A new calibrated sunspot group series since 1749: statistics of active day fractions

Although the sunspot-number series have existed since the mid-19th century, they are still the subject of intense debate, with the largest uncertainty being related to the "calibration" of the visual acuity of individual observers in the past. Daisy-chain regression methods are applied to inter-calibrate the observers which may lead to significant bias and error accumulation. Here we present a novel method to calibrate the visual acuity of the key observers to the reference data set of Royal Greenwich Observatory sunspot groups for the period 1900-1976, using the statistics of the active-day fraction. For each observer we independently evaluate their observational thresholds [S_S] defined such that the observer is assumed to miss all of the groups with an area smaller than S_S and report all the groups larger than S_S. Next, using a Monte-Carlo method we construct, from the reference data set, a correction matrix for each observer. The correction matrices are significantly non-linear and cannot be approximated by a linear regression or proportionality. We emphasize that corrections based on a linear proportionality between annually averaged data lead to serious biases and distortions of the data. The correction matrices are applied to the original sunspot group records for each day, and finally the composite corrected series is produced for the period since 1748. The corrected series displays secular minima around 1800 (Dalton minimum) and 1900 (Gleissberg minimum), as well as the Modern grand maximum of activity in the second half of the 20th century. The uniqueness of the grand maximum is confirmed for the last 250 years. It is shown that the adoption of a linear relationship between the data of Wolf and Wolfer results in grossly inflated group numbers in the 18th and 19th centuries in some reconstructions.

Seasonal patterns of viral and bacterial infections among children hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia in a tropical region

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common cause of morbidity among children. Evidence on seasonality, especially on the frequency of viral and bacterial causative agents is scarce; such information may be useful in an era of changing climate conditions worldwide. To analyze the frequency of distinct infections, meteorological indicators and seasons in children hospitalized for CAP in Salvador, Brazil, nasopharyngeal aspirate and blood were collected from 184 patients aged < 5 y over a 21-month period. Fourteen microbes were investigated and 144 (78%) cases had the aetiology established. Significant differences were found in air temperature between spring and summer (p = 0.02) or winter (p < 0.001), summer and fall (p = 0.007) or winter (p < 0.001), fall and winter (p = 0.002), and on precipitation between spring and fall (p = 0.01). Correlations were found between: overall viral infections and relative humidity (p = 0.006; r = 0.6) or precipitation (p = 0.03; r = 0.5), parainfluenza and precipitation (p = 0.02; r = -0.5), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and air temperature (p = 0.048; r = -0.4) or precipitation (p = 0.045; r = 0.4), adenovirus and precipitation (p = 0.02; r = 0.5), pneumococcus and air temperature (p = 0.04; r = -0.4), and Chlamydia trachomatis and relative humidity (p = 0.02; r = -0.5). The frequency of parainfluenza infection was highest during spring (32.1%; p = 0.005) and that of RSV infection was highest in the fall (36.4%; p < 0.001). Correlations at regular strength were found between several microbes and meteorological indicators. Parainfluenza and RSV presented marked seasonal patterns.

Procalcitonin is useful in identifying bacteraemia among children with pneumonia

Empirical antibiotic use is prescribed in managing children with pneumonia worldwide. We assessed the usefulness of procalcitonin (PCT) and interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) in differentiating viral from bacterial pneumonia. Among 159 hospitalized children, pneumonia was diagnosed based on clinical complaints plus pulmonary infiltrate. Aetiology was investigated for 9 viruses and 4 atypical and 3 typical bacteria. PCT and IFN-alpha were measured in the serum sample collected on admission. Eight patients had bacteraemic infections, 38 had non-bacteraemic typical infections, and 19 patients had atypical bacterial infections. Viral and unknown aetiology was established in 57 (36%) and 34 (21%) cases, respectively. Three patients with bacterial infection without collected blood culture were excluded. IFN-alpha (IU/ml) was detectable in 20 (13%) cases. The difference among median PCT values of the bacteraemic (4.22; 1.56-7.56), non-bacteraemic typical bacterial (1.47; 0.24-4.07), atypical bacterial (0.18; 0.06-1.03) and only viral (0.65; 0.11-2.22) subgroups was significant (p = 0.02). PCT was >= 2 ng/ml in 52 (33%) cases. The presence of IFN-alpha was associated with PCT <2 ng/ml (90% vs. 64%, p = 0.02). The negative predictive value (95% confidence interval) of PCT >= 2 ng/ml was 95% (89-100%), 89% (78-100%), 93% (85-100%) for differentiation of bacteraemic from viral, atypical bacterial and non-bacteraemic typical bacterial infection, respectively, and 58% (49-68%) for differentiation between bacterial and viral infection. PCT may be useful in identifying bacteraemia among children hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia. IFN-alpha was uncommonly detected.

