bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Shaman's Song and Divination in the Epic Tradition
Authors: CLINE KURT 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTEvidence of the intimate linkage of the shaman's song and divinatory procedures may be viewed in the ancient epics. These narrative poems contain structural and thematic elements recognizable from theshaman's song—in particular his or her voyage to the Otherworld and the guidance of oracular powers. In this paper,The Epic of Gilgamesh, Euripedes'Ion, andThe Ozidi Saga(a living epic from West Africa) are examined as recuperations of the orally composed and transmitted song of the shaman. I argue that the epics—the origins of which predate their composition in literary form—bear witness to these most ancient and mysterious forms of linguistic expression. As depictions of Otherwordly journeys, they can be viewed through a metaphysic outside of time, rendering divination not only possible but inevitable, and necessitating a language of abstraction, allusion, and ambiguity. Today's experimental poetries may not all partake of a conscious recuperation of shamanic themes and forms, but they share an imaginary (yet not imagined) repositioning of reality, an open questioning of consensus forms of awareness, and an aesthetic shaping of what Jean Gebser calls “Integral Consciousness” (15), the simultaneous integration‐disintegration of archaic, mythic, magic, and mental paradigms in an intensification of awareness which sees time as diaphanous, and Mind as a doorway between possibilities.
Developing syndrome definitions based on consensus and current use
Authors: Chapman Wendy W , Dowling John N , Baer Atar , Buckeridge David L , Cochrane Dennis , Conway Michael A , Elkin Peter , Espino Jessi , Gunn Julia E , Hales Craig M , Hutwagner Lori , Keller Mikaela , Larson Catherine , Noe Rebecca , Okhmatovskaia Anya , Olson Karen , Paladini Marc , Scholer Matthew , Sniegoski Carol , Thompson David , Lober Bill 
Published: September 2010

Abstract
Objective: Standardized surveillance syndromes do not exist but would facilitate sharing data among surveillance systems and comparing the accuracy of existing systems. The objective of this study was to create reference syndrome definitions from a consensus of investigators who currently have or are building syndromic surveillance systems.
Design: Clinical condition–syndrome pairs were catalogued for 10 surveillance systems across the United States and the representatives of these systems were brought together for a workshop to discuss consensus syndrome definitions.
Results: Consensus syndrome definitions were generated for the four syndromes monitored by the majority of the 10 participating surveillance systems: Respiratory, gastrointestinal, constitutional, and influenza-like illness (ILI). An important element in coming to consensus quickly was the development of a sensitive and specific definition for respiratory and gastrointestinal syndromes. After the workshop, the definitions were refined and supplemented with keywords and regular expressions, the keywords were mapped to standard vocabularies, and a web ontology language (OWL) ontology was created.
Limitations: The consensus definitions have not yet been validated through implementation.
Conclusion: The consensus definitions provide an explicit description of the current state-of-the-art syndromes used in automated surveillance, which can subsequently be systematically evaluated against real data to improve the definitions. The method for creating consensus definitions could be applied to other domains that have diverse existing definitions.
Point-of-care diagnostic tests for childhood urinary-tract infection: phase-contrast microscopy for bacteria, stick testing, and counting white blood cells
Authors: Coulthard Malcolm G , Nelson Andrew , Smith Terry , Perry John D 
Published: September 2010

