bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Solar-wind predictions for the Parker Solar Probe
orbit
Authors: Venzmer M. S. , Bothmer V.
Published: November 2017

Context. The Parker Solar Probe (PSP; formerly Solar Probe Plus) mission will be humanitys first in situ exploration of the solar corona with closest perihelia at 9.86 solar radii (R⊙) distance to the Sun. It will help answer hitherto unresolved questions on the heating of the solar corona and the source and acceleration of the solar wind and solar energetic particles. The scope of this study is to model the solar-wind environment for PSPs unprecedented distances in its prime mission phase during the years 2018 to 2025. The study is performed within the Coronagraphic German And US SolarProbePlus Survey (CGAUSS) which is the German contribution to the PSP mission as part of the Wide-field Imager for Solar PRobe.

Aim. We present an empirical solar-wind model for the inner heliosphere which is derived from OMNI and Helios data. The German-US space probes Helios 1 and Helios 2 flew in the 1970s and observed solar wind in the ecliptic within heliocentric distances of 0.29 au to 0.98 au. The OMNI database consists of multi-spacecraft intercalibrated in situ data obtained near 1 au over more than five solar cycles. The international sunspot number (SSN) and its predictions are used to derive dependencies of the major solar-wind parameters on solar activity and to forecast their properties for the PSP mission.

Methods. The frequency distributions for the solar-wind key parameters, magnetic field strength, proton velocity, density, and temperature, are represented by lognormal functions. In addition, we consider the velocity distributions bi-componental shape, consisting of a slower and a faster part. Functional relations to solar activity are compiled with use of the OMNI data by correlating and fitting the frequency distributions with the SSN. Further, based on the combined data set from both Helios probes, the parameters frequency distributions are fitted with respect to solar distance to obtain power law dependencies. Thus an empirical solar-wind model for the inner heliosphere confined to the ecliptic region is derived, accounting for solar activity and for solar distance through adequate shifts of the lognormal distributions. Finally, the inclusion of SSN predictions and the extrapolation down to PSPs perihelion region enables us to estimate the solar-wind environment for PSPs planned trajectory during its mission duration.

Results. The CGAUSS empirical solar-wind model for PSP yields dependencies on solar activity and solar distance for the solar-wind parameters’ frequency distributions. The estimated solar-wind median values for PSPs first perihelion in 2018 at a solar distance of 0.16 au are 87 nT, 340 km s−1, 214 cm−3, and 503 000 K. The estimates for PSPs first closest perihelion, occurring in 2024 at 0.046 au (9.86 R⊙), are 943 nT, 290 km s−1, 2951 cm−3, and 1 930 000 K. Since the modeled velocity and temperature values below approximately 20 R⊙appear overestimated in comparison with existing observations, this suggests that PSP will directly measure solar-wind acceleration and heating processes below 20 R⊙ as planned.
Wie können postoperative Komplikationen bei Patienten mit Frailty vermieden werden?
Authors: Mörgeli Rudolf , Wollersheim Tobias , Spies Claudia , Balzer Felix , Koch Susanne , Treskatsch Sascha
Published: November 2017

Patienten mit Frailty sind anfälliger dafür, Komplikationen während und nach einer Operation zu entwickeln. Bei steigender Prävalenz dieses Syndroms werden das Erkennen sowie das spezielle Management von gebrechlichen Patienten in der perioperativen Phase wichtiger und könnte dazu beitragen, das perioperative Outcome dieser Patienten zu verbessern. Basierend auf aktueller Literatur und Leitlinien, präsentieren wir eine Zusammenstellung von grundlegenden Strategien, die eingesetzt werden können, um postoperative Komplikationen bei Patienten mit Frailty zu reduzieren. Aufgrund ihrer eingeschränkten Anpassungsmechanismen auf Stressoren werden besonders für Patienten mit Frailty potenzielle perioperative Gefahren identifiziert und diskutiert. Dazu gehören das Risiko von Dehydratation, Hypothermie, kardiovaskulärer Dekompensation, ungewöhnlicher Arzneimittelreaktionen und Delirium. Ebenso wird auf die Notwendigkeit von früher Mobilisierung und Ernährungsunterstützung eingegangen. Wenn Frailty präoperativ erkannt und dem Behandlerteam die erhöhte Komplikationsgefahr bewusst wird, gibt es Strategien, die in der perioperativen Versorgung umgesetzt werden können, um die Chancen einer erfolgreichen Erholung des Patienten zu erhöhen.
Neuroanatomie der Sehbahn
Authors: Heermann Stephan
Published: November 2017

