bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Managing a Colonoscopic Perforation in a Patient with No Abdominal Wall
Authors: George Jayan , Peirson Michael , Birks Samuel , Skinner Paul
Published: July 2018

We describe the case of a 37-year-old gentleman with Crohn’s disease and a complex surgical history including a giant incisional hernia with no abdominal wall. He presented on a Sunday to the general surgical on-call with a four-day history of generalised abdominal pain, nausea, and decreased stoma output following colonoscopy. After CT imaging, he was diagnosed with a large colonic perforation. Initially, he was worked up for theatre but following early senior input, a conservative approach with antibiotics was adopted. The patient improved significantly and is currently awaiting plastic surgery input for the management of his abdominal wall defect.
Diagnosis and Prognosis of Prostate Cancer from Circulating Matrix Metalloproteinases and Inhibitors
Authors: El-Chaer William Khalil , Moraes Clayton Franco , Nóbrega Otávio Toledo
Published: July 2018

Although prostate cancer (PCa) is the sixth most common type of neoplasm in the world and the second in prevalence among men (10% of all cases), there is shortage of studies focused on primary prevention of the disorder as well as little understanding on its pathophysiology. Currently, the PCa screening tools are the prostate specific antigen (PSA) dosage conjugated to rectal examination and confirmed by prostate biopsy. Despite the name, the PSA presents reduced specificity, being necessary the identification of new biomarkers that allow an earlier and more precise diagnosis and even better prognosis. Several studies have associated matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) to PCa tumorigenesis and metastasis. Most of the studies so far have been carried out by investigating in situ expression of the metalloproteinases, either by transcriptional measures or by immunohistochemistry with biopsy or postoperative tissue. Investigations in human plasma and serum are scarce, and a bibliographical search resulted in 17 studies which are presented and interpreted herein. This narrative review discusses their settings and findings along with aspects related to circulating metalloproteinases as potential biomarkers for diagnosis or prognosis of the prostatic malignancy, expressing the authors' reticent view on their applicability due to the poor quality of evidence available.
Regime-Switching Temperature Dynamics Model for Weather Derivatives
Authors: Gyamerah Samuel Asante , Ngare Philip , Ikpe Dennis
Published: July 2018

Weather is a key production factor in agricultural crop production and at the same time the most significant and least controllable source of peril in agriculture. These effects of weather on agricultural crop production have triggered a widespread support for weather derivatives as a means of mitigating the risk associated with climate change on agriculture. However, these products are faced with basis risk as a result of poor design and modelling of the underlying weather variable (temperature). In order to circumvent these problems, a novel time-varying mean-reversion Lévy regime-switching model is used to model the dynamics of the deseasonalized temperature dynamics. Using plots and test statistics, it is observed that the residuals of the deseasonalized temperature data are not normally distributed. To model the nonnormality in the residuals, we propose using the hyperbolic distribution to capture the semiheavy tails and skewness in the empirical distributions of the residuals for the shifted regime. The proposed regime-switching model has a mean-reverting heteroskedastic process in the base regime and a Lévy process in the shifted regime. By using the Expectation-Maximization algorithm, the parameters of the proposed model are estimated. The proposed model is flexible as it modelled the deseasonalized temperature data accurately.
Coffea canephora Peptides in Combinatorial Treatment with Fluconazole: Antimicrobial Activity against Phytopathogenic Fungus
Authors: Bard Gabriela C. V. , Taveira Gabriel B. , Souza Thaynã A. M. , Mello Érica O. , Souza Sávio B. , Ramos Alessandro C. , Carvalho André O. , Pereira Lídia S. , Zottich Umberto , Rodrigues Rosana , Gomes Valdirene M.
Published: July 2018

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the Cc-LTP2 and Cc-GRP peptides isolated from Coffea canephora seeds and their possible synergistic activity with the azole drug fluconazole and characterize their mechanisms of action on cells of pathogenic fungi. Cc-LTP2 and Cc-GRP alone or in combination with 20 µg/mL of fluconazole were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity on the fungus Fusarium solani, and the effects of these peptides on the permeability of membranes and the induction of oxidative stress were determined. Our results show that these peptides at a concentration of 400 µg/mL combined with 20 µg/mL of fluconazole were able to inhibit the growth of the tested fungi, promote changes in their growth pattern, permeabilize the membrane, and induce reactive oxygen species (ROS). Some of these results were also observed with the peptides alone or with fluconazole alone, suggesting that the peptides act synergistically, promoting the potentiation of antimicrobial action. In this study, it was shown that Cc-LTP2 and Cc-GRP in combination with fluconazole were able to inhibit the growth of the fungus F. solani, to promote permeabilization of its membrane, and to induce the production of ROS, suggesting a combinatorial activity between the peptides and fluconazole.
A Case Report on Chikungunya Virus-Associated Encephalomyelitis
Authors: Khatri Harsh , Shah Heli , Roy Dhara , Tripathi Kaushalendra Mani
Published: July 2018

