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Aquagenic syringeal keratoderma (ASK), rare in males, is characterized by the rapid onset of edematous palmar wrinkling with small white papules after brief contact with water or sweat. A 24-year-old atopic male presented with a 2-week subacute history of bilateral palmar edema with whitish-colored papules after exposure to water, 3 months after having had COVID-19 infection treated with a full course of ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir (PAXLOVIDTM). He had received 3 COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer, New York, NY) about 12 months prior. Workup was negative. Initial spontaneous near-resolution 2 months after onset was temporary, with recurrence 1 month later. Treatment with 12% topical aluminum chloride was ineffective. Botulinum toxin injection to both palms led to resolution of symptoms that has been sustained for 7 months. The association between atopy and ASK remains weak. We present a case of new-onset ASK in an adult male 3 months following COVID-19 infection without a history of excessive handwashing. Our patient may have had a predisposition to recurrent ASK due to his history of atopy including atopic dermatitis and food allergy anaphylaxis combined with prior COVID-19 infection. It is possible that ASK is a novel manifestation of post-acute sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (PASC) infection or long COVID. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the data on the psychometric properties of the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Materials and methods: Medline, Embase, PsychINFO, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched in April 2023. The random effects meta-analysis was conducted when possible. Results: Of 492 identified records, 79 were included. 70 studies were considered to be of low risk of systematic bias. Alpha was >0.81. Pooled test-retest intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.91 (95% CI 0.90–0.93). The NDI correlations with pain rating scales varied from 0.38 to 0.89. 13 studies found the NDI to be unidimensional and 15 – two- or three-dimensional. The minimal detectable change varied from 3% to 27% and minimal clinically important difference from 5% to 33%. Pooled area under the curve was 0.74 (95% CI 0.68–0.80). Most studies have not detected floor or ceiling effect. Sex-related differential item functioning has been present in one study. Conclusions: The NDI demonstrated good internal consistency and test-retest reliability without floor or ceiling effect. In most situations, the NDI could be considered a unidimensional scale. The NDI well correlated with the common scales of pain and disability. The minimal clinically important difference and minimal detectable change were around 15% (7.5/50 points). IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: Based on the 79 observational studies of mostly low risk of systematic bias, the Neck Disability Index demonstrated overall good psychometric properties The Neck Disability Index is a reliable scale to assess the severity of disability caused by neck pain of different musculoskeletal aetiology [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing frequency of general and particularly male cancer coupled with the reduction in male fertility seen worldwide motivated us to seek a potential evolutionary link between these two phenomena, concerning the reproductive transcriptional modules observed in cancer and the expression of cancer-testis antigens (CTA). The phylostratigraphy analysis of the human genome allowed us to link the early evolutionary origin of cancer via the reproductive life cycles of the unicellulars and early multicellulars, potentially driving soma-germ transition, female meiosis, and the parthenogenesis of polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs), with the expansion of the CTA multi-families, very late during their evolution. CTA adaptation was aided by retrovirus domestication in the unstable genomes of mammals, for protecting male fertility in stress conditions, particularly that of humans, as compensation for the energy consumption of a large complex brain which also exploited retrotransposition. We found that the early and late evolutionary branches of human cancer are united by the immunity-proto-placental network, which evolved in the Cambrian and shares stress regulators with the finely-tuned sex determination system. We further propose that social stress and endocrine disruption caused by environmental pollution with organic materials, which alter sex determination in male foetuses and further spermatogenesis in adults, bias the development of PGCC-parthenogenetic cancer by default. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since Latvia restored her independence 30 years ago, numerous studies of Latvia's inter-ethnic relations have been published, each with specific analytical and periodic frames. This article covers demographic data and naturalization issues, language and educational policies, political representation, the attitudes and perceptions of population subgroups, and last, but not least, the influence of Russia. The latter has become especially important following Russia's exploitation of minority issues in Ukraine since 2014. More than ever, ethnopolitics in the post-Soviet region cannot be analyzed without assessing international contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the framework of the inter-disciplinary KongoKing project, a set of beads from archaeological excavations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was analysed by means of a minimally invasive, multi-analytical approach based on micro-Raman spectroscopy. The full characterization of the materials, including glassy network, opacifiers and colorizers, was achieved thanks to the combination of data from handheld X-ray fluorescence, variable pressure scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and pyrolysis coupled to gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The obtained chemical information was used to fill the existing gap in the chemical study of beads from Western Central Africa. The cobalt-rich blue beads were found to be of Central European origin, while the copper-rich turquoise beads were manufactured using distinct copper sources. Cadmium yellow and cadmium red are the colourants responsible for the bright colours of bead types 10 and 12, respectively. The type 12 beads were found to be composed of glass covered with a waxy layer tentatively identified as Japan wax. Prosser-moulded bead type 9 was coloured by means of a chrome-tin pigment, while a combination of Mn and Fe is responsible for the black colour of the type 47 beads. Cuprite is most likely responsible for the red hue of glass layers from type 14. The dark palm green exterior of the type 17 bead was produced by using a combination of Cu and Fe compounds; iron was the only chromophore detected in the Indian red decoration. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using biomass of various crops for bioenergy production is a common practice all over the world. Grasses, including reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.), as bioenergy crops have many advantages. Therefore it is important to look for the most effective technology to produce high biomass grass yields taking into consideration the quality parameters important for this purpose, and at the same time providing sustainable plant nutrient recycling schemes. The use of fermentation residue (FR) from biogas plants as fertiliser could be environmentally and economically cost-effective, as this by-product contain considerable amount of plant nutrients. However, there is little research on the efficiency of FR use for grassland. In our experiments we evaluated the effect of FR used at different rates (from N0 to N150 kg ha-1) and different treatment techniques (once/ twice/ or three times per season) on the productivity of RCG under two-cut and single-cut harvest regime. The data of three ley years (2012-2015) show that annual dry matter yields ranged from: 3.93-11.44 t ha-1 in two-cut and 5.89-13.94 t ha-1 in single-cut regime. The highest dry matter yield was obtained using FR at: 60 kg ha-1 N using the entire amount in a single application at the beginning of the season; 120 and 150 kg ha-1 N split for three applications. The chemical composition of reed canary grass biomass was mostly influenced by harvest regime: late harvest at single-cut regime ensured more appropriate sward quality for bioenergy production with a higher carbon and lower ash, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Like other global initiatives, the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have had mixed results. One reason global efforts fall short is they ignore decentralization. This paper examines the challenges of implementing global initiatives, using Family Planning 2020 (FP2020) as a case study. FP2020's goal is enabling 120 million more women and girls to use modern contraceptives by 2020. Thirty-six developing countries have made FP2020 commitments, but these countries have thousands of governing entities that will determine the priority family planning programs receive. Advance Family Planning (AFP) works with local partners to influence family planning decisions. We examine AFP's experience in Indonesia, Kenya and Senegal to describe and analyze the incongruity between FP2020's objectives and those of subnational decision makers and what must happen for local goals to reflect global goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Northeast Historical Archaeology is the property of Council for Northeast Historical Archaeology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Tall growing perennial grasses such as Phalaris arundinacea and Festulolium can be used as an alternative source for bioenergy production in northern latitudes as they can be grown in less cultivated areas and can be potentially used as a dual purpose crop (bioenergy and forage). The aim of studies was to investigate the effectiveness of using bioenergy waste products -- fermentation residues (digestate) and wood ash as fertilisers for perennial grasses. The field experiment was conducted in the central part of Latvia (56°42' N and 25°08' E) from 2013 to 2015. For all fertiliser treatments (wood ash, digestate once per season; digestate twice per season and mineral fertilisers) the same amount of plant nutrients (N, P, K) was applied annually: N (100), P2O5 (80), K2O (160); and the missing quantities of elements in ash and digestate were compensated by mineral fertilisers. Dry matter yield (DMY) in two harvest regimes (single cut and two cut) and chemical composition (ash content; total C and N) of grass biomass partitioning among tillers, leaves and panicles were estimated. Biomass yield in the three years of use varied considerably depending on the fertiliser, harvest regime and species, ranging up to 10.0 Mg ha-1 for RCG and 7.73 Mg ha-1 for festulolium. All fertilisers provided a significant increase of DMY, however, better results for both species were obtained using wood ash and mineral fertilisers. The harvest regime and species affected directly the quality of biomass, single cut of RCG contained significantly less ash and more carbon. There were significant differences between sward fractions -- culms in comparison with leaves contained less ash and nitrogen, and more carbon, what are desirable features for solid fuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ngongo Mbata, the main and most affluent center of the Kongo kingdom's Mbata province in the seventeenth century, is well known from the historical sources, but virtually unexplored in archaeological publications. Ngongo Mbata is unique in that it hosted a monumental stone building about which the historical record remains silent. This makes it particularly challenging from the point of view of historical archaeology. In this paper historical data, unpublished excavation results from the 1930s and our own fieldwork undertaken in 2012-13 are brought together, to tell a new story of early African-European contacts in the interior of West Central Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of African Archaeological Review is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Zemdirbyste-Agriculture is the property of Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture & Forestry and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

