bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Elevated Serum Exosomal miR-125b Level as a Potential Marker for Poor Prognosis in Intermediate-Risk Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Jiang Lijun , Deng Taoran , Wang Di , Xiao Yi
Published: October 2018

Background: The prognostic significance of miR-125b in intermediate-risk acute myeloid leukemia has not been well investigated. The aim of the study was to reveal the relationship between the elevated exosomal miR-125b level and the poor prognosis in adult patients with this disease. Methods: A total of 154 consecutive patients with intermediate-risk acute myeloid leukemia were enrolled. Exosomes were isolated from blood specimens. The exosomal miR-125b level was determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Patients received standardized therapy and were followed up for 1–24 months. Details about relapse and overall death were recorded. Results: Patients were divided into the high miR-125b level group (n = 77) and the low miR-125b level group (n = 77). In the multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression model, the high miR-125b level group was separately associated with increased risks of relapse and overall death in 2 years (hazard ratio [HR] 2.84, 95% CI 1.81–4.33 and HR 2.69, 95% CI 1.87–4.52). Kaplan-Meier analysis also revealed that a high miR-125b level was related to a higher cumulative relapse and overall death rates (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Circulating exosomal miR-125b concentration might be an independent prognostic indicator in intermediate-risk acute myeloid leukemia patients. An elevated miR-125b level indicated higher risks of relapse and overall death.
Occult Hiatal Hernia in Achalasia Patients: Its Incidence and Treatment Options
Authors: Ushimaru Yuki , Nakajima Kiyokazu , Takahashi Tsuyoshi , Yamasaki Makoto , Mori Masaki , Doki Yuichiro
Published: October 2018

Background: Achalasia patients occasionally coexist with esophageal hiatal hernias. The purpose of this study was to clarify the incidence and clinical features of achalasia cases concomitant with hiatal hernia, and to investigate whether our surgical technique was appropriate. Methods: Consecutive achalasia patients who underwent laparoscopic Heller myotomy with Dor fundoplication (LHD) were extracted from the prospectively compiled surgical database, and the perioperative outcomes and the presence rate of hiatal hernia were obtained. Results: We enrolled 58 patients with LHD from 2005 to 2016. Hiatal hernia was seen in 12 patients (20.7%) without preoperative diagnosis. There was no significant difference in preoperative symptoms between patients with and without hiatal hernia. In 6 patients with trivial hiatal hernia, we did not perform hernia repair. In 6 cases with large hiatal hernia, cruroplasty was added. No serious postoperative complications were observed in either of the groups and no patient required reoperation. Symptoms were improved in all patients postoperatively. Residual symptoms were successfully treated with medication, and no patient experienced severe reflux esophagitis or required hiatal hernia repair after surgery. Conclusion: Hiatal hernia was found in 20.7% of patients who received surgical treatment for achalasia, but no cases were diagnosed prior to surgery.
Association between Type of Residence and Clinical Signs of Neglect in Older Adults
Authors: Friedman Lee , Avila Susan , Friedman Daniel , Meltzer Wendy
Published: October 2018

Background: Studies have demonstrated that measures of lower quality of care and associated adverse health effects are more prevalent in for-profit nursing homes compared to not-for-profit facilities. However, these studies omit persons who receive care in the community setting, and exclusively focus on isolated clinical signs that may obscure the true effect size, since these clinical signs rarely occur in isolation. Objective: In this study, we use the Clinical Signs of Neglect Scale (CSNS), which is an aggregate measure of clinical signs of neglect and substandard care, to evaluate the association of residence type on health outcomes among individuals living in both private community residences and for-profit and not-for-profit long-term care facilities. Methods: In a multicenter, retrospective data analysis of 1,149 patients identified from an inpatient hospital registry, we assessed the relationship between residence type (community dwelling, not-for-profit, and for-profit facilities) and clinical signs of neglect. Adjusted parameter estimates and 95% CIs were estimated with linear regression in 3 models using different reference groups. Results: The most serious clinical signs were consistently more prevalent among residents of for-profit facilities, as were measures of poor institutional quality. Relative to low-functioning community-dwelling patients, the mean difference in CSNS scores was higher among patients residing in not-for-profit facilities by 1.99 (p = 0.012) and 3.55 (p ≤ 0.001) among patients in for-profit facilities. In a separate model, the mean difference in CSNS scores among patients living in for-profit facilities compared to not-for-profit facilities was 1.90 (p = 0.035). Conclusions: Using an aggregate measure, our findings support prior studies demonstrating an association between residence type and adverse health outcomes for disabled elderly.
Favorable Outcomes of Elderly ABO-Incompatible Kidney Transplantation-Pilot Single Center Experience
Authors: Kosoku Akihiro , Uchida Junji , Kabei Kazuya , Nishide Shunji , Shimada Hisao , Iwai Tomoaki , Kuwabara Nobuyuki , Naganuma Toshihide , Maeda Keiko , Kumada Norihiko , Takemoto Yoshiaki , Nakatani Tatsuya
Published: October 2018