Chikungunya is a rerising alphavirus infection that has resulted from enhanced vector competence. Alphaviruses are divided into arthritogenic viruses (old world) and encephalitogenic viruses (new world) including equine encephalitis viruses. Chikungunya is a dengue-like illness characterized by acute febrile polyarthralgia, arthritis, malaise, body ache, rash, headache, and nausea. The illness is self-limiting. The neurological manifestations are uncommon and incorporate meningoencephalitis, myelitis, Guillain–Barre syndrome, cranial nerve palsies, myelopathy, and neuropathy; MRI abnormalities in patients with encephalopathy from India have been reported in the form of multiple punctuate white matter lesions that are more prominent on diffusion-weighted MRI than on T2 or T1. Here, we present an intriguing case of chikungunya encephalomyelitis who presented to our tertiary care hospital with quadriparesis and urinary retention. He was treated with 5 doses of intravenous immunoglobulin along with supportive care with which he showed partial recovery.
A Security Framework for Cluster‐Based Wireless Sensor Networks against the Selfishness Problem
Authors: Ishaq Zeba , Park Seongjin , Yoo Younghwan
Published: July 2018

Over the last few decades, Cluster‐Based Wireless Sensor Networks (CBWSNs) have played a crucial role in handling various challenges (load balancing, routing, network lifetime, etc.) of large scale Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). However, the security becomes a big problem for CBWSNs, especially when nodes in the cluster selfishly behave, e.g., not forwarding other nodes’ data, to save their limited resources. This may make the cluster obsolete, even destroying the network. Thus, a way to guarantee the secure and consistent clusters is needed for proper working of CBWSNs. We showed that the selfishness attack, i.e., passive attack or insider attack, in CBWSNs can cause severe performance disaster, when particularly a cluster head node becomes selfish. In order to prevent this situation, this paper proposes a security framework that involves a novel clustering technique as well as a reputation system at nodes for controlling selfishness, making them cooperative and honest. The novelty of the clustering comes from the existence of inspector node (IN) to monitor the cluster head (CH) and its special working style. The experimental results showed that the proposed security framework can control the selfishness and improve the security of the clusters.
Vehicle Emission Factors for Particulate and Gaseous Pollutants in an Urban Tunnel in Xi’an, China
Authors: Zhao Danting , Chen Hong , Shao Haipeng , Sun Xiaoke
Published: July 2018

Urban tunnels are generally used to measure traffic-related particles and gas pollutant concentrations. To understand on-road vehicle emissions and update emission factors (EFs), traffic volume data and emissions of particulate matter smaller than 2.5 µm (PM2.5), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOX), hydrocarbon (HC), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for mixed vehicles were investigated at the Wenchang Gate-Peace Gate Tunnel in Xi’an over 11 days. An average fleet of 14,199 vehicles with mean speeds that ranged from 18 km·h−1 to 46 km·h−1 passed through the tunnel during the sampling period each day. A mass balance model and linear regression analysis were adopted to derive pollutant EFs for mixed vehicles, cars, and taxis, respectively. The results demonstrated that EFs during the night were higher than those during the day because goods vehicles are only allowed to travel from 22:00 to 07:00. Averaged EFs of PM2.5, CO, NOX, HC, and VOCs for the total fleet were 0.006 ± 0.005, 1.097 ± 0.398, 0.159 ± 0.092, 0.179 ± 0.089, and 0.317 ± 0.172 g·veh−1·km−1, respectively, lower than those reported from other literatures owing to the strict requirements of emission standards and improvements in vehicle technology. This method provides an approach to measure the EFs for different types of vehicles in urban traffic and evaluate traffic pollution in distinct areas.
Finite-Time Output Feedback Control for a Rigid Hydraulic Manipulator System
Authors: Hao Yong-Sheng , Su Zhi-Gang , Wang Xiangyu
Published: July 2018

The position tracking control problem of a hydraulic manipulator system is investigated. By utilizing homogeneity theory, a finite-time output feedback controller is designed. Firstly, a finite-time state feedback controller is developed based on homogeneity theory. Secondly, a nonlinear state observer is designed to estimate the manipulator’s velocity. A rigorous analysis process is presented to demonstrate the observer’s finite-time stability. Finally, the corresponding output feedback tracking controller is derived, which stabilizes the tracking error system in finite time. Simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the designed finite-time output feedback controller.
Stability Analysis of Solutions for a Kind of Integro-Differential Equations with a Delay
Authors: Zhao Jing , Meng Fanwei
Published: July 2018

Stability of zero solution for second-order integro-differential equations with a delay is analyzed and some new results are presented. Through constructing Lyapunov functional, we give the corresponding sufficient conditions on stability of zero solution for two integro-differential equations. Moreover, an illustrative example is considered to support our new results.
Study on the Deformation and Stress Analysis of the Sponge/Rubber Adapter
Authors: Zhong Jianlin , Ren Jie , Ma Dawei
Published: July 2018

The analysis of adaptors’ deformation and stress is an important prerequisite for the design of the adapters. This paper proposed the mathematical description and analytical method for the sponge cylinder and rubber cylinder under pressure. The analytical formulas on deformation and stress of interference fit between adapters and launchers are deduced. Also, the correctness of the analytical formula is verified by numerical simulation. Furthermore, the effect of precompression and the sponge’s thickness ratio on adapter’s deformation and stress is studied. The following results can be concluded: the results of numerical simulation are basically consistent with that of analytical formula. After installing the adapter into the launcher, the rubber layer will move inward as a whole, then the sponge layer and the rubber layer are subjected to radial and tangential compressive stress. When the precompression is smaller than 0.0075 or larger than 0.0015, the deformation and stress of adapter are approximately in proportion to precompression. If the precompression keeps constant, the deformation and stress of adapter will have extremum when the thickness ratio of sponge equals to a certain value.
Physical Activity, Global DNA Methylation, and Breast Cancer Risk: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Boyne Devon J. , O'Sullivan Dylan E. , Olij Branko F. , King Will D. , Friedenreich Christine M. , Brenner Darren R.
Published: July 2018

