bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Generation of Bioartificial Salivary Gland Using Whole-Organ Decellularized Bioscaffold
Authors: Gao Zhenhua , Wu Tingting , Xu Junji , Liu Guolin , Xie Yilin , Zhang Chunmei , Wang Jinsong , Wang Songlin
Published: March 2015

Salivary gland hypofunction resulting in xerostomia occurs as a result of various pathological conditions such as radiotherapy for head and neck cancers, Sjögren's syndrome or salivary gland tumor resection. It can induce a large number of problems, including dental decay, periodontitis, dysgeusia, difficulty with mastication and swallowing and a reduced quality of life. Current therapies for xerostomia mostly focus on saliva substitutes, oral lubricants and medications which stimulate salivation from residual glands. However, these treatments are not sufficient to restore gland secretory function. Tissue engineering-based organ regeneration has emerged as a potential therapeutic alternative for end- organ failure. Here, we decellularized rat submandibular glands (SMG) by detergent immersion. Histological, immunofluorescent, Western blot, DNA and collagen quantitative analyses demonstrated that our protocol effectively removed cellular components and that extracellular matrix proteins and native structures were well preserved. We then reseeded the decellularized SMG as scaffolds with rat primary SMG cells in a rotary cell culture system. Histological staining and electron microscopy analyses illustrated that the decellularized SMG could support cellular adhesion. Furthermore, with immunofluorescent staining, we proved that bioartificially generated SMG showed some differentiation markers in vitro. Taken together, our findings might provide a potential scaffold for tissue-engineered regeneration of the salivary glands.
Intravenous Iron Sucrose versus Oral Iron in the Treatment of Pregnancy with Iron Deficiency Anaemia: A Systematic Review
Authors: Shi Qingquan , Leng Wenying , Wazir Romel , Li Jinhong , Yao Qiang , Mi Chen , Yang Jing , Xing Aiyun
Published: March 2015

Background: Intravenous iron sucrose and oral iron therapy are the main therapies for iron deficiency anaemia (IDA), but there is still a debate regarding their efficacy and especially as to which one is the best choice during pregnancy. Methods: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials comparing patients treated with intravenous iron sucrose (intravenous group) with those treated with oral iron (oral group) for IDA during pregnancy was performed. The primary outcomes of interest were mean maternal haemoglobin and serum ferritin levels at the end of treatment. Secondary outcomes were treatment-related adverse events and foetal birth weight. Results: Six randomised controlled trials, involving a total of 576 women, were included in the present review. Significant increases in haemoglobin [mean difference (MD), 0.85; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.31-1.39; p = 0.002] and ferritin levels (MD, 63.32; 95% CI, 39.46-87.18; p < 0.00001) were observed in the intravenous group. Compared with the oral group, there were fewer adverse events in the intravenous group (risk ratio, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.34-0.73; p = 0.0003). There was no significant difference in birth weight between the two groups. Conclusion: For pregnant women who could not tolerate the side effects of oral treatment or required a rapid replacement of iron stores, intravenous iron sucrose was associated with fewer adverse events and was more effective than regular oral iron therapy.
Malignant Cause of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt ‘Pseudocyst': A Case Report
Authors: Awori Jonathan , Wu Chris Y. , Maher Cormac O.
Published: March 2015

Abdominal pseudocysts are an uncommon complication of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts. We present the case of a 4-year-old boy with a history of complicated hydrocephalus managed with a VP shunt due to sequelae of prematurity. The patient presented with abdominal distention, and a pseudocyst was diagnosed. Despite shunt externalization and aspiration, the pseudocyst continued to produce up to 1 liter of serosanguineous fluid per day. After MRI revealed malignant features within the pseudocyst, laparotomy was performed and the pseudocyst was partially excised. Pathology reports suggested sarcoma. The cystic mass grew back aggressively, accompanied by distant metastasis. The patient's condition deteriorated and he died from his disease. To our knowledge, this represents the first report of an abdominal malignancy mimicking a pseudocyst and causing VP shunt failure.
Secondary Cranial Vault Remodeling for Restenosis after Primary Sagittal Synostosis Repair
Authors: Kuang Anna , Selden Nathan R.
Published: March 2015

The mainstay of treatment for single-suture cranial synostosis is cranial vault reconstruction. After primary cranial vault remodeling, patients are at risk for cranial restenosis and delayed intracranial hypertension, which may result in developmental delay or blindness. Synostosis patients are therefore generally monitored periodically for signs and symptoms of intracranial hypertension that may indicate a second cranial expansion procedure. The authors present a carefully illustrated case of a patient who presented 2 years after primary cranial vault reconstruction for sagittal synostosis with a decrease in head circumference percentile, recurrent cranial dysmorphism, papilledema, headaches and computed tomographic imaging findings consistent with cranial restenosis. These findings resolved after secondary cranial vault remodeling. The authors advocate a protocol of prospective routine clinical and radiographic follow-up after primary cranial vault repair for single-suture cranial synostosis, and illustrate the specific clinical and radiographic findings suggestive of this late complication in a representative individual patient.
Prospective, Randomized Intervention Study Comparing Retinal Pigment Epithelium-Choroid Graft Surgery and Anti-VEGF Therapy in Patients with Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: van Zeeburg Elsbeth J.T. , Cereda Matteo G. , Amarakoon Sankha , van Meurs Jan C.
Published: March 2015

