bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Senegalese, Gurkha, Sikh . . . : The French and British Colonial Troops in the Eyes of the Arab Writers
Authors: Luffin Xavier
Published: October 2013

Abstract

The former great European colonial empires had incorporated soldiers recruited in their colonies into their armies. Several Arab authors from Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Morocco remember them through their novels and short stories, giving us an interesting perception of the “Other”: strangers brought into the Arab world by other strangers. They also represent different negative faces of the colonial period: the exploitation of the indigenous population, the dilemma of Muslims forced to fight their brothers . . .
Marriage, Property and Conversion among the Zoroastrians: From Late Sasanian to Islamic Iran
Authors: Daryaee Touraj
Published: October 2013

Abstract

This essay discusses the impact ofxwēdōdahor consanguine marriages, sanctioned by the Zoroastrian tradition on the population during a time of religious dialogue, and proselytizing inĒrānšahr(600-800 CE). I believe that advocacy for such a type of marriage was intensified in particular periods in Iranian history, namely the third century, when the Manichaeans challenged Zoroastrianism; and more importantly in the 6th century when Christianity became a major threat; and finally in the eighth and the ninth centuries when state support for Zoroastrianism had collapsed and the Muslims were gaining numbers and becoming the new elite. It is asserted here thatxwēdōdahhad a practical purpose, which was to keep wealth within the family and the community at a time when conversion threatened the survival of Zoroastrianism.
Law in the Crisis of Empire: A Sasanian Example
Authors: Elman Yaakov
Published: October 2013

Abstract

Except for a century or so beginning with Alexander’s invasion, one or another Iranian dynasty ruled a vast empire for some 1200 years—and then vanished with disconcerting speed in only a few short years in the aftermath of the Arab invasion. The following remarks attempt an explanation for this rapid demise. In particular, I intend to isolate two important factors that contributed mightily to that process, factors which, in my opinion, are reflected in perhaps the most important document dating from that short period: the so-called Sasanian Lawbook, theMādiyān ī Hazār Dādestān, the “Book of a Thousand Decisions.” This book reveals the attempts of Sasanian jurists to cope with 1.) a demographic crisis brought on by the constant wars of the sixth century and the Black Plague, and 2.) a crisis of liquidity.
Late Antique Iran and the Arabs: The Case of al-Hira
Authors: Toral-Niehoff Isabel
Published: October 2013

Abstract

This article reevaluates our evidence for the interaction of Arab and Iranian elements in the Arab frontier-state of al-Hira, a state in late antiquity, which can be seen as a paradigmatic “third space” of special cultural dynamics. First, it sums up our evidence about the political and commercial ties connecting the Lakhmid principality and the Sasanian Empire; next, it focuses on the possible agents of cultural exchange between the two; finally, we direct our attention to the cultural spheres themselves and the issue of where and how Iranian-Arab transculturation as a process can be detected in the Hiran context. The article argues for a cautious reassessment of the material in light of current research in cultural studies. This is significant in its wider historical perspective, as such a process might have prepared the path for later developments in Islamic times, when the apogee of Arab-Iranian interaction is supposed to have taken place, i.e., in Abbasid Iraq.
Two Seal Impressions from Kāfer Qalʿa (Samarkand) and the Representations of Iranian Divinities
Authors: Compareti Matteo
Published: October 2013

Abstract

Among the seal impressions found at the late Sogdian/early Islamic site of Kāfer Qalʿa, a few kilometers south of Samarkand, certain ones deserve special attention due to the divinities which embellish them. Two of these seal impressions are studied in detail in the present paper, within the framework of Zoroastrian religion and iconography. Some hypotheses on the utility of Kāfer Qalʿa as an important Sogdian administrative center during Late Antiquity are presented as well.
R.R. Vasmer and His Hand-written Catalogue of Tabarestān drachms
Authors: Kravtsov Konstantin V.
Published: October 2013

Abstract

The present article concerns the hand-written catalogue of Tabarestān drachms, composed by the famous Russian orientalist R.R. Vasmer (1888-1938), in the possession of the State Hermitage Museum. The catalogue constitutes an integral part of Vasmer’s hand-written legacy, preserved in the Numismatic Department of the State Hermitage Museum, including 8 volumes of the catalogue of pre-Mongol Islamic coins and 1 volume of the catalogue of Islamic glass weights and stamps The catalogue of Tabarestān drachms (Tabari dirhams) contains detailed descriptions of 129 coins: 23 specimens of which belong to the Dabuyid coinage, and 106 were struck by the ‘Abbasid Governors of Tabarestān. Despite the fact that the catalogue was compiled between 1910 and 1916 it is still unpublished and remains a very important reference for studying the history of Tabarestān’s numismatics, in particular, and early Islamic numismatics, in general.
Early Persian Documents from Khorasan
Authors: Shaked Shaul
Published: October 2013

