bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Persistent Racial Disparity in Stroke Hospitalization and Economic Impact in Young Adults in the Buckle of Stroke Belt
Authors: Boan Andrea D. , Feng Wuwei (Wayne) , Ovbiagele Bruce , Bachman David L. , Ellis Charles , Adams Robert J. , Kautz Steven A. , Lackland Daniel T.
Published: June 2014

Background and Purpose—

Mounting evidence points to a decline in stroke incidence. However, little is known about recent patterns of stroke hospitalization within the buckle of the stroke belt. This study aims to investigate the age- and race-specific secular trends in stroke hospitalization rates, inpatient stroke mortality rates, and related hospitalization charges during the past decade in South Carolina.

Methods—

Patients from 2001 to 2010 were identified from the State Inpatient Hospital Discharge Database with a primary discharge diagnosis of stroke (
International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision
codes: 430–434, 436, 437.1). Age- and race-stroke–specific hospitalization rates, hospital charges, charges associated with racial disparity, and 30-day stroke mortality rates were compared between blacks and whites.

Results—

Of the 84 179 stroke hospitalizations, 31 137 (37.0%) were from patients aged <65 years and 29 846 (35.5%) were blacks. Stroke hospitalization rates decreased in the older population (aged ≥65 years) for both blacks and whites (
P
<0.001) but increased among the younger group (aged <65 years;
P
=0.004); however, this increase was mainly driven by a 17.3% rise among blacks (
P
=0.001), with no difference seen among whites (
P
=0.84). Of hospital charges totaling $2.77 billion, $453.2 million (16.4%) are associated with racial disparity (79.6% from patients aged <65 years). Thirty-day stroke mortality rates decreased in all age-race-stroke–specific groups (
P
<0.001).

Conclusions—

The stroke hospitalization rate increased in the young blacks only, which results in a severe and persistent racial disparity. It highlights the urgent need for a racial disparity reduction in the younger population to alleviate the healthcare burden.
Acute and Delayed Deferoxamine Treatment Attenuates Long-Term Sequelae After Germinal Matrix Hemorrhage in Neonatal Rats
Authors: Klebe Damon , Krafft Paul R. , Hoffmann Clotilde , Lekic Tim , Flores Jerry J. , Rolland William , Zhang John H.
Published: June 2014

Background and Purpose—

This study investigated if acute and delayed deferoxamine treatment attenuates long-term sequelae after germinal matrix hemorrhage (GMH).

Methods—

Bacterial collagenase (0.3 U) was infused intraparenchymally into the right hemispheric ganglionic eminence in P7 rat pups to induce GMH. GMH animals received either deferoxamine or vehicle twice a day for 7 consecutive days. Deferoxamine administration was initiated at either 1 hour or 72 hours post-GMH. Long-term neurocognitive deficits and motor coordination were assessed using Morris water maze, rotarod, and foot fault tests between day 21 to 28 post-GMH. At 28 days post-GMH, brain morphology was assessed and extracellular matrix protein (fibronectin and vitronectin) expression was determined.

Results—

Acute and delayed deferoxamine treatment improved long-term motor and cognitive function at 21 to 28 days post-GMH. Attenuated neurofunction was paralleled with improved overall brain morphology at 28 days post-GMH, reducing white matter loss, basal ganglia loss, posthemorrhagic ventricular dilation, and cortical loss. GMH resulted in significantly increased expression of fibronectin and vitronectin, which was reversed by acute and delayed deferoxamine treatment.

Conclusions—

Acute and delayed deferoxamine administration ameliorated long-term sequelae after GMH.
Paul’s Curse of Corinthians
Authors: Fotopoulos John
Published: June 2014

In 1 Cor 16:22, Paul concludes his letter with a curse against anyone that does not love the Lord followed immediately by the Aramaic expression µαράνα θά. Curses were used in antiquity to restrain rivals by threatening to inflict them with harm or death. Voces mysticae—mystically powerful foreign language words—were frequently employed in curses and many were derived from Hebrew or Aramaic. Curses were widely feared and numerous curses have been discovered in Roman Korinthia. Paul’s conditional curse in 16:22 serves as a final persuasive technique to change the Corinthians’ factional behavior by restraining his rivals through their fear of curses and the power of µαράνα θά as voces mysticae.
Mimesis in John 13
Authors: Bennema Cornelis
Published: June 2014

Johannine scholarship is divided on whether the mimetic imperative in John 13:15 calls for a literal replication of the footwashing or is a general reference to humble (loving) service. My argument is that for the author mimesis involves primarily the creative, truthful, bodily articulation of the idea and attitude that lie behind the original act rather than its exact replication. The Johannine concept of mimesis is a hermeneutical process that involves both the understanding of the original act and a resulting mimetic act that creatively but faithfully articulates this understanding.
‘Nose’ in Armenian
Authors: Asatrian Garnik
Published: June 2014

Armenian has two main signifiers for ‘nose’, k‘it‘ and pinc‘, both remaining obscure. Presumably, they have no Indo-European origin. Body-part names usually are not borrowed. They present predominantly genuine (or substrate) forms, including ideophones, based on internal resources of the language, or terms, shaped through semantic shift of metaphors. Incidentally, the essential part of the Armenian body-part names includes lexemes of the clear IE provenance.