Genaue Kenntnisse über die neuroanatomischen Grundlagen des visuellen Systems von der Reizaufnahme in der Retina, der Weiterleitung der visuellen Information in andere Bereiche des zentralen Nervensystems und der Verarbeitung visueller Stimuli ist von großer Bedeutung bei der Diagnostik von Erkrankungen, welche dieses System betreffen. Diese Kenntnisse erlauben bereits nach einer klinischen Untersuchung eine recht genaue topografische Zuordnung von Läsionen. Dieser Beitrag soll dazu dienen, die Neuroanatomie des visuellen Systems mit dem Schwerpunkt der Sehbahn und der Verarbeitung visueller Information darzustellen. Es sollen hier neben der retinofugalen Bahn zum visuellen Kortex auch jene Bahnen erwähnt werden, die zu anderen Zentren des zentralen Nervensystems projizieren. Die Strukturen, die im Dienste der Okulomotorik stehen, werden an anderer Stelle in dieser Ausgabe genauer besprochen.
Die überschätzte Beeinflussung der Exazerbationsrate bei COPD durch Inhalativa (LABA, LAMA, ICS)
Authors: Köhler D. , Dellweg D.
Published: November 2017

Durch zahlreiche Studien ist belegt, dass inhalative, langwirksame Beta-2-Mimetika (LABA) und Anticholinergika (LAMA) sowie Steroide (ICS) die Exazerbationsrate bei COPD signifikant reduzieren. Allerdings konnte auch in aufwendigen und länger dauernden Studien nicht gezeigt werden, dass diese Reduktion der Exazerbation auch die Lebenserwartung reduziert. Im Gegensatz dazu zeigen zahlreiche Studien, dass die Lebenserwartung mit zunehmender Schwere und Häufigkeit der Exazerbation vermindert wird.

In dieser Übersicht werden diese Studien gegenübergestellt und die Relevanz der Reduktion der Exazerbationsraten durch LABA, LAMA und ICS durch Bewertung ihrer Effektstärke mittels Cohen’s d bewertet. Dabei zeigt sich in den Studien ein gleiches Muster. Die Reduktion der Exazerbationsrate zeigt nur bei den geringen Schweregraden einen kleinen Effekt (Cohen’s d max. 0,21). Bei Exazerbation mit höherem Schweregrad und bei Vergleich der Substanzen untereinander fällt Cohen’s d unter 0,1, was zeigt, dass die Wirkung der Medikamente klinisch praktisch bedeutungslos ist. Die Wirkung von LABA, LAMA und ICS auf die Exazerbationsrate bei COPD ist deutlich überschätzt.
An improved control strategy to the frequency regulation of DFIG based wind turbine
Authors: Teng Weijun , Meng Yongqing
Published: November 2017

This paper proposes an improved control strategy (ICS) to improve the frequency regulation capability of a Doubly Fed Induction Generator (DFIG) based on the relationship between the rotor speed, the frequency of rotor current, and the frequency of the power system. First, the function between the reference value of the active power of a control system of rotor side converter (CSRSC) and the frequency of the rotor current under a nominal frequency of the power system is deduced. Second, the reference value of active power of the CSRSC is modified according to the function and the measured output of active power and frequency excursion of a power system, ensuring the frequency disturbance of the power system is reduced. A Doubly Fed Induction Generator (DFIG) is used to study the validity of the ICS. A 1.5-MW DFIG model is built in the DIgSILENT/PowerFactory. Simulation results of different systems and different wind conditions demonstrate that the frequency excursion of the power system, caused by wind fluctuation, is reduced significantly with the ICS. Consequently, the proposed control strateg can improve the frequency stability of the power system with wind energy under wind speed fluctuation.
Enhanced pattern resolution, swelling-behaviour and biocompatibility of bioimprinted casein microdevices
Authors: Hashemi Azadeh , de Decker Fanny , Orcheston-Findlay Louise , Ali M. Azam , Alkaisi Maan M. , Nock Volker
Published: November 2017

This work introduces casein microstructures with surface features as a biodegradable biomedical platform technology for enhancing tissue-engineering applications. An optimized fabrication process is presented to reduce the hydrophobicity of intermediate polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) molds and to transfer high-resolution regular and biomimetic features onto the surface of casein devices. Four different cross-linking reagents, glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde, citric acid and transglutaminase (TG) were investigated to increase the degradation time of casein and their influence on swelling and biocompatibility of the films was studied. TG was found to be the only cross-linker to effectively increase the degradation time and show reduced film swelling after immersion into media, while remaining compatible with cell-culture. The maximum expansion of the films cross-linked via TG was 33% after 24 hours of immersion in cell-culture media. C2C12 cells were successfully cultured on the patterned films for up to 72 hours. The patterned biodegradable casein substrates presented here have promising applications in stem-cell engineering, regenerative medicine, and implantable devices.
Comparative study of visible and infrared photoluminescence resulting from indirect and direct excitation processes of Er3+ ions doped in ZnO host films
Authors: Akazawa Housei , Shinojima Hiroyuki
Published: November 2017