Abstract

The article reports on a find of manuscripts of the eleventh century CE in Early New Persian, Early Judeo-Persian, Arabic, Judeo-Arabic, Hebrew and Aramaic, recently discovered in Afghanistan. Some of the contents of this group of manuscripts is described, as well as the possible origins of the Jewish community where these documents were produced and kept. An example of a piece of poetry in commemoration of a deceased member of the community is given in transcription into Standard Persian. Some notes on the significance of these documents for studying the history of the Persian language and the dialect of Khorasan are supplied.
An Investigation into the Kurdish Genre of the Shāhnāma and Its Religious Dimensions
Authors: Chamanara Behrooz
Published: October 2013

Abstract

This paper intends to introduce the Kurdish genre of theShāhnāmaand, using manuscripts available to the author, undertakes a preliminary investigation into the religious world-views apparent in the genre. The following is an introductory note on the author’s more extensive research, the main conclusions of which are discussed and presented: specifically that the KurdishShāhnāmacontains an original and independent textual tradition, in the Gurāni literary style, a style which developed separately from classical Persian literature, and which draws upon the Zagros-Kurdish landscape, as well as other regional and sectarian-religious influences.
Whence Came the Asvārān? An Inquiry into the Ambiguity of Sources
Authors: Kamaly Hossein
Published: October 2013

Abstract

Narratives of the Arab Conquests that were compiled in book form only after the ninth century fall short of providing a consistent, let alone an accurate, view of Sasanian hierarchies of rank and status during the sixth and seventh centuries. Knowledge of provincial divisions and administrative practices under Sasanian rule was reflected more accurately, not least of all because it directly pertained to the collection of tax revenues for the conquerors. When it comes to information about Iranian society and culture before the conquests, Arabic sources, often based on veterans’ tales, offer but fragmentary and anecdotal information. While scholars have made great use of these sources, it is still difficult to fathom the composition and function of groups such as the Sasanian asvārān. Focusing on a few well-known conquest narratives, this article investigates the information they contain on the asvārān, and will underline some of the difficulties involved when drawing inferences from them with respect to Sasanian social hierarchy and military structure.
The Iranian Time Reckoning and the Periodization of Iranian History into the ‘Pre Islamic’ and ‘Islamic’ Periods
Authors: Kholdani Asef
Published: October 2013

Abstract

This paper, as part of a greater study, aims to shed light upon the failure of Western scholars to acknowledge the chronological schema adopted by Iranians themselves with respect to their own history. It also addresses the confusion, and negative consequences, resulting from when Iranian history was divided two centuries ago into “Pre-Islamic” and “Islamic” periods. This paper will argue for the validity of the time reckoning system developed by Iranians themselves, and by Biruni in particular, as a means to understand this history in the context of Iranian history and cultural traditions. An argument will be made for the fallacy of a chronological system that uses the development of an ideology, as opposed to a historical event, for the lens through which Iranian history is examined.
The Ethics and Praxis of Mehr and Mithras and the Social Institution of the ʿayyārs in the Epic Romance of Samak-e ʿayyār
Authors: Pourshariati Parvaneh
Published: October 2013

Abstract

Giving a very brief and introductory summary of the many avatars of the Iranian god, Mithra, throughout Eurasia, as well as the primordial functions of the god, this article proceeds to discuss the Iranian Mithraic world-view, as seen in the ethics and practices of the “chivalrous” brotherhoods and sisterhoods of theʿayyārs. Through a preliminary examination of the Parthian epic romance ofSamak-e ʿayyār, we shall argue here that this literary epic provides us with a fascinating template for decoding not only; 1) the ethics, “ideal” social mores and praxes and the ideological super-structures of the “chivalrous” brotherhood, or‘ayyars, of Iran, but also; 2) what was in effect the ethics of Mithraic brotherhoods and sisterhoods of the Iranian world.
Embryology of the spider crabs Leurocyclus tuberculosus (H. Milne-Edwards & Lucas 1842) and Libinia spinosa (H. Milne-Edwards 1834) (Brachyura, Majoidea)
Authors: GONZÁLEZ-PISANI XIMENA , DELLATORRE FERNANDO GASPAR , LÓPEZ-GRECO LAURA
Published: October 2013

The embryonic development of the spider crabs Leurocyclus tuberculosus and Libinia spinosa was divided into five periods based on the differentiation of: I) cleavage, II) embryonic primordium, III) optic lobes, IV) optic lobes pigmented and V) chromatophores presence. Different traits such as spines, setae and telson morphology distinguish the two species from period III until hatching. Egg volume was greater in Leurocyclus tuberculosus than in Libinia spinosa. The duration of each period was different during development. Whereas in Leurocyclus tuberculosus period II (morphogenesis) is the longest, in Libinia spinosa the period IV is the longest. Complete embryonic development at 14°C lasted 36.7 ± 3.1 days in Leurocyclus tuberculosus and 57.4 ± 4.4 days in Libinia spinosa.
New species of subgenus Megaluracarus (Acari: Hydrachnidiae: Arrenuridae: Arrenurus) from Mexico
Authors: RAMÍREZ-SÁNCHEZ MARCIA M. , RIVAS GERARDO
Published: October 2013

Four new water mite species of the subgenus Arrenurus (Megaluracarus) from lakes and ponds in Mexico are described and illustrated: Arrenurus (Megaluracarus) anitahoffmannae sp. nov., A. olmeca sp. nov., A. maya sp. nov., and A. urbanus sp. nov. With these species the number of known species of this subgenus in Mexico increases to 21.
Annotated checklist of the flat bug family Aradidae Brullé, 1836 from East Africa (Hemiptera, Heteroptera)
Authors: HEISS ERNST
Published: October 2013

