bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Immunomodulatory Activity of Nivolumab in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Choueiri Toni K. , Fishman Mayer N. , Escudier Bernard , McDermott David F. , Drake Charles G. , Kluger Harriet , Stadler Walter M. , Perez-Gracia Jose Luis , McNeel Douglas G. , Curti Brendan , Harrison Michael R. , Plimack Elizabeth R. , Appleman Leonard , Fong Lawrence , Albiges Laurence , Cohen Lewis , Young Tina C. , Chasalow Scott D. , Ross-Macdonald Petra , Srivastava Shivani , Jure-Kunkel Maria , Kurland John F. , Simon Jason S. , Sznol Mario
Published: May 2016

Purpose: Nivolumab, an anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor, improved overall survival versus everolimus in a phase 3 trial of previously treated patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). We investigated immunomodulatory activity of nivolumab in a hypothesis-generating prospective mRCC trial.

Experimental Design: Nivolumab was administered intravenously every 3 weeks at 0.3, 2, or 10 mg/kg to previously treated patients and 10 mg/kg to treatment-naïve patients with mRCC. Baseline and on-treatment biopsies and blood were obtained. Clinical activity, tumor-associated lymphocytes, PD-L1 expression (Dako immunohistochemistry; ≥5% vs. <5% tumor membrane staining), tumor gene expression (Affymetrix U219), serum chemokines, and safety were assessed.

Results: In 91 treated patients, median overall survival [95% confidence interval (CI)] was 16.4 months [10.1 to not reached (NR)] for nivolumab 0.3 mg/kg, NR for 2 mg/kg, 25.2 months (12.0 to NR) for 10 mg/kg, and NR for treatment-naïve patients. Median percent change from baseline in tumor-associated lymphocytes was 69% (CD3+), 180% (CD4+), and 117% (CD8+). Of 56 baseline biopsies, 32% had ≥5% PD-L1 expression, and there was no consistent change from baseline to on-treatment biopsies. Transcriptional changes in tumors on treatment included upregulation of IFNγ-stimulated genes (e.g., CXCL9). Median increases in chemokine levels from baseline to C2D8 were 101% (CXCL9) and 37% (CXCL10) in peripheral blood. No new safety signals were identified.

Conclusions: Immunomodulatory effects of PD-1 inhibition were demonstrated through multiple lines of evidence across nivolumab doses. Biomarker changes from baseline reflect nivolumab pharmacodynamics in the tumor microenvironment. These data may inform potential combinations. Clin Cancer Res; 22(22); 5461–71. ©2016 AACR.
PAXIP1 Potentiates the Combination of WEE1 Inhibitor AZD1775 and Platinum Agents in Lung Cancer
Authors: Jhuraney Ankita , Woods Nicholas T. , Wright Gabriela , Rix Lily , Kinose Fumi , Kroeger Jodi L. , Remily-Wood Elizabeth , Cress W. Douglas , Koomen John M. , Brantley Stephen G. , Gray Jhanelle E. , Haura Eric B. , Rix Uwe , Monteiro Alvaro N.
Published: May 2016

The DNA damage response (DDR) involves a complex network of signaling events mediated by modular protein domains such as the BRCA1 C-terminal (BRCT) domain. Thus, proteins that interact with BRCT domains and are a part of the DDR constitute potential targets for sensitization to DNA-damaging chemotherapy agents. We performed a pharmacologic screen to evaluate 17 kinases, identified in a BRCT-mediated interaction network as targets to enhance platinum-based chemotherapy in lung cancer. Inhibition of mitotic kinase WEE1 was found to have the most effective response in combination with platinum compounds in lung cancer cell lines. In the BRCT-mediated interaction network, WEE1 was found in complex with PAXIP1, a protein containing six BRCT domains involved in transcription and in the cellular response to DNA damage. We show that PAXIP1 BRCT domains regulate WEE1-mediated phosphorylation of CDK1. Furthermore, ectopic expression of PAXIP1 promotes enhanced caspase-3–mediated apoptosis in cells treated with WEE1 inhibitor AZD1775 (formerly, MK-1775) and cisplatin compared with cells treated with AZD1775 alone. Cell lines and patient-derived xenograft models expressing both PAXIP1 and WEE1 exhibited synergistic effects of AZD1775 and cisplatin. In summary, PAXIP1 is involved in sensitizing lung cancer cells to the WEE1 inhibitor AZD1775 in combination with platinum-based treatment. We propose that WEE1 and PAXIP1 levels may be used as mechanism-based biomarkers of response when WEE1 inhibitor AZD1775 is combined with DNA-damaging agents. Mol Cancer Ther; 15(7); 1669–81. ©2016 AACR.
Long-Term Outcomes of Pulmonary Hypertension in Preterm Infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Authors: Kwon Hye Won , Kim Han-Suk , An Hyo Soon , Kwon Bo Sang , Kim Gi Beom , Shin Seung Han , Kim Ee-Kyung , Bae Eun Jung , Noh Chung Il , Choi Jung-Hwan
Published: May 2016

