bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Economic impacts of El Niño southern oscillation: evidence from the Colombian coffee market
Authors: Bastianin Andrea , Lanza Alessandro , Manera Matteo
Published: June 2018

El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a naturally occurring phenomenon that affects weather around the world. Past ENSO episodes have had severe impacts on the economy of Colombia. We study the influence of ENSO on Colombian coffee production, exports, and price. Our structural econometric specification is consistent with an economic model of the market for Colombian coffee which, in the short run, is characterized by a downward‐sloping demand curve and by a vertical supply curve. We show that El Niño (i.e., positive shocks to ENSO) is beneficial for Colombian production and exports and decreases the real price of Colombian coffee. On the contrary, La Niña (i.e., negative shocks to ENSO) depresses Colombian coffee production and exports and increases price. However, the overall impact of ENSO shocks is small. Both in the short run and in the long run, shocks to international demand for Colombian coffee are more relevant than supply‐side shocks in Colombia in explaining the dynamics of the price of Colombian coffee. Our results suggest that a given coffee price shock can have beneficial, detrimental, or negligible effects on the Colombian economy, depending on its underlying cause. As a consequence, policy responses to coffee price shocks should be designed by looking at the causes of the shocks.
The Descendant Bargain: Latina Youth Remaking Kinship and Generation through Educational Sibcare in Nashville, Tennessee
Authors: Flores Andrea
Published: June 2018

Older sisters in Latino, immigrant‐origin families in the United States bear significant caretaking responsibilities for their siblings, especially regarding their siblings’ educations. Young women in Nashville, Tennessee, frame their same‐generation caretaking commitments and educational expectations for their siblings in intergenerational terms—what I term the descendant bargain. This intergenerational framing reveals how elder sisters position their siblingship—and their educational carework—as vital to forging socioeconomic mobility and kinship obligations, labor often understood as the domain of parents. Youthful siblings’ educational carework is a critical kinship practice that demonstrates the central role of youth in making kinship and remaking genealogical generation in immigrant families. [kinship, immigration, siblingship, care, United States]
Human tissue kallikrein 1 ameliorates erectile function via modulation of macroautophagy in aged transgenic rats
Authors: Tang Z. , Cui K. , Luan Y. , Ruan Y. , Wang T. , Yang J. , Wang S. , Liu J. , Wang D.
Published: June 2018

Previously, we have demonstrated that human tissue kallikrein 1 (hKLK1) improves age‐related erectile dysfunction (ED). Autophagy has been implicated in age‐related diseases, including ED. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying hKLK1‐mediated amelioration of age‐related ED via regulation of autophagy remains unknown. To explore the potential mechanism, male wild‐type Sprague‐Dawley rats (WTR) and transgenic rats harboring human KLK1 (TGR) were bred till 4 or 18 months of age and divided into three groups: young WTR (yWTR) as the control group, aged WTR (aWTR) group, and aged TGR (aTGR) group. The erectile function of each rat was evaluated using cavernous nerve electrostimulation. The ratio of intracavernous pressure/mean arterial pressure (ICP/MAP) and total ICP were also measured. Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy were performed to detect the levels of autophagy. The expression levels of related signaling pathways were determined by western blotting and immunohistochemistry. We found that hKLK1 improved the impaired erectile function of aged rats. Compared to the yWTR and aTGR groups, the aWTR group showed reduced smooth muscle/collagen ratio, fewer autophagosomes, and lower expression of Beclin 1 and LC3‐II, which indicate impaired smooth muscle function and low level of autophagy in the smooth muscle cells. Moreover, the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, which is considered to be a negative regulator of autophagy, was upregulated in the aWTR group. hKLK1 may partially restore erectile function in aged transgenic rats by upregulating protective autophagy via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. These observations indicate that hKLK1 is a potential gene therapy candidate for age‐related ED.
Association of QRS‐T angle and heart rate variability with major cardiac events and mortality in hemodialysis patients
Authors: Poulikakos Dimitrios , Hnatkova Katerina , Banerjee Debasish , Malik Marek
Published: June 2018

Introduction

Mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients is high with significant proportion attributed to fatal arrhythmias. In a pilot study, we showed that intradialytic electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring can yield stable profiles of selected repolarisation descriptors and heart rate variability (HRV) parameters. This study investigated the relationship of these ECG markers with major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and mortality.

Methods

Continuous ECGs were obtained during HD and repeated five times at 2‐week intervals. The QRS‐T angle calculated as Total Cosine R to T (TCRT) and T‐wave morphology dispersion (TMD) were calculated in overlapping 10 s ECG segments. High‐ (HF) and low (LF)‐frequency components and the LF/HF ratio of HRV were calculated every 5 min. These indices were averaged during the first hour of dialysis and subsequently overall recordings in each subject.