The extent to which physical activity reduces breast cancer risk through changes in global DNA methylation is unknown. We systematically identified studies that investigated the association between: (i) physical activity and global DNA methylation; or (ii) global DNA methylation and breast cancer risk. Associations were quantified using random-effects models. Heterogeneity was investigated through subgroup analyses and the Q-test and I2 statistics. Twenty-four studies were reviewed. We observed a trend between higher levels of physical activity and higher levels of global DNA methylation [pooled standardized mean difference = 0.19; 95% confidence interval (CI), −0.03–0.40; P = 0.09] which, in turn, had a suggestive association with a reduced breast cancer risk (pooled relative risk = 0.70; 95% CI, 0.49–1.02; P = 0.06). In subgroup analyses, a positive association between physical activity and global DNA methylation was observed among studies assessing physical activity over long periods of time (P = 0.02). Similarly, the association between global DNA methylation and breast cancer was statistically significant for prospective cohort studies (P = 0.007). Despite the heterogeneous evidence base, the literature suggests that physical activity reduces the risk of breast cancer through increased global DNA methylation. This study is the first to systematically overview the complete biologic pathway between physical activity, global DNA methylation, and breast cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 27(11); 1320–31. ©2018 AACR.
Clinical Outcome of Twice-Weekly Hemodialysis Patients with Long-Term Dialysis Vintage
Authors: Lin Xinghui , Gu Leyi , Zhu Mingli , Che Miaolin , Yu Zanzhe , Cai Hong , Ni Zhaohui , Zhang Weiming
Published: July 2018

Background/Aims: Twice-weekly hemodialysis(HD) is prevalent in the developing countries, scarce data are available for this treatment in patients with long-term dialysis vintage. Methods: 106 patients with more than 5 years HD vintage undergoing twice-weekly HD or thrice-weekly HD in a hemodialysis center in Shanghai between December 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013 were enrolled into the cohort study with 3 years follow-up. Kaplan–Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare patient survival between the two groups. Subgroup analysis of 62 patients more than 10 years HD vintage was also performed according to their different dialysis frequency. Results: Compared with patients on thrice-weekly HD, twice-weekly HD patients had significantly longer HD session time and higher single-pool Kt/V (spKt/V) (session time, 4.59±0.45 vs 4.14±0.31 hours/per session, P< 0.001; spKt/V, 2.12±0.31 vs 1.83±0.30, P< 0.001). Kaplan–Meier survival analysis indicated that the two groups had similar survival (P=0.983). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that age and time-dependent serum albumin were predictors of patient mortality. Subgroup analysis of 62 patients more than 10 years HD vintage also indicated that the two groups had similar survival. During the follow-up, 4 patients dropped out from the twice-weekly HD group and transferred to thrice-weekly HD. Conclusion: The similar survival between twice-weekly HD and thrice-weekly HD in patients with long-term dialysis vintage is likely relating to patient selection, individualized treatment for dialysis patients based on clinical features and socioeconomic factors remains a tough task for the clinicians.
The Effect of Mecp2 on Heart Failure
Authors: Wang Chunli , Wang Fei , Cao Qing , Li Zhen , Huang Liya , Chen Shuyan
Published: July 2018

Background/Aims: Heart failure is the end result of various kinds of cardiovascular diseases. It has a high rate of morbidity and mortality. This article aims to determine the effect of MeCP2, a key epigenetic regulator, on heart failure. Methods: The genes associated with heart failure were selected and analyzed using Gene Ontology (GO) term analysis and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. Significantly up- or downregulated genes in a heart failure animal model were identified, and the genes that had the same or opposite alteration trends as MeCP2 were also recognized. Eighteen hub genes were picked based on topological parameters, and then aberrantly expressed genes with MeCP2 overexpression or knockout were analyzed by GO term, KEGG pathway and PPI analyses. Results: MeCP2 was downregulated in the heart failure animal model. Through comparison and alignment, 10 dysregulated genes were selected from the 18 hub genes (JAK1, SETD1B, HRC, TTN, LYZ2, TPM3, MYH11, MYH6, ALOX5AP, DECR1). These genes were mainly enriched in cytoskeletal regulation mediated by Rho GTPase and inflammation mediated by chemokine and cytokine signaling pathways. Conclusions: These dysregulated genes provide a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of the effect of MeCP2 on heart failure and might be used as targets and prognostic markers of heart failure.
Interleukin-35 Suppresses the Antitumor Activity of T Cells in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Wang Hong-Min , Zhang Xiao-Hong , Feng Ming-Ming , Qiao Yan-Jun , Ye Li-Qun , Chen Jing , Fan Fei-Fei , Guo Lin-Lin
Published: July 2018

