bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Functional Neuroimaging in Psychopathy
Authors: Del Casale Antonio , Kotzalidis Georgios D. , Rapinesi Chiara , Di Pietro Simone , Alessi Maria Chiara , Di Cesare Gianluigi , Criscuolo Silvia , De Rossi Pietro , Tatarelli Roberto , Girardi Paolo , Ferracuti Stefano
Published: November 2015

Background and Aim: Psychopathy is associated with cognitive and affective deficits causing disruptive, harmful and selfish behaviour. These have considerable societal costs due to recurrent crime and property damage. A better understanding of the neurobiological bases of psychopathy could improve therapeutic interventions, reducing the related social costs. To analyse the major functional neural correlates of psychopathy, we reviewed functional neuroimaging studies conducted on persons with this condition. Methods: We searched the PubMed database for papers dealing with functional neuroimaging and psychopathy, with a specific focus on how neural functional changes may correlate with task performances and human behaviour. Results: Psychopathy-related behavioural disorders consistently correlated with dysfunctions in brain areas of the orbitofrontal-limbic (emotional processing and somatic reaction to emotions; behavioural planning and responsibility taking), anterior cingulate-orbitofrontal (correct assignment of emotional valence to social stimuli; violent/aggressive behaviour and challenging attitude) and prefrontal-temporal-limbic (emotional stimuli processing/response) networks. Dysfunctional areas more consistently included the inferior frontal, orbitofrontal, dorsolateral prefrontal, ventromedial prefrontal, temporal (mainly the superior temporal sulcus) and cingulated cortices, the insula, amygdala, ventral striatum and other basal ganglia. Conclusions: Emotional processing and learning, and several social and affective decision-making functions are impaired in psychopathy, which correlates with specific changes in neural functions.
Assessment of Liver Function Using 99mTc-Mebrofenin Hepatobiliary Scintigraphy in ALPPS (Associating Liver Partition and Portal Vein Ligation for Staged Hepatectomy)
Authors: Cieslak Kasia P. , Olthof Pim B. , van Lienden Krijn P. , Besselink Marc G. , Busch Olivier R.C. , van Gulik Thomas M. , Bennink Roelof J.
Published: November 2015

ALPPS (associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy) is a new surgical technique for patients in whom conventional treatment is not feasible due to insufficient future remnant liver (FRL). During the first stage of ALPPS, accelerated hypertrophy of the FRL is induced by ligation of the portal vein and in situ split of the liver. In the second stage, the deportalized liver is removed when the FRL volume has reached ≥25% of total liver volume. However, FRL volume does not necessarily reflect FRL function. 99mTc-mebrofenin hepatobiliary scintigraphy (HBS) with SPECT-CT is a quantitative test enabling regional assessment of parenchymal uptake function using a validated cut-off value for the prediction of postoperative liver failure (2.7%/min/m2). This paper describes the changes in FRL function and FRL volume in a 79-year-old patient diagnosed with metachronous colonic liver metastases who underwent ALPPS. We have observed a substantial difference between the increase in FRL volume and FRL function suggesting that HBS with SPECT-CT enables monitoring of the FRL function and could be a useful tool in the timing of resection in the second stage of the ALPPS procedure.
Efficacy and Safety of Citalopram in Treating Post-Stroke Depression: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Tan Shuai , Huang Xinyi , Ding Lei , Hong Hua
Published: November 2015

Background and Purpose: To evaluate the citalopram in post-stroke depression treatment, we compared its use to other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), and traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). Methods: We searched databases up to May 2015. Relative risk (RR) for dichotomous data and standard mean difference (SMD) for continuous variables were analyzed using Stata 13.1. Results: The RR of the efficacy index compared to TCAs was 1.07 (95% CI 1.01-1.14, p = 0.02), and the Hamilton Depression Scale with citalopram was lower than that found with other SSRIs (SMD -0.43, 95% CI -0.85 to -0.01, p < 0.05) and TCAs (SMD -0.31, 95% CI -0.50 to -0.12, p < 0.05) in 6-week. The Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale with citalopram was lower than that with other SSRIs (SMD -0.33, 95% CI -0.56 to -0.10, p = 0.01, 1-week). The p values were all >0.05 on citalopram vs. TCMs. Conclusions: The efficacy of citalopram maybe not very significant compared to that of other SSRIs or TCAs. But citalopram has fewer side effects especially in the first week. We, however, need further researches to compare citalopram to TCMs in future.
Mapping of the Retrotransposable Elements Rex1 and Rex3 in Chromosomes of Eigenmannia (Teleostei, Gymnotiformes, Sternopygidae)
Authors: de Sene Viviani F. , Pansonato-Alves José C. , Ferreira Daniela C. , Utsunomia Ricardo , Oliveira Claudio , Foresti Fausto
Published: November 2015