Results

All ECG parameters were available in 72 patients aged 61 ± 15, 23 (31.9%) females and 26 (36.1%) diabetics. After a median follow up of 54.8 months, 16 patients died, 20 were transplanted, and 9 suffered MACE. TCRT (in degrees) was higher and LF/HF was lower in patients who died compared to survivors (112 ± 30 vs. 73 ± 35, p = 0.000 and 0.222 ± 0.418 vs. 0.401 ± 0.274, p = 0.000, respectively) and in MACE positive compared to negative (117 ± 40 vs. 77 ± 34, p = 0.017 and 0.125 ± 0.333 vs.0.401 ± 0.274, p = 0.007 respectively). In multivariate Cox regression analysis of mortality risk adjusted for age, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease, TCRT and LF/HF remained significant predictors (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

QRS‐T angle and HRV may serve risk assessment in future prospective studies in HD patients.
Muscle PGC‐1α in exercise and fasting‐induced regulation of hepatic UPR in mice
Authors: Kristensen Caroline Maag , Jessen Henrik , Ringholm Stine , Pilegaard Henriette
Published: June 2018

Aim

To provide a detailed time course of hepatic autophagy and all UPR branches in response to an acute bout of exercise and 24 hours of fasting and test the hypothesis that muscle‐specific PGC‐1α overexpression dampens the UPR and autophagy responses to these metabolic challenges.

Methods

Muscle‐specific PGC‐1α overexpression (TG) and wild‐type (WT) mice (a) performed a single bout of exercise, where the liver was obtained immediately after exercise, 2, 6 or 10 hours into recovery as well as from resting mice or (b) fasted for 24 hours or remained fed and the liver was obtained.

Results

In both genotypes, hepatic PERK and eIF2α phosphorylation increased immediately after exercise, with no change in IRE1α phosphorylation and cleaved ATF6 protein. Fasting decreased PERK, eIF2α and IRE1α phosphorylation as well as increased cleaved ATF6 protein in both genotypes. Hepatic p62 was unchanged, while LC3II/LC3I ratio increased immediately after exercise and LC3II protein increased in response to fasting in both genotypes. TG mice had lower eIF2α phosphorylation after exercise, a blunted fasting‐induced CHOP and HSP72 mRNA response and in fasted mice lower GADD34 and BiP mRNA as well as FAS protein in the liver than WT mice.

Conclusion

This study provides for the first time evidence for transient pathway‐specific activation of hepatic UPR and increase in markers of autophagy in the liver with acute exercise. On the other hand, fasting both increased and decreased UPR branches and seemed to increase autophagy. In addition, muscle PGC‐1α seemed to dampen some of these responses.
Editorial: frequency of surveillance and survival in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Senussi N. H. , Kowdley K. V.
Published: June 2018

Linked Content

This article is linked to Kim et al and Kim and Lee papers. To view these articles visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14623 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14827.
Editorial: self‐dilation for refractory oesophageal strictures is worth considering
Authors: Heading R. C.
Published: June 2018

Linked Content

This article is linked to Qin et al and Halland papers. To view these articles visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14807 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14839.
Atypical Antipsychotic Administration in Schizophrenic Patients Leads to Elevated Lipoprotein‐Associated Phospholipase A2 Levels and Increased Cardiovascular Risk: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Shen Hong , Wu Danyang , Wang Shanshan , Zhao Mengjie , Sun Wenbo , Zhu Xiaozhou , Zhang Ning , Yao Hui , Cui Qing , Xiao Hong
Published: June 2018

The prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is higher in patients with schizophrenia than in the general population. We aimed to investigate whether atypical antipsychotics (AAP) increase the levels of lipoprotein‐associated phospholipase A2 (Lp‐PLA2), thereby increasing the risk of CVD. The data were from inpatients aged 18–60 years with a diagnosis of schizophrenia according to ICD‐10 at the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University who underwent physical examination between 1 October 2014 and 30 September 2016. A retrospective cohort study was used to analyse the correlation between AAP, Lp‐PLA2 levels and the CVD risk (it was determined that Lp‐PLA2 values >200 ng/mL were defined as high CVD risk) in patients treated with monotherapy, olanzapine, clozapine or quetiapine. Data were collected for 452 patients with eligible schizophrenia: 163 treated with clozapine, 186 treated with olanzapine, 47 treated with quetiapine and 56 receiving no medication. Compared with the no‐medication patients, AAP administration in patients with olanzapine, clozapine or quetiapine had higher serum Lp‐PLA2 levels when age, sex, BMI and fasting glucose level were matched. AAP were significantly associated with serum Lp‐PLA2 level by Spearman's correlation coefficients. The results of logistic regression analysis showed that AAP administration was an independent factor of CVD risk when adjusted by potential confounding factors. This study is the first to confirm that AAP administration, especially clozapine and olanzapine, could increase Lp‐PLA2 levels and CVD risk, independent of drug‐induced weight gain in schizophrenia. The extent and the factors of increasing Lp‐PLA2 level and CVD risk in olanzapine, clozapine and quetiapine are discrepant. The possible effects of AAP on Lp‐PLA2 in schizophrenia patients are involved in pro‐inflammatory cytokines and hormones.
Psychosocial distress and desire for support among skin cancer patients – impact of treatment setting
Authors: Buchhold Britta , Lutze Stine , Arnold Andreas , Jülich Andreas , Daeschlein Georg , Wendler Martin , Juenger Michael , Hannich Hans‐Joachim
Published: June 2018

Background

Diagnosis and treatment of malignancies are frequently associated with a variety of problems for affected individuals and their relatives. In order to ensure adequate psycho‐oncological and social care, it is recommended to routinely assess patients’ psychosocial distress. While psychosocial services for inpatients have been expanded in recent years, the outpatient care structure in terms of psycho‐oncological support is far from satisfactory, especially in Mecklenburg‐Western Pomerania.

