bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How Far Can We Go with Laparoscopic Liver Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma? Laparoscopic Sectionectomy of the Liver Combined with the Resection of the Major Hepatic Vein Main Trunk
Authors: Morise Zenichi , Kawabe Norihiko , Tomishige Hirokazu , Nagata Hidetoshi , Kawase Jin , Arakawa Satoshi , Isetani Masashi
Published: August 2015

Although the reports of laparoscopic major liver resection are increasing, hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) close to the liver hilum and/or major hepatic veins are still considered contraindications. There is virtually no report of laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) for HCC which involves the main trunk of major hepatic veins. We present our method for the procedure. We experienced 6 cases: 3 right anterior, 2 left medial, and 1 right posterior extended sectionectomies with major hepatic vein resection; tumor sizes are within 40–75 (median: 60) mm. The operating time, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative hospital stay are within 341–603 (median: 434) min, 100–750 (300) ml, and 8–44 (18) days. There was no mortality and 1 patient developed postoperative pleural effusion. For these procedures, we propose that the steps listed below are useful, taking advantages of the laparoscopy-specific view. (1) The Glissonian pedicle of the section is encircled and clamped. (2) Liver transection on the ischemic line is performed in the caudal to cranial direction. (3) During transection, the clamped Glissonian pedicle and the peripheral part of hepatic vein are divided. (4) The root of hepatic vein is divided in the good view from caudal and dorsal direction.
An Algorithm Using Administrative Data to Identify Patient Attachment to a Family Physician
Authors: Provost Sylvie , Pérez José , Pineault Raynald , Borgès Da Silva Roxane , Tousignant Pierre
Published: August 2015

Background.Commonly self-reported questions in population health surveys, such as “do you have a family physician?”, represent one of the best-known sources of information about patients’ attachment to family physicians. Is it possible to find a proxy for this information in administrative data?Objective.To identify the type of patient attachment to a family physician using administrative data.Methods.Using physician fee-for-service database and patients enrolment registries (Quebec, Canada, 2008–2010), we developed a step-by-step algorithm including three dimensions of the physician-patient relationship: patient enrolment with a physician, complete annual medical examinations (CME), and concentration of visits to a physician.Results.68.1% of users were attached to a family physician; for 34.4% of them, attachment was defined by enrolment with a physician, for 31.5%, by CME without enrolment, and, for 34.1%, by concentration of visits to a physician without enrolment or CME. Eight types of patient attachment were described.Conclusion.When compared to findings with survey data, our measure comes out as a solid conceptual framework to identify patient attachment to a family physician in administrative databases. This measure could be of great value for physician/patient-based cohort development and impact assessment of different types of patient attachment on health services utilization.
Preterm Birth: A Prominent Risk Factor for Low Apgar Scores
Authors: Svenvik Maria , Brudin Lars , Blomberg Marie
Published: August 2015

Objective.To determine predictive risk factors for Apgar scores < 7 at 5 minutes at two hospitals providing tertiary care and secondary care, respectively.Methods.A retrospective registry cohort study of 21126 births (2006–2010) using data from digital medical records. Risk factors were analyzed by logistic regression analyses.Results.  AS5min⁡<7was multivariately associated with the following: preterm birth; gestational week 32 + 0–36 + 6,OR=3.9(95% CI 2.9–5.3); week 28 + 0–31 + 6,OR=8(5–12); week < 28 + 0,OR=15(8–29); postterm birth,OR=2.0(1.7–2.3); multiple pregnancy,OR=3.53(1.79–6.96); previous cesarean section,OR=3.67(2.31–5.81); BMI 25–29,OR=1.30(1.09–1.55);BMI≥30  OR=1.70(1.20–2.41); nonnormal CTG at admission,OR=1.98(1.48–2.66). ≥1-para was associated with a decreased risk forAS5min⁡<7,OR=0.34(0.25–0.47). In the univariate logistic regression analysisAS5min⁡<7was associated with tertiary level care,OR=1.48(1.17–1.87); however, in the multivariate analysis there was no significant difference.Conclusion.A number of partially preventable risk factors were identified, preterm birth being the most evident. Further, no significant difference between the two hospital levels regarding the risk for low Apgar scores was detected.
PGE2 Elevates IL‐23 Production in Human Dendritic Cells via a cAMP Dependent Pathway
Authors: Shi Quanxing , Yin Zhao , Zhao Bei , Sun Fei , Yu Haisheng , Yin Xiangyun , Zhang Liguo , Wang Shouli
Published: August 2015

PGE2 elevates IL‐23 production in mouse dendritic cells while inhibits IL‐23 production in isolated human monocytes. Whether this differential effect of PGE2 on IL‐23 production is cell‐type‐ or species‐specific has not been investigated in detail. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of PGE2 on IL‐23 production in human DCs and the possible underlying mechanisms. Human monocytes derived dendritic cells (Mo‐DCs) were pretreated with or without PGE2. Then the cells were incubated with zymosan. Our results demonstrated that PGE2 promoted zymosan‐induced IL‐23 production in a concentration dependent manner. In addition, it was found that PGE2 is also able to elevate MyD88‐mediated IL‐23 p19 promoter activity. More importantly, ELISA data demonstrated that db‐cAMP, a cAMP analog, and forskolin, an adenylate cyclase activator, can mimic the effect of PGE2 on zymosan‐induced IL‐23 production, and rp‐cAMP, a protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, can block the effect of PGE2. Moreover, PGE2 can increase zymosan‐induced expression of the mRNA levels of both p19 and p40 subunits, which was mimicked by db‐cAMP and forskolin. Our data suggest that PGE2 elevates the production of IL‐23 in human Mo‐DCs via a cAMP dependent pathway.
Seribantumab, an Anti-ERBB3 Antibody, Delays the Onset of Resistance and Restores Sensitivity to Letrozole in an Estrogen Receptor–Positive Breast Cancer Model
Authors: Curley Michael D. , Sabnis Gauri J. , Wille Lucia , Adiwijaya Bambang S. , Garcia Gabriela , Moyo Victor , Kazi Armina A. , Brodie Angela , MacBeath Gavin
Published: August 2015