Purpose: To investigate whether patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration and a submacular hemorrhage, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) tear or nonresponders to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) benefit more from a free RPE-choroid graft transplantation surgery than from (continuation of) anti-VEGF treatment. Procedures: A total of 20 patients were included in this prospective, international, multicenter, randomized intervention study. Results: The change in the mean number of Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters in the graft group 1 year postoperatively was -15 (range -54 to +26), whilst 2 patients experienced a gain of >10 letters. The median preoperative visual acuity (VA) was 0.75 logMAR (range 0.46-2.8), and the mean postoperative VA was 1.48 logMAR (range 0.14-2.8). The change in the mean number of ETDRS letters in the anti-VEGF group was -8 (range -26 to +6); no patients experienced a >10 letter gain. The median preoperative VA was 1.36 logMAR (range 0.58-1.6), and the median postoperative VA was 1.42 logMAR (range 0.44-1.66). Conclusions: The included patient group is far too small to draw conclusions. However, both gain and loss of VA may be experienced by patients undergoing either treatment method; more gain might be possible for patients with a graft in the absence of complications.
Identification of Underlying Causes of Spontaneous Submacular Hemorrhage by Indocyanine Green Angiography
Authors: Kim Hyesun , Lee Sung Chul , Kim Sang Myung , Lee Ji Hwan , Koh Hyoung Jun , Kim Sung Soo , Byeon Suk Ho , Kim Min , Lee Christopher Seungkyu
Published: March 2015

Purpose: To investigate the causes of acute spontaneous submacular hemorrhage with indocyanine green angiography (ICGA). Methods: Retrospective observation case series. A total of 51 eyes from 51 patients with newly developed spontaneous submacular hemorrhage were enrolled. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT), and ICGA at baseline were analyzed. The extent of hemorrhage using fundus photography, height of hemorrhage, and central foveal thickness measured by OCT was analyzed to compare the diagnostic and nondiagnostic groups. Results: The mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) BCVA at presentation was 1.21 ± 0.74 (Snellen equivalent, 20/324); the mean follow-up period was 23.9 ± 23.9 months. The cause of submacular hemorrhage was diagnosed in 43 of 51 eyes (84.3%) based on ICGA at presentation. The initial diagnoses were correct in 93% of eyes. In 3 cases, the initial diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) was changed to polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) based on follow-up ICGA. The central foveal thickness was significantly greater in the nondiagnostic group (1,102.4 vs. 666.7 μm, respectively; p = 0.008). The most common cause of submacular hemorrhage was neovascular AMD (52.9%), followed by PCV (37.3%), macroaneurysm (5.9%), and lacquer crack (3.9%). The mean final visual acuity was generally worse in patients with submacular hemorrhage with typical AMD (visual acuity 20/618) or PCV (visual acuity 20/240) compared to that in patients with retinal macroaneurysm (visual acuity 20/100) or lacquer crack (visual acuity 20/72). Conclusions: ICGA at initial presentation helps identify causes of submacular hemorrhage, allowing differential treatment approaches that may improve outcomes and safety.
Alteration of Cardiovascular Structure and Function in Patients Undergoing Peritoneal Dialysis
Authors: Rebić Damir R. , Rašić Senija R. , Dervišević Muamer D. , Hamzić-Mehmedbašić Aida H.M. , Muslimović Alma M. , Hasanagić Edina H.
Published: March 2015

Aims: Cardiovascular alterations contribute to a high mortality rate in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The aims of the present study are to evaluate left ventricular (LV) function and common carotid artery (CCA) parameters and to determine risk factors associated with these changes in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). Methods: This longitudinal prospective study was conducted in 50 ESRD patients in whom PD had been initiated and who were observed for 18 months after the commencement of dialysis treatment, with echocardiography and CCA ultrasound parameter evaluation. Results: LV hypertrophy was observed in 78% of patients at baseline and in 60% after 18 months of PD treatment. LV systolic and diastolic function was found to be significantly better after 18 months of PD treatment. Examining predictors of LV systolic function, it was found that total cholesterol was an independent positive predictor and endothelin-1 (ET-1) an independent negative predictor of LV systolic function after 18 months of treatment with PD (p < 0.001). Independent negative predictors of diastolic LV function were hemoglobin and type 2 diabetes mellitus, and daily collection of urine was an independent positive predictor (p < 0.001). Female gender was an independent negative predictor of CCA intima-media thickness, whereas body mass index, ET-1 and C-reactive protein were independent positive predictors (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The results suggest several novel modifiable mechanisms related to the short-term effects of dialysis that are potentially implicated in the development of uremic cardiomyopathy.
Peritoneal Dialysis in Patients with Refractory Congestive Heart Failure: A Systematic Review
Authors: Lu Renhua , Muciño-Bermejo María-Jimena , Ribeiro Leonardo Claudino , Tonini Enrico , Estremadoyro Carla , Samoni Sara , Sharma Aashish , Zaragoza Galván José de Jesús , Crepaldi Carlo , Brendolan Alessandra , Ni Zhaohui , Rosner Mitchell H. , Ronco Claudio
Published: March 2015