Background: The long-term cardiovascular outcomes of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) are uncertain. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess outcomes of PH in prematurely born children diagnosed with moderate to severe BPD. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients born before 32 weeks of gestation and diagnosed with moderate to severe BPD from June 2004 to April 2008. Patients were recruited for a cross-sectional study from August to October 2014 and underwent echocardiography. Results: Forty-two children were enrolled. Their mean gestational age and birth weight were 26.2 ± 1.7 weeks and 753.1 ± 172.5 g, respectively. Sixteen patients (38%) were diagnosed with PH at a mean age of 3.3 ± 1.6 months, and the PH improved after a median of 12.3 months (range 0.7-46.6). Cardiovascular function was reassessed at a mean age of 7.7 ± 0.9 years, at which time 1 patient was taking a medication for recurrent PH, and 12 (28.6%) patients exhibited elevated blood pressure. Conventional 2-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography indicated normal ventricular function in all children. However, right ventricular longitudinal strains were decreased in children with previous PH. Conclusions: Subclinical ventricular dysfunction was detectable using sensitive echocardiographic techniques in children with previous BPD-associated PH. Long-term follow-up and meticulous cardiovascular function assessment are required in this population.
Posterior Transvaginal Mesh without Concurrent Surgery: How Does It have an Effect on the Untreated Vaginal Compartment?
Authors: Nyyssönen Virva , Santala Markku , Ala-Nissilä Seija , Bloigu Risto , Haarala Mervi
Published: May 2016

Background/Aims: To report objective and subjective outcomes and adverse events after placement of Elevate® Posterior transvaginal mesh without concurrent surgery. Changes in non-affected anterior compartment were under special interest. Methods: A prospective study of Elevate® Posterior procedure in patients with symptomatic posterior compartment prolapse. Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) quantification (POP-Q) measurements and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Inventory-20 (PFDI-20) and POP/urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12) questionnaires were used. Primary outcome was the incidence of de novo anterior prolapse. Secondary outcomes were complication rate and posterior compartment objective and subjective cure. Results: A total of 111 women underwent an Elevate® Posterior mesh procedure and 109 attended a control visit at 3 months. De novo anterior prolapse emerged in 3.2-15% of the women, depending on the definition. Posterior POP-Q stage ≤I was obtained in 92 (84%) women and leading edge at or above the hymen in 107 (98%) women. Bulge symptoms disappeared in 86% of the cases. One (0.9%) mesh exposure was detected. Reoperation rate was 2.8, and 3.7% patients experienced postoperative pain. PFDI-20 and PISQ-12 scores improved significantly. Conclusions: A trend of de novo prolapse formation in the non-affected vaginal compartment is observed. The Elevate® Posterior method is effective in terms of both objective and subjective outcomes. According to our results, the mesh exposure rate is low.
What Is New in Melanoma Genetics and Treatment?
Authors: Ribero Simone , Longo Caterina , Glass Dan , Nathan Paul , Bataille Veronique
Published: May 2016

New therapies for advanced melanoma have led to major advances, which, for the first time, showed improved survival for patients with this very challenging neoplasm. These new treatments are based on gene-targeted therapies or stimulation of immune responses. However, these treatments are not without challenges in terms of resistance and toxicity. Physicians should be aware of these side effects as prompt treatment may save lives. Melanoma genetics is also unravelling new genetic risk factors involving telomere genes as well as new gene pathways at the somatic level which may soon become therapeutic targets. It is also shedding new light onto the pathology of this tumour with links to neural diseases and longevity.
Predictors of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I Responses to Growth Hormone Replacement in Young Adults with Growth Hormone Deficiency
Authors: Thankamony Ajay , Capalbo Donatella , Jonsson Peter J. , Simpson Helen L. , Dunger David B.
Published: May 2016

Background/Aims: Physiological growth hormone (GH) secretion and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels are greater in young compared to older adults. We evaluated IGF-I levels and predictors of IGF-I responses in young adults on GH replacement. Design: From the KIMS database, 310 young adults (age 15-26 years) with severe GH deficiency related to childhood-onset disease and commenced on ‘adult GH replacement' were identified. ‘IGF-I responses' were estimated from first-year increments in IGF-I standard deviation scores (SDS) and adjusted for GH dose. Body composition was assessed by bioimpedance in 143 patients. Results: IGF-I levels increased markedly from baseline to 1 year of replacement (-3.75 ± 1.94 vs. -1.36 ± 1.86 SDS, p < 0.0001), but remained low compared to normative data despite dose titration. In multivariate models, IGF-I responses were positively associated with age [B (SE) SDS/(mg/m2); 0.52 (0.15), p = 0.0007] and BMI SDS [1.06 (0.25), p < 0.0001] and inversely associated with female gender [-4.45 (0.79), p < 0.0001] and baseline IGF-I SDS [-1.44 (0.20), p < 0.0001]. IGF-I responses were positively associated with first-year increases in lean body mass (r = 0.19, p = 0.003) and haemoglobin A1c (r = 0.15, p = 0.031). Conclusions: Low IGF-I levels in young adults on treatment may reflect suboptimal GH replacement. Identification of predictors for IGF-I responses could lead to a more appropriate replacement strategy. Association between IGF-I responses and lean body mass suggests that maintaining age-appropriate IGF-I levels is important during therapy.
Helicobacter pylori: Does Gastritis Prevent Colitis?
Authors: Arnold Isabelle C. , Müller Anne
Published: May 2016