The flat bug fauna of East African countries has never been the subject of a comprehensive study. Most descriptions and distribution data are from colonial times, with most records coming from what is present day Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. In this checklist, the data from all available literature was assembled, and references are given for 16 genera and 37 species.
A new fish species of the Genus Hapalogenys (Perciformes: Hapalogenyidae) from the Bay of Bengal, India
Authors: MOHAPATRA ANIL , RAY DIPANJAN , KUMAR VIKAS
Published: October 2013

A new species of the genus Hapalogenys, Hapalogenys bengalensis sp. nov. is described from fourteen specimens collected from the Bay of Bengal coast. The species is distinct in having three longitudinal dark stripes; pelvic-fin tip almost reaching the base of first anal-fin spine when depressed; transverse scale rows above lateral line 7–8, below lateral line 19–20; gill rakers 18 (7 on lower limb and 11 on upper limb); posterior angle of jaw reaching vertical through anterior rim of eye. Genetic divergence (13.0–14.2%) and analysis of NJ tree shows that the new species is closely related to H. kishinouyei in the “Hapalogenys kishinouyei complex” with significant morphological difference from the other three species reported from the same complex.
Two new species of the genus Anemadus Reitter, 1885, from the Near East (Coleoptera: Cholevidae)
Authors: GIACHINO PIER MAURO , LATELLA LEONARDO , VAILATI DANTE
Published: October 2013

Two new species of Anemadus from the Near East are described and illustrated. Anemadus lucarellii sp. nov., from South-Western Anatolia, belongs to the Anemadus pellitus species-group (sensu Giachino & Vailati, 1993) and Anemadus kadleci sp. nov., from North-Western Syria, belongs to the Anemadus strigosus species-group (sensu Giachino & Vailati, 1993). The description of these new species markedly increases the knowledge of the distribution of this genus in the Near East.
On the Fauna of Cossidae (Lepidoptera) of Zimbabwe with description of a new species
Authors: YAKOVLEV ROMAN V. , LENZ JÜRGEN
Published: October 2013

The annotated list of Cossidae of Zimbabwe consists of 15 species in 9 genera from the subfamilies Cossinae and Zeuzerinae. The species Brachylia vukutu Yakovlev & Lenz, sp. nov. is newly described.
The water mite family Mideopsidae (Acari: Hydrachnidia): a contribution to the diversity in the Afrotropical region and taxonomic changes above species level
Authors: PEŠIĆ VLADIMIR , COOK DAVID , GERECKE REINHARD , SMIT HARRY
Published: October 2013

A rearrangement of genera and subgenera in the water mite family Mideopsidae is proposed, resulting in the following changes: Mideopsellinae Lundblad, 1937 and Phreatomideopsinae Schwoerbel, 1986 are synonymized with Mideopsidae Koenike, 1910; Djeboa K. Viets, 1911, Mideopsides Lundblad, 1943, Neoxystonotus Lundblad, 1927, Octomideopsis K. Viets, 1931 and Xystonotus Wolcott, 1900 are redefined and proposed as distinct genera. A global key for the genera of the family is given.        New records of water mites of the genus Djeboa K. Viets, 1911, Xystonotus Wolcott, 1900 and Mideopsellides K.O.Viets, 1962 (Acari: Hydrachnidia, Mideopsidae) from the Afrotropical region are presented. Twenty species new to science are described, i.e., Djeboa amendano (Madagascar), D. amethystica (Madagascar), D. angulipalpis (Madagascar), D. coelestinica (Madagascar), D. crocodilorum (South Africa), D. curtipalpis (Ghana), Djeboa depressa (Côte d’Ivoire), D. dinosaurophila (South Africa), D. elephantina (Côte d’Ivoire), D. ghanaensis (Ghana), D. gledhilli (Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana), D. globulipalpis (South Africa, Ghana), D. granatica (Madagascar), D. mandena (Madagascar), D. maromandia (Madagascar), D. nzia (Côte d’Ivoire), D. turmalinica (Madagascar), D. vanilla (Madagascar), D. wondergemi (Ghana) and Xystonotus madagascariensis (Madagascar); a first description of the male is given for Djeboa bimaculata (Cook, 1966). A key for all species of the Djeboa is presented.
Sarcoidosis presenting as complete heart block in a 45-year-old farmer: an aetiology not to miss
Authors: Riddington Tom , Phan Thanh T , Minns Marissa , Turley Andrew
Published: October 2013

Sarcoidosis should always be part of the differential diagnosis when faced with a young patient with significant cardiac conduction disease.
Adjusting labour through crisis: A three industry comparison
Authors: Svalund Jørgen
Published: October 2013

