bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Spatiotemporal Evolution of Lymph Node Spread in Early Breast Cancer
Authors: Barry Peter , Vatsiou Alexandra , Spiteri Inmaculada , Nichol Daniel , Cresswell George D. , Acar Ahmet , Trahearn Nicholas , Hrebien Sarah , Garcia-Murillas Isaac , Chkhaidze Kate , Ermini Luca , Huntingford Ian Said , Cottom Hannah , Zabaglo Lila , Koelble Konrad , Khalique Saira , Rusby Jennifer E. , Muscara Francesca , Dowsett Mitch , Maley Carlo C. , Natrajan Rachael , Yuan Yinyin , Schiavon Gaia , Turner Nicholas , Sottoriva Andrea
Published: June 2018

Purpose: The most significant prognostic factor in early breast cancer is lymph node involvement. This stage between localized and systemic disease is key to understanding breast cancer progression; however, our knowledge of the evolution of lymph node malignant invasion remains limited, as most currently available data are derived from primary tumors.

Experimental Design: In 11 patients with treatment-naïve node-positive early breast cancer without clinical evidence of distant metastasis, we investigated lymph node evolution using spatial multiregion sequencing (n = 78 samples) of primary and lymph node deposits and genomic profiling of matched longitudinal circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA).

Results: Linear evolution from primary to lymph node was rare (1/11), whereas the majority of cases displayed either early divergence between primary and nodes (4/11) or no detectable divergence (6/11), where both primary and nodal cells belonged to a single recent expansion of a metastatic clone. Divergence of metastatic subclones was driven in part by APOBEC. Longitudinal ctDNA samples from 2 of 7 subjects with evaluable plasma taken perioperatively reflected the two major evolutionary patterns and demonstrate that private mutations can be detected even from early metastatic nodal deposits. Moreover, node removal resulted in disappearance of private lymph node mutations in ctDNA.

Conclusions: This study sheds new light on a crucial evolutionary step in the natural history of breast cancer, demonstrating early establishment of axillary lymph node metastasis in a substantial proportion of patients. Clin Cancer Res; 24(19); 4763–70. ©2018 AACR.
Pembrolizumab Exposure–Response Assessments Challenged by Association of Cancer Cachexia and Catabolic Clearance
Authors: Turner David C. , Kondic Anna G. , Anderson Keaven M. , Robinson Andrew G. , Garon Edward B. , Riess Jonathan Wesley , Jain Lokesh , Mayawala Kapil , Kang Jiannan , Ebbinghaus Scot W. , Sinha Vikram , de Alwis Dinesh P. , Stone Julie A.
Published: June 2018

Purpose:

To investigate the relationship of pembrolizumab pharmacokinetics (PK) and overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced melanoma and non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients and Methods:

PK dependencies in OS were evaluated across three pembrolizumab studies of either 200 mg or 2 to 10 mg/kg every 3 weeks (Q3W). Kaplan–Meier plots of OS, stratified by dose, exposure, and baseline clearance (CL0), were assessed per indication and study. A Cox proportional hazards model was implemented to explore imbalances of typical prognostic factors in high/low NSCLC CL0 subgroups.

Results:

A total of 1,453 subjects were included: 340 with pembrolizumab-treated melanoma, 804 with pembrolizumab-treated NSCLC, and 309 with docetaxel-treated NSCLC. OS was dose independent from 2 to 10 mg/kg for pembrolizumab-treated melanoma [HR = 0.98; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.94–1.02] and NSCLC (HR = 0.98; 95% CI, 0.95–1.01); however, a strong CL0–OS association was identified for both cancer types (unadjusted melanoma HR = 2.56; 95% CI, 1.72–3.80 and NSCLC HR = 2.64; 95% CI, 1.94–3.57). Decreased OS in subjects with higher pembrolizumab CL0 paralleled disease severity markers associated with end-stage cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome. Correction for baseline prognostic factors did not fully attenuate the CL0–OS association (multivariate-adjusted CL0 HR = 1.64; 95% CI, 1.06–2.52 for melanoma and HR = 1.88; 95% CI, 1.22–2.89 for NSCLC).

Conclusions:

These data support the lack of dose or exposure dependency in pembrolizumab OS for melanoma and NSCLC between 2 and 10 mg/kg. An association of pembrolizumab CL0 with OS potentially reflects catabolic activity as a marker of disease severity versus a direct PK-related impact of pembrolizumab on efficacy. Similar data from other trials suggest such patterns of exposure–response confounding may be a broader phenomenon generalizable to antineoplastic mAbs.