Background: Refractory congestive heart failure (RCHF) is associated with a high mortality rate and is a major contributor to hospital admissions. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an option to control volume overload and perhaps improve outcomes in this challenging patient population. The aim of this systematic review is to describe the relative risk-benefit ratio based on data reported regarding the use of PD in RCHF. This study was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. An electronic search of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library was performed to identify relevant studies published from January 1951 to February 2014. Eligible studies selected were prospective or retrospective adult population studies on PD in the setting of RCHF. The following clinical outcomes were used to assess PD therapy: (1) hospitalization rates; (2) heart function; (3) renal function; (4) fluid overload, and (5) adverse clinical outcomes. Summary: Of 864 citations, we excluded 843 citations and included 21 studies (n = 673 patients). After PD, hospitalization days declined significantly (p = 0.0001), and heart function improved significantly (left ventricular ejection fraction: p = 0.0013; New York Heart Association classification: p = 0.0000). There were no statistically significant differences in glomerular filtration rate after PD treatment in non-chronic kidney disease stage 5D patients (p = 0.1065). Among patients treated with PD, body weight decreased significantly (p = 0.0006). The yearly average peritonitis rate was 14.5%, and the average yearly mortality was 20.3%. Key Messages: This systematic review suggests that PD may be an effective and safe therapeutic tool for patients with RCHF.
Co-Occurence of Reciprocal Translocation and COL2A1 Mutation in a Fetus with Severe Skeletal Dysplasia: Implications for Genetic Counseling
Authors: Heinrich Tilman , Nanda Indrajit , Rehn Monika , Zollner Ursula , Ernestus Karen , Wirth Clemens , Schlüter Gregor , Schmid Michael , Kunstmann Erdmute
Published: March 2015

Achondrogenesis type II is an autosomal-dominant disease leading to severe micromelic dwarfism. Here, we report on the postmortem identification of a de novo heterozygous mutation in the COL2A1 gene (c.1529G>A, p.Gly510Asp) in a fetus who presented with generalized hydrops fetalis and severe micromelia during prenatal sonographic examinations. Initially, a reciprocal translocation t(4;17)(q31;p13) was detected in this fetus by chorionic villus sampling. Subsequent chromosomal analysis of maternal and paternal blood showed that the patient's mother was carrier of the same reciprocal translocation. SNP array analysis of the fetus did not provide evidence for chromosomal imbalances or CNVs that could be associated with the fetal phenotype. The coexistence of a cytogenetic (reciprocal translocation) and a molecular genetic (COL2A1 mutation) abnormality in the fetus carries important implications for genetic counseling.
VTE primary prevention, including hospitalised medical and orthopaedic surgical patients
Authors: Granziera Serena , Cohen Alexander T.
Published: March 2015

summary

Primary prevention is the key to managing a significant proportion of the burden of venous thromboembolism (VTE), defined as deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE). This is because VTE may lead to sudden death or are often misdiagnosed and therefore treatment is not feasible. Primary prevention usually commences in hospital as VTE following hospitalisation adds to the significant disease burden worldwide. Numerous medical, surgical and other risk factors have been recognised and studied as indications for prophylaxis. The risk of VTE continues following admission to hospital with a medical or surgical condition, usually long after discharge and therefore prolonged primary prophylaxis is often recommended. Clinical and observational studies in surgical patients show this risk extends for months and perhaps more than one year, for medical patients the risk extends for at least several weeks. For the specific groups of patients at higher risk of developing VTE primary prevention, either pharmaceutical or mechanical, is recommended. The aim of this review is to describe the population at risk, the main related risk factors and the approach to thromboprophylaxis in different populations.
Identification of the Vasoconstriction-Inhibiting Factor (VIF), a Potent Endogenous Cofactor of Angiotensin II Acting on the Angiotensin II Type 2 Receptor
Authors: Salem Silvia , Jankowski Vera , Asare Yaw , Liehn Elisa , Welker Pia , Raya-Bermudez Ana , Pineda-Martos Carmen , Rodriguez Mariano , Muñoz-Castañeda Juan Rafael , Bruck Heike , Marx Nikolaus , Machado Fernanda B. , Staudt Mareike , Heinze Georg , Zidek Walter , Jankowski Joachim
Published: March 2015

Background—

The renin-angiotensin system and especially the angiotensin peptides play a central role in blood pressure regulation. Here, we hypothesize that an as-yet unknown peptide is involved in the action of angiotensin II modulating the vasoregulatory effects as a cofactor.

