bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pre-eclampsia and childhood asthma
Authors: Magnus Maria C. , Håberg Siri E. , Magnus Per , Engeland Anders , Nafstad Per , Karlstad Øystein , Nystad Wenche
Published: October 2016

Studies of pre-eclampsia and childhood asthma are conflicting, and none have performed a formal mediation analysis of preterm birth.

We examined the association between pre-eclampsia and asthma at 7 years using national registries, including all births in Norway from 1999 to 2006 (n=406 907), and a subsample of children in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) (n=45 028) using log-linear regression. We performed a mediation analysis of preterm birth, and a sibling comparison to evaluate unobserved confounding.

There was a positive association between pre-eclampsia and asthma in the registry study, with an adjusted relative risk of 1.31 (95% CI 1.22–1.41), but not in MoBa, which had an adjusted relative risk of 1.19 (95% CI 0.99–1.44). The odds ratios for the direct effect not mediated through preterm birth and the indirect effect in the registry linkage were 1.19 (95% CI 1.10–1.29) and 1.12 (95% CI 1.11–1.14), respectively. The sibling comparison indicated no association between pre-eclampsia and asthma (adjusted OR 1.07, 95% CI 0.87–1.33).

In this large study, which used different datasets and analytic approaches, there was little evidence for an association between pre-eclampsia and childhood asthma. The association was weak and largely explained by pre-term birth and confounders shared by siblings.
Progression to tuberculosis disease increases with multiple exposures
Authors: Lee Robyn S. , Proulx Jean-François , Menzies Dick , Behr Marcel A.
Published: October 2016

During a single year, a Canadian village had 34 individuals with microbiologically confirmed tuberculosis (TB) among 169 people with a new infection (20%). A contact investigation revealed multiple exposures for each person. We investigated whether the intensity of exposure might contribute to this extraordinary risk of disease.

We carried out a case–control study using a public health database. Among those with a new infection, 34 had culture-confirmed TB (cases) and 118 did not progress to disease (controls). 17 patients with probable disease were excluded. Contact investigation data were utilised to tabulate the number of potential sources (total exposures). Generalised estimating equations with a logit link were used to identify associations between exposures and progression, and to investigate other potential risk factors.

The median (interquartile range) number of total exposures was 15 (3–23) for cases and 3 (2–12) for controls (p=0.001). The adjusted OR for disease was 1.11 (95% CI 1.06–1.16) per additional exposure, corresponding to an OR of 3.4 for disease when comparing the medians of 15versus3 total exposures. This association increased when restricting to tuberculin skin test conversions.

Increased exposure could be a marker of greater risk of progression to TB disease. Therefore, this risk may not be transportable across epidemiologic settings with variable exposure intensities.
Right heart thrombi in pulmonary embolism
Authors: Barrios Deisy , Rosa-Salazar Vladimir , Jiménez David , Morillo Raquel , Muriel Alfonso , del Toro Jorge , López-Jiménez Luciano , Farge-Bancel Dominique , Yusen Roger , Monreal Manuel
Published: October 2016

There is a lack of comprehensive data on the prevalence, predictors and prognostic significance of right heart thrombi (RHT) in pulmonary embolism.

In this study of patients with pulmonary embolism from the Registro Informatizado de la Enfermedad TromboEmbólica (RIETE) registry, we assessed the prevalence and predictors of RHT, and the association between the presence of RHT and the outcomes of all-cause mortality, pulmonary embolism-related mortality, recurrences, and major bleeding through 30 days after initiation of pulmonary embolism treatment.

Of 12 441 patients with pulmonary embolism and baseline echocardiographic data, 2.6% had RHT. The following increased the risk of RHT: younger age, previous bleeding, congestive heart failure, cancer, syncope, systolic blood pressure <100 mmHg, and arterial oxyhaemoglobin saturation <90%. Patients with RHT were significantly more likely to die from any cause (adjusted OR 2.50 (95% CI 1.62–3.84); p<0.001) and from pulmonary embolism (adjusted OR 4.29 (95% CI 2.45–7.48); p<0.001) during follow-up. RHT was associated with an increased risk of recurrence during follow-up (1.8%versus0.7%; p=0.04). Major bleeding was similar in patients with and without RHT.

In patients presenting with pulmonary embolism, RHT is relatively infrequent. Patients with RHT had a worse outcome when compared with those without RHT.
Biohybrid cochlear implants in human neurosensory restoration
Authors: Roemer Ariane , Köhl Ulrike , Majdani Omid , Klöß Stephan , Falk Christine , Haumann Sabine , Lenarz Thomas , Kral Andrej , Warnecke Athanasia
Published: October 2016

Background

The success of cochlear implantation may be further improved by minimizing implantation trauma. The physical trauma of implantation and subsequent immunological sequelae can affect residual hearing and the viability of the spiral ganglion. An ideal electrode should therefore decrease post-implantation trauma and provide support to the residual spiral ganglion population. Combining a flexible electrode with cells producing and releasing protective factors could present a potential means to achieve this. Mononuclear cells obtained from bone marrow (BM-MNC) consist of mesenchymal and hematopoietic progenitor cells. They possess the innate capacity to induce repair of traumatized tissue and to modulate immunological reactions.