We therefore set out to investigate the following questions: Does the need for psychosocial care vary in relation to (a) the treatment setting (inpatients vs. outpatients) and (b) the diagnosis? (c) Do patients experiencing psychological distress desire support?

Patients and Methods

We asked both inpatients and outpatients to rate their psychosocial situation using the Hornheide Questionnaire. Patients were also asked about their desire for psychological support and the preferred contact person.

Results

(a) The treatment setting had no impact on the need for psychosocial care and the desire for support. (b) Depending on the type of skin cancer, there were significant differences in the need for such care among the 251 patients surveyed. (c) Despite a certain discrepancy, there was a significant correlation between psychosocial distress (39.0 %; n = 98/251) and desire for support (14.3 %; n = 35/245). (d) Patients experiencing distress primarily chose physicians (n = 21) and psychologists (n = 20) as potential contact persons.

Conclusions

(1) In addition to the level of distress, the desire for support should be inquired. (2) Recommendations by physicians represent an important means of access to psycho‐oncological services. (3) Services for outpatient support should be expanded.
Diurnal profile of interstitial glucose following dexamethasone prophylaxis for chemotherapy treatment of gynaecological cancer
Authors: Lyall M. J. , Thethy I. , Steven L. , MacKean M. , Nussey F. , Sakala M. , Rye T. , Strachan M. W. J. , Dover A. R.
Published: June 2018

Aims

Hyperglycaemia, a side‐effect of acute glucocorticoid exposure, is associated with poor outcome in those undergoing chemotherapy. The incidence, risk factors and diurnal profile of glucocorticoid‐induced glucose dysregulation in the context of chemotherapy treatment remain incompletely understood.

Methods

Blinded continuous interstitial glucose monitoring was performed on 16 women without diabetes for 24 h prior to and 5 days following carboplatin/paclitaxel chemotherapy combined with dexamethasone treatment for gynaecological cancer. At the end of the treatment period, glucose data were analysed and integrated with baseline metabolic and anthropomorphic variables.

Results

15/16 (94%) women exhibited elevated glucose levels (> 11.1 mmol/l). Peak glucose levels were highest on the day of treatment (median 14.45 mmol/l, range 10.2–22.2 mmol/l) and total time spent with an elevated interstitial glucose level was highly variable (median 3.6 h, range 0.0–55.1 h). Peak interstitial glucose levels occurred predominantly, but not exclusively, in the afternoon (13.00–15.00) and evening (19.00–22.00); however elevated levels were noted throughout the 24‐h period. Baseline HbA1c was independently associated with severity and duration of elevated glucose levels in a regression adjusted for baseline BMI.

Conclusions

These data report for the first time that high glucose levels are encountered by nearly all women following this regimen, the severity and duration of which are independently associated with HbA1c. Further work is required to determine if controlling glucose levels during treatment influences outcome.
Lessons learned from lifestyle prevention trials in gestational diabetes mellitus
Authors: Egan A. M. , Simmons D.
Published: June 2018

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes for mother and infant both at birth and later in life. A large body of evidence is now available relating to antenatal prevention of GDM. Overall, despite some individual trials of a variety of lifestyle interventions revealing benefit, many more have shown no effect from the second trimester onwards, even with significant gestational weight gain limitation. At‐risk women often seem reluctant to engage in lifestyle changes and frequently cannot adhere to recommended interventions even within a clinical trial setting. Many trials have not considered the heterogeneity of diabetes first discovered in pregnancy, something of importance into the future. Future work should focus on designing interventions acceptable to the population at risk, whether those taking place before or during the first trimester of pregnancy are effective, and whether greater individualization can identify those women most likely to benefit.
Interventions and social functioning in youth at risk of psychosis: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Devoe Daniel J. , Farris Megan S. , Townes Parker , Addington Jean
Published: June 2018

Aim

Youth at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis often exhibit difficulties in social functioning and poorer social functioning may be predictive of transition to a psychotic disorder. Therefore, the primary objective of this systematic review was to summarize the impact of all interventions on social functioning in CHR samples.

Method

Electronic databases PsycINFO, CINAHL, Embase, EBM, and MEDLINE were searched from 1951 to June 2017. Studies were selected if they included any intervention that reported changes in social functioning in youth at CHR. Data were evaluated using random effects pairwise meta‐analyses, stratified by time, and reported as the standardized mean difference (SMD).

Results

Nineteen studies met our inclusion criteria, including a total of 1513 CHR participants. The mean age was 20.5 years and 47% were male. Cognitive behavioural therapy (4 studies) did not significantly improve social functioning at 6 months (SMD = 0.06; 95% confidence interval [CI] = −0.35, 0.46), 12 months (SMD = −0.15; 95% CI = –0.38, 0.08) and 18 months (SMD = 0.20; 95% CI = −0.10, 0.50). Omega‐3 (2 studies) did not significantly improve social functioning at 6 months (SMD = 0.01; 95% CI = −0.21, 0.24) and 12 months (SMD = −0.08; 95% CI = −0.33, 0.17). Lastly, cognitive remediation (3 studies) did not significantly improve social functioning at 2‐ to 3‐month follow‐up (SMD = 0.13, 95% CI = –0.18, 0.43).