Methods and Results—

The peptide with vasodilatory properties was isolated from adrenal glands chromatographically. The effects of this peptide were evaluated in vitro and in vivo, and the receptor affinity was analyzed. The plasma concentration in humans was quantified in patients with chronic kidney disease, patients with heart failure, and healthy control subjects. The amino acid sequence of the peptide from bovine adrenal glands was HSSYEDELSEVL EKPNDQAE PKEVTEEVSSKDAAE, which is a degradation product of chromogranin A. The sequence of the peptide isolated from human plasma was HSGFEDELSEVLENQSSQAELKEAVEEPSSKDVME. Both peptides diminished significantly the vasoconstrictive effect of angiotensin II in vitro. Therefore, we named the peptide vasoconstriction-inhibiting factor (VIF). The vasoregulatory effects of VIF are mediated by the angiotensin II type 2 receptor. VIF impairs angiotensin II–induced phosphorylation of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway but not of extracellular-regulated kinase 1/2. The vasodilatory effects were confirmed in vivo. The plasma concentration was significantly increased in renal patients and patients with heart failure.

Conclusions—

VIF is a vasoregulatory peptide that modulates the vasoconstrictive effects of angiotensin II by acting on the angiotensin II type 2 receptor. It is likely that the increase in VIF may serve as a counterregulatory effect to defend against hypertension. The identification of this target may help us to understand the pathophysiology of renal and heart failure and may form a basis for the development of new strategies for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.
Sequential Hybrid Procedure for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Bulava Alan , Mokracek Ales , Hanis Jiri , Kurfirst Vojtech , Eisenberger Martin , Pesl Ladislav
Published: March 2015

Background

Catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation yields an unsatisfactorily high number of failures. The hybrid approach has recently emerged as a technique that overcomes the limitations of both surgical and catheter procedures alone.

Methods and Results

We investigated the sequential (staged) hybrid method, which consists of a surgical thoracoscopic radiofrequency ablation procedure followed by radiofrequency catheter ablation 6 to 8 weeks later using the
CARTO
3 mapping system. Fifty consecutive patients (mean age 62±7 years, 32 males) with long‐standing persistent atrial fibrillation (41±34 months) and a dilated left atrium (>45 mm) were included and prospectively followed in an unblinded registry. During the electrophysiological part of the study, all 4 pulmonary veins were found to be isolated in 36 (72%) patients and a complete box‐lesion was confirmed in 14 (28%) patients. All gaps were successfully re‐ablated. Twelve months after the completed hybrid ablation, 47 patients (94%) were in normal sinus rhythm (4 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation required propafenone and 1 patient underwent a redo catheter procedure). The majority of arrhythmias recurred during the first 3 months. Beyond 12 months, there were no arrhythmia recurrences detected. The surgical part of the procedure was complicated by 7 (13.7%) major complications, while no serious adverse events were recorded during the radiofrequency catheter part of the procedure.

Conclusions

The staged hybrid epicardial–endocardial treatment of long‐standing persistent atrial fibrillation seems to be extremely effective in maintenance of normal sinus rhythm compared to radiofrequency catheter or surgical ablation alone. Epicardial ablation alone cannot guarantee durable transmural lesions.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL:
www.ablace.cz
Unique identifier: cz‐060520121617
Basic Level Category Structure Emerges Gradually across Human Ventral Visual Cortex
Authors: Iordan Marius Cătălin , Greene Michelle R. , Beck Diane M. , Fei-Fei Li
Published: March 2015

Objects can be simultaneously categorized at multiple levels of specificity ranging from very broad (“natural object”) to very distinct (“Mr. Woof”), with a mid-level of generality (basic level: “dog”) often providing the most cognitively useful distinction between categories. It is unknown, however, how this hierarchical representation is achieved in the brain. Using multivoxel pattern analyses, we examined how well each taxonomic level (superordinate, basic, and subordinate) of real-world object categories is represented across occipitotemporal cortex. We found that, although in early visual cortex objects are best represented at the subordinate level (an effect mostly driven by low-level feature overlap between objects in the same category), this advantage diminishes compared to the basic level as we move up the visual hierarchy, disappearing in object-selective regions of occipitotemporal cortex. This pattern stems from a combined increase in within-category similarity (category cohesion) and between-category dissimilarity (category distinctiveness) of neural activity patterns at the basic level, relative to both subordinate and superordinate levels, suggesting that successive visual areas may be optimizing basic level representations.
Involvement of the TPJ Area in Processing of Novel Global Forms
Authors: Rennig Johannes , Himmelbach Marc , Huberle Elisabeth , Karnath Hans-Otto
Published: March 2015