Heregulin-driven ERBB3 signaling has been implicated as a mechanism of resistance to cytotoxic and antiendocrine therapies in preclinical breast cancer models. In this study, we evaluated the effects of seribantumab (MM-121), a heregulin-blocking anti-ERBB3 monoclonal antibody, alone and in combination with the aromatase inhibitor letrozole, on cell signaling and tumor growth in a preclinical model of postmenopausal estrogen receptor–positive (ER+) breast cancer. In vitro, heregulin treatment induced estrogen receptor phosphorylation in MCF-7Ca cells, and long-term letrozole-treated (LTLT-Ca) cells had increased expression and activation levels of EGFR, HER2, and ERBB3. Treatment with seribantumab, but not letrozole, inhibited basal and heregulin-mediated ERBB receptor phosphorylation and downstream effector activation in letrozole-sensitive (MCF-7Ca) and -refractory (LTLT-Ca) cells. Notably, in MCF-7Ca–derived xenograft tumors, cotreatment with seribantumab and letrozole had increased antitumor activity compared with letrozole alone, which was accompanied by downregulated PI3K/MTOR signaling both prior to and after the development of resistance to letrozole. Moreover, the addition of an MTOR inhibitor to this treatment regimen did not improve antitumor activity and was not well tolerated. Our results demonstrate that heregulin-driven ERBB3 signaling mediates resistance to letrozole in a preclinical model of ER+ breast cancer, suggesting that heregulin-expressing ER+ breast cancer patients may benefit from the addition of seribantumab to antiendocrine therapy. Mol Cancer Ther; 14(11); 2642–52. ©2015 AACR.
Evaluation of Fluorescence Imaging with Reflectance Enhancement (FIRE) for Quantifying Enamel Demineralization In vitro
Authors: Xiao Qiang , Tu Rui , He Tao , Yin Wei , Li Xue , Hu Deyu , Zhang Ximu
Published: August 2015

Objectives: To assess the ability of fluorescence imaging with reflectance enhancement (FIRE) to quantify early enamel demineralization in vitro. Methods: A total of 30 bovine enamel specimens were immersed in demineralizing solution to produce artificial caries. Specimens were examined by FIRE, quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF), and polarized light microscopy (PLM) at baseline and after 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 24, 48 and 72 h of immersion. Fluorescence loss measured by FIRE and QLF was compared with lesion depth measurements by PLM. Results: Over all time points, measurement of fluorescence loss by FIRE correlated well with the measurement of ΔF by QLF and of ΔQ by QLF. Both FIRE and QLF techniques showed significant correlation with PLM. Conclusion: FIRE technology may be useful for quantifying enamel demineralization in vitro.
In vitro Detection of Occlusal Caries on Permanent Teeth by a Visual, Light-Induced Fluorescence and Photothermal Radiometry and Modulated Luminescence Methods
Authors: Jallad Mahmoud , Zero Domenick , Eckert George , Ferreira Zandona Andrea
Published: August 2015

Background: The paradigm shift towards the nonsurgical management of dental caries relies on the early detection of the disease. Detection of caries at an early stage is of unequivocal importance for early preventive intervention. Objective: The aim of this in vitro study is to evaluate the performance of a visual examination using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) criteria, two quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) systems - Inspektor™ Pro and QLF-D Biluminator™ 2 (Inspektor Research Systems B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands) - and a photothermal radiometry and modulated luminescence, The Canary System® (Quantum Dental Technologies, Toronto, Ont., Canada) on the detection of primary occlusal caries on permanent teeth. Methods: A total of 60 teeth with occlusal surface sites ranging from sound to noncavitated lesions (ICDAS 0-4) were assessed with each detection method twice in a random order. Histological validation was used to compare methods for sensitivity, specificity, percent correct, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), at standard and optimum sound thresholds. Interexaminer agreement and intraexaminer repeatability were measured using intraclass correlation coefficients. Results: Interexaminer agreement ranged between 0.48 (The Canary System®) and 0.96 (QLF-D Biluminator™ 2). Intraexaminer repeatability ranges were 0.33-0.63 (The Canary System®) and 0.96-0.99 (QLF-D Biluminator™ 2). The sensitivity range was 0.75-0.96 while that of specificity was 0.43-0.89. The AUC were 0.79 (The Canary System®), 0.87 (ICDAS), 0.90 (Inspektor™ Pro), and 0.94 (QLF-D Biluminator™ 2). Conclusion: ICDAS had the best combination of sensitivity and specificity followed by QLF-D Biluminator™ 2 at optimum threshold.
Patients Tested at a Laboratory for Hereditary Cancer Syndromes Show an Overlap for Multiple Syndromes in Their Personal and Familial Cancer Histories
Authors: Saam Jennifer , Arnell Christopher , Theisen Aaron , Moyes Kelsey , Marino Ingrid , Roundy Kirstin M. , Wenstrup Richard J.
Published: August 2015