Background/Aims: Interleukin (IL)-35 has immunosuppressive functions in autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, and certain cancers. However, few studies have focused on its immunoregulatory activity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Thus, we investigated the role of IL-35 in the pathogenesis of this disease. Methods: A total of 66 NSCLC patients and 21 healthy individuals were enrolled. IL-35 expression in peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was measured. The modulatory functions of IL-35 on purified CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from NSCLC patients were investigated in direct and indirect coculture systems with NSCLC cell lines. Results: IL-35 expression was significantly increased in BALF from the tumor site, but not in the peripheral blood of NSCLC patients. IL-35 did not affect the bioactivity including proliferation, cytokine production, cell cycle, and cellular invasion of NSCLC cells. It suppressed responses from type 1 T helper (Th1) and Th17 cells but elevated the regulatory T cell response in cultured CD4+ T cells from NSCLC patients, and reduced cytokine-mediated CD4+ T cells cytotoxicity to NSCLC cells. Moreover, IL-35 also inhibited cytotoxic gene expression in CD8+ T cells from NSCLC, reducing their cytolytic and noncytolytic functions. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that IL-35 contributes to the dysfunction/exhaustion of T cells and limited antitumor immune responses in NSCLC.
Salivary Circular RNAs Hsa_Circ_0001874 and Hsa_Circ_0001971 as Novel Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Zhao Si-Yu , Wang Jun , Ouyang Shao-Bo , Huang Zi-Kun , Liao Lan
Published: July 2018

Background/Aims: Recent studies have demonstrated that circular RNAs (circRNAs) can serve as potential molecular markers for disease diagnosis. However, little is known about their diagnostic potential for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This study aimed to determine the expression of circRNAs in the saliva of OSCC patients to identify novel biomarkers for OSCC screening. Methods: Microarray screening of circRNA was performed to identify differentially expressed circRNAs in saliva from 3 OSCC patients compared with 3 healthy controls. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to validate the results, and the association between these confirmed salivary circRNAs and clinicopathological features was analyzed using the chi-squared test. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to evaluate the diagnostic value of the circRNAs identified. Preoperative expression and postoperative expression (1 month after the surgery) of hsa_circ_0001874 and hsa_circ_0001971 was also determined. Results: Our results indicated 12 upregulated and 20 downregulated circRNAs in the saliva from the OSCC patients compared with that from the healthy controls. Among the differentially expressed circRNAs, hsa_circ_0001874, hsa_circ_0001971, and hsa_circ_0008068 were upregulated and hsa_circ_0000140, hsa_circ_0002632, and hsa_circ_0008792 were downregulated in the OSCC group versus the healthy group. Clinical data indicated that salivary hsa_circ_0001874 was correlated with TNM stage (P=0.006) and tumor grade (P=0.023) and that hsa_circ_0001971 was correlated with TNM stage (P=0.019). The combination of hsa_circ_0001874 and hsa_circ_0001971 showed an area under the ROC curve of 0.922 (95% confidence interval, 0.883-0.961; P< 0.001). The risk score based on the combination of hsa_circ_0001874 and hsa_circ_0001971 also discriminated patients with OSCC from patients with oral leukoplakia (P< 0.001). Moreover, the expression levels of salivary hsa_circ_0001874 and hsa_circ_0001971 were clearly decreased in the postoperative samples compared with preoperative samples (P< 0.001). Conclusions: This is the first study to demonstrate the potential of salivary hsa_circ_0001874 and hsa_circ_0001971 as biomarkers for the diagnosis of OSCC.
Placental Growth Factor Mediates Crosstalk Between Lung Cancer Cells and Tumor-Associated Macrophages in Controlling Cancer Vascularization and Growth
Authors: He Changjun , Zhu Kaibin , Bai Xue , Li Yingbin , Sun Dawei , Lang Yaoguo , Ning Jinfeng , Sun Fenglin , Qu Changfa , Xu Shidong
Published: July 2018

Background/Aims: Assistance with tumor-associated vascularization is needed for the growth and invasion of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Recently, it was shown that placental growth factor (PLGF) expressed by NSCLC cells had a critical role in promoting the metastasis of NSCLC cells. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Methods: Here, we first established a NSCLC model in mice that allows us not only to isolate tumor cells from non-tumor cells in the tumor, but also to trace tumor cells in living animals. Levels of PLGF, its unique receptor Flt-1, as well as transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) was examined in tumor cells and tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) by RT-qPCR. A transwell well co-culture system and HUVEC assay were applied to study the crosstalk between NSCLC cells and TAM. Results: NSCLC cells produced and secreted PLGF to signal to tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) through surface expression of Flt-1 on macrophages. In a transwell co-culture system, PLGF secreted by NSCLC cells triggered macrophage polarization to a TAM subtype that promote growth of NSCLC cells. Moreover, polarized TAM seemed to secrete TGFβ1 to enhance the growth of endothelial cells in a HUVEC assay. Conclusion: The cross-talk between TAM and NSCLC cells via PLGF/Flt-1 and TGFβ receptor signaling may promote the growth and vascularization of NSCLC.
Association of Multivitamin and Mineral Supplementation and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Kim Joonseok , Choi Jaehyoung , Kwon Soo Young , McEvoy John W. , Blaha Michael J. , Blumenthal Roger S. , Guallar Eliseo , Zhao Di , Michos Erin D.
Published: July 2018

Background:

Multiple studies have attempted to identify the association between multivitamin/mineral (MVM) supplementation and cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes, but the benefits remain controversial. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the associations between MVM supplementation and various CVD outcomes, including coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke.