Transposable elements constitute a remarkable fraction of the eukaryote genome and show particular capacity to move and insert in specific regions of the genome. This study identified the retrotransposable elements Rex1 and Rex3 in the genomes of 6 cytotypes of Eigenmannia. The sequences were isolated by PCR, sequenced and physically mapped in the chromosomes of these cytotypes, aiming to investigate the organization and distribution of these elements in this fish group, mainly in the sex chromosomes. The FISH physical mapping revealed that both Rex1 and Rex3 elements are dispersed in small clusters throughout the chromosomes of all cytotypes analyzed. However, conspicuous blocks occur in several samples, including an accentuated accumulation of the Rex3 element in X1 and X2 chromosomes of Eigenmannia sp. 2 and in the X chromosome of E. virescens. The accumulations are coincident with heterochromatin-rich regions, suggesting that Rex3 played a role in the differentiation process of the sex chromosomes.
Delays in Referral and Enrolment Are Associated With Mitigated Benefits of Cardiac Rehabilitation After Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
Authors: Marzolini Susan , Blanchard Chris , Alter David A. , Grace Sherry L. , Oh Paul I.
Published: November 2015

Background—

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is recommended after coronary artery bypass graft surgery; however, the consequences of longer wait times to start CR have not been elucidated.

Method and Results—

Cardiopulmonary, demographic, and anthropometric assessments were conducted before and after 6 months of CR in consecutively enrolled patients from January 1995 to October 2012. Wait times were ascertained from referral forms and charts. Neighborhood characteristics were ascertained using census data and cross-referencing with patients’ home geographic location. Among 6497 post- coronary artery bypass graft participants, mean and median total wait time (time from surgery to first exercise session) was 101.1±47.9 and 80 days, respectively. In multiple linear regression, correlates of longer total wait time and the 2 wait-time phases, time from surgery to CR referral and time from CR referral to first exercise session, were determined. Factors influencing longer wait times included female sex, greater age, being employed, less social support, longer drive time to CR, lower neighborhood socioeconomic status, higher systolic blood pressure, abdominal obesity, and a complex medical history. After adjusting for correlates of delayed entry, longer wait time for each of the total and 2 wait-time phases was significantly associated with less improvement in cardiopulmonary fitness (VO
2peak
; β=−0.165,
P
<0.001), body fat percentage (β=0.032,
P
<0.02), resting heart rate (β=0.066,
P
<0.001), and poorer attendance to CR classes (β=−0.081,
P
<0.001) and completion rate (β=2.741,
P
<0.001).

Conclusions—

Strategies for timely access to CR at each phase of the process are important given the negative impact that wait time has on key clinical outcomes. This is relevant because optimizing VO
2peak
and attendance to CR has been shown to confer a mortality advantage.
Effects of Ranolazine on Angina and Quality of Life After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Incomplete Revascularization
Authors: Alexander Karen P. , Weisz Giora , Prather Kristi , James Stefan , Mark Daniel B. , Anstrom Kevin J. , Davidson-Ray Linda , Witkowski Adam , Mulkay Angel J. , Osmukhina Anna , Farzaneh-Far Ramin , Ben-Yehuda Ori , Stone Gregg W. , Ohman E. Magnus
Published: November 2015

Background—

Angina often persists or returns in populations following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We hypothesized that ranolazine would be effective in reducing angina and improving quality of life (QOL) in incomplete revascularization (ICR) post-PCI patients.

Methods and Results—

In RIVER-PCI, 2604 patients with a history of chronic angina who had ICR post-PCI were randomized 1:1 to oral ranolazine versus placebo; QOL analyses included 2389 randomized subjects. Angina and QOL questionnaires were collected at baseline and months 1, 6, and 12. Ranolazine patients were more likely than placebo to discontinue study drug by month 6 (20.4% versus 14.1%,
P
<0.001) and 12 (27.2% versus 21.3%,
P
<0.001). Following qualifying index PCI, the primary QOL outcome (Seattle Angina Questionnaire [SAQ] angina frequency score) improved markedly, but similarly, in the ranolazine and placebo groups, respectively, from baseline (67.3±24.5 versus 69.7±24.0,
P
=0.01) to month 1 (86.6±18.1 versus 85.8±18.5,
P
=0.27) and month 12 (88.4±17.8 versus 88.5±17.8,
P
=0.94). SAQ angina frequency repeated measures did not differ in adjusted analysis between groups post baseline (mean difference 1.0; 95% CI -0.2, 2.2;
P
=0.11). Improvement in SAQ angina frequency was observed with ranolazine at month 6 among diabetics (mean difference 3.3; 95% CI 0.6, 6.1;
P
=0.02) and those with more angina (baseline SAQ angina frequency ≤60; mean difference 3.4; 95% CI 0.6, 6.2;
P
=0.02), but was not maintained at month 12.

Conclusions—

Despite ICR following PCI, there was no incremental benefit in angina or QOL measures by adding ranolazine in this angiographically-identified population. These measures markedly improved within 1 month of PCI and persisted up to 1 year in both treatment arms.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT01442038.
Sex Differences in the Presentation, Care, and Outcomes of Transient Ischemic Attack
Authors: Li Olivia L. , Silver Frank L. , Lichtman Judith , Fang Jiming , Stamplecoski Melissa , Wengle Rebecca S. , Kapral Moira K.
Published: November 2015

Background and Purpose—

Little is known about whether sex differences exist in the presentation, management, and outcomes of transient ischemic attack.