Background: Since its discovery in the early 1980s, Helicobacter pylori has been linked to a variety of gastric and extragastric diseases. Chronic infection with H. pylori causes histologically evident gastritis in all colonized individuals and is the predominant risk factor for gastric and duodenal ulcers as well as gastric adenocarcinoma. However, increasingly robust experimental and epidemiological evidence suggests that H. pylori may at the same time be beneficial to its carriers, as it efficiently prevents allergic disorders and chronic inflammatory conditions. The purpose of this review is to summarize and document the latest evidence for a possible inverse association of H. pylori infection status and the risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), as provided in both experimental and human observational studies. The pathogenesis of IBDs, the available mouse models for these diseases and the dual role of H. pylori in health and disease are presented in dedicated chapters. Summary and Key Messages: Almost all available epidemiological data suggest that H. pylori infection is inversely associated with both Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis in European, Asian as well as American populations; large meta-analyses reviewing 30 original articles or more document that this inverse association is especially strong in CD patients and in children and young adults. Experimental data available from various mouse models of IBD confirm that live H. pylori infection as well as treatment with immunomodulatory molecules of H. pylori reduce clinical and histopathological IBD symptoms. Various proposed mechanisms involving the tolerization of dendritic cells, the production of protective cytokines and the preferential induction and differentiation of regulatory T-cells are presented. The implications of the beneficial aspects of the Helicobacter-host interaction for H. pylori eradication decisions, as well as potential new therapeutic options in the treatment of IBD are discussed in this review.
Selective Thrombophilia Screening in Young Patients with Retinal Artery Occlusion
Authors: Kuhli-Hattenbach Claudia , Hellstern Peter , Miesbach Wolfgang , Kohnen Thomas , Hattenbach Lars-Olof
Published: May 2016

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of various thrombophilic disorders among young patients with retinal artery occlusion (RAO). Procedures: We retrospectively reviewed thrombophilia screening data of young patients ≤60 years of age with RAO and healthy controls matched for gender and age. Results: Thrombophilia screening data of 25 young patients and 62 healthy controls were analyzed. Mean patient age by the time of the RAO was 43.3 ± 10.8 years. Overall, thrombophilic defects were found to be present in 17 patients (68%) compared with 11 of 62 controls (17.7%; p < 0.0001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed a statistically significant association between the development of RAO and increased levels of lipoprotein(a) (odds ratio: 9.48; p = 0.001) and factor VIII (odds ratio: 6.41; p = 0.024). There was a strong association between the presence of thrombophilic disorders and a personal or family history of thromboembolism (p = 0.01). Conclusions: Our results indicate that screening for thrombophilic disorders among selected young patients with RAO yields positive results in a high percentage of cases.
Older Adults' Use of Retrieval Strategies in Everyday Life
Authors: Frank David J. , Jordano Megan L. , Browne Kelly , Touron Dayna R.
Published: May 2016

Background: Despite declines in cognitive abilities, older adults often perform comparable to younger adults in everyday tasks [J Am Geriatr Soc 1999;47:172-183]. Older adults may compensate for cognitive declines by using more efficient strategies. People often improve their efficiency by switching from an algorithmic strategy where information is computed or looked-up, to a strategy where the information is retrieved directly from memory [J Exp Psychol Gen 1988;117:258-275]. However, older adults are reluctant to shift from algorithmic strategies to retrieval strategies in the laboratory, and this reluctance to use retrieval is driven by both bottom-up (slower learning) and top-down influences (memory confidence, motivation to be quick/accurate) [Psychol Aging 2004;19:452-466; Mem Cognit 2004;32:298-310]. Objective: We investigated whether bottom-up and top-down factors influence younger and older adults' decisions to use retrieval-based or algorithmic strategies in everyday life. Methods: In two studies, participants completed a daily diary for 5 (study 1) or 7 (study 2) days. Participants were asked if and how they completed daily activities within several everyday task domains. They also indicated for how long and how often they completed the specific activity (bottom-up factors), as well as how confident they were in using their memory and how motivated they were to perform the specific activity quickly and accurately (top-down influences). Results: Both studies provided evidence for bottom-up and top-down influences. Additionally, study 2 found that top-down factors (memory confidence and motivation to be quick) were more important for older compared to younger adults. Conclusion: These results indicate that strategy choices influence older adults' cognitive efficiency in everyday as well as laboratory learning.
Susceptibility Vessel Sign in Isolated Brainstem Infarction with Large Artery Occlusion
Authors: Song Mingrui , Hu Qimin , Wang Yan , Liu Lan , Zhao Jinglong , Wang Qiaoshu , Caplan Louis R.
Published: May 2016

Background/Aims: It is crucial to detect the composition of the thrombus in isolated brainstem infarction with large artery occlusion. The aim of this study was to explore the susceptibility vessel sign (SVS) whose composition is mainly deoxidized red cells in patients with isolated brainstem infarction and posterior circulation large artery occlusion. Methods: This was a single-center retrospective study. All patients with posterior circulation large artery occlusion from January 2003 to September 2013 were included. We identified 213 patients who had posterior circulation large artery occlusion, and 81 patients met the imaging eligibility criteria. Among the 81 patients, 21 had isolated brainstem infarction. Results: Among the 21 patients, 7 (33%) had SVS and 2 (10%) had pseudo-SVS (calcified vessels without thrombosis). In the 7 patients with SVS, we found atrial fibrillation in 2 patients, dissection in 3 patients and large artery atherosclerotic disease (LAAD) in 2 patients. There were SVS in 100% (2/2) of patients with atrial fibrillation, 50% (3/6) of patients with dissection, and 20% (2/10) of patients with LAAD. Conclusions: SVS reflects pathology of deoxidized red cells composition in patients with isolated brainstem infarction. This finding may be useful to explore the different stroke mechanisms and therapy strategies.
АНАЛІЗ ЯКОСТІ НАВЧАННЯ МЕДИЧНИХ СЕСТЕР ЗАКАРПАТСЬКОГО БАЗОВОГО МЕДИЧНОГО КОЛЕДЖУ ЗА РЕЗУЛЬТАТАМИ СТАНДАРТИЗОВАНОГО ТЕСТОВОГО ДЕРЖАВНОГО ІСПИТУ «КРОК М»
Authors: Hintsyak V. T. , Rega N. I.
Published: May 2016

