bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Safe and Effective Sarcoma Therapy through Bispecific Targeting of EGFR and uPAR
Authors: Borgatti Antonella , Koopmeiners Joseph S. , Sarver Aaron L. , Winter Amber L. , Stuebner Kathleen , Todhunter Deborah , Rizzardi Anthony E. , Henriksen Jonathan C. , Schmechel Stephen , Forster Colleen L. , Kim Jong-Hyuk , Froelich Jerry , Walz Jillian , Henson Michael S. , Breen Matthew , Lindblad-Toh Kerstin , Oh Felix , Pilbeam Kristy , Modiano Jaime F. , Vallera Daniel A.
Published: February 2017

Sarcomas differ from carcinomas in their mesenchymal origin. Therapeutic advancements have come slowly, so alternative drugs and models are urgently needed. These studies report a new drug for sarcomas that simultaneously targets both tumor and tumor neovasculature. eBAT is a bispecific angiotoxin consisting of truncated, deimmunized Pseudomonas exotoxin fused to EGF and the amino terminal fragment of urokinase. Here, we study the drug in an in vivo “ontarget” companion dog trial as eBAT effectively kills canine hemangiosarcoma and human sarcoma cells in vitro. We reasoned the model has value due to the common occurrence of spontaneous sarcomas in dogs and a limited lifespan allowing for rapid accrual and data collection. Splenectomized dogs with minimal residual disease were given one cycle of eBAT followed by adjuvant doxorubicin in an adaptive dose-finding, phase I–II study of 23 dogs with spontaneous, stage I–II, splenic hemangiosarcoma. eBAT improved 6-month survival from <40% in a comparison population to approximately 70% in dogs treated at a biologically active dose (50 μg/kg). Six dogs were long-term survivors, living >450 days. eBAT abated expected toxicity associated with EGFR targeting, a finding supported by mouse studies. Urokinase plasminogen activator receptor and EGFR are targets for human sarcomas, so thorough evaluation is crucial for validation of the dog model. Thus, we validated these markers for human sarcoma targeting in the study of 212 human and 97 canine sarcoma samples. Our results support further translation of eBAT for human patients with sarcomas and perhaps other EGFR-expressing malignancies. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(5); 956–65. ©2017 AACR.
The “Golden Age” of Probiotics: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized and Observational Studies in Preterm Infants
Authors: Dermyshi Elda , Wang Yizhong , Yan Chongbin , Hong Wenchao , Qiu Gang , Gong Xiaohui , Zhang Ting
Published: February 2017

Background: Over the last few years, probiotics have been one of the most studied interventions in neonatal medicine. Objectives: The aim of this work was to analyse all studies (randomized controlled trials, RCTs, and observational studies) assessing the use of probiotics in very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants. Search Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. The data from RCTs and observational studies were pooled and analysed separately. Selection Criteria: RCTs and observational studies that enrolled VLBW infants with enteral administration of probiotics were considered. Extracted study data included probiotic characteristics and at least 1 clinical outcome (necrotizing enterocolitis [NEC], late-onset sepsis or all-cause mortality). Data Collection and Analysis: Forty-four studies were eligible for our review: 30 RCTs and 14 observational studies. Severe NEC rates (stage II or more) and all-cause mortality were reduced among the probiotic groups in both the RCTs (RR 0.57, 95% CI 0.47-0.70, and RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.65-0.92, respectively) and the observational studies (RR 0.51, 95% CI 0.37-0.70, and RR 0.71, 95% CI 0.62-0.81, respectively). Furthermore, there was a 12% reduction in the risk of sepsis in RCTs and a 19% reduction in observational studies. The meta-analysis of observational studies showed a reduction in the risk of NEC in extremely low birth weight infants. However, this was not statistically significant. Conclusions: This meta-analysis of RCT and observational studies found that the use of probiotics was beneficial for the prevention of severe NEC, late-onset sepsis, and all-cause mortality in VLBW infants.
Ciliary Body Mesectodermal Leiomyoma Diagnosed by Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy
Authors: Kiratli Hayyam , Ağın Abdullah , Önder Sevgen
Published: February 2017

Aims: To describe the clinical, imaging, cytopathological, and immunohistochemical features of mesectodermal leiomyoma of the ciliary body diagnosed by fine needle aspiration biopsy in a patient who denied any major intervention without prior pathological verification. Methods: The clinical, imaging, and cytopathological records of the patient were retrospectively reviewed. A fine needle aspiration biopsy with a 25-G needle was performed after tailoring a scleral flap. Results: Examination of the cell blocks prepared from the aspirate demonstrated cells with granular cytoplasms and large nuclei. Immunohistochemical studies showed positive smooth muscle actin, desmin, h-caldesmon, CD56, and neuron-specific enolase stainings, suggesting both neurogenic and myogenic differentiation. Reactions for HMB-45, S-100, panCK, epithelial membrane antigen, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and CD68 were negative. Because the tumor continued to enlarge, fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy at the dose of 3,000 cGy was delivered, which reduced the size of the mass by 40% in 5 years. Conclusions: This case demonstrated that the diagnosis of mesectodermal leiomyoma of the ciliary body can be established with fine needle aspiration biopsy and that stereotactic radiotherapy can be successfully used to induce tumor regression.
Importance of Screening for Esophagogastric Varices in Naïve Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients within Milan Criteria: Indicator for Liver Transplantation
Authors: Kawakami Takamasa , Hiraoka Atsushi , Michitaka Kojiro , Ninomiya Tomoyuki , Hirooka Masashi , Hiasa Yoichi
Published: February 2017