Methods

Human bone marrow was obtained from the patients that received treatment with biohybrid electrodes. Autologous mononuclear cells were isolated from bone marrow (BM-MNC) by centrifugation using the Regenlab™ THT-centrifugation tubes. Isolated BM-MNC were characterised using flow cytometry. In addition, the release of cytokines was analysed and their biological effect tested on spiral ganglion neurons isolated from neonatal rats. Fibrin adhesive (Tisseal™) was used for the coating of silicone-based cochlear implant electrode arrays for human use in order to generate biohybrid electrodes. Toxicity of the fibrin adhesive and influence on insertion, as well on the cell coating, was investigated. Furthermore, biohybrid electrodes were implanted in three patients.

Results

Human BM-MNC release cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors that exert anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. Using fibrin adhesive as a carrier for BM-MNC, a simple and effective cell coating procedure for cochlear implant electrodes was developed that can be utilised on-site in the operating room for the generation of biohybrid electrodes for intracochlear cell-based drug delivery. A safety study demonstrated the feasibility of autologous progenitor cell transplantation in humans as an adjuvant to cochlear implantation for neurosensory restoration.

Conclusion

This is the first report of the use of autologous cell transplantation to the human inner ear. Due to the simplicity of this procedure, we hope to initiate its widespread utilization in various fields.
Current knowledge of burn injury first aid practices and applied traditional remedies: a nationwide survey
Authors: Kattan Abdullah E. , AlShomer Feras , Alhujayri Abdulaziz K. , Addar Abdullah , Aljerian Albaraa
Published: October 2016

Background

Burn first aid awareness has been shown to reduce morbidity and mortality. We present a report on the knowledge and practices of the Saudi population with regard to burn first aid and the application of traditional remedies.

Methods

An internet-based survey was conducted to assess the public’s knowledge on first aid practices and home remedies applied for burn injuries among Saudi adults.

Results

A total of 2758 individuals responded to the survey. There were 1178 (42.7 %) respondents who had previously received burn first aid information. One thousand five hundred fifty respondents had a history of burn exposure in which burn injury first aid was applied as follows: 1118 (72.1 %) removed clothing and accessories from the injured area; water was applied by 990 (63.9 %); among those who applied water, 877 (88.6 %) applied cold water; and only 57 (5.8 %) did so for more than 15 min. Wrapping the burn area was performed by 526 (33.9 %), and 985 (63.5 %) sought medical assistance. When it comes to traditional remedies, 2134 (77.4 %) knew of and/or implemented these remedies as first aid or to treat burns. Honey and toothpaste were the commonest among these remedies with 1491 (69.9 %) and 1147 (53.7 %), respectively. This was associated with female gender (r = 0.87, P < 0.001), younger age group (19–25 years) (r = 0.077, P < 0.001), from central region (r = 0.012, P < 0.001), and university graduate (r = 0.05, P = 0.002). Nearly half of those who knew of traditional remedies did not have previous knowledge of burn first aid.

Conclusions

Proper burn first aid is a simple, cheap, and accessible means of managing burns initially. Although the majority of the respondents were university graduates (51.1 %), knowledge and implementation of burn first aid was very poor. Major healthcare agencies should review and promote a consistent guideline for burn first aid in an effort to tackle and minimize the effect of this grave injury.
Relationship between childhood adversity and bipolar affective disorder: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Palmier-Claus J. E. , Berry K. , Bucci S. , Mansell W. , Varese F.
Published: October 2016

Background

The relationship between childhood adversity and bipolar affective disorder remains unclear.

Aims

To understand the size and significance of this effect through a statistical synthesis of reported research.

Method

Search terms relating to childhood adversity and bipolar disorder were entered into Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO and Web of Science. Eligible studies included a sample diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a comparison sample and a quantitative measure of childhood adversity.

Results

In 19 eligible studies childhood adversity was 2.63 times (95% CI 2.00–3.47) more likely to have occurred in bipolar disorder compared with non-clinical controls. The effect of emotional abuse was particularly robust (OR = 4.04, 95% CI 3.12–5.22), but rates of adversity were similar to those in psychiatric controls.

Conclusions

Childhood adversity is associated with bipolar disorder, which has implications for the treatment of this clinical group. Further prospective research could clarify temporal causality and explanatory mechanisms.
Development of Multiactive Site Catalysts for Surface Concerted Catalysis Aimed at One-Pot Synthesis
Authors: Motokura Ken
Published: October 2016

Multiactive site catalysts have been developed for conducting one-pot synthesis and highly efficient reactions based on the principle of concerted catalysis. Ru-grafted hydrotalcite containing both Ru and base sites on its outer surface exhibits high catalytic activity for the one-pot synthesis of dinitrile compounds. A reaction system consisting of a strong acid, base, and Pd species is capable of catalyzing a one-pot process consisting of five successive reactions, esterification, deacetalization, aldol reaction, hydrogenation, and Michael reaction, to produce a final product, 2,4-dicyanoester, from starting materials containing cycnoacetic acid and acetal, with excellent overall yield. Immobilization of an amine base onto a solid acid surface affords an acid–base bifunctional catalytic surface with controlled acid–base interactions. Various nucleophilic addition reactions including the one-pot synthesis of dinitroalkane derivatives proceeds effectively by acid–base concerted catalysis. The concept of concerted catalysis on solid surfaces can be extended to synergistic/double-activation catalysis between a metal complex and organic base immobilized on a surface. Further, the concept of multiactive site catalysis can also be applied to a homogeneous catalyst system. For example, a Cu-bisphosphine complex exhibits excellent catalytic performance for the transformation of CO2 to valuable chemicals, such as cyclic carbonate, silyl formate, and formamides.
Reflections of Research - A new intimacy, by Aikaterini Anagnostopoulou
Authors: Anagnostopoulou Aikaterini
Published: October 2016