У статті проаналізовано результати стандартизованого тестового державного іспиту «Крок М» у випускників Закарпатського базового медичного коледжу за 2011‒2014 рр. та запропоновано сучасні методи покращення якості навчання у вищих навчальних медичних закладах. 
Функціональні зміни серцево-судинної діяльності в учнів із порушеннями постави до та після корекції
Authors: Andrukhiv T. P. , Konovalenko S. O.
Published: May 2016

У статті досліджено функціональний стан серцево-судинної системи в учнів молодшого шкільного віку з порушеннями постави в сагітальній площині та проведено оцінку ефективності розробленої програми для корекції даних порушень.
ОСОБЛИВОСТІ РОЗУМІННЯ САМООЦІНКИ В СУЧАСНІЙ ПСИХОЛОПЧНІЙ НАУЦІ
Authors: Kryvoruchko T. I.
Published: May 2016

У статті розглянуто основні теоретичні підходи до розуміння самооцінки в сучасній психологічній науці, розуміння ролі, місця та значення самооцінки у формуванні та розвитку особистості.
ВПРОВАДЖЕННЯ СУЧАСНИХ ТЕХНОЛОГІЙ В ПРОЦЕСІ НАВЧАННЯ
Authors: Chornenka T. V.
Published: May 2016

У статті висвітлено поняття та етапи розвитку педагогічної технології, необхідність їх застосування в сучасній системі освіти з метою її реформування і модернізації.
ОСОБЛИВОСТІ ЛІКУВАЛЬНОГО ХАРЧУВАННЯ ПРИ ГІПЕРТОНІЧНІЙ ХВОРОБІ
Authors: Bey I. S. , Marushchak M. I.
Published: May 2016

У статті проаналізовано особливості лікувального та профілактичного харчування при гіпертонічній хворобі.
ПОШИРЕНІСТЬ ВІЛ/СНІД ІНФЕКЦІЇ І ФАКТОРИ, ЯКІ СПРИЯЮТЬ ЇЇ РОЗВИТКУ
Authors: Maryschuk M. Y. , Sopel O. M.
Published: May 2016

У статті проаналізовано поширеність ВІЛ/СНІД інфекції по Україні та Волинській області, а також фактори, що сприяють виникненню даного захворювання.
ENZYME MARKERS ACTIVITY AND BILE FORMATION FUNCTION OF LIVER IN CASES OF TUBERCULOSTATICS AND HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM COMPOUNDS AFFECTION IN RATS
Authors: Burmas N. I. , Fira L. S. , Lyhackyy P. H.
Published: May 2016

Background. Currently, the growing incidence of toxic lesions of the liver is associated with
industrial chemicalization and uncontrolled use of hepatotoxic drugs in everyday life. There are about
one thousand drugs with high or low hepatotoxicity, such as anti-TB drugs.
Objective. In this research we studied the intracellular enzymes activity and bile formation function
of the liver in rats of different ages in cases of tuberculostatic (isoniazid and rifampicin) affection and
chromium (potassium dichromate) intoxication.
Methods. The experimental affection of rats of different ages was performed by combined injection
of hexavalent chromium compounds (a solution of potassium dichromate, 3 mg/kg), isoniazid
(0.05 g/kg) and rifampicin (0.25 g/kg). On the 7th and 14th days the rats were injected with enterosorbent
Sorbex (150 mg/kg). Enzyme markers activity of the liver was evaluated due to alanine and aspartate
aminotransferases (ALT and AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) rates. Bile formation function of the
liver was evaluated by total bilirubin and bile acids content in blood.
Results. The disorders in hepatocytes plasma membranes permeability were defined by the
increased rates of ALT, AST and alkaline phosphatase in blood serum which were decreased in the
liver. It was determined that total bilirubin and bile acids content in blood serum of the affected
animals increased. It influenced hepatocytes excretion in bile capillaries and caused cholestasis and
revenues decrease in bile.
Conclusions. The most significant metabolic disorders in cases of chrome-isoniazid-rifampicin
affection were defined in immature and senior animals in comparison with mature animals.
KEY WORDS: isoniazid, rifampicin, hexavalent chromium compounds, liver enzymes,
bile formation.
Pharmacological Strategies to Retard Cardiovascular Aging
Authors: Alfaras Irene , Di Germanio Clara , Bernier Michel , Csiszar Anna , Ungvari Zoltan , Lakatta Edward G. , de Cabo Rafael
Published: May 2016