Methods—

We conducted a cohort study of 5991 consecutive patients with transient ischemic attack admitted to 11 stroke centers in Ontario, Canada, between July 1, 2003, and March 31, 2008 and compared presenting symptoms, processes of care, and outcomes in women and men. We used linkages to administrative databases to evaluate mortality and recurrent vascular events within 30 days and 1 year of the initial presentation, with multivariable analyses to assess whether sex differences persisted after adjustment for age and comorbid conditions.

Results—

The most common presenting symptoms for both sexes were weakness, speech impairment, and sensory deficit, with headache being slightly more frequent in women. Women were less likely than men to undergo carotid imaging, carotid endarterectomy, or receive lipid-lowering therapy. One-year mortality was slightly lower in women than in men (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.77; 95% confidence interval, 0.63–0.94).

Conclusions—

We found only minor sex differences in the presentation and management of transient ischemic attack, suggesting that current public awareness campaigns focusing on classic warning signs are appropriate for both women and men. Future work should focus on evaluating whether lower rates of carotid imaging, endarterectomy, and lipid-lowering therapy in women reflect undertreatment of women or are appropriate based on patient eligibility.
The First Rape Prosecution before the icc: Are the Elements of Crimes Based on a Source of International Law?
Authors: Adams Alexandra
Published: November 2015

In the first rape prosecution before the icc against Germain Katanga, the Court applied the eoc of rape without verifying whether the eoc are based on a source of law. The article questions whether the eoc of rape can actually be traced back to the source of law of general principles of national laws according to Art. 21(1)(c) icc Statute. A comparison of six domestic laws revealed two models in the construction of a rape offence – either coercive means or a lack of consent are included in the actus reus of rape. The eoc, on the other hand, combine means of coercion with a partial aspect of the ‘lack of consent’-approach. The additional inclusion of one aspect of the ‘lack-of-consent’-concept (mental impairment) in a merely coercive rape offence contradicts the findings of the comparison of domestic criminal laws.
The Violation of Mankind’s Multiculturalism: Another Approach to the Definition of International Crimes
Authors: Bitzilekis Nikolaos
Published: November 2015

This article discusses the core question of the legal interests offended by international crimes, and therefore the question of the justification of a rational and moral acceptance of an international criminal jurisdiction. International crimes may start off as violations of human rights, but end up affecting humanity as a whole, not as a supranational statehood or as an institutionalised order or mechanism of international policy-making, but more as a societal relationship and co-existence, an empirical quest into the reality of the meaning of life. They offend the collective art of living in its essential core, i.e., the cultural and ethical diversity as a free creation and promotion of a different meaning of life. The criminalised act is here directed against the collective self-realisation of humanity formed through free intra- and inter-group ethical dialogue, through cultural interaction. This multiculturalism, as a social fact, is expressed in a collective and social-political way and is also affected the same way.
Epistylis smalli (Ciliophora: Peritrichia) a new peritrich from Guaiba Lake, Southern Brazil
Authors: UTZ LAURA R. P. , SANTOS MARIANA SILVA DOS , ARAUJO GABRIELLA OLIVEIRA DE
Published: November 2015

Epistylis smalli n. sp., a freshwater colonial peritrich, was collected in Guaíba Lake, Southern Brazil. Its morphology was investigated using in vivo observations and protargol stained specimens. E. smalli possess an elongate zooid that measures in vivo, on average, 173 μm in length and 50 μm in width. A C-shaped macronucleus that surrounds the infundibulum and a single contractile vacuole could be easily observed in the living cell. The oral infraciliature observed in silver-stained specimens was typical of peritrich ciliates, with three infundibular polykinetids bearing three rows of kinetosomes. A detailed description of the live and stained zooids is given.
New species of Plectropsyche Ross 1947 (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae: Hydropsychinae)
Authors: BUENO-SORIA JOAQUÍN , BARBA-ALVAREZ RAFAEL
Published: November 2015

Two new species from Mexico and Central America of the genus Plectropsyche Ross are described and the male and female genitalia are figured. The only extant previous described species, Plectropsyche hoogstraali Ross and its synonym Plectropsyche pitella (Denning) from Mexico are studied. A map with the distribution of all known Plectropsyche species is presented and an illustrated key for the males of the extant species are included.
The genus Philoctetes Abeille de Perrin, 1879 from China, with description of two new species (Hymenoptera, Chrysididae)
Authors: ROSA Paolo , WEI NA-SEN , NOTTON DAVID , XU ZAI-FU
Published: November 2015

The Chinese species of the genus Philoctetes Abeille de Perrin, 1879 are revised and keyed for the first time. Six species are recorded, of which two are new for science: Philoctetes longiflagellis Rosa, Wei & Xu, sp. nov. (Inner Mongolia and Shanxi) and P. simulator Rosa, Notton & Xu, sp. nov. (Tianjin). The new synonym, Philoctetes cupratus (Mócsary, 1914), syn. nov. of Philoctetes mongolicus (du Buysson, 1901), is proposed. Philoctetes mongolicus (du Buysson, 1901) is newly recorded from Pakistan.
Taxonomic notes on the genus Gribodia Zavattari, 1912 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) from Vietnam and China, with description of a new species
Authors: NGUYEN LIEN THI PHUONG , XU ZAIFU
Published: November 2015