We investigated the correlation of visible and infrared photoluminescence (PL) from Er3+ ions doped in ZnO films. The visible emission was activated by band-to-band photo excitation of the ZnO host crystal with a He-Cd laser (325 nm), whereas the infrared emission at 1538 nm was induced by the resonant excitation between 4f levels by a 532-nm laser. Upon post annealing at 600 °C in a vacuum, we obtained PL spectra in which Er3+ emission signals at 665 nm corresponding to the 4F9/2 → 4I15/2 transition were predominant, having a very low defect emission background. This situation means that the excitation energy was preferentially transferred from the ZnO host crystal to the Er3+ ions and efficiently converted into Er3+ emissions. The high emission intensity was correlated with the crystallinity of the host crystal; post annealing in a vacuum produced a narrow rocking curve of the ZnO(002) X-ray diffraction peak, while annealing in an O2 atmosphere considerably increased the mosaicity of the crystal. The 665-nm signal reached a maximum intensity at an Er concentration of 0.9–1.5 at. %, whereas the condition to maximize the intensity of the infrared emission at 1538 nm was 1.5–4 at. %. The decay curves of the visible emission intensity and the intensity of the ZnO(002) peak against Er concentration almost coincided with the increasing Er content, which indicates that the visible emission was suppressed by non-radiative dissipation of the excitation energy at defects sites that were created by the incorporated Er3+ ions. The infrared emission, in contrast, attenuated more slowly as the Er concentration increased. Upon post treatment in H2 ambient, the visible emission completely disappeared, while the infrared emission remained, indicating that energy transfer from ZnO to Er3+ is the major factor affecting the emission intensity. Films that were deposited with H2O vapor at room temperature and subsequently post annealed had almost no visible or infrared emissions. It is likely that OH species act as quenching centers and/or that the inferior crystallinity of the ZnO host crystal in the as-deposited state cannot be ameliorated by post annealing.
Model-driven engineering of supramolecular buffering by multivalency
Authors: Paffen Tim F. E. , Teunissen Abraham J. P. , de Greef Tom F. A. , Meijer E. W.
Published: November 2017

Significance

The ability of chemists to regulate the concentration of molecules is extremely important. However, as reactions are slowly superseded by more complex reaction networks, new ways of regulating molecular concentrations are needed. Recently, we described a system in which the concentration of a monovalent molecule with catalytic activity was buffered over a wide concentration range by its binding to a divalent molecule. Guided by model predictions, we are able to experimentally optimize the system by increasing the valency of the buffer, with even-numbered valencies displaying superior buffering capabilities. These results allow us to understand and gain more control over the activities of molecules in complex molecular systems, thereby obtaining insights into natural systems as well as creating adaptive artificial systems.
Mixed-order phase transition in a colloidal crystal
Authors: Alert Ricard , Tierno Pietro , Casademunt Jaume
Published: November 2017

Significance

Phase transitions are usually classified in two categories: First-order transitions are discontinuous, and second-order transitions are continuous and exhibit critical behavior. However, the so-called mixed-order transitions combine features of both types, such as being discontinuous yet featuring a diverging correlation length. Such transitions were first foreseen by David J. Thouless in 1969 in spin chains with long-range interactions. Since then, they have been predicted for a number of equilibrium and nonequilibrium systems. Here, we predict and experimentally observe a mixed-order phase transition in a colloidal crystal. Our findings constitute an experimental realization of an equilibrium mixed-order transition, thus enabling the experimental investigation of the surprising properties of such phase transitions.
Amyloid polymorphisms constitute distinct clouds of conformational variants in different etiological subtypes of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Rasmussen Jay , Mahler Jasmin , Beschorner Natalie , Kaeser Stephan A. , Häsler Lisa M. , Baumann Frank , Nyström Sofie , Portelius Erik , Blennow Kaj , Lashley Tammaryn , Fox Nick C. , Sepulveda-Falla Diego , Glatzel Markus , Oblak Adrian L. , Ghetti Bernardino , Nilsson K. Peter R. , Hammarström Per , Staufenbiel Matthias , Walker Lary C. , Jucker Mathias
Published: November 2017

Significance

The clinical and pathological variability among patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) remains largely unexplained. Evidence is growing that this heterogeneity may be influenced by the heterogeneous molecular architecture of misfolded amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) in the brain. To test this hypothesis, we used unique fluorescent ligands to interrogate the molecular structure of Aβ in amyloid plaques from patients who had died with etiologically distinct subtypes of AD. We found that Aβ-amyloid plaques in the brain cluster as clouds of conformational variants that differ among certain subtypes of AD. The conformational features of AD plaques were partially transmissible to transgenic mice in a seeding paradigm, suggesting a mechanism whereby different molecular strains of Aβ propagate their features within the brain.
Impact of mother culture on the process of translating culture-specific idioms
Authors: Saeed Aziz Thabit
Published: November 2017

This study endeavors to explore the problems that Translation trainees’ mother culture poses when translating culture-specific idioms. The study used a translation task that comprises 20 culture-specific English idioms which incorporate lexical entities that can have negative connotations in the Arabic culture. The task was distributed to 40 randomly selected translation trainees, senior undergraduate translation students at the Department of Arabic and Translation, College of Languages, Sana’a University. Findings of the study show that the trainees’ mother culture had a considerable impact on the translation process. This impact exhibited itself in many forms, the most prominent of which is the tendency to offer a culturally-driven judgment of the content of the idiom instead of translating the idiom itself. The paper delineates the various forms of cultural interference as seen in the trainees’ renditions of the idioms in the study.
Perception of translation graduates on translation internships, with mixed-methods approach
Authors: Liu Christy Fung Ming
Published: November 2017