Comparing manufacturing, construction and newspapers in Norway, this article analyses how industry and occupational differences affect management–trade union cooperation and union influence during labour adjustments. While manufacturing and construction companies, to some extent, lean on temporary layoff measures and dismissal regulations anchored in national law and in collective agreements, the newspaper cases apply measures outside the scope of dismissal regulations and the general regulatory system. Conditioned by national institutions and regulative constraints the different product market, industry norms, occupational structure and labour market facing the actors in the newspaper companies, the unions there were more influential and other measures such as severance packages were more used.
Judging the Behavior of People We Know
Authors: Leising Daniel , Gallrein Anne-Marie B. , Dufner Michael
Published: October 2013

The present study investigates the relative extent to which judgments of people’s behavior are influenced by “truth” (as measured by averaged observer-judgments) and by systematic bias (i.e., perceivers’ preexisting views of target persons). Using data from online questionnaires and laboratory sessions ( N = 155), we demonstrate that self- and peer-judgments of people’s actual behavior in specific situations are somewhat accurate but are also affected by what perceivers thought of the targets before observing their behavior. The latter effect comprises a general evaluative component (generally positive or negative views of targets) and a content-specific component (views of targets in terms of specific characteristics, for example, “restrained”). We also found that friends, but not targets themselves, tend to judge targets’ behaviors more positively than unacquainted observers do. The relevance of these findings for person perception in everyday life and in research contexts is discussed.
Physical Activity and Acculturation Among U.S. Latinas of Childbearing Age
Authors: Vermeesch Amber L. , Stommel Manfred
Published: October 2013

The majority of Latinas of childbearing age is not sufficiently active; a significant health disparity, and is at risk for deleterious health consequences. The study’s objectives were to explore acculturation and associated factors’ effect on engagement in physical activity (PA) among Latinas. Based on data (2008-2011 National Health Interview Survey; N = 7,278), multinomial logistic models predicted odds of adherence to 2008 PA Guidelines for Americans. Among 3,386,680 Latinas, 18 to 47 years, 58.9% (standard error [ SE] = 0.0073) met neither aerobic nor muscle-strengthening recommendations, after controlling for poverty, income, marital status, and competing obligations. Less acculturated Latinas (Spanish-preferring) were less likely to engage in PA than English-preferring counterparts (odds ratio [OR] = 0.57, p < .01). Spanish-preferring foreign-born Latinas have substantially smaller odds of meeting PA guidelines than U.S.-born English-preferring Latinas (OR = 0.3, p < .001). Puerto Ricans and Dominican immigrants are least likely to meet guidelines. Latinas are not homogeneous. Country of origin and acculturation should be considered in future PA interventions.
Robotic endovascular surgery
Authors: Au Stephanie , Ko Koel , Tsang Josephine , Chan Yiu Che
Published: October 2013

The purpose of this review is to compare conventional endovascular procedures and the robotic endovascular approach in aortic aneurysm repair. Despite advantages over open surgery, conventional endovascular surgery has limitations. To develop an alternative, efforts have been focused on robotic endovascular systems. Two of the 3 studies comparing procedure times demonstrated reduced procedure time in the robotic group, by 6 times ( p < 0.05). One study demonstrated that robotic procedures reduced fluoroscopic exposure time by 12 minute ( p < 0.001). Three in-vitro studies showed that the number of movements required in robotic surgery was reduced up to 10 times ( p < 0.05). One of 2 studies measuring robotic performance score showed a better performance score in the robotic endovascular group ( p = 0.007). These results demonstrate that the robotic technique has multiple advantages over the conventional procedure, including improved catheter stability, a shorter learning curve, reduced procedure time, and better performance in cannulating tortuous vessels. However, robotic endovascular technology may be limited by the cost of the system, the size of the catheter, and the setup time required preoperatively. Further comparative studies between conventional and robotic approaches regarding cost-effectiveness, safety, and performance in cases involving complex anatomy and fenestrated stent grafts are essential. Nevertheless, this revolutionary technology is increasingly popular and may be the next milestone in endovascular surgery.
Pulmonary embolism and tuberculosis
Authors: Kwas Hamida , Habibech Sonia , Zendah Ines , Elmjendel Imen , Ghedira Habib
Published: October 2013

Tuberculosis has a high prevalence in Tunisia, but pulmonary embolism is rarely reported in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. We describe 3 cases of pulmonary embolism associated with severe pulmonary tuberculosis. Pulmonary embolism occurred within 2 to 13 days of pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosis. Clinical, bacteriological, and radiological evolutions were noted within 6 months for pulmonary tuberculosis, but controlling the international normalized ratio was difficult in 2 cases, and low-molecular-weight heparin was prescribed for 6 months in one case. The association between tuberculosis and pulmonary embolism is rare, but it should be systematically investigated, particularly in those with severe pulmonary or disseminated tuberculosis.
Negative-balance isolated pelvic perfusion in patients with incurable symptomatic rectal cancer: results and drug dose correlation to adverse events
Authors: Murata Satoru , Onozawa Shiro , Kim Chol , Tajima Hiroyuki , Kimata Ryoji , Uchida Eiji , Kumita Shin-ichiro
Published: October 2013

Background

Drug leakage and lack of a drug-removal system have prevented clinical application of isolated pelvic perfusion (IPP). These barriers were overcome with negative-balance IPP (NIPP) in experimental pig models. Here, a phase 1 clinical study of NIPP was performed in patients with incurable symptomatic rectal cancer.