The genus Gribodia Zavattari, 1912, is newly recorded from Vietnam and China. Gribodia nigra sp. nov. (China, Hainan) is described and figured and G. cupreipennis (Bingham) is redescribed. A key to six known species of the genus is provided.
Visualizing Long-Range Severe Thunderstorm Environment Guidance from CFSv2
Authors: Carbin Gregory W. , Tippett Michael K. , Lillo Samuel P. , Brooks Harold E.
Published: November 2015

Two novel approaches to extending the range of prediction for environments conducive to severe thunderstorm events are described. One approach charts Climate Forecast System, version 2 (CFSv2), run-to-run consistency of the areal extent of severe thunderstorm environments using grid counts of the supercell composite parameter (SCP). Visualization of these environments is charted for each 45-day CFSv2 run initialized at 0000 UTC. CFSv2 ensemble-mean forecast maps of SCP coverage over the contiguous United States are also produced for those forecasts meeting certain criteria for high-impact weather. The applicability of this approach to the severe weather prediction challenge is illustrated using CFSv2 output for a series of severe weather episodes occurring in March and April 2014. Another approach, possibly extending severe weather predictability from CFSv2, utilizes a run-cumulative time-averaging technique of SCP grid counts. This process is described and subjectively verified with severe weather events from early 2014.
Improving the Mapping and Prediction of Offshore Wind Resources (IMPOWR): Experimental Overview and First Results
Authors: Colle Brian A. , Sienkiewicz Matthew J. , Archer Cristina , Veron Dana , Veron Fabrice , Kempton Willett , Mak John E.
Published: November 2015

The wind resource offshore of the East Coast of the United States is well known for its potential to provide abundant, clean, renewable, and domestic electricity. However, limited observations from this region are recorded at heights above the water that penetrate significantly into the planetary boundary layer (PBL). As a result, mesoscale models have been used to characterize the offshore wind resource in this region but have not been evaluated fully within the PBL due to the scarcity of observations. This paper describes the setup and some early results from the Improving the Mapping and Prediction of Offshore Wind Resources (IMPOWR) field study conducted in the Nantucket Sound area in 2013/14. The IMPOWR campaign provides a rich dataset of observations within the PBL from a variety of sources: high-frequency Long-EZ aircraft, a multilevel atmospheric and oceanic tower in Nantucket Sound, and lidars on the south shore of eastern Long Island and Block Island. In addition to new data for model validation and wind resource assessment, the IMPOWR field campaign provides new insights on meteorological features important for wind power development, such as the New York Bight jet and shallow marine layer.
Development and Nondevelopment of Binary Mesoscale Vortices into Tropical Cyclones in Idealized Numerical Experiments
Authors: Schecter David A.
Published: November 2015

The evolution of two symmetric midlevel mesoscale vortices situated above a warm ocean is examined with a basic cloud-resolving model. Idealized numerical experiments provide insight into how the evolution may vary with the initial vortex separation distance D and other parameters that influence the time scale for an isolated vortex to begin rapid intensification. The latter parameters include the ambient middle-tropospheric relative humidity (RH) and the initial midlevel wind speed of each vortex. At relatively low RH, there exists an interval of D where binary midlevel vortex interaction prevents tropical cyclone formation. While tropical cyclones generally develop at high RH, similar values of D can delay the process if the vortices are initially weak. Prevention or inhibition of tropical cyclone formation occurs in association with the outward expulsion of lower-tropospheric potential vorticity anomalies as the two vortices merge in the middle troposphere. It is proposed that the primary mechanism for midlevel merger and low-level potential vorticity expulsion involves the excitation of rotating misalignments in each vortex. An analog model based on this premise provides a good approximation for the range of D in which the merger–expulsion scenario occurs. Relatively strong vortices in high-RH environments promptly develop vigorous convection and begin rapid intensification. Differences between the interaction of such diabatic vortices and their adiabatic counterparts are briefly illustrated. In systems that generate tropical cyclones, the mature vortex properties (size and strength) are found to vary significantly with D.
Meteorological and Aerosol Effects on Marine Stratocumulus
Authors: Li Zhe , Xue Huiwen , Chen Jen-Ping , Wang Wei-Chyung
Published: November 2015

This study investigates the effects of meteorological conditions and aerosols on marine stratocumulus in the southeastern Pacific using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model. Two regimes with different temperature and moisture conditions in the finest model domain are investigated. The western regime is around 87°–79°W, while the eastern regime is around 79°–71°W. In both regimes, cloud fraction, liquid water path (LWP), cloud thickness, and precipitation show significant diurnal cycles. Cloud fraction can be 0.83 during the night and down to 0.29 during the day in the western regime. The diurnal cycles in the eastern regime have smaller amplitudes but are still very strong. Stratocumulus properties also differ in the two regimes. Compared to the western regime, the eastern regime has lower temperature, higher relative humidity, and a more coupled boundary layer, leading to higher cloud fraction (by 0.11) and lower cloud-base height. The eastern regime also has lower inversion height that causes lower cloud-top height and thinner clouds and, hence, lower LWP and less precipitation.