There are considerable differences between the EU-15 countries and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries in the application rate of phosphorus (P) fertilizer and manure as well as in the climate and erosion patterns, but the eutrophication of surface waters is a common problem. The availability of information on the contribution of the CEE countries to European surveys on eutrophication is not adequate, because the amount of data available from these countries is small. There is thus a need to compile more comprehensive data sets for better assessment. Recent changes in agricultural practices, and their impact on the trophic status of surface waters in CEE countries, have been evaluated using a few selected pressure and state indicators (phosphorus balance, phosphorus status and erosion of agricultural land, P loss risk index, chlorophyll a, total and orthophosphate content of water) by compiling and analysing data from the literature. In the CEE countries, small annual P balances (−7 to +6 kg P ha−1) and declining levels of soil available P (proportion of soils adequately supplied with P dropped to between 10 and 50% of total area) may lead to low yields and economic difficulties. Only 11% of the variation in total phosphorus (TP) in rivers studied could be attributed to the calculated P loss risk index, and thus to the impact of differences in the agricultural diffuse source P load. The generation of more consistent data sets should be pursued for the whole of Europe in order to derive more powerful indicators. A refined P index could be one of the best indicators of eutrophication. Recent changes in the trophic level of surface waters could be attributed to a large extent to the change in point source P loads, i.e. to the diminishing amount of P load from municipal and industrial wastewater. The short-term improvement of water quality in the CEE countries will require further improvements in wastewater treatment, but long-term improvement will only be achieved by reducing diffuse P losses from agriculture, possibly involving changes in the land use pattern and in farming practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses issues concerning political corruption in Eastern Europe. Difference between grand theft and petty graft; Contribution of legacies of communism to political corruption; Advantage of Eastern Europe's transition to private ownership and a market system; Law enforcement's rejection of allegations about high levels of corruption.