Objective: Hereditary cancer testing guidelines are based on the premise that the common hereditary cancer syndromes have distinct, recognizable phenotypes. However, many syndromes present with overlapping cancers. The aim of this analysis was to identify the proportion of patients tested for Lynch syndrome (LS) or hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) who met testing criteria for the other syndrome. Method: We analyzed a commercial laboratory database of patients tested for LS and HBOC in a clinical setting from 2006 to 2013. Patient cancer histories were analyzed using the 2012 NCCN criteria for LS and the 2013 NCCN criteria for HBOC. Results: In all, 7% of the patients tested for HBOC met criteria for LS testing. The majority of these patients had a family history of colorectal (30.9%) and/or endometrial cancer (22.7%). Conversely, 29.5% of the patients tested for LS met criteria for HBOC testing. In this group, 30.5% of the patients had a personal history of breast cancer, and 12.6% had a personal history of ovarian cancer. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate a substantial phenotypic overlap among patients for multiple common inherited cancer syndromes, which likely complicates diagnosis and test selection. This supports the value of multigene panels to identify pathogenic mutations in the absence of a clinically specific phenotype.
Real-World Experience with Insertable Cardiac Monitors to Find Atrial Fibrillation in Cryptogenic Stroke
Authors: Ziegler Paul D. , Rogers John D. , Ferreira Scott W. , Nichols Allan J. , Sarkar Shantanu , Koehler Jodi L. , Warman Eduardo N. , Richards Mark
Published: August 2015

Background: The characteristics of atrial fibrillation (AF) episodes in cryptogenic stroke patients have recently been explored in carefully selected patient populations. However, the incidence of AF among a large, real-world population of patients with an insertable cardiac monitor (ICM) placed for the detection of AF following a cryptogenic stroke has not been investigated. Methods: Patients in the de-identified Medtronic DiscoveryLink™ database who received an ICM (Reveal LINQ™) for the purpose of AF detection following a cryptogenic stroke were included. AF detection rates (episodes ≥2 min) were quantified using Kaplan-Meier survival estimates at 1 and 6 months and compared to the CRYSTAL AF study at 6 months. The time to AF detection and maximum duration of AF episodes were also analyzed. Results: A total of 1,247 patients (age 65.3 ± 13.0 years) were followed for 182 (IQR 182-182) days. A total of 1,521 AF episodes were detected in 147 patients, resulting in AF detection rates of 4.6 and 12.2% at 30 and 182 days, respectively, and representing a 37% relative increase over that reported in the CRYSTAL AF trial at 6 months. The median time to AF detection was 58 (IQR 11-101) days and the median duration of the longest detected AF episode was 3.4 (IQR 0.4-11.8) h. Conclusions: The real-world incidence of AF among patients being monitored with an ICM after a cryptogenic stroke validates the findings of the CRYSTAL AF trial and suggests that continuous cardiac rhythm monitoring for periods longer than the current guideline recommendation of 30 days may be warranted in the evaluation of patients with cryptogenic stroke.
Onset of optimal P2Y12-ADP receptor blockade after ticagrelor and prasugrel intake in Non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Laine Marc , Camoin-Jau Laurence , Noirot Frederic , Guieu Régis , Dignat-George Françoise , Paganelli Franck , Frere Corinne , Bonello Laurent
Published: August 2015

Pretreatment with a loading dose (LD) of clopidogrel or ticagrelor before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is supported by the guidelines, but debated following a recent meta-analysis on clopidogrel pretreatment and the ACCOAST trial. In this trial prasugrel pretreatment failed to reduce ischaemic events. The timing of optimal platelet reactivity (PR) inhibition of ticagrelor and prasugrel in non ST-elevation ACS (NSTE ACS) is yet undetermined. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the delay required to reach optimal PR inhibition in NSTE ACS following a LD of ticagrelor or prasugrel. Consecutive patients undergoing PCI for NSTE ACS were randomised in this monocentre study. The Vasodilatorphosphoprotein index (VASP) was used to measure PR before the LD and then at 30 minutes, 1, 2, 4 and 24 hours (h) post-LD. Optimal PR inhibition was defined as a VASP< 50 %. We randomised 24 patients to ticagrelor or prasugrel LD. One hour after the LD, 29 % of patients had a VASP > 50 % (ticagrelor and prasugrel: 25 vs 33 %; p=0.7). Optimal PR inhibition was obtained 2 h after the LD in both groups (12/12 with ticagrelor and 11/12 with prasugrel). At that time, the mean VASP index was 19 ± 16 % (95 %CI: 12–25). Maximal PR inhibition was reached after 4 h: 11 ± 10 % (95 %CI: 6–15). In NSTE ACS undergoing PCI a LD of ticagrelor or prasugrel given during the procedure provides optimal P2Y12-ADP receptor blockade in 2 h and maximal inhibition within 4 h.
CAPTURA E HIERARQUIZAÇÃO DE REQUISITOS DO CLIENTE DE HABITAÇÃO DE INTERESSE SOCIAL A PARTIR DA AVALIAÇÃO PÓS-OCUPAÇÃO E DA TÉCNICA DE PREFERÊNCIA DECLARADA
Authors: Conceição Priscilla Assis , Imai César , Urbano Mariana Ragasi
Published: August 2015