The paper attempts to summarise the relevant material on and trace the possible background of the above terms.
Some Notes on Human Trafficking in the South Caucasus
Authors: Koolaee Elaheh , Esfahani Hossein Komeili
Published: June 2014

It is difficult to obtain accurate statistics on human trafficking nowadays, but, according to some data, between 800 and 900 thousand people are trafficked annually, almost 80 percent of them being women. Meanwhile, about 70 percent of the latter are trafficked for sex trade. Human trafficking as an organised crime is in the third place, after drugs and arms trade, of international monetary transactions with its profit estimated from 7 to 10 billion dollars. This article aims at examining some key issues concerning human trafficking in the South Caucasus.
Liberal Interventionism, Humanitarian Ethics, and the Responsibility to Protect
Authors: Leveringhaus Alex
Published: June 2014

This paper examines the lack of engagement between liberal political philosophers and humanitarians on the issue of humanitarian intervention. It argues that the recent emergence of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) agenda provides a great opportunity to overcome this mutual disinterest in each other’s positions. R2P, especially as formulated by the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty, is fairly demanding. In order to formulate an adequate response, liberals and humanitarians need to reconsider their positions. In this respect, insights provided by liberal political theory are helpful to humanitarians. Firstly, liberal reasoning offers justifications for potential restrictions of the humanitarian scope of concern in the course of halting mass atrocities. Second, liberal values indicate how humanitarians can respond to the challenges posed by post-war reconstruction. Conversely, humanitarian considerations should prompt liberals to think harder about the conduct of military intervention, as well as the material basis of successful post-atrocity reconstruction.
The Last Rites for Humanitarian Intervention
Authors: Hopgood Stephen
Published: June 2014

The politics of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) are interwoven with the ghosts of Rwanda and Srebrenica. Although R2P can clearly be seen as an attempt to legitimate intervening in sovereign states to protect human rights, the post-2001 emphasis of advocates on intervention actually reduced the chances of truly humanitarian action by complicating the calculations of sovereigns faced with unpredictable political risks. As the military dimension to R2P wanes, so the possibility of intervention on a truly humanitarian basis might increase. And thus, the real achievement of the last two decades, embedding the idea of civilian protection as an expectation, comes into view. It is harder than it was to publicly murder your own citizens with impunity. R2P has been a success, we might say, to the extent that it has helped establish the civilian protection principle. But the historical record suggests this emerging norm predates R2P. We can even interpret R2P as a decade-long interlude, a diversion, from the underlying trend toward establishing a post-Cold War norm of preventing atrocities against civilians. What we must not expect, in Syria as in Sri Lanka, is armed intervention in an internal conflict when the United States, China and Russia have vital and conflicting interests at stake.
Parmelioid lichens (Parmeliaceae) in southernmost South America
Authors: Elvebakk Arve , BJERKE J. W. , STØVERN L. E.
Published: June 2014

The parmelioid lichens is a speciose group in the Parmeliaceae family, and the biodiversity of this group is still far from completely understood in many regions of the world. One such region is southernmost South America, viz. the parts of Chile and Argentina south of 49 and 46° S, respectively, and the Falkland Islands. Based on examination of 366 herbarium samples and a study of relevant literature, 51 species of parmelioid lichens are here accepted for southernmost South America, whereas 12 species reported from the area during the last decades have been rejected. Xanthoparmelia austrosorediata and X. tehuelchorum are described as new to science here. In addition, six species are reported as new to southernmost South America, three of which are new to Chile, whereas an additional five species are new to the Chilean region of Magallanes. The apothecia of Flavoparmelia gerlachei and Xanthoparmelia subplittii are described for the first time here. Xanthoparmelia is the largest genus in the area with 21 species, two still undescribed, followed by Hypotrachyna with 11 and Parmelia with five. The lichenologically least explored part of the area is the Patagonian steppe and adjacent areas. Half of the total number of species, including all Xanthoparmelia species, is concentrated to these arid areas, and the majority of these are species which are endemic to South America. Hypotrachyna species are characteristic of the humid evergreen forest zone along the coast, and most of these species have wide pantropical or subcosmopolitan distribution ranges and few records from the present study area. The strongest focus of the present study is the National Park Torres del Paine in Magallanes, and a total of 35 parmelioid species are reported from this area here. Several of these have had their only known localities in southernmost South America destroyed by the 2011/2012 forest fire. Exploration history, frequency, distribution and evolutionary patterns are also discussed for single species or groups of species.
New combinations and new names in Myrcia (Myrtaceae) for Flora of São Paulo state, Brazil
Authors: Mazine Fiorella , Santos Matheus Fortes , Lucas Eve
Published: June 2014