Conclusions

This systematic review and meta‐analysis demonstrated that no treatment significantly improved social functioning in youth at CHR. Future randomized control trials are required that are designed to target and improve social functioning in youth at CHR for psychosis.
Animal Sound Identifier (ASI): software for automated identification of vocal animals
Authors: Ovaskainen Otso , Moliterno de Camargo Ulisses , Somervuo Panu
Published: June 2018

Automated audio recording offers a powerful tool for acoustic monitoring schemes of bird, bat, frog and other vocal organisms, but the lack of automated species identification methods has made it difficult to fully utilise such data. We developed Animal Sound Identifier (ASI), a MATLAB software that performs probabilistic classification of species occurrences from field recordings. Unlike most previous approaches, ASI locates training data directly from the field recordings and thus avoids the need of pre‐defined reference libraries. We apply ASI to a case study on Amazonian birds, in which we classify the vocalisations of 14 species in 194 504 one‐minute audio segments using in total two weeks of expert time to construct, parameterise, and validate the classification models. We compare the classification performance of ASI (with training templates extracted automatically from field data) to that of monitoR (with training templates extracted manually from the Xeno‐Canto database), the results showing ASI to have substantially higher recall and precision rates.
Effects of regional enamel and prism orientations on bovine enamel bond strength and cohesive strength
Authors: Wang Chaoyang , Ou Yangyan , Zhang Ling , Zhou Zihuai , Li Mingxing , Xu Jingqiu , Fan Jiayan , Fu Baiping , Hannig Matthias
Published: June 2018

This study investigated the regional microtensile bond strength (MTBS) and cohesive strength of bovine enamel. The crowns of bovine incisors were sectioned, either horizontally along incisal and cervical thirds to produce horizontal and tangential segments, or longitudinally along the midline to produce longitudinal segments. Half of the horizontal and longitudinal segments were prepared using a 45° bevel. Then, the differently sectioned enamel surfaces were treated with one‐ or two‐step self‐etch adhesives (Clearfil SE Bond or Clearfil S3 Bond) and a composite resin (Clearfil Majesty) was placed. Resin‐bonded enamel samples were cut into beams for use in the MTBS tests. Labial horizontal and longitudinal segments of pure enamel beams were prepared for cohesive strength tests. Enamel microstructures were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. Three‐way anova followed by Tukey's post‐hoc HSD multiple comparisons procedure showed that a 45° bevel cut did not statistically significantly improve enamel MTBS, which varied with the different regions. The longitudinally sectioned resin‐bonded enamel samples had the lowest MTBS, and the horizontal enamel cohesive strength was weaker than that of the longitudinal enamel. The scanning electron microscopy fractographs indicated that rows of parallel prisms were detached from the fractured surfaces. In conclusion, the regional enamel MTBS and the cohesive strength are strongly related to the enamel microstructures and prism orientations.
Physiological and genomic signatures of evolutionary thermal adaptation in redband trout from extreme climates
Authors: Chen Zhongqi , Farrell Anthony P. , Matala Amanda , Hoffman Nicholas , Narum Shawn R.
Published: June 2018

Temperature is a master environmental factor that limits the geographical distribution of species, especially in ectotherms. To address challenges in biodiversity conservation under ongoing climate change, it is essential to characterize relevant functional limitations and adaptive genomic content at population and species levels. Here, we present evidence for adaptive divergence in cardiac function and genomic regions in redband trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri) populations from desert and montane streams. Cardiac phenotypes of individual fish were measured in the field with a custom‐built electrocardiogram apparatus. Maximum heart rate and its rate limiting temperature during acute warming were significantly higher in fish that have evolved in the extreme of a desert climate compared to a montane climate. Association mapping with 526,301 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across the genome revealed signatures of thermal selection both within and among ecotypes. Among desert and montane populations, 435 SNPs were identified as putative outliers under natural selection and 20 of these loci showed significant association with average summer water temperatures among populations. Phenotypes for cardiac performance were variable within each ecotype, and 207 genomic regions were strongly associated with either maximum heart rate or rate limiting temperatures among individuals. Annotation of significant loci provided candidate genes that underlie thermal adaptation, including pathways associated with cardiac function (IRX5, CASQ1, CAC1D, and TITIN), neuroendocrine system (GPR17 and NOS), and stress response (SERPH). By integrating comparative physiology and population genomics, results here advance our knowledge on evolutionary processes of thermal adaptation in aquatic ectotherms.
Laboratory apparatus for in‐situ corrosion fatigue testing and characterisation of fatigue cracks using X‐ray micro‐computed tomography
Authors: Farhad F. , Smyth‐Boyle D. , Zhang X. , Wallis I. , Panggabean D.
Published: June 2018

This paper presents the design, construction, and assembly of laboratory apparatus to undertake in‐situ corrosion fatigue tests in a sour corrosive environment under uniaxial fatigue loading. The bespoke test cell allows periodic nondestructive X‐ray micro‐computed tomography of the specimen in‐situ during fatigue testing and thus enables monitoring of material degradation in‐situ as it progresses and in particular the pit‐to‐crack transition. This approach provides more direct information on crack initiation than complementary ex‐situ techniques such as scanning electron microscopy of post‐test metallographic specimens. Moreover, the apparatus was designed to allow a fatigue cycle to be interrupted and maintain the sample under static tensile load, during X‐ray tomography scans. This process reduced the risk of premature crack closure during interrupted tests. Results presented herein demonstrate the performance and reliability of our approach and will hopefully stimulate other groups to use similar “lab‐scale” initiatives.
Critical Reflections on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the Criminal Justice System: Swedish Female Ex‐Offenders’ Narratives of Diagnosis
Authors: ÖSTERMAN LINNÉA ANNA MARGARETA
Published: June 2018