Estudos sobre a geração de valor em habitações de interesse social têm sido realizados com o objetivo de melhorar a qualidade das habitações e o nível de satisfação de seus usuários. Sabe-se que a captura de requisitos do cliente é o primeiro passo para o processo de geração de valor. No entanto, há dificuldade em identificar os requisitos da população de interesse social para a habitação. O presente artigo tem como objetivo principal discutir a utilização da Avaliação Pós-Ocupação (APO) e da técnica de preferência declarada para a captura e hierarquização de requisitos do usuário final de habitação de interesse social. Desta forma, espera-se gerar subsídios para a inserção de melhorias nestas habitações por meio do processo de desenvolvimento de projeto. Para a realização da pesquisa foram utilizadas técnicas de APO como a aplicação de questionários estruturados na forma de entrevistas face a face, registros feitos a partir de levantamentos físico e fotográfico, e a aplicação da técnica de preferência declarada utilizando o instrumento jogo de cartas ilustradas. A amostra pesquisada foi de 93 entrevistas realizadas em um conjunto habitacional na cidade de Londrina-PR, cujo público se enquadra na faixa 1 do Programa Minha Casa, Minha Vida 1. As técnicas usadas na análise dos dados foram: tabelas de frequências e inferências estatísticas com base em intervalos de confiança. Como resultado da pesquisa, foi obtida uma relação de requisitos para a habitação, hierarquizados segundo a percepção de valor desejado pelo usuário final.
Relation of Smoking With Total Mortality and Cardiovascular Events Among Patients With Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Pan An , Wang Yeli , Talaei Mohammad , Hu Frank B.
Published: August 2015

Background—

The prevalence of smoking in diabetic patients remains high, and reliable quantification of the excess mortality and morbidity risks associated with smoking is important for diabetes management. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies to evaluate the relation of active smoking with risk of total mortality and cardiovascular events among diabetic patients.

Methods and Results—

We searched Medline and Embase databases through May 2015, and multivariate-adjusted relative risks were pooled by using random-effects models. A total of 89 cohort studies were included. The pooled adjusted relative risk (95% confidence interval) associated with smoking was 1.55 (1.46–1.64) for total mortality (48 studies with 1 132 700 participants and 109 966 deaths), and 1.49 (1.29–1.71) for cardiovascular mortality (13 studies with 37 550 participants and 3163 deaths). The pooled relative risk (95% confidence interval) was 1.44 (1.34–1.54) for total cardiovascular disease (16 studies), 1.51 (1.41–1.62) for coronary heart disease (21 studies), 1.54 (1.41–1.69) for stroke (15 studies), 2.15 (1.62–2.85) for peripheral arterial disease (3 studies), and 1.43 (1.19–1.72) for heart failure (4 studies). In comparison with never smokers, former smokers were at a moderately elevated risk of total mortality (1.19; 1.11–1.28), cardiovascular mortality (1.15; 1.00–1.32), cardiovascular disease (1.09; 1.05–1.13), and coronary heart disease (1.14; 1.00–1.30), but not for stroke (1.04; 0.87–1.23).

Conclusions—

Active smoking is associated with significantly increased risks of total mortality and cardiovascular events among diabetic patients, whereas smoking cessation is associated with reduced risks in comparison with current smoking. The findings provide strong evidence for the recommendation of quitting smoking among diabetic patients.
Recurrent Neural Network Approach Based on the Integral Representation of the Drazin Inverse
Authors: Stanimirović Predrag S. , Živković Ivan S. , Wei Yimin
Published: August 2015

In this letter, we present the dynamical equation and corresponding artificial recurrent neural network for computing the Drazin inverse for arbitrary square real matrix, without any restriction on its eigenvalues. Conditions that ensure the stability of the defined recurrent neural network as well as its convergence toward the Drazin inverse are considered. Several illustrative examples present the results of computer simulations.
A Note on Entropy Estimation
Authors: Schürmann Thomas
Published: August 2015

We compare an entropy estimator [Formula: see text] recently discussed by Zhang ( 2012 ) with two estimators, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], introduced by Grassberger ( 2003 ) and Schürmann ( 2004 ). We prove the identity [Formula: see text], which has not been taken into account by Zhang ( 2012 ). Then we prove that the systematic error (bias) of [Formula: see text] is less than or equal to the bias of the ordinary likelihood (or plug-in) estimator of entropy. Finally, by numerical simulation, we verify that for the most interesting regime of small sample estimation and large event spaces, the estimator [Formula: see text] has a significantly smaller statistical error than [Formula: see text].
The Principle of Legality and the Role of Customary International Law in the Interpretation of the icc Statute
Authors: Bufalini Alessandro
Published: August 2015

This article endeavours to determine the role of customary international law in the prosecution of crimes under the jurisdiction of the icc. In its first findings dealing with the meaning of Article 21(b) of the icc Statute, the Court has attributed to customary international law the subsidiary role of filling the lacunae of the Statute. This interpretation seems to admit, although in a limited and imprecise way, an application of customary international law in the proceedings before the Court. However, the principle of legality, as perceived in the icc Statute, appears to limit the recourse to customary international law to the interpretation of written rules. Moreover, an analysis of relevant Articles of the Rome Statute, in which an application of customary rules could be, or has been, invoked, discloses the different shapes that the potential interpretative resort to customary law in determining the meaning of the statutory provisions might take.
Egyptian Fiscal History in a World of Warring States, 664–30 bce
Authors: Monson Andrew
Published: August 2015