Background: The growth in the end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) population has been predominantly in the older adult population. In Japan, ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation has become an acceptable treatment option. However, few studies have been conducted on elderly ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation. Patients and Methods: Seventeen patients aged 60 years and older who received their grafts from ABO-incompatible living donors at our institution between December 2006 and September 2016 were enrolled in this study, and the outcome of these recipients was evaluated. Results: All 17 patients underwent successful kidney transplantation. Both overall patient and graft survival rates were 100, 100, and 83.3% at posttransplant 1, 3, and 5 years respectively. Six of the 17 patients (35.3%) had an episode of biopsy-proven acute cellular rejection. Two patients who developed steroid- and deoxyspergualin-resistant acute rejection required anti-human thymocyte immunoglobulin. Conclusion: ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation may be an effective radical renal replacement therapy for elderly patients with ESKD, although it could be a high-risk procedure.
Na+/H+ Exchangers Are Required for the Development and Function of Vertebrate Mucociliary Epithelia
Authors: Sun Dingyuan I. , Tasca Alexia , Haas Maximilian , Baltazar Grober , Harland Richard M. , Finkbeiner Walter E. , Walentek Peter
Published: October 2018

Na+/H+ exchangers (NHEs) represent a highly conserved family of ion transporters that regulate pH homeostasis. NHEs as well as other proton transporters were previously linked to the regulation of the Wnt signaling pathway, cell polarity signaling, and mucociliary function. Furthermore, mutations in the gene SLC9A3 (encoding NHE3) were detected as additional risk factors for airway infections in cystic fibrosis patients. Here, we used the Xenopus embryonic mucociliary epidermis as well as human airway epithelial cells (HAECs) as models to investigate the functional roles of NHEs in mucociliary development and regeneration. In Xenopus embryos, NHEs 1–3 were expressed during epidermal development, and loss of NHE function impaired mucociliary clearance in tadpoles. Clearance defects were caused by reduced cilia formation, disrupted alignment of basal bodies in multiciliated cells (MCCs), and dysregulated mucociliary gene expression. These data also suggested that NHEs may contribute to the activation of Wnt signaling in mucociliary epithelia. In HAECs, pharmacological inhibition of NHE function also caused defective ciliation and regeneration in airway MCCs. Collectively, our data revealed a requirement for NHEs in vertebrate mucociliary epithelia and linked NHE activity to cilia formation and function in differentiating MCCs. Our results provide an entry point for the understanding of the contribution of NHEs to signaling, development, and pathogenesis in the human respiratory tract.
Advances and Current Challenges Associated with the Use of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells in Modeling Neurodegenerative Disease
Authors: Berry Bonnie J. , Smith Alec S.T. , Young Jessica E. , Mack David L.
Published: October 2018

One of the most profound advances in the last decade of biomedical research has been the development of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) models for identification of disease mechanisms and drug discovery. Human iPSC technology has the capacity to revolutionize healthcare and the realization of personalized medicine, but differentiated tissues derived from stem cells come with major criticisms compared to native tissue, including variability in genetic backgrounds, a lack of functional maturity, and differences in epigenetic profiles. It is widely believed that increasing complexity will lead to improved clinical relevance, so methods are being developed that go from a single cell type to various levels of 2-D coculturing and 3-D organoids. As this inevitable trend continues, it will be essential to thoroughly understand the strengths and weaknesses of more complex models and to develop criteria for assessing biological relevance. We believe the payoff of robust, high-throughput, clinically meaningful human stem cell models could be the elimination of often inadequate animal models. To facilitate this transition, we will look at the challenges and strategies of complex model development through the lens of neurodegeneration to encapsulate where the disease-in-a-dish field currently is and where it needs to go to improve.
Effects of a New Topical Treatment Containing Several Hair Growth Promoters in Women with Early Female Pattern Hair Loss
Authors: Vincenzi Colombina , Marisaldi Benedetta , Tosti Antonella , Patel Brijeshkumar
Published: October 2018

Background: Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is increasing ly common and often presents with hair shedding. Spec tral.DNC-N® contains anti-inflammatory actives and hair growth promoters. Objectives: To assess the efficacy and tolerability of Spectral DNC-N® (DS Laboratories, Inc.) in women with early FPHL and excessive shedding. Methods: Forty-nine patients were treated with Spectral DNC-N®, applied twice daily for 3 months; 28 patients were included in the 3-month treatment extension. Efficacy assessments included the degree of hair shedding using the validated hair shedding visual scale, hair mass index (HMI), and photographic evaluation. Results: There was a statistically significant decrease in hair shedding and a corresponding increase in HMI by month 3, which was maintained through month 6. The mean investigator-assessed hair shedding score decreased from 3.5 to 2.0 and the hair mass increased from 75.8 to 84.3 mm2/cm2 by month 3 (both p < 0.01 compared with baseline). By month 6, the hair shedding score was reduced to 1.6 and the hair mass was maintained. Most patients (75%) showed an increase in global hair density. Conclusions: Spectral.DNC-N® significantly reduced hair shedding, with a corresponding increase in hair mass and density. These effects were already evident after 3 months’ treatment and further improved in those patients who continued treatment to month 6. Tolerability was good and patient satisfaction levels were high.
Lichen Nitidus Associated with Onychodystrophy and Response to Therapy: Report of Two Cases
Authors: Kataria Vandana , Singal Archana , Arora Vinod K.
Published: October 2018