Cloud microphysical properties are very sensitive to aerosols in both regimes. Increasing aerosols greatly increase cloud number concentration, decrease cloud effective radius, and suppress precipitation. Cloud macrophysical properties (cloud fraction, LWP) are not sensitive to aerosols in either regime, most notably in the eastern regime where precipitation amount is less. The changes in cloud fraction and LWP caused by changes in aerosol concentrations are smaller than the changes in the diurnal cycle and the spatial variability between the two regimes.
The Role of Large-Scale Feedbacks in Cumulus Convection Parameter Estimation
Authors: Li Shan , Zhang Shaoqing , Liu Zhengyu , Yang Xiaosong , Rosati Anthony , Golaz Jean-Christophe , Zhao Ming
Published: November 2015

Uncertainty in cumulus convection parameterization is one of the most important causes of model climate drift through interactions between large-scale background and local convection that use empirically set parameters. Without addressing the large-scale feedback, the calibrated parameter values within a convection scheme are usually not optimal for a climate model. This study first designs a multiple-column atmospheric model that includes large-scale feedbacks for cumulus convection and then explores the role of large-scale feedbacks in cumulus convection parameter estimation using an ensemble filter. The performance of convection parameter estimation with or without the presence of large-scale feedback is examined. It is found that including large-scale feedbacks in cumulus convection parameter estimation can significantly improve the estimation quality. This is because large-scale feedbacks help transform local convection uncertainties into global climate sensitivities, and including these feedbacks enhances the statistical representation of the relationship between parameters and state variables. The results of this study provide insights for further understanding of climate drift induced from imperfect cumulus convection parameterization, which may help improve climate modeling.
Modulation of SST Interannual Variability in the Agulhas Leakage Region Associated with ENSO
Authors: Putrasahan Dian , Kirtman Ben P. , Beal Lisa M.
Published: November 2015

The Agulhas leakage transports warm and saline water from the Indian Ocean into the South Atlantic Ocean, forming part of the upper returning arm of the meridional overturning circulation, which can influence climate. Ocean–atmosphere interactions and the strength of Agulhas leakage control sea surface temperature (SST) in the Agulhas leakage corridor, which may in turn affect regional climate variability. In a high-resolution run of the Community Climate System Model (version 3.5; CCSM3.5), it is found that the interannual variability of Agulhas leakage SST is linked to El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Anomalous wind stress curl over the south Indian Ocean associated with ENSO excites westward-propagating oceanic Rossby waves that initiate southwestward-propagating anomalies along the coast of Africa. It takes approximately 2 years for this signal to reach the southern tip of South Africa and enter the South Atlantic, where it accounts for 20%–30% of the interannual SSH variability in the Agulhas leakage region. The authors find a similar propagation of anomalies with satellite observations. A similar ENSO cycle along with Rossby wave adjustment is detected in an analogous low-resolution CCSM3.5 run. However, the signal does not propagate all the way along the boundary to affect Agulhas leakage SST. Hence, it is found that high-resolution coupled climate models are necessary to resolve the tropical–subtropical oceanic teleconnection between ENSO and Agulhas leakage SST.
Decadal Variation in Winter Mixed Layer Depth South of the Kuroshio Extension and Its Influence on Winter Mixed Layer Temperature
Authors: Sugimoto Shusaku , Kako Shin’ichiro
Published: November 2015

The long-term behavior of the wintertime mixed layer depth (MLD) and mixed layer temperature (MLT) are investigated in a region south of the Kuroshio Extension (KE) (30°–37°N, 141°–155°E), an area of the North Pacific subtropical gyre where the deepest MLD occurs, using historical temperature profiles of 1968–2014. Both the MLD and MLT in March have low-frequency variations, which show significant decadal (~10 yr) variations after the late 1980s. Observational data and simulation outputs from a one-dimensional turbulent closure model reveal that surface cooling is the main control on winter MLD in the late 1970s and 1980s, whereas there is a change in the strength of subsurface stratification is the main control after ~1990. In the latter period, a weak (strong) subsurface stratification is caused by a straight path (convoluted path) of the KE and by a deepening (shallowing) of the main thermocline depth due to oceanic Rossby waves formed as a result of positive (negative) anomalies of wind stress curl associated with a southward (northward) movement of the Aleutian low in the central North Pacific. During deeper (shallower) periods of winter MLD, the strong (weak) vertical entrainment process, resulting from a rapid (slow) deepening of the mixed layer (ML) in January and February, forms a negative (positive) anomaly of temperature tendency. Consequently, the decadal variations in wintertime MLT are formed.
Exploring Practical Estimates of the Ensemble Size Necessary for Particle Filters
Authors: Slivinski Laura , Snyder Chris
Published: November 2015