From China to the Mediterranean, interstate competition transformed the political, economic, and social order in the mid-first millenniumbce. The case of Egypt from the Saite reunification in 664bceto the Roman conquest in 30bceillustrates this phenomenon, which resembles the rise of fiscal-military states under the pressure of war in early modern Europe. The New Fiscal History that has sought to explain this rise in Europe tends to produce a linear historical account of centralization and increasing fiscal capacity from feudal societies to the modern tax state. In Egypt, by contrast, the process was interrupted by integration into the imperial structures of Achaemenid Persia and Rome. It thus provides a convenient laboratory to compare the development of fiscal institutions in a political environment characterized by warring states, and one dominated by a single empire.
Death in the Temple of Ptah: The Roman Conquest of Egypt and Conflict at Memphis
Authors: Marković Nenad
Published: August 2015

This study aims to trace the possible fate of the family of the High Priest of Ptah after the Roman conquest in 30bce. The mysterious death of Imhotep / Padibastetivcreated a clear rupture in the succession line. At first, Roman authorities seemed to hesitate to appoint a new high priest of Memphis, for various reasons, and thus waited almost three years to install Pasherienamunii, the first cousin of Imhotep / Padibastetiv, at the temple of Ptah. This occurred simultaneously with the creation of new priestly office: “prophet of the son of Caesar.” However, the embalmed body of Imhotep / Padibastetivremained unburied until 23bce, which might indicate previous dysfunctional mutual relations between the primary and the secondary branches of the same family.
Notes on Seychelles mosses. 6. A generic revision of Clastobryophilum M.Fleisch. (Sematophyllaceae, Bryopsida)

Authors: O’Shea Brian J.
Published: August 2015

The genus Clastobryophilum M.Fleisch. (Sematophyllaceae, Bryopsida) is reviewed, and two species are maintained: C. bogoricum (Bosch & Sande Lac.) M.Fleisch. and C. balansaeanum (Besch.) Broth.. C. rufo-viride (Besch.) M.Fleisch. of Madagascar and Seychelles, the only African species, becomes a synonym of the Asian C. bogoricum, as does C. asperifolium (Thwaites & Mitt.) B.C.Tan of Sri Lanka. Several collections named as Clastobryophilum, including the type of C. bogoricum var. laevibogoricum (Dixon) Seki in Nog., are excluded from the genus.
Plagiothecium lucidum (Hook. f. & Wils.) Paris in tropical Africa

Authors: Ochyra Ryszard , Kempa Rafa , Buck William R.
Published: August 2015

Plagiothecium lucidum (Hook. f. & Wils.) Paris is confirmed as a new addition to the bryoflora of tropical Africa on the basis of two collections from the Bale Mountains in Ethiopia. The type material of Isopterygium integrifolium Bartr. from Costa Rica in Central America is evaluated and this species is considered to be conspecific with P. lucidum. As a result of this taxonomic conclusion the range of this species is extended to Costa Rica and this is the first recognition of this species in the Central American isthmus. A world distribution map for this species is presented and some details of African plants and the type of I. integrifolium are illustrated.
The lichen flora of the Chagos Archipelago, including a comparison with other island and coastal tropical floras

Authors: Seaward Mark R.D. , Aptroot André
Published: August 2015

The 1996 Chagos Expedition provided the first opportunity to study the archipelago’s lichen flora. Seventeen of the 55 islands were ecologically investigated, some in more detail than others, and lists and representative collections of lichens have been assembled for many of them. In all, 67 taxa have been recorded, 52 to specific level. Although the islands have a low biodiversity for cryptogamic plants, as would be expected in terms of their relatively young age, remoteness and small terrestrial surface areas, those taxa that are present are often found in abundance and play significant ecological roles. There is a good correlation between total lichen biodiversity and island size, despite the fact that Cocos nucifera is such an important substratum for cryptogamic plants and its presence on all islands studied provides a consistently high associated species count. Comparisons of lichen floras for ten island and coastal tropical areas show good correlations (based on the Sörensen Coefficient) within the Indian Ocean as would be expected, but poorer correlations exist within and between Pacific Ocean and neotropical floras. Ranked correlations between Chagos and other floras are in the sequence Maldives > Laing Island > Aldabra > Tuamotu > Pitcairn > N.Mariana & Belize > Guadeloupe > Cook. When coefficients are calculated using only the Physciaceae, different correlations and sequences are derived, but the affinities of the Indian Ocean islands remain strong. However, although the lichen flora of Chagos is characteristic for an Indian Ocean, it is dominated by pantropical species.
Current Chinese Bryological Literature ( IV)
Authors: Cao Tong , Zhang Yuanming , Yu Jin
Published: August 2015