Lichen nitidus (LN) is a chronic inflammatory condition characterised by multiple asymptomatic shiny, flat-topped, pale to skin-coloured tiny papules. LN occurs most often in children and young adults with limbs, abdomen, chest, and penile shaft as common sites of predilection. Nail involvement is rare and includes irregular longitudinal grooving and ridging of the nail plate. We report two cases of generalised LN with nail dystrophy in 8- and 12-year-old boys along with the treatment response and review the pertinent literature.
Randomized Trial Comparing Proactive, High-Dose versus Reactive, Low-Dose Intravenous Iron Supplementation in Hemodialysis (PIVOTAL): Study Design and Baseline Data
Authors: Macdougall Iain C. , White Claire , Anker Stefan D. , Bhandari Sunil , Farrington Kenneth , Kalra Philip A. , McMurray John J.V. , Murray Heather , Steenkamp Retha , Tomson Charles R.V. , Wheeler David C. , Winearls Christopher G. , Ford Ian ,   on behalf of the PIVOTAL Trial investigators
Published: October 2018

Background: Intravenous (IV) iron supplementation is a standard maintenance treatment for hemodialysis (HD) patients, but the optimum dosing regimen is unknown. Methods: PIVOTAL (Proactive IV irOn Therapy in hemodiALysis patients) is a multicenter, open-label, blinded endpoint, randomized controlled (PROBE) trial. Incident HD adults with a serum ferritin < 400 µg/L and transferrin saturation (TSAT) levels < 30% receiving erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) were eligible. Enrolled patients were randomized to a proactive, high-dose IV iron arm (iron sucrose 400 mg/month unless ferritin > 700 µg/L and/or TSAT ≥40%) or a reactive, low-dose IV iron arm (iron sucrose administered if ferritin <200 µg/L or TSAT < 20%). We hypothesized that proactive, high-dose IV iron would be noninferior to reactive, low-dose IV iron for the primary outcome of first occurrence of nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), nonfatal stroke, hospitalization for heart failure or death from any cause. If noninferiority is confirmed with a noninferiority limit of 1.25 for the hazard ratio of the proactive strategy relative to the reactive strategy, a test for superiority will be carried out. Secondary outcomes include infection-related endpoints, ESA dose requirements, and quality-of-life measures. As an event-driven trial, the study will continue until at least 631 primary outcome events have accrued, but the expected duration of follow-up is 2–4 years. Results: Of the 2,589 patients screened across 50 UK sites, 2,141 (83%) were randomized. At baseline, 65.3% were male, the median age was 65 years, and 79% were white. According to eligibility criteria, all patients were on ESA at screening. Prior stroke and MI were present in 8 and 9% of the cohort, respectively, and 44% of patients had diabetes at baseline. Baseline data for the randomized cohort were generally concordant with recent data from the UK Renal Registry. Conclusions: PIVOTAL will provide important information about the optimum dosing of IV iron in HD patients representative of usual clinical practice. Trial Registration: EudraCT number: 2013-002267-25.
Resistant Hypertension: Detection, Evaluation, and Management: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
Authors: Carey Robert M. , Calhoun David A. , Bakris George L. , Brook Robert D. , Daugherty Stacie L. , Dennison-Himmelfarb Cheryl R. , Egan Brent M. , Flack John M. , Gidding Samuel S. , Judd Eric , Lackland Daniel T. , Laffer Cheryl L. , Newton-Cheh Christopher , Smith Steven M. , Taler Sandra J. , Textor Stephen C. , Turan Tanya N. , White William B. ,   on behalf of the American Heart Association Professional/Public Education and Publications Committee of the Council on Hypertension; Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; Council on Clinical Cardiology; Council on Genomic and Precision Medicine; Council on Peripheral Vascular Disease; Council on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research; and Stroke Council
Published: October 2018

Resistant hypertension (RH) is defined as above-goal elevated blood pressure (BP) in a patient despite the concurrent use of 3 antihypertensive drug classes, commonly including a long-acting calcium channel blocker, a blocker of the renin-angiotensin system (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker), and a diuretic. The antihypertensive drugs should be administered at maximum or maximally tolerated daily doses. RH also includes patients whose BP achieves target values on ≥4 antihypertensive medications. The diagnosis of RH requires assurance of antihypertensive medication adherence and exclusion of the “white-coat effect” (office BP above goal but out-of-office BP at or below target). The importance of RH is underscored by the associated risk of adverse outcomes compared with non-RH. This article is an updated American Heart Association scientific statement on the detection, evaluation, and management of RH. Once antihypertensive medication adherence is confirmed and out-of-office BP recordings exclude a white-coat effect, evaluation includes identification of contributing lifestyle issues, detection of drugs interfering with antihypertensive medication effectiveness, screening for secondary hypertension, and assessment of target organ damage. Management of RH includes maximization of lifestyle interventions, use of long-acting thiazide-like diuretics (chlorthalidone or indapamide), addition of a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (spironolactone or eplerenone), and, if BP remains elevated, stepwise addition of antihypertensive drugs with complementary mechanisms of action to lower BP. If BP remains uncontrolled, referral to a hypertension specialist is advised.
PARP-1 (Poly[ADP-Ribose] Polymerase 1) Inhibition Protects From Ang II (Angiotensin II)–Induced Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in Mice
Authors: Liang Er-shun , Bai Wen-wu , Wang Hao , Zhang Jian-ning , Zhang Fan , Ma Yang , Jiang Fan , Yin Mei , Zhang Ming-xiang , Chen Xiao-mei , Qin Wei-dong
Published: October 2018