Background/Aims: Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) beyond Milan criteria (MC) are not eligible for liver transplantation (LT). To elucidate prognostic factors significantly linked to recurrence beyond MC or death related to the liver, we evaluated the clinical features in a series of HCC patients within MC at baseline. Methods: We enrolled 255 naïve HCC patients (≤70 years) within the MC who underwent upper-gastrointestinal-endoscopy, and were treated with resection or radiofrequency ablation (62 years old [median]; male:female = 202:53; Child-Pugh A:B = 216:39). A finding of esophagogastric varices (EGV) with an enlarged tortuous or coil shape, and past history of treatment for EGV were classified as clinically significant. Results: Following curative therapy, there was a significant difference for both 3- and 5-year rates of recurrence beyond the MC or liver-related death between the patients with and without significant-EGV (42.8 and 64.3% vs. 25.2 and 41.2%, respectively; p < 0.001). Positive for significant-EGV, multiple tumor, and elevated levels of fucosylated-alpha-fetoprotein (≥10%) and des-gamma-carboxy-prothrombin (≥100 mAU/mL) were significant prognostic factors for recurrence beyond the MC or liver-related death in multivariate analysis (hazard ratio [HR] 2.020, p = 0.002; HR 1.880, p = 0.005; HR 1.626, p = 0.045; HR 1.722, p = 0.011, respectively). Conclusion: LT should be considered for EGV-positive patients with naïve HCC and within the MC.
Pretreatment with 17β-Estradiol Attenuates Cerebral Ischemia-Induced Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption in Aged Rats: Involvement of Antioxidant Signaling
Authors: Xiao Han , Deng Mingyang , Yang Binbin , Hu Zhiping , Tang Jianguang
Published: February 2017

Background/Aims: Blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption is often induced in brain injury and particularly associated with cerebral ischemia in stroke. Estradiol (17β-estradiol 3-benzoate, E2), an endogenous steroid hormone, has been reported to play a protective role against cerebrovascular pathologies. Here we aimed to determine the potential effects of E2 on the integrity of BBB and brain damage following middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Methods: Aged (24- month-old) ovariectomized female rats were administered E2 for 2 months through daily intraperitoneal injections prior to induction of MCAO. Results: Compared to vehicle controls, E2 had a dose-dependent effect in reducing the severity of brain injuries while maintaining the integrity of the BBB in aged rats. The neuroprotective effects of E2 were associated with the rescued tight junction loss, decreased oxidative stress, and attenuated ERK activation in the ischemic brains. Conclusion: Our data suggest a beneficial role of E2 in aged stroke patients, associated with a protective effect of E2 against BBB disruption in aging-related brain ischemia.
Parkinsonism in Association with Dihydropteridine Reductase Deficiency
Authors: Takahashi Yoshiaki , Manabe Yasuhiro , Nakano Yumiko , Yunoki Taijun , Kono Syoichiro , Narai Hisashi , Furujo Mahoko , Abe Koji
Published: February 2017

We report a 16-year-old man with disorders of tetrahydrobiopterin metabolism due to dihydropteridine reductase (DHPR) deficiency. He revealed moderate mental retardation, parkinsonism, and spastic paralysis with levodopa and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) supplementation from the age of 2 months. Brain MRI showed high intensity areas in bilateral frontal and posterior deep white matter on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR). Coronal FLAIR image showed a high signal in bilateral pyramidal tracts. Single photon computed tomography (SPECT) imaging of the dopamine transporter was normal. This imaging indicates no dopaminergic cell loss. Our patient had no motor fluctuations or dyskinesias. Early diagnosis and replacement treatment might lead to a favorable outcome.
Pericardio-Amniotic Shunting for Incomplete Pentalogy of Cantrell
Authors: Engels Alexander C. , Debeer Anne , Russo Francesca M. , Aertsen Michael , Aerts Katleen , Miserez Marc , Deprest Jan , Lewi Liesbeth , Devlieger Roland
Published: February 2017

A 27-year-old woman, gravida 2, para 0, presented with an incomplete Pentalogy of Cantrell with an omphalocele, diaphragmatic hernia, and a pericardial defect at 32 weeks' gestation. A large pericardial effusion compressed the lungs and had led to a reduced lung growth with an observed-to-expected total lung volume of 28% as measured by MRI. The effusion disappeared completely after the insertion of a pericardio-amniotic shunt at 33 weeks. After birth, the newborn showed no signs of pulmonary hypoplasia and underwent a surgical correction of the defect. Protracted wound healing and a difficult withdrawal from opioids complicated the neonatal period. The child was discharged on postnatal day 105 in good condition. This case demonstrates that in case of Pentalogy of Cantrell with large pericardial effusion, the perinatal outcome might be improved by pericardio-amniotic shunting.
Lack of Phenotypic Differences by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging in MYH7 (β-Myosin Heavy Chain)- Versus MYBPC3 (Myosin-Binding Protein C)-Related Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Weissler-Snir Adaya , Hindieh Waseem , Gruner Christiane , Fourey Dana , Appelbaum Evan , Rowin Ethan , Care Melanie , Lesser John R. , Haas Tammy S. , Udelson James E. , Manning Warren J. , Olivotto Iacopo , Tomberli Benedetta , Maron Barry J. , Maron Martin S. , Crean Andrew M. , Rakowski Harry , Chan Raymond H.
Published: February 2017