Methods and Results:

We conducted a comprehensive search of Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for studies published between January 1970 and August 2016. We included clinical trials and prospective cohort studies in the general population evaluating associations between MVM supplementation and CVD outcomes. Data extraction and quality assessment were independently conducted by 2 authors, and a third author resolved discrepancies. Eighteen studies with 2 019 862 participants and 18 363 326 person-years of follow-up were included in the analysis. Five studies specified the dose/type of MVM supplement and the rest did not. Overall, there was no association between MVM supplementation and CVD mortality (relative risk [RR], 1.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.97–1.04), CHD mortality (RR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.92–1.13), stroke mortality (RR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.82–1.09), or stroke incidence (RR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.91–1.05). There was no association between MVM supplements and CVD or CHD mortality in prespecified subgroups categorized by mean follow-up period, mean age, period of MVM use, sex, type of population, exclusion of patients with history of CHD, and adjustment for diet, adjustment for smoking, adjustment for physical activity, and study site. In contrast, MVM use did seem to be associated with a lower risk of CHD incidence (RR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.79–0.97). However, this association did not remain significant in the pooled subgroup analysis of randomized controlled trials (RR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.80–1.19).

Conclusions:

Our meta-analysis of clinical trials and prospective cohort studies demonstrates that MVM supplementation does not improve cardiovascular outcomes in the general population.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Remch Molly , Laskaris Zoey , Flory Janine , Mora-McLaughlin Consuelo , Morabia Alfredo
Published: July 2018

Background:

We sought to determine whether post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a risk factor for myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke, beyond the expected effects from recognized cardiovascular risk factors and depression.

Methods and Results:

World Trade Center–Heart is an observational prospective cohort study of 6481 blue-collar first responders nested within the World Trade Center Health Program in New York City. Baseline measures in 2012 and 2013 included blood pressure, weight and height, and blood lipids. PTSD, depression, smoking, and dust exposure during the 2001 cleanup were self-reported. During the 4-year follow-up, outcomes were assessed through (1) interview-based incident, nonfatal MI, and stroke, validated in medical charts (n=118); and (2) hospitalizations for MI and stroke for New York city and state residents (n=180). Prevalence of PTSD was 19.9% in men and 25.9% in women, that is, at least twice that of the general population. Cumulative incidence of MI or stroke was consistently larger for men or women with PTSD across follow-up. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) were 2.22 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30–3.82) for MI and 2.51 (95% CI, 1.39–4.57) for stroke. For pooled MI and stroke, adjusted HRs were 2.35 (95% CI, 1.57–3.52) in all and 1.88 (95% CI, 1.01–3.49) in men free of depression. Using hospitalization registry data, adjusted HRs were 2.17 (95% CI, 1.41–3.32) for MI; 3.01 (95% CI, 1.84–4.93) for stroke; and for pooled MI and stroke, the adjusted HR was 2.40 (95% CI, 1.73–3.34) in all, HR was 2.44 (95% CI, 1.05–5.55) in women, and adjusted HR was 2.27 (95% CI, 1.41–3.67) in men free of depression. World Trade Center dust exposure had no effect.

Conclusions:

This cohort study confirms that PTSD is a risk factor for MI and stroke of similar magnitude in men and women, independent of depression.
Prior Intravenous Stroke Thrombolysis Does Not Increase Complications of Carotid Endarterectomy
Authors: Ijäs Petra , Aro Ellinoora , Eriksson Henrietta , Vikatmaa Pirkka , Soinne Lauri , Venermo Maarit
Published: July 2018

Background and Purpose—

Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is recommended within 14 days after carotid artery stroke to prevent recurrence. However, the optimal timing of CEA after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) remains unclear. We studied the safety of CEA after IVT while taking into account both stroke recurrence and CEA-related complications.

Methods—

Patients who underwent IVT followed by CEA in Helsinki University Hospital 2005 to 2016 were withdrawn from prospectively collected registers. The incidence of stroke recurrence during the time between IVT and CEA, peri/postoperative stroke, hyperperfusion syndrome or drug-resistant high blood pressure, and 3-month outcome measured by modified Rankin Scale was recorded. Stroke patients treated with CEA without preceding IVT were used as controls.

Results—

Altogether 128 CEAs with preceding IVT and 777 CEAs for stroke without IVT were identified. The median time from IVT to CEA was 9 days (range, 0–349 days; interquartile range, 16). Seven patients (5.5%) underwent CEA within 24 hours, 20 (15.6%) within 48 hours and 87 (68.0%) within 2 weeks from IVT. Stroke recurrence in IVT-CEA patients was 5.5% at median 4 days after IVT (range, 0–8 days). Outcome from CEAs performed within 48 hours from IVT did not differ from CEAs performed later with respect to peri/postoperative ischemic strokes (5.0% and 3.7%), hemorrhagic strokes (5.0% and 1.9%), neck hematomas (5.0% and 8.3%), myocardial infarctions (0.0% and 0.9%), or 3-month modified Rankin Scale. There was a tendency toward higher incidence of hyperperfusion syndrome in the patients operated within 48 hours from IVT (20.0% versus 6.5%;
P
=0.070). The CEA-related stroke rate was similar to that of the operation without thrombolysis. Only smoking was significantly associated with peri/postoperative stroke (odds ratio, 21.82; 95% confidence interval, 1.08–439.58).