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a common vascular degenerative disease. PARP-1 (poly[ADP-ribose] polymerase 1) is a nuclear enzyme, which plays a critical role in vascular diseases. We hypothesized that PARP-1 inhibition might have protective effects on AAA. In vivo, Ang II (angiotensin II) was continuously infused by a micropump for 28 days to induce AAA in mice. In vitro, aortic endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells were stimulated by Ang II for 24 hours. Ang II infusion increased PARP-1 expression and activity and successfully induced AAA formation partly with a hemorrhage in ApoE
−/−
mice. Genetic deletion of PARP-1 markedly reduced the AAA incidence, abdominal aortic diameter, macrophage infiltration, ICAM-1 (intercellular adhesion molecule 1) and VCAM-1 (vascular adhesion molecule 1) expression, and MMP (matrix metalloproteinase) expression, as well as MMP activity; but increased smooth muscle cells content and collagens expression in AAA. PARP-1 inhibition by PJ-34 also exerted a protective effect on AAA in mice. In aortic endothelial cells, Ang II–induced oxidative stress and DNA damage, resulting in increased PARP-1 expression and activity. Compared with the control, Ang II increased TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor α) and IL-6 (interleukin-6) secretions, ICAM-1 expression and THP-1 (human acute monocytic leukemia cell line) cells adhesion, while PARP-1 inhibition by siRNA reduced the inflammatory response probably through inhibition of the phosphorylation of ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase), NF-κB (nuclear factor-κB), and Akt signaling pathways. In smooth muscle cells, Ang II promoted cell migration, proliferation, and apoptosis, reduced collagens expression, but increased MMPs expression, while PARP-1 deletion alleviated these effects partly by reducing NF-κB-targeted MMP-9 expression. PARP-1 inhibition might be a feasible strategy for the treatment of AAA.
Diagnosing Masked Hypertension Using Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring, Home Blood Pressure Monitoring, or Both?
Authors: Anstey D. Edmund , Muntner Paul , Bello Natalie A. , Pugliese Daniel N. , Yano Yuichiro , Kronish Ian M. , Reynolds Kristi , Schwartz Joseph E. , Shimbo Daichi
Published: October 2018

Guidelines recommend measuring out-of-clinic blood pressure (BP) to identify masked hypertension (MHT) defined by out-of-clinic BP in the hypertensive range among individuals with clinic-measured BP not in the hypertensive range. The aim of this study was to determine the overlap between ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) and home BP monitoring (HBPM) for the detection of MHT. We analyzed data from 333 community-dwelling adults not taking antihypertensive medication with clinic BP <140/90 mm Hg in the IDH study (Improving the Detection of Hypertension). Any MHT was defined by the presence of daytime MHT (mean daytime BP ≥135/85 mm Hg), 24-hour MHT (mean 24-hour BP ≥130/80 mm Hg), or nighttime MHT (mean nighttime BP ≥120/70 mm Hg). Home MHT was defined as mean BP ≥135/85 mm Hg on HBPM. The prevalence of MHT was 25.8% for any MHT and 11.1% for home MHT. Among participants with MHT on either ABPM or HBPM, 29.5% had MHT on both ABPM and HBPM; 61.1% had MHT only on ABPM; and 9.4% of participants had MHT only on HBPM. After multivariable adjustment and compared with participants without MHT on ABPM and HBPM, those with MHT on both ABPM and HBPM and only on ABPM had a higher left ventricular mass index (mean difference [SE], 12.7 [2.9] g/m
2
,
P
<0.001; and 4.9 [2.1] g/m
2
,
P
=0.022, respectively), whereas participants with MHT only on HBPM did not have an increased left ventricular mass index (mean difference [SE], −1.9 [4.8] g/m
2
,
P
=0.693). These data suggest that conducting ABPM will detect many individuals with MHT who have an increased cardiovascular disease risk.
Role of DNA De Novo (De)Methylation in the Kidney in Salt-Induced Hypertension
Authors: Liu Pengyuan , Liu Yong , Liu Han , Pan Xiaoqing , Li Yingchuan , Usa Kristie , Mishra Manoj K. , Nie Jing , Liang Mingyu
Published: October 2018

Numerous adult diseases involving tissues consisting primarily of nondividing cells are associated with changes in DNA methylation. It suggests a pathophysiological role for de novo methylation or demethylation of DNA, which is catalyzed by DNA methyltransferase 3 and ten-eleven translocases. However, the contribution of DNA de novo (de)methylation to these diseases remains almost completely unproven. Broad changes in DNA methylation occurred within days in the renal outer medulla of Dahl SS rats fed a high-salt diet, a classic model of hypertension. Intrarenal administration of anti-DNA methyltransferase 3a/ten-eleven translocase 3 GapmeRs attenuated high salt-induced hypertension in SS rats. The high-salt diet induced differential expression of 1712 genes in the renal outer medulla. Remarkably, the differential expression of 76% of these genes was prevented by anti-DNA methyltransferase 3a/ten-eleven translocase 3 GapmeRs. The genes differentially expressed in response to the GapmeRs were involved in the regulation of metabolism and inflammation and were significantly enriched for genes showing differential methylation in response to the GapmeRs. These data indicate a significant role of DNA de novo (de)methylation in the kidney in the development of hypertension in SS rats. The findings should help to shift the paradigm of DNA methylation research in diseases involving nondividing cells from correlative analysis to functional and mechanistic studies.
Prebiotics, Probiotics, and Acetate Supplementation Prevent Hypertension in a Model of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Authors: Ganesh Bhanu P. , Nelson James W. , Eskew Joshua R. , Ganesan Arunkumar , Ajami Nadim J. , Petrosino Joseph F. , Bryan Robert M. , Durgan David J.
Published: October 2018