AimTo evaluate point-of-care testing for childhood urinary-tract infections (UTI).MethodPoint-of-care testing of prospectively collected sequential paired urines was compared with quantitative culture after serial dilution in 203 children, of whom 36 had UTIs. Proportionate reduction in uncertainty (PRU) plots were used to compare between methods and with published values.ResultsPhase-contrast microscopy for bacteria, as with culturing a single urine and using a threshold of 105bacteria/ml, was 100% sensitive, making it powerful to rule UTIs out. The specificity was slightly lower than urine culture (0.860 vs 0.925) except in girls >9 years where vaginalLactobacilluscontamination reduced it to 0.61, but this increased to 0.81 when ‘urethral stream’ urines were collected. Nitrite positivity is highly specific at 0.985, making it powerful at ruling UTIs in, but its low sensitivity (0.61) makes it unsafe to rule UTIs out. A PRU plot of 16 previous studies confirmed this. Though the presence of urinary white blood cells (WBC) correlates with UTI, whether tested by point-of-care of laboratory microscopy or by stick testing, the coefficient of determination is too low to make them clinically useful, alone or combined with nitrite analysis. Seventeen other studies confirmed this.ConclusionPhase-contrast microscopy can rule out UTIs as reliably as urine culture but is immediate, which may be clinically important. To interpret positive results reliably, girls >9 years must collect a ‘urethral stream’ urine. While nitrite positivity is useful to rule UTIs in, negative results are unreliable. Urinary WBC testing has little value.
Steroid therapy is associated with decreased numbers of dendritic cells and fibroblasts, and increased numbers of satellite cells, in the dystrophic skeletal muscle
Authors: Hussein Mahmoud Rezk A , Abu-Dief Eman E , Kamel Nageh Fouly , Mostafa Mohammed G 
Published: September 2010

BackgroundThe possible therapeutic benefits of using steroids to enhance muscle strength and slow disease progression in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) has been examined previously. In this investigation, it was hypothesised that steroid therapy is associated with morphological changes in the dystrophic muscle.Objectives and methodsTo test this hypothesis, two muscle biopsies were obtained (one biopsy before treatment, and the second 6 months following prednisone therapy) from 24 patients with dystrophies (18 DMD, 6 BMD). The participants were categorised into: control (6 specimens, normal muscle), untreated and treated groups. The muscle was evaluated for ultrastructural changes using transmission electron microscopy (TEM).ResultsIn the untreated group, the muscle fibres were degenerated and of variable sizes. The myofibrils were thin with either complete loss of bands and/or abnormal banding patterns. The Z-lines were irregularly spaced and loosely registered. The mitochondria of the myofibrils were small, few, spherical and irregularly distributed. Numerous dendritic cells (DCs) with euchromatic nuclei, and multiple and long dendrites, were seen among the myofibrils. The collagen fibres among the muscle fibres (endomysium) were numerous and large. The satellite cells had euchromatic nuclei with clumps of heterochromatin. In the treated group, the muscle fibres had a relatively uniform size with occasional fibres showing partial degeneration. The myofibrils had a relatively similar diameter comparable to that of normal muscle .The degenerated areas were small in size with occasional foci showing loss of banding pattern, and abnormal short bands with thick and hazy Z-lines. The mitochondria of the myofibrils were numerous, spherical, small in size and regularly arranged between the myofibrils. Few DCs, with heterochromatic nuclei, and few and short dendrites appeared between the myofibrils. The collagen fibres between the muscle fibres (endomysium) were numerous and large. As compared with the treated group, there was a statistically significant increase (p<0.05) in the numbers of DCs (0.7±0.2 vs 1.6±0.3) and fibroblasts (1.9±0.2 vs 2.9 ±0.3) in the untreated group. Alternatively, there was a statistically significant decrease (p<0.05) in the numbers of satellite cells (1.2±0.2 vs 0.6±0.1).ConclusionThe ability of steroids to induce ultrastructural features of improvement supports the notion that they have beneficial therapeutic role. The clinical ramifications of these observations mandate further studies.
Variation and uncertainties in the classification of sudden unexpected infant deaths among paediatric pathologists in the UK: findings of a National Delphi Study: Table 1
Authors: Gould Stephen J , Weber Martin A , Sebire Neil J 
Published: September 2010