Purpose

To establish a safe regimen of high-dose regional chemotherapy with NIPP using cisplatin in patients with incurable rectal cancer.

Material and Methods

Between June 2004 and January 2007, NIPP therapy was performed for 23 patients (11 women, 12 men; mean age, 58 years). NIPP was routinely performed twice over a 4-week interval. Dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were defined using a 5 + 3 design, and cisplatin doses were escalated from 170 mg/m2, with a fixed 5-fluorouracil dose of 1000 mg/m2. The grade of adverse events (AEs) at the first and second sessions of NIPP therapy, pharmacokinetics, and antitumor response were evaluated.

Results

No DLTs were observed during the first session of NIPP. However, at the second session, two patients experienced the DLT of neuropathy after administration of 200 mg/m2 cisplatin. Therefore, 190 mg/m2 cisplatin was indicated as the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). The plasma pelvic-to-systemic exposure ratio was 18.4 based on the maximum concentration and 19.0 based on the concentration-time curve. Solid tumor responses included complete response in two patients, partial response in five patients, stable disease in 15 patients, and progressive disease in one patient.

Conclusion

NIPP may offer the safe delivery of high-dose regional chemotherapy (MTD of 190 mg/m2 cisplatin) with negligible AEs and effective control of tumor growth in patients with incurable rectal cancer.
Hurried lives
Authors: Davis Mark
Published: October 2013

Zygmunt Bauman tells us that liquid modernity is an age of both chances and dangers. It is a paradoxical age in which our attempts ‘to relate’ to each other are thwarted by the threat of ‘being related’, our hope for collective security and togetherness at odds with our desire for individual freedom and choice. As such, it is an age in which we prefer to roam freely in virtual networks, choosing when and how to connect with others. Facilitating this form of liquid life is the growing consumption and usage of new communications technology. As the starting point for a new programme of research at the Bauman Institute, this article provides a critical evaluation of the role of new technology in liquid modernity with a particular focus upon its impact upon our perception of time. Presented here as two dialectical relationships, I argue that the professed capacity of new technology to ‘connect people’ and to ‘save time’ actually result in their opposites, namely: a curiously ‘hurried life’ in which we spend much of our waking lives interacting with digital screens rather than engaging in human face-to-face contact, and in which, for all of our frenetic productivity, we are perhaps becoming more and more ‘interpassive’, running the risk of losing basic social skills in the process.
The culture crunch
Authors: Gilbert Andrew
Published: October 2013

Daniel Bell’s The Cultural Contradictions of Capitalism lies at the intersection of the three main theoretical currents of sociological thought, those of Karl Marx, Émile Durkheim and Max Weber. His ‘three realms’ methodology moves away from deterministic accounts that subordinate the political and cultural to the economic realm. By granting each realm an autonomy and principles of their own, Bell locates the contradictions of capitalism in the friction between them. With constant innovation, individual expressiveness and libertarian social values becoming forces in-and-of-themselves, prevailing social structures and the roles within them are left looking increasingly incoherent, illegitimate and meaningless. Likewise, the shift from Protestant asceticism to modernist hedonism creates a sharp tension between the demand for a disciplined and responsible workforce and the demand for economic growth through unrestrained and instantly gratifying consumerism. The result is a complex of crisis scenarios which were manifest with the end of the post-war boom. However, as other commentators have pointed out, Bell’s prophetic theses often seem to fail under the light of subsequent history.
The White Pages: Diversity and the Mediation of Race in Public Business Media
Authors: Jackson C.L. , Embrick David G. , Walther Carol S.
Published: October 2013

In this article we examine the empirical impact of diversity on non-white participation in corporations by analyzing images of racial minorities that appear in business magazines. Our findings indicate that odds of non-white inclusion increase when explicit reference to diversity is made. We also find that non-whites are more likely to be depicted as having ancillary roles in corporations; rarely are they presented in leadership positions. Media images are not only produced and disseminated, they are translated into social practices. Therefore we also consider how the images that are included in the magazines we reviewed may inform organizational practices that shape the racial makeup of corporate workplaces. We argue that how and when non-whites are included in these media reinforces an emergent ideology, which concedes that diversity enables corporations to give discursive attention to race without prompting deep investigations into continuing patterns of racial inequality in the workplace.
‘There was something that wasn’t right because that was the only place I ever got treated like that’: Children and young people’s experiences of emotional harm in sport
Authors: Stafford Anne , Alexander Kate , Fry Deborah
Published: October 2013

The article reports findings from a study of negative and harmful experiences of children participating in organised sport in the UK focusing in particular on emotional harm. A convenience sample of 6124 young people (age 18–22) completed an online survey about their experiences of sport as children (up to age 16); 89 follow-up telephone interviews were conducted. The article provides information about the emotional harm of children in sport and the context within which it occurs. It provides some evidence of a sporting culture where emotional harm is widespread at all levels of sport and commonly experienced by children of all ages.
Symptomatic relapse of HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis: recurrent cryptococcal meningitis or Cryptococcus-related immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome?
Authors: Jhamb Rajat , Kashyap Bineeta , Das Shukla , Berry Neha , Garg Arun
Published: October 2013