Nomenclatural updates are presented for the genus Myrcia. New combinations are presented for Myrcia antonia, M. eugeniopsoides, M. reitzii and M. cionei (based on Marlierea antonia, M. eugeniopsoides, M. reitzii and Myrcianthes cionei), and four new names are proposed: Myrcia ferruginosa, M. vellozoi, M. multipunctata and M. insigniflora (based on Eugeniopsis silvatica, Myrtus racemosa, Eugenia laevigata and Marlierea glazioviana). Distribution data of the species are provided. The genus Myrcia currently comprises ca. 400 species, distributed from Mexico and the Caribbean to northern Argentina. All the species presented here are endemic to Brazil.
New synonyms and combinations in Eurasian Brassicaceae (Cruciferae)
Authors: German Dmitry A
Published: June 2014

Taxonomy of miscellaneous taxa of Eurasian Brassicaceae is updated. Eight names at the species rank are reduced for the first time to synonymy of what follows them in parentheses: Cardamine szeewaldiana (C. macrophylla), Hesperis hyrcanica (Clastopus vestitus), Arabis oxyota (Crucihimalaya bursifolia), Hesperis speciosa and Parrya integerrima (Dendroarabis fruticulosa), Cheiranthus taraxacifolius (Erysimum cuspidatum), Draba ishkomania (Scapiarabis saxicola), Velarum tzvelevii (Sisymbrium officinale). Three new combinations (Hormathophylla kuepferiana, Isatis odontogera, and Parrya khorasanica) are proposed, first of them as a replacing name for a later homonym in the genus Hormathophylla. Three names (Arabis oxyota, Clastopus vestitus, and Crucihimalaya bursifolia) are lectotypified (for C. vestitus, a previous choice is narrowed) and a neotype is designated for Isatis odontogera. Nomenclatural comments are provided where needed.
Huperzia nanlingensis (Lycopodiaceae), a new terrestrial firmoss from southern China
Authors: Shrestha Nawal , Xing Fu-Wu , Qi Xin-Ping , Yan Yue-Hong , Zhang Xian-Chun
Published: June 2014

Huperzia nanlingensis sp. nov. (Lycopodiaceae) is described as a new species from southern China. The distinguishing characters, description, ecology, conservation status, detailed illustrations and photographs are provided. The species resembles H. serrata in leaf shape and serrations on the margin of leaves. However, it is clearly separated as a distinct species on the basis of quantitative morphology, anatomy, and molecular evidence. Although the observed morphological differences between these two species are superficially subtle, H. nanlingensis can be distinguished from H. serrata by purple coloration at the tip and base of leaves, higher number of teeth on one side of the tropophyll, higher seasonal index and slightly crispate leaf margin.
Notes on Early Land Plants Today. 55. New taxa and synonyms in Adelanthaceae (Marchantiophyta)
Authors: Váňa Jiri , Feltberg Kathrin , Heinrichs Jochen , Söderström Lars , Hagborg Anders , Von Konrat Matt
Published: June 2014

Recent molecular and morphological studies have solved many taxonomical questions in Adelanthaceae, but several taxa have not been studied recently. Based on studies of type material and additional specimens we synonymize i) Syzygiella riclefii with Syzygiella campanulata, Syzygiella grollei with Syzygiella concreta, Syzygiella virescens and Syzygiella integerrima with Syzygiella contigua, ii) Syzygiella subundulata and Syzygiella colombiana with Syzygiella manca, iii) Syzygiella inouei with Syzygiella setulosa, iv) Syzygiella kerguelensis with Syzygiella tasmanica and v) Syzygiella liberata with Syzygiella trigonifolia. New lectotypes are designated for Syzygiella manca, Syzygiella plagiochiloides and neotypes for Syzygiella contigua and Syzygiella virescens. The subfamily Adelanthoideae is validated.
A further note on the identity of Barbus mussullah Sykes (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)
Authors: KNIGHT J. D. MARCUS , RAI ASHWIN , D’SOUZA RONALD K. P.
Published: June 2014

Knight et al. (2013a) clarified the identity of Barbus mussullah Sykes, the type species of Hypselobarbus Bleeker, showing it to represent a lineage clearly distinct from Tor Gray (type species Tor hamiltonii Gray (= Cyprinus tor Hamilton)). They showed the two species to be distinguished by a suite of characters, with Hypselobarbus lacking the distinctive median fleshy lobe of the lower lip (present in T. tor), having the last simple ray of the dorsal fin weak (vs. strong, 'osseous'), gill rakers long and branched (vs. short and simple, unbranched) on first gill arch, and the proximal end of the fifth ceratobranchial hooked (vs. only slightly curved). Nevertheless, some subsequent authors (e.g., Ambili et al. 2014; Khare et al. 2014) have persisted in referring Barbus mussullah to Tor, in effect synonymyzing Hypselobarbus (in which 12 species are currently recognized) with Tor and thereby causing confusion with regard to the identities of these groups of fishes which, being large and relatively common cyprinids, are of significant economic importance.
The Role of Nonconvective Condensation Processes in Response of Surface Shortwave Cloud Radiative Forcing to El Niño Warming
Authors: Li Lijuan , Wang Bin , Zhang Guang J.
Published: June 2014