AimsPresently, pathologists in the UK use diverse terminologies for the classification of sudden unexpected infant deaths, including ‘unascertained,’ ‘sudden unexpected death in infancy’ (SUDI) and ‘sudden infant death syndrome’ (SIDS). This study uses the Delphi method to investigate the views of paediatric pathologists on their use of these terms in order to determine areas of consensus.MethodsThere were three Delphi rounds overall; in the final one, participants were asked to score each statement using a modified Likert scale (0–9). The scores were analysed using non-parametric statistics, and statements in which the median score was ≤3 or ≥7 (approximately 70% agreement) were considered to have reached ‘consensus agreement.’ResultsTwenty-five of the 36 UK paediatric pathologists who were approached in the initial round contributed to all three rounds. There was consensus that ‘SIDS’ be used for unexplained sudden unexpected infant deaths that occurred during sleep. ‘Infancy’ was defined as up to 1 year of age, but there was no consensus regarding the lower age limit of SIDS. There was agreement that ‘SUDI’ be used for unexplained sudden infant deaths with a history of preceding illness, deaths with minor histological abnormalities of uncertain significance and co-sleeping-associated deaths. Most paediatric pathologists used ‘unascertained’ for findings suspicious of a non-natural cause of death. There was consensus that co-sleeping-associated deaths should be classified as ‘unascertained’ if parents had consumed alcohol or used drugs in the preceding 24 h.ConclusionsThe areas of consensus relating to terminology around SUDI and SIDS should guide future use by pathologists. However, there remains a significant lack of agreement, suggesting that acceptable alternative terms be identified for infant deaths which remain unexplained following autopsy in whom there are no suspicious features; the authors propose that ‘unexplained SUDI,’ followed by a comment, may represent the most factually correct compromise.
Wipro Consulting Services: Building an Effective Global Configuration in Business and IT Consulting Industry
Authors: Lampel Joseph , Bhalla Ajay , Vishnu Kaivalya 
Published: September 2010

The Wipro Consulting Services (WCS) case charts the evolution of the consulting initiative within Wipro Technologies; the strategic choices the management made during this evolution and the challenges facing the firm once it consolidated the various consulting initiatives to set up Wipro Consulting Services in 2008. The case deals with several questions facing the leadership team, such as the competencies to develop to move up the value chain in delivering consulting services and the extent to which WCS should rely on the parent firm (Wipro) for its next phase of growth. The case seeks to deal with the issues of new business creation and growth in large organizations. It invites students to explore the domain of technology consulting, the delivery model firms pursue in this industry, and the challenges a firm with corporate centre in an emerging market faces when it seeks to establish itself as a global player. In particular, it also aims to open up discussion on the advantages, disadvantages, and challenges a firm encounters when encouraging new business initiatives while retaining tight co-ordination when this initiative enters growth phase.
WHY ARE LAWYERS NICE OR NASTY? INSIGHTS FROM AGENT-BASED MODELING
Authors: MAYOR EUNATE , SARTOR GIOVANNI 
Published: September 2010

All substantive areas of law, with no exception, have a common concern for the processes by which legal disputes get resolved. Naturally, the success of any particular litigation strategy in a legal dispute depends on several factors, such as procedural costs, the judges' accuracy and, most importantly, the litigation strategy followed by the counterpart. Previous work within the legal scholarship has focused on the outcomes of the litigation process and their concordance with the merits of the claims presented by the parties. In contrast, in this paper, we adopt a dynamic view of the legal system as a whole. In order to do this, we propose an evolutionary point of view. That is, we assume that the most successful litigation strategies at a certain time are more likely to be followed in the future, so the prevalence of different strategies in the system will generally change over time. Importantly, this change in the frequency of litigation strategies in the legal system will, in turn, affect the relative success of each litigation strategy, thus creating a double feedback loop between prevalence and success of litigation strategies, which we aim to explore. Furthermore, we will compare the results drawn from our model with the ones proposed by the empirical literature on the topic. Thus, the main purpose of this paper is to offer a novel approach to study legal disputes, looking at the whole litigation system as a single entity that evolves through time. In particular, we focus on cases of medical liability, and use agent-based simulation to provide a dynamic view of how various factors affect the type of litigation strategies that are successful and prevail in a certain judicial context.
Isolation of Gold Nanoparticle/Oligo-DNA Conjugates by the Number of Oligo-DNAs Attached and Their Formation of Self-assembly
Authors: Tamaki Takuya , Miyoshi Nozomi , Uehara Takeaki , Ohya Yuichi 
Published: September 2010

Abstract
A simple and conventional method to isolate gold nanoparticle (GNP)/oligo-DNA conjugates having defined number of oligo-DNAs by gel electrophoresis was developed using extension oligo-DNAs. Formation of self-organized assemblies of GNPs in two different sizes using the conjugates having one or two complementary oligo-DNAs was demonstrated. This method to prepare GNP/oligo-DNA conjugates with controlled number of DNA strands should be useful to build up functional nanoarrays of GNPs on DNA scaffolds.
Transcribed Guanine-rich RNA Aggregates on Template DNA and Changes Its Conformation
Authors: Mizuta Ryushin 
Published: September 2010

