bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advanced Implicit Meshless Approaches for the Rayleigh–Stokes Problem for a Heated Generalized Second Grade Fluid with Fractional Derivative
Authors: Bi Xiaolei , Mu Shanjun , Liu Qingxia , Liu Quanzhen , Liu Baoquan , Zhuang Pinghui , Gao Jian , Jiang Hui , Li Xin , Li Bochen
Published: September 2017

To solve the Rayleigh–Stokes problem for a heated generalized second grade fluid with fractional derivative in a bounded domain is important in the research for diffusion processes. In this paper, novel implicit meshless approaches based on the moving least squares (MLS) approximation for spatial discretization and two different time discrete schemes, which are the first-order semi-discrete scheme and the second-order semi-discrete scheme for time, are developed for the numerical simulation of the Rayleigh–Stokes problem for a heated generalized second grade fluid with fractional derivative in a bounded domain. Based on these two time discretization schemes, the newly developed meshless approaches will have the first-order and the second-order accuracy in time, respectively. The stability and convergence of the implicit MLS meshless approaches are discussed and theoretically proven. Numerical examples with different problem domains and different nodal distributions are studied to validate and investigate accuracy and efficiency of the newly developed meshless approaches. It has found that the newly developed meshless approaches are accurate and convergent for fractional partial differential equations (FPDEs). Most importantly, the meshless approaches are robust for arbitrarily distributed nodes and complex domains.
Common factors among pairs of consecutive integers
Authors: Chan Tsz Ho
Published: September 2017

In this paper, we study products of consecutive integers and prove an optimal bound on their greatest common factors. In contrast, we obtain a modest upper bound for the greatest common factor in the perfect square situation. Using this and an upper bound on the size of solutions to hyperelliptic curves, we prove a gap principle when [Formula: see text] divides [Formula: see text] with some additional restrictions. We also obtain a stronger gap principle under the abc conjecture.
On the number of extensions of a Diophantine triple
Authors: Cipu Mihai , Fujita Yasutsugu , Miyazaki Takafumi
Published: September 2017

A set of positive integers is called a Diophantine tuple if the product of any two elements in the set increased by unity is a perfect square. Any Diophantine triple is conjectured to be uniquely extended to a Diophantine quadruple by joining an element exceeding the maximal element in the triple. A previous work of the second and third authors revealed that the number of such extensions for a fixed Diophantine triple is at most 11. In this paper, we show that the number is at most eight.
Augmented Collaborative Filtering for Sparseness Reduction in Personalized POI Recommendation
Authors: Cui Chaoran , Shen Jialie , Nie Liqiang , Hong Richang , Ma Jun
Published: September 2017

As mobile device penetration increases, it has become pervasive for images to be associated with locations in the form of geotags. Geotags bridge the gap between the physical world and the cyberspace, giving rise to new opportunities to extract further insights into user preferences and behaviors. In this article, we aim to exploit geotagged photos from online photo-sharing sites for the purpose of personalized Point-of-Interest (POI) recommendation. Owing to the fact that most users have only very limited travel experiences, data sparseness poses a formidable challenge to personalized POI recommendation. To alleviate data sparseness, we propose to augment current collaborative filtering algorithms along from multiple perspectives. Specifically, hybrid preference cues comprising user-uploaded and user-favored photos are harvested to study users’ tastes. Moreover, heterogeneous high-order relationship information is jointly captured from user social networks and POI multimodal contents with hypergraph models. We also build upon the matrix factorization algorithm to integrate the disparate sources of preference and relationship information, and apply our approach to directly optimize user preference rankings. Extensive experiments on a large and publicly accessible dataset well verified the potential of our approach for addressing data sparseness and offering quality recommendations to users, especially for those who have only limited travel experiences.
The P416 Programming Language
Authors: Budiu Mihai , Dodd Chris
Published: September 2017

P4 is a language for expressing how packets are processed by the data-plane of a programmable network element such as a hardware or software switch, network interface card, router or network function appliance. This document describes the most recent version of the language, P416, and the reference implementation of the P416 compiler.
Consistent Clustered Applications with Corfu
Authors: Dhawan Medhavi , Johal Gurprit , Stabile Jim , Brajkovic Vjekoslav , Chang James , Goyal Kapil , James Kevin , Lokhandwala Zeeshan , Manzanilla Anny Martinez , Michoud Roger , Munshed Maithem , Neginhal Srinivas , Spirov Konstantin , Wei Michael , Fritchie Scott , Rossbach Chris , Abraham Ittai , Malkhi Dahlia
Published: September 2017

The NSX R&D team and VMware Research team are using Corfu to build breakthrough, auto-configurable, auto-managed clustering management tools.
System Programming in Rust
Authors: Balasubramanian Abhiram , Baranowski Marek S. , Burtsev Anton , Panda Aurojit , Rakamari Zvonimir , Ryzhyk Leonid
Published: September 2017