Cryptococcosis, a significant opportunistic infection, has become a global concern since the advent of immunosuppressive chemotherapy or in immunodeficient patients. Host responses range from a harmless colonization to disseminated disease. An accurate or definitive diagnosis in patients with cryptococcal meningitis is often delayed because of the similar clinical presentation and biochemical or cerebrospinal fluid findings to those of a variety of infectious and non-infectious aetiologies, most of which are also especially prevalent in developing countries. Rarely, patients with cryptococcal meningitis can develop immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) when initiated on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) the diagnosis which is often missed and can be fatal. Due to the similar presentation of infection and IRIS, it is often confused with the relapse of cryptococcal meningitis. We report a case of paradoxical recurrent meningitis in response to the initiation of cART in a patient diagnosed with cryptococcal meningitis and propose that the recurrent symptoms resulted from a therapy-induced reconstitution of the immune response against residual Cryptococcus neoformans.
Item response theory and structural equation modelling for ordinal data: Describing the relationship between KIDSCREEN and Life-H
Authors: Titman Andrew C , Lancaster Gillian A , Colver Allan F
Published: October 2013

Both item response theory and structural equation models are useful in the analysis of ordered categorical responses from health assessment questionnaires. We highlight the advantages and disadvantages of the item response theory and structural equation modelling approaches to modelling ordinal data, from within a community health setting. Using data from the SPARCLE project focussing on children with cerebral palsy, this paper investigates the relationship between two ordinal rating scales, the KIDSCREEN, which measures quality-of-life, and Life-H, which measures participation. Practical issues relating to fitting models, such as non-positive definite observed or fitted correlation matrices, and approaches to assessing model fit are discussed. item response theory models allow properties such as the conditional independence of particular domains of a measurement instrument to be assessed. When, as with the SPARCLE data, the latent traits are multidimensional, structural equation models generally provide a much more convenient modelling framework.
A Survey of Nurses’ Practices and Perceptions of Family-Centered Care in Ireland
Authors: Coyne Imelda , Murphy Maryanne , Costello Thomas , O’Neill Colleen , Donnellan Claire
Published: October 2013

Family-centered care (FCC) is a philosophy of care that recognizes the family’s central role in the child’s life and in the delivery of care. We used a survey design to investigate the practices and perceptions of nurses toward FCC in Ireland. Data were obtained from 250 nurses in seven hospitals using the Family-Centered Care Questionnaire–Revised (FCCQ-R). Findings indicated that nurses’ practices were significantly different from their perceptions of FCC. Nurses with dual registration (children and adult) had significantly lower mean scores on the total current (practice) scale than the other registration subgroups. Nurses with a baccalaureate or a higher academic qualification had higher mean scores than nurses who held a certificate-level qualification on the total necessary (perception) scale, which assessed the activities perceived to be necessary for FCC. Findings showed that nurses support FCC but perceive the design of the health care system and parent–professional collaboration as barriers to FCC practice.
Tail vaccination in cats: a pilot study
Authors: Hendricks Cleon G , Levy Julie K , Tucker Sylvia J , Olmstead Shaye M , Crawford P Cynda , Dubovi Edward J , Hanlon Cathleen A
Published: October 2013

Feline injection site sarcomas affect 1–10 cats per every 10,000 vaccinated and are associated with high mortality. Radical resection may be curative, but is often associated with prolonged recovery, disfigurement and loss of function when tumors occur at currently recommended injection sites. The objective of this study was to assess alternatives to currently recommended vaccination sites in terms of preference by oncology practitioners, ease of injection and serological responses. Surgical, radiation and medical oncology practitioners were surveyed regarding their preference for vaccination sites based on the ease of tumor resection. A six-point Likert scale was used to measure each cat’s behavioral reaction to vaccination when injected subcutaneously in the distal hind limb or the distal tail. Serum collected before and 1–2 months after vaccination was tested for antibody titers against feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) and rabies virus (RV). The preferred sites for vaccination by 94 oncology practitioners were below the stifle (41%) and the tail (30%). There were no significant differences in the cats’ behavioral reaction to vaccination below the stifle (n = 31) and in the distal tail (n = 29). Of the cats seronegative for FPV at the time of vaccination, 100% developed protective antibody titers (≥40) against FPV 1–2 months following vaccination. For cats seronegative for RV, all but one cat (tail vaccine) developed acceptable antibody titers (≥0.5 IU/ml) against RV. Tail vaccination was well tolerated and elicited similar serological responses to vaccination in the distal limbs.
A study of secondary school English teachers’ beliefs in the context of curriculum reform in China
Authors: Zhang Fengjuan , Liu Yongbing
Published: October 2013