Disruption of the gut microbiota, termed gut dysbiosis, has been described in animal models of hypertension and hypertensive patients. We have shown that gut dysbiosis plays a causal role in the development of hypertension in a rat model of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Functional analysis of the dysbiotic microbiota in OSA demonstrates a loss of short chain fatty acid–producing bacteria. However, measurements of short chain fatty acid concentrations and testing of their role in blood pressure regulation are lacking. We hypothesized that reduced short chain fatty acids in the gut are responsible for OSA-induced hypertension. OSA significantly increased systolic blood pressure at 7 and 14 days (
P
<0.05), an effect that was abolished by the probiotic
Clostridium butyricum
or the prebiotic Hylon VII. The 16S rRNA analysis identified several short chain fatty acid–producing bacteria that were significantly increased by
Cbutyricum
and Hylon treatment. Acetate concentration in the cecum was decreased by 48% after OSA (
P
<0.05), an effect that was prevented by
Cbutyricum
and Hylon.
Cbutyricum
and Hylon reduced OSA-induced dysbiosis, epithelial goblet cell loss, mucus barrier thinning, and activation of brain microglia (
P
<0.05 for each). To examine the role of acetate in OSA-induced hypertension, we chronically infused acetate into the cecum during 2 weeks of sham or OSA. Restoring cecal acetate concentration prevented OSA-induced gut inflammation and hypertension (
P
<0.05). These studies identify acetate as a key player in OSA-induced hypertension. We demonstrate that various methods to increase cecal acetate concentrations are protective from the adverse effects of OSA on the microbiota, gut, brain, and blood pressure.
Loss of Renal Peritubular Capillaries in Hypertensive Patients Is Detectable by Urinary Endothelial Microparticle Levels
Authors: Sun In O , Santelli Adrian , Abumoawad Abdelrhman , Eirin Alfonso , Ferguson Christopher M. , Woollard John R. , Lerman Amir , Textor Stephen C. , Puranik Amrutesh S. , Lerman Lilach O.
Published: October 2018

Hypertension, an important cause of chronic kidney disease, is characterized by peritubular capillary (PTC) loss. Circulating levels of endothelial microparticles (EMPs) reflect systemic endothelial injury. We hypothesized that systemic and urinary PTC-EMPs levels would reflect renal microvascular injury in hypertensive patients. We prospectively measured by flow cytometry renal vein, inferior vena cava, and urinary levels of EMPs in essential (n=14) and renovascular (RVH; n=24) hypertensive patients and compared them with peripheral blood and urinary levels in healthy volunteers (n=14). PTC-EMPs were identified as urinary exosomes positive for the PTC marker plasmalemmal-vesicle–associated protein. In 7 RVH patients, PTC and fibrosis were also quantified in renal biopsy, and in 18 RVH patients, PTC-EMPs were measured again 3 months after continued medical therapy with or without stenting (n=9 each). Renal vein and systemic PTC-EMPs levels were not different among the groups, whereas their urinary levels were elevated in both RVH and essential hypertension versus healthy volunteers (56.8%±12.7% and 62.8%±10.7% versus 34.0%±17.8%; both
P
≤0.001). Urinary PTC-EMPs levels correlated directly with blood pressure and inversely with estimated glomerular filtration rate. Furthermore, in RVH, urinary PTC-EMPs levels correlated directly with stenotic kidney hypoxia, histological PTC count, and fibrosis and inversely with cortical perfusion. Three months after treatment, the change in urinary PTC-EMPs levels correlated inversely with a change in renal function (
r
=−0.582;
P
=0.011). Therefore, urinary PTC-EMPs levels are increased in hypertensive patients and may reflect renal microcirculation injury, whereas systemic PTC-EMPs levels are unchanged. Urinary PTC-EMPs may be useful as novel biomarkers of intrarenal capillary loss.
How Does an Accountability Program that Targets Achievement Gaps Affect Student Performance?
Authors: Hemelt Steven W. , Jacob Brian A.
Published: October 2018

In 2011, the U.S. Department of Education granted states the opportunity to apply for waivers from the core requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act. In exchange, many states implemented systems of differentiated accountability that included a focus on schools with the largest achievement gaps between subgroups of students. We use administrative data from Michigan in a series of regression-discontinuity analyses to study the effects of these school reforms on schools and students. We find some evidence that targeting schools for such reforms led to small, short-run reductions in the within-school math achievement gap. However, these reductions were driven by stagnant performance of lower-achieving students alongside declines in the performance of their higher-achieving peers. These findings serve as a cautionary tale for the capacity of the accountability provisions embedded in the recent reauthorization of No Child Left Behind, the Every Student Succeeds Act, to meaningfully improve student and school outcomes.
The Denouement of Claudian Pamphylia-Lycia and its Implications for the Audience of Galatians
Authors: Wilson Mark
Published: October 2018