Rust is a new system programming language that offers a practical and safe alternative to C. Rust is unique in that it enforces safety without runtime overhead, most importantly, without the overhead of garbage collection. While zero-cost safety is remarkable on its own, we argue that the superpowers of Rust go beyond safety. In particular, Rust's linear type system enables capabilities that cannot be implemented efficiently in traditional languages, both safe and unsafe, and that dramatically improve security and reliability of system software. We show three examples of such capabilities: zero-copy software fault isolation, efficient static information flow analysis, and automatic checkpointing. While these capabilities have been in the spotlight of systems research for a long time, their practical use is hindered by high cost and complexity. We argue that with the adoption of Rust these mechanisms will become commoditized.
Simvastatin Ameliorates Diabetic Cardiomyopathy by Attenuating Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Rats
Authors: Al-Rasheed Nawal M. , Al-Rasheed Nouf M. , Hasan Iman H. , Al-Amin Maha A. , Al-Ajmi Hanaa N. , Mohamad Raeesa A. , Mahmoud Ayman M.
Published: September 2017

Simvastatin is a lipid‐lowering agent used to treat hypercholesterolemia and to reduce the risk of heart disease. This study scrutinized the beneficial effects of simvastatin on experimental diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), pointing to the role of hyperglycemia‐induced oxidative stress and inflammation. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin and both control and diabetic rats received simvastatin for 90 days. Diabetic rats showed significant cardiac hypertrophy, body weight loss, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia. Serum creatine kinase MB (CK‐MB) and troponin I showed a significant increase in diabetic rats. Simvastatin significantly improved body weight, attenuated hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia, and ameliorated CK‐MB and troponin I. Simvastatin prevented histological alterations and deposition of collagen in the heart of diabetic animals. Lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide were increased in the heart of diabetic rats whereas antioxidant defenses were decreased. These alterations were significantly reversed by simvastatin. In addition, simvastatin decreased serum inflammatory mediators and expression of NF‐κB in the diabetic heart. Cardiac caspase‐3 was increased in the diabetic heart and decreased following treatment with simvastatin. In conclusion, our results suggest that simvastatin alleviates DCM by attenuating hyperglycemia/hyperlipidemia‐induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis.
Radiological Diagnosis of a Rare Premature Aging Genetic Disorder: Progeria (Hutchinson-Gilford Syndrome)
Authors: Nazir Haji Mohammed , Ramesh Baabhu Akshiitha , Muralidharan Yuvaraj , Cheppala Rajan Seena
Published: September 2017

Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS) is a rare disease with a combination of short stature, bone abnormalities, premature ageing, and skin changes. Though the physical appearance of these patients is characteristic, there is little emphasis on the characteristic radiological features. In this paper, we report a 16-year-old boy with clinical and radiological features of this rare genetic disorder. He had a characteristic facial appearance with a large head, large eyes, thin nose with beaked tip, small chin, protruding ears, prominent scalp veins, and absence of hair.
Improved Discrete Techniques of Time‐Delay and Order Estimation for Large‐Scale Interconnected Nonlinear Systems
Authors: Elloumi Mourad , Kamoun Samira
Published: September 2017

The selection of a suitable model structure is an essential step in system modeling. Model structure is defined by determining the class, the time delay, and the model order. This paper proposes improved structural estimation procedures for large‐scale interconnected nonlinear systems which are composed of a set of interconnected Single‐Input Single‐Output (SISO) Hammerstein structures and described by discrete‐time stochastic models with unknown time‐varying parameters. An extensive Determinant Report (DR) algorithm is developed to determine the order of the process. An improved discrete‐time technique based on Recursive Extended Least Squares with Varying Time (RELSVT) delay method is proposed to estimate the time delays of the considered system. The developed theoretical analysis and simulation results prove the validity and performance of the proposed algorithms.
Automatic Emergence Detection in Complex Systems
Authors: Santos Eugene , Zhao Yan
Published: September 2017

Complex systems consist of multiple interacting subsystems, whose nonlinear interactions can result in unanticipated (emergent) system events. Extant systems analysis approaches fail to detect such emergent properties, since they analyze each subsystem separately and arrive at decisions typically through linear aggregations of individual analysis results. In this paper, we propose a quantitative definition of emergence for complex systems. We also propose a framework to detect emergent properties given observations of its subsystems. This framework, based on a probabilistic graphical model called Bayesian Knowledge Bases (BKBs), learns individual subsystem dynamics from data, probabilistically and structurally fuses said dynamics into a single complex system dynamics, and detects emergent properties. Fusion is the central element of our approach to account for situations when a common variable may have different probabilistic distributions in different subsystems. We evaluate our detection performance against a baseline approach (Bayesian Network ensemble) on synthetic testbeds from UCI datasets. To do so, we also introduce a method to simulate and a metric to measure discrepancies that occur with shared/common variables. Experiments demonstrate that our framework outperforms the baseline. In addition, we demonstrate that this framework has uniform polynomial time complexity across all three learning, fusion, and reasoning procedures.
Markers of Alzheimer’s Disease in Primary Visual Cortex in Normal Aging in Mice
Authors: Hernández-Zimbrón Luis Fernando , Perez-Hernández Montserrat , Torres-Romero Abigail , Gorostieta-Salas Elisa , Gonzalez-Salinas Roberto , Gulias-Cañizo Rosario , Quiroz-Mercado Hugo , Zenteno Edgar
Published: September 2017