Aging is the major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, which are the leading cause of death in the United States. Traditionally, the effort to prevent cardiovascular disease has been focused on addressing the conventional risk factors, including hypertension, hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, and high circulating levels of triglycerides. However, recent preclinical studies have identified new approaches to combat cardiovascular disease. Calorie restriction has been reproducibly shown to prolong lifespan in various experimental model animals. This has led to the development of calorie restriction mimetics and other pharmacological interventions capable to delay age-related diseases. In this review, we will address the mechanistic effects of aging per se on the cardiovascular system and focus on the prolongevity benefits of various therapeutic strategies that support cardiovascular health.
Mitochondrial Metabolism in Aging Heart
Authors: Lesnefsky Edward J. , Chen Qun , Hoppel Charles L.
Published: May 2016

Altered mitochondrial metabolism is the underlying basis for the increased sensitivity in the aged heart to stress. The aged heart exhibits impaired metabolic flexibility, with a decreased capacity to oxidize fatty acids and enhanced dependence on glucose metabolism. Aging impairs mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, with a greater role played by the mitochondria located between the myofibrils, the interfibrillar mitochondria. With aging, there is a decrease in activity of complexes III and IV, which account for the decrease in respiration. Furthermore, aging decreases mitochondrial content among the myofibrils. The end result is that in the interfibrillar area, there is ≈50% decrease in mitochondrial function, affecting all substrates. The defective mitochondria persist in the aged heart, leading to enhanced oxidant production and oxidative injury and the activation of oxidant signaling for cell death. Aging defects in mitochondria represent new therapeutic targets, whether by manipulation of the mitochondrial proteome, modulation of electron transport, activation of biogenesis or mitophagy, or the regulation of mitochondrial fission and fusion. These mechanisms provide new ways to attenuate cardiac disease in elders by preemptive treatment of age-related defects, in contrast to the treatment of disease-induced dysfunction.
Learning Visual Spatial Pooling by Strong PCA Dimension Reduction
Authors: Hosoya Haruo , Hyvärinen Aapo
Published: May 2016

In visual modeling, invariance properties of visual cells are often explained by a pooling mechanism, in which outputs of neurons with similar selectivities to some stimulus parameters are integrated so as to gain some extent of invariance to other parameters. For example, the classical energy model of phase-invariant V1 complex cells pools model simple cells preferring similar orientation but different phases. Prior studies, such as independent subspace analysis, have shown that phase-invariance properties of V1 complex cells can be learned from spatial statistics of natural inputs. However, those previous approaches assumed a squaring nonlinearity on the neural outputs to capture energy correlation; such nonlinearity is arguably unnatural from a neurobiological viewpoint but hard to change due to its tight integration into their formalisms. Moreover, they used somewhat complicated objective functions requiring expensive computations for optimization. In this study, we show that visual spatial pooling can be learned in a much simpler way using strong dimension reduction based on principal component analysis. This approach learns to ignore a large part of detailed spatial structure of the input and thereby estimates a linear pooling matrix. Using this framework, we demonstrate that pooling of model V1 simple cells learned in this way, even with nonlinearities other than squaring, can reproduce standard tuning properties of V1 complex cells. For further understanding, we analyze several variants of the pooling model and argue that a reasonable pooling can generally be obtained from any kind of linear transformation that retains several of the first principal components and suppresses the remaining ones. In particular, we show how the classic Wiener filtering theory leads to one such variant.
A Novel Nonparametric Approach for Neural Encoding and Decoding Models of Multimodal Receptive Fields
Authors: Agarwal Rahul , Chen Zhe , Kloosterman Fabian , Wilson Matthew A. , Sarma Sridevi V.
Published: May 2016

Pyramidal neurons recorded from the rat hippocampus and entorhinal cortex, such as place and grid cells, have diverse receptive fields, which are either unimodal or multimodal. Spiking activity from these cells encodes information about the spatial position of a freely foraging rat. At fine timescales, a neuron’s spike activity also depends significantly on its own spike history. However, due to limitations of current parametric modeling approaches, it remains a challenge to estimate complex, multimodal neuronal receptive fields while incorporating spike history dependence. Furthermore, efforts to decode the rat’s trajectory in one- or two-dimensional space from hippocampal ensemble spiking activity have mainly focused on spike history–independent neuronal encoding models. In this letter, we address these two important issues by extending a recently introduced nonparametric neural encoding framework that allows modeling both complex spatial receptive fields and spike history dependencies. Using this extended nonparametric approach, we develop novel algorithms for decoding a rat’s trajectory based on recordings of hippocampal place cells and entorhinal grid cells. Results show that both encoding and decoding models derived from our new method performed significantly better than state-of-the-art encoding and decoding models on 6 minutes of test data. In addition, our model’s performance remains invariant to the apparent modality of the neuron’s receptive field.
A Single Hidden Layer Feedforward Network with Only One Neuron in the Hidden Layer Can Approximate Any Univariate Function
Authors: Guliyev Namig J. , Ismailov Vugar E.
Published: May 2016

The possibility of approximating a continuous function on a compact subset of the real line by a feedforward single hidden layer neural network with a sigmoidal activation function has been studied in many papers. Such networks can approximate an arbitrary continuous function provided that an unlimited number of neurons in a hidden layer is permitted. In this note, we consider constructive approximation on any finite interval of [Formula: see text] by neural networks with only one neuron in the hidden layer. We construct algorithmically a smooth, sigmoidal, almost monotone activation function [Formula: see text] providing approximation to an arbitrary continuous function within any degree of accuracy. This algorithm is implemented in a computer program, which computes the value of [Formula: see text] at any reasonable point of the real axis.
Trichogoniinae, a new subtribe of Eupatorieae (Asteraceae)
Authors: LOPES RIVERA VANESSA , DA COSTA FERREIRA SILVANA , PANERO JOSE L.
Published: May 2016