The weak response of surface shortwave cloud radiative forcing (SWCF) to El Niño over the equatorial Pacific remains a common problem in many contemporary climate models. This study shows that two versions of the Grid-Point Atmospheric Model of the Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP)/State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (LASG) (GAMIL) produce distinctly different surface SWCF response to El Niño. The earlier version, GAMIL1, underestimates this response, whereas the latest version, GAMIL2, simulates it well. To understand the causes for the different SWCF responses between the two simulations, the authors analyze the underlying physical mechanisms. Results indicate the enhanced stratiform condensation and evaporation in GAMIL2 play a key role in improving the simulations of multiyear annual mean water vapor (or relative humidity), cloud fraction, and in-cloud liquid water path (ICLWP) and hence in reducing the biases of SWCF and rainfall responses to El Niño due to all of the improved dynamical (vertical velocity at 500 hPa), cloud amount, and liquid water path (LWP) responses. The largest contribution to the SWCF response improvement in GAMIL2 is from LWP in the Niño-4 region and from low-cloud cover and LWP in the Niño-3 region. Furthermore, as a crucial factor in the low-cloud response, the atmospheric stability change in the lower layers is significantly influenced by the nonconvective heating variation during La Niña.
The comparative context of collective efficacy: Understanding neighbourhood disorganisation and willingness to intervene in Seattle and Brisbane
Authors: Fay-Ramirez Suzanna
Published: June 2014

The collective efficacy literature provides a framework to understand how neighbourhood structure influences violence. Existing findings have been based largely on American cities where disadvantage and ethnic segregation are more concentrated. Thus, they are not always representative of other Western cities where structural disadvantage has a different history as well as less variation across neighbourhoods. This paper explores the comparative effect of collective efficacy in Seattle, USA, and Brisbane, Australia. Findings show that collective efficacy is a significant predictor of violent victimisation in both cities. However, in Brisbane, traditional measures of structural disorganisation are less of an influence on victimisation than in Seattle, and that collective efficacy as a neighbourhood process can exist and vary across neighbourhoods without extreme disorganisation.
Clinical applications of herbal medicines for anxiety and insomnia; targeting patients with bipolar disorder
Authors: Baek Ji Hyun , Nierenberg Andrew A , Kinrys Gustavo
Published: June 2014

Objectives:

Patients with bipolar disorder frequently continue to experience residual anxiety and insomnia between mood episodes. In real-world practice, patients increasingly self-prescribe alternative medicines.

Methods:

We reviewed case reports, open-label, and placebo-controlled trials investigating the use of herbal medicines to treat anxiety and insomnia, and discussed their potential applications for bipolar disorder.

Results:

Eleven herbal medicines that have been studied in human subjects are included in this review. Mechanisms of action, efficacy, side effects, and drug-drug interactions are discussed. Based on currently available evidence, valerian seems to be the most promising candidate for insomnia and anxiety in bipolar disorder.

Conclusions:

Adjunctive herbal medicines may have the potential to alleviate these symptoms and improve the outcomes of standard treatment, despite limited evidence. Physicians need to have a more in-depth understanding of the evidence of benefits, risks, and drug interactions of alternative treatments.
Psychological morbidity among co-residents of older people in rural South India: Prevalence and risk factors
Authors: Malik M Khurram , Jacob KS
Published: June 2014

Objective:

This study attempted to examine psychological morbidity among co-residents of older people living in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.

Method:

This cross-sectional study evaluated psychological morbidity among co-residents using the Self-Reporting Questionnaire and psychiatric morbidity among older people using the 10/66 Dementia Research Group’s population-based studies protocol. Socio-demographic data were also collected. Logistic regression was used for multivariate analysis.

Results:

Of 807 residents evaluated, 73 (9.0%) had significant psychological morbidity. Such morbidity was associated with being older, female, poorer, illiterate, currently employed and being a spouse of the older person. A diagnosis of depression, neuropsychiatric symptoms and greater disability in older people were also associated with psychological morbidity among co-residents.

Conclusion:

Co-residents living with older people have significant psychological morbidity, which needs to be recognised and treated.
Tourists’ Evaluation of a Romantic Themed Attraction
Authors: Pearce Philip L. , Wu Mao-Ying
Published: June 2014

The present study uses accessible online and emic material as a window to approach the assessment of tourists’ experiences at a small themed tourist attraction. The research adopts the approach of seeing experiences as an orchestrated model of interacting elements that are linked to expressive and instrumental components. The study then seeks to identify the dominant concepts and phrases used by tourists in reporting their attraction visit. Further aims include examining how tourists with different overall evaluations of their experiences and from different origins respond to the attraction. Using Leximancer analysis, the work explores the linkages among 167 tourists’ reviews of the site in terms of reacting to the theme and reporting expressive and instrumental evaluations. The work confirms the value of the approach, establishes the power of the attraction’s theme, and builds a pathway for experience evaluation studies linked to expressive and instrumental attributes.
Soft News With Hard Consequences? Introducing a Nuanced Measure of Soft Versus Hard News Exposure and Its Relationship With Political Cynicism
Authors: Boukes Mark , Boomgaarden Hajo G.
Published: June 2014