According to our collections of literature, about 400 scientific papers dealing with Chinese bryophytes have been published in China and abroad during 1990’s. Among these, more than 50 % were published in different scientific journals in China and often written in Chinese with English abstract, which are not well known and assessable for foreign bryologists. Therefore, in addition to previous Chinese literature I-III (Cao et al. 1990, Li et Zhang 1993, 1994), we present the fourth part of Chinese literature herewith. It is hoped that this up-dated list will provide useful information for all people who are interested in bryological research.
Morphological and genetic variation in North Atlantic giant file clams, Acesta spp. (Bivalvia: Limidae), with description of a new cryptic species in the northwest Atlantic
Authors: GAGNON JEAN-MARC , KENCHINGTON ELLEN , PORT ANTONY , ANSTEY LYNNE J. , MURILLO FRANCISCO JAVIER
Published: August 2015

We analyze the morphological and genetic variability within and between seven species of Acesta and specimens recently collected in the northwest Atlantic using traditional morphological measurements, landmark-based geometric morphometrics, and the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences, with particular emphasis on North Atlantic species. Shell morphology and external shell appearance do not allow reliable distinction between the widely recognized northeastern Atlantic A. excavata and other northwest Atlantic species or populations of Acesta, with the exception of A. oophaga. Similarly, shape analysis reveals a wide variability within northeastern Atlantic A. excavata, and significant morphological overlap with A. bullisi from the Gulf of Mexico and A. rathbuni from the southwestern Pacific and South China Sea. Specimens from the northwestern and Mid-Atlantic display shell shapes marginally similar to that of A. excavata. These differences are at least partly related to anterior or posterior shifting of the shell body and to the opposite shifting of the hinge line/dorsal region and upper lunule. These morphological variations, along with the midline-width-ratio, explain much of the variability extracted by principal component analysis. Results from a mitochondrial DNA barcode approach (COI), however, suggest that the northwest Atlantic specimens belong to a new species for which we propose the name Acesta cryptadelphe sp. nov. Differences in larval shell sizes between northeastern and northwestern Atlantic specimens are consistent with this result.
The advertisement call of three highland endemic species (Anura: Craugastoridae) from the Andean mountains of Colombia
Authors: ROMERO-GARCIA JOHAN , CLAVIJO-GARZON SIGIFREDO , BERNAL MANUEL HERNANDO
Published: August 2015

We describe the unknown advertisement call of three high Andean frog species endemic to Colombia: Niceforonia adenobrachia (Ardila-Robayo, Ruiz-Carranza & Barrera-Rodriguez, 1996), Pristimantis uranobates (Lynch, 1991), and P. simoterus (Lynch, 1980). Additionally, we report a new locality for N. adenobrachia. Advertisement calls were recorded during fieldwork conducted along the Cordillera Central in Departamento del Tolima, Colombia, between 2012 and 2013. Calls were recorded at 44.1 kHz sampling rate and 16 bits resolution with a unidirectional microphone (Rode) connected to a digital recorder (Marantz PMD 661 or Zoom H4N) at approximately 30–50 cm from the calling frogs. Microhabitat air temperature was measured at the time of recording with a portable digital thermometer. Digital copies of the calls (.wav format) are deposited at the Laboratory of Herpetology, University of Tolima, Ibagué, Colombia. Calls were analyzed with Raven Pro 1.4 for Windows (Bioacoustics Research Program, 2011) configured at 256 DFT size, 50% overlap, hop size 128 samples and grid spacing 188 Hz. Call terminology follows Bernal et al. (2004) and Dautel et al. (2011), although we report here the peak frequency (the frequency at which maximum power occurs within the call), and 5% and 95% frequencies (frequencies that contain 5% and 95% of the call energy, respectively). Measurements are given as mean, standard deviation, and range. Recorded animals were photographed, collected, fixed in 10% formalin and preserved in 70% ethanol. Voucher specimens are deposited at the Zoological Collection of the University of Tolima. A copy of the audio files were deposited at Fonoteca Zoologica (www.fonozoo.com) of the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, Spain.
Characteristics of the Springtime Alpine Valley Atmospheric Boundary Layer Using Self-Organizing Maps
Authors: Katurji Marwan , Noonan Bob , Zawar-Reza Peyman , Schulmann Tobias , Sturman Andrew
Published: August 2015

Vertical profiles of wind velocity and air temperature from a sound detection and ranging (sodar) radio acoustic sounding system (RASS)-derived dataset within an alpine valley of the New Zealand Southern Alps were analyzed. The data covered the month of September 2013, and self-organizing maps (SOM; a data-clustering approach that is based on an unsupervised machine-learning algorithm) are used to detect topological relationships between profiles. The results of the SOM were shown to reflect the physical processes within the valley boundary layer by preserving valley boundary layer dynamics and its response to wind shear. By examining the temporal evolution of ridgetop wind speed and direction and SOM node transitions, the sensitivity of the valley boundary layer to ridgetop weather conditions was highlighted. The approach of using a composite variable (wind speed and potential temperature) with SOM was successful in revealing the coupling of dynamics and atmospheric stability. The results reveal the capabilities of SOM in analyzing large datasets of atmospheric boundary layer measurements and elucidating the connectivity of ridgetop wind speeds and valley boundary layers.
Dynamics of the Northern Annular Mode at Weekly Time Scales
Authors: Rivière Gwendal , Drouard Marie
Published: August 2015