Recent inscriptional discoveries have revised our understanding of provincial boundaries in southern Asia Minor from Claudius until Vespasian. Pamphylia is now understood to have been part of Galatia during Paul’s journeys there. The denouement of the South Galatian hypothesis was declared by Clare Rothschild. An attempt is made to place historical and geographical issues into a more nuanced framework. Because of the omission of key source materials, her conclusion is challenged and the redivivus of the South Galatian theory is heralded. A discussion of Paul’s audience for his letter to the Galatians follows. Based on the new evidence regarding provincial Galatia, believers in Pamphylia might well have been part of his readership.
Civil Disobedience – Not a Crime but a Punishable Political Action
Authors: SvanØe Lisbet Rosenfeldt
Published: October 2018

The article argues that civil disobedience must be perceived as an action with progressive and political significance, thus reflecting, from a Kantian perspective, the recognizable paradox between morality and law, as expressed in Kant’s moral and political writings. Hence, this article firstly analyzes on which grounds Kant claims rebellion to be unjust. Secondly, it examines how and if people, from a Kantian point of view, can defend themselves against an unjust sovereignty. On this basis, it argues that ‘civil disobedience’ can be juxtaposed with the Kantian idea of ‘freedom of the pen,’ thus having the same function as a political corrective. However, two questions are still to be answered, namely if civil disobedience must be punished, and if civil disobedience as a political corrective can be justified? By considering civil disobedience primarily as political agency, both questions are answered in the affirmative.
Reconsidering the Date of the En-Gedi Leviticus Scroll (EGLev): Exploring the Limitations of the Comparative-Typological Paleographic Method
Authors: Longacre Drew
Published: October 2018

Yardeni dated the charred En-Gedi Leviticus scroll (EGLev) to the second half of the first or early second century CE. Paleographic evidence is often ambiguous and can provide only an imprecise basis for dating EGLev. Nevertheless, a series of important typological developments evident in the hand of EGLev suggests a date somewhat later than the Dead Sea Scrolls of the first–second centuries, but clearly earlier than comparanda from the sixth–eighth centuries. The cumulative supporting evidence from the archeological context, bibliographic/voluminological details (wooden roller and metallic ink), format and layout (tall, narrow columns)—each individually indeterminative—also suggests dating EGLev to the period from the third–sixth centuries CE. I argue that EGLev should be dated to the third–fourth centuries CE, with only a small possibility that it could have been written in the second or fifth centuries, which is possibly supported by radiocarbon dating.
How to Edit an Elusive Text? The So-called Poem of Solomon (1 Kgs 8:12–13 MT // 8:53a LXX) as a Case Study
Authors: Richelle Matthieu
Published: October 2018

The creation of an eclectic edition of the Hebrew Bible is complicated by the hypothetical nature of reconstructing its textual evolution, and the uncertainty involved in retroversion from Greek to Hebrew. These issues are especially apparent in the case of the so-called “poem of Solomon” (1 Kgs 8:12–13 MT // 8:53a LXX), which I examine here as a case study to demonstrate that even such a difficult text can be dealt with responsibly in a critical, eclectic edition. Specifically, I show how such an edition can adequately address the retroversion of the Greek text, the existence of two versions of the poem, and the location of this poem in the chapter.
Convective Cloud Bands Downwind of Mesoscale Mountain Ridges
Authors: Kirshbaum Daniel J. , Schultz David M.
Published: October 2018

Elongated and quasi-stationary cloud bands capable of producing heavy precipitation have recently been observed in the lee of midlatitude mountain ridges. Herein, idealized explicit-convection simulations are used to investigate such bands. A methodical sampling of environmental parameter space reveals that the bands are favored by a multilayer upstream static-stability profile, with a conditionally unstable midlevel layer overlying an absolutely stable surface-based layer. Such profiles promote the formation of leeside hydraulic jumps, with deep upright ascent that initiates elevated moist convection. Over smooth ridges, isolated bands develop past each ridge end due to a local superposition of cross-barrier and along-barrier pressure gradients. This superposition enhances leeside vertical displacements compared to parcels traversing the ridge midsection. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Coriolis force favors the left band over the right band (relative to the incoming flow) due to opposite-signed relative-vorticity perturbations past the two ridge ends. Whereas the negative vorticity anomaly past the left end enhances forcing for ascent, the positive vorticity anomaly past the right end suppresses it. For the environmental flows considered herein, the simulated bands are the most persistent over medium-height (1.5-km high) ridges, which force stronger leeside ascent than taller or shorter ridges. Over more rugged terrain, additional bands form past deep gaps or valleys, again due to a local superposition of horizontal pressure gradients. In contrast to some recent studies of orographic cloud bands, these simulated bands owe their existence to the release of moist static instability, indicating that neither slantwise nor inertial instability is required for their formation.
Understanding the Equatorial Pacific Cold Tongue Time-Mean Heat Budget. Part I: Diagnostic Framework
Authors: Ray Sulagna , Wittenberg Andrew T. , Griffies Stephen M. , Zeng Fanrong
Published: October 2018