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) annual image competition, Reflections of Research, provides a glimpse into the cutting-edge research that the BHF funds
Smoking cessation: how to tackle a whole-body disease
Authors: Cowan Helen
Published: October 2016

Earlier this year, the book, ‘Smoking – what all healthcare professionals need to know’, was published by Graham Cope. In this issue, Helen Cowan shares what the content has to offer nurses in cardiovascular care, in terms of both theoretical and practical knowledge
Heart failure patients' experiences of non-pharmacological self-care
Authors: Woods Leanna S , Walker Kim N , Duff Jed S
Published: October 2016

Background:

Heart failure self-care is important yet often sub-optimal. This literature review identifies and analyses the literature on heart failure patients' experiences of non-pharmacological self-care.

Methods:

The literature was searched in April 2015 using EBSCO Host. The World Health Organization (WHO) (2003) dimensions of adherence framework was used for data analysis.

Results:

The identified literature (14 primary articles; 4 literature reviews) was heavily weighted towards patient-related factors, namely acceptance of diagnosis, bio-behavioural variables and decision-making characteristics. Poor symptom recognition/management and the presence of comorbidities (specifically depression) were common condition-related factors highlighted as barriers to self-care. Lifestyle factors (therapy-related dimension) and professional support (health system/team dimension) were briefly described.

Conclusions:

This narrative literature review highlighted that heart failure self-care regimes are complex and often challenging to maintain. Further qualitative research regarding the therapy-related and health system-related factors would shed light on individual variations of and barriers to self-care.
Live for the day with atrial fibrillation plus heart failure: Keith's story
Authors: Attenburrow Keith
Published: October 2016

Keith Attenburrow (pseudonym) was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2013 at age 65. He became crippled in 2015 and was then found to be suffering from atrial fibrillation, along with severe heart failure. This is the story of his journey over the last 3 years
Managing long-term conditions in primary and community care
Authors: Carrier Judith , Newbury Gina
Published: October 2016

Health care policy in the UK continues to focus on provision of care in the community. For people with long-term conditions it has long been accepted that care should be predominantly in the primary and community care setting, with a focus on case management for those with complex needs. Community nurses are ideally placed to provide care to all people with long-term conditions, from health promotion, prevention and encouraging self-care to caring for people with more complex needs, comorbidities and end-of-life care. Community nurses are an essential element of the multidisciplinary team and should take the lead in delivering complex care at home to people with long-term conditions, while maintaining a focus on developing self-care, empowerment, community engagement and acting as an advocate for clients and their carers.
Recommendations to support informal carers of people living with motor neurone disease
Authors: Bergin Susan , Mockford Carole
Published: October 2016

Informal carers are increasingly providing specialist care at home for people living with motor neurone disease. The carers may experience significant deterioration in their quality of life as a result of the physical and psychological burden they undertake. This systematic review seeks to provide evidence-based recommendations to enable healthcare professionals to support carers appropriately to maintain their wellbeing and to continue providing care at home. Inclusion criteria included articles focusing on the experience of informal carers of people with motor neurone disease, particularly when reporting on their perspective of professional services. Twenty-three studies were included and a thematic analysis was undertaken. Four key recommendations were identified: providing support, early access to palliative care, information regarding availability of services, and offering carers training for using specialist equipment. These recommendations offer healthcare professionals practical, cost-effective suggestions to improve existing services.
Being ‘with woman’ in contemporary midwifery practice: One Trust's response to the Francis report
Authors: Power Alison , Davidson Sue , Patrick Kathy
Published: October 2016

The report of the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry largely reminded professionals throughout health care and maternity services of the importance of safe, high-quality, care. Two labour ward matrons at an NHS Trust were inspired by the report's recommendations to create an initiative, entitled ‘Back to Basics’, to raise standards of care and ensure best practice was recognised, maintained and disseminated. The initiative has been rolled out in their hospital and shared with first-year midwifery students.
A PESCA DE LULAS (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) NA ILHA DO ARVOREDO (SC): CARACTERÍSTICAS E RELAÇÕES ECOLÓGICAS, VERÃO DE 1996
Authors: PEREZ J. A. , SCHETTINI1 C. A. , BURATT0 J. R. , MACHADO M. J.
Published: October 2016