See related commentary by Coss et al., p. 5787
Intratumoral Delivery of an Adenoviral Vector Carrying the SOCS-1 Gene Enhances T-Cell–Mediated Antitumor Immunity By Suppressing PD-L1
Authors: Nakagawa Satoshi , Serada Satoshi , Kakubari Reisa , Hiramatsu Kosuke , Sugase Takahito , Matsuzaki Shinya , Matsuzaki Satoko , Ueda Yutaka , Yoshino Kiyoshi , Ohkawara Tomoharu , Fujimoto Minoru , Kishimoto Tadamitsu , Kimura Tadashi , Naka Tetsuji
Published: June 2018

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of gynecologic cancer-related deaths and novel therapeutic strategies are required. Programmed cell death 1 and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1), which are key mediators of host immune tolerance, are associated with ovarian cancer progression. Recent evidence indicates the importance of IFNγ-induced PD-L1 for immune tolerance in ovarian cancer. This study aimed to reveal the therapeutic potential of suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS-1), an endogenous inhibitor of the Janus kinase (JAK)–STAT signaling pathway, for the treatment of ovarian cancer. IHC assessment revealed that patients with ovarian cancer with high intratumoral STAT1 activation exhibited poor prognosis compared with patients with low STAT1 activation (P < 0.05). Stimulation of OVISE, OVTOKO, OV2944-HM-1 (HM-1), and CT26 cell lines with IFNγ induced STAT1 phosphorylation and PD-L1 expression. Adenovirus-mediated SOCS-1 gene delivery (AdSOCS-1) in HM-1 and CT26 cells in vitro potently inhibited IFNγ-induced STAT1 phosphorylation and PD-L1 upregulation, similar to the addition of JAK inhibitor I, but failed to inhibit their proliferation. Notably, intratumoral injection of AdSOCS-1, but not AdLacZ, significantly inhibited the tumor growth of HM-1 and CT26 cells subcutaneously transplanted in immunocompetent syngeneic mice. AdSOCS-1 reduced PD-L1 expression on tumors and restored the activation of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells. Moreover, the antitumor effect of AdSOCS-1 was significantly attenuated by PD-L1 Fc-fusion protein administration in vivo, suggesting that the effect of AdSOCS-1 is mainly attributable to enhancement of tumor immunity. This study highlights the potential clinical utility of SOCS-1 as an immune checkpoint inhibitor. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(9); 1941–50. ©2018 AACR.
STAT3 Cyclic Decoy Demonstrates Robust Antitumor Effects in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Njatcha Christian , Farooqui Mariya , Kornberg Adam , Johnson Daniel E. , Grandis Jennifer R. , Siegfried Jill M.
Published: June 2018

Constitutively activated STAT3 plays a critical role in non–small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) progression by mediating proliferation and survival. STAT3 activation in normal cells is transient, making it an attractive target for NSCLC therapy. The therapeutic potential of blocking STAT3 in NSCLC was assessed utilizing a decoy approach by ligating a double-stranded 15-mer oligonucleotide that corresponds to the STAT3 response element of STAT3-target genes, to produce a cyclic STAT3 decoy (CS3D). The decoy was evaluated using NSCLC cells containing either wild-type EGFR (201T) or mutant EGFR with an additional EGFRi resistance mutation (H1975). These cells are resistant to EGFR inhibitors and require an alternate therapeutic approach. CS3D activity was compared with an inactive cyclic control oligonucleotide (CS3M) that differs by a single base pair, rendering it unable to bind to STAT3 protein. Transfection of 0.3 μmol/L of CS3D caused a 50% inhibition in proliferation in 201T and H1975 cells, relative to CS3M, and a 2-fold increase in apoptotic cells. Toxicity was minimal in normal cells. CS3D treatment caused a significant reduction of mRNA and protein expression of the STAT3 target gene c-Myc and inhibited colony formation by 70%. The active decoy decreased the nuclear pool of STAT3 compared with the mutant. In a xenograft model, treatments with CS3D (5 mg/kg) caused a potent 96.5% and 81.7% reduction in tumor growth in 201T (P < 0.007) and H1975 models (P < 0.0001), respectively, and reduced c-Myc and p-STAT3 proteins. Targeting STAT3 with the cyclic decoy could be an effective therapeutic strategy for NSCLC. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(9); 1917–26. ©2018 AACR.
Standardized End Point Definitions for Coronary Intervention Trials: The Academic Research Consortium-2 Consensus Document
Authors: Garcia-Garcia Hector M. , McFadden Eugène P. , Farb Andrew , Mehran Roxana , Stone Gregg W. , Spertus John , Onuma Yoshinobu , Morel Marie-angèle , van Es Gerrit-Anne , Zuckerman Bram , Fearon William F. , Taggart David , Kappetein Arie-Pieter , Krucoff Mitchell W. , Vranckx Pascal , Windecker Stephan , Cutlip Donald , Serruys Patrick W.
Published: June 2018

The Academic Research Consortium (ARC)-2 initiative revisited the clinical and angiographic end point definitions in coronary device trials, proposed in 2007, to make them more suitable for use in clinical trials that include increasingly complex lesion and patient populations and incorporate novel devices such as bioresorbable vascular scaffolds. In addition, recommendations for the incorporation of patient-related outcomes in clinical trials are proposed. Academic Research Consortium-2 is a collaborative effort between academic research organizations in the United States and Europe, device manufacturers, and European, US, and Asian regulatory bodies. Several in-person meetings were held to discuss the changes that have occurred in the device landscape and in clinical trials and regulatory pathways in the last decade. The consensus-based end point definitions in this document are endorsed by the stakeholders of this document and strongly advocated for clinical trial purposes. This Academic Research Consortium-2 document provides further standardization of end point definitions for coronary device trials, incorporating advances in technology and knowledge. Their use will aid interpretation of trial outcomes and comparison among studies, thus facilitating the evaluation of the safety and effectiveness of these devices.
Prodromus of a fern flora for Bolivia. XXXV. Dryopteridaceae
Authors: KESSLER MICHAEL , MORAN ROBBIN C. , MICKEL JOHN T. , MATOS FERNANDO B. , SMITH ALAN R.
Published: June 2018