In recent years an increasing number of institutions have provided translation students with internships and/or placement as part of the curriculum. This paper presents findings from an empirical study in which a mixed-methods approach was employed to examine the perceptions and expectations of translation graduates on internships and to investigate the learning experience of translation graduates who had an internship experience. The findings suggest that internship programs for translation undergraduates should develop students’ translation skills and language skills. Whether or not internships should be paid and be counted towards the grade point average were given the least importance. It was found that “career aspirations” are the most important factor when translation students select an internship agency, followed by “the reputation of the organization”. A discrepancy between classroom learning and workplace practice was revealed, and this poses challenges for translation interns, who attribute the problems they encountered to the fact that the knowledge and skills they gained in university could not fulfil the needs required in the workplace. In addition, they coped with obstacles in workplace communication which are unlikely to be learnt in translation courses. Internships are thus seen to serve as a bridge between classroom knowledge and real-world practice.
Investigating the role of non-governmental organizations in new public diplomacy
Authors: Han Jiyoon (Karen) , Yang Sung-Un
Published: November 2017

The purpose of this study is to examine the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as a part of new public diplomacy. The study specifically investigates NGO’s use of soft power and social media and how they collaborate with the government. This study utilizes qualitative analysis to investigate how an NGO called the Voluntary Agency Network of Korea (VANK) influences the national reputation of South Korea. In-depth interviews were conducted with VANK employees and officers from Korean government agencies who have expertise in promoting Seoul, South Korea, and Korean culture and have previously collaborated with VANK. Findings show that VANK shares functional roles with the government to convey positive information about South Korea based on boundary-spanning theory. VANK specifically demonstrates expertise in correcting misconceptions about Korea online and implanting positive images of Korea to foreigners by actively employing its extensive networks, social media, and soft power.
Noncoding RNAs in Cardiovascular Disease: Pathological Relevance and Emerging Role as Biomarkers and Therapeutics
Authors: Gangwar Roopesh S , Rajagopalan Sanjay , Natarajan Rama , Deiuliis Jeffrey A
Published: November 2017

Noncoding RNAs (ncRNA) include a diverse range of functional RNA species—microRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) being most studied in pathophysiology. Cardiovascular morbidity is associated with differential expression of myriad miRNAs; miR-21, miR-155, miR-126, miR-146a/b, miR-143/145, miR-223, and miR-221 are the top 9 most reported miRNAs in hypertension and atherosclerotic disease. A single miRNA may have hundreds of messenger RNA targets, which makes a full appreciation of the physiologic ramifications of such broad-ranging effects a challenge. miR-21 is the most prominent ncRNA associated with hypertension and atherosclerotic disease due to its role as a “mechano-miR”, responding to arterial shear stresses. “Immuno-miRs”, such as miR-155 and miR-223, affect cardiovascular disease (CVD) via regulation of hematopoietic cell differentiation, chemotaxis, and activation in response to many pro-atherogenic stimuli. “Myo-miRs”, such as miR-1 and miR-133, affect cardiac muscle plasticity and remodeling in response to mechanical overload. This in-depth review analyzes observational and experimental reports of ncRNAs in CVD, including future applications of ncRNA-based strategies in diagnosis, prediction (e.g., survival and response to small molecule therapy), and biologic therapy.
Kings and Kingship in the Writings of Bede
Authors: O’Brien Conor
Published: November 2017

This article argues that the Anglo-Saxon intellectual Bede (d. 735) saw kingship as a ‘secular’ office. Previous historiography has tended to rely upon the evidence of Bede’s historical works, which, for reasons of genre and audience, do not accurately represent his attitudes to rulership; here, his exegesis and theology are foregrounded. Bede’s theological writings describe both Christ and Satan as kings, suggesting a morally neutral view of kingship. Biblical texts which would have allowed him to comment upon the behaviour of contemporary kings received purely spiritual interpretations in Bede’s works, which display little interest in general in the ideology of ministerial kingship. The Anglo-Saxon did believe good Christians could be kings and use their power for the benefit of the Church, but this was primarily because of the very ‘secularity’ of kingship, an institution which veered between the elect and reprobate and of which the devout should take advantage when they could. But Bede did not expect these Christian kings to spread the faith at the point of a sword or to transform the power of rulership into a force for ecclesiastical reform. Influenced by Augustinian ideas, contemporary events and the attitudes to earthly monarchy emerging from early medieval Rome, Bede maintained a basic conviction that worldly power belonged to a secular sphere. While Robert Markus influentially suggested that the transition between Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages saw the ‘de-secularisation’ of Europe, the evidence of Bede suggests the continuation of Christian secularism into the eighth century.
Predictors of Health Service Utilization Among Older Men in Jamaica
Authors: Willie-Tyndale Douladel , McKoy Davis Julian , Holder-Nevins Desmalee , Mitchell-Fearon Kathryn , James Kenneth , Waldron Norman K , Eldemire-Shearer Denise
Published: November 2017

Objectives

To determine the relative influence of sociodemographic, socioeconomic, psychosocial, and health variables on health service utilization in the last 12 months.