Durante os meses de verão é marcada a presença de densas concentrações de lulas costeiras (Loligo piei) sobre a plataforma continental catarinense. Estas populações fern sustentado capturas industriais da ordem de 144 a 763 t por ano, e também deram origem â uma pescaria artesanal direcionada â esta espécie em torno das ilhas costeiras. Este estudo investiga as características dessa pescaria em torno da Ilha do Arvoredo (48°22'W; 27°17'S) e analisa a estrutura populacional das capturas bem como a dinâmica destas em relação aos fatores ambien¬tais. Entre janeiro e março de 1996 foi estabelecido um sistema de monitoramento dos desembar¬ques nas comunidades do Município de Governador Celso Ramos onde, através de entrevistas, foram obtidos dados das embarcações, artes e áreas de pesca, captura e esforço. Da mesma forma também foram realizadas 4 campanhas diurnas e uma noturna ao Saco do Capim (Ilha do Arvoredo) onde monitorou-se a captura por hora, direção e velocidade de corrente, e estrutura térmica da coluna de água. Amostras biológicas foram obtidas tanto das capturas comerciais quanto das capturas obtidas durante as campanhas ao Saco do Capim. A pesca ocorre em "bateiras" e 'botes" que variam de 8 a 11 m de comprimento, dotados de motores de 9 a 24 HP de potência e tripulados por 2 a 4 pescadores. A captura se dá através de linhas de mão com "zangarilhos" (tipo de garatéia de chumbo não iscada) e cada pescador opera de 2 a 4 linhas. Essas embarcações atuam preferencialmente no Saco do Capim em profundidades de 10 a 20 m. As viagens duram em media 33h (±12,4 DP) com atividade pesqueira ocorrendo tanto durante o dia, quando as capturas ocorrem no fundo, quanto â noite, quando utiliza-se atração luminosa para a pesca em superfície. O rendimento e a captura por unidade de esforço médios foram de 49,6 Kg por viagem (±56,4 DP, n =35) e 0,56 Kg.pescador- 1 .hora-1 (±0,71 DP) respectivamente. A dinâmica das capturas mostrou picos marcados em função principalmente de flutuações temporais nas concentrações de lula. Capturas durante as campanhas ocorreram: (a) tanto em condições de coluna de água homogênea como estratificada, (b) em temperaturas entre 18 e 26° C, e (c) quando as camadas sub-superficiais de água no Saco do Capim fluiam para SW. A maioria dos machos e fêmeas capturados encontravam-se em estágios avançados de maturação gonadal.
SEPARAÇÃO DE PIGMENTOS FOTOSSINTÉTICOS DO FITOPLÂNCTON POR MEIO DE CROMATOGRAFIA LIQUIDA DE ALTA EFICIÊNCIA (CLAE)
Authors: PROENÇA L. A.
Published: October 2016

Pigmentos de algas são utilizados amplamente em oceanografia sendo que um dos mais importantes índices, o da biomassa do fitoplâncton, baseia-se na determinação da clorofila a (cia a). Diferente de vegetais superiores, uma das características das algas do plancton é a existência de uma grande diversidade de pigmentos, chamados acessórios ou fotossintéticos, que estão distribuídos entre as diferentes classes. Estes pigmentos incluem clorofilas, carotenóides e ficobiliproteínas. O valor destes pigmentos como ferramenta para estudos filogenéticos, taxonômi¬cos, fisiológicos, ecológicos e outros é grande. Embora a determinação de cla a seja relativamente fácil, a determinação de carotenôides é complexa, dado que estes tem seus máximos de absorção próximos, em torno de 450 nm, e por não possuirem fluorescência. Porém, nos últimos anos, com desenvolvimento de novos materiais e métodos, a técnica de cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE) tem sido utilizada amplamente para a determinação de pigmentos fotossintéticos em oceanografia. No presente trabalho, são apresentados resultados da separação por CLAE de pigmentos fotossintéticos de 6 representantes de grupos diferentes de algas (dinoflagelados, algas verdes, criptomônadas, primnesiofitas, diatomáceas, e cianof ítas). Os pigmentos foram identifi¬cados por meio de seu tempo de retenção e de suas caraterísticas espectrais, em comparação com a composição de pigmentos de algas documentada na literatura. Um total de 19 pigmentos foram identificados. A aplicação da técnica é demonstrada na análise de 3 amostras naturais.
Occurrence and Significance of the Nuclear Transcription Factor Krüppel-Like Factor 4 (KLF4) in the Vessel Wall
Authors: Kuneš Pavel , Holubcová Zdeňka , Krejsek Jan
Published: October 2016

Practically all mammalian cells including human can switch, according to micro- or macroenvironmental conditions, from states of cellular quiescence to inflammatory activation and vice versa. Along with recent knowledge, cellular quiescence is not a passive, but a highly active state with broad engagement of the cell synthetic and secretory machinery. Inflammatory activation is a beneficial process in cases of infection; however, if its control fails, it may degrade into autoimmune diseases or cancer growth. Control over cellular quiescence is exerted predominantly by a set of zincfinger transcription proteins, referred to as Krüppel-like factors (KLFs). This review article offers recent information concerning activities of Krüppel-like factor 4 in the vascular wall.
Ectopic High Origin of a Coronary Artery from the Aorta – A Possible Cause of Sudden Death
Authors: Eren Bülent , Türkmen Nursel , Senel Berna
Published: October 2016

Congenital anomalies originating it the coronary arteries are of special interest for forensic specialists. The presented case is a man found dead on the Coast of Marmara Sea. The death was considered to be suspicious and an autopsy was performed. On the macroscopic autopsy, the ostium of the right coronary artery was hole-like, located in a normal position, but the ostium of the left coronary artery was pocket-shaped and located in the left wall of the ascending aorta and above the rim of the sinotubular junction. We describe an asymptomatic, but didactic case with ectopic high origin of the left coronary artery.
Avaliação da fragmentação da cobertura arbórea de Maringá/PR utilizando geotecnologias
Authors: Mendes Flávio Henrique , Petean Felipe Coelho de Souza , Polizel Jefferson Lordello , Silva Filho Demóstenes Ferreira da
Published: October 2016