Particle filtering methods for data assimilation may suffer from the “curse of dimensionality,” where the required ensemble size grows rapidly as the dimension increases. It would, therefore, be useful to know a priori whether a particle filter is feasible to implement in a given system. Previous work provides an asymptotic relation between the necessary ensemble size and an exponential function of , a statistic that depends on observation-space quantities and that is related to the system dimension when the number of observations is large; for linear, Gaussian systems, the statistic can be computed from eigenvalues of an appropriately normalized covariance matrix. Tests with a low-dimensional system show that these asymptotic results remain useful when the system is nonlinear, with either the standard or optimal proposal implementation of the particle filter. This study explores approximations to the covariance matrices that facilitate computation in high-dimensional systems, as well as different methods to estimate the accumulated system noise covariance for the optimal proposal. Since may be approximated using an ensemble from a simpler data assimilation scheme, such as the ensemble Kalman filter, the asymptotic relations thus allow an estimate of the ensemble size required for a particle filter before its implementation. Finally, the improved performance of particle filters with the optimal proposal, relative to those using the standard proposal, in the same low-dimensional system is demonstrated.
Quasi-Periodic Behavior of the Pacific–Japan Pattern Affecting Propagation Routes of Summertime Wave Patterns and the Associated Tropical Cyclone Tracks over the Western North Pacific
Authors: Ko Ken-Chung , Liu Jyun-Hong
Published: November 2015

This study introduces a modified Pacific–Japan (PJ) index that exhibits a substantial periodicity of 5–16 days in the East Asian summer monsoon region. The quasi-periodic fluctuations of the PJ index can indicate changes in the large-scale circulation systems. In the PJ high phase, the wave pattern propagates northwestward from the western North Pacific tropics to an area near northern Luzon and is then forced to move westward because of a stationary, anomalous high pressure system over southern Japan. The tropical cyclones (TCs) associated with the anomalous low pressure systems tend to follow a straight-moving propagation route through the northern South China Sea. The anomalous cyclonic flow causes heavy rainfall in eastern Taiwan. However, in the PJ low phase, the wave pattern and TCs follow a recurving propagation route toward higher latitudes. The circulation pattern typically brings heavy rainfall to northern Taiwan in the PJ low phase. Therefore, wave patterns under the influence of the quasi-periodic fluctuations of the PJ pattern affect rainfall because of the changing propagation routes of the wave patterns, as well as the TC tracks.
A Systematic Classification Investigation of Rapid Intensification of Atlantic Tropical Cyclones with the SHIPS Database
Authors: Yang Ruixin
Published: November 2015

In hopes of better understanding the rapid intensification (RI) of tropical cyclones, the classification technique as a data mining process is used in this mining experiment. The mining results are expected to increase accurate forecasting abilities for RI through exhaustive data distillation. In this work, the Statistical Hurricane Intensity Prediction Scheme (SHIPS) database for the Atlantic basin during the period 1982–2009 is used as the data source and the Waikato Environment for Knowledge Analysis (WEKA) software is used for various classifier implementations. As in most classification applications, accuracies in model building with training data may be high. However, accuracies with testing data usually deteriorate. Various special steps are carried out in an effort to improve the accuracy. These steps include setting the cost parameters for overcoming the unbalanced RI samples, temporal averages of variable values for more accurate environmental estimation, feature filtering for irrelevant feature removal, and subset feature selections. The best performance measures of the training results are above 90% for probability of detection (POD) with 10%–20% false alarm ratios (FARs) for cases of RI within 24 h. However, the performance on the testing data is not as good. The reported RI forecasting accuracies in this work are lower than the goals set by NOAA in their Hurricane Forecast Improvement Project. Nevertheless, this work sheds light on the future direction of RI investigations using data mining techniques. Many more studies are needed before we can fully understand the potential and/or limitations of data mining techniques in RI investigations.
Amblyaudia
Authors: Kaplan Alyson B. , Kozin Elliott D. , Remenschneider Aaron , Eftekhari Kian , Jung David H. , Polley Daniel B. , Lee Daniel J.
Published: November 2015

Objective

Similar to amblyopia in the visual system, “amblyaudia” is a term used to describe persistent hearing difficulty experienced by individuals with a history of asymmetric hearing loss (AHL) during a critical window of brain development. Few clinical reports have described this phenomenon and its consequent effects on central auditory processing. We aim to (1) define the concept of amblyaudia and (2) review contemporary research on its pathophysiology and emerging clinical relevance.

Data Sources

PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases.

Review Methods

A systematic literature search was performed with combinations of search terms: “amblyaudia,” “conductive hearing loss,” “sensorineural hearing loss,” “asymmetric,” “pediatric,” “auditory deprivation,” and “auditory development.” Relevant articles were considered for inclusion, including basic and clinical studies, case series, and major reviews.

Conclusions

During critical periods of infant brain development, imbalanced auditory input associated with AHL may lead to abnormalities in binaural processing. Patients with amblyaudia can demonstrate long‐term deficits in auditory perception even with correction or resolution of AHL. The greatest impact is in sound localization and hearing in noisy environments, both of which rely on bilateral auditory cues. Diagnosis and quantification of amblyaudia remain controversial and poorly defined. Prevention of amblyaudia may be possible through early identification and timely management of reversible causes of AHL.