Methods

Data were analyzed for 1,412 men ≥60 years old from a 2012 nationally representative community-based survey in Jamaica. Associations between six health service utilization variables and several explanatory variables were explored. Logistic regression models were used to identify independent predictors of each utilization measure and determine the strengths of associations.

Results

More than 75% reported having health visits and blood pressure checks. Blood sugar (69.6%) and cholesterol (63.1%) checks were less common, and having a prostate check (35.1%) was the least utilized service. Adjusted models confirmed that the presence of chronic diseases and health insurance most strongly predicted utilization. A daughter or son as the main source of financial support (vs self) doubled or tripled, respectively, the odds of routine doctors’ visits. Compared with primary or lower education, tertiary education doubled [2.37 (1.12, 4.95)] the odds of a blood pressure check. Regular attendance at club/society/religious organizations’ meetings increased the odds of having a prostate check by 45%.

Discussion

Although need and financial resources most strongly influenced health service utilization, psychosocial variables may be particularly influential for underutilized services.
Innovative Models for High-Risk Patients Use Care Coordination and Palliative Supports to Reduce End-of-life Utilization and Spending
Authors: Ruiz Sarah , Snyder Lynne Page , Giuriceo Katherine , Lynn Joanne , Ewald Erin , Branand Brittany , Parashuram Shriram , Loganathan Sai , Bysshe Tyler
Published: November 2017

Background and Objectives

Care coordination and palliative care supports are associated with reduced anxiety, fewer hospital admissions, and improved quality of life for patients and their families. Early palliative care can result in savings in the end-of-life period, but there is limited evidence that larger-scale models can improve both utilization and the cost of care. Three models that received Health Care Innovation Awards from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services aimed to improve quality of care and reduce cost through the use of innovative care coordination models. This study explores the total cost of care and selected utilization outcomes at the end-of-life for these innovative models, each of which enrolled adults with multiple chronic conditions and featured care coordination with advance care planning as a component of palliative care. These included a comprehensive at-home supportive care model for persons predicted to die within a year and two models offering advance care planning in nursing facilities and during care transitions.

Research Design and Methods

We used regression models to assess model impacts on costs and utilization for high-risk Medicare beneficiaries participating in the comprehensive supportive care model (N = 3,339) and the two care transition models (N = 587 and N = 277) who died during the study period (2013–2016), relative to a set of matched comparison patients.

Results

Comparing participants in each model who died during the study period to matched comparators, two of the three models were associated with significantly lower costs in the last 90 days of life ($2,122 and $4,606 per person), and the third model showed nonsignificant differences. Two of the three models encouraged early hospice entry in the last 30 days of life. For the comprehensive at-home supportive care model, we observed aggregate savings of nearly $19 million over the study period. One care transition model showed aggregate savings of over $500,000 during the same period. Potential drivers of these cost savings include improved patient safety, timeliness of care, and caregiver support.

Discussion and Implications

Two of the three models achieved significant lower Medicare costs than a comparison group and the same two models also sustained their models beyond the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services award period. These findings show promise for achieving palliative care goals as part of care coordination innovation.
Millennials and Their Parents: Implications of the New Young Adulthood for Midlife Adults
Authors: Fingerman Karen L
Published: November 2017

The period of young adulthood has transformed dramatically over the past few decades. Today, scholars refer to “emerging adulthood” and “transitions to adulthood” to describe adults in their 20s. Prolonged youth has brought concomitant prolonged parenthood. This article addresses 3 areas of change in parent/child ties, increased (a) contact between generations, (b) support from parents to grown children as well as coresidence and (c) affection between the generations. We apply the Multidimensional Intergenerational Support Model (MISM) to explain these changes, considering societal (e.g., economic, technological), cultural, family demographic (e.g., fertility, stepparenting), relationship, and psychological (normative beliefs, affection) factors. Several theoretical perspectives (e.g., life course theory, family systems theory) suggest that these changes may have implications for the midlife parents’ well-being. For example, parents may incur deleterious effects from (a) grown children’s problems or (b) their own normative beliefs that offspring should be independent. Parents may benefit via opportunities for generativity with young adult offspring. Furthermore, current patterns may affect future parental aging. As parents incur declines of late life, they may be able to turn to caregivers with whom they have intimate bonds. Alternately, parents may be less able to obtain such care due to demographic changes involving grown children raising their own children later or who have never fully launched. It is important to consider shifts in the nature of young adulthood to prepare for midlife parents’ future aging.
Fecundity peaks prior to sex transition in a protogynous marine batch spawning fish, black sea bass (Centropristis striata)
Authors: Klibansky Nikolai , Scharf Frederick S
Published: November 2017