The possibly detrimental consequences of soft news are subject of popular and academic debate. This study investigates how watching particular news genres—soft versus hard—relates to cynicism about politics among Dutch citizens. A nuanced and novel scale measuring relative exposure to soft versus hard news is introduced using nonparametric unidimensional unfolding. The analysis of three public opinion surveys demonstrates a strong relationship between people’s position on this hard versus soft news exposure scale and political cynicism. People who watched relatively more soft news were more cynical about politics than people who watched relatively more hard news. This relationship was not conditional on individuals’ level of political knowledge and interest.
Finite-time control of direct current–direct current boost converters in the presence of coil magnetic saturation
Authors: Zhang Chuanlin , Li Shihua , Wang Junxiao
Published: June 2014

This paper focuses on the global stabilization problem of controlling direct current–direct current switched power converters in the presence of coil magnetic saturation. A finite-time controller is investigated for the modified nonlinear system model by utilizing an adding a power integrator technique. With the finite-time control scheme, not only a faster convergence rate is obtained, but also better suppression ability to the inevitable disturbances is achieved for the closed-loop system. Simulation comparison results show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Update on Health Literacy and Diabetes
Authors: Bailey Stacy Cooper , Brega Angela G. , Crutchfield Trisha M. , Elasy Tom , Herr Haley , Kaphingst Kimberly , Karter Andrew J. , Moreland-Russell Sarah , Osborn Chandra Y. , Pignone Michael , Rothman Russell , Schillinger Dean
Published: June 2014

Purpose

Inadequate literacy is common among patients with diabetes and may lead to adverse outcomes. The authors reviewed the relationship between literacy and health outcomes in patients with diabetes and potential interventions to improve outcomes.

Methods

We reviewed 79 articles covering 3 key domains: (1) evaluation of screening tools to identify inadequate literacy and numeracy, (2) the relationships of a range of diabetes-related health outcomes with literacy and numeracy, and (3) interventions to reduce literacy-related differences in health outcomes.

Results

Several screening tools are available to assess patients’ print literacy and numeracy skills, some specifically addressing diabetes. Literacy and numeracy are consistently associated with diabetes-related knowledge. Some studies suggest literacy and numeracy are associated with intermediate outcomes, including self-efficacy, communication, and self-care (including adherence), but the relationship between literacy and glycemic control is mixed. Few studies have assessed more distal health outcomes, including diabetes-related complications, health care utilization, safety, or quality of life, but available studies suggest low literacy may be associated with increased risk of complications, including hypoglycemia. Several interventions appear to be effective in improving diabetes-related outcomes regardless of literacy status, but it is unclear if these interventions can reduce literacy-related differences in outcomes.

Conclusions

Low literacy is associated with less diabetes-related knowledge and may be related to other important health outcomes. Further studies are needed to better elucidate pathways by which literacy skills affect health outcomes. Promising interventions are available to improve diabetes outcomes for patients with low literacy; more research is needed to determine their effectiveness outside of research settings.
Gastric vs Small Bowel Feeding in Critically Ill Neurologically Injured Patients
Authors: Saran Delara , Brody Rebecca A. , Stankorb Susan M. , Parrott Scott J. , Heyland Daren K.
Published: June 2014

Background: To evaluate gastric compared with small bowel feeding on nutrition and clinical outcomes in critically ill, neurologically injured patients. Materials and Methods: International, prospective observational studies involving 353 intensive care units (ICUs) were included. Eligible patients were critically ill, mechanically ventilated with neurological diagnoses who remained in the ICU and received enteral nutrition (EN) exclusively for at least 3 days. Sites provided data, including patient characteristics, nutrition practices, and 60‐day outcomes. Patients receiving gastric or small bowel feeding were compared. Covariates including age, sex, body mass index, and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score were used in the adjusted analyses. Results: Of the 1691 patients who met our inclusion criteria, 1407 (94.1%) received gastric feeding and 88 (5.9%) received small bowel feeding. Adequacy of calories from EN was highest in the gastric group (60.2% and 52.3%, respectively, unadjusted analysis; P = .001), but this was not significant in the adjusted model (P = .428). The likelihood of EN interruptions due to gastrointestinal (GI) complications was higher for the gastric group (19.6% vs 4.7%, unadjusted model; P = .015). There were no significant differences in the rate of discontinuation of mechanical ventilation (hazard ratio [HR], 0.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66–1.12; P = .270) or the rate of being discharged alive from the ICU (HR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.72–1.23; P = .641) and hospital (HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 0.87–1.55; P = .307) after adjusting for confounders. Conclusions: Despite a higher likelihood of EN interruptions due to GI complications, gastric feeding may be associated with better nutrition adequacy, but neither route is associated with better clinical outcomes.
Folksonomy-based user interest and disinterest profiling for improved recommendations: An ontological approach
Authors: Movahedian Hamed , Khayyambashi Mohammad Reza
Published: June 2014