We provide a synopsis of the 207 species of Dryopteridaceae in 15 genera currently known from Bolivia. This is the secondmost species-rich fern family in the country and includes the most diverse genus (Elaphoglossum with 127 species). No fewer than 32 species of Dryopteridaceae are endemic to Bolivia. Elaphoglossum catenatum, a new species from the Bolivian Yungas, is here described and illustrated. We also provide a new combination for Acrostichum papyraceum in Elaphoglossum and designate a lectotype for Elaphoglossum ambiguum. Illustrations for all Bolivian taxa of Elaphoglossum are provided. Taxonomic problems remain in a number of genera, especially Elaphoglossum, Megalastrum, and Polystichum.
Pairs in copulation of the highly dimorphic genus Pristocera Klug (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) from Madagascar solve taxonomic problems of male-female associations
Authors: AZEVEDO CELSO O. , ALENCAR ISABEL D.C.C. , COLOMBO WESLEY D.
Published: June 2018

The main goal of this paper is to update the taxonomic information of the pairs of Pristocera Klug collected in Madagascar by A. Seyrig. Within this material twelve species are recognized, ten are new to science, all based on pairs collected in copulation, which are described and illustrated: P. melmani sp. nov., P. alexi sp. nov., P. martyi sp. nov., P. gloriae sp. nov., P. julieni sp. nov., P. morti sp. nov., P. mauricei sp. nov., P. makungai sp. nov., P. teetsii sp. nov. and P. zubai sp. nov.. Pristocera levicollis (Kieffer) had its female discovered, and P. cambouei Saussure stat. rev. had its lectotype designated. Sclerodermus hova Saussure is transferred back to Pristocera and considered as a junior synonym of P. cambouei. Keys for males and females to the species of Pristocera from Madagascar are provided. The Malagasy fauna of Pristocera is now represented by twelve species, all endemic to this island.
Separatatus Chen & Wu (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Alysiinae) newly recorded from Thailand, with description of one new species and one new combination
Authors: YAO JUNLI , VAN ACHTERBERG CORNELIS , SHARKEY MICHAEL J. , CHEN JIAHUA
Published: June 2018

Separatatus Chen & Wu, 1994, is reported for the first time from Thailand and one new species is described and illustrated: Separatatus xuexincheni n. sp. In addition, one species is newly recorded from Thailand (S. parallelus Zhu et al., 2017) and we transfer one species from Phasmidiasta to Separatatus: S. malaysiae (Fischer, 2006) n. comb. A key to species of the genus Separatatus is presented.
A new pea crab species of the genus Arcotheres Manning, 1993 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Pinnotheridae) from India
Authors: TRIVEDI JIGNESHKUMAR N. , CAMPOS ERNESTO , VACHHRAJANI KAURESH D.
Published: June 2018

A new species of pinnotherid crab, Arcotheres shahi n. sp., is described on the basis of specimens collected during a crustacean survey along the coastal areas of Pamban fishing harbor in the Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu state, east coast of India. The new species resembles A. pernicola (Bürger, 1895), A. winckworthi (Gordon, 1936) and A. rayi Ahyong & Ng, 2007, in having the dactyli of the longer fourth pereopod longer than that of fifth pereopod. Arcotheres shahi n. sp. differs from these three known species in the shape of female carapace, frontal region and chela, setal pattern on the dactyli of the fourth and fifth pereopods and relative length of the ambulatory pereiopods.
Redescription of Arcotheres placunae (Hornell & Southwell, 1909) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Pinnotheridae) from India and Pakistan
Authors: TRIVEDI JIGNESHKUMAR N. , VACHHRAJANI KAURESH D. , NG PETER K. L.
Published: June 2018

The identity of Arcotheres placunae (Hornell & Southwell, 1909) (Pinnotheridae), a pea crab associated with the window pane shell, Placuna placenta, has been confused as the types are lost and the original figures are inaccurate and do not match the description given of the species. In the present study, fresh specimens of the species were collected from the type locality (Gulf of Kachchh, Gujarat, India), and the species is here redescribed and refigured, and its affinities with similar species is discussed. To stabilize the taxonomy of A. placunae, a neotype is chosen from amongst the fresh material.
A new species of Pseudopaludicola Miranda-Ribeiro (Anura: Leptodactylidae: Leiuperinae) from eastern Brazil, with novel data on the advertisement call of Pseudopaludicola falcipes (Hensel)
Authors: DE ANDRADE FELIPE SILVA , HAGA ISABELLE AQUEMI , LYRA MARIANA LÚCIO , LEITE FELIPE SÁ FORTES , KWET AXEL , HADDAD CÉLIO FERNANDO BAPTISTA , TOLEDO LUÍS FELIPE , GIARETTA ARIOVALDO ANTONIO
Published: June 2018