Implications for Practice

Otolaryngologists, audiologists, and pediatricians should be aware of emerging data supporting amblyaudia as a diagnostic entity and be cognizant of the potential for lasting consequences of AHL. Prevention of long‐term auditory deficits may be possible through rapid identification and correction.
When subjects become objects: The lies behind the Milgram legend
Authors: Baumrind Diana
Published: November 2015

In her exposé of Milgram’s deceptions in obtaining “informed consent” and “dehoaxing” his subjects, Perry reveals Milgram’s deceit and misrepresentation in his dealings with colleagues as well as participants. Perry relies on evidence from Milgram’s unpublished papers and transcripts of his experimental proceedings to support her pejorative judgment on Milgram’s professional ethics. Although deception research, such as Milgram’s, clearly violates the informed consent clause of the APA Code of Ethics, it remains a modus operandi in child development and social psychology research. I argue that deception research proscribes informed consent and infringes the fiduciary obligation of psychologists to be trustworthy, and should be prohibited rather than justified by a cost-benefit analysis, as is presently the case.
Coverage of recent criticisms of Milgram’s obedience experiments in introductory social psychology textbooks
Authors: Griggs Richard A. , Whitehead George I.
Published: November 2015

This article has two purposes: (a) to broaden awareness of recent criticisms of Milgram’s obedience experiments by providing a relatively inclusive review of them interlaced within a discussion of Gina Perry’s main substantive criticisms and (b) to report the findings of our coverage analysis for recent criticisms in current introductory social psychology textbooks. Past coverage analyses have found a “Milgram-friendly” trend (little or no discussion or even acknowledgment of the large body of criticism published from 1964 onward) that evolved in textbooks from the 1960s to the 1990s and has become more pronounced since that time period. Our findings on coverage of recent criticisms were consistent with those of past text analyses. None of the recent criticisms were covered, even in the social psychology textbooks dated 2015. We discuss a possible explanation for these findings that involves a proposed knowledge-conserving function of social psychology textbooks.
CD20+ B-cell depletion therapy suppresses murine CD8+ T-cell–mediated immune thrombocytopenia
Authors: Guo Li , Kapur Rick , Aslam Rukshana , Speck Edwin R. , Zufferey Anne , Zhao Yajing , Kim Michael , Lazarus Alan H. , Ni Heyu , Semple John W.
Published: November 2015

Key Points

CD20 Bdep therapy inhibits CD8+ T-cell proliferation in vitro. CD20 Bdep therapy prevents CD8+ T-cell–mediated ITP in vivo.
On the pitfalls of peer review
Authors: van Gunsteren Wilfred
Published: November 2015

The review process of academic, scientific research and its basic tenets is considered, thereby distinguishing between (i) reviewing of manuscripts to be published in the scientific literature, (ii) reviewing of research proposals to be financed by funding agencies, (iii) reviewing of educational or research institutions with respect to their proper functioning, and (iv) reviewing of scientists with the aim of appointing or tenuring faculty.
Maintenance of Law in Ministries’ Acts in the Russian Empire (XIX — early XX century)
Authors: Mikheeva Irina
Published: November 2015

The article is devoted to the rule of law in rulemaking activity of the Russian Empire ministries in XIX — early XX century. The author reviews the complex of control methods in rulemaking activity of the ministries in the Russian Empire. The author presents content and structure of control and supervision mechanism in the law-making activity of the Russian Empire ministries. The author defines difference of approaches to the perception of control and supervision as a means of law enforcement in the Russian Empire and modern Russia. The author draws the conclusion about similarity of the ways for providing the rule of law in rulemaking activity at different historical stages in the Russian Empire.
Political Regime and Perspectives of its Research in Juridical Science
Authors: Paygina Dina
Published: November 2015

The article analyzes discussion questions about the concept of a political regime and its relationship to related categories: “form of government”, “public regime” and others. Clarity in understanding will contribute to the correctness of classification of these categories, considered in theory. The article presents ideas that have influenced the understanding of political regimes. Particular attention is paid to works of ancient authors, who are still on top of their relevancy due to their flexibility, despite the fact that they were formulated many years ago. The author proposes to define a political regime as a degree of political freedom of the citizens, expressed in the established system of rights that citizens may use when exercising their freedom, as the framework within which it should be exercised, and as the degree of effectiveness of the government. The author substantiates the connection between the political regime and legislative dynamics, which serves as an illustration of the current situation as a result of the decision-making by government authorities.
Limitation of Constitutional Human Rights in Legislations of Subjects of the Russian Federation
Authors: Nikitina Elena
Published: November 2015