The neuropsychological syndrome “simultanagnosia” is characterized by the inability to integrate local elements into a global entity. This deficit in Gestalt perception is mainly apparent for novel global structures administered in clinical tests or unfamiliar visual scenes. Recognition of familiar complex objects or well-known visual scenes is often unaffected. Recent neuroimaging studies and reports from simultanagnosia patients suggest a crucial involvement of temporoparietal brain areas in processing of hierarchically organized visual material. In this study, we investigated the specific role of the TPJ in Gestalt perception. On the basis of perceptual characteristics known from simultanagnosia, we hypothesized that TPJ is dominantly involved in processing of novel object arrangements. To answer this question, we performed a learning study with hierarchical stimuli and tested behavioral and neuronal characteristics of Gestalt perception pre- and posttraining. The study included 16 psychophysical training sessions and two neuroimaging sessions. Participants improved their behavioral performance for trained global stimuli and showed limited transfer to untrained global material. We found significant training dependent neuronal signal modulations in anterior right hemispheric TPJ regions. These activation changes were specific to trained global stimuli, whereas no systematic neuronal response changes were observed for recognition of untrained global stimuli, local elements and regular objects that served as control stimuli. In line with perceptual characteristics in simultanagnosia, the results argue for an involvement of TPJ in processing of novel global structures. We discuss the signal modulations in the context of a more efficient or different neuronal strategy to process familiar global stimuli.
Mantidflies of Colombia (Neuroptera, Mantispidae)
Authors: ARDILA-CAMACHO ADRIAN , GARCÍA Alexander
Published: March 2015

This study revises the Mantispidae of Colombia. 151 adult specimens of 12 entomological museums of Colombia were examined and identified. On the basis of the specimens studied and a comprehensive literature search, it is determined that 20 nominal species (including two doubtful records) plus four proposed as new to science, in ten genera (Anchieta, Plega, Trichoscelia, Gerstaeckerella, Buyda, Climaciella, Dicromantispa, Entanoneura, Leptomantispa, and Zeugomantispa) and, three subfamilies (Symphrasinae, Drepanicinae, and Mantispinae) occur in Colombia. In addition, A. eurydella (Westwood), C. amapaensis Penny and P. fasciatella (Westwood) are redescribed, providing complementary information to the original descriptions. A list of Colombian Mantispidae, distribution maps and taxonomic keys to subfamilies, genera and species are included. Illustrations of the external morphology and male genitalia are provided for selected species. The taxonomic status of P. hagenella (Westwood) is discussed, and its diagnostic characters are redefined. Anchieta remipes (Gerstaecker) is newly transferred to this genus from Trichoscelia.
New species of Microcentrum Scudder, 1862 (Orthoptera: Tettigonioidea:
Phaneropteridae) from Amazon rainforest
Authors: DA SILVA SOVANO RAFAEL S. , CADENA-CASTAÑEDA OSCAR J.
Published: March 2015

A regional study is performed for the Amazonian species of the genus Microcentrum Scudder, 1862, its proposed Microcentrum punctifrons Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1891 as nomen dubium n. stat. and two new species are described: Microcentrum amacayacu Cadena-Casteñada, Sovano n. sp. and Microcentrum xavieri Sovano, Cadena-Casteñada n. sp. the Colombian and Brazilian Amazon, respectively. A list and a key to the Amazonian species are also provided, along with a discussion on their distribution, according to endemism areas established to Amazon rainforest.
Gomphocythere besni n. sp. (Crustacea, Ostracoda) from a man-made pool (Adıyaman, Turkey)
Authors: KÜLKÖYLÜOĞLU OKAN , YAVUZATMACA MEHMET , CABRAL MARIA CRISTINA , COLIN JEAN-PAUL
Published: March 2015

We describe a new species (Gomphocythere besni n. sp.) from the Tavaş man-made pool in Besni town (Adıyaman, Turkey). The species has several differences from its congeners in furcal structures (forked organ, seta of caudal ramus), numbers of setae on maxillula and maxillular palp, particular ornamentation with up to eight fossae in each mesh of the reticulation and in the presence of two types of lateral pore-canals (single pore opening with a sensillum and sieve plates) on the carapace. The finding of the new species extends the known geographical distribution of the living forms of the genus further to the North. The new species was found from relatively cool (16.6 ºC) and medium oxygenated waters (7.36 mg/L) in a mixture of sand and gravel substrate. Details about its ecology and taxonomic status are also compared and discussed with other species of the same genus.
Morphology of spermathecae of some pentatomids (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) from Turkey
Authors: CANDAN SELAMİ , YILMAZ FATMA SÜMEYYE , SULUDERE ZEKİYE , ERBEY MAHMUT
Published: March 2015

The spermathecal morphology of nine species belonging to the Pentatomidae (Insecta: Heteroptera) were compared by optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Among the examined species [Rhaphigaster nebulosa (Poda 1761), Palomena prasina (Linnaeus 1761), Piezodorus lituratus (Fabricius 1794), Graphosoma lineatum (Linnaeus 1758), Graphosoma semipunctatum (Fabricius 1775), Aelia albovittata (Fieber 1868), Codophila varia (Fabricius 1787), Ancyrosoma leucogrammes (Gmelin 1790), Nezara viridula (Linnaeus 1758)], all spermathecae contained a spermathecal bulb (reservoir), a pumping region, distal and proximal flanges, proximal and distal spermathecal ducts, dilation of spermathecal duct and a genital chamber containing two ring sclerites, but each species had a different spermathecal morphology.
A new species of the hermit crab genus Paguristes Dana, 1851 (Crustacea:
Decapoda: Anomura: Diogenidae) from southwestern India
Authors: KOMAI TOMOYUKI , RESHMI REMA , KUMAR APPUKUTTANNAIR BIJU
Published: March 2015