Social tagging has revolutionized the social and personal experience of users across numerous web platforms by enabling the organizing, managing, sharing and searching of web data. The extensive amount of information generated by tagging systems can be utilized for recommendation purposes. However, the unregulated creation of social tags by users can produce a great deal of noise and the tags can be unreliable; thus, exploiting them for recommendation is a nontrivial task. In this study, a new recommender system is proposed based on the similarities between user and item profiles. The approach applied is to generate user and item profiles by discovering tag patterns that are frequently generated by users. These tag patterns are categorized into irrelevant patterns and relevant patterns which represent diverse user preferences in terms of likes and dislikes. Furthermore, presented here is a method for translating these tag-based profiles into semantic profiles by determining the underlying meaning(s) of the tags, and mapping them to semantic entities belonging to external knowledge bases. To alleviate the cold start and overspecialization problems, semantic profiles are enriched in two phases: (a) using a semantic spreading mechanism and then (b) inheriting the preferences of similar users. Experiment indicates that this approach not only provides a better representation of user interests, but also achieves a better recommendation result when compared with existing methods. The performance of the proposed recommendation method is investigated in the face of the cold start problem, the results of which confirm that it can indeed remedy the problem for early adopters, hence improving overall recommendation quality.
Left common basal pyramid torsion following left upper lobectomy/segmentectomy
Authors: Wang Wei-Li , Cheng Yen-Po , Cheng Ching-Yuan , Wang Bing-Yen
Published: June 2014

Lobar or segmental lung torsion is a severe complication of lung resection. To the best of our knowledge, common basal pyramid torsion has never been reported. We describe a case of left basal pyramid torsion after left upper lobectomy and superior segmentectomy, which was successfully treated by thoracoscopic surgery.
Tracheoinnominate fistula: a rare acute complication of penetrating neck injury
Authors: Kulyapina Alena , Díaz Dolores Pérez , Rodríguez Teresa Sanchez , Fuentes Fernando Turegano
Published: June 2014

Penetrating injuries in the base of the neck are considered to be the most dangerous due to the potential combination of vascular and intrathoracic lesions. We describe an extremely rare case of combined injury of the trachea and innominate artery, which resulted in formation of a traumatic acute tracheoinnominate fistula. Previously, these fistulas have been described as an iatrogenic complication of tracheostomy, presenting with massive peristomal bleed or hemoptysis. This case demonstrates that a combination of lesions to vital anatomical structures in the neck can change their clinical presentation, making them extremely difficult to diagnose.
Non-BMPR2 mutation heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension in Southeast Asia
Authors: Pussadhamma Burabha , Kiatchoosakun Songsak , Vannaprasaht Suda , Barozzi Chiara
Published: June 2014

A 29-year-old Thai man presented with progressive dyspnea and evidence of pulmonary hypertension. Computed tomography was negative for pulmonary embolism. Cardiac catheterization confirmed the diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (mean pulmonary artery pressure 54 mm Hg, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure 4 mm Hg, and pulmonary vascular resistance 25 Wood units) without an intracardiac shunt. Two family members had been previously diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension. There was no evidence of left heart disease or respiratory disorders. Based on the definite diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension in 3 family members, heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension was confirmed. Genetic testing indicated no BMPR2 mutation.
Conflicting policy narratives: Moving beyond culture in identifying barriers to gender policy in South Africa
Authors: Mannell Jeneviève
Published: June 2014

This paper explores barriers to gender policy implementation arising from the narratives framing gender as a policy issue. Through examining the influence of gender policy narratives on practitioners, it challenges those who represent policy failures as the result of unsupportive cultural contexts. The paper draws on Fraser’s (1995, 2005; Fraser and Honneth, 2003) conceptualisation of recognition and redistribution to highlight tensions between three different gender policy narratives: (1) gender as instrumental for development; (2) gender as women’s rights and empowerment; and (3) gender as relations of power requiring personal transformation. Interviews with 32 gender practitioners in 26 South African non-governmental organisations and observations of meetings between these organisations show how these narratives lead to unhelpful conflicts between practitioners. These conflicts inhibit both the uptake of gender policy recommendations and collaboration between practitioners in ways that undermine efforts to address gender inequalities in the South African context.
Live kidney donation as body work
Authors: Shaw Rhonda
Published: June 2014

Financial incentives have increasingly been proposed to remedy what is described as a situation of global ‘organs scarcity’. In this article, I draw on qualitative sociological research investigating the corporeal generosity of living directed and non-directed kidney donors in New Zealand to ask what insights they can offer regarding financial incentives to encourage organ donation. This entails examining whether compensation and reimbursement for organ donation is likely to reduce donors’ capacity to act altruistically and diminish their dignity as moral subjects. In so doing, I seek to expand the conceptual tool kit of organ transplantation as a ‘gift of life’ to consider organ transfer in sociological terms as body work. I suggest that introducing the notion of body work into discussion about recompense for living kidney donation may help to unlock the ideological impasse currently polarising the debate between altruism and commerce.
Evaluating the potential risks of bubble studies during echocardiography
Authors: Bassett GC , Lin JW , Tran MM , Sistino JJ
Published: June 2014

Objective:

Cardiac shunts are often identified using bubble studies in echocardiography, with agitated saline. Previous studies have recommended various safe amounts of agitated saline. This poses a potential risk for air microembolism. The purpose of this study was to quantify the bubbles created by various quantities of agitated saline.

