bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Parental Occupational Exposure to Heavy Metals and Welding Fumes and Risk of Testicular Germ Cell Tumors in Offspring: A Registry-Based Case–Control Study
Authors: Togawa Kayo , Le Cornet Charlotte , Feychting Maria , Tynes Tore , Pukkala Eero , Hansen Johnni , Olsson Ann , Oksbjerg Dalton Susanne , Nordby Karl-Christian , Uuksulainen Sanni , Wiebert Pernilla , Woldbæk Torill , Skakkebæk Niels E. , Fervers Béatrice , Schüz Joachim
Published: July 2016

Background: Data are scarce on the association between prenatal/preconception environmental exposure and testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) in offspring. We examined parental occupational exposures to heavy metals and welding fumes in relation to TGCT in offspring in a registry-based case–control study (NORD-TEST Study).

Methods: We identified TGCT cases diagnosed at ages 14–49 years in Finland (1988–2012), Norway (1978–2010), and Sweden (1979–2011) through nationwide cancer registries. These cases were individually matched by country and year of birth to controls selected from population registries. Information on parental occupations was retrieved from censuses. From this, we estimated prenatal/preconception exposures of chromium, iron, nickel, lead, and welding fumes (all three countries), and cadmium (Finland only) for each parent using job-exposure matrices specifying prevalence (P) and mean exposure level (L). Exposure indices were calculated as a product of P and L (P × L), and exposure categories were based on P × L or different combinations of P and L.

Results: The study comprised 8,112 cases and 26,264 controls. We observed no statistically significant TGCT risk associated with presence of heavy metals/welding fumes (P × L > 0) and no dose-response relationship (Ptrend ≥ 0.32). A statistically significant elevated TGCT risk was found in paternal exposure category where both P and L of chromium were high (vs. no chromium; OR = 1.37, 95% confidence interval; 1.05–1.79).

Conclusions: Our study provides little evidence of associations between parental exposures to heavy metals/welding fumes and TGCT in offspring with the potential exception of high paternal chromium exposure.

Impact: Further research on paternal chromium exposure is warranted. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 25(10); 1426–34. ©2016 AACR.
Sustained Mutant KIT Activation in the Golgi Complex Is Mediated by PKC-θ in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors
Authors: Kim Won Kyu , Yun SeongJu , Park Cheol Keun , Bauer Sebastian , Kim Jiyoon , Lee Min Goo , Kim Hoguen
Published: July 2016

Purpose: Tumorigenesis of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) is driven by gain-of-function mutations in the KIT gene, which result in overexpression of activated mutant KIT proteins (MT-KIT). However, the mechanism of MT-KIT overexpression is poorly understood.

Experimental Design: By protein expression analysis and immunofluorescent microscopic analysis, we determine the stability and localization of MT-KIT in four GIST cell lines with different mutations and HeLa cells transfected with mutant KIT model vectors. We also used 154 human GIST tissues to analyze the relationship between the expression of PKC-θ and MT-KITs, and correlations between PKC-θ overexpression and clinicopathological parameters.

Results: We report that four different MT-KIT proteins are intrinsically less stable than wild-type KIT due to proteasome-mediated degradation and abnormally localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) or the Golgi complex. By screening a MT-KIT-stabilizing factor, we find that PKC-θ is strongly and exclusively expressed in GISTs and interacts with intracellular MT-KIT to promote its stabilization by increased retention in the Golgi complex. In addition, Western blotting analysis using 50 GIST samples shows strong correlation between PKC-θ and MT-KIT expression (correlation coefficient = 0.682, P < 0.000001). Immunohistochemical analysis using 154 GISTs further demonstrates that PKC-θ overexpression significantly correlates with several clinicopathological parameters such as high tumor grade, frequent recurrence/metastasis, and poor patient survival.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that sustained MT-KIT overexpression through PKC-θ-mediated stabilization in the Golgi contributes to GIST progression and provides a rationale for anti-PKC-θ therapy in GISTs. Clin Cancer Res; 23(3); 845–56. ©2016 AACR.
Preclinical Benefit of Hypoxia-Activated Intra-arterial Therapy with Evofosfamide in Liver Cancer
Authors: Duran Rafael , Mirpour Sahar , Pekurovsky Vasily , Ganapathy-Kanniappan Shanmugasundaram , Brayton Cory F. , Cornish Toby C. , Gorodetski Boris , Reyes Juvenal , Chapiro Julius , Schernthaner Rüdiger E. , Frangakis Constantine , Lin MingDe , Sun Jessica D. , Hart Charles P. , Geschwind Jean-François
Published: July 2016

Purpose: To evaluate safety and characterize anticancer efficacy of hepatic hypoxia-activated intra-arterial therapy (HAIAT) with evofosfamide in a rabbit model.