Understanding the dynamic processes that contribute to reproductive output is vital to determine appropriate harvest controls and sustain marine fisheries. For sequential hermaphrodites, the process of reproduction is complicated by sex transition within the life history. We examined the reproductive dynamics of black sea bass (Centropristis striata), a protogynous serranid, within a major fishing region of the Northwest Atlantic during two consecutive spawning seasons to quantify the strength of size-dependence and the magnitude of temporal variation in several key traits. Specifically, we estimated the size-dependence of sex ratio, maturity, spawning capability, batch fecundity, and spawning frequency at both fine (weeks/months) and broad (years) temporal scales. We observed fecundity to be highest in females of intermediate body size, which was entirely a function of reduced spawning frequency among the largest females. Female fecundity peaked at sizes well below the estimated size at sex transition, and contrary to the pattern typically observed for gonochoristic fishes in which the largest females yield the greatest number of eggs. Among protogynous fishes, females may decrease egg production prior to sex change and instead allocate energy to somatic growth, benefitting from larger body size during the subsequent male phase. The production of fewer batches of eggs by larger females directly impacted estimates of annual fecundity. In addition, we detected large interannual differences in the proportion of spawning capable females, and also spawning frequency, which resulted in considerable variation between annual fecundity estimates. The inclusion of temporal and size-dependent variation in female egg production should produce more robust estimates of stock reproductive potential and its response to changing harvest scenarios.
Summary
Authors: Hechtman Lily
Published: November 2017

Outcomes in adults with ADHD are not uniform. They vary and can be generally described as falling into three groups: (1) those who have fairly normal outcome that does not differ from matched normal controls (about 30%) (Weiss & Hechtman, 1993); (2) those who continue to have significant symptoms of the syndrome with impaired functioning in academic, occupational, social, and emotional domains (50% of the group); and finally, (3) a small subgroup, about 10% to 20%, who have significant negative outcome with poor educational attainment, poor work history, marked unemployment, significant alcohol/substance use disorder, and important psychiatric and antisocial symptoms. Given that ADHD is a chronic condition that continues into adulthood, treatment (both medication and psychosocial treatments) needs to address both ADHD and comorbid conditions and needs to be ongoing with varying intensity and careful follow-up. Only with such an approach can we hope to improve adult outcomes for patients with ADHD.
Inflammation and Immune Function in PTSD
Authors: Felger Jennifer C. , Haroon Ebrahim , Miller Andrew H.
Published: November 2017

Numerous reports have described an association between PTSD and alterations in the immune response primarily characterized by increased biomarkers of inflammation, including inflammatory cytokines and acute phase reactants as well as increased inflammatory responses to immune stimuli. When considering systems that evolved to protect and prepare organisms during challenge, it is not surprising that the immune system is affected by exposure to trauma, or to the chronic stress associated with PTSD symptoms. Conversely, inflammatory cytokines have been shown to affect the brain, and may influence neural circuits of fear and anxiety to contribute to PTSD symptoms. This chapter discusses the evolutionary legacy of a primed inflammatory response in the context of trauma and stress, examines the evidence of altered immune function and inflammation in PTSD, explores the potential mechanisms involved, characterizes the consequences on neurocircuitry and health, and discusses potential translational implications.
Human Psychophysiology and PTSD
Authors: Jovanovic Tanja , Norrholm Seth Davin
Published: November 2017

Psychophysiological measures provide useful tools for investigating neurobiological mechanisms of trauma-related sequalae. In addition, they can serve as objective biological assessments of symptom severity in clinical research. This chapter describes the methods for collection of psychophysiological measures. These include muscle contractions (startle), electrodermal skin conductance, heart rate, and heart rate variability (HRV) at baseline, under stress, and following Pavlovian fear conditioning. These approaches are important both for understanding biology as well as for providing objective biomarkers that can be compared translationally from animals to humans. It also reviews the literature that has used these measures in PTSD. The evidence to date strongly suggests that these data provide robust correlates of PTSD severity.
Functional Neuroimaging of PTSD
Authors: Marin Marie-France , Milad Mohammed R.
Published: November 2017

The merger of neuroscience and psychiatry during the last two decades has enabled psychiatric neuroscience, as a newly refined discipline, to make great advances in understanding pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The advent of neuroimaging tools and the continued exponential growth and sophistication of the methods are key factors underlying advances in the field. In this chapter, informed by neuroimaging tools and basic neuroscience, the authors paint an optimistic canvas to illustrate the current state of knowledge pertaining to the etiology and pathophysiology of PTSD. The chapter describes the state of some recent developments and what is coming on the horizon in terms of novel approaches that may be applied toward the diagnosis and treatment of PTSD.
Mechanisms of Action in Psychotherapy
Authors: Rauch Sheila A. M. , Liberzon Israel
Published: November 2017

Therapy at its core is based on learning, and learning at its core is biological. Experience that is not in some way encoded in the brain and/or body is lost. This chapter provides a discussion of mechanisms of therapy research in PTSD in which the goal is to understand how PTSD therapy works. First, the chapter reviews what a mechanism is and how therapeutic mechanisms are examined. It then discusses the importance of therapeutic mechanisms research within the broader realm of mental health research. It focuses on prolonged exposure (PE) therapy for PTSD as an example of application of mechanisms research methodology and begins with the presentation of a theoretical model that builds on previous theory and mechanisms research to date. While much of this model is theoretical, the goal is to show how mechanisms research may apply to clinical practice to improve precision, efficiency, and efficacy.
Mechanisms of Action in the Pharmacology of PTSD
Authors: Geracioti Thomas D. , Strawn Jeffrey R. , Wortman Matthew D.
Published: November 2017