Rapid onsets of positive and negative tropospheric northern annular mode (NAM) events during boreal winters are studied using ERA-Interim datasets. The NAM anomalies first appear in the North Pacific from low-frequency Rossby wave propagation initiated by anomalous convection in the western tropical Pacific around 2 weeks before the peak of the events. For negative NAM, the enhanced convection leads to a zonal acceleration of the Pacific jet, while for positive NAM, the reduced convection leads to a poleward-deviated jet in its exit region. The North Atlantic anomalies, which correspond to North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) anomalies, are formed in close connection with the North Pacific anomalies via downstream propagation of low-frequency planetary-scale and high-frequency synoptic waves, the latter playing a major role during the last onset week. Prior to positive NAM, the generation of synoptic waves in the North Pacific and their downstream propagation is strong. The poleward-deviated Pacific jet favors a southeastward propagation of the waves across North America and anticyclonic breaking in the North Atlantic. The associated strong poleward eddy momentum fluxes push the Atlantic jet poleward and form the positive NAO phase. Conversely, prior to negative NAM, synoptic wave propagation across North America is significantly reduced and more zonal because of the more zonally oriented Pacific jet. This, together with a strong eddy generation in the North Atlantic, leads to equatorward eddy momentum fluxes, cyclonic wave breaking, and the formation of the negative NAO phase. Even though the stratosphere may play a role in some individual cases, it is not the main driver of the composited tropospheric NAM events.
Networks in Place
Authors: Friedland Lewis A.
Published: August 2015

The paradigmatic focus on global and individual networks in communication has suppressed the Chicago tradition of understanding the city as a network of places. But the social ecology of the city continues to structure all aspects of urban communication networks including personal, institutional, and civic life. This article critically examines four major theorists of networked urban communication—Castells, Wellman, Fischer, and Sampson—and argues that the field of urban communication should return to a revitalized ecological tradition, while taking full account of the networked transformation of social life and social structure.
Eating Disorders and Mentalization
Authors: Pedersen Signe Holm , Poulsen Stig , Lunn Susanne
Published: August 2015

The theory of mentalization has recently been applied in the area of eating disorders (Skårderud 2012). This article reports a qualitative study based on interviews with five women suffering from bulimia nervosa. All five scored high on the Reflective Functioning Scale, indicating a highly developed ability to mentalize. The present qualitative study, which focuses on the women’s capacity to relate to and regulate affects, supports the finding that they are relatively skilled at reflecting on their own and others’ thoughts and emotions. However, this highly developed capacity for mentalization is apparently not helping them regulate their emotions. This suggests that the capacity to mentalize may not be as closely related to the capacity to regulate affects as Fonagy et al. (2002) have proposed. Indeed, the concept of mentalization may be overinclusive and in need of stricter definition. Thus, it might be envisaged that while the ability to mentalize is closely related to the ability to put feelings into words (the opposite of alexithymia), an ability to mentalize may not necessarily entail a capacity to regulate affects. Finally, the study illustrates that far from all eating-disordered patients have problems mentalizing.
Experiences of discrimination and positive treatment in people with mental health problems: Findings from an Australian national survey
Authors: Reavley Nicola J , Jorm Anthony F
Published: August 2015

Objective:

Stigma and discrimination are central concerns for people with mental health problems. The aim of the study was to carry out a national survey in order to assess experiences of avoidance, discrimination and positive treatment in people with mental health problems.

Methods:

In 2014, telephone interviews were carried out with 5220 Australians aged 18+, 1381 of whom reported a mental health problem or scored highly on a symptom screening questionnaire. Questions covered experiences of avoidance, discrimination and positive treatment by friends, spouse, other family, workplace, educational institution and others in the community.

Results:

In most domains, respondents reported more positive treatment experiences than avoidance or discrimination. Friends and family were more likely to avoid the person than to discriminate.

Conclusion:

The results can provide input into the design of anti-discrimination interventions and further empower people with mental health problems as they advocate for change in the area of discrimination.
Hazard Patterns Associated With Co-sleepers
Authors: Thompson Elizabeth L. , Moon Rachel Y.
Published: August 2015

We conducted a retrospective review of incidents associated with co-sleepers. A total of 26 incidents (6 deaths and 20 injuries) were reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Of these, 5 deaths were caused by asphyxia, and 1 was attributed to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The mean age at death was 3.1 months. Two-thirds of deaths had known risk factors for SIDS. Of the 20 injuries, entrapment (60%) and suffocation (35%) hazards were most common. Almost half of the injuries occurred after the co-sleeper was improperly assembled. Infant deaths and injuries associated with co-sleepers are infrequent. Most deaths were associated with other SIDS risk factors. Many deaths and injuries were associated with improper use or assembly of the co-sleeper. It is important for pediatricians to advise parents not to use previously owned co-sleepers or to use co-sleepers in any way other than what is specifically stated in the product instructions to avoid infant injury or death.
“La fotografia si fa con i piedi”: Frammenti di celluloide e inventari del mondo
Authors: Colucci Dalila
Published: August 2015

Il libro di Nicoletta Leonardi, Fotografia e materialità in Italia, ricostruisce in maniera appassionata e rigorosa le vicende umane e artistiche di quattro fotografi attivi tra gli anni Sessanta e Settanta: Franco Vaccari, Mario Cresci, Guido Guidi e Luigi Ghirri. Dando conto dell’atmosfera storica, politica e intellettuale di uno tra i più complessi periodi del Novecento, Leonardi insegue la traccia inedita di una fotografia lontana dai canoni postmoderni, influenzata da un’attitudine fenomenologico-esistenziale e interessata all’immagine come oggetto fisico, da porre in fertile dialogo con l’ambiente naturale e urbano; nonché compromessa con i più disparati fenomeni culturali (dal neorealismo alla neoavanguardia, alle forme di poesia visiva e performativa; dall’informale pittorico all’ environmental art; dal cinema di Antonioni al nouveau roman; fino alle leggi della fisica sociale o al disegno industriale).
Employer Attitudes, the Marginal Employer, and the Ethnic Wage Gap
Authors: Carlsson Magnus , Rooth Dan-Olof
Published: August 2015