The Neotropical genus Pseudopaludicola includes 21 species, which occur throughout South America. Recent studies suggested that the population of Andaraí, in the state of Bahia, is an undescribed species, related to P. pocoto. Herein we formally describe this new species from lowlands of eastern Brazil. Recognition of this new species is supported by adult morphology, advertisement call, karyotype, and molecular data. It is diagnosed mainly by its small size, terminal phalanges knobbed (lack any expansion of the digital tips), proportionally short hindlimbs, 11 pairs of chromosomes, and advertisement call composed of series of three-pulsed notes, emitted at a high rate. In addition, we report for the first time the presence of P. pocoto in the campo rupestre (rupestrian grasslands) of Chapada Diamantina, a population with a much darker dorsal coloration than the population from the type locality. We also redescribed the advertisement call of P. falcipes based on recordings from topotypic males.
A new status for Aclogryllus Gorochov, 2009 (Phalangopsidae; Phalangopsinae; Paragryllini) with a new species from Brazilian Amazon
Authors: DA SILVA LÚCIENE GIMAQUE , MARTINS LUCIANO DE PINHO , PEREIRA MARCELO RIBEIRO , HENRIQUES AUGUSTO LOUREIRO
Published: June 2018

Neste trabalho é proposto elevar o subgênero Aclogryllus para o status de gênero baseado em características da morfologia externa e genitália do macho. Também foi descrita uma nova espécie amazônica para Aclogryllus. Fotografias da espécie nominotípica e da nova espécie são apresentadas juntamente com a descrição das características morfológicas, diagnoses e fotografias da genitália masculina e da papila copulatória da fêmea.
A new species of the genus Raphidopus Stimpson, 1858 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Porcellanidae) from Peninsular Malaysia, with additional records of R. johnsoni Ng & Nakasone, 1994 from Southeast Asia, and a key to species in the genus
Authors: OSAWA MASAYUKI , NG PETER K. L.
Published: June 2018

A new species of the porcellanid genus Raphidopus Stimpson, 1858, is described on the basis of specimens from Penang and Kuala Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia. Raphidopus brevipes n. sp. is distinguished from its allied congeners, R. indicus Henderson, 1893 and R. johnsoni Ng & Nakasone, 1994, by the proportionally narrower carapace and stouter ambulatory legs, as well as the different dentition on the cutting edge of the dactylus of the larger cheliped. Raphidopus johnsoni, previously known only by the holotype from Singapore, is now also recorded from Phuket (Thailand) and Java (Indonesia). Raphidopus indicus and R. johnsoni are rediagnosed on the basis of the respective type material and other specimens. A key to species of the genus Raphidopus is provided.
The Future of the Global Weather Enterprise: Opportunities and Risks
Authors: Thorpe Alan , Rogers David
Published: June 2018

The Global Weather Enterprise (GWE) encompasses the scientific research, technology, observations, modeling, forecasting, and forecast products that need to come together to provide accurate and reliable weather information and services that save lives, protect infrastructure, and enhance economic output. It is a value chain from weather observations to, ultimately, the creation of actionable analysis-and-forecast weather information of huge benefit to society. The GWE is a supreme exemplar of the value of international cooperation, public–private engagement, and scientific and technological know-how. It has been a successful enterprise, but one that has ever-increasing requirements for continual improvement as population density increases and climate change takes place so that the impacts of weather hazards can be mitigated as far as possible. However, the GWE is undergoing a period of significant change arising, for example, from the growing need for more accurate and reliable weather information, advances coming from science and technology, and the expansion of private sector capabilities. These changes offer real opportunities for the GWE but also present a number of obstacles and risks that could, if not addressed, stifle this development, adversely impacting the societies it aims to serve. This essay aims to catalyze the GWE to address the issues collectively, by dialogue, engagement, and mutual understanding.
Geographical Distribution of Diurnal and Semidiurnal Parametric Subharmonic Instability in a Global Ocean Circulation Model
Authors: Ansong Joseph K. , Arbic Brian K. , Simmons Harper L. , Alford Matthew H. , Buijsman Maarten C. , Timko Patrick G. , Richman James G. , Shriver Jay F. , Wallcraft Alan J.
Published: June 2018

The evidence for, baroclinic energetics of, and geographic distribution of parametric subharmonic instability (PSI) arising from both diurnal and semidiurnal tides in a global ocean general circulation model is investigated using 1/12.5° and 1/25° simulations that are forced by both atmospheric analysis fields and the astronomical tidal potential. The paper examines whether PSI occurs in the model, and whether it accounts for a significant fraction of the tidal baroclinic energy loss. Using energy transfer calculations and bispectral analyses, evidence is found for PSI around the critical latitudes of the tides. The intensity of both diurnal and semidiurnal PSI in the simulations is greatest in the upper ocean, consistent with previous results from idealized simulations, and quickly drops off about 5° from the critical latitudes. The sign of energy transfer depends on location; the transfer is positive (from the tides to subharmonic waves) in some locations and negative in others. The net globally integrated energy transfer is positive in all simulations and is 0.5%–10% of the amount of energy required to close the baroclinic energy budget in the model. The net amount of energy transfer is about an order of magnitude larger in the 1/25° semidiurnal simulation than the 1/12.5° one, implying the dependence of the rate of energy transfer on model resolution.
Complex Refractive Index Dispersion of Strong Absorbing Material Determined Using Internal Reflectance Spectra Measurement
Authors: Deng Zhichao , Wang Jin , Hu Zhixiong , Mei Jianchun , Liu Shike , Huang Ningning , Zhou Wenyuan , Ye Qing , Tian Jianguo
Published: June 2018