This study examines the beliefs of Chinese junior high school English teachers about foreign language teaching and influencing contextual factors in a time when curriculum innovation is confronting deep-rooted cultural traditions and complex teaching realities. Drawing upon data collected by means of questionnaires and interviews, this study reveals a multi-dimensional structure of teachers’ beliefs. On the whole, teachers’ beliefs are congruent with the constructivism-oriented curriculum reform, but a closer examination suggests that both traditional and constructivist beliefs exist. Constructivist beliefs favour student participation, interactive class, and learning strategy training while traditional beliefs involve focus on grammar and language form, drill and practice, rote memorization, and teacher authority. A variety of contextual factors are found to exert a strong influence on teachers’ beliefs, such as Confucian culture, curriculum reform, high-stakes testing, and school environment. These factors interact to facilitate or constrain the development of teachers’ beliefs. The study highlights the situated nature of teachers’ beliefs with implications for curriculum reform, teacher development and many other important issues in secondary foreign language education in China and other similar contexts internationally.
Air change rates and radon accumulation in rooms with various levels of window and door closure
Authors: Becker Rachel , Haquin Gustavo , Kovler Konstantin
Published: October 2013

Dwellings in Israel must include a residential protected room made of thick concrete slabs and walls, with an extremely airtight window and outward opening extremely airtight steel door. An inward opening regular door is applied for everyday usage. Being multipurpose, the residential protected room raised concern regarding long-term radon exposure. This article presents the stage of air change rate investigation (using SF6 as tracer gas) and radon monitoring in a multidisciplinary research performed by two teams. It comprised six residential protected rooms in a tall unoccupied building, including various scenarios of window and door closure. The teams established a common theoretical model and addressed sensitivity to differences in assumptions and methods of analysis. Similar orders of magnitude of air change rates and free surface exhalation rates were obtained, but with nonnegligible discrepancies between specific values. Tracer gas method results were more sensitive to calculation assumptions and radon monitoring results to measurement uncertainties. Measured air change rates were as follows: fully sealed residential protected room: <0.03 ACH (air changes per hour); closed window and regular door: <0.25 ACH; tilted window and closed door: 1–3 ACH; one component open and the other closed: 3–20 ACH; and both components somewhat open: 20–100 ACH. It was shown that expected maximal radon concentrations in a residential protected room under conditions of regular usage or emergency protection would not reach the limit value of 200 Bq/m3.
Effective Communication Strategies for Hotel Guests’ Green Behavior
Authors: Lee Seonjeong (Ally) , Oh Haemoon
Published: October 2013

Green marketing in hotel rooms relies particularly on the hotel’s communication to the guest, with a goal of gaining the guest’s voluntary participation in sustainable programs. Developing a persuasive message, therefore, is critical to the effectiveness of the hotel’s green efforts. To explore effective in-room green communication strategies of the hotel industry, we propose application of several widely adopted information processing theories. We review relevant theories, develop key propositions for the hotel industry, and offer a theoretical framework and propositions for future research. Our content analysis of the contents of thirty-six guestroom message cards finds that many hotels are using some of these information theories, but a more scientific approach is indicated.
Urgent Hepatic to Azygous Vein Connection for Thrombosis of Hepatic Vein to Pulmonary Artery Conduit
Authors: Lone Reyaz Ahmed , Rahmath Muhammed Riyas , Sallehuddin Ahmad Bin , John Jiju
Published: October 2013

We report on an emergent use of hepatic-to-azygous vein connection using a 10-mm polytetrafluoroethylene graft in a 6-year-old girl who developed acute thrombosis of an extracardiac graft conduit from the hepatic veins to the pulmonary arteries. She had left atrial isomerism, interrupted inferior vena cava with azygous continuation, and had undergone surgical creation of bilateral superior cavopulmonary connections 5 years earlier. The emergency procedure to create hepatic-to-azygous connection resulted in successful salvage of the patient who was subsequently able to maintain stable oxygen saturations and experienced rapid regression of hepatic congestion and pleural effusions. Six months following the procedure, oxygen saturation was above 90%. Repeated echocardiography and computed tomography angiography showed patency of the hepatic-to-azygous connection.
Systematic Approach to Aortic Valvuloplasty in Children and Young Adults
Authors: ElZein Chawki , Subramanian Sujata , Polimenakos Anastasios C. , Roberson David , Ilbawi Michel N.
Published: October 2013

Valve repair in children and young adults is an attractive alternative to replacement or Ross procedure. In the past, the various valvuloplasty techniques have addressed isolated valve pathology. Recently, however, a holistic approach involving repair of all aortic root structures has evolved and promised to be an excellent alternative to valve replacement. It provides good long-term results and avoids all the drawback of prosthetic valve insertion in this age group. Development of ideal patch material needed for valve repair and better understanding of the anatomy and function of the aortic root may further improve the short- and long-term outcomes of aortic valvuloplasty.
A critical role for Lyn kinase in strengthening endothelial integrity and barrier function
Authors: Han Jingyan , Zhang Guoying , Welch Emily J. , Liang Ying , Fu Jian , Vogel Stephen M. , Lowell Clifford A. , Du Xiaoping , Cheresh David A. , Malik Asrar B. , Li Zhenyu
Published: October 2013

Key Points

In contrast to c-Src and Yes, Lyn stabilizes endothelial junctions through interaction and phosphorylation of FAK.
HLA-dependent tumour development: a role for tumour associate macrophages?
Authors: Marchesi Maddalena , Andersson Emilia , Villabona Lisa , Seliger Barbara , Lundqvist Andreas , Kiessling Rolf , Masucci Giuseppe V
Published: October 2013

HLA abnormalities on tumour cells for immune escape have been widely described. In addition, cellular components of the tumour microenvironment, in particular myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and alternatively activated M2 tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs), are involved in tumour promotion, progression, angiogenesis and suppression of anti-tumour immunity. However, the role of HLA in these activities is poorly understood. This review details MHC class I characteristics and describes MHC class I receptors functions. This analysis established the basis for a reflection about the crosstalk among the tumour cells, the TAMs and the cells mediating an immune response.