The article is devoted to the issues related to lawful limitations of constitutional rights in the Russian Federation. The limitation of human rights is a complex and multi-layered phenomenon. The author uses both formal and other criteria. In addition, there is a territorial aspect to this problem in Russia. The author analyzes the powers of subjects of the Russian Federation to regulate legal relations in the sphere of constitutional human rights, and considers the possibility of their lawful limitation by the legislations of subjects of the Russian Federation. In addition, the author examines reasons and consequences of unlawful restriction of human rights by laws of the subjects of the Russian Federation. Terminological problems are discussed. In particular, the author distinguishes between such terms as “limits of legal regulation” and “limitation of human rights”, “human rights” and “rights of participants”. The author formulates theoretical arguments about the possibility of partial legal
regulation of constitutional human rights.
Criticism of the Model of Joint Administration of a Municipal District and a Settlement
Authors: Makarov Ivan
Published: November 2015

The article considers the most significant arguments of criticism of the model of joint administration of a municipal district and a settlement, related to financial and organizational and legal aspects of the activity of the joint executive-administrative body of municipal formations of two levels. The author analyses the positions of specialists in municipal law, who provide both highly negative comments and more moderate assessments. The author evaluates the relevance of delegating the exercise of the settlement administration’s authority to the municipal district administration, taking into account the presence in the local community of public interests of various types. The author considers individual aspects of intergovernmental fiscal relations that arise after introducing the model of a joint administration of a district and a settlement, the issues of cooperation between the representative bodies of the two municipal formations with a “joint” administration, participation of deputies, representing the settlement, in the district administration activity. The author considers the mechanism that stimulates staff increase in case of existing in the administrative center of a municipal district of two independent executive-administrative bodies.
The Law of Eurasian Economic Union: International Legal Discourse
Authors: Kapustin Anatoliy
Published: November 2015

The article discusses the main features of the Law of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) from the point of view of modern international law, its legal nature and place, and functions in the regulation of the Eurasian integration. The article investigates the importance of the Foundation agreement as the international legal basis of the Union and its legal system. The author conducts comparative law analysis of conceptual models of the integration law on the example of the European legal theories of the European Union and Latin American theories of law on regional economic integration. This article gives comprehensive international law characteristics of regulatory definitions and conceptual framework of the EAEU law. The author classifies contractual sources of the Union’s Law and reveals the relationship between them. The author shows the role of secondary sources of the Union’s Law — acts of intergovernmental bodies. The author does not only list the sources enumerated in the EAEU Treaty, but also makes a forecast about the role of other international law acts and norms in the development of the EAEU Law concept. The author draws the conclusion that the Union’s Law is of an international law nature.
Unclear Circumstances of Commission of Crime: Problems to Criminate
Authors: Panokin Alyeksandr
Published: November 2015

The paper studies the problem of proving a criminal event, in particular, the time, place, method and other circumstances of a crime. The study covers law enforcement bodies’ practice, applied in procedural documents to describe any evidence of a crime by using such phrases as “at unknown time”, “from an unidentified person”, “under unclear circumstances”, etc. The author analyzes legal positions of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation concerning the absence of proof for an event or a crime, and concludes that it is only after all and every effort to establish the circumstances of a crime has been made, if it is impossible to positively identify some of them without doubt, that an interrogator, investigator, prosecutor or court can make an appropriate procedural decision. In all other cases, such circumstances shall not be considered proven.
Development Prospects of Arctic Ecosystems Legal Protection
Authors: Khludeneva Natalya
Published: November 2015

The article investigates ways and means of arctic ecosystems’ protection provided by the ecological legislation of Russia. In the opinion of the author of the article, reasonable legal regulation providing not only economic, but also ecological development of the Arctic is one of the most important conditions for expansion of ecologically safe use of the resource potential in this area. The article analyzes shortcomings of the Russian ecological legislation, and offers proposals for their elimination. The author also assesses the development prospects of Arctic ecosystems’ legal protection.
Development of the Legal Status of Medical Institutions
Authors: Khzanyan Norair
Published: November 2015

The article is devoted to the study of topical issues related to the legal status of public health facilities, such as features of their legal status (standing), legal status structural elements (goals and objectives of medical institutions, their functions, establishment, reorganization and liquidation of medical establishments, guarantees of medical establishments’ rights). On the basis of the current legislation the author provides definitions of “medical treatment”, “legal status of a medical institution”, as well as reveals problems of medical institutions’ performance efficiency. The author shows the possibilities of legal rights in relation to affordable and quality health care, and legal relationships between a patient, a medical professional and a medical facility. The purpose of this article is theoretical understanding of the organizational and legal nature (status) of a modern medical facility under new socio-economic conditions for the development of specific proposals and recommendations aimed at improving the institutional and legal framework to ensure health protection of the Russian population. The author provides some practical recommendations for improving the legal framework in order to ensure the effective performance of medical institutions. The author also reveals problems impeding the improvement of the legal status of medical institutions.
H3N2 Emergence in India
Authors: Ramachandran Smita , Gera Rani
Published: November 2015

Influenza a pandemic in 2009 was predominantly by H1N1strain, however in the current seasonal outbreak H3N2 is more prevalent in North America, Europe and Eastern Asia. However very few cases have been reported from India. We report a case of 5-year-old girl child with H3N2 infection with acute onset and rapid progression. It is essential to deploy extensive surveillance in areas of low reporting to estimate the burden of the disease and to assess the changing demographics of the infection.