Experimental Design: VX2-tumor-bearing rabbits were assigned to 4 intra-arterial therapy (IAT) groups (n = 7/group): (i) saline (control); (ii) evofosfamide (Evo); (iii) doxorubicin–lipiodol emulsion followed by embolization with 100–300 μm beads (conventional, cTACE); or (iv) cTACE and evofosfamide (cTACE + Evo). Blood samples were collected pre-IAT and 1, 2, 7, and 14 days post-IAT. A semiquantitative scoring system assessed hepatocellular damage. Tumor volumes were segmented on multidetector CT (baseline, 7/14 days post-IAT). Pathologic tumor necrosis was quantified using manual segmentation on whole-slide images. Hypoxic fraction (HF) and compartment (HC) were determined by pimonidazole staining. Tumor DNA damage, apoptosis, cell proliferation, endogenous hypoxia, and metabolism were quantified (γ-H2AX, Annexin V, caspase-3, Ki-67, HIF1α, VEGF, GAPDH, MCT4, and LDH).

Results: cTACE + Evo showed a similar profile of liver enzymes elevation and pathologic scores compared with cTACE. Neither hematologic nor renal toxicity were observed. Animals treated with cTACE + Evo demonstrated smaller tumor volumes, lower tumor growth rates, and higher necrotic fractions compared with cTACE. cTACE + Evo resulted in a marked reduction in the HF and HC. Correlation was observed between decreases in HF or HC and tumor necrosis. cTACE + Evo promoted antitumor effects as evidenced by increased expression of γ-H2AX, apoptotic biomarkers, and decreased cell proliferation. Increased HIF1α/VEGF expression and tumor glycolysis supported HAIAT.

Conclusions: HAIAT achieved a promising step towards the locoregional targeting of tumor hypoxia. The favorable toxicity profile and enhanced anticancer effects of evofosfamide in combination with cTACE pave the way towards clinical trials in patients with liver cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 23(2); 536–48. ©2016 AACR.
Debio 0617B Inhibits Growth of STAT3-Driven Solid Tumors through Combined Inhibition of JAK, SRC, and Class III/V Receptor Tyrosine Kinases
Authors: Murone Maximilien , Vaslin Chessex Anne , Attinger Antoine , Ramachandra Raghuveer , Shetty Shankar J. , Daginakatte Girish , Sengupta Saumitra , Marappan Sivapriya , Dhodheri Samiulla , Rigotti Stefania , Bachhav Yogeshwar , Brienza Silvano , Traxler Peter , Lang Marc , Aguet Michel , Zoete Vincent , Michielin Olivier , Nicholas Courtney , Johnson Faye M. , Ramachandra Murali , McAllister Andres
Published: July 2016

Tumor survival, metastases, chemoresistance, and escape from immune responses have been associated with inappropriate activation of STAT3 and/or STAT5 in various cancers, including solid tumors. Debio 0617B has been developed as a first-in-class kinase inhibitor with a unique profile targeting phospho-STAT3 (pSTAT3) and/or pSTAT5 in tumors through combined inhibition of JAK, SRC, ABL, and class III/V receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK). Debio 0617B showed dose-dependent inhibition of pSTAT3 in STAT3-activated carcinoma cell lines; Debio 0617B also showed potent antiproliferative activity in a panel of cancer cell lines and in patient-derived tumor xenografts tested in an in vitro clonogenic assay. Debio 0617B showed in vivo efficacy by inhibiting tumor growth in several mouse xenograft models. To increase in vivo efficacy and STAT3 inhibition, Debio 0617B was tested in combination with the EGFR inhibitor erlotinib in a non–small cell lung cancer xenograft model. To evaluate the impact of in vivo STAT3 blockade on metastases, Debio 0617B was tested in an orthotopic tumor model. Measurement of primary tumor weight and metastatic counts in lung tissue demonstrated therapeutic efficacy of Debio 0617B in this model. These data show potent activity of Debio 0617B on a broad spectrum of STAT3-driven solid tumors and synergistic activity in combination with EGFR inhibition. Mol Cancer Ther; 15(10); 2334–43. ©2016 AACR.
Characterization of LY3023414, a Novel PI3K/mTOR Dual Inhibitor Eliciting Transient Target Modulation to Impede Tumor Growth
Authors: Smith Michele C. , Mader Mary M. , Cook James A. , Iversen Philip , Ajamie Rose , Perkins Everett , Bloem Laura , Yip Yvonne Y. , Barda David A. , Waid Philip P. , Zeckner Douglas J. , Young Debra A. , Sanchez-Felix Manuel , Donoho Gregory P. , Wacheck Volker
Published: July 2016

The PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is among the most frequently altered pathways in cancer cell growth and survival. LY3023414 is a complex fused imidazoquinolinone with high solubility across a wide pH range designed to inhibit class I PI3K isoforms and mTOR kinase. Here, we describe the in vitro and in vivo activity of LY3023414. LY3023414 was highly soluble at pH 2–7. In biochemical testing against approximately 266 kinases, LY3023414 potently and selectively inhibited class I PI3K isoforms, mTORC1/2, and DNA-PK at low nanomolar concentrations. In vitro, inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling by LY3023414 caused G1 cell-cycle arrest and resulted in broad antiproliferative activity in cancer cell panel screens. In vivo, LY3023414 demonstrated high bioavailability and dose-dependent dephosphorylation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway downstream substrates such as AKT, S6K, S6RP, and 4E-BP1 for 4 to 6 hours, reflecting the drug's half-life of 2 hours. Of note, equivalent total daily doses of LY3023414 given either once daily or twice daily inhibited tumor growth to similar extents in multiple xenograft models, indicating that intermittent target inhibition is sufficient for antitumor activity. In combination with standard-of-care drugs, LY3023414 demonstrated additive antitumor activity. The novel, orally bioavailable PI3K/mTOR inhibitor LY3023414 is highly soluble and exhibits potent in vivo efficacy via intermittent target inhibition. It is currently being evaluated in phase I and II trials for the treatment of human malignancies. Mol Cancer Ther; 15(10); 2344–56. ©2016 AACR.
Soluble Intracellular Adhesion Molecule-1 in Patients with Unipolar or Bipolar Affective Disorders: Results from a Pilot Trial
Authors: Schaefer Martin , Sarkar Susanne , Schwarz Markus , Friebe Astrid
Published: July 2016

Background: Immunological and vascular markers may play a role in the pathophysiology of mood disorders and mood changes. Aim: To test whether the cell adhesion molecule soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) may serve as a biomarker for patients with unipolar or bipolar affective disorders when compared to a healthy control group, and whether sICAM-1 blood levels change during different mood states. Methods: sICAM-1 serum concentrations were compared between 20 healthy controls and 48 patients with affective disorders (unipolar, bipolar II and bipolar I disorder) during different mood states (euthymic mood state, depression or mania). Results: When compared to healthy controls, patients with affective disorders had significantly higher sICAM-1 levels during the euthymic state (p = 0.015). Differences became more pronounced during depression (p = 0.013). When unipolar and bipolar patients were analyzed separately, unipolar patients significantly differed from controls during the euthymic and depressive mood state, while bipolar II patients showed a trend towards higher sICAM-1 levels during depression. Patients with bipolar I disorders had significantly higher sICAM-1 levels during manic states when compared to controls (p = 0.007). Conclusions: sICAM-1 elevation in unipolar and bipolar patients, independent of mood changes, might support the hypothesis of chronic immune activation and endothelial dysfunction in patients with affective disorders.
Role of Tractional Forces and Internal Limiting Membrane in Macular Hole Formation: Insights from Intraoperative Optical Coherence Tomography
Authors: Moisseiev Elad , Yiu Glenn
Published: July 2016

We report the case of a 69-year-old patient who underwent vitrectomy for vitreomacular traction (VMT) and developed a postoperative macular hole that was observed 1 week after surgery. The hole did not close by in-office fluid-gas exchange alone, but was achieved after repeat surgery with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling. Intraoperative OCT (iOCT) images from the first surgery revealed an occult macular hole that formed after VMT release. We discuss how iOCT findings provide insight into the role of the ILM in macular hole formation and emphasize the importance of carefully inspecting iOCT images in real time to avoid missing small but important findings.
Using the Disease State Fingerprint Tool for Differential Diagnosis of Frontotemporal Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Muñoz-Ruiz Miguel Ángel , Hall Anette , Mattila Jussi , Koikkalainen Juha , Herukka Sanna-Kaisa , Husso Minna , Hänninen Tuomo , Vanninen Ritva , Liu Yawu , Hallikainen Merja , Lötjönen Jyrki , Remes Anne M. , Alafuzoff Irina , Soininen Hilkka , Hartikainen Päivi
Published: July 2016