Abstract
The direct visualization of transcribed RNA-dependent DNA structural change by atomic force microscopy revealed that guanine-rich RNA acts as a molecular switch for changing DNA conformation and the changed DNA structure is stably maintained, suggesting the possibility that DNA can memorize past transcription action in terms of shape.
Terpenoids and Coumarin from <i>Bursera serrata</i> Wall.
Authors: Ara Kulsum , Rahman Mohammad S , Rahman AHMM , Hasan Choudhury M , Rashid Mohammad A 
Published: September 2010

Two terpenoids, β-amyrin (1) and β-sitostenone (2) and a coumarin, scopoletin (3) were isolated from petroleum ether and dichloromethane soluble extracts of the stem bark of Bursera serrata Wall. The structures of the isolated compounds 1-3 were established by extensive spectroscopic studies as well as by comparison with published data. Although compounds 1-3 have been isolated from various plant species previously, this is the first report of the occurrence of these compounds from B. serrata. The crude extractives exhibited weak antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity. Key words: Bursera serrata; Burseraceae; β-amyrin; β-sitostenone; scopoletin; antimicrobial; cytotoxicity DOI: 10.3329/dujps.v8i2.6023 Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. 8(2): 107-110, 2009 (December)
HCV and HIV prevalences strongly correlated in Asian communities with reservoirs of HIV in high-risk groups
Authors: Brewer Devon D. , Khan Adnan A. 
Published: September 2010

Background: In some Asian communities, HIV epidemics initially concentrated in high-risk groups develop into generalized epidemics, while in others HIV epidemics remain confined to high-risk groups. We examined whether blood exposures in a community, as indicated by hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence, can account for the variability in HIV prevalence in Asia. Methodology: We searched the published literature for temporally comparable HCV and HIV prevalence estimates for pregnant women and other "low-risk" population segments in Asian communities with established HIV epidemics in injection drug users or prostitute women. We assessed the correlation between HCV and HIV prevalences in these communities. Results: HCV and HIV prevalences were strongly correlated (r = .97, p < .001). Conclusion: This finding suggests that blood-borne transmission drives generalized HIV epidemics in Asia and highlights the need for appropriately designed investigations of transmission modes.
Fostering Cross-Cultural Understanding Through E-Learning: Russian-American Forum Case-Study.
Authors: Talalakina Ekaterina V. 
Published: September 2010