The tumour cells and TAMs exploit MHC class I molecules to modulate the surrounding immune cells. HLA A, B, C and G molecules down-regulate the macrophage myeloid activation through the interaction with the inhibitory LILRB receptors. HLA A, B, C are able to engage inhibitory KIR receptors negatively regulating the Natural Killer and cytotoxic T lymphocytes function while HLA-G induces the secretion of pro-angiogenic cytokines and chemokine thanks to an activator KIR receptor expressed by a minority of peripheral NK cells. The open conformer of classical MHC-I is able to interact with LILRA receptors described as being associated to the Th2-type cytokine response, triggering a condition for the M2 like TAM polarization. In addition, HLA-E antigens on the surface of the TAMs bind the inhibitory receptor CD94/NKG2A expressed by a subset of NK cells and activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes protecting from the cytolysis.

Furthermore MHC class II expression by antigen presenting cells is finely regulated by factors provided with immunological capacities. Tumour-associated macrophages show an epigenetically controlled down-regulation of the MHC class II expression induced by the decoy receptor DcR3, a member of the TNFR, which further enhances the M2-like polarization. BAT3, a positive regulator of MHC class II expression in normal macrophages, seems to be secreted by TAMs, consequently lacking its intracellular function, it looks like acting as an immunosuppressive factor.

In conclusion HLA could cover a considerable role in tumour-development orchestrated by tumour-associated macrophages.
B. anthracisassociated cardiovascular dysfunction and shock: the potential contribution of both non-toxin and toxin components
Authors: Remy Kenneth E , Qiu Ping , Li Yan , Cui Xizhong , Eichacker Peter Q
Published: October 2013

The development of cardiovascular dysfunction and shock in patients with invasive Bacillus anthracis infection has a particularly poor prognosis. Growing evidence indicates that several bacterial components likely play important pathogenic roles in this injury. As with other pathogenic Gram-positive bacteria, the B. anthracis cell wall and its peptidoglycan constituent produce a robust inflammatory response with its attendant tissue injury, disseminated intravascular coagulation and shock. However, B. anthracis also produces lethal and edema toxins that both contribute to shock. Growing evidence suggests that lethal toxin, a metalloprotease, can interfere with endothelial barrier function as well as produce myocardial dysfunction. Edema toxin has potent adenyl cyclase activity and may alter endothelial function, as well as produce direct arterial and venous relaxation. Furthermore, both toxins can weaken host defense and promote infection. Finally, B. anthracis produces non-toxin metalloproteases which new studies show can contribute to tissue injury, coagulopathy and shock. In the future, an understanding of the individual pathogenic effects of these different components and their interactions will be important for improving the management of B. anthracis infection and shock.
The adverse effect of emergency department crowding on compliance with the resuscitation bundle in the management of severe sepsis and septic shock
Authors: Shin Tae Gun , Jo Ik Joon , Choi Dae Jong , Kang Mun Ju , Jeon Kyeongman , Suh Gee Young , Sim Min Seob , Lim So Yeon , Song Keun Jeong , Jeong Yeon Kwon
Published: October 2013

Introduction

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of emergency department (ED) crowding on the implementation of tasks in the early resuscitation bundle during acute care of patients with severe sepsis and septic shock, as recommended by the Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines.

Methods

We analyzed the sepsis registry from August 2008 to March 2012 for patients presenting to an ED of a tertiary urban hospital and meeting the criteria for severe sepsis or septic shock. The ED occupancy rate, which was defined as the total number of patients in the ED divided by the total number of ED beds, was used for measuring the degree of ED crowding. It was categorized into three groups (low; intermediate; high crowding). The primary endpoint was the overall compliance with the entire resuscitation bundle.

Results

A total of 770 patients were enrolled. Of the eligible patients, 276 patients were assigned to the low crowding group, 250 patients to the intermediate crowding group, and 244 patients to the high crowding group (ED occupancy rate: ≤ 115; 116–149; ≥ 150%). There was significant difference in compliance rates among the three groups (31.9% in the low crowding group, 24.4% in the intermediate crowding group, and 16.4% in the high crowding group, P < 0.001). In a multivariate model, the high crowding group had a significant association with lower compliance (adjusted odds ratio (OR), 0.44; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.26 to 0.76; P = 0.003). When the ED occupancy rate was included as a continuous variable in the model, it had also a negative correlation with the overall compliance (OR of 10% increase of the ED occupancy rate, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.84 to 0.96, P = 0.002).

Conclusions

ED crowding was significantly associated with lower compliance with the entire resuscitation bundle and decreased likelihood of the timely implementation of the bundle elements.