Recent years have seen an emerging link between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and criminal behaviour. Sweden is a leader in this field of research, and high levels of ADHD are reported in the Swedish criminal justice system. The aetiology of the condition, however, remains unclear and there is definite ambivalence in the literature regarding both diagnosis and treatments. Offering a unique qualitative perspective on the role of ADHD diagnoses, this article critically explores female first‐hand narratives of ADHD in the Swedish criminal justice system. A number of diagnostic functions are proposed; (i) on the individual level – via a rationalised explanatory framework of behaviour; (ii) on a societal level – with attention effectively being deflected from social and environmental contexts; (iii) on an institutional level – linked to the medicalised management of offender populations, and lastly; (iv) on a broader market level – including huge pharmaceutical interests in a relentlessly expanding ‘treatment’ market.
Scleroderma‐like cutaneous lesions during treatment with paclitaxel and gemcitabine in a patient with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Review of literature
Authors: Verhulst Lien , Noë Esther , Morren Marie‐Anne , Verslype Chris , Van Cutsem Eric , Van den Oord Joost J. , De Haes Petra
Published: June 2018

Background

Chemotherapy‐induced skin sclerosis is generally not associated with other manifestations of systemic sclerosis. It is featured by skin sclerosis without visceral involvement (i.e., Raynaud's phenomenon, esophageal dysmotility, and pulmonary fibrosis), temporal association with chemotherapy administration, and the absence of detectable autoantibodies. The clinical course of scleroderma‐like changes induced by paclitaxel or gemcitabine are refractory to treatment and commonly progressive, even after discontinuation of the triggering drugs.

Objective

Report a case of scleroderma‐like cutaneous lesions during combination treatment with nab‐paclitaxel and gemcitabine in a patient with pancreatic adenocarcinoma and determine other published cases of scleroderma‐like skin changes following treatment with nab‐paclitaxel, paclitaxel, or gemcitabine through the period from 2002 to 2018.

Methods

Literature search from the year 2002 onwards using combinations of “Scleroderma” AND “paclitaxel,” AND/OR “gemcitabine.”

Results

Additional to our case report we reviewed 14 other cases in the literature. Most of these cases share three prominent features: skin sclerosis without systemic involvement, temporal association with chemotherapy administration, and absence of detectable scleroderma‐specific autoantibodies.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this is the first case report of scleroderma‐like cutaneous lesions during combination treatment with nab‐paclitaxel and gemcitabine in a patient with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. However, given the current literature, these scleroderma‐like lesions are most likely induced by nab‐paclitaxel or paclitaxel, rather than by gemcitabine.
Refugees in Greece: Facing a Multifaceted Labyrinth
Authors: Tsitselikis Konstantinos
Published: June 2018

The years after 2015 were remarkable for the reception and accommodation schemes of refugees fleeing Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. The EU‐Turkey common statement of March 2016 and, most of all, the sealing of the Balkan corridor, blocked the flow of refugees towards central Europe through Greece, testing the readiness of the Greek authorities to take action to meet a series of urgent needs (accommodation, nutrition, asylum procedures, health) and social integration processes (education, training, access to labour). Approximately 45,000 refugees are settled in refugee camps or urban settlements all over the country. Those entrapped in the Eastern Aegean islands should be returned to Turkey, which is considered a “safe third country”. The purpose of this article is to shed light on a phenomenon that is ongoing and challenges a series of policies and legal principles both in Greece and the EU.
Interspecific and sexual differences in riverine distribution of tropical eels Anguilla spp.
Authors: Hagihara Seishi , Aoyama Jun , Limbong Daniel , Tsukamoto Katsumi
Published: June 2018

A total of 261 individuals of the four tropical eel species, Anguilla celebesensis, Anguilla marmorata, Anguilla bicolor pacifica and Anguilla interioris, were collected from 12 locations around Sulawesi Island, Indonesia, to gain knowledge about the riverine distribution of tropical eels. Anguilla marmorata was predominant in the lower reaches of Poso River (94·4% of total eel catch in the sampling area), Poso Lake (93·3%), three small inlet rivers of Tomini Bay (100%) and Laa River (92·3%). Anguilla celebesensis occurred frequently in the inlet rivers of Poso Lake (63·5%). Anguilla bicolor pacifica and Anguilla interioris were rare (1.5 and 0.4%, respectively). Otolith Sr:Ca ratio electron‐probe micro analysis (EPMA) for individual migratory histories revealed that 15 A. celebesensis caught in Poso Lake and its inlet rivers were categorized into 14 river eels (Sr:Ca < 2·5) showing upstream migration seemingly at their elver stage and only one sea eel (Sr:Ca ≥ 6·0) that stayed in the marine habitat for the majority of its life after recruiting to Sulawesi Island before its late upstream migration. In A. marmorata, 19 examined eels from Poso Lake and its inlet rivers were all river eels, while 17 eels from the lower reaches of Poso River were two river eels, six sea eels and nine estuarine eels (2·5 ≤ Sr:Ca < 6·0) that mostly lived in the brackish water. The sex ratio of A. celebesensis was highly skewed towards a dominance of females (99%). In A. marmorata, females were predominant in Poso Lake (95·2%), its inlet rivers (94·7%) and Laa River (100%), while males were more frequent in the lower reaches of Poso River (76·5%) and small inlet rivers of Tomini Bay (94·1%). These results indicate that the riverine distribution pattern of tropical eels differs among species and between sexes.
Media Violence and the General Aggression Model
Authors: Anderson Craig A. , Bushman Brad J.
Published: June 2018