The role of respiratory viral infections among children hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia in a developing country

We report an investigation for 16 bacteria and viruses among 184 children hospitalized with pneumonia in Salvador, Brazil. Etiology was established in 144 (78%) cases. Viral, bacterial, and mixed infections were found in 110 (60%), 77 (42%), and 52 (28%) patients, respectively. Rhinovirus (21%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (21%) were the most common pathogens. Our results demonstrate the importance of viral and pneumococcal infections among those patients.

Kioskikirjallisuuden suomentamisen historiaa. Esimerkkitapauksena Ed McBainin The Pusher ja sen suomennokset

Tutkielmani käsittelee kioskikirjallisuuden suomennosten historiaa ja sitä, miten kioskikirjasarjoissa julkaistuja teoksia on suomennosvaiheessa lyhennetty. Suomessa on tehty vain vähän akateemista tutkimusta kioskikirjallisuudesta. Varsinkin siitä, miten ja millaisissa oloissa kioskikirjoja on suomennettu, on vain vähän tietoa. Tutkielman teoreettinen pohja on deskriptiivinen käännöstutkimus. Tutkin kioskikirjallisuutta aikakautensa ilmiönä ja pohdin sitä, miten aikakauden normit ja suomentajien asema ovat vaikuttaneet kioskikirjallisuuden suomennoksiin. Hyödynnän myös Gideon Touryn käännösnormeihin liittyvää tutkimusta. Pohdin tutkimuksessani lisäksi sitä, toteutuuko uudelleenkäännöshypoteesi tutkimissani suomennoksissa. Tutkielman empiirisessä osassa analysoin sitä, miten kioskikirjoja on lyhennetty ja mitä niihin on lisätty suomennosvaiheessa. Tutkimusmateriaalina on Ed McBainin teos The Pusher (1956) ja sen kaksi suomennosta, Vaasa Oy:n Ilves-sarjassa julkaistu Poikani on narkomaani? (1963, suom. Uolevi Maajärvi) ja Grammamies (1973, suom. Kalevi Nyytäjä). Sain tutkimuksessani selville, että Uolevi Maajärven suomennokseen tekemät poistot kohdistuivat pääasiassa seuraavanlaisiin tekstisegmentteihin: muistelu, kielellinen leikittely, epämiellyttäviksi koetut aiheet, toistoa sisältävät kappaleet, poliisitutkimuksen kuvaus ja henkilöhahmojen välisen vuorovaikutuksen kuvaus. Maajärvi oli myös lisännyt suomennokseensa kääntäjän huomautuksia. Maajärven suomennokseen tekemät poistot ja lisäykset eivät vaikeuttaneet kirjan pääjuonen seuraamista, mutta niiden kautta teoksesta katosi Ed McBainin kirjoitustyylille ominaisia aspekteja, kuten tarkat poliisitoiminnan kuvaukset. Maajärven suomennosta on todennäköisesti ensisijaisesti lyhennetty, jotta se sopisi pituudeltaan paremmin kustantajan kirjasarjaan. Suomennokseen tehdyissä poistoissa voidaan kuitenkin nähdä mm. suomentajan itsesensuuria. Kalevi Nyytäjän suomennos noudatti pääsääntöisesti alkuperäistekstiä. Käännösanalyysin perusteella suomennosten julkaisuajankohtien välisen vuosikymmenen aikana on tapahtunut selkeitä muutoksia, esimerkiksi tabu-aiheiden kääntämiseen liittyvissä normeissa. Käännösvertailun perusteella tutkimusmateriaalini tuki jossain määrin uudelleenkääntämishypoteesin olettamusta, jonka mukaan uudemmat käännökset ovat ensimmäisiä käännöksiä vieraannuttavampia.