A new species of the hermit crab genus Paguristes Dana, 1851 (Diogenidae), P. luculentus, is described and illustrated on the basis of three male specimens collected from off the Kerala State, southwestern India. It belongs to the species group characterized by the posterior lobes of the telson unarmed on the terminal margins, but the characteristic armature of the chelae and carpi of the chelipeds, consisting of a covering of numerous small corneous-tipped spines, and the presence of numerous small corneous-tipped or corneous spines on the mesial faces of the dactyli of the second pereopods immediately distinguish the new species from other congeneric species. The new species represents the ninth of the genus known from Indian waters.
A new species and a new record of Trischistoma Cobb, 1913 (Nematoda: Enoplida: Trischistomatidae) from Shanxi Province, China
Authors: XU YU MEI , ZHAO ZENG QI , WANG JIAN MING
Published: March 2015

This paper describes a new species and gives a new record and a re-description of a known species of Trischistoma Cobb, 1913. Trischistoma taiguensis sp. nov. is characterized by having one pair of caudal setae on the tail; female body length of 562–699 µm, a = 35–42, b = 4.1–4.7, c = 11–14, c' = 3.9–4.6 and V = 79–82%. For the first time, Trischistoma pellucidum Cobb, 1913 is recorded from Shanxi Province, China. The phylogenetic relationships among species in the genus Trischistoma were analyzed using data from the SSU (small subunit) and D2/D3 expansion segments of the LSU (large subunit) rDNA sequences. These analyses confirmed that T. taiguensis sp. nov. and T. pellucidum differ from other known members of the genus for which sequences are available in GenBank.
The ENSO–Precipitation Teleconnection and Its Modulation by the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation
Authors: Westra Seth , Renard Benjamin , Thyer Mark
Published: March 2015

This study evaluates the role of the interdecadal Pacific oscillation (IPO) in modulating the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO)–precipitation relationship. The standard IPO index is described together with several alternatives that were derived using a low-frequency ENSO filter, demonstrating that an equivalent IPO index can be obtained as a low-frequency version of ENSO. Several statistical artifacts that arise from using a combination of raw and smoothed ENSO indices in modeling the ENSO–precipitation teleconnection are then described. These artifacts include the potentially spurious identification of low-frequency variability in a response variable resulting from the use of smoothed predictors and the potentially spurious modulation of a predictor–response relationship by the low-frequency version of the predictor under model misspecification. The role of the IPO index in modulating the ENSO–precipitation relationship is evaluated using a global gridded precipitation dataset, based on three alternative statistical models: stratified, linear, and piecewise linear. In general, the information brought by the IPO index, beyond that already contained in the Niño-3.4 index, is limited and not statistically significant. An exception is in northeastern Australia using annual precipitation data, and only for the linear model. Stratification by the IPO index induces a nonlinear ENSO–precipitation relationship, suggesting that the apparent modulation by the IPO is likely to be spurious and attributable to the combination of sample stratification and model misspecification. Caution is therefore required when using smoothed climate indices to model or explain low-frequency variability in precipitation.
Changes in Intense Precipitation Events in Mexico City
Authors: Ochoa Carlos A. , Quintanar Arturo I. , Raga Graciela B. , Baumgardner Darrel
Published: March 2015

The authors analyzed an extensive precipitation dataset available for the Mexico City basin that included hourly precipitation in various sectors of the city from 1993 to 2007. Observations indicated that significant changes occurred in the timing and number of intense events (precipitation rate >20 mm h−1) over this time period. Alternative hypotheses that changes in the emission of aerosol pollutants or in the land use can result in the observed variations are tested. The Weather Research and Forecasting Model was used to simulate September precipitation from 2002 to 2011 at the peak of the wet season. Changes were introduced to the microphysical scheme as a proxy for differences in the aerosol population and the droplet activation spectra. Simulations were also performed with the land use of the urban areas set up to represent older and more current conditions. Results indicate that increased pollution (decreased urban area) led to an average precipitation decrease over the mountain areas of 20%–40% (10%–20%) and an increase of 20% (30%) to the east of Mexico City. The timing of intense precipitation shifts from 1900 to 1600 LT for the polluted and decreased urban area cases when compared to a control experiment. These results add valuable information about how precipitation is modified by complex terrain and surface exchange processes in large urban areas under wet conditions.
Is Sustainability Performance Comparable? A Study of GRI Reports of Mining Organizations
Authors: Boiral Olivier , Henri Jean-François
Published: March 2015