Complex refractive index dispersion (CRID) of offset inks is an important spectral property that affects the quality of printing. Due to the strong absorption of offset inks, great difficulty exists when measuring their CRID. In this study, a recently proposed apparatus that can detect the internal reflectance spectra was used to measure the CRID of three strong absorbing offset inks (magenta, yellow, and cyan). Both anomalous dispersion curve and extinction coefficient curve were well determined over the spectral range of 400–750 nm. This study experimentally proves that the apparatus and related method are feasible for the CRID measurement of strong absorbing materials and could serve as a powerful measuring tool for optical parameters.
Meta-Analysis of Video Prompting to Teach Daily Living Skills to Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Aljehany Mashal Salman , Bennett Kyle D.
Published: June 2018

We conducted a meta-analysis of the single-case research design data on the effects of video prompting (VP) on the acquisition of daily living skills (DLS) among individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). An analysis of potential moderators was conducted, and these included VP implemented alone versus VP with additional response prompting or error correction procedures, the effects of VP across participants’ age range, and the effects of VP among participants with ASD versus those with ASD and intellectual disability. There were 54 participants across 17 studies meeting our inclusion criteria. The results from the included studies demonstrated a moderate effect size for VP on the acquisition of DLS among the targeted population. The analysis of potential moderators showed no significant differences. These results and implications for research and practice are discussed.
IgA nephropathy with leucocytoclastic vasculitis
Authors: Wei Lin-Yan , Liu Chao , Zhang Ya-Li , Li Guo-Liang
Published: June 2018

Leucocytoclastic vasculitis is a rare type of allergic disease caused by immune complexes. IgA nephropathy is a glomerulopathy characterized by recurrent episodes of gross haematuria or microscopic haematuria and IgA deposition in the glomerular mesangial region. IgA nephropathy complicating leucocytoclastic vasculitis is rare documented. We present a case of IgA nephropathy in a 47-year-old woman with leucocytoclastic vasculitis and discuss the clinical and pathological data, aiming to promote the diagnosis and treatment of this specific clinical manifestation.
Dirty hands: The toxic politics of denunciation
Authors: Fiske Amelia
Published: June 2018

In September 2013, President Correa balanced himself on a felled log over an oil waste pit in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Extending a bare hand dripping with crude, he launched La Mano Sucia de Chevron campaign, demanding accountability for decades of contamination. This article explores the role of bodily knowledge in witnessing industrial contamination and struggles for environmental justice. Situating the mano sucia in the history of activism in the region, I show how the juxtaposition of different hands within the same motif reveals profoundly asymmetric relationships to the toxic entanglements that oil produces. Dirtied hands reveal the co-production of toxicity and power in extractive landscapes: At times throughout this article, the gesture calls for corporate accountability and distributive environmental justice, at other times, it reveals the systemic production of material, social and political distance between the accrual of benefit and the production of harm in an industrial-capitalist order. While drawing on the central role of bodily knowledges in apprehending environmental harm, I argue that bodily knowledges must also be examined for their specific relationships to forms of power and exploitation, and for their potential for appropriation by other parties – even when dedicated to condemning environmental injustice.
Durable Concrete Overlays in Two Virginia Bridges
Authors: Ozyildirim H. Celik , Nair Harikrishnan
Published: June 2018

The purpose of this study was to implement innovative concretes with low permeability and reduced cracking potential in overlays to reduce chloride infiltration into the bridge decks. Two parallel bridges on Route 64 over Dunlap Creek in Alleghany County, Virginia, were selected for this study. For low cracking potential, relatively low water contents, shrinkage reducing admixtures, and lightweight aggregates were used. For low permeability, concretes had supplementary cementitious material and relatively low water–cementitious material ratios. In the overlays, five different materials were used: latex-modified concrete with rapid set cement; silica fume concrete alone; and silica fume concrete with shrinkage reducing admixture, lightweight coarse aggregate, and partial lightweight fine aggregate. A compressive strength of 3,000 psi at 3 days was sought. The performance of the overlay concretes was observed after two to three winters. The overlays used in this study achieved the specified strength and low permeability. There were minimal tight cracks except for one section with the latex-modified concrete with rapid set cement in the left lane of the westbound bridge. The extensive cracks in that section were attributed to plastic shrinkage from adverse weather conditions at placement and the fact that a truck had caught fire in that lane. Silica fume concrete overlays with shrinkage reducing admixture, lightweight coarse aggregate, or lightweight fine aggregate are ready for implementation in the field for low cracking overlays.
Profile Monitoring for Examining Impact of Hurricane Katrina and Rita on Highway Construction Cost
Authors: Baek Minsoo , Ashuri Baabak
Published: June 2018

Extensive destruction and damage to communities in the aftermath of large-scale disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes can cause substantial disorder in social and economic activity. The ensuing repercussions to social and economic systems lead to considerable uncertainty in continuing existing construction projects and implementing new reconstruction is problematic for accurately determining construction costs and making appropriate investment decisions. A large-scale disaster magnifies the importance of empirically examining variations in construction costs. Therefore, the overarching objective of this research is to analyze submitted unit price bids for superpave asphaltic concrete line items for highway projects let in the state of Louisiana after hurricanes Katrina and Rita. We employ two-way analysis of variance and a cumulative sum (CUSUM) control chart to monitor and detect changes in submitted unit price bids for hurricane- and non-hurricane-impacted areas. The results of the CUSUM control chart indicate that unit price bids for asphalt line items in the impacted areas significantly increased immediately after Hurricane Katrina and Rita hit the Gulf of Mexico, and those in the non-hurricane-impacted areas significantly increased six months after the hurricane. The findings of this research enable transportation agencies to more closely estimate the cost of rebuilding highway projects and make more-informed investment decisions for highway recovery programs in the aftermath of large-scale disasters.
Effect of structural hybridization on ballistic performance of aramid fabrics
Authors: Karahan Mehmet , Karahan Nevin , Nasir Muhammad Ali , Nawab Yasir
Published: June 2018