This chapter reviews medications currently available for PTSD in the context of their mechanisms of action, pathophysiological relevance, and clinical efficacy data. It systematically reviews aminergic mechanisms in PTSD pharmacology, including commonly used serotonin and norepinephrine agents, selective reuptake inhibitors and receptors drugs, as well as dopaminergic agents and psychostimulants. It also discusses the use of anticonvusants and antianxiety agents that modulate GABAergic and glutamatergic signaling, such as carbamazepine, VPA, benzodiazepines, gabapentine, and others. It also reviews other clinically available agents as well as HPA axis-modulating compounds, both for treatment and secondary prevention of PTSD. It concludes with the suggestion that clinical selection of one or more of these medications for PTSD should be based on individual patient considerations, including target symptoms, PTSD subtype, post-traumatic interval, comorbidities, genotypes for CYP450 enzymes, and genetic polymorphisms of clinical relevance.
Calcium Hypothesis of Neurodegeneration
Authors: Ryskamp Daniel A. , Popugaeva Elena , Bezprozvanny Ilya
Published: November 2017

Aged-related changes in neuronal physiology and stressors related to specific neurodegenerative diseases collude to undermine neuronal calcium homeostasis, which is a common pathological feature in the initiation and progression of Alzheimer’s disease(AD), Huntington’s disease (HD), Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinocerebellar ataxias, glaucoma, and several other neurodegenerative disorders. Mechanisms of calcium mishandling in these diseases are discussed in this chapter by focusing on HD as an example of a monogenic disease and AD as a multifactorial disease. As aberrant Ca2+ signals are particularly toxic to synaptic elements, this chapter further focuses on issues relevant to development of therapeutics that maintain neuronal circuitry and function through the stabilization of Ca2+ regulation. Ultimately, therapies that promote calcium homeostasis will likely be most effective when used in combination with disease-specific treatment strategies such as elimination of toxic Aβ‎ in AD or polyglutamine expanded Huntingtin protein in HD.
Genetics of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Bekris Lynn M. , Leverenz James B.
Published: November 2017

A great deal has been discovered about Neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs) including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies . This includes genetic variants associated with both sporadic and autosomal dominant NDDs. These findings have been crucial in our understanding the underlying factors that drive neuropathological changes and in clarifying the time line of biomarker changes in presymptomatic autosomal dominant mutation carriers. While much is still to be learned, these findings will play an important role in the future of neurodegenerative prediction, diagnosis, and treatment. This chapter summarizes the current genetic knowledge related to both the sporadic and autosomal dominant forms of neurodegenerative disease.
Disease-Modifying Therapies in Neurodegenerative Disorders
Authors: Drouin-Ouellet Janelle , Barker Roger A.
Published: November 2017

The recent identification of the genetic basis of many neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs), coupled with a greater understanding of their pathophysiology, has enabled better therapeutic strategies to be identified and tried. This includes approaches that target critical specific nodes in the disease pathways, for example, agents that modulate levels of mutant huntingtin in Huntington’s disease. In addition to these highly specific targeted therapies, there is also a growing realization that more generic lifestyle therapies influencing whole brain health may also have merit in treating these conditions-such as diet and exercise. This chapter explores the different approaches and agents used to try to modify the course of a range of NDDs, and highlights their progress relative to the clinic and the patients suffering with these currently incurable conditions.
Note on Mobile Healthcare
Authors: Quelch John A. , Rodriguez Margaret L.
Published: November 2017

Several forces are increasing the voices of individuals in shaping health care policy. Smart phones enable multiple health care apps, hopefully increasing consumer responsibility for their own health. Workplace safety issues in developing economies are motivating the buyers of products made in unsafe factories to press the brand-owners to take action. And individual consumer interest in drug innovation and availability is even affecting public policy thinking about drug company mergers and acquisitions.
DBS Safety
Authors: Montgomery Erwin B.
Published: November 2017

DBS is not just about passing electrical current charges into the brain, but rather DBS is integrated into a complex ecological system that involves not only electricity, but medications, biologics, rehabilitation, and a range of human issues including ethics, psychology, sociology, indeed, the full gamut of human activities. Furthermore, these human activities of concern include not only the patient and the patient’s family members, caregivers, and friends, but also physicians and healthcare professionals. Space and time limit the excursion here into these issues. The focus necessarily falls on issues directly related to DBS: the range of safety concerns, injury secondary to electricity, medical complications, adverse effects related to the activation of neural networks, and the potential psychosocial consequences of DBS.
Pathophysiological Mechanisms
Authors: Montgomery Erwin B.
Published: November 2017