Background—

The 2 most commonly affected genes in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are MYH7 (β-myosin heavy chain) and MYBPC3 (β-myosin-binding protein C). Phenotypic differences between patients with mutations in these 2 genes have been inconsistent. Scarce data exist on the genotype–phenotype association as assessed by tomographic imaging using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Methods and Results—

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was performed on 358 consecutive genotyped hypertrophic cardiomyopathy probands at 5 tertiary hypertrophic cardiomyopathy centers. Genetic testing revealed a pathogenic mutation in 159 patients (44.4%). The most common genes identified were MYH7 (n=53) and MYBPC3 (n=75); 33.1% and 47% of genopositive patients, respectively. Phenotypic characteristics by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging of these 2 groups were similar, including left ventricular volumes, mass, maximal wall thickness, morphology, left atrial volume, and mitral valve leaflet lengths (all
P
=non-significant). The presence of late gadolinium enhancement (65% versus 64%;
P
=0.99) and the proportion of total left ventricular mass (%late gadolinium enhancement; 10.4±13.2% versus 8.5±8.5%;
P
=0.44) were also similar.

Conclusions—

This multicenter multinational study shows lack of phenotypic differences between MYH7- and MYBPC3-associated hypertrophic cardiomyopathy when assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Postmutational mechanisms appear more relevant to thick-filament disease expression and outcome than the disease-causing variant per se.
Apparent Aortic Stiffness in Children With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Schäfer Michal , Ivy D. Dunbar , Abman Steven H. , Barker Alex J. , Browne Lorna P. , Fonseca Brian , Kheyfets Vitaly , Hunter Kendall S. , Truong Uyen
Published: February 2017

Background—

Left ventricular dysfunction, mediated by ventricular interdependence, has been associated with negative outcomes in children with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Considering the dilation of the pulmonary arteries as a paramount sign of PAH, we hypothesized that the ascending aorta will present signs of apparent stiffness in children with PAH and that this effect may be because of mechanical interaction with the dilated main pulmonary artery (MPA).

Methods and Results—

Forty-two children with PAH and 26 age- and size-matched controls underwent comprehensive cardiac magnetic resonance evaluation. Assessment of aortic stiffness was evaluated by measuring pulse wave velocity, aortic strain, and distensibility. Children with PAH had significantly increased pulse wave velocity in the ascending aorta (3.4 versus 2.3 m/s for PAH and controls, respectively;
P
=0.001) and reduced aortic strain (23% versus 29%;
P
<0.0001) and distensibility (0.47 versus 0.64%/mm Hg;
P
=0.02). Indexed MPA diameter correlated with pulse wave velocity (
P
=0.04) and with aortic strain (
P
=0.02). The ratio of MPA to aortic size correlated with pulse wave velocity (
P
=0.0098), strain (
P
=0.0099), and distensibility (
P
=0.015). Furthermore, aortic relative area change was associated with left ventricular ejection fraction (
P
=0.045) and ventricular–vascular coupling ratio (
P
=0.042).

Conclusions—

Pediatric PAH patients have increased apparent ascending aortic stiffness, which was strongly associated with the degree of MPA distension. We speculate that distension of the MPA may play a major role in limiting full aortic expansion during systole, which modulates left ventricular performance and impacts systemic hemodynamics in pediatric PAH.
Dectin-2 Deficiency Modulates Th1 Differentiation and Improves Wound Healing After Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Yan Xiaoxiang , Zhang Hang , Fan Qin , Hu Jian , Tao Rong , Chen Qiujing , Iwakura Yoichiro , Shen Weifeng , Lu Lin , Zhang Qi , Zhang Ruiyan
Published: February 2017

Rationale:

Macrophages are involved in wound healing after myocardial infarction (MI). The role of Dectin-2, a pattern recognition receptor mainly expressed on myeloid cells, in the infarct healing remains unknown.

Objective:

The aim of this study is to determine whether Dectin-2 signaling is involved in the healing process and cardiac remodeling after MI and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Methods and Results:

In a mouse model of permanent coronary ligation, Dectin-2, mainly expressed in macrophages, was shown to be increased in the early phase after MI. Dectin-2 knockout mice showed an improvement in the infarct healing and cardiac remodeling, compared with wild-type mice, which was demonstrated by significantly lower mortality because of cardiac rupture, increased wall thickness, and better cardiac function. Increased expression of α-smooth muscle actin and collagen I/III was observed, whereas the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 were decreased in the hearts of Dectin-2 knockout mice after MI. Dectin-2 deficiency inhibited the rate of apoptotic and necrotic cell death. However, Dectin-2 did not affect immune cell infiltration and macrophage polarization, but it led to a stronger activation of the Th1/interferon-γ immune reaction, through the enhancement of interleukin-12 production in the heart. Interferon-γ was shown to downregulate transforming growth factor-β–induced expression of α-smooth muscle actin and collagen I/III in isolated cardiac fibroblasts, leading to a decrease in migration and myofibroblast differentiation. Finally, Dectin-2 knockout improved myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury and infarct healing.