This article presents an investigation regarding the ballistic performance of hybrid panels formed by combining woven and unidirectional (UD) para-aramid fabrics. For this purpose, hybrid panels are formed by combining woven and UD para-aramid fabrics with different ply ratios. The hybrid panels formed in this way are subjected to ballistic tests according to National Institute of Justice (NIJ) standard. The results show that hybrid panels present 4.48% less trauma depth as compared to 100% woven fabric panels and 3% less trauma diameter as compared to 100% UD fabric panels. Furthermore, 13.9% less energy is transmitted to the back side of hybrid panels as compared to 100% UD fabric panels. The energy absorbed per unit weight in hybrid panels is 8.48% more as compared to 100% woven fabrics. Additionally, in wet conditions, less trauma depth of hybrid panels is observed as compared to both 100% woven and 100% K-Flex UD fabric panels. No significant difference is realized in trauma diameter between hybrid panels and 100% woven fabric panels in wet conditions. However, 3.25% less trauma diameter is noticed in hybrid panels as compared to 100% UD fabric panels.
The deglaciation of coastal areas of southeast Greenland
Authors: Dyke Laurence M , Hughes Anna LC , Andresen Camilla S , Murray Tavi , Hiemstra John F , Bjørk Anders A , Rodés Ángel
Published: June 2018

Large marine-terminating glaciers around the margins of the Greenland Ice Sheet have retreated, accelerated and thinned over the last two decades. Relatively little is known about the longer term behaviour of the Greenland Ice Sheet, yet this information is valuable for assessing the significance of modern changes. We address this by reporting 11 new beryllium-10 (10Be) exposure ages from previously uninvestigated coastal areas across southeast Greenland. The new ages are combined with existing data from the region to assess the timing of glacier retreat after the Last Glacial Maximum. The results show that deglaciation occurred first in the north of the region (~68°N) and progressed southwards. This north–south progression is attributed to the influence of the warm Irminger Current on the ice margin. Areas in the south of the region were isolated from the warm waters by the shallow bathymetry of the continental shelf. This demonstrates that oceanographic forcing paced the deglaciation of southeast Greenland through the Younger Dryas and early Holocene. In most areas of southeast Greenland bedrock ages are systematically older than their counterpart boulder samples; this offset is likely the result of inherited 10Be content in bedrock surfaces. This suggests that subglacial erosion during the last glacial cycle was insufficient to completely remove pre-existing 10Be content. Alternatively, this pattern may be the signature of a substantial retreat and advance cycle prior to final Holocene deglaciation.
An Examination of the Relationship Between Insomnia and Tinnitus: A Review and Recommendations
Authors: Asnis Gregory M , Majeed Kiran , Henderson Margaret A , Sylvester Clewert , Thomas Manju , La Garza Richard De
Published: June 2018

Tinnitus is a prevalent medical disorder which frequently becomes chronic and severe. Furthermore, quality of life can become compromised with many experiencing comorbid insomnia. We hypothesize that insomnia is a highly prevalent symptom and diagnostic category accompanying tinnitus. Our article reviews the tinnitus literature examining the prevalence of insomnia, the sleep disturbances found, and any methodological issues. Our literature search included a number of databases such as PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase. We found that 16 prior studies had sufficient data presented that allowed for an assessment of the prevalence rate of insomnia in tinnitus; the prevalence rate ranged from 10% to 80% (most rates were over 40%). The overwhelming majority of these studies inadequately defined insomnia as a diagnosis but described it only as a symptom. They focused predominantly on questionnaires (sent via the mail) asking only 1 to 4 questions on whether tinnitus disturbs sleep. Frequently, the only question asked was whether tinnitus disturbed a patient’s sleep without clarifying whether there were problems with daytime functioning. Thus, a valid insomnia diagnosis could not be established. Even in the few studies that asked the necessary information to establish a diagnosis of insomnia, only 1 study provided it. The presence of insomnia in tinnitus was associated with a more severe form of tinnitus. Alarmingly, insomnia was mainly untreated despite evidence supporting that successful treatment of insomnia might also help comorbid tinnitus. Because insomnia is significantly prevalent in tinnitus patients and appears to potentially further impact negatively on one’s quality of life, clinicians should address this possibility with a detailed clinical evaluation; incorporating self-rating questionnaires on sleep could be clinically helpful. If insomnia is present, therapy should be considered.
Social media activities in Finland: A population-level comparison
Authors: Ertiö Titiana , Kukkonen Iida , Räsänen Pekka
Published: June 2018