Pathophysiology is central to neuroscience and psychiatry for a number of reasons. Indeed, nearly every inference to normal function of the nervous system is derived from notions of pathophysiology. Understanding DBS’s mechanisms of action—a therapeutic mechanism, particularly—greatly depends on the prior informing conception of pathophysiology. Several current theories of pathophysiology are critically reviewed such as the GPi Rate, high beta oscillations, excessive bursting and hypersynchronization theories. A novel theory offered that introduces the concept of the basal ganglia-thalamic-cortical system as a network of loosely coupled nonlinear polysynaptic reentrant oscillators.
Algorithm for Selecting Electrode Configurations and Stimulation Parameters
Authors: Montgomery Erwin B.
Published: November 2017

Chapter 9, Approaches to Programming, provided a general discussion regarding the approaches to DBS programming. The focus of Chapter 9 was on the underlying electroneurophysiological principles rather an explicit algorithm that addressed every possible circumstance. Chapters 11, Chapter 12, and Chapter 13 discussed approaches in the context of specific DBS targets. These approaches emphasized interpreting the DBS responses to visualize the location of the DBS contacts in the unique regional anatomy of the individual patient. For example, the production of paresthesias at stimulation currents insufficient to produce clinical benefit with DBS in the vicinity of the STN indicates that the DBS lead position is probably too posterior. This chapter gives an algorithm that takes the programmer step by step through the process of positioning DBS leads and contacts, and determining stimulation levels for optimal results.
Role of the Sympathetic Nervous System in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder–Related Male Sexual Dysfunction
Authors: Lipov Eugene
Published: November 2017

This chapter reviews recent literature related to local anesthetic sympathetic ganglion blockade (SGB) in treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its effect on the overall function of patients, with specific emphasis on male sexual and marital function. This chapter also discusses a publically available video in which a patient who had the PTSD checklist (PCL) administered before, and following, SGB as well as his wife were interviewed. A 34 year-old male Army Ranger veteran who suffered severe PTSD with associated marital and sexual difficulties after deployment, the patient had reported decreased libido and avoidance of intimacy. After SGB, he noticed marked improvement of his PTSD symptoms and resolution of his sexual dysfunction and marital difficulties. His reported improvements were echoed by his wife. The chapter also discusses known mechanisms of sexual dysfunction as related to PTSD and sympathetic nerve blockade effects as related to the sympathetic nervous system.
Genital Injury and the Psychiatric Consult Liaison Service
Authors: Wain Harold J. , Young Lisa C. , Santiago Patcho N.
Published: November 2017

Genital injuries, more than any other traumatic injury, are of concern to patients, yet these may be addressed less often than other injuries by providers and by patients. Trauma, in general, creates a narcissistic injury, while genital injuries make them much worse. Relationships and the ability to have biological children may also be affected. This trauma can overwhelm patients, leading to potentially maladaptive defense mechanisms. This chapter discusses ways to assist patients in coping with these injuries, including psychological techniques, adjunctive treatments, and psychopharmacology. The role of the consult psychiatric team as related to patients with genital injuries, their families, and medical team is also discussed.
The Age of Chemicals in the 21st Century
Authors: Kwiatkowski Carol F.
Published: November 2017

Chapter 1 profiles the history, exposure routes, and health effects of chemicals in categories such as pesticides, solvents, flame retardants, plastics, and antimicrobials. Human exposure to low concentrations of chemicals, prenatal and childhood exposures, and effects on the endocrine system are highlighted. The goal is to raise awareness about the wide range of chemicals humans encounter on a daily basis. Medical professionals are urged to use this information to educate patients, and governments are called on to adopt new regulatory approaches to protect public health.
Chemical Water Pollution and Human Health
Authors: Weis Christopher P. , Tillitt Donald E.
Published: November 2017

Human activities associated with environmental degradation are threatening urban and rural water supplies throughout the world. Although water quality in the United States surpasses that in most of the world, increasing challenges from an aging infrastructure, poorly controlled disposal of pharmaceuticals, household chemical products, and biologically active industrial chemicals are causing widespread degradation. Toxicology studies have highlighted the role of chronic, low-level chemical exposures of children in the development of disease later in life and demonstrated the chemicals’ epigenetic effects. Despite billions of dollars spent annually to purify diminishing water resources, most purified water is used for waste disposal a for agricultural and industrial processes that do not necessarily require good-quality water. Chapter 5 addresses some of the current threats to water supplies and proposes approaches to increase awareness and provide solutions for the protection of human and environmental health.
Proactive Approaches to Reduce Environmental Exposures
Authors: Cohen Aly
Published: November 2017

This chapter gives healthcare providers recommendations and tools to help patients mitigate exposure to harmful environmental chemicals, radiation, and other stressors; limiting contact and maximizing innate biological detoxification pathways through the safe use of exercise, diet, and appropriate supplements. Of particular concern are the vulnerable periods of biological development, when harmful chemicals can have the most deleterious effects. Therefore, particular attention is paid to the care of young children and pregnant women. Whether chemical exposure comes from food additives and food packaging, water, personal care and cleaning products, air contamination, or radiation, this chapter gives clear, practical, and safe recommendations for chemical reduction and embraces the precautionary principle when there is evidence of harm, but proof of causality, a very high standard, has not been established. The current approach of only regulating products after there is certainty of human harm has failed to protect the public health.