Conclusions—

Time between IVT and CEA was not associated with CEA-related complications. The high rate of stroke recurrence during the waiting time for CEA underscores the importance of shortening surgery delays.
Contextual effects on explicature
Authors: Carston Robyn , Hall Alison
Published: July 2018

The debate between advocates of free pragmatic enrichment and those who maintain that any pragmatic contribution to explicature is mediated by a covert linguistic indexical took a new turn with the claim that these covert elements may be optional (Martí, 2006). This prompted the conclusion (Recanati, 2010b) that there is no longer any issue of substance between the two positions, as both involve optional elements of utterance meaning, albeit registered at different representational levels (conceptual or linguistic). We maintain, on the contrary, that the issue remains substantive and we make the case that, for a theory of the processes involved in utterance comprehension, the free pragmatic enrichment account is indispensable. We further argue that the criticism of free enrichment that motivates at least some indexicalist accounts rests on a mistaken assumption that it is the semantic component of the grammar (linguistic competence) that is responsible for delivering truth-conditional content (explicature).
Novitates neocaledonicae VII: A new monocaulous species of Bocquillonia (Euphorbiaceae) from New Caledonia
Authors: BRUY DAVID , BARRABÉ LAURE , MUNZINGER JÉRÔME
Published: July 2018

A new species of Euphorbiaceae, Bocquillonia corneri, narrowly endemic to the extreme north-east of New Caledonia’s main island, is here highlighted, described and illustrated, based on original morphological and architectural characteristics. This new species differs notably by its unique monocaulous tree habit, while other Bocquillonia species are ramified shrubs, small monocaulous shrubs or well reiterated trees. A previous identification key to Bocquillonia species is expanded to include this new species. Bocquillonia corneri is located in a very confined gully forest at low-elevation on volcano-sedimentary substrate. A preliminary IUCN conservation status of Critically Endangered (CR) is proposed.
Catalogue of the Egyptian Ephydroidea (Diptera: Schizophora: Acalyptratae)
Authors: EL-HAWAGRY MAGDI S. , ZATWARNICKI TADEUSZ , EBRAHIM AYMAN M.
Published: July 2018

We present a catalogue of all known taxa of the superfamily Ephydroidea in Egypt. Old World synonymies, type localities, type depositories, world distributions by biogeographic realm(s) and country, Egyptian localities and dates of collection are provided. A total number of 117 species belonging to 45 genera, 18 tribes, 7 subfamilies, and representing 3 families has been catalogued. The treated families are: Ephydridae (shore flies or brine flies), Drosophilidae (vinegar flies or fruit flies) and Braulidae (bee lice). One shore fly species, Psilopa clara (Wollaston, 1858), is recorded for the first time from Egypt. Two new synonyms of shore flies are proposed, namely: Philotelma ulianai Raffone, 2011 = Ephydra (Ephydra) macellaria Egger, 1862 and Notiphila rufitarsis Macquart, 1851 = Allotrichoma biroi Cresson, 1929. Lectotypes are designated for three shore fly species, namely: Psilopa pectinata Hendel, 1931; Rhynchopsilopa nitidissima Hendel, 1931 and Notiphila rufitarsis Macquart, 1851.
New species and records of Cheiromyia Dyte from Brazil and French Guiana (Diptera: Dolichopodidae)
Authors: BROOKS SCOTT E. , CUMMING JEFFREY M. , LIMEIRA-DE-OLIVEIRA FRANCISCO , POLLET MARC
Published: July 2018

Cheiromyia carolina Limeira-de-Oliveira & Brooks sp. nov. and C. nordestina Limeira-de-Oliveira & Cumming sp. nov. are described from Brazil, and C. fuscipennis Pollet & Brooks sp. nov. is described from the Mitaraka Mountains in southwestern French Guiana. New distribution records are reported for C. brevitarsis Brooks, C. palmaticornis (Parent) and C. pennaticornis (Parent), and a revised key to males of the eight known species of Cheiromyia Dyte, 1980 is provided. The female of C. pennaticornis is also described for the first time.
Redescription of the mysid Petalophthalmus armiger Willemoes-Suhm, 1875 (Crustacea: Mysida: Petalophthalmidae) and distribution off western Mexico
Authors: HENDRICKX M.E. , HERNÁNDEZ-PAYÁN J.C.
Published: July 2018

Specimens of Petalophthalmus armiger Willemoes-Suhm, 1875, were collected off western Mexico during a deep-water survey. Six males and 32 females were obtained from 18 sampling localities in western Mexico. The species is redescribed in detail, including illustrations of body and appendages, and SEM photographs of the mandibles. The new material indicates that P. armiger is widely distributed in the area and more common than previously thought in the eastern Pacific. Samples indicate that P. armiger inhabits water far offshore, where total depth exceeds 1000 m. Due to the lack of discrete samplings in the water column, however, the precise depth interval where P. armiger occurs cannot be defined.
On two new synonyms of the orb-weaving spider Orsinome vethi (Hasselt, 1882) (Araneae, Tetragnathidae)
Authors: CALEB JOHN T.D. , GHOSH DIBYAJYOTI , KUMAR VIKAS
Published: July 2018