A cobertura arbórea urbana desempenha um papel fundamental na manutenção do equilíbrio ambiental nas cidades. O uso de recursos e ferramentas gratuitas, que auxiliem os tomadores de decisão no planejamento e manejo das florestas urbanas, é uma tendência que deve ser incentivada. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a fragmentação e conectividade da cobertura arbórea urbana da cidade de Maringá/PR, por meio da aplicação do complemento LecoS de ecologia de paisagem, utilizando como base imagens e programas gratuitos. Para a extração das classes de uso e ocupação do solo, imagens RapidEye dos anos de 2012 e 2013 foram recortadas tomando como base a mancha urbana do município, e, em seguida, submetidas à classificação supervisionada. No programa livre Quantum GIS, aplicou-se a função Effective Mesh Size (meff) do complemento de ecologia de paisagens LecoS, a fim de obter as porcentagens de fragmentação da cobertura arbórea com base na área total da classe. Observou-se que a cobertura arbórea urbana de Maringá reduziu 11,4% entre 2012 e 2013 (de 14,9% para 13,2%), muito provavelmente devido ao manejo da vegetação (supressão). No entanto, a conectividade entre os fragmentos aumentou de 0,4% para 16,8% no mesmo período, indicando que lacunas na cobertura arbórea estão se fechando, tornando-a mais homogeneamente distribuída. Demais variações encontradas nas imagens são devidas à qualidade e à resolução espacial. É desejável que a cobertura arbórea esteja distribuída igualmente no tecido urbano, para que um número maior de habitantes desfrute dos benefícios trazidos pelas árvores às cidades.
Moluscos límnicos como hospedeiros de trematódeos digenéticos de uma região metropolitana da ilha do Maranhão, Brasil
Authors: Miranda Guilherme Silva , Rodrigues João Gustavo Mendes , Lira Maria Gabriela Sampaio , Nogueira Ranielly Araújo , Gomes Gleycka Cristine Carvalho , Miranda Bruno Silva , Araújo Andréa De , Silva-Souza Nêuton
Published: October 2016

Este estudo se trata do primeiro levantamento malacológico de água doce e de larvas de trematódeos associadas, sem restrição, somente às espécies transmissoras da esquistossomose na região metropolitana da ilha do Maranhão. Dessa forma, objetivou-se caracterizar a diversidade de moluscos límnicos e de sua helmintofauna em ambientes com aspectos ecológicos variados. Os espécimes de gastrópodes foram coletados mensalmente no município de São Luís (MA), entre o período de novembro de 2014 a junho de 2015, em quatro pontos de coleta (P1 – lêntico e impactado, P2- lótico e impactado, P3 – lótico e alterado, P4 – lótico e conservado). Para cada local foram registrados o pH e Oxigênio Dissolvido, além de análise de Coliformes Totais e Escherichia coli. Foi coletado um total de 4112 moluscos límnicos, classificados como se segue: Biomphalaria glabrata Say, 1818 (62,86%), B. straminea Dunker, 1848 (24,71%), Pomacea sp. Perry, 1810 (7,91%), Physa sp. Draparnaud, 1801 (3,41%) e Drepanotrema sp. Crosse & Fischer, 1880 (1,11%). Destes, B. glabrata apresentou-se positivo para cercárias de Schistosoma mansoni e exemplares de Physa sp. e Pomacea sp. estavam infectados com xifidiocercárias. Houve correlação positiva e significativa em relação à pluviometria e a quantidade de moluscos (p<0,05). A maior abundância de espécimes foi registrada em áreas impactadas, bem como maior grau de parasitismo. A ocorrência de xifidiocercária representa o primeiro relato para a região metropolitana da ilha do Maranhão.
A New Palmomantic Text
Authors: Minnen Peter van
Published: October 2016

Edition of a fragmentary papyrus roll of the third century AD in a private collection containing a Greek palmomantic text. The entries with interpretations of the involuntary movements of various body parts roughly correspond to those in the second quarter of the palmomantic handbook that circulated under the name of Melampus and survives in a handful of medieval recensions.
Bemerkungen zum kaiserzeitlichen Geschäftsbrief P.Tebt. Pad. I 24
Authors: Papathomas Amphilochios
Published: October 2016

The article offers critical remarks on and a re-edition of a Greek documentary papyrus belonging to the collection of the University of Padua and containing a Greek business letter from the second or third century of our era.
A Late Antique donatio mortis causa
Authors: Koroli Aikaterini , Papathomas Amphilochios
Published: October 2016

The article offers an edition of a Greek papyrus belonging to the Austrian National Library which contains a fragment of a donatio mortis causa drawn up in Hermoupolis Magna. Donationes mortis causa are documents used in Roman and Byzantine Egypt for disposing of one’s property in anticipation of death. Since the present papyrus seems to date from the last third of the 6th century A.D., it provides us with one of the latest attestations of this kind of document.
Una maniera insolita di recuperare i papiri
Authors: Gallazzi Claudio
Published: October 2016

Papyri can be found in various contexts. During the excavations carried out in 2015 at Tebtynis, inside the Soknebtynis temple, many hieratic, demotic and Greek fragments, some of them substantial, were found in mice nests.
Nouveaux comptes du monastère d’apa Apollô à Baouît
Authors: Martínez María Jesús Albarrán
Published: October 2016

Three Coptic accounts from the collection of the Institute of Papyrology (Sorbonne University), P.Sorb. inv. 2637, inv. 2638 + 2639 and inv. 2648, can be linked to the monastery of Apa Apollo at Bawit. They give detailed amounts of money and probably belong to the internal administration of the monastery in the 7th and 8th centuries AD. All of them are fragmentary, but several place names are already known in the Hermopolite nome and in other texts coming from this monastery.
Zur elektrohydraulischen Mehrachslenkung von Fahrzeugen
Authors: Huber Robert , Nitzsche Gunter , Wagner Sebastian , Engel Martin , Beyersdorfer Susann , Zipser Stephan
Published: October 2016