Methods:

A closed circuit was constructed with a HeartMate pneumatic ventricular assist pump and a cardiotomy reservoir to remove air during recirculation. One empty 10 mL syringe and one 10 mL syringe containing 1 mL of air and 9 mL of saline were attached to a three-way stopcock. The air/saline bolus was then agitated between the two syringes five times to create bubbles and injected into the tubing proximal to the HeartMate. An EDAC bubble detector sensor was attached prior to the saline injection site and distal to the HeartMate I to measure the size and volume of the bubbles. This technique was repeated using 0.5 mL of air and 9.5 mL of saline bolus and 2 mL of air and 8 mL of saline bolus. Each bolus was tested 20 times.

Results:

This study identifies the potential risks of air administration and proposes a safer air volume to agitate for the administration of a bubble study.

Conclusions:

Further studies should be conducted to create either a guideline or a standard for agitated saline administration by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL) in order to minimize the risk of air microembolism
Tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia and major aortopulmonary collateral vessels
Authors: Issitt RW , Robertson DA , Crook RM , Cross NT , Shaw M , Tsang VT
Published: June 2014

Major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCAs) provide significant issues during cardiopulmonary bypass, including flooding of the surgical field which requires significant blood volumes to be returned to the extracorporeal circuit via handheld suckers. This has been shown to be the major source of gaseous microemboli and is associated with adverse neurological outcome. Use of pH-stat has been previously shown to decrease the shunt through MAPCAs via an unknown mechanism. Here, we report the associated benefits of pH-stat in decreasing sucker usage and gaseous microemboli in a patient with known MAPCAs presenting for repair of tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary atresia.
Tolerance towards homosexuality in Europe: Population composition, economic affluence, religiosity, same-sex union legislation and HIV rates as explanations for country differences
Authors: Slenders Susanne , Sieben Inge , Verbakel Ellen
Published: June 2014

This study aims to explain variation in the level of tolerance towards homosexuality between European countries. Results of multi-level regression analyses on 40 countries from the 2008 wave of the European Values Study show that countries’ economic affluence and laws on same-sex unions are positively associated with individuals’ tolerance towards homosexuality. An additional exercise suggests that the association between laws and attitudes may be the result of two-way causality; legislation seems to both shape and reflect levels of tolerance towards homosexuality. The study finds no independent association between tolerance and the level of religiosity in a country and refutes the hypothesis that high numbers of diagnosed HIV cases resulting from sex between men are negatively related to tolerance towards homosexuality in Europe.
Oncocytic adenomas of thyroid-mimicking benign or metastatic disease on 18F-FDG-PET scan
Authors: Zandieh Shahin , Pokieser Wolfgang , Knoll Peter , Sonneck-Koenne Charlotte , Kudlacek Martina , Mirzaei Siroos
Published: June 2014

Background

The literature is sparse concerning 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) accumulation in the Hürthle cell neoplasm (HCN) of the thyroid. Given the difficulty of accurately diagnosing HCN, even with ultrasound (US) and fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB), the ability to accurately characterize these lesions by 18F-FDG positron emission tomography (PET) would be of value.

Purpose

To describe six cases of oncocytic proliferation in the thyroid gland that mimics the presence of metastatic disease and was detected incidentally by an 18F-FDG PET scan.

Material and Methods

We conducted whole-body 18F-FDG PET examinations for cancer staging in 1862 oncological patients from 2012 to 2013. Among them, six subjects (4 women, 2 men; age range, 45–85 years) with focal-enhanced 18F-FDG accumulation in the thyroid gland were selected from the study population. This study group was further investigated using 99 m-Tc-pertechnetate scintigraphy, US, and FNAB. Two experienced nuclear physicians reviewed the images. Gray-scale US and color Doppler (CD) sonographic examinations of the thyroid were undertaken for all subjects using a sonographic device Logiq 5 Expert (GE Medical Systems, Osaka, Japan) equipped with a 7–12 MHz linear array transducer.

Results

In all six cases, abnormal 18F-FDG uptake was found locally in the thyroid. The average SUVmax of the HCN was 5.8 (range, 2.6–16). In all six cases, 99 m-Tc-pertechnetate scintigraphy showed a cold spot. Compared with normal parenchymal vascularity, five of the six masses were shown to be hypervascular by CD ultrasonography.

Conclusion

On PET scans, oncocytic proliferations of the thyroid may mimic metastases of other malignancies. The focal-enhanced uptake of 18F-FDG PET may be associated with a focal increase in the metabolic activity of the thyroid parenchyma due to the presence of oncocytes. Our study emphasizes the importance of obtaining cytological evidence before making a diagnosis of metastatic disease.
Double-Plug Autologous Osteochondral Transplantation Shows Equal Functional Outcomes Compared With Single-Plug Procedures in Lesions of the Talar Dome
Authors: Haleem Amgad M. , Ross Keir A. , Smyth Niall A. , Duke Gavin L. , Deyer Timothy W. , Do Huong T. , Kennedy John G.
Published: June 2014

Background:

Autologous osteochondral transplantation (AOT) is used for large (>100-150 mm2) or cystic osteochondral lesions (OCLs) of the talus. Larger lesions may require using more than 1 graft to fill the defect. While patients with larger OCLs treated with microfracture exhibit inferior clinical outcomes, there is little evidence regarding the effect of lesion size and number of grafts required on clinical and radiological outcomes after AOT.