In most EU countries, ethnic minorities have lower wages than does the ethnic majority. To what extent these wage gaps are the result of prejudice toward ethnic minority workers is virtually unknown. The authors examine the role that prejudice plays in the creation of the ethnic wage gap in one of Europe’s most egalitarian countries, Sweden. The analysis takes into account the important distinction between average employer attitudes and the attitude of the marginal employer (the attitude of the most prejudiced employer hiring the ethnic minority). Results confirm that the attitudes of the marginal employer—but not those of the average employer—are important for explaining the ethnic wage gap.
Wage Effects of Unionization and Occupational Licensing Coverage in the United States
Authors: Gittleman Maury , Kleiner Morris M.
Published: August 2015

Recent estimates in standard models of wage determination for both unionization and occupational licensing have shown wage effects that are similar across the two institutions. These cross-sectional estimates use specialized data sets, with small sample sizes, for the period 2006 to 2008. The authors’ analysis examines the impact of unions and licensing coverage on wage determination using new data collected on licensing statutes that are then linked to longitudinal data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY79) from 1979 to 2010. They develop several approaches, using both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, to measure the impact of these two labor market institutions on wage determination. The estimates of the economic returns to union coverage are greater than those for licensing statutes.
Racial Diversity and Union Organizing in the United States, 1999–2008
Authors: Ferguson John-Paul
Published: August 2015

Does racial diversity make forming a union harder? Case studies offer conflicting answers, and little large-scale research on the question exists. Most quantitative research on race and unionization has studied trends in membership rather than the outcome of specific organizing drives and has assumed that the main problem is mistrust between workers and unions, paying less attention, for example, to the role of employers. The author explores the role of racial and ethnic diversity in the outcomes of nearly 7,000 organizing drives launched between 1999 and 2008. By matching the National Labor Relations Board’s information on union activity with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s surveys of large establishments, the author reconstructs the demographic composition of the work groups involved in each mobilization. The study finds that more diverse establishments are less likely to see successful organizing attempts. Little evidence is found, however, that this is because workers are less interested in voting for unions. Instead, the organizers of more diverse units are more likely to give up before such elections are held. Furthermore, this higher quit rate can be explained best by considering the other organizations involved in the organizing drive. In particular, employers are more likely to be charged with unfair labor practices when the unit in question is more racially diverse. This effect persists when the study controls for heterogeneity among industries, unions, and regions.
Far-infrared emissive polypropylene/wood flour wood plastic composites: Manufacturing technique and property evaluations
Authors: Lin Jia-Horng , Huang Chien-Lin , Lin Zheng-Ian , Lou Ching-Wen
Published: August 2015

This study melt-blends polypropylene (PP), wood flour (WF), and far-infrared masterbatches into PP/WF wood plastic composites with far-infrared emissivity. During the process, maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MA) is added as the coupling agent between PP and WF. Mechanical property tests, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized light microscopy (PLM), and far-infrared emissivity are undertaken to evaluate various properties of the PP/WF wood plastic composites. The test results show that regardless of the WF content, mechanical properties of the composites remain at certain levels. The combination of 3 wt% PP-g-MA increases the interfacial adhesion between WF and PP, which in turn effectively increases the tensile strength by 20% and increases the flexural strength by 35%. The PP/WF wood plastic composites containing 4 phr (parts per hundreds of resin) of far-infrared masterbatches is 0.86 ɛ, which reaches the standard of good health care. The test results of XRD, DSC, and PLM show that the combination of both WF and far-infrared masterbatches helps the heterogeneous nucleating in PP, and increases the crystallization temperature of PP, but does not influence the crystalline structure of PP.
Free vibration analysis of axially loaded laminated composite beams with general boundary conditions by using a modified Fourier–Ritz approach
Authors: Wang Qingshan , Shi Dongyan , Liang Qian
Published: August 2015

In this paper, a modified Fourier–Ritz approach has been adopted to analyze the free vibration of axially loaded laminated composite beams with arbitrary layup and general boundary conditions, which include classical boundaries, elastic boundaries, and their combination. The influences of Poisson effect, axial deformation, couplings among extensional, bending and torsional deformations, shear deformation, and rotary inertia are incorporated in the formulation. In this present method, regardless of boundary conditions, the displacements and rotation components of the beam are invariantly expressed as a standard Fourier cosine series and several auxiliary closed-form functions. These auxiliary functions are introduced to eliminate any potential discontinuities of the original displacement function and its derivatives, throughout the whole beam including its ends, and to effectively enhance the convergence of the results. Since the displacement field is constructed to be adequately smooth in the whole solution domain, an accurate solution can be obtained by using Ritz procedure based on the energy functions of the beam. Numerical examples are presented for several different boundary conditions, geometric properties, and material parameters. The results show that the present method enables rapid convergence, high reliability, and accuracy. Numerous new free vibration results for axially loaded laminated composite beams with different lamination schemes and elastic restraints are presented.