The General Aggression Model (GAM) is a meta‐theory that considers the role of personal and situational variables on aggressive behavior, ranging from the biological to the cultural. Possible mediating variables include internal states (e.g., aggressive thoughts, angry feelings, increased physiological arousal) and the results of appraisal and decision processes (automatic and controlled). In this article, we focus on one situational variable—exposure to violent media—and how it can influence a wide array of cognitive, developmental, emotional, and social processes that can increase likelihood of aggression. Previous research has shown that exposure to violent media can increase aggression through all three internal state paths, and by increasing hostile appraisals. In this article, we use GAM as a theoretical framework to explain a wide variety of violent media effects. We also add some clarifications and extensions to GAM that research in the past 15 years has shown to be needed in the model. We also suggest new research directions in the media violence domain that we believe will be especially useful in the future.
Chloroplast phylogenomics of the New World grape species (Vitis, Vitaceae)
Authors: Wen Jun , Harris AJ , Kalburgi Yash , Zhang Ning , Xu Yuan , Zheng Wei , Ickert‐Bond Stefanie M. , Johnson Gabriel , Zimmer Elizabeth A.
Published: June 2018

Vitis L. (the grape genus) is the economically most important fruit crop, as the source of grapes and wine. Phylogenetic relationships within the genus have been highly controversial. Herein, we employ sequence data from whole plastomes to attempt to enhance Vitis phylogenetic resolution. The results support the New World Vitis subgenus Vitis as monophyletic. Within the clade, V. californica is sister to the remaining New World Vitis subgenus Vitis. Furthermore, within subgenus Vitis, a Eurasian clade is robustly supported and is sister to the New World clade. The clade of Vitis vinifera ssp. vinifera and V. vinifera ssp. sylvestris is sister to the core Asian clade of Vitis. Several widespread species in North America are found to be non‐monophyletic in the plastome tree, for example, the broadly defined Vitis cinerea and V. aestivalis each needs to be split into several species. The non‐monophyly of some species may also be due to common occurrences of hybridizations in North American Vitis. The classification of North American Vitis by Munson into nine series is discussed based on the phylogenetic results. Analyses of divergence times and lineage diversification support a rapid radiation of Vitis in North America beginning in the Neogene.
How to Measure Field‐of‐Study Mismatch? A Comparative Analysis of the Different Methods
Authors: Sellami Sana , Verhaest Dieter , Van Trier Walter
Published: June 2018

We compare the different methods used to measure field‐of‐study mismatch. A first part reviews the literature, detailing, and discussing the different approaches. A second part uses a dataset allowing one to investigate whether these different approaches result in differences with respect to the incidence and determinants of field‐of‐study mismatch. As substantial differences do indeed exist, even among variants of similar approaches, we conclude that empirical results should be interpreted with caution. While making several recommendations concerning the measurement of field‐of‐study mismatch, we also call for more focused research on the validity and reliability of field‐of‐study mismatch measures.
Tonle Sap Lake: Current status and important research directions for environmental management
Authors: Uk Sovannara , Yoshimura Chihiro , Siev Sokly , Try Sophal , Yang Heejun , Oeurng Chantha , Li Shangshang , Hul Seingheng
Published: June 2018

Tonle Sap Lake (TSL) in Cambodia is the largest freshwater body in South‐East Asia and one of the most productive ecosystems in the world. The lake and its ecosystems are widely under threat, however, due to anthropogenic activities occurring inside and outside its basin (e.g., water infrastructure development; land use change), being poorly understood in most aspects. This study provides an updated review of the state of knowledge of the TSL ecosystem, as well as important research directions for sustainable lake environmental management of Tonle Sap Lake by focusing on four major topics, including climate change and hydrology, sediment dynamics, nutrient dynamics and primary and secondary production. The findings of this study suggest anthropogenic activities in the TSL basin, as well as the Mekong, in combination together with climate changes, are key contributing factors in the degradation of the TSL ecosystem. Insufficient accurate data, however, precludes quantitative assessment of such impacts, making it difficult to quantitatively assess and accurately understand the ecosystem process in the lake ecosystem. More efforts are recommended in regard to environmental monitoring in all sub‐basins around TSL, assessing seasonal changes in nutrient and sediment inputs corresponding to water level and flow changes, assessing cumulative impacts of water infrastructure and climate change on the ecosystem dynamics, and elucidation of ecosystem processes within the lake's internal system.
Comment on “Composition and origin of holotype Al‐Cu‐Zn minerals in relation to quasicrystals in the Khatyrka meteorite” by M. Ivanova et al. (2017)
Authors: Andronicos C. L. , Bindi L. , Distler V. V. , Hollister L. S. , Lin C. , MacPherson G. J. , Steinhardt P. J. , Yudovskaya M.
Published: June 2018