Background: Disease State Index (DSI) and its visualization, Disease State Fingerprint (DSF), form a computer-assisted clinical decision making tool that combines patient data and compares them with cases with known outcomes. Aims: To investigate the ability of the DSI to diagnose frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods: The study cohort consisted of 38 patients with FTD, 57 with AD and 22 controls. Autopsy verification of FTD with TDP-43 positive pathology was available for 14 and AD pathology for 12 cases. We utilized data from neuropsychological tests, volumetric magnetic resonance imaging, single-photon emission tomography, cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers and the APOE genotype. The DSI classification results were calculated with a combination of leave-one-out cross-validation and bootstrapping. A DSF visualization of a FTD patient is presented as an example. Results: The DSI distinguishes controls from FTD (area under the receiver-operator curve, AUC = 0.99) and AD (AUC = 1.00) very well and achieves a good differential diagnosis between AD and FTD (AUC = 0.89). In subsamples of autopsy-confirmed cases (AUC = 0.97) and clinically diagnosed cases (AUC = 0.94), differential diagnosis of AD and FTD performs very well. Conclusions: DSI is a promising computer-assisted biomarker approach for aiding in the diagnostic process of dementing diseases. Here, DSI separates controls from dementia and differentiates between AD and FTD.
Synchronous Onset of Breast and Pancreatic Cancers: Results of Germline and Somatic Genetic Analysis
Authors: Castro Michael , Vierkoetter Koah , Prager Douglas , Montgomery Shasta , Sedgwick Kristin
Published: July 2016

Background: Synchronous cancers have occasionally been detected at initial diagnosis among patients with breast and ovarian cancer. However, simultaneous coexistence and diagnosis of breast and pancreas cancer has not previously been reported. Case Report: Paternal transmission of a germline BRCA2 mutation to a patient who was diagnosed at age 40 with locally advanced breast and pancreas cancer is presented. Somatic genomic analysis of both cancers with next-generation DNA sequencing confirmed the germline result and reported a variety of variants of unknown significance alterations, of which two were present in both the breast and pancreas cancers. Discussion: The possibility that genomic alterations could have been responsible for modulating the phenotypic or clinical expression of this rare presentation is considered. The authors call attention to the practice of privatizing the clinicogenetic information gained from genetic testing and call for health policy that will facilitate sharing in order to advance the outcomes of patients diagnosed with hereditary cancers.
Foxl2 and Its Relatives Are Evolutionary Conserved Players in Gonadal Sex Differentiation
Authors: Bertho Sylvain , Pasquier Jeremy , Pan Qiaowei , Le Trionnaire Gaël , Bobe Julien , Postlethwait John H. , Pailhoux Eric , Schartl Manfred , Herpin Amaury , Guiguen Yann
Published: July 2016

Foxl2 is a member of the large family of Forkhead Box (Fox) domain transcription factors. It emerged during the last 15 years as a key player in ovarian differentiation and oogenesis in vertebrates and especially mammals. This review focuses on Foxl2 genes in light of recent findings on their evolution, expression, and implication in sex differentiation in animals in general. Homologs of Foxl2 and its paralog Foxl3 are found in all metazoans, but their gene evolution is complex, with multiple gains and losses following successive whole genome duplication events in vertebrates. This review aims to decipher the evolutionary forces that drove Foxl2/3 gene specialization through sub- and neo-functionalization during evolution. Expression data in metazoans suggests that Foxl2/3 progressively acquired a role in both somatic and germ cell gonad differentiation and that a certain degree of sub-functionalization occurred after its duplication in vertebrates. This generated a scenario where Foxl2 is predominantly expressed in ovarian somatic cells and Foxl3 in male germ cells. To support this hypothesis, we provide original results showing that in the pea aphid (insects) foxl2/3 is predominantly expressed in sexual females and showing that in bovine ovaries FOXL2 is specifically expressed in granulosa cells. Overall, current results suggest that Foxl2 and Foxl3 are evolutionarily conserved players involved in somatic and germinal differentiation of gonadal sex.
Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Detecting Intraoperative Acute Descemet's Fold Formation
Authors: Ichioka Yu , Uji Akihito , Yoshimura Nagahisa
Published: July 2016

