Japanese imperialism, the Nanjing Massacre, and victims of the early communist regimes in Soviet Russia and Maoist China.