We describe subtribe Trichogoniinae in tribe Eupatorieae to include three genera, Platypodanthera, Trichogonia, and Trichogoniopsis. Molecular phylogenetic results provide support for the taxonomic limits of the new subtribe. Morphological synapomorphies for the three genera include a pappus of plumose to subplumose bristles and cypselae with narrow stipitate bases. Subtribe Trichogoniinae is part of a clade whose generic and species diversity is mostly found in the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest of South America. A key to the genera of the subtribe is provided.
Sellaphora labernardierei (Sellaphoraceae, Bacillariophyta), a new epilithic species from French spring and four new combinations within the genus Sellaphora
Authors: BEAUGER AUDE , WETZEL CARLOS E. , VOLDOIRE OLIVIER , GARREAU ALEXANDRE , ECTOR LUC
Published: May 2016

During a floristic survey of freshwater springs in the French Massif Central region, a new Sellaphora species (Bacillariophyceae) was found and is hereby described: Sellaphora labernardierei sp. nov. This new small species, with linear to linear-elliptical valves, slightly inflated in the middle, is formally described using light and scanning electron microscopy. The species has a single H-shaped chloroplast and striae usually biseriate tending to be uniseriate near the centre of the valve. The valve dimensions, the valve, pole and central area shapes, and the striae density and pattern allow their separation from similar taxa belonging to the genera Eolimna, Naviculadicta and Sellaphora. The ecological preferences of Sellaphora labernardierei are mineral waters with high nitrate concentrations. The examination of similar taxa belonging to the genera Eolimna and Naviculadicta and their characteristics lead to propose four new combinations of Sellaphora species.
Polystachya orophila (Orchidaceae, Polystachynae), a new species from tropical West Africa, and clarification on the nomenclature and taxonomy of P. microbambusa

Authors: BIDAULT EHOARN , LOWRY PORTER P. , STÉVART TARIQ
Published: May 2016

Polystachya orophila, a new species of Orchidaceae, is described based on specimens collected during the baseline study of the Guinean Nimba Mountains for the environmental impact assessment for a proposed mining project. While material belonging to this species was mentioned as early as 1920 by Chevalier, it has historically been confused with P. microbambusa, from which it differs by its typically Polystachya-like clustered pseudobulbs, placing it in P. sect. Polystachya, whereas P. microbambusa has pseudobulbs successively growing on top of one another, forming developed and persistent stems, and is the sole representative of P. sect. Dimorphocaules. The complex taxonomic and nomenclatural history of P. microbambusa is also clarified. For both taxa we provide a morphological description as well as information on distribution, habitat, and phenology, an IUCN conservation status assessment using the Red List criteria, and a distribution map, along with a dichotomous key that also includes the most similar members of P. sect. Polystachya.
Checklist of Cerambycidae (Coleoptera) primary types of the Museu Nacional, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with a brief history of the collection
Authors: MONNÉ MIGUEL A. , MONNÉ MARCELA L.
Published: May 2016

A checklist of the Cerambycidae (Coleoptera) primary types deposited in the Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is given. There are 1,044 primary types. Lectotype designation for Megacyllene castroi (Prosen, 1947) is proposed. A brief history of the collection of Cerambycidae of the Museu Nacional is presented.
Quasi-Spherical Ice in Convective Clouds
Authors: Järvinen Emma , Schnaiter Martin , Mioche Guillaume , Jourdan Olivier , Shcherbakov Valery N. , Costa Anja , Afchine Armin , Krämer Martina , Heidelberg Fabian , Jurkat Tina , Voigt Christiane , Schlager Hans , Nichman Leonid , Gallagher Martin , Hirst Edwin , Schmitt Carl , Bansemer Aaron , Heymsfield Andy , Lawson Paul , Tricoli Ugo , Pfeilsticker Klaus , Vochezer Paul , Möhler Ottmar , Leisner Thomas
Published: May 2016

Homogeneous freezing of supercooled droplets occurs in convective systems in low and midlatitudes. This droplet-freezing process leads to the formation of a large amount of small ice particles, so-called frozen droplets, that are transported to the upper parts of anvil outflows, where they can influence the cloud radiative properties. However, the detailed microphysics and, thus, the scattering properties of these small ice particles are highly uncertain. Here, the link between the microphysical and optical properties of frozen droplets is investigated in cloud chamber experiments, where the frozen droplets were formed, grown, and sublimated under controlled conditions. It was found that frozen droplets developed a high degree of small-scale complexity after their initial formation and subsequent growth. During sublimation, the small-scale complexity disappeared, releasing a smooth and near-spherical ice particle. Angular light scattering and depolarization measurements confirmed that these sublimating frozen droplets scattered light similar to spherical particles: that is, they had angular light-scattering properties similar to water droplets. The knowledge gained from this laboratory study was applied to two case studies of aircraft measurements in midlatitude and tropical convective systems. The in situ aircraft measurements confirmed that the microphysics of frozen droplets is dependent on the humidity conditions they are exposed to (growth or sublimation). The existence of optically spherical frozen droplets can be important for the radiative properties of detraining convective outflows.
Time-Varying Response of ENSO-Induced Tropical Pacific Rainfall to Global Warming in CMIP5 Models. Part I: Multimodel Ensemble Results
Authors: Huang Ping
Published: May 2016