The objective of this study is to analyze the measurability and interfirm comparability of sustainability performance through the qualitative content analysis of 12 sustainability reports of mining firms using the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines. The systematic comparison of information disclosed in 92 GRI indicators sheds light on the reasons underlying the impossibility of rigorously measuring and comparing the sustainability performance of firms from the same sector, which are supposed to be strictly following the same reporting guideline. These reasons include qualitative aspects of sustainability, lack of compliance with GRI protocols, indicator contingency, ambiguous or incomplete information, data heterogeneity, and report opacity. The study makes it possible to return to the very notion of sustainability, its meaning, and flexible application by organizations. The results are discussed from three different theoretical perspectives (functionalist, critical, and postmodern), each of which proposes possible and complementary explanations of the main findings.
Advancing Research on Corporate Sustainability
Authors: Hahn Tobias , Figge Frank , Aragón-Correa J. Alberto , Sharma Sanjay
Published: March 2015

Over the last two decades, corporate sustainability has been established as a legitimate research topic among management and organization scholars. This introductory article explores potential avenues for advances in research on corporate sustainability by readdressing some of the fundamental aspects of the sustainability debate and approaching some novel perspectives and insights from outside the corporate sustainability field. This essay also sketches out how each of the six articles of this special issue contribute to the literature by going back to some of the conceptual roots of sustainability and/or by offering novel perspectives for research on corporate sustainability. As these six articles and the outlook on future research opportunities show, broadening the inquiry of corporate sustainability in terms of topics, theories, and methodologies holds considerable potential to improve our understanding of how decision makers and organizations respond to sustainability.
A Ratio Test of Interrater Agreement With High Specificity
Authors: Cousineau Denis , Laurencelle Louis
Published: March 2015

Existing tests of interrater agreements have high statistical power; however, they lack specificity. If the ratings of the two raters do not show agreement but are not random, the current tests, some of which are based on Cohen’s kappa, will often reject the null hypothesis, leading to the wrong conclusion that agreement is present. A new test of interrater agreement, applicable to nominal or ordinal categories, is presented. The test statistic can be expressed as a ratio (labeled QA, ranging from 0 to infinity) or as a proportion (labeled PA, ranging from 0 to 1). This test weighs information supporting agreement with information supporting disagreement. This new test’s effectiveness (power and specificity) is compared with five other tests of interrater agreement in a series of Monte Carlo simulations. The new test, although slightly less powerful than the other tests reviewed, is the only one sensitive to agreement only. We also introduce confidence intervals on the proportion of agreement.
Globalization and income inequality: How public sector spending moderates this relationship in affluent countries
Authors: Kollmeyer Christopher
Published: March 2015

This study revisits the question of whether global market integration increases net income inequality in affluent countries. Prior research treats the relationship between globalization and income inequality as invariant across different national contexts. Conversely, the author argues that this relationship is best understood as a moderated causal effect, in which the redistributive influences of public sector spending diminish and eventually negate globalization’s otherwise positive effect on income inequality. This argument implies that the distributional consequences of globalization vary cross-nationally due to substantial differences in public sector spending found among affluent countries. Using unbalanced panel data from 16 Western countries observed between 1970 and 2010, the author tests this assertion with panel regression techniques. The results provide qualified support for the hypothesized conditional relationship, with interaction terms between public sector spending and Southern imports being statistically significant across different model specifications and different estimating strategies.
Tensile response of braided structures: a review
Authors: Rawal Amit , Saraswat Harshvardhan , Sibal Apurv
Published: March 2015

Braiding is a highly versatile and cost-effective method of producing structures that has been successfully used for numerous applications ranging from ropes, composites, biomedical uses, insulation to sports and recreation activities, and the list of applications of braided structures is ever-increasing. The prediction of tensile property is a pre-requisite for the success of deployment of braided structures in these applications. This paper reviews the key parameters that control the tensile properties of biaxial and triaxial braided structures along with the models developed for these braids by various researchers with different fields of interest. In general, the tensile properties of braided structures are strongly dependent upon their architecture and the kinematics and mechanics involved in the braid formation. Furthermore, various approaches and methodologies have also been presented for the tensile models of braids consisting of an elastic core and multi-layered structures.
Exploring a decade of small area ethnic (de-)segregation in England and Wales
Authors: Catney Gemma
Published: March 2015