Aging is the principal risk factor for the development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The hallmarks of AD are accumulation of the amyloid-βpeptide 1–42 (Aβ42) and abnormal hyperphosphorylation of Tau (p-Tau) protein in different areas of the brain and, more recently reported, in the visual cortex. Recently, Aβ42 peptide overproduction has been involved in visual loss. Similar to AD, in normal aging, there is a significant amyloid deposition related to the overactivation of the aforementioned mechanisms. However, the mechanisms associated with visual loss secondary to age-induced visual cortex affectation are not completely understood. Young and aged mice were used as model to analyze the presence of Aβ42, p-Tau, glial-acidic fibrillary protein (GFAP), and presenilin-2, one of the main enzymes involved in Aβ42 production. Our results show a significant increase of Aβ42 deposition in aged mice in the following cells and/or tissues: endothelial cells and blood vessels and neurons of the visual cortex; they also show an increase of the expression of GFAP and presenilin-2 in this region. These results provide a comprehensive framework for the role of Aβ42 in visual loss due to inflammation present with aging and offer some clues for fruitful avenues for the study of healthy aging.
Matrix Metalloproteinases Polymorphisms as Prognostic Biomarkers in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Authors: Štrbac Danijela , Goričar Katja , Dolžan Vita , Kovač Viljem
Published: September 2017

Background. Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare disease with a relatively short overall survival (OS). Metalloproteinases (MMPs) have a vast biological effect on tumor progression, invasion, metastasis formation, and apoptosis. MMP expression was previously associated with survival in MPM. Our aim was to evaluate if genetic variability of MMP genes could also serve as a prognostic biomarker in MPM. Methods. We genotyped 199 MPM patients for ten polymorphisms: rs243865, rs243849 and rs7201, in MMP2; rs17576, rs17577, rs20544, and rs2250889 in MMP9; and rs1042703, rs1042704, and rs743257 in MMP14. We determined the influence on survival using Cox regression. Results. Carriers of polymorphic MMP9 rs2250889 allele had shorter time to progression (TTP) (6.07 versus 10.03 months, HR = 2.45, 95% CI = 1.45–4.14, p=0.001) and OS (9.23 versus 19.2 months, HR = 2.39, 95% CI = 1.37–4.18, p=0.002). In contrast, carriers of at least one polymorphic MMP9 rs20544 allele had longer TTP (10.93 versus 9.40 months, HR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.38–0.86 p=0.007) and OS (20.67 versus 13.50 months, HR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.37–0.85, p=0.007). MMP14 rs1042703 was associated with nominally shorter TTP (8.7 versus 9.27 months, HR = 2.09, 95% CI = 1.06–4.12, p=0.032). Conclusions. Selected MMP SNPs were associated with survival and could be used as potential genetic biomarkers in MPM.
Involvement of WNT Signaling in the Regulation of Gestational Age-Dependent Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Proliferation
Authors: Iwatani Sota , Shono Akemi , Yoshida Makiko , Yamana Keiji , Thwin Khin Kyae Mon , Kuroda Jumpei , Kurokawa Daisuke , Koda Tsubasa , Nishida Kosuke , Ikuta Toshihiko , Fujioka Kazumichi , Mizobuchi Masami , Taniguchi-Ikeda Mariko , Morioka Ichiro , Iijima Kazumoto , Nishimura Noriyuki
Published: September 2017

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a heterogeneous cell population that is isolated initially from the bone marrow (BM) and subsequently almost all tissues including umbilical cord (UC). UC-derived MSCs (UC-MSCs) have attracted an increasing attention as a source for cell therapy against various degenerative diseases due to their vigorous proliferation and differentiation. Although the cell proliferation and differentiation of BM-derived MSCs is known to decline with age, the functional difference between preterm and term UC-MSCs is poorly characterized. In the present study, we isolated UC-MSCs from 23 infants delivered at 22–40 weeks of gestation and analyzed their gene expression and cell proliferation. Microarray analysis revealed that global gene expression in preterm UC-MSCs was distinct from term UC-MSCs. WNT signaling impacts on a variety of tissue stem cell proliferation and differentiation, and its pathway genes were enriched in differentially expressed genes between preterm and term UC-MSCs. Cell proliferation of preterm UC-MSCs was significantly enhanced compared to term UC-MSCs and counteracted by WNT signaling inhibitor XAV939. Furthermore, WNT2B expression in UC-MSCs showed a significant negative correlation with gestational age (GA). These results suggest that WNT signaling is involved in the regulation of GA-dependent UC-MSC proliferation.
Expression of PD-L1 in Hormone-naïve and Treated Prostate Cancer Patients Receiving Neoadjuvant Abiraterone Acetate plus Prednisone and Leuprolide
Authors: Calagua Carla , Russo Joshua , Sun Yue , Schaefer Rachel , Lis Rosina , Zhang Zhenwei , Mahoney Kathleen , Bubley Glenn J. , Loda Massimo , Taplin Mary-Ellen , Balk Steven P. , Ye Huihui
Published: September 2017

Purpose: Programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1)/programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) blockade has been unsuccessful in prostate cancer, with poor immunogenicity and subsequent low PD-L1 expression in prostate cancer being proposed as an explanation. However, recent studies indicate that a subset of prostate cancer may express significant levels of PD-L1. Furthermore, the androgen antagonist enzalutamide has been shown to upregulate PD-L1 expression in prostate cancer preclinical models. In this study, we evaluated the effect of neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy with abiraterone acetate plus prednisone and leuprolide (Neo-AAPL) on PD-L1 expression in prostate cancer.