The genus Orsinome was established by Thorell in 1890 with O. vethi (Hasselt, 1882) as the type species. It presently comprises 17 described species (World Spider Catalog 2018), of which two are known from India: O. armata Pocock, 1901 and O. listeri Gravely, 1921 (World Spider Catalog 2018). While studying spiders from the Indian Himalayas and north-East India, we examined the type specimens of Labulla nepula Tikader, 1970 and found it to be misidentified and placed erroneously in the family Linyphiidae Blackwall, 1859. Moreover, Orsinome listeri Gravely, 1921 described from the Eastern Himalayas was also found to be indistinguishable from O. vethi (Hasselt, 1882). In this paper, we provide detailed illustrations of the types of L. nepula Tikader and O. listeri Gravely and synonymize it with O. vethi (Hasselt, 1882) based on the cheliceral dentition and genital morphological characters.
Monin–Obukhov Similarity and Local-Free-Convection Scaling in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer Using Matched Asymptotic Expansions
Authors: Tong Chenning , Ding Mengjie
Published: July 2018

The Monin–Obukhov similarity theory (MOST) is the foundation for understanding the atmospheric surface layer. It hypothesizes that nondimensional surface-layer statistics are functions of [Formula: see text] only, where z and L are the distance from the ground and the Obukhov length, respectively. In particular, it predicts that in the convective surface layer, local free convection (LFC) occurs at heights [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is the inversion height. However, as a hypothesis, MOST is based on phenomenology. In this work we derive MOST and the LFC scaling from the equations for the velocity and potential temperature variances using the method of matched asymptotic expansions. Our analysis shows that the dominance of the buoyancy and shear production in the outer ([Formula: see text]) and inner ([Formula: see text]) layers, respectively, results in a nonuniformly valid solution and a singular perturbation problem and that [Formula: see text] is the thickness of the inner layer. The inner solutions are found to be functions of [Formula: see text] only, providing a proof of MOST for the vertical velocity and potential temperature variances. Matching between the inner and outer solutions results in the LFC scaling. We then obtain the corrections to the LFC scaling near the edges of the LFC region ([Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]). The nondimensional coefficients in the expansions are determined using measurements. The resulting composite expansions provide unified expressions for the variance profiles in the convective atmospheric surface layer and show very good agreement with the data. This work provides strong analytical support for MOST.
A Turbulence Scheme with Two Prognostic Turbulence Energies
Authors: Ďurán Ivan Bašták , Geleyn Jean-François , Váňa Filip , Schmidli Juerg , Brožková Radmila
Published: July 2018

A new turbulence scheme with two prognostic energies is presented. The scheme is an extension of a turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) scheme following the ideas of Zilitinkevich et al. but valid for the whole stability range and including the influence of moisture. The second turbulence prognostic energy is used only for a modification of the stability parameter. Thus, the scheme is downgradient, and the turbulent fluxes are proportional to the local gradients of the diffused variables. However, the stability parameter and consequently the turbulent exchange coefficients are not strictly local anymore and have a prognostic character. The authors believe that these characteristics enable the scheme to model both turbulence and clouds in the planetary boundary layer. The two-energy scheme was tested in three idealized single-column model (SCM) simulations, two in the convective boundary layer and one in the stable boundary layer. Overall, the scheme performs better than the standard TKE schemes. Compared to the TKE schemes, the two-energy scheme shows a more continuous behavior in time and space and mixes deeper in accordance with the LES results. A drawback of the scheme is that the modeled thermals tend to be too intense and too infrequent. This is due to the particular cutoff formulation of the chosen length-scale parameterization. Long-term three-dimensional global simulations show that the turbulence scheme behaves reasonable well in a full atmospheric model. In agreement with the SCM simulations, the scheme tends to overestimate cloud cover, especially at low levels.
Strong Modulation of the Pacific Meridional Mode on the Occurrence of Intense Tropical Cyclones over the Western North Pacific
Authors: Gao Si , Zhu Langfeng , Zhang Wei , Chen Zhifan
Published: July 2018

This study finds a significant positive correlation between the Pacific meridional mode (PMM) index and the frequency of intense tropical cyclones (TCs) over the western North Pacific (WNP) during the peak TC season (June–November). The PMM influences the occurrence of intense TCs mainly by modulating large-scale dynamical conditions over the main development region. During the positive PMM phase, anomalous off-equatorial heating in the eastern Pacific induces anomalous low-level westerlies (and cyclonic flow) and upper-level easterlies (and anticyclonic flow) over a large portion of the main development region through a Matsuno–Gill-type Rossby wave response. The resulting weaker vertical wind shear and larger low-level relative vorticity favor the genesis of intense TCs over the southeastern part of the WNP and their subsequent intensification over the main development region. The PMM index would therefore be a valuable predictor for the frequency of intense TCs over the WNP.
On the Use of Cost-Effective Valid-Time-Shifting (VTS) Method to Increase Ensemble Size in the GFS Hybrid 4DEnVar System
Authors: Huang Bo , Wang Xuguang
Published: July 2018