Conclusions:

Dectin-2 leads to an increase in cardiac rupture, impairs wound healing, and aggravates cardiac remodeling after MI through the modulation of Th1 differentiation.
Regulating the Access to Awareness: Brain Activity Related to Probe-related and Spontaneous Reversals in Binocular Rivalry
Authors: Metzger Brian A. , Mathewson Kyle E. , Tapia Evelina , Fabiani Monica , Gratton Gabriele , Beck Diane M.
Published: February 2017

Research on the neural correlates of consciousness (NCC) has implicated an assortment of brain regions, ERP components, and network properties associated with visual awareness. Recently, the P3b ERP component has emerged as a leading NCC candidate. However, typical P3b paradigms depend on the detection of some stimulus change, making it difficult to separate brain processes elicited by the stimulus itself from those associated with updates or changes in visual awareness. Here we used binocular rivalry to ask whether the P3b is associated with changes in awareness even in the absence of changes in the object of awareness. We recorded ERPs during a probe-mediated binocular rivalry paradigm in which brief probes were presented over the image in either the suppressed or dominant eye to determine whether the elicited P3b activity is probe or reversal related. We found that the timing of P3b (but not its amplitude) was closely related to the timing of the report of a perceptual change rather than to the onset of the probe. This is consistent with the proposal that P3b indexes updates in conscious awareness, rather than being related to stimulus processing per se. Conversely, the probe-related P1 amplitude (but not its latency) was associated with reversal latency, suggesting that the degree to which the probe is processed increases the likelihood of a fast perceptual reversal. Finally, the response-locked P3b amplitude (but not its latency) was associated with the duration of an intermediate stage between reversals in which parts of both percepts coexist (piecemeal period). Together, the data suggest that the P3b reflects an update in consciousness and that the intensity of that process (as indexed by P3b amplitude) predicts how immediate that update is.
Source Localization of Brain States Associated with Canonical Neuroimaging Postures
Authors: Lifshitz Michael , Thibault Robert T. , Roth Raquel R. , Raz Amir
Published: February 2017

Cognitive neuroscientists rarely consider the influence that body position exerts on brain activity; yet, postural variation holds important implications for the acquisition and interpretation of neuroimaging data. Whereas participants in most behavioral and EEG experiments sit upright, many prominent brain imaging techniques (e.g., fMRI) require participants to lie supine. Here we demonstrate that physical comportment profoundly alters baseline brain activity as measured by magnetoencephalography (MEG)—an imaging modality that permits multipostural acquisition. We collected resting-state MEG data from 12 healthy participants in three postures (lying supine, reclining at 45°, and sitting upright). Source-modeling analysis revealed a broadly distributed influence of posture on resting brain function. Sitting upright versus lying supine was associated with greater high-frequency (i.e., beta and gamma) activity in widespread parieto-occipital cortex. Moreover, sitting upright and reclining postures correlated with dampened activity in prefrontal regions across a range of bandwidths (i.e., from alpha to low gamma). The observed effects were large, with a mean Cohen's d of 0.95 (SD = 0.23). In addition to neural activity, physiological parameters such as muscle tension and eye blinks may have contributed to these posture-dependent changes in brain signal. Regardless of the underlying mechanisms, however, the present results have important implications for the acquisition and interpretation of multimodal imaging data (e.g., studies combining fMRI or PET with EEG or MEG). More broadly, our findings indicate that generalizing results—from supine neuroimaging measurements to erect positions typical of ecological human behavior—would call for considering the influence that posture wields on brain dynamics.
Chances and Challenges: 從演化網絡的角度來研究漢語方言史——機遇與挑戰
Authors: List Johann-Mattis
Published: February 2017

提要

目前，學界對漢語方言歷史的了解還不夠完整。語言學家運用各種傳統方法與標準，試圖從假設的共同祖語來擬定聲調或音段的發展，從而界定主要的方言區。但是，有關聲調、音段的發展細節，學界尚遠未達成共識。學者們意見不統一的主要原因在於語言接觸在漢語方言歷史上所扮演的角色。漢語方言的情況跟其他語言不一樣：它們從來沒有真正分開過，也從來沒有獨立地發展，而是不斷在相互影響中演變。因此，我們很難確定方言之間的共同特征是從祖語繼承而來的還是從其他方言中借過來的。最新的生物學演化網絡方法可以作為借鑒，這昭示出歷史語言學一個新的探索方向。這類方法運用縱向及橫向網絡以了解細菌的演化過程。語言學家開始運用這些方法來研究語言的發展，并已獲得可喜的初步成績。本文以漢語方言作為專題研究，運用演化網絡方法來分析漢語歷史語言學的問題。在具體操作上，我們精心挑選了200個核心詞彙，並在該基礎上建立了23種漢語方言的數據集。隨後，筆者針對漢語方言的各種分類理論作出了不同的比較和測試，從而判斷其普遍合理性。比較的結果表明，演化網絡方法對漢語方言史的定量和定性研究起到了舉足輕重的補充作用。為了充分發揮其潛力，我們需要建立更適合語言學研究的演化發展模型，例如加入地理信息等其他佐證，才能夠更全面、更細緻地描述漢語方言的歷史演變。
How Utterances are Divided into Tone Groups in Yongning Na: 短語切分、重點突出與形態聲調學——永寧摩梭話的語句如何形成聲調組
Authors: Michaud Alexis
Published: February 2017