Zur besseren Manövrierbarkeit sind lange Fahrzeuge vielfach mit mehreren lenkbaren Achsen ausgestattet. Die koordinierte
Ansteuerung der Lenkachsen erfolgt nach festen Mustern über sog. Lenkprogramme als Mehrachslenkung. Diese nutzen die
gegebenen Freiheitsgrade jedoch nicht aus. In diesem Beitrag werden deshalb Entwicklungen vorgestellt, die eine
automatische Mehrachslenkung für mehrgliedrige Fahrzeuge mit neuen Merkmalen wie etwa die Spurtreue zum Ziel haben. Der
Beitrag betrachtet Verfahren von der automatischen Spurermittlung über die Spurführung bis hin zur optimalen
Pfadplanung. Diese Komponenten sind wesentliche Voraussetzung dafür, zukünftig mehrachsgelenkte Fahrzeuge
hochautomatisiert und damit sicherer und effizienter fahren zu können.
Intuitive Handführung von Robotern als Handlingsysteme
Authors: Müller Florian , Jäkel Jens , Thomas Ulrike , Suchý Jozef
Published: October 2016

Bei der Handführung roboterbasierter Handling- bzw. Kraftverstärkungssysteme wird die Bewegungsintention des Nutzers über
Kraft-/Momentsensoren erfasst. Die exakte Bewegungssteuerung der bis zu sechs Freiheitsgrade verlangt vom Nutzer viel
Erfahrung. Im Beitrag wird ein Konzept beschrieben, das durch die Anwendung virtueller Kraftfelder die Bedienung
erleichtert. Über die Stabilitätsuntersuchung des Gesamtsystems bestehend aus impedanzgeregeltem Roboter, Nutzer und
virtuellen Kraftfeldern sowie anschließende simulative und experimentelle Untersuchungen werden Aussagen zur
Parametrierung der Kraftfelder gewonnen.
Konzept und Realisierung eines optischen Mikrosystems zur Wiederherstellung der Akkommodation
Authors: Gengenbach Ulrich , Beck Christoph , Guth Helmut , Koker Liane , Krug Markus , Martin Thomas , Nagel Jörg , Sieber Ingo , Stiller Peter , Stachs Oliver , Guthoff Rudolf F.
Published: October 2016

Akkommodation, die Fähigkeit von der Nähe bis in die Ferne scharf zu sehen, ist mit ca. 50 Jahren so stark
eingeschränkt, so dass wir eine Sehhilfe, z. B. eine Brille, verwenden müssen. Ein neuer Ansatz zwischen unendlich
und Lesedistanz eine stufenlose Akkommodation wiederherzustellen, ist die Implantation eines optischen Mikrosystems
anstelle einer Intraokularlinse. Es werden Konzept und Realisierung des Systems als Funktionsmodell im Maßstab 2:1
beschrieben.
Konzepte zur Behandlung von Komplexität bei der Informationsverarbeitung in mechatronischen Systemen
Authors: Kaufmann Michael
Published: October 2016

Mit der anhaltenden Steigerung der Rechen- und Übertragungskapazität von Prozessor- und Kommunikationssystemen steigt der
Funktionsumfang und die Anzahl der informationsverarbeitenden Komponenten in mechatronischen Systemen. Die damit
einhergehende Steigerung der Komplexität stellt Entwickler vor große Herausforderungen. In einem Umfeld homogener
Architektur wird den Herausforderungen mit Standards für einen einheitlichen, geräteübergreifenden Entwurf begegnet. Viele
Anwendungen der Mechatronik basieren auf Komponenten heterogener Architektur, für die diese Standards nicht anwendbar
sind. In diesen Fällen können konstruktive und analytische Maßnahmen angewendet werden. Die Erweiterte Funktionale
Beschreibung wird als eine analytische Maßnahme vorgeschlagen und am Beispiel erläutert.
Physical fitness and aerobic capacity of Polish military fighter aircraft pilots
Authors: Tomczak Andrzej , Haponik Marcin
Published: October 2016

Study aim: To determine the level of physical fitness and aerobic capacity of Polish military fighter aircraft pilots.

Material and methods: The study was conducted on a group of 120 Polish military fighter aircraft pilots (men). The average age of subject was 37.13 ± 5.42 years. For further analysis, the pilots were divided into three age groups: under 29, aged 30–39, and 40–49. Age criteria were adopted according to the classification used by the American Heart Association. A physical fitness test (seven skills) was used to determine the level of physical fitness of pilots. The Åstrand-Ryhming test and a MONARK cycling ergometer were used to determine the level of aerobic capacity.

Results: The pilots obtained the following average results during the physical fitness test: push-ups on a bench – 37.7 reps; shuttle run 10 × 10 m – 30.3 s; pull-ups – 9.1 reps; sit-ups – 54 reps; standing long jump – 228.5 cm; zigzag pattern run – 25.8 s; 50 m swimming – 49.2 s. The physical fitness of military pilots decreases with age. The average level of aerobic capacity of military pilots was estimated at 33.73 ± 5.62 VO2max (ml/kg/min).