The Pacific equatorial cold tongue plays a leading role in Earth’s strongest and most predictable climate signals. To illuminate the processes governing cold tongue temperatures, the upper-ocean heat budget is explored using the GFDL-FLOR coupled GCM (the forecast-oriented low ocean resolution version of CM2.5). Starting from the exact temperature budget for layers of time-varying thickness, the layer temperature tendency terms are studied using hourly-, daily-, and monthly-mean output from a 30-yr simulation driven by present-day radiative forcings. The budget is then applied to 1) a surface mixed layer whose temperature is highly correlated with SST, in which the air–sea heat flux is balanced mainly by downward diffusion of heat across the layer base, and 2) a thicker advective layer that subsumes most of the vertical mixing, in which the air–sea heat flux is balanced mainly by monthly-scale advection. The surface warming from shortwave fluxes and submonthly meridional advection and the subsurface cooling from monthly vertical advection are both shown to be essential to maintain the cold tongue thermal stratification against the destratifying effects of vertical mixing. Although layer undulations strongly mediate the tendency terms on diurnal-to-interannual scales, the 30-yr-mean tendencies are found to be well summarized by analogous budgets developed for stationary but spatially varying layers. The results are used to derive practical simplifications of the exact budget, to support the analyses in Part II of this paper, and to facilitate broader application of heat budget analyses when evaluating and comparing climate simulations.
A Fiscally Based Scale for Tropical Cyclone Storm Surge
Authors: Walker Amanda M. , Titley David W. , Mann Michael E. , Najjar Raymond G. , Miller Sonya K.
Published: October 2018

Categorization of storm surge with the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale has been a useful means of communicating potential impacts for decades. However, storm surge was removed from this scale following Hurricane Katrina (2005), leaving no scale-based method for storm surge risk communication despite its significant impacts on life and property. This study seeks to create a new, theoretical storm surge scale based on fiscal damage for effective risk analysis. Advanced Circulation model simulation output data of maximum water height and velocity were obtained for four storms: Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Gustav, Hurricane Ike, and Superstorm Sandy. Four countywide fiscal loss methods were then considered. The first three use National Centers for Environmental Information Storm Events Database (SED) property damages and Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) population, per capita personal income, or total income. The fourth uses National Flood Insurance Program total insured coverage and paid claims. Initial correlations indicated the statistical mode of storm surge data above the 90th percentile was most skillful; this metric was therefore chosen to represent countywide storm surge. Multiple linear regression assessed the most skillful combination of storm surge variables (height and velocity) and fiscal loss method (SED property damages and BEA population, i.e., loss per capita), and defined the proposed scale, named the Kuykendall scale. Comparison with the four storms’ actual losses shows skillful performance, notably a 20% skill increase over surge height-only approaches. The Kuykendall scale demonstrates promise for skillful future storm surge risk assessment in the analytical, academic, and operational domains.
The value of European immigration for high-level UK research and clinical care: cross-sectional study
Authors: Begum Mursheda , Lewison Grant , Lawler Mark , Sullivan Richard
Published: October 2018

Summary

Objective

The UK’s impending departure (‘Brexit’) from the European Union may lead to restrictions on the immigration of scientists and medical personnel to the UK. We examined how many senior scientists and clinicians were from other countries, particularly from Europe, in two time periods.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

United Kingdom.

Participants

Individuals who had been elected as Fellows of the Royal Society or of the Academy of Medical Sciences, and UK medical doctors currently practising and listed in the Medical Register for 2015.

Main outcome measures

Percentages of Fellows of the Royal Society, Fellows of the Academy of Medical Sciences and UK medical doctors by nationality (UK and Irish: UKI, European: EUR and rest of world: RoW) over time. Fellows of the Royal Society and the Academy of Medical Sciences proportions were assessed for two time periods, and doctors over decades of qualification (<1960s to 2010s).

Results

Percentages of European Fellows of the Royal Society increased from 0.8% (1952–1992) (the year the UK signed the Maastricht treaty) to 4.3% (1993–2015). For Fellows of the Academy of Medical Sciences, percentages increased from 2.6% (pre-1992) to 8.9% (post-1992) (for both, p < 0.001). In the 1970s, only 6% of doctors were trained in the EU; the proportion increased to 11% in the last two decades (also p < 0.001). Europeans replaced South Asians as the main immigrant group. Among these, doctors from the Czech Republic, Greece, Poland and Romania made the largest contribution.

Conclusions

Any post-Brexit restriction on the ability of the UK to attract European researchers and medical doctors may have serious implications for the UK’s science leadership globally and healthcare provision locally.
Do Cities and Counties Attempt to Circumvent Changes in Their Autonomy by Creating Special Districts?
Authors: Goodman Christopher B. , Leland Suzanne M.
Published: October 2018

This study uses 40 years of data from the U.S. Census of Governments to examine the impact of changes in local autonomy on the creation of the fastest growing form of local governments, special districts. Using fixed effects regression specified at the urban county and metropolitan statistical area level, we find that restrictions of fiscal autonomy of cities are associated with creation of new special districts. When the limits on fiscal autonomy interact with grants of functional autonomy, amplification occurs. We find no analogous effects for county governments. These two findings are consistent with the circumvention argument made in the local autonomy literature.
Does doubled singing increase children’s accuracy? A re-examination of previous findings
Authors: Nichols Bryan E. , Lorah Julie
Published: October 2018