提要

永寧摩梭話(納語)是漢藏語族納語組的一種語言，位於雲南跟四川交界地帶的永寧壩與瀘沽湖地區。永寧納語的聲調系統有高、中、低三個調域。本文介紹和分析納語中的語句如何被劃分為“聲調組”。選擇何種聲調組往往反映了語句不同的信息結構。由於句法結構跟聲調組的切分沒有硬性直接的對應，說話人可以選擇將一個大的組塊整合為一個聲調組，從而使結構更加緊密，或者也可以把語句分成一些聲調組，加強不同成分的風格效應。論文用例子詳細說明在語句分為聲調組的過程中，說話人選擇某種變調類型的動機。結構越緊密的語句，其可能劃分的聲調組就越少。而在生動語境裡，說話人可以將句子分作更多的聲調組，表示強調。
Taxonomic Revision of Staurogyne (Nelsonioideae, Acanthaceae) in the Neotropics
Authors: BRAZ DENISE MONTE , MONTEIRO REINALDO
Published: February 2017

Twenty-eight species of Staurogyne are recognized from the Neotropics, where the genus is distributed from Mexico to southern Brazil. The study of herbarium specimens, especially from Brazil and other South American countries, including historical collections from many European herbaria, resulted in the recognition of numerous new geographical records. Morphological characters of diagnostic importance are discussed for the genus and species, for which aspects of the inflorescence, corolla, gynoecium and indument are important for identification. In Neotropical Staurogyne, the corolla may have two basic forms: 1) short, infundibular, and white (often with markings on the limb and throat), and 2) long, tubular, and yellow or red. Species with the latter form of the corolla are restricted to southeastern Brazil. Eight synonymizations and one lectotyfication are proposed, while a key to species, descriptions, illustrations and comments on taxonomy, phenology and geographical distribution are provided.
Ceraceomyces atlanticus (Amylocorticiales, Basidiomycota), a new species from the Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil
Authors: CHIKOWSKI RENATA DOS SANTOS , LARSSON KARL-HENRIK , GIBERTONI TATIANA BAPTISTA
Published: February 2017

Ceraceomyces is characterized by resupinate basidioma with pellicular aspect, thin hymenial layer and loose subiculum, smooth or merulioid hymenial surface, monomitic hyphal system with clamped hyphae, narrowly clavate basidia, and subglobose to narrowly ovate to ellipsoid basidiospores. Five species are reported for South America, four of which are known from Brazil, and Ceraceomyces atlanticus is here introduced as a new species. Macro- and micro-descriptions, line drawings and a LSU phylogenetic tree for Amylocorticiales are provided.
Modeling Urban Precipitation Modification by Spatially Heterogeneous Aerosols
Authors: Schmid Paul E. , Niyogi Dev
Published: February 2017

This study introduces a methodology to simulate how spatially heterogeneous urban aerosols modify a precipitating thunderstorm in a numerical weather model. An air quality model (simple photochemical model) was coupled with a high-resolution mesoscale weather model (the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System) and generated variable urban cloud condensation nuclei values consistent with those measured in previous field studies. The coupled emission model was used to simulate the passage of a synoptic low pressure system with embedded thunderstorms over an idealized city using the real-atmosphere idealized land surface (RAIL) method. Experiments were conducted to calibrate the surface formation of cloud-nucleating aerosols in an urban environment and then to assess the specific response of different aerosol loads on simulated precipitation. The model response to aerosol heterogeneity reduced the total precipitation but significantly increased simulated rain rates. High-aerosol-loading scenarios produced a peak city-edge precipitation rate of over 100 mm h−1 greater than a control containing only a city land surface with no emissions. In comparing the control with a scenario with no city, it was seen that the land surface effect produced a rain rate increase of up to 20 mm h−1. Results indicate, within the limits of the model framework, that the urban rainfall modification is a combination of land heterogeneity causing the dynamical lifting of the air mass and aerosols, with rainfall enhancement being maintained and synergistically increased because of the aerosol indirect effects on cloud properties.
Evaluation of the Ozone Fields in NASA’s MERRA-2 Reanalysis
Authors: Wargan Krzysztof , Labow Gordon , Frith Stacey , Pawson Steven , Livesey Nathaniel , Partyka Gary
Published: February 2017

The assimilated ozone product from the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, version 2 (MERRA-2), produced at NASA’s Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO) spanning the time period from 1980 to the present is described herein, and its quality is assessed. MERRA-2 assimilates partial column ozone retrievals from a series of Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet Radiometer (SBUV) instruments on NASA and NOAA spacecraft between January 1980 and September 2004: starting in October 2004, retrieved ozone profiles from the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) and total column ozone from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument on NASA’s EOS Aura satellite are assimilated. The MERRA-2 ozone is compared with independent satellite and ozonesonde data, focusing on the representation of the spatial and temporal variability of stratospheric and upper-tropospheric ozone and on implications of the change in the observing system from SBUV to EOS Aura. The comparisons show agreement within 10% (standard deviation of the difference) between MERRA-2 profiles and independent satellite data in most of the stratosphere. The agreement improves after 2004, when EOS Aura data are assimilated. The standard deviation of the differences between the lower-stratospheric and upper-tropospheric MERRA-2 ozone and ozonesondes is 11.2% and 24.5%, respectively, with correlations of 0.8 and above, indicative of a realistic representation of the near-tropopause ozone variability in MERRA-2. The agreement improves significantly in the EOS Aura period; however, MERRA-2 is biased low in the upper troposphere with respect to the ozonesondes. Caution is recommended when using MERRA-2 ozone for decadal changes and trend studies.
Eddy Memory Mode of Multidecadal Variability in Residual-Mean Ocean Circulations with Application to the Beaufort Gyre
Authors: Manucharyan Georgy E. , Thompson Andrew F. , Spall Michael A.
Published: February 2017