Experimental Design: Radical prostatectomy (RP) tissues were collected from 44 patients with intermediate- to high-risk prostate cancer who underwent RP after Neo-AAPL treatment. Untreated prostate cancer tissues were collected from 130 patients, including 44 matched controls for the Neo-AAPL cases. Tumor PD-L1 expression was detected by IHC using validated anti-PD-L1 antibodies. Tumor-infiltrating CD8+ cells were analyzed in trial cases and matched controls. Expression of DNA mismatch repair genes was examined in PD-L1–positive tumors.

Results: Neo-AAPL–treated tumors showed a trend toward decreased PD-L1 positivity compared with matched controls (7% vs. 21% having ≥1% positive tumor cells; P = 0.062). Treated tumors also harbored significantly fewer tumor-infiltrating CD8+ cells (P = 0.029). In 130 untreated prostate cancers, African American ethnicity, elevated serum PSA, and small prostate independently predicted tumor PD-L1 positivity. Loss of MSH2 expression was observed in 1 of 21 PD-L1–positive tumors.

Conclusions: A subset of prostate cancer expresses PD-L1, which is not increased by Neo-AAPL treatment, indicating that combining Neo-AAPL treatment with PD-L1/PD-1 blockade may not be synergistic. Clin Cancer Res; 23(22); 6812–22. ©2017 AACR.
Disrupted Brain Network Hubs in Subtype-Specific Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Ma Ling-Yan , Chen Xiao-Dan , He Yong , Ma Hui-Zi , Feng Tao
Published: September 2017

Background/Aims: The topological organization of brain functional networks is impaired in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the altered patterns of functional network hubs in different subtypes of PD are not completely understood. Methods: 3T resting-state functional MRI and voxel-based graph-theory analysis were employed to systematically investigate the intrinsic functional connectivity patterns of whole-brain networks. We enrolled 31 patients with PD (12 tremor dominant [TD] and 19 with postural instability/gait difficulty [PIGD]) and 22 matched healthy controls. Whole-brain voxel-wise functional networks were constructed by measuring the temporal correlations of each pair of brain voxels. Functional connectivity strength was calculated to explore the brain network hubs. Results: We found that both the TD and PIGD subtypes had comprehensive disrupted regions. These mainly involved the basal ganglia, cerebellum, superior temporal gyrus, pre- and postcentral gyri, inferior frontal gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, lingual gyrus, insula, and parahippocampal gyrus. Furthermore, the PIGD subgroup had more disrupted hubs in the cerebellum than the TD subgroup. These disruptions of hub connectivity were not correlated with the HY stage or disease duration. Conclusion: Our results emphasize the subtype-specific PD-related degeneration of brain hubs, providing novel insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms of connectivity dysfunction in different PD subgroups.
Macrophage-Derived Chemokine: A Putative Marker of Pharmacological Therapy Response in Major Depression?
Authors: Milenkovic Vladimir M. , Sarubin Nina , Hilbert Sven , Baghai Thomas C. , Stöffler Friederike , Lima-Ojeda Juan M. , Manook André , Almeqbaali Khalifa , Wetzel Christian H. , Rupprecht Rainer , Nothdurfter Caroline
Published: September 2017

Introduction: Inflammatory processes play an important and complex role in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD), but, so far, no specific investigation of chemokines exists. Methods: In this study, we investigated the changes of plasma chemokine levels (eotaxin-1, eotaxin-3, IP-10, MCP-1, MCP-4, MDC, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, and TARC) in 47 MDD patients before (PRE) and after 1 and 6 weeks of pharmacological treatment (POST1 and POST6) in relation to the response to antidepressive therapy. We hypothesized that the direction of alterations in levels of chemokines would significantly differ between the 2 groups, responders and nonresponders. Results: Among the investigated chemokines, only the level of macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) changed significantly in relation to therapy response. MDC levels were significantly elevated in the responder group at POST6. Discussion: MDC is a constitutively expressed chemokine involved in the pathophysiology of infectious and neoplastic diseases. This is the first study providing valuable hints that MDC might serve as a marker of pharmacological therapy response in MDD.
An Open-Label Study of the Long-Term Safety of Pirfenidone in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (RECAP)
Authors: Costabel Ulrich , Albera Carlo , Lancaster Lisa H. , Lin Chin-Yu , Hormel Philip , Hulter Henry N. , Noble Paul W.
Published: September 2017