El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is one of the most important drivers of climatic variability on the global scale. Much of this variability arises in response to ENSO-driven changes in tropical Pacific rainfall. Previous research has shown that the ENSO-driven tropical Pacific rainfall variability can shift east and intensify in response to global warming, even if ENSO-related SST variability remains unchanged. Here, the twenty-first century changes in ENSO-driven tropical Pacific rainfall variability in 32 CMIP5 models forced under the representative concentration pathway 8.5 (RCP8.5) scenario are examined, revealing that the pattern of changes in ENSO-driven rainfall is not only gradually enhanced but also shifts steadily eastward along with the global-mean temperature increase. Using a recently developed moisture budget decomposition method, it is shown that the projected changes in ENSO-driven rainfall variability in the tropical Pacific can be primarily attributed to a projected increase in both mean-state surface moisture and spatially relative changes in mean-state SST, defined as the departure of local SST changes from the tropical mean. The enhanced moisture increase enlarges the thermodynamic component of ENSO rainfall changes. The enhanced El Niño–like changes in mean-state SST steadily move the dynamic component of changes in ENSO-driven rainfall variability to the central-eastern Pacific, along with increasing global-mean temperature.
Gender and social class in India: Muslim perspectives in the fiction of Attia Hosain and Shama Futehally
Authors: Jackson Elizabeth
Published: May 2016

This article investigates representations of gender and class inequality in Attia Hosain’s classic novel Sunlight on a Broken Column (1961) and her short story collection Phoenix Fled and Other Stories (1953). It compares her work with that of Shama Futehally, another elite Muslim Indian woman writing in English several decades later. Born 40 years after Attia Hosain, the postcolonial world of Shama Futehally is very different, but the issues she explores in her fiction are remarkably similar: social and economic inequality, exploitation of the poor, and the ambiguous position of women privileged by their social class and disempowered by their gender. Both authors write carefully crafted realist fiction focusing predominantly on the experiences and perspectives of female characters. Shama Futehally’s novel Tara Lane (1993), like Attia Hosain’s Sunlight on a Broken Column, is a coming-of-age novel whose protagonist is a young Muslim woman in an affluent family, coming to terms with the uneasy combination of class privilege, gender disadvantage, and a strong social conscience. Both authors explore the perspectives of working-class Indian women in their short stories, emphasizing their vulnerability to exploitation (including sexual exploitation), as well as the deeply problematic nature of “noblesse oblige”. Aware of the interconnections between gender and class inequality, Attia Hosain and Shama Futehally have written powerful fictional works which effectively dramatize not only the complex relationship between gender and social class hierarchies, but also the ways in which all privilege is predicated on inequality.
Local experiences of liberal peace
Authors: Millar Gearoid
Published: May 2016

Over the past 20 years scholars have repeatedly highlighted the complex relationship between conflict, peace and economics. It is today accepted that economic factors at the global, regional, national and local levels can promote conflict in various ways and that economic factors are therefore central in establishing a sustainable post-conflict peace. However, while the scholarly literature includes much nuance regarding the precise nature of these complex relationships, practices of peacebuilding are often far less nuanced. Instead there is a tendency to pin the hopes of fragile post-conflict states on establishing a liberalized and supposedly peace-promoting economy and a worrying absence of grounded assessments of the impacts of such policies. This article argues that the resulting lack of clarity regarding the local impacts of such peacebuilding mechanisms contributes to continued unwarranted enthusiasm for marketization among policymakers and practitioners. This issue is addressed directly by exploring the destabilizing and potentially conflict-inducing impacts of one foreign direct investment (FDI) project in rural Sierra Leone. The dominance of liberal approaches to economic policy within peacebuilding has recently combined with a surge in large-scale FDI projects, often labelled as ‘land-grabs’, which can be interpreted as a direct embodiment of the liberal peace paradigm. While the liberal peace assumes that such projects will help by paying taxes, rebuilding state capacity and employing idle young males, the article illustrates that among local populations such projects can be experienced as deeply disruptive and potentially conflict-promoting. It therefore describes four specific mechanisms by which the project in this setting endangers Sierra Leone’s still precarious transition to peace. The article concludes with recommendations for peacebuilding theorists, policy advocates and practitioners trying to navigate the difficult waters of post-conflict peacebuilding by way of large-scale FDI and marketization in general.
Hydrology, Theology, and Laudato Si’
Authors: Peppard Christiana Z.
Published: May 2016

The encyclical Laudato Si’ is a sustained theological and ethical reflection on ecology. Within Laudato Si’ the topic of fresh water is useful to consider as a contemporary issue foregrounded in the first chapter of the encyclical and as a representative topic for how the natural and social sciences are integrated into the pope’s modes of ethical analysis. A consideration of fresh water as a socio-natural substance in a pluralistic age suggests important directions for social ethics and moral theology in an era characterized by planetary degradation, social exclusions, and embodied burdens.
Scaling-up low-carbon urban initiatives: Towards a better understanding
Authors: van Doren Didi , Driessen Peter PJ , Runhaar Hens , Giezen Mendel
Published: May 2016