Mesoscale eddies shape the Beaufort Gyre response to Ekman pumping, but their transient dynamics are poorly understood. Climate models commonly use the Gent–McWilliams (GM) parameterization, taking the eddy streamfunction to be proportional to an isopycnal slope s and an eddy diffusivity K. This local-in-time parameterization leads to exponential equilibration of currents. Here, an idealized, eddy-resolving Beaufort Gyre model is used to demonstrate that carries a finite memory of past ocean states, violating a key GM assumption. As a consequence, an equilibrating gyre follows a spiral sink trajectory implying the existence of a damped mode of variability—the eddy memory (EM) mode. The EM mode manifests during the spinup as a 15% overshoot in isopycnal slope (2000 km3 freshwater content overshoot) and cannot be explained by the GM parameterization. An improved parameterization is developed, such that is proportional to an effective isopycnal slope , carrying a finite memory γ of past slopes. Introducing eddy memory explains the model results and brings to light an oscillation with a period ≈ 50 yr, where the eddy diffusion time scale TE ~ 10 yr and γ ≈ 6 yr are diagnosed from the eddy-resolving model. The EM mode increases the Ekman-driven gyre variance by γ/TE ≈ 50% ± 15%, a fraction that stays relatively constant despite both time scales decreasing with increased mean forcing. This study suggests that the EM mode is a general property of rotating turbulent flows and highlights the need for better observational constraints on transient eddy field characteristics.
Advection on Cut-Cell Grids for an Idealized Mountain of Constant Slope
Authors: Steppeler J. , Klemp J. B.
Published: February 2017

Cut cells use regular or nearly regular polygonal cells to describe fields. For a given orography, some cells may be completely under the mountain, some completely above the mountain, and some are partially filled with air. While there are reports indicating considerably improved simulations with cut cells, inaccuracies may arise with some approximations, producing noise in fields near the surface. This behavior may depend strongly on the approximations made for the advection terms near the surface. This paper investigates the accuracy of advection for numerical schemes for a nondivergent flow near a mountain surface. The schemes use C-grid staggering with densities located at cell centers or on the corners of cells. Also, a nonconserving scheme is considered, which was used in the past with real-data cut-cell simulations. Since the cut cells near the surface create an irregular resolution, the accuracy and order of some approximations may break down near the surface. The objective of this paper is to find schemes having the same accuracy for advection near the surface as in the interior of the domain. As a test problem, uniform advection by a nondivergent velocity field is used with a 45° slope mountain (represented as a straight line) on a rectangular grid. Along the surface a sequence of triangular and pentagonal cells of quite different sizes are generated. Some schemes being discussed for cut cells lead to inaccurate and noisy solutions for this perfectly smooth mountain. A scheme using piecewise linear basis functions in a C grid with density points at the cell corners avoids these inaccuracies.
Verifying Supercellular Rotation in a Convection-Permitting Ensemble Forecasting System with Radar-Derived Rotation Track Data
Authors: Dawson Logan C. , Romine Glen S. , Trapp Robert J. , Baldwin Michael E.
Published: February 2017

The utility of radar-derived rotation track data for the verification of supercell thunderstorm forecasts was quantified through this study. The forecasts were generated using a convection-permitting model ensemble, and supercell occurrence was diagnosed via updraft helicity and low-level vertical vorticity. Forecasts of four severe convective weather events were considered. Probability fields were computed from the model data, and forecast skill was quantified using rotation track data, storm report data, and a neighborhood-based verification approach. The ability to adjust the rotation track threshold for verification purposes was shown to be an advantage of the rotation track data over the storms reports, because the reports are inherently binary observations whereas the rotation tracks are based on values of Doppler velocity shear. These results encourage further pursuit of incorporating observed rotation track data in the forecasting and verification of severe weather events.
Accuracy Enhancement of Raman Spectroscopy Using Complementary Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) with Geologically Mixed Samples
Authors: Choi Soojin , Kim Dongyoung , Yang Junho , Yoh Jack J.
Published: February 2017

Quantitative Raman analysis was carried out with geologically mixed samples that have various matrices. In order to compensate the matrix effect in Raman shift, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) analysis was performed. Raman spectroscopy revealed the geological materials contained in the mixed samples. However, the analysis of a mixture containing different matrices was inaccurate due to the weak signal of the Raman shift, interference, and the strong matrix effect. On the other hand, the LIBS quantitative analysis of atomic carbon and calcium in mixed samples showed high accuracy. In the case of the calcite and gypsum mixture, the coefficient of determination of atomic carbon using LIBS was 0.99, while the signal using Raman was less than 0.9. Therefore, the geological composition of the mixed samples is first obtained using Raman and the LIBS-based quantitative analysis is then applied to the Raman outcome in order to construct highly accurate univariate calibration curves. The study also focuses on a method to overcome matrix effects through the two complementary spectroscopic techniques of Raman spectroscopy and LIBS.
Comparative Study of Elemental Nutrients in Organic and Conventional Vegetables Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)
Authors: Bhatt Chet R. , Alfarraj Bader , Ghany Charles T. , Yueh Fang Y. , Singh Jagdish P.
Published: February 2017