Hypothesis:

Larger OCLs of the talar dome treated by double-plug AOT (dp-AOT) have inferior clinical and radiological MRI outcomes compared with smaller OCLs requiring single-plug AOT (sp-AOT).

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Fourteen consecutive patients with a large OCL (mean, 208 ± 54 mm2) treated using dp-AOT with a minimum 5-year follow-up were matched by age and sex to a control cohort of 28 patients who underwent sp-AOT for a smaller OCL (mean, 74 ± 26 mm2) over the same period. Functional outcomes were assessed both pre- and postoperatively using the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) and Short Form–12 (SF-12) general health questionnaire. Mean follow-up was 85 months (range, 65-118 months). Latest postoperative MRI was evaluated with modified magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue (MOCART) score.

Results:

There was no significant difference between groups demographically ( P > .05). All patients with dp-AOT and sp-AOT showed a significant pre- to postoperative increase in FAOS and SF-12 scores ( P < .001). When comparing preoperative scores for both groups, there was no statistical significance between sp-AOT and dp-AOT scores (FAOS, P = .719; SF-12, P = .947). There was no significant difference in functional scores between the 2 groups postoperatively for both FAOS ( P = .883) and SF-12 ( P = .246). Mean MOCART scores did not exhibit any statistically significant difference between groups ( P = .475). Two patients complained of knee donor site stiffness (4.8%), which later resolved.

Conclusion:

Patients with large OCLs treated using a dp-AOT procedure did not show inferior clinical or radiological outcomes compared with those treated with sp-AOT at a minimum 5-year follow-up. The dp-AOT procedure is as effective as sp-AOT in treating larger OCLs of the talar dome in the intermediate term, with similar high postoperative clinical and radiological outcomes.
Worker Displacement and Occupation-Specific Human Capital
Authors: Ormiston Russell
Published: June 2014

Decades of research have consistently demonstrated the long-term earnings losses associated with job displacement. Despite the pervasiveness of this result, there has been limited research explaining why displaced workers lose so much value in the labor market. This study examines the effect of occupation-specific human capital in moderating postdisplacement earnings losses using occupational data from the U.S. Department of Labor and the 2004–2010 Displaced Worker Surveys. Developing two measures of cross-occupational comparability, the results suggest that greater transferability of human capital across occupations plays a significant role in determining postdisplacement earnings.
Estimating the possible range of recycling rates achieved by dump waste pickers: The case of Bantar Gebang in Indonesia
Authors: Sasaki Shunsuke , Araki Tetsuya
Published: June 2014

This article presents informal recycling contributions made by scavengers in the surrounding area of Bantar Gebang final disposal site for municipal solid waste generated in Jakarta. Preliminary fieldwork was conducted through daily conversations with scavengers to identify recycling actors at the site, and then quantitative field surveys were conducted twice. The first survey ( n = 504 households) covered 33% of all households in the area, and the second survey ( n = 69 households) was conducted to quantify transactions of recyclables among scavengers. Mathematical equations were formulated with assumptions made to estimate the possible range of recycling rates achieved by dump waste pickers. Slightly over 60% of all respondents were involved in informal recycling and over 80% of heads of households were waste pickers, normally referred to as live-in waste pickers and live-out waste pickers at the site. The largest percentage of their spouses were family workers, followed by waste pickers and housewives. Over 95% of all households of respondents had at least one waste picker or one small boss who has a coequal status of a waste picker. Average weight of recyclables collected by waste pickers at the site was estimated to be approximately 100 kg day-1 per household on the net weight basis. The recycling rate of solid wastes collected by all scavengers at the site was estimated to be in the range of 2.8–7.5% of all solid wastes transported to the site.
Impact on knowledge and behaviour of the general population of two different methods of solid waste management: An explorative cross-sectional study
Authors: Del Cimmuto Angela , Mannocci Alice , Ribatti Domenico , Boccia Antonio , La Torre Giuseppe
Published: June 2014

The objectives of the present study were to evaluate knowledge among general population about the risks factors of waste management, to estimate the feeling of anxiety concerning the waste, and to compare knowledge of two different methods for collecting municipal solid waste (MSW): a street separate collection system and a door-to-door separate collection system. A cross-sectional study was performed, administering an anonymous questionnaire to 180 inhabitants in Aprilia, Latium, Italy. The study sample consisted of 183 citizens: 64 in the intervention group and 119 in the control group. The intervention was represented by a campaign of door-to-door collection. The correct implementation of separate collection of waste was 87.5% in the intervention group and 63% in the control group ( p<0.001). For both groups, the favourite type of waste collection was door-to-door ( p=0.013); a high difference concerning the quality of information was found ( p<0.0001): in the intervention group, 84% declared to be satisfied (67% sufficient and 17.2% good), while in the control group, 21% declared to be satisfied (16.8% sufficient and 4.2% good). The advice mainly reported from the control group respondents was to increase the size of the information pack (80.7%, p=0.024). The information campaign seemed to increase people’s awareness about the problem, improving the management of waste and household waste. The door-to-door collection was appreciated and preferred by both groups. The adoption of a door-to-door scheme seems to be a winning option mostly because it is supported by an information and education system for the citizens.