Investigates post-communist corruption in Russia. Impact of corruption on the country's political system; Forms of corruption in the country; Proto-typical structures and processes involved in the post-communist corruption that pervaded the country.

Seventeenth-century opaque red (redwood) glass trade beads of different shapes and sizes were made of mixed alkali (mainly soda)–lime glasses and were coloured with Cu, presumably as cuprous oxide or as finely dispersed elemental Cu. During the early 17th century, beads of all shapes were opacified with Sn; cored beads, with uncoloured cores and hence lower Cu levels, also tended to have slightly lower Sn contents than uncored beads. By the mid-17th century, cored tubular beads were being opacified with a combination of Sn and Sb, a technological change similar to that observed in white glass trade beads, while uncored redwood beads appear not to have been opacified with either Sn or Sb. Bead chemistries are sufficiently different to allow them to be sorted into subgroups, which may then be tracked in various archaeological sites and regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the misunderstanding on the political role of ethnic and national identity in the Soviet Union. Reasons for its misunderstanding; Results of studies on the confrontation between nationalism and communism during the formation of the Soviet Union.

Outlines a democratic and constructive model of ethnopolitics used in Europe. Alternative for ethnic conflict or neglect; Comparison of national identity between minorities and majorities; Importance of language policy; Types of nationhood.