In this study, the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique was used to identify and compare the presence of major nutrient elements in organic and conventional vegetables. Different parts of cauliflowers and broccolis were used as working samples. Laser-induced breakdown spectra from these samples were acquired at optimum values of laser energy, gate delay, and gate width. Both univariate and multivariate analyses were performed for the comparison of these organic and conventional vegetable flowers. Principal component analysis (PCA) was taken into account for multivariate analysis while for univariate analysis, the intensity of selected atomic lines of different elements and their intensity ratio with some reference lines of organic cauliflower and broccoli samples were compared with those of conventional ones. In addition, different parts of the cauliflower and broccoli were compared in terms of intensity and intensity ratio of elemental lines.
Evaluation of commonly used tear sampling methods and their relevance in subsequent biochemical analysis
Authors: Rentka Aniko , Koroskenyi Krisztina , Harsfalvi Jolan , Szekanecz Zoltan , Szucs Gabriella , Szodoray Peter , Kemeny-Beke Adam
Published: February 2017

The human precorneal tear film is a special body fluid, since it is a complex mixture of proteins, lipids, small bioactive molecules, and their concentrations and relative distribution represent not only the metabolic state of the ocular surface but also the systemic and local homeostasis of the outer eye and the human body. This suggests that biochemical analysis of the precorneal tear film composition may provide a non-invasive tool for diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression or treatment efficacy in human medicine. However, collecting tears is demanding, and obtaining reproducible and unaltered samples is challenging because of the small sample volumes of tears. Several methods are available for tear collection as a preparatory step of precorneal tear film analysis, and the collection method used has to be assessed since it has a critical impact on the effectiveness of the assays and on the quality of the results. Each sampling method has advantages and disadvantages; therefore, it is not easy to choose the appropriate collecting method for tear collection. To overcome these limitations various methods have been recommended by different authors for special aspects of specific tests. The aim of our review was to evaluate tear sampling methods with regard to our ongoing biochemical analysis.
Average duration of treatment with antipsychotics among concession card holders in Australia
Authors: Kjosavik Svein R , Gillam Marianne H , Roughead Elisabeth E
Published: February 2017

Objective:

To analyse average treatment duration with antipsychotics reimbursed for concession card holders under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme; the proportion of initial prescribing by general practitioners, psychiatrists and other physician; and the trend in drug choice in Australia.

Method:

Based on a representative 10% sample of patients receiving Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme prescriptions since 2005, antipsychotics redeemed by concession card holders in the period from 2010 to 2013 were analysed. A 5-year baseline period was used to exclude prevalent users from incident users. Treatment duration was estimated using the epidemiological equation: prevalence/incidence = average duration.

Results:

The overall average treatment duration was 3.0 years, ranging from 1.5 years in patients aged 75 years and older to more than 4 years among patients aged 25–64 years. The most commonly used antipsychotics were olanzapine, risperidone and quetiapine, with average duration of 2.9, 2.1 and 1.7 years, respectively. Amisulpride was used longest with an average duration of 3.7 years. Quetiapine is currently the most prescribed antipsychotic and the main antipsychotic prescribed by psychiatrists to new users. The increased prescribing of quetiapine among general practitioners explains the rapid increase in the overall use of quetiapine. General practitioners initiated therapy in about 70% of cases, while psychiatrists and other physicians in about 15% each. In children younger than 15 years of age, paediatricians initiated such treatment in 47%.

Conclusion:

General practitioners both initiate and maintain treatment with antipsychotics for most adults, while paediatricians mainly begin such treatment in children. The substantial increase in use of quetiapine among general practitioners, along with the short treatment duration for quetiapine, strengthens a concern about antipsychotics increasingly used for less severe disorders. Increased collaboration between paediatricians and psychiatrists regarding the youngest and between general practitioners and psychiatrists or geriatricians regarding adults and older patients seems required.
Le « Petit Nègre des Missions » de l’École du Dimanche, un artefact ludo-éducatif ?
Authors: Ruolt Anne
Published: February 2017

This article looks at the history and practice of the use of money-box figurines, whose use spread in Europe in Sunday Schools from the late 19th to the 20th centuries, and it also examines their educational function. First of all, on the basis of iconographic internet research on missionary money boxes used for offerings in Protestant Sunday Schools in Europe, and the discovery of other forms of such savings banks, the article proposes a typology of these money boxes present in the Protestant world (symbolic figurines), in the Catholic world (realistic figurines) in France, Switzerland and Germany, and coin containers in the domestic and secular context (burlesque caricature figurines) in North America. Secondly, using an open survey of former Sunday School students who are now mature adults – principally in France, Switzerland and Germany – the article seeks to answer the following question: Can we say that, in the specific case of money boxes used for Protestant missionary offerings, this practice contributed indirectly to educating children in the direction of a form of racism? By placing these figurines in their context, the article shows that Sunday School figurines served more as symbolic figures, and the money box as a ludo-communicational ritual than as a ludo-educational artefact.
Seattle’s Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) Program
Authors: Clifasefi Seema L. , Lonczak Heather S. , Collins Susan E.
Published: February 2017

For repeat drug offenders, homelessness, unemployment, and lack of access to legitimate income and benefits are obstacles to community integration and quality-of-life improvement. Seattle’s Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) is a collaborative, prebooking diversion program that provides individuals suspected of low-level drug and prostitution offenses with legal assistance and harm reduction–oriented case management instead of prosecution and incarceration. We conducted this single-arm, within-subjects study to test changes in participants’ housing, employment, and income/benefits both prior and subsequent to their LEAD program referral. Findings indicated significant within-subjects improvements for LEAD participants ( N = 176) across all outcomes of interest. Moreover, achieving housing and employment was associated with 17% and 33% fewer arrests during the follow-up, respectively.
Decellularized Human Dental Pulp as a Scaffold for Regenerative Endodontics
Authors: Song J.S. , Takimoto K. , Jeon M. , Vadakekalam J. , Ruparel N.B. , Diogenes A.
Published: February 2017