Abstractâ?? The importance of cross-cultural understanding is accelerated nowadays by globalization and joint efforts of different countries in the face of global challenges. Countriesâ?? educational systems display attempts to incorporate cross-cultural studies in their curricula across all stages of formal learning. Many higher education institutions offer special courses aimed at promoting cross-cultural studies. One of the tools used to facilitate the process is e-learning. The present article examines the case study of an internet-based collaboration between two higher education institutions â?? State University Higher School of Economics in Russia and Champlain College in the USA â?? in fostering cross-cultural understanding.
The project is based on the study of individualistic and collectivistic values within the framework of two corresponding courses studied at both institutions. The topicality of the study is determined by the growing importance of the cooperation of two countries on the international affairs arena, on the one hand, and the fundamental differences of the countriesâ?? underlying value system, on the other. In particular, a post-soviet Russia is generally viewed as a developing democracy representing the collectivistic end of the value spectrum, whereas the USA is considered as an extreme case of individualistic value system.
The comparison and contrast of the two systems conducted simultaneously by the representatives of both cultures (students of the two universities) within a specifically built internet forum comprises the base of the project. The case study covers the projectâ??s objectives, its background, the rationale behind its content choice, the design of the e-learning tool, the profile of the participants of the project, its implementation stages and its outcome.
The major findings of the case study deal with the process of building cross-cultural awareness, reinforcing studentsâ?? analytical skills and providing them with a research incentive, fostering self-reflection, values projection from one culture onto the other, drawing the areas of their intersection, which, finally, result in cross-cultural understanding. The results of the study are assessed at quantative and qualitative levels.
On‐Demand Activatable and Integrated Bioorthogonal Nanocatalyst against Biofilm‐Associated Infections
Authors: Sun Yue , Zhao Huisi , Pu Fang , Liu Hao , Chen Li , Ren Jinsong , Qu Xiaogang 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBioorthogonal chemistry has emerged as a powerful tool for manipulating biological processes. However, difficulties in controlling the exact location and on‐demand catalytic synthesis limit its application in biological systems. Herein, this work constructs an activatable bioorthogonal system integrating a shielded catalyst and prodrug molecules to combat biofilm‐associated infections. The catalytic species is activated in response to the hyaluronidase (HAase) secreted by the bacteria and the acidic pH of the biofilm, which is accompanied by the release of prodrugs, to achieve the bioorthogonal catalytic synthesis of antibacterial molecules in situ. Moreover, the system can produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) to disperse bacterial biofilms, enabling the antibacterial molecules to penetrate the biofilm and eliminate the bacteria within it. This study promotes the design of efficient and safe bioorthogonal catalysts and the development of bioorthogonal chemistry‐mediated antibacterial strategies.
Deep Learning‐Assisted Design of Bilayer Nanowire Gratings for High‐Performance MWIR Polarizers
Authors: Lee Junghyun , Oh Junhyuk , Chi Hyung‐gun , Lee Minseok , Hwang Jehwan , Jeong Seungjin , Kang Sang‐Woo , Jee Haeseong , Bae Hagyoul , Hyun Jae‐Sang , Kim Jun Oh , Kim Bongjoong 
Published: May 2024

AbstractOptical metamaterials have revolutionized imaging capabilities by manipulating light‐matter interactions at the nanoscale beyond the diffraction limit. Bilayer nanowire grating configurations exhibit significant potential as exceptional elements for high‐performance polarimetric imaging systems. However, conventional computational approaches for predicting electromagnetic responses are time‐consuming and labor‐intensive, and thereby, the practical implementation remains challenging through an iterative design, analysis, and fabrication process. Here, a deep learning‐based design process is presented utilizing an artificial neural network (ANN) trained on finite element method (FEM) simulations that enables the prediction of bilayer nanowire gratings‐based electromagnetic responses. The study validates predictions through nanoimprinted bilayer nanowire gratings, demonstrating the reliability of the ANN's predictions. Furthermore, the research identifies critical geometric parameters significantly influencing transverse magnetic (TM) and transverse electric (TE) transmission. The ANN model effectively tailors design for specific mid‐wavelength infrared (MWIR) wavelengths, which may provide a practical tool for rapidly designing and optimizing metamaterial for high‐performance polarizers.
High‐Efficiency Fiber‐Chip Edge Coupler for Near‐Ultraviolet Integrated Photonics
Authors: Du Yuhan , Ji Xingchen , Xie Weiqiang , He Yu , Zhang Yong , Tian Meng , Su Yikai 
Published: May 2024

AbstractIntegrated photonics is demanded in applications operating at ultraviolet to visible wavelengths, such as atomic/quantum systems, on‐chip broadband receivers, and far‐field structured illumination autofluorescence microscopy. A fundamental challenge in these applications is efficient edge coupling from a single‐mode fiber (SMF) to on‐chip photonic components, which is critical for on‐chip integration. In this paper, a high‐efficiency edge coupler based on an alumina‐on‐insulator platform is introduced and experimentally validated. The coupler employs a symmetric double‐tip taper and a multimode interference (MMI)‐based optical combiner. The double‐tip taper effectively expands the mode field diameter at the chip facet to match that of the SMF at the initial stage. Then the MMI‐based combiner efficiently combines the two channels in the taper into a highly confined strip waveguide. A coupling loss of 2.85 dB/facet has been achieved for the transverse magnetic mode at the wavelength of 407 nm, which is the lowest insertion loss for fiber‐chip coupling on this platform to the best of the knowledge. The design can significantly reduce the insertion loss associated with fiber‐chip coupling, offering a key component for diverse areas ranging from atomic/quantum photonic integrated circuits and ultra‐high capacity communications to optical microscopes.