Chemical analyses were made of royal blue glass trade beads from two early 17th century, archaeological sites in southern Ontario, Canada and from a glass beadmaking house in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The results confirm that these beads were all mixed alkali — lime — silica glasses, coloured with Co and with opaque varients opacified with Sn. The groupings by chemistry tend to segregate by bead shapes, so that oval beads group together and circular shaped beads group together. Although the 2 Canadian sites are about 190 km apart, they produced 2 different sets of oval beads of similar chemistry, possibly helping confirm the contemporaneity of the people at both sites. An As/Co atomic ratio of about two may fit with the possible source of Co as a cobalt-arsenide ore (of common name smaltite) from the Hartz Mountains of eastern Germany, a source not far from either Amsterdam or Venice, both well known glass beadmaking centres of the period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been shown that several modifications occurred, over the span of the 17th to 19th centuries, in the agents used to opacify European-made white soda-glass beads that were transmitted as trade goods to northeastern North America. Tin was used at the beginning of the 17th century, followed by Sb later in the century, and then by As during the 18th and 19th centuries. In an attempt to define more closely the transition from Sn-rich to Sb-rich white beads, we analyzed 198 white glass beads from a number of archaeological sites in western New York State. Chemical analysis shows that the arrival of Sb-white soda-glass trade beads began in this region during the period from approximately A.D. 1625–1640, and that they had completely replaced Sn-white beads by A.D. 1675. Specific bead chemistries link a number of the archaeological sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the impact of perestroika on ethnopolitics under the administration of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. It describes the distinct effects of perestroika on non-Russian regions, such as Kazakhstan and Ukraine which suffered terror and famine brought about by collectivization. It discusses the contradictions of perestroika in which Gorbachev will have to choose between democratization and reliance on centralization. The article also explores several nationality issues which are of special concern to the minority peoples.

A program of evaluation and research has been developed and initiated in a large Hospital Based Home Care Program which principally serves chronically-ill, elderly veterans. Program evaluation is based on data from an automated home care information system developed for this purpose. The information system is based on the Long-Term Health Care Minimum Data Set, a nationally-recommended data set which describes patient demographics and physical and mental health status, and health services provided. Home care and related costs per visit and per patient day have been identified. A proposed, experimental research protocol identifies health status outcomes and health care costs of home care and alternative modes of long-term health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A program of evaluation and research has been developed and initiated in a large Hospital Based Home Care Program which principally serves chronically-ill, elderly veterans. Program evaluation is based on data from an automated home care information system developed for this purpose. The information system is based on the Long-Term Health Care Minimum Data Set, a nationally-recommended data set which describes patient demographics and physical and mental health status, and health services provided. Home care and related costs per visit and per patient day have been identified. A proposed, experimental research protocol identifies health status outcomes and health care costs of home care and alternative modes of long-term health care. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Attempts to explain the events from 1985 to 1991 which led to the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Synthesis of paradigms of political change; Paradox of democratization from the leaders; Worldwide transition to democracy; Effect of Glasnost; Dependence of non-democratic countries on repression; Consequences of regime coherence in totalitarian systems; Moving of the analytical focus from regime to individual.

Twenty years ago most Western and Soviet analysts agreed that ethnicity was of only marginal significance in the Soviet Union. Since then this position has been challenged in the West, and has been slowly eroded in the Soviet Union by empirical ethno-sociological research. This shift is partly due to a growing recognition that the tenacity of ethnicity has been seriously underestimated worldwide, but political events and social processes in the Soviet Union were at the core of this change. One of the big surprises of the late 1960's and early 1970's was the emergence of Soviet Jews as a distinct community voicing ethno-political demands, especially for the right to free emigration. Studies of ethnicity have shown that awareness of it frequently arises in the course of contact with other ethnic groups who assign names to new groups they meet. Thus ethnic identification depends not only on objective traits and subjective feelings of self, but also on the degree to which the environment pays attention to it and calls it by name. According to the author, his analysis of the changing nature of Soviet Jewish identity illustrates the fluidity of the phenomenon and that no single criterion can be taken as decisive.

Examines the issue of ethnic identity and conflict resolution models in Latvia. Multiple identities; Ethnopolitics.

Analyzes mass protest in the nonreformist part of Eastern Europe in 1989. Protest as an assurance game; General dynamics of the demonstration process; `Deassurance' and regime groups; Calculations of the individual protester in the early stages of the demonstration process and the failure of regime repression; Summary of East European mass protest process.

This analysis of voters and nonvoters in a large sample of recent emigrants from the Soviet Union shows that nonvoting is correlated with high interest in politics, a critical political outlook, and dissident modes of behavior. Thus, voter abstention in noncom petitive balloting can be hypothesized to constitute a significant political act rather than passivity. Single-party states use single-candidate elections for a variety of purposes, one of these being the psychological reinforcement of unity between regime and subjects. In this context, the only choice left to the dissenting citizen is not to vote at all. In the contemporary Soviet Union, nonvoting is regionally focused on Moscow and Leningrad, and is associated with post-Stalinist generational change. The covert nature of vote evasion and its informal tolerance provide a new perspective on the character of the Soviet system and its political culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]