Background: To present an intraoperative acute Descemet’s fold formation using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) imaging. Case Report: A 67-year-old man complaining of reduced visual acuity in the left eye. A 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy combined with phacoemulsification cataract surgery was performed to remove the vitreomacular traction. When hydro-sealing was performed, striae rapidly spread in the cornea. SS-OCT B-scan images performed on postoperative day 1 revealed a wavy Descemet’s membrane that might correspond to Descemet’s folds. Pairs of hypo- and hyperreflective narrow lesions running from the wavy Descemet’s membrane to almost half of the thickness of the whole cornea were observed. En face OCT imaging clearly showed the stromal fold, which continuously spread from the Descemet’s fold. Conclusion: The stromal fold might be due to the focal bulge of the stroma posteriorly caused by the rapid volume increase of the stroma which could push Descemet’s membrane posteriorly, thereby forming a wavy Descemet’s membrane layer.
Antinociceptive Effects of Ginsenoside Rg3 in a Rat Model of Incisional Pain
Authors: Ahn Eun Jin , Choi Geun Joo , Kang Hyun , Baek Chong Wha , Jung Yong Hun , Woo Young Cheol , Bang Si Ra
Published: July 2016

Background: Ginsenoside Rg3 is an extract of total ginseng saponins, which accounts for 4.7% of all saponins. This study aimed to identify the mechanisms of the antinociceptive effects of ginsenoside Rg3. Methods: Rats were randomly divided into six groups, which were treated with vehicle or 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, or 4 mg/kg of ginsenoside Rg3 intraperitoneally 2 h after a plantar incision was made. To evaluate the mechanisms of antinociceptive effects, the rats were intraperitoneally injected with naloxone 5 mg/kg, atropine 1 mg/kg, yohimbine 2 mg/kg, mecamylamine 1 mg/kg, prazosin 1 mg/kg, and dexmedetomidine 5 μg/kg. Hyperalgesia produced by the plantar incision was assessed using von Frey filaments 1 day before the incision (BI) and 2 h after the plantar incision (AP); this measurement was repeated at 15, 30, 45, 60, 80, 100 and 120 min, and 24 and 48 h after the injection of ginsenoside Rg3. Serum interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were measured 1 day before incision and 120 min, 24 h, and 48 h after the injection of ginsenoside Rg3 or vehicle. Results: The mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) significantly increased in the group that received ginsenoside Rg3. The dose-MWT response showed a curvilinear, bell-shaped relationship. The maximum MWT was found with the administration of ginsenoside Rg3 at 1.5 mg/kg; MWT decreased to 2 and 4 mg/kg. Yohimbine diminished the analgesic effect of ginsenoside Rg3. Prazosin and dexmedetomidine increased the analgesic effect of ginsenoside Rg3. IL-1β and IL-6 appeared significantly lower relative to control group. Conclusions: Ginsenoside Rg3 has an analgesic effect with a curvilinear dose-response relationship. Alpha 2 adrenergic receptor appeared to be related to the analgesic effect of ginsenoside Rg3. Also, the anti-inflammatory effect of ginsenoside Rg3 could be related to its analgesic effect.
Professional Practices and Diagnostic Issues in Neuroendocrine Tumour Pathology: Results of a Prospective One-Year Survey among French Pathologists (the PRONET Study)
Authors: Scoazec Jean-Yves , Couvelard Anne , Monges Geneviève , Guyétant Serge , Bisot-Locard Segolène , Parot Xavier , Lepage Côme ,   the PRONET Study Group
Published: July 2016

Introduction: Many changes have recently occurred in the practice of neuroendocrine tumour (NET) pathology. We therefore aimed to evaluate how pathologists have adapted their daily practice to the most recent international guidelines for diagnostic and prognostic evaluation. Procedures: A 12-month prospective study (PRONET) was carried out among French pathologists between August 2010 and July 2011. Data were collected using an anonymous electronic case report form. Observations: Five hundred laboratories were invited, 149 accepted to participate, 80 were active and 59 provided eligible cases. A total of 1,340 cases were collected. The primary tumour was gastroenteropancreatic in 58.1% of cases and thoracic in 18.1%; it was from another site in 9.7%; 12.3% of cases were metastases of unknown origin. Pathological diagnosis was made from the examination of surgical samples in 58.1% of cases, biopsy specimens in 33.5%, endoscopic resections in 3.1% and cytological preparations in 4.2%. For the demonstration of the neuroendocrine nature of the tumour, chromogranin A and synaptophysin were tested in, respectively, 97.1 and 82.8% of cases. The differentiation status was definitely provided in 95.7% of cases. Mitotic count was attempted in 80.1% of cases and Ki67 index in 80.7%. In gastroenteropancreatic (GEP)-NETs, histological grading was available in 95.9% of the cases. WHO classification was available or feasible in 94.1% of GEP-NETs and 93.8% of thoracic NETs. TNM staging was performed according to International