Ivanova et al. () proposed that the aluminides we described in the Khatyrka meteorite fragments, both crystal and quasicrystal metal phases, were derived from industrial materials used during placer gold mining and that these had been shredded and blast‐propelled into natural meteoritic material that happened to be at the site. The blast hypothesis was not supported by evidence that metal shrapnel or metal parts from mining operations (or from any other industrial use) occur at the site that are similar in composition to the aluminides that we described in Khatyrka; we doubt such compositions would exist because alloys with the compositions we reported have no known industrial applications. We further show that this hypothesis cannot be reconciled geologically, chemically, or physically with our observations. These observations demonstrate that the fragments central to our study have been embedded below gold‐bearing fluvial gravels in undisturbed sediment for at least ~6670 to 8004 14C years before mining operations commenced. The case presented here thus specifically rules out the blast hypothesis and also presents a challenge to other anthropogenic explanations. We also address each of Ivanova et al.'s points challenging our conclusion that the silicates attached to the aluminides were CV3 chondritic minerals.
Two‐needle knitting and cross‐knit looping: early bronze age pottery imprints from anatolia and the caucasus
Authors: Sagona Claudia
Published: June 2018

There is ample evidence for the use of prehistoric loom‐woven, tabby fabric (made by plain warp and weft technique) in the construction of pottery. Ancient potters from the steppe regions of central Asia through to Anatolia and in some parts of Europe sometimes built their wares aided by old fragments of cloth and basketry, which left impressions on and in the walls of their vessels. In the highlands of eastern Turkey at the site of Sos Höyük and at Chobareti, in Georgia, the impressions on Early Bronze Age pottery include an array of textiles and, notably, what appears to be the earliest known evidence for two‐needle knitting and for the continued use of the single‐element, cross‐knit looping (also known as Coptic ‘nalbinding’) made using an eyed‐needle, a craft which has been found in Pre‐Pottery Neolithic contexts of the Levant. Various basketry techniques are also represented.
Transcriptome analysis of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Acinetobacter baumannii in polymicrobial communities
Authors: Miller D.P. , Wang Q. , Weinberg A. , Lamont R.J.
Published: June 2018

Acinetobacter baumannii is a nosocomial, opportunistic pathogen that causes several serious conditions including meningitis, septicemia, endocarditis, and pneumonia. It can be found in the oral biofilm, which may be a reservoir for pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Subgingival colonization by A. baumannii is associated with chronic and aggressive periodontitis as well as refractory periodontal disease. Porphyromonas gingivalis, a keystone periodontal pathogen localized to subgingival plaque, is also implicated in several chronic conditions including aspiration pneumonia. Although both bacteria are found together in subgingival plaque and can cause multiple polymicrobial infections, nothing is known about the interactions between these two important human pathogens. In this study, we used RNA sequencing to understand the transcriptional response of both species as they adapt to heterotypic communities. Among the differentially regulated genes were those encoding a number of important virulence factors for both species including adhesion, biofilm formation, and protein secretion. Additionally, the presence of A. baumannii increased the abundance of P. gingivalis in model dual‐species communities. Collectively these results suggest that both P. gingivalis and A. baumannii adapt to each other and have synergistic potential for increased pathogenicity. In identifying the mechanisms that promote pathogenicity and refractory disease, novel approaches to mitigate polymicrobial synergistic interactions may be developed to treat or prevent associated diseases.
Pigmentation abnormalities in nucleotide excision repair disorders: Evidence and hypotheses
Authors: Kasraian Zeinab , Trompezinski Sandra , Cario‐André Muriel , Morice‐Picard Fanny , Ged Cécile , Jullie Marie‐Laure , Taieb Alain , Rezvani Hamid Reza
Published: June 2018

Skin pigmentation abnormalities are manifested in several disorders associated with deficient DNA repair mechanisms such as nucleotide excision repair (NER) and double‐strand break (DSB) diseases, a topic that has not received much attention up to now. Hereditary disorders associated with defective DNA repair are valuable models for understanding mechanisms that lead to hypo‐ and hyperpigmentation. Owing to the UV‐associated nature of abnormal pigmentary manifestations, the outcome of the activated DNA damage response (DDR) network could be the effector signal for alterations in pigmentation, ultimately manifesting as pigmentary abnormalities in repair‐deficient disorders. In this review, the role of the DDR network in the manifestation of pigmentary abnormalities in NER and DSB disorders is discussed with a special emphasis on NER disorders.
Intelligent Growth and Macroeconomic Performance of EU Member Countries in the Framework of Europe 2020
Authors: Paraskevi Papailiou , Dimitrios Komninos , Zacharias Dermatis , Athanasios Anastasiou , Panagiotis Liargovas
Published: June 2018