Studies comparing solo singing to doubled singing indicate contrasting findings as to whether children evince superior solo or doubled singing. Previous findings have indicated: (a) superior solo singing; (b) superior doubled singing; or (c) no significant difference. A systematic review of studies meeting the inclusion criteria ( N = 6) was undertaken to examine factors leading to these conflicting results. Next, a calculation of effect sizes that were unreported in previous research was based on published ANOVA tables, and expressed using Partial Eta-Squared. In direct comparisons of solo to doubled singing conditions, two studies reported that children sing more accurately in doubled singing; two studies reported more accurate solo singing; and two studies reported no significant difference by performance in the two conditions. The results indicate medium-to-large effect sizes in both directions. Several factors were enumerated to explain the contrasting findings: test administration procedures, song familiarity, vocal models, scoring methods, and teacher/researcher familiarity among the participants.
Leadership and change implementation in a Russian context
Authors: Levene Frank , Higgs Malcolm
Published: October 2018

Leadership literature suggests that the transfer of leadership theory to non-US/Anglo-centric cultures may lead to findings that are different from current ones. Indeed, it is proposed that a dominant national culture will impact both the enacted leadership style and the followers’ expectations and acceptance of such a leadership style. Within the emerging literature on relational and change leadership, there is little consideration of the differing impact of leader behaviours in non-Western cultures. This study addresses both these gaps, through a case study that explores leadership styles and strategic change implementation within a Russian context that is seen as being directive and autocratic. The nature and impact of leadership in the context of change in Russian organizations is explored in this article, using a case-study design. Based on 20 interviews conducted in three organizations, we report findings which suggest, in a Russian context, that a more relational leadership style is more effective, and more likely to be accepted by followers, in implementing strategic change than a more ‘typical’ autocratic and directive style. The article contributes to leadership theory by providing clear empirical evidence of the value of a relational style in non-Western settings in ensuring effective change implementation.
An investigation on the mechanical and thermal performance of a novel functionally graded materials–based thermoplastic composites
Authors: Singh Akant Kumar , Siddhartha
Published: October 2018

This work investigates the mechanical, fracture toughness, and thermomechanical peculiarity of a novel functionally graded materials (FGMs)–based glass fiber–filled polyamide 66 (PA66) composites. FGMs-based PA66 are fabricated through a particularly designed mold and a punch. Punch is a rotating element of the mold and rotates at 1800 r/min for two min for the fabrication of FGMs. Gradation of fibers takes place in FGMs toward the periphery of the punch cavity due to the centrifugal force. Neat PA66 and homogeneous composites are also fabricated through the same mold for comparative study. Punch remains stationary during the fabrication of neat PA66 and homogeneous composites. PA66 granules filled with 15 wt% and 30 wt% of glass fibers are used to manufacture FGMs and homogeneous composites. Ignition loss test, hardness measurement, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis are used to verify the gradation of glass fibers within FGMs. Result analysis concluded that FGMs performed better as compared to neat PA66 and homogeneous composites. FGMs-based thermoplastic composites have full scope to fabricate polymer gears used in low load applications. This manufacturing route shows a promising potential for fabrication of FGMs-based thermoplastics which otherwise is difficult to manufacture because of their high solidification rate at room temperature.
Exploring the Moderation of Meaning in Life in Barriers and Coping Efficacy Among Women
Authors: Marks Laura Reid , Tate Kevin A. , Taylor Jennifer M.
Published: October 2018

In this study, we sought to extend social cognitive career theory and examined the links among perceptions of career and educational barriers, coping self-efficacy, and meaning in life in a diverse sample of women. Five hundred and seventy-nine female participants were recruited using Amazon Mechanical Turk where they were asked to complete an online survey. Our analyses revealed a significant negative relationship between educational and career barriers and coping self-efficacy. When controlling for social class, a presence of and a search for meaning in life were not significant moderators of the association between educational and career barriers and coping self-efficacy. However, when not controlling for social class, a presence of a meaning for life did significantly moderate the association between educational barriers and coping self-efficacy. Implications of these findings for counselors working with women on their career development and for future research are discussed.
‘Then David Began to Sing this Song’: Composition and Hermeneutics in Pseudo-Philo's Psalm of David (LAB 59.4)
Authors: Botner Max
Published: October 2018

Despite burgeoning interest in Pseudo-Philo's use of the Jewish scriptures, little to-date has been said about the writer's psalm of David ( LAB 59.4). In fact, outside of Strugnell's reconstruction of the psalm's Vorlage (1965) and Jacobson's two-volume commentary (1996), virtually nothing has been written about this section of Liber Antiquitatum Biblicarum. This article demonstrates that LAB 59.4 constitutes a sophisticated piece of scriptural exegesis that fits within the writer's well-established hermeneutical strategies. It identifies plausible intertexts comprising LAB's psalm and traces the hermeneutical techniques that attracted Pseudo-Philo to these passages of scripture.
Psychology in the social imaginary of neoliberalism: Critique and beyond
Authors: Pickren Wade E.
Published: October 2018

This is an introduction to the special issue on the impact of neoliberalism on the sociality, politics, and governmentality of contemporary psychological life. The articles suggest that Euro-American psychology writ large has not been a force for human freedom. Still, the articles are additional evidence of the historical and current lines of resistance and activism that indicate a move toward an emancipatory psychology.