In the Web 2.0 era, consumers of media are no longer mere recipients of digital content, but rather active commentators and cocreators online. However, the Internet rule predicts that 90% of users are passive ‘lurkers’, 9% edit content, and 1% actually create content. This study investigates Finns’ social media activities that apply to content creation, as well as the level of content engagement and sharing. The data come from Statistics Finland and are representative of the Finnish population between the ages of 16 and 74. The results show that Finnish users perceive themselves predominantly as occasional commentators of social media posts. Dissecting the social media activities users engage in, commenting posts is the most popular activity. Gender, age, and education best explain the differences between the types of social media activities investigated. Overall, the study shows that Finns actively engage in different types of online activities as well as the pervasiveness of sociodemographic variables in Finland.
Arguing for a knowledge-base in language teacher education, then (1998) and now (2018)
Authors: Freeman Donald
Published: June 2018

This article examines how the concept of a knowledge-base in language teacher education has changed since the 1998 proposal. Arguing that a knowledge-base evolves in two ways: through changes in the field of knowledge, and through changes driven by the work that knowledge supports, I describe two problems: ‘translating’ theory into practice and the ‘positionality’ of those defining what counts as knowledge. The 1998 proposal outlined a work-driven framework in response to the former without fully acknowledging the latter: who is doing English language teaching, with whom, and to what ends. Revising the knowledge-base now depends on taking that positionality into account. With this in mind, I suggest three concepts – of teacher language use (English-for-Teaching), participation and agency, and professional confidence as a measure of outcome – as work-driven alternatives to our present thinking.
Informing and transforming language teacher education pedagogy
Authors: Johnson Karen E. , Golombek Paula R.
Published: June 2018

Given emerging trends in where, why, how, and to what end English language teachers are being prepared, we argue that greater attention to the design, enactment, and consequences of language teacher education (LTE) pedagogy is critical in order to meet the needs of current and future English language teachers in an increasingly diverse, mobile, unequal, and globalized world. Through our experiences and conviction as researchers and teacher educators, we position a Vygotskian sociocultural theoretical perspective as foundational to informing and transforming LTE pedagogy. In this essay, we offer eight interrelated propositions that we believe constitute LTE pedagogy as a central domain for the knowledge-base of LTE.
Doing criminological research: Affective states versus emotional reactions
Authors: Mercan Boran Ali
Published: June 2018

Criminology has not yet adequately distinguished ‘emotional expression’ from ‘unconscious affect’. As a result, there are deficits in its understanding of criminal motivation. This article introduces a psychosocial approach that reveals the unconscious affects that are hidden within offender discourses. To do so it draws on Freud’s psychoanalytical account of affects and thus allows for an understanding of the energies and fantasies that lurk behind them. Using examples from crime ethnographies and restorative justice conferences, the article demonstrates that this theoretical orientation and these methods allow the criminologist to engage with the inner-world of offenders more deeply. Doing so, for example, shows that emotional reactions of offenders, in fact, fantasmatically conceal the latent negativity of anxiety and the fear of violent humiliation. Through establishing ‘affect’ as a more distinct analytic within criminology, its theoretical and methodological tool-box is significantly enhanced.
Knowledge/recognition: Counting and the predicament of the permeable biopolitical state
Authors: Johansen Nicolay B.
Published: June 2018

This article draws a model for viewing border politics based on experiences in Norway. The starting point is that the authorities do not count irregular resident migrants and openly refuse to help this group. While this makes governing this group harder, this choice makes sense from the point of view of the problem of sovereignty. Border policies in general and the decision not to count is a solution to ‘the predicament of permeable nation states in an age of migration’. What is not openly admitted is a tolerance for administrative efforts that both channel assistance to irregular migrants and keep track of their numbers. There is a general denial of the predicament, but also a strong tendency to ‘adapt’. The article examines the situation in Norway, but there are reasons to believe that the predicament defines politics in the EU and elsewhere.
Curing and subsurface damage monitoring of epoxy-based composites
Authors: Fan Gaochen , Gupta Sumit , Loh Kenneth J
Published: June 2018

Multifunctional fiber-reinforced polymer composites that incorporate a suite of functionalities in addition to their load-carrying capability are receiving significant attention. One approach to realize multifunctional fiber-reinforced polymers is by infusing nanomaterials in the epoxy matrix to enhance their mechanical properties and to enable sensing functionality. However, fabrication of nanomaterial-enhanced epoxies remains challenging, since additives can hinder curing and affect their mechanical properties. Therefore, the objective of this study is to employ electrical capacitance tomography for monitoring curing and for quantifying subsurface damage in nanocomposite epoxies. The vision is that electrical capacitance tomography can be used as a portable, nondestructive evaluation tool for assessing composite curing during manufacturing or in the field (e.g. for repair patches). In short, electrical capacitance tomography uses a set of noncontact electrodes arranged to form a circle and interrogates a sensing area using different patterns of electric field excitations. Boundary capacitance measurements obtained simultaneously are used as inputs for solving the electrical capacitance tomography inverse problem to reconstruct the electrical permittivity distribution of the sensing area. The hypothesis is that the permittivity of nanocomposite epoxies would change during curing and due to damage. To test this hypothesis, this work focused on carbon nanotube–based epoxies, whose electrical properties are sensitive to strain. First, high-speed shear mixing and tip sonication were employed for dispersing carbon nanotubes in epoxy resin. Specimens were fabricated to confirm their strain-sensitive electromechanical properties. Second, electrical capacitance tomography was used to monitor nanocomposite epoxy curing, and the results confirmed the hypothesis that permittivity decreased with increasing curing time. Third, these results were then validated by directly measuring their electrical permittivity changes during curing and also using ultrasonic testing to estimate its elastic modulus at different curing times. Finally, nanocomposite epoxy specimens were damaged by drilling different-sized holes, and electrical capacitance tomography was able to identify the locations and sizes of the simulated damage.
A machine learning approach for the automatic long-term structural health monitoring
Authors: Demarie Giacomo Vincenzo , Sabia Donato
Published: June 2018