Europe 2020 is the new ten-year strategy of the European Union for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. This work analyzes the role of smart growth within the Europe 2020 strategy. "Smart growth" means strengthening knowledge and innovation by improving the quality of education, enhancing research performance, promoting innovation and transferring knowledge across the EU.In this study we create a thematic smart growth index, which consists of individual indicators proposed by the European Commission and presents the ranking of EU member countries in this index. The composite indicator of Europe 2020 by Pasimeni (2011) is taken as the basis for the creation of the indicator.Then, with the help of regression models, the relationship between the index and some macroeconomic variables is examined to examine the impact of the variables on the performance of the E-28 countries and their overall competitiveness. The results show that macroeconomic indicators of public finances, such as the rate of change in GDP per capita, government debt and deficit levels, are not key success factors for smart growth.
Pursuing a Shared Future in the Face of Globalization: Four Essential Questions
Authors: Bland Byron , Ross Lee
Published: June 2018

This paper discusses the “four-question” framework (Bland, Powell, & Ross, Barriers to dispute resolution: reflections on peacemaking and relationships between adversaries, 2012) that we and our colleagues developed in working to promote constructive dialogue and difficult compromises on the part of groups engaged in seeming intractable conflicts in Northern Ireland and Israeli/Palestine. The key feature of this framework is the need for the vision of a bearable shared future and commitment to pursue that future. Three other features of this framework are the need to build trust that commitments will be honored, the need for parties to understand and acknowledge the losses each will bear in accepting that future, and the need for the parties to settle for less than they feel justice demands, but also address the most serious current sources of injustice. This framework, we suggest, provides a useful lens for understanding and bridging the political divides apparent today in the US and many other democratic countries facing not only the economic threats and losses that globalization has imposed on vulnerable groups, but also threats and losses relating to weakening of community life and feelings of personal dignity We also discuss the phenomenon of loss aversion (Kahneman & Tversky, 2000) and its role in creating susceptibility to the rhetoric of hate-mongering populist leaders. We note the obvious need to provide a decent standard of living and greater security for the most vulnerable, but the further need to do so in a non-humiliating manner, and we also address the need to distinguish acceptable imperfect, difficult compromises from unacceptable ones.
Investigation of Number Sense Strategies Used By the 8th Grade Students in Turkey
Authors: Er Zübeyde , Artut Perihan Dinç
Published: June 2018

The purpose of this research was to determine strategies used by 8th grade students in Number Sense problems. This was a case study of 28 8th grade students at three similar secondary schools in a city centre south of Turkey. A Number Sense test consisting of 25 items designed according to five main Number Sense components was used as a data collection tool. The data were analyzed using qualitative analysis methods. The students preferred Strategies Based on Rules while solving the Number Sense test compared to strategies based on number sense or Strategies Partially Based on Number Sense.
Predictability of myometrial, lower uterine segment and cervical invasion with 3D transvaginal ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging in endometrial cancer patients: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Yildirim Nuri , Saatli Bahadir , Kose Semir , Sancar Ceren , Ulukus Cagnur , Koyuncuoglu Meral , Saygili Ugur , Obuz Funda
Published: June 2018

Aims: The objective of this study is to identify the diagnostic performance of three-dimensional transvaginal ultrasonography (3D-US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detecting myometrial, lower uterine segment and/or cervical invasion in endometrial cancer patients.Materials and methods: In this prospective study, 40 patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer were performed 3D-US and MRI, preoperatively. Deep myometrial, lower uterine segment and cervical invasion were evaluated subjectively and results were compared with the final histology as a gold standard.Results: Diagnostic accuracy of 3D-US for detecting deep myometrial, lower uterine segment and cervical invasion were 87.5%, 80% and 85%, respectively. The same results for MRI were 75%, 65% and 70%, respectively. For deep myometrial, lower uterine segment and/or cervical invasion in endometrial cancer, 3D-US had higher sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive value and accuracy than MRI. The combination of these two imaging techniques had an increased sensitivity of detecting all parameters related with tumoral invasion but decreased specificity and the accuracy.Conclusion: 3D-US had better performance in detecting myometrial, lower uterine segment and/or cervical invasion than MRI in endometrial cancer patients. Combination of these techniques was not preferred according to this study.
Prenatal diagnosis of cleft lip and cleft lip palate – a case series
Authors: Marginean Claudiu , Sasarean Vladut , Marginean Cristina Oana , Melit Lorena Elena , Marginean Maria Oana
Published: June 2018

Aim: Orofacial clefts comprise cleft lip (CL) or cleft lip-palate (CLP) and are the most frequently encountered malformation of the facial region, accounting for approximately 1-2.2/1,000 live births. The aim of this study was to reveal the particularities regarding the prenatal diagnosis of orofacial clefts in a series of 11 cases diagnosed in a tertiary center.Material and methods: The study was performed in a tertiary diagnostic center for a period of 8 years (January 2010 – December 2017), on8125 patients that were assessed for screening or suspicion of malformations.Results: During the assessed period a number of 11 fetuses (0.13%) were diagnosed by 2D and 3D ultrasound with CL (4 cases) or CLP (7 cases). The smallest gestational age at diagnosis was of 14 weeks, whereas the highest was 35 weeks. Of the 7 cases diagnosed with CLP, 4 presented also other associated anomalies that involved the central nervous system, the kidney, the skeleton and the stomach. All 4 cases of CL had identifiable associated anomalies. Termination of pregnancy was encountered in 3 cases with CLP.Conclusions: CLP can be diagnosed even at the end of the 1st trimester of pregnancy. CL is usually diagnosed during the 2nd trimester ultrasound exam and is commonly an isolated anomaly.