Teeth undergo postnatal organogenesis relatively late in life and only complete full maturation a few years after the crown first erupts in the oral cavity. At this stage, development can be arrested if the tooth organ is damaged by either trauma or caries. Regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs) are a treatment alternative to conventional root canal treatment for immature teeth. These procedures rely on the transfer of apically positioned stem cells, including stem cells of the apical papilla (SCAP), into the root canal system. Although clinical success has been reported for these procedures, the predictability of expected outcomes and the organization of the newly formed tissues are affected by the lack of an available suitable scaffold that mimics the complexity of the dental pulp extracellular matrix (ECM). In this study, we evaluated 3 methods of decellularization of human dental pulp to be used as a potential autograft scaffold. Tooth slices of human healthy extracted third molars were decellularized by 3 different methods. One of the methods generated the maximum observed decellularization with minimal impact on the ECM composition and organization. Furthermore, recellularization of the scaffold supported the proliferation of SCAP throughout the scaffold with differentiation into odontoblast-like cells near the dentinal walls. Thus, this study reports that human dental pulp from healthy extracted teeth can be successfully decellularized, and the resulting scaffold supports the proliferation and differentiation of SCAP. The future application of this form of an autograft in REPs can fulfill a yet unmet need for a suitable scaffold, potentially improving clinical outcomes and ultimately promoting the survival and function of teeth with otherwise poor prognosis.
Contemporary work: Its meanings and demands
Authors: Findlay Patricia , Thompson Paul
Published: February 2017

This article addresses recurrent trends in the forces shaping work and its meanings. Using evidence from large-scale surveys and qualitative case studies it maps the changing picture of work and employment, particularly in the UK and Australia. It does so by focusing on insecurity, demanding work, performance management, work–life boundaries and dis/engagement. Whilst identifying a number of negative impacts of change such as growing insecurity and excessive work pressures, the article emphasises that these are trends, not universals, and don’t affect all workers or affect them in the same way. We need to be more careful about how trends are translated into overarching theoretical constructs that give a misleading picture. In policy terms, attention should be given to the intersection of labour process and labour market factors, the changing boundaries between and shared aspirations of ‘standard’ and ‘nonstandard’ workers, and to a more nuanced understanding of the positive elements of ‘bad’ jobs and the more negative elements of ‘good’ ones.
Changes in Postmortem Identity and Grief
Authors: Doka Kenneth J.
Published: February 2017

This article reviews the concept of postmortem identity, noting its relationships to other concepts such as relational trauma. Identity is a very fluid concept that can change even after an individual's death as new information becomes available or even as social values change. Such modifications of postmortem identity can affect the course of bereavement-complication reactions to loss.
L’eschatologie « No life ». Incorporation et Avatarisation d’érémitisme digital
Authors: Servais Olivier
Published: February 2017

In this article we develop an analysis of No lifes, those whose horizon of sense has decided to anchor mostly in their virtual lives. These digital hermits, as they are classified by some, beyond the simplifying perspective of addicts of the digital universes, often prove to be practitioners of convictions, whose diversity of profiles testifies to the complexity of the paths and the axiological choices. Like new trajectories of conversion, these recluses of the 21st century appear as a contemporary, virtual, way of digital eschatology. After returning to the reasons that motivate players to withdraw from the world and take refuge in digital universes, we will show how an analogy with hermits is heuristically fertile.
The Feeling of Numbers: Emotions in Everyday Engagements with Data and Their Visualisation
Authors: Kennedy Helen , Hill Rosemary Lucy
Published: February 2017

This article highlights the role that emotions play in engagements with data and their visualisation. To date, the relationship between data and emotions has rarely been noted, in part because data studies have not attended to everyday engagements with data. We draw on an empirical study to show a wide range of emotional engagements with diverse aspects of data and their visualisation, and so demonstrate the importance of emotions as vital components of making sense of data. We nuance the argument that regimes of datafication, in which numbers, metrics and statistics dominate, are characterised by a renewed faith in objectivity and rationality, arguing that in datafied times, it is not only numbers but also the feeling of numbers that is important. We build on the sociology of (a) emotions and (b) the everyday to do this, and in so doing, we contribute to the development of a sociology of data.
Neo-traditional Child Surnaming in Contemporary China: Women’s Rights as Veiled Patriarchy
Authors: Qi Xiaoying
Published: February 2017

A sparse sociological literature on surnaming reports predominantly western cases. This article examines surnaming practices in present-day China, where married women universally retain their surname as part of a national political project. The one-child policy disrupts the practice of providing to a child his/her father’s surname. Wives from daughter-only families increasingly provide their surname to their child(ren). Various social forms of mother-surname-to-child practices are discussed, including those involving zhao-xu (uxorilocal marriage) and liang-tou-dun (‘two places to stay’). The article reports a gender strategy of mother-to-child surnaming that paradoxically enforces patriarchal inheritance and obligation. A concept, ‘veiled patriarchy’, is developed and applied to surnaming practices in contemporary China.