Conclusions: Polish military fighter aircraft pilots are characterized by a medium level of physical fitness and a medium level of aerobic capacity. The level of aerobic capacity is lower currently than 30 years ago. It is a perturbing and negative phenomenon.
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, the European Language Portfolio, and language teaching/learning at university: An argument and some proposals
Authors: Little David
Published: October 2016

I begin this article by briefly explaining why I think CercleS should encourage university language centres to align their courses and assessment with the proficiency levels of the
Translating language policy into practice: Language and culture policy at a Dutch university
Authors: Haines Kevin , Dijk Anje
Published: October 2016

The CEFR will only achieve its potential in higher education if it is embedded in a meaningful way in the wider processes of the university. One means of embedding the CEFR is through policy, and in this article we report the development of a language policy in the broader context of internationalization at a Dutch university. We describe some the challenges involved in developing and extending this policy to stakeholders across the complex environment of a modern university, particularly from the perspective of one of the key players in this process, the university Language Centre. A growth of English-medium instruction (EMI) programmes has coincided with a greater emphasis on internationalization in the university’s strategy, and this has resulted in the establishment of an International Classroom (IC) project and a supporting Language and Culture (L&C) policy. The L&C policy aims to be both top down and bottom up, with a dual language focus on English and Dutch, while also recognizing the inter-relation between linguistic and intercultural skills. We believe that the growth of EMI programmes has acted as a catalyst for the extension of the L&C policy beyond the EMI setting to the university as a whole, and that the CEFR can play a role in providing a bridge from an EMI-focused perspective on internationalization to a discussion of language policy as it affects the entire university community.
The ELP through time: Background motivation, growing experience, current beliefs
Authors: Argondizzo Carmen , Sasso Maria I.
Published: October 2016

This article offers an overview of research strategies currently in use at the Language Centre of the University of Calabria and aimed at observing university students’ learning habits when they are asked to use the European Language Portfolio during language courses. We present evidence of how experimental groups of students belonging to different fields of study (e. g. business administration, engineering, humanities, natural sciences, social-political science) interact with the ELP toolkit. Variables are considered such as students’ motivation and learning styles, which may be affected by different approaches to study in different academic disciplines. We hypothesize that the experimental groups will outperform the control group, made up of students who will not be using the ELP. The global objective of the research stems from the research team’s belief that the ELP offers strong and effective support when teachers wish to encourage language learners to develop reflective learning and participative autonomy.
Access granted: Modern languages and issues of accessibility at university – a case study from Australia
Authors: Brown Joshua , Caruso Marinella
Published: October 2016

Discussion about how to monitor and increase participation in languages study is gaining relevance in the UK, the US and Australia across various sectors, but particularly in higher education. In recent times levels of enrolment in modern languages at universities around the world have been described in terms of ‘crisis’ or even ‘permanent crisis’. In Australia, however, the introduction of a new course structure at the University of Western Australia, which established a three-year general Bachelor degree followed by professional degrees, has resulted in unprecedented levels of language enrolments. Using data from this university as a case in point, we provide substantial evidence to argue that language enrolments are directly related to overlooked issues of degree structure and flexibility, rather than to other factors.
Baire category results for quasi–copulas
Authors: Durante Fabrizio , Fernández-Sánchez Juan , Trutschnig Wolfgang
Published: October 2016

The aim of this manuscript is to determine the relative size of several functions (copulas, quasi–
copulas) that are commonly used in stochastic modeling. It is shown that the class of all quasi–copulas that
are (locally) associated to a doubly stochastic signed measure is a set of first category in the class of all quasi–
copulas. Moreover, it is proved that copulas are nowhere dense in the class of quasi-copulas. The results are
obtained via a checkerboard approximation of quasi–copulas.
Catalytic Activity of Bimetallic Cu-Ag/MgO-SiO2 Toward the Conversion of Ethanol to 1,3-Butadiene
Authors: Tripathi Anamol , Faungnawakij Kajornsak , Laobuthee Apirat , Assabumrungrat Suttichai , Laosiripojna Navadol
Published: October 2016

In the present work, the catalytic conversion of ethanol to 1,3-butadiene (1,3-BD) was studied over monometallic of Cu and Ag, and bimetallic Cu-Ag supported on MgO-SiO2 (with MgO/SiO2 ratio of 2.0) under the temperature range from 250 to 325 °C. All catalysts were prepared by 4 different techniques including (i) conventional impregnation, (ii) microwave-assisted method, (iii) polyvinyl alcohol/sodium borohydride (PVA/NaBH4) assisted method, and (iv) benzoxaxine-assisted method to elucidate the effect of catalyst preparation method on their catalytic performance. All fresh and spent catalysts were also characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption and Temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) techniques to understand the relation between their physical/chemical properties and catalytic performance. From the reaction test, it was found that 5 %Ag/MgO-SiO2 showed greater activity towards 1,3-BD production than 5 %Cu/MgO-SiO2; nevertheless, higher deactivation after 6 h of operation was observed from 5 %Ag/MgO-SiO2. Importantly, this study revealed that bimetallic 2.5 %Cu-2.5 %Ag/MgO-SiO2 enhanced significantly higher activity and stability towards the reaction than monometallic catalysts. In addition, 2.5 %Cu-2.5 %Ag/MgO-SiO2 prepared by benzoxaxine-assisted method enhanced significantly higher reaction activity and stability than other preparation techniques, from which 1,3-BD yield of 46.40 % after 6 h of operation can be achieved. From the characterization, the good activity of this catalyst is mainly due to the dispersion improvement of metal over MgO-SiO2 support.
Ultrasound-Assisted Rehydration of Dried Sea Cucumber (Stichopus japonicus) – Kinetics
Authors: Zhang Longtao , Huang Xuhui , Miao Song , Zeng Shaoxiao , Zhang Yi , Zheng Baodong
Published: October 2016