Measuring the response of a structure to the ambient and service loads is a source of information that can be used to estimate some important engineering parameters or, to a certain extent, to characterize the structural behavior as a whole. By repeating the data acquisition over a period of time, it is possible to check for variations in the structure’s response, which may be correlated to the appearance or growth of a damage (e.g. following some exceptional event as the earthquake, or as a consequence of materials and components aging). The complexity of some existing structures and their environment very often requires the execution of a monitoring plan in order to support analyses and decisions through the evidence of measured data. If the monitoring is implemented through a sensor network continuously acquiring over time, then the evolution of the structural behavior may be tracked continuously as well. Such approach has become a viable option for practical applications since the last decade, as a consequence of the progress in the data acquisition and storage systems. However, proper methods and algorithms are needed for managing the large amount of data and the extraction of valuable knowledge from it. This article presents a methodology aimed at making automatic the process of structural monitoring in case it is carried continuously over time. It relies on some existing methods from the machine learning and data mining fields, which are casted into a process targeted to delimit the need of the human being intervention to the training phase and the engineering judgment of the results. The methodology has been successfully applied to the real-world case of an ancient masonry bell tower, the Ghirlandina Tower (Modena, Italy), where a network made of 12 accelerometers and 3 thermocouples has been acquiring continuously since August 2012. The structural characterization is performed by identifying the first modes of vibration, whose evolution over time has been tracked.
Evaluating Cancer Patients’ Expectations and Barriers Toward Traditional Chinese Medicine Utilization in China: A Patient-Support Group–Based Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Sun Lingyun , Mao Jun J. , Vertosick Emily , Seluzicki Christina , Yang Yufei
Published: June 2018

Background: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is widely used among Chinese cancer patients. However, little is known about Chinese patients’ expectations and barriers toward using TCM for cancer. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey within a patient-support group, the Beijing Anti-Cancer Association. We measured the outcome, Chinese cancer survivors’ expectations and barriers toward TCM utilization, using a modified version of ABCAM (Attitudes and Beliefs towards Complementary and Alternative Medicine), the ABTCM (Attitudes and Beliefs towards Traditional Chinese Medicine). We used multivariate models to evaluate the impact of socioeconomic status and clinical factors on their expectations and barriers (including treatment concerns and logistical challenges domain) toward TCM. Results: Among 590 participants, most patients expected TCM to boost their immune system (96%), improve their physical health (96%), and reduce symptoms (94%). Many had logistical challenges (difficulty decocting herbs (58%) and finding a good TCM physician (55%)). A few were concerned that TCM might interfere with conventional treatments (7.6%), and that many TCM treatments are not based on scientific research (9.1%). In the multivariable regression model, age ≤60 years was independently associated with higher expectation score ( P = .031). Age ≤60 years (coefficient 5.0, P = .003) and localized disease (coefficient 9.5, P = .001) were both associated with higher treatment concerns. Active employment status (coefficient 9.0, P = .008) and localized disease (coefficient 7.5, P = .030) were related to more logistical challenges. Conclusion: Age and cancer stage were related to Chinese cancer patients’ perceived expectations and barriers toward TCM use. Understanding these attitudes is important for reshaping the role that TCM plays in China’s patient-centered comprehensive cancer care model.
Accurate vision-based displacement and vibration analysis of bridge structures by means of an image-assisted total station
Authors: Omidalizarandi Mohammad , Kargoll Boris , Paffenholz Jens-André , Neumann Ingo
Published: June 2018

Today, short- and long-term structural health monitoring of bridge infrastructures and their safe, reliable and cost-effective maintenance have received considerable attention. For this purpose, image-assisted total station (here, Leica Nova MS50 MultiStation) as a modern geodetic measurement system can be utilized for accurate displacement and vibration analysis. The Leica MS50 measurements comprise horizontal angles, vertical angles and distance measurements in addition to the captured images or video streams with practical sampling frequency of 10 Hz using an embedded on-axis telescope camera. Experiments were performed for two case studies under (1) a controlled laboratory environment and (2) a real-world situation observing a footbridge structure using a telescope camera of the Leica MS50. Furthermore, two highly accurate reference measurement systems, namely, a laser tracker Leica AT960-LR and a portable shaker vibration calibrator 9210D in addition to the known natural frequencies of the footbridge structure calculated from the finite element model analysis are used for validation. The feasibility of an optimal passive target pattern and its accurate as well as reliable detection at different epochs of time were investigated as a preliminary step. Subsequently, the vertical angular conversion factor of the telescope camera of the Leica MS50 was calibrated, which allows for an accurate conversion of the derived displacements from the pixel unit to the metric unit. A linear regression model in terms of a sum of sinusoids and an autoregressive model of the coloured measurement noise were employed and solved by means of a generalized expectation maximization algorithm to estimate amplitudes and frequencies with high accuracy. The results show the feasibility of the Leica MS50 for the accurate displacement and vibration analysis of the bridge structure for frequencies less than 5 Hz.