In cities worldwide, low-carbon urban initiatives (LCUIs) are realised by pioneers that prove that climate mitigation strategies can be integrated in urban development trajectories. Practitioners and scholars reflect on the need to scale-up such initiatives in order to accelerate the transition to low-carbon cities. Yet, limited conceptual clarity exists regarding the meaning of the concept of ‘scaling-up’ and the factors driving this process. This article aims to contribute to practice and theory on low-carbon urban development by presenting a taxonomy on the concept of scaling-up. Moreover, an explanatory framework is presented consisting of factors expected to contribute to the impact and scaling-up of LCUIs. Two case studies were conducted to illustrate the explanatory framework. The studies are illustrative but suggest that the explanatory framework allows for a systematic understanding of how the impact of former initiatives can be explained, and how their scaling-up can be promoted.
Austerity and collective bargaining in Spain: The political and dysfunctional nature of neoliberal deregulation
Authors: Rodríguez Carlos J Fernández , Rojo Rafael Ibáñez , Lucio Miguel Martínez
Published: May 2016

This article focuses on changes in collective bargaining in Spain during the current phase of austerity. We evaluate how the decentralization and transformation of collective bargaining have affected industrial relations and forms of work and suggest that the policy reforms have led to a deterioration in working conditions and a weakening in collective regulation and trade unions. However, we emphasize the contradictory outcomes, which appear to be drawing the state into new more direct roles, bringing new actors (such as legal firms) into the deregulation of employment. This situation also raises a range of concerns among managers and employers at the repoliticization of industrial relations and generates further challenges to the ability of management and unions to sustain consensual forms of social dialogue.
High-Impact Social Work Scholars
Authors: Hodge David R. , Kremer Kristen P. , Vaughn Michael G.
Published: May 2016

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to identify and describe the bibliometric contributions of high-impact social work faculty.

Methods:

Toward this end, we used a sample comprising fellows ( N = 143) affiliated with the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) and the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare (AASWSW). To quantify impact, we relied primarily upon the h-index (a measure of lifetime scholarly impact) and the m-index (which adjusts for career length).

Results:

Analyses revealed the mean h-index value for SSWR fellows ( M = 26.44, SD = 14.72) was substantially lower than the mean for AASWSW fellows ( M = 32.52, SD = 15.96), but minimal differences existed in m-index values. H- and m-index values for the 40 highest impact scholars ranged, respectively, from 33 to 93 and 1.13 to 3.33.

Conclusions:

The results indicate the social work profession includes many researchers who are making an exceptional scientific impact.
Neurobehavioral and Cardiovascular Effects of Potassium Cyanide Administered Orally to Mice
Authors: Hawk Michael A. , Ritchie Glenn D. , Henderson Kim A. , Knostman Katherine A. B. , Roche Brian M. , Ma Zhenxu J. , Matthews Claire M. , Sabourin Carol L. , Wakayama Edward J. , Sabourin Patrick J.
Published: May 2016

The Food and Drug Administration Animal Rule requires evaluation of cardiovascular and central nervous system (CNS) effects of new therapeutics. To characterize an adult and juvenile mouse model, neurobehavioral and cardiovascular effects and pathology of a single sublethal but toxic, 8 mg/kg, oral dose of potassium cyanide (KCN) for up to 41 days postdosing were investigated. This study describes the short- and long-term sensory, motor, cognitive, and behavioral changes associated with oral dosing of a sublethal but toxic dose of KCN utilizing functional observation battery and Tier II CNS testing in adult and juvenile mice of both sexes. Selected tissues (histopathology) were evaluated for changes associated with KCN exposure with special attention to brain regions. Telemetry (adult mice only) was used to evaluate cardiovascular and temperature changes. Neurobehavioral capacity, sensorimotor responsivity or spontaneous locomotor activity, and rectal temperature were significantly reduced in adult and juvenile mice at 30 minutes post-8 mg/kg KCN dose. Immediate effects of cyanide included bradycardia, adverse electrocardiogram arrhythmic events, hypotension, and hypothermia with recovery by approximately 1 hour for blood pressure and heart rate effects and by 2 hours for body temperature. Lesions consistent with hypoxia, such as mild acute tubular necrosis in the kidneys corticomedullary junction, were the only histopathological findings and occurred at a very low incidence. The mouse KCN intoxication model indicates rapid and completely reversible effects in adult and juvenile mice following a single oral 8 mg/kg dose. Neurobehavioral and cardiovascular measurements can be used in this animal model as a trigger for treatment.
Heterogeneous acceleration of volumetric JPEG 2000 using OpenCL
Authors: Cornelis Jan G. , Lemeire Jan , Bruylants Tim , Schelkens Peter
Published: May 2016

This paper discusses an OpenCL version of a volumetric JPEG 2000 codec that runs on GPUs, multi-core processors or a combination of both. Since the performance critical part consists of a fine-grained (discrete wavelet transform) and coarse-grained algorithm (Tier-1), the best performance is obtained with a hybrid execution in which the discrete wavelet transform is executed on a GPU and Tier-1 on a multi-core. Using an Intel i7 multi-core in combination with a modest NVIDIA Quadro K620 GPU yields speedups greater than 10 compared with the original sequential code. The performance bottlenecks that arise on GPUs when parallelizing algorithms that are coarse-grained by nature are discussed and also the optimizations that are possible. A performance analysis reveals the inefficiencies and explains the deviations from the GPU peak performance.