Valid-time-shifting (VTS) ensembles, either in the form of full ensemble members (VTSM) or ensemble perturbations (VTSP), were investigated as inexpensive means to increase ensemble size in the NCEP Global Forecast System (GFS) hybrid four-dimensional ensemble–variational (4DEnVar) data assimilation system. VTSM is designed to sample timing and/or phase errors, while VTSP can eliminate spurious covariances through temporal smoothing. When applying a shifting time interval (τ = 1, 2, or 3 h), VTSM and VTSP triple the baseline background ensemble size from 80 (ENS80) to 240 (ENS240) in the EnVar variational update, where the overall cost is only increased by 23%–27%, depending on the selected τ. Experiments during a 10-week summer period show the best-performing VTSP with τ = 2 h improves global temperature and wind forecasts out to 5 days over ENS80. This could be attributed to the improved background ensemble distribution, ensemble correlation accuracy, and increased effective rank in the populated background ensemble. VTSM generally degrades global forecasts in the troposphere. Improved global forecasts above 100 hPa by VTSM may benefit from the increased spread that alleviates the underdispersiveness of the original background ensemble at such levels. Both VTSM and VTSP improve tropical cyclone track forecasts over ENS80. Although VTSM and VTSP are much less expensive than directly running a 240-member background ensemble, owing to the improved ensemble covariances, the best-performing VTSP with τ = 1 h performs comparably or only slightly worse than ENS240. The best-performing VTSM with τ = 3 h even shows more accurate track forecasts than ENS240, likely contributed to by its better sampling of timing and/or phase errors for cases with small ensemble track spread.
The sovereignty of political economy: The Garos in a pre-conquest and early conquest era
Authors: Misra Sanghamitra
Published: July 2018

The article is an inquiry into the elision of an image—that of the cotton-producing Garo—in the colonial archive. It situates this inquiry within the pre- and early colonial era where it is still possible to uncover elements of the irrefutable sovereign presence of Garos in eastern India as well as of the regional economic and political system through which the Garo social being makes itself historically visible. Parsing together a narrative of the Garo political order in this period, the article will discuss the ways in which the sovereignty of a people was pivoted around the production and trade in cotton. Rescuing the image of the cotton-producing Garo from the colonial archive is also a retracing of the seamless becoming of the Garo peasant, as adept at working with the hoe as with the plough, into a cotton trader who embarked on long journeys on foot and on boats every cotton season to the lowlands. The article will also probe into the germaneness of the concept of the ‘hill/forest tribe’ with the sedentary plainsman as its oppositional image and the embedding of ethnicity in circumscribed ‘natural’ habitats in eastern India by the colonial state.
Measurement method of screw thread geometric error based on machine vision
Authors: Min Jing
Published: July 2018

In order to solve manual operation and low detection efficiency in the measurement of thread geometric error, machine vision and optical enlargement are adopted to measure the high-precision geometric error of thread. For screw thread edge image characteristics, a new method using 67.5° and 112.5° improved Sobel templates to obtain the edge of image was put forward, and we calibrated the system using self-calibration method. The geometric error measurement system of screw thread was designed. The geometric error of screw thread, such as pitch, angle and diameter of screw, were calculated by extracting the coordinates of image edge. The system can be concluded that the method of machine vision, whose linear precision is less than 10 μm, can be used to detect the comprehensive parameters of screw thread. The designed measurement system was intuitive, efficient and easy to operate. It can be used in modern manufacturing and has values in generalized application.
Stigma, extreme poverty and residential situation: Residential segregation, household conditions and social relationship satisfaction among trash pickers in León, Nicaragua
Authors: Vázquez José Juan , Suarez Alexia , Berríos Alberto
Published: July 2018

This study analyses the housing characteristics, residential situation, household conditions and satisfaction with social relations of trash pickers ( N = 99) in León, Nicaragua. Results show that the trash pickers in León live in slum households. A large percentage of the trash pickers live in a situation of residential segregation, although a substantial number of them are scattered across different neighbourhoods in the city. However, this does not seem to affect the widespread social rejection perceived by those interviewed. The trash pickers live in overcrowded conditions, despite reporting a high level of satisfaction with their relationships with their relatives.
“It’s Awful When We Get It Wrong”: An Exploratory Qualitative Study of Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors’ Perspectives on Suicide
Authors: Lund Emily M. , Schultz Jared C. , Thomas Katie B. , Nadorff Michael R. , Chowdhury Dalia , Galbraith Kate
Published: July 2018

Despite the high prevalence of suicide among people with disabilities, little research has explored suicide in the context of the vocational rehabilitation (VR) system. We analyzed the responses of 27 VR counselors who responded to an open-ended qualitative prompt regarding their experiences with suicide training and competency. Key themes included a desire for more training on suicide and the experience of seeking and receiving suicide training and experience outside of VR. Responses also underscored the heavy emotional impact of working with suicidal clients, especially when one feels unprepared to do so. These results suggest that it is important to provide VR counselors with resources and training for addressing suicide in their client populations.
Impulsivity Kills Some Who Did Not Plan to Die by Suicide: Evidence From Chinese Rural Youths
Authors: Lin Lin , Zhao Sibo , Zhang Jie
Published: July 2018

This study aimed to compare the mental disorders, psychological factors, and suicidal intent between high- and low-impulsivity Chinese rural young suicides. Rural young women and men aged 15 to 34 years who died by suicide and various risk factors were examined. The data were obtained using psychological autopsy method with instruments as Dysfunctional Impulsivity Scale, the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R, Beck Hopeless Scale, Social Support Index, Coping Response Inventory, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and Beck Suicide Intent Scale. Compared with low-impulsivity suicides, the high-impulsivity suicides were younger, had less mental disorders, owned less social support, scored lower on approach coping and higher on avoidance coping, and scored a lower score on the Suicide Intent Scale. Characteristics of high-impulsivity suicides differed significantly from low-impulsivity suicides in rural China. It was important to develop different prevention and intervention strategies to reduce the suicide rate in China.