Background: RECAP (NCT00662038) was an open-label extension study in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) who completed either the Assessment of Pirfenidone to Confirm Efficacy and Safety in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (ASCEND) 016 phase 3 trial or the Clinical Studies Assessing Pirfenidone in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Research of Efficacy and Safety Outcomes (CAPACITY) 004/006 phase 3 trials. Objective: To obtain long-term safety data for pirfenidone in patients with IPF in RECAP. Methods: Of the 1,334 patients who participated in the phase 3 trials, 1,058 entered RECAP. The final analysis from enrollment (September 2008) to June 2015 is presented. Results: Mean (SD) and median (range) pirfenidone exposures in RECAP were 122 (98) weeks and 88 (>0 to 349) weeks, respectively, with a mean daily dose of 2,091.1 mg. Cumulative total exposure was 2,482 patient exposure years (PEY). The treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE) rate was 701.9 per 100 PEY. The serious TEAE rate was 53.5 per 100 PEY, with the most common serious TEAE being IPF (11.1 per 100 PEY). Of the 231 deaths (9.3 per 100 PEY), the most common cause was IPF (5.4 per 100 PEY). The treatment discontinuation rate due to a TEAE was 17.9 per 100 PEY; discontinuations were due to IPF (7.2 per 100 PEY), pneumonia, respiratory failure, acute respiratory failure, rash (0.5 per 100 PEY each), and nausea (0.4 per 100 PEY). For patients from CAPACITY 004/006 who entered RECAP, the mean change in percent predicted forced vital capacity from RECAP baseline at 180 weeks was -9.6%. Median on-treatment survival from the first pirfenidone dose in RECAP was 77.2 months. Conclusions: RECAP provides long-term follow-up and safety data for pirfenidone that were consistent with the known profile, with no new safety signals observed.
Biochemical changes of the cereal cyst nematode, Heterodera avenae, at low temperatures
Authors: Wang Dong Ya , Wu Hai Yan , Zhou Xun Bo
Published: September 2017

Cereal cyst nematode (Heterodera avenae) diapause is induced by high temperatures and is broken by low temperatures. In this study, metabolic responses were monitored in diapause and non-diapause H. avenae during exposure to 4°C for 10 weeks. The results showed that there was no difference in total carbohydrate content. The content of glycogen and glycerol at 0 week was relatively high but decreased with increased storage time at 4°C. The content of trehalose of the nematode at 10 weeks was significant lower than that at 5 weeks at 4°C. Protein content increased significantly after incubation for 5 and 10 weeks. Esterase and trehalase activity increased with the increasing period at 4°C and showed a significant difference between treatments for esterase activity but there was no significant difference between 5 and 10 weeks for trehalase activity. The SDS-PAGE pattern indicated that a 15.5 kDa protein was absent at 10 weeks and present at 0 and 5 weeks. Esterase isoenzyme patterns of H. avenae showed that at 10 weeks there were four bands: EST 0.21, EST 0.24, EST 0.30 and EST 0.34 (Rf values). EST 0.24 was the common band in the three treatments. Biochemical tests were conducted to correlate with hatching experiments using the same treatments. 2-DE patterns of H. avenae showed that diapause and non-diapause nematodes had 409 and 412 protein spots, respectively, and 19 protein spots were unique: 11 distinct proteins in non-diapause and eight distinct proteins in diapause. This information could be helpful in understanding the diapause mechanism of the cereal cyst nematode.
The Development of a Marxist
Authors: Kautsky Karl
Published: September 2017

Karl Kautsky (1845–1938) was one of the most important Marxist thinkers of his age. In this life sketch written in 1924, he outlines his intellectual development and how he came to be such an important Marxist theoretician.
A new species of Microlithosia Daniel, 1954 from India (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae)
Authors: SINGH NAVNEET , JOSHI RAHUL , RANJAN RAHUL
Published: September 2017

The genus Microlithosia Daniel, 1954 is a member of the subtribe Lithosiina, tribe Lithosiini of the subfamily Arctiinae and family Erebidae. It was described as a monotypic genus for its type species, M. shaowuica Daniel, 1954 from SE China (Fujian, Shaowu).Recently, the genus was reviewed by Dubatolov & Kishida (2012) with the inclusion of four species: M. shaowuica Daniel,1954 (from its type locality, and additionally from South Central China (Hunan)), M. nanlingica Dubatolov, Kishida & Wang, 2012 from South-East China (Guangdong), M. umbripuncta (de Joannis 1928) from North Vietnam and Thailand (Chiang Mai, Chanthaburi, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Ratchasima, Kanchanaburi, Chumphon, Phitsanulok), and M. decreta (Butler 1877) from Borneo and Thailand (Nakhon Ratchasima). Later on, Bucsek (2012, 2014) described two new species, M. pseudodecreta Bucsek, 2012 and M. johara Bucsek, 2014 both from Peninsular Malaysia. Kirti and Singh (2016) subsequently added a further species, M. champhaiensis Singh & Kirti, from India (Mizoram, Champhai). So at present, Microlithosia comprises seven species, with single from India.
Practical and Intrinsic Predictability of Multiscale Weather and Convectively Coupled Equatorial Waves during the Active Phase of an MJO
Authors: Ying Yue , Zhang Fuqing
Published: September 2017

Through a series of convection-permitting regional-scale ensembles based on the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model, this study investigates the predictability of multiscale weather and convectively coupled equatorial waves during the active phase of a Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) event over the Indian Ocean from 12 October to 12 November 2011. It is found that the practical predictability limit, estimated by the spread of the ensemble perturbed with realistic initial and boundary uncertainties, is as much as 8 days for horizontal winds, temperature, and humidity for scales larger than 2000 km that include equatorial Rossby, Kelvin, inertia–gravity, and mixed Rossby–gravity waves. The practical predictability limit decreases rapidly as scale decreases, resulting in a predictable time scale less than 1 day for scales smaller than 200 km. Through further experiments using minute initial and boundary perturbations an order of magnitude smaller than the current realistic uncertainties, the intrinsic predictability limit for tropical weather at larger scales (>2000 km) is estimated to be achievable beyond 2 weeks, but the limit is likely still less than 3 days for the small scales (<200 km).
A Comparison of Vertical Atmospheric Wind Profiles Obtained from Monostatic Sodar and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle–Based Acoustic Tomography
Authors: Finn Anthony , Rogers Kevin , Rice Feng , Meade Joshua , Holland Greg , May Peter
Published: September 2017