Claims of the self-segregation of minority ethnic groups during the early 2000s were much critiqued in the British academic literature, which pointed instead to decreasing ethnic segregation via the rather benign demographic processes of births and deaths, and internal migration from urban clusters. Despite the attention that these opposing debates received, a detailed study of change in ethnic residential segregation during the period has yet to be undertaken for the whole of England and Wales, and the recent release of 2011 Census data has now made this possible. This paper contributes to the literature by providing a systematic overview of national-level change in residential segregation in a changing socio-political climate, considering how minority ethnic distributions have altered in the last decade. The paper explores the specific case of England and Wales, but in doing so makes a contribution to our understanding of the contemporary evolution of ethnic geographies and the dynamics of diverse places, beyond this specific region. Using a commonly employed measure of spatial unevenness, the Index of Dissimilarity, at the smallest possible geographical level, the findings demonstrate how there has been increased residential mixing between each ethnic group (the White British majority and all minority groups), and that urban locales have experienced a decrease in segregation between 2001 and 2011. The findings disturb the association of ethnic diversity with ethnic divisions in (particularly urban) space and provide support for the somewhat ‘every day’ processes of de-segregation, rather than a cause for concern over increasingly entrenched neighbourhoods.
Getting In, Being In, Staying In, and Getting Out
Authors: Helm Susana , Baker Charlene K. , Berlin Jeffrey , Kimura Shaye
Published: March 2015

Dating is a highly desirable experience during adolescence and serves as an important developmental milestone. This study explored healthy and unhealthy dating as a step toward improving adolescent well-being. Six focus group interviews were conducted with high school–aged girls and boys ( N = 35). Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Youth were asked to describe what dating was like for teens in their age, including dating problems. Narrative analyses indicated the following four distinct stages of dating: getting in, being in, staying in, and getting out. Each stage is described in-depth, along with exemplary quotes. Practice implications for each stage of the dating experience emphasize developmentally timed universal health education starting in middle school. In particular, health programming is needed to improve adolescents’ skills for identifying unhealthy relationships to minimize “staying in,” and for “getting out” safely and respectfully.
Learning and teaching Emotional Logic in Zimbabwe: A lifelong learning emotional literacy training package that promotes healthy adjustment in resource-poor settings
Authors: Langsford Marian , Griffiths Trevor
Published: March 2015

This article describes an innovative, rapidly effective, low cost, health promoting educational input that can strengthen social systems to support the social and emotional development of orphan children. The training project took place in a resource-poor area of rural southern Zimbabwe. The teaching was found to be culturally relevant and transferable, to the extent that several of the learners progressed to become tutors, training others to use the method in local languages. The method promotes healthy adjustment, emotional resilience and intelligent decision-making for health. By reducing chronic stress in orphans and their carers, lifelong learning may improve immune function.
The Impact of Cyber Conflict on International Interactions
Authors: Maness Ryan C. , Valeriano Brandon
Published: March 2015

Analysts suggest that the rise of the cyber domain of combat has led to a revolution in military affairs and have greatly changed how society interacts with the Internet. The structure and content of interactions on the battlefield have supposedly changed in light of this development. In the rush to note the changing face of conflict, few scholars have actually examined the impact of cyber conflict on foreign policy relationships. Here we use weekly events data to examine exactly what happens between countries when cyber conflict is utilized as a foreign policy choice. Using a previously constructed data set of cyber actions, we measure conflict and cooperation after a cyber operation to understand the true impact of this new way to arm a state and society. We find that only one method of cyber malice, denial of service, and one tactical goal, seeking a change in behavior in the opposing side, impacts conflict–cooperation dynamics between states.
How Has the Chinese Economy Developed So Rapidly? The Concurrence of Five Paradoxical Coincidences
Authors: Huang Philip C. C.
Published: March 2015

This article examines five surprising and historically contingent coincidences, pertaining separately to land, capital, labor, entrepreneurship, and technological innovation, whose concurrence and confluence go a long way toward explaining China’s remarkable record of development in the past thirty-five years. They also reveal the roots of the problems that have accompanied that development: gross social inequality, a persistent and oppressive bureaucracy, and a drastic environmental crisis.
Psychological Flexibility and Mindfulness Explain Intuitive Eating in Overweight Adults
Authors: Sairanen Essi , Tolvanen Asko , Karhunen Leila , Kolehmainen Marjukka , Järvelä Elina , Rantala Sanni , Peuhkuri Katri , Korpela Riitta , Lappalainen Raimo
Published: March 2015

The current study investigated whether mindfulness and psychological flexibility, independently and together, explain intuitive eating. The participants were overweight or obese persons ( N = 306) reporting symptoms of perceived stress and enrolled in a psychological lifestyle intervention study. Participants completed self-report measures of psychological flexibility; mindfulness including the subscales observe, describe, act with awareness, non-react, and non-judgment; and intuitive eating including the subscales unconditional permission to eat, eating for physical reasons, and reliance on hunger/satiety cues. Psychological flexibility and mindfulness were positively associated with intuitive eating factors. The results suggest that mindfulness and psychological flexibility are related constructs that not only account for some of the same variance in intuitive eating, but they also account for significant unique variances in intuitive eating. The present results indicate that non-judgment can explain the relationship between general psychological flexibility and unconditional permission to eat as well as eating for physical reasons. However, mindfulness skills— acting with awareness, observing, and non-reacting—explained reliance on hunger/satiety cues independently from general psychological flexibility. These findings suggest that mindfulness and psychological flexibility are interrelated but not redundant constructs and that both may be important for understanding regulation processes underlying eating behavior.