Sea cucumbers are popular traditional tonic foods in Asia and the Middle East and are often dried for storage or sale. Rehydration of dried sea cucumber is a necessary step before further processing. The kinetics for ultrasound-assisted rehydration were mathematically described using mechanistic (Fick’s diffusion) and empirical (Peleg’s equation, Weibull model) models. The effective diffusivities of water transport with ultrasound were in the range of 0.182 mm2 min–1–0.197 mm2 min–1, which was greater than the value of the control, at 0.179 mm2 min–1, considering Fick’s diffusion. Peleg’s equation was concluded to be the best model to predict the ultrasound-assisted rehydration of dried sea cucumber. Its rehydration efficiency was increased 16-fold by ultrasound and rehydration time was reduced up to 45 h, the sea cucumbers did not show any negative effects on their texture properties after rehydration.
Re-telling the Word Rhetorically: The
Example of Shadreck Wame, a Chewa
Itinerant Evangelist
Authors: Wendland Ernst R.
Published: October 2016

This study presents a rhetorical analysis of Shadreck Wame, a popular Malawian revival preacher.
After an overview of the “rhetorical setting” in which these vernacular sermons were preached in the 1990s,
ten “oral-rhetorical techniques” that characterize Wame’s preaching style are identified, based on a corpus
of nearly 50 of his Chewa-language sermons that I recorded from radio broadcasts in the 1990s. These
features are then illustrated in selections from a specific sermon that Evangelist Wame preached in 1997 in
Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi. In particular, his situationally-influenced “re-tellings,” or paraphrases, of
a familiar biblical text, Christ’s Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Luke 20:9-18), are identified and elaborated
upon in footnotes. I conclude this description of a popular preacher’s dynamic, contextualized homiletical
style with a number of applications to contemporary communicators in Africa. Both the content and
the methodology of this analysis may be significant for comparative purposes when teaching sermonic
technique in different, especially non-Western, sociocultural settings.
McLuhan’s war: Cartoons and decapitations
Authors: Nesselroth Peter W.
Published: October 2016

This essay analyzes certain recent news events like the “Charlie Hebdo” massacres and the recurring decapitations of prisoners and hostages by ISIS and other groups. It updates Jakobson’s standard model of communication to account for the different “factors” at play in our present reality and it calls for an “applied McLuhan” approach to processing the images that succeed each other on our various contemporary screen types. One of McLuhan’s prophecies was that the return of oral culture through new communications media would have catastrophic consequences for humanity. Judging by current events, he was right on.
A class of cyclic (v; k1, k2, k3; λ) difference
families with v ≡ 3 (mod 4) a prime
Authors: Ðokovic Dragomir Ž. , Kotsireas Ilias S.
Published: October 2016

We construct several new cyclic (v; k1, k2, k3; λ) difference families, with v ≡ 3 (mod 4) a prime
and λ = k1 + k2 + k3 − (3v − 1)/4. Such families can be used in conjunction with the well-known Paley-Todd
difference sets to construct skew-Hadamard matrices of order 4v. Our main result is that we have constructed
for the first time the examples of skew Hadamard matrices of orders 4 · 239 = 956 and 4 · 331 = 1324.
Numerical Study on Heat Transfer Enhancement of Swirl Chamber on Gas Turbine Blade
Authors: Du Haifen , Xie Daimei , Jiang Wei , Chen Tong , Gao Jianshu
Published: October 2016

The optimization of turbine cooling design has become a new research field of gas turbine. The swirl chamber is a prospect cooling concept. In this paper, the numerical simulation of the swirl chamber is carried out by FLUENT. The influence of inlet size parameters, temperature ratio and inlet Reynolds number on the enhanced heat transfer of swirl chamber is studied. The results show that, in the range of the studied condition, Nusselt number decreases with the height, the width, the ratio of width to height and Reynolds number. It also shows that comprehensive heat transfer effect is best at d=20 mm and enhances observably with the enlargement of width, width height ratio, and Reynolds number. Friction factor increases with height, width, temperature ratio and Reynolds number decreases. It is increased by increasing width height ratio. Nusselt number and comprehensive heat transfer effect decrease a little with aggrandizement of temperature ratio.
“Oh make thy selfe with holy mourning blacke”: Aspects of Drama and Performance in John Donne’sHoly Sonnet“Oh My Black Soule”
Authors: Zirker Angelika
Published: October 2016

This article provides a close reading of John Donne’sHoly Sonnet“Oh My Black Soule” with regard to its dramatic and performative qualities. The opening line of the poem contains an allusion to the morality playEveryman; moreover, in this sonnet, the speaker addresses his soul as if he were on a stage; and, in the end, he finds a resolution to the inner conflict that is being described in the course of the poem. Drama is thus significant in three ways: the speaker witnesses a drama of the soul, which is summoned, and reacts to it; he takes part in the drama and its performance as the speaker of a soliloquy; and a drama (in the sense of conflict) goes on within himself. The sonnet is the enactment of a drama of salvation and an expression of the innermost fears and prayers of the speaker who, eventually, finds a resolution and comes to a happy ending. While these three dimensions are all equally linked to the dramatic and performative qualities of this poem, the focus will be on the second aspect and the question how theHoly Sonnetmay add to our understanding of the soliloquy, the communicative form which became most popular on the stage at the time John Donne wrote this poem.