The natural sound generated by an unmanned aerial vehicle is used in conjunction with tomography to remotely sense the virtual temperature and wind profiles of the atmosphere in a horizontal plane up to an altitude of 1200 m and over a baseline of 600 m. Sound fields recorded on board the aircraft and by an array of microphones on the ground are compared and converted to sound speed estimates for the ray paths intersecting the intervening medium. Tomographic inversion is then used to transform these sound speed values into two-dimensional profiles of virtual temperature and wind vector, which enables the atmosphere to be visualized and monitored over time. The wind vector and temperature estimates are compared to measurements taken by a collocated midrange Doppler sodar and sensors on board the aircraft. Large-eddy simulations of daytime atmospheric boundary layers and error models of the tomographic inversion and sodar are also used to assess the magnitude and nature of anticipated differences. Both the simulations and field trials data show similar levels of correspondence between the tomographically derived and independently observed measurements.
Thermal Breakdown Kinetics of 1-Ethyl-3-Methylimidazolium Ethylsulfate Measured Using Quantitative Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Wheeler Jeffrey L. , Pugh McKinley , Atkins S. Jake , Porter Jason M.
Published: September 2017

In this work, the thermal stability of the room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethylsulfate ([EMIM][EtSO4]) is investigated using infrared (IR) spectroscopy. Quantitative IR absorption spectral data are measured for heated [EMIM][EtSO4]. Spectra have been collected between 25 ℃ and 100 ℃ using a heated optical cell. Multiple samples and cell pathlengths are used to determine quantitative values for the molar absorptivity of [EMIM][EtSO4]. These results are compared to previous computational models of the ion pair. These quantitative spectra are used to measure the rate of thermal decomposition of [EMIM][EtSO4] at elevated temperatures. The spectroscopic measurements of the rate of decomposition show that thermogravimetric methods overestimate the thermal stability of [EMIM][EtSO4].
Prayer and Proof, Affect and Argument: The Role of Joy in St. Anselm’s Proslogion
Authors: Benson Martin
Published: September 2017

Anselm of Canterbury’s Proslogion is a Benedictine prayer-exercise that contains a famous argument for the existence of God. This article highlights how the argument is intertwined with the prayer. The article argues that since the understanding of God leads to a joyous affect, the logic of the argument must be causally connected with joy. While much of the secondary literature applies a division between ‘prayer’ and ‘proof’, this article suggests a reading of the Proslogion proof as a prayer-practice, and the prayer-practice is in turn analyzed through the logic of the proof. The result is a description of how contemplation of the argument drives affect, leading to the conclusion that the affect of joy achieves the intended result of the proof: the joy leads the mind to God. The article thus shows that the Proslogion is an intellectual affective prayer-practice.
Interferon Regulatory Factor 6 Is Necessary for Salivary Glands and Pancreas Development
Authors: Metwalli K.A. , Do M.A. , Nguyen K. , Mallick S. , Kin K. , Farokhnia N. , Jun G. , Fakhouri W.D.
Published: September 2017

Interferon regulatory factor 6 ( IRF6) acts as a tumor suppressor and controls cell differentiation in ectodermal and craniofacial tissues by regulating expression of target genes. Haploinsufficiency of IRF6 causes Van der Woude and popliteal pterygium syndrome, 2 syndromic forms of cleft lip and palate. Around 85% of patients with Van der Woude express pits on the lower lip that continuously or intermittently drain saliva, and patients with the common cleft lip and palate have a higher prevalence of dental caries and gingivitis. This study aims to identify the role of IRF6 in development of exocrine glands, specifically the major salivary glands. Our transgenic mouse model that expresses LacZ reporter under the control of the human IRF6 enhancer element showed high expression of IRF6 in major and minor salivary glands and ducts. Immunostaining data also confirmed the endogenous expression of IRF6 in the developing ductal, serous, and mucous acinar cells of salivary glands. As such, we hypothesized that Irf6 is important for proper development of salivary glands and potentially other exocrine glands. Loss of Irf6 in mice causes an increase in the proliferation level of salivary cells, disorganized branching morphogenesis, and a lack of differentiated mucous acinar cells in submandibular and sublingual glands. Expression and localization of the acinar differentiation marker MIST1 were altered in Irf6-null salivary gland and pancreas. The RNA-Seq analysis demonstrated that 168 genes are differentially expressed and confer functions associated with transmembrane transporter activity, spliceosome, and transcriptional regulation. Furthermore, expression of genes involved in the EGF pathway—that is, Ereg, Ltbp4, Matn1, Matn3, and Tpo—was decreased at embryonic day 14.5, while levels of apoptotic proteins were elevated at postnatal day 0. In conclusion, our data report a novel role of Irf6 in exocrine gland development and support a rationale for performing exocrine functional tests for patients with IRF6-damaging mutations.
Military socialization, disciplinary culture, and sexual violence in UN peacekeeping operations
Authors: Moncrief Stephen
Published: September 2017

The sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) of civilians by international peacekeepers is a form of post-conflict violence that is pernicious and understudied, but far from inevitable. However, there are very few cross-mission analyses of the phenomenon. This article considers whether the socialization experiences of troops in two environments, the contributing state military and the peacekeeping mission itself, help to explain the observed variation in SEA. Drawing on a dataset of SEA allegations between 2007 and 2014, as well as the first publicly available data from the United Nations that identify the nationalities of alleged perpetrators, this article analyzes the layered nature of socialization through the lens of SEA. Specifically, this article presents evidence that SEA is positively associated with disciplinary breakdowns at the peacekeeping mission’s lower levels of command, and argues that a peacekeeping mission may carry its own norms and socializing processes that either constrain or facilitate the emergence and endurance of SEA.
The socialization of civilians and militia members
Authors: Bateson Regina
Published: September 2017

When the Guatemalan civil war ended in 1996, the Peace Accords required the demobilization of the civil patrols. Yet, nearly two decades after the end of the war, the ex-patrollers remain organized and active. At first glance, the persistence of Guatemala’s civil patrols sounds like a triumph of socialization: the men enrolled in the civil patrols were effectively socialized during the war, so they continue patrolling today. This argument is seductively simple, but it is incorrect. Using process tracing to analyze historical documents and interviews with former civil patrollers, I show that the military did not succeed in socializing most of its patrollers. The military was, however, remarkably successful at socializing civilians in conflict zones. After enduring a ferocious scorched earth campaign followed by re-education, civilians either learned to fear and comply with the military and the civil patrols, or they internalized the military-promulgated narrative that repression is necessary to guarantee security. Both these outcomes facilitate patrolling in postwar Guatemala, where many civilians in war-affected areas either embrace or tolerate extralegal security patrolling as a means of preventing crime from spreading to their communities. Theoretically, the case of Guatemala’s civil patrols expands our knowledge of socialization in militias and civil defense forces. Mass socialization of group members is not necessary for an armed group to retain its influence in the long term, even after a conflict has ended. Additionally, socialization occurs not just within groups, but also dynamically and interactively across group boundaries. To fully understand the trajectories of armed groups, it is important to analyze both socialization within armed groups and the socialization of the broader civilian population.
Socialization and violence
Authors: Checkel Jeffrey T
Published: September 2017

This article sets the stage for a special issue exploring group-level dynamics and their role in producing violence. My analytic focus is socialization, or the process through which actors adopt the norms and rules of a given community. I argue that it is key to understanding violence in many settings, including civil war, national militaries, post-conflict societies and urban gangs. While socialization theory has a long history in the social sciences, I do not simply pull it off the shelf, but instead rethink core features of it. Operating in a theory-building mode and drawing upon insights from other disciplines, I highlight its layered and multiple nature, the role of instrumental calculation in it and several relevant mechanisms – from persuasion, to organized rituals, to sexual violence, to violent display. Equally important, I theorize instances where socialization is resisted, as well as the (varying) staying power of norms and practices in an individual who leaves the group. Empirically, the special issue explores the link between socialization and violence in paramilitary patrols in Guatemala; vigilantes in the Bosnian civil war; gangs in post-conflict Nicaragua; rebel groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo, El Salvador, Sierra Leone and Uganda; post-conflict peacekeepers; and the US and Israeli military. By documenting this link, we contribute to an emerging research program on group dynamics and conflict.
Integrating mental health professionals in residencies to reduce health disparities
Authors: Delbridge Emilee , Zubatsky Max , Fowler Jocelyn
Published: September 2017

Health disparities in primary care remain a continual challenge for both practitioners and patients alike. Integrating mental health services into routine patient care has been one approach to address such issues, including access to care, stigma of health-care providers, and facilitating underserved patients’ needs. This article addresses examples of training programs that have included mental health learners and licensed providers into family medicine residency training clinics. Descriptions of these models at two Midwestern Family Medicine residency clinics in the United States are highlighted. Examples of cross-training both medical residents and mental health students are described, detailing specific areas where this integration improves mental health and medical outcomes in patients. Challenges to effective integration are discussed, including larger system buy-in, medical providers’ knowledge of mental health treatment, and the skills for clinical providers to possess in order to present mental health options to patients. Patients who traditionally experience multiple barriers to mental health treatment now have increased access to comprehensive care. As a result of more primary care clinics ascribing to an integrated care model of practice, providers may benefit from not only increased coordination of patient services but also utilizing behavioral health professionals to address health barriers in patients’ lives.
Impact of Primary Language and Insurance on Pediatric Hearing Health Care in a Multidisciplinary Clinic
Authors: Su Brooke M. , Park Jason S. , Chan Dylan K.
Published: September 2017

Objective

This study aims to describe the effects of primary language and insurance status on care utilization among deaf or hard‐of‐hearing children under active otolaryngologic and audiologic care.

Study Design

Cross‐sectional analysis.

Setting

Multidisciplinary hearing loss clinic at a tertiary center.

Subjects and Methods

Demographics, hearing loss data, and validated survey responses were collected from 206 patients aged 0 to 19 years. Two‐sided t tests and χ2 tests were used to obtain descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing.

Results

Of the sample, 52.4% spoke primarily English at home. Non‐English‐speaking children and families were less likely to receive psychiatric counseling (12.2% vs 35.2% in the English group, P <. 001) and reported more difficulty obtaining educational interventions (P =. 016), and 68.9% had public insurance. Parents of publicly insured children were less likely to know the type or degree of their child’s hearing loss (56.9% vs 75.4%, P =. 022), and these children were older on presentation to the clinic (8.5 vs 6.5 years of age, P =. 01) compared to privately insured children. Publicly insured children were less likely to receive cochlear implants (P =. 046) and reported increased difficulty obtaining hearing aids (P =. 047). While all patients reported impairment in hearing‐related quality of life, publicly insured children aged 2 to 7 years were more likely to perform below minimum thresholds on measures of auditory/oral functioning.

Conclusion

Even when under active care, deaf or hard‐of‐hearing children from families who do not speak English at home or with public insurance face more difficulty obtaining educational services, cochlear implants, and hearing aids. These findings represent significant disparities in access to necessary interventions.
Hearing Loss following Posterior Fossa Microvascular Decompression: A Systematic Review
Authors: Bartindale Matthew , Kircher Matthew , Adams William , Balasubramanian Neelam , Liles Jeffrey , Bell Jason , Leonetti John
Published: September 2017

Objectives

(1) Determine the prevalence of hearing loss following microvascular decompression (MVD) for trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and hemifacial spasm (HFS). (2) Demonstrate factors that affect postoperative hearing outcomes after MVD.

Data Sources

PubMed‐NCBI, Scopus, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases from 1981 to 2016.

Review Methods

Systematic review of prospective cohort studies and retrospective reviews in which any type of hearing loss was recorded after MVD for TN or HFS. Three researchers extracted data regarding operative indications, procedures performed, and diagnostic tests employed. Discrepancies were resolved by mutual consensus.

Results

Sixty‐nine references with 18,233 operations met inclusion criteria. There were 7093 patients treated for TN and 11,140 for HFS. The overall reported prevalence of hearing loss after MVD for TN and HFS was 5.58% and 8.25%, respectively. However, many of these studies relied on subjective measures of reporting hearing loss. In 23 studies with consistent perioperative audiograms, prevalence of hearing loss was 13.47% for TN and 13.39% for HFS, with no significant difference between indications (P =. 95). Studies using intraoperative brainstem auditory evoked potential monitoring were more likely to report hearing loss for TN (relative risk [RR], 2.28; P <. 001) but not with HFS (RR, 0.88; P =. 056).

Conclusion

Conductive and sensorineural hearing loss are important complications following posterior fossa MVD. Many studies have reported on hearing loss using either subjective measures and/or inconsistent audiometric testing. Routine perioperative audiogram protocols improve the detection of hearing loss and may more accurately represent the true risk of hearing loss after MVD for TN and HFS.
Use of a Novel Polymer in an Animal Model of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Pellionisz Peter A. , Lin Yuan , Mallen‐St Clair Jon , Luo Jie , Suwarnasarn Arnold , Schaue Dorthe , Elashoff David A. , Palma‐Diaz Fernando , Dubinett Steven M. , Sharma Sherven , Wu Ben , St John Maie A.
Published: September 2017

Objective

To evaluate the adverse effects and therapeutic efficacy of our biocompatible polymer platform delivering targeted local therapy of cytokine CCL21 and cisplatin in a partially resected xenograft animal model of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. In addition, to evaluate the efficacy of cotreatment with radiotherapy and assess the biocompatibility of the cisplatin‐eluting polymer in the murine neck.

Study Design

Experimental animal study.

Setting

Academic research laboratory.

Subjects and Methods

SCCVII/SF cell injection established head and neck squamous cell carcinoma tumors in C3H/HeJ mice. Subjects underwent surgery, and a chemokine‐eluting polymer was implanted into the resected site. Subjects treated with cisplatin received radiation or no radiation, and tissue was harvested after 8 weeks to assess polymer biocompatibility.

Results

Our results with the polymer platform significantly (P <. 05) reduced SCCVII/SF tumor size in C3H/HeJ mice with cisplatin (49% ± 8.7%, Δ3.4 ± 0.6 cm3 [95% CI]), CCL21 (42% ± 4.8%, Δ3.5 ± 0.4 cm3), and cisplatin/CCL21 dual‐agent polymer (82% ± 4.4%, Δ8.0 ± 0.4 cm3) as compared with controls. Cisplatin polymer with high‐dose (16 Gy) and low‐dose (4 Gy) radiation reduced tumor mass (respectively, 92% ± 7.2%, Δ6.1 ± 0.5 cm3; 85% ± 7.4%, Δ5.7 ± 0.5 cm3) as compared with the reduction from high‐dose radiotherapy alone (70% ± 7.9%, Δ4.7 ± 0.5 cm3). No significant toxicity or inflammation was noted on histopathology after radiotherapy and cisplatin‐eluting polymer treatment.

Conclusion

Cisplatin, CCL21, and cisplatin/CCL21 dual‐agent polymer all exhibit significant antitumor effects and decrease tumor burden. Moreover, combination cisplatin polymer with radiotherapy may permit a decrease in intensity of radiation therapy in patients having received the cisplatin polymer. Histopathologic analysis suggests that the polymer is free from significant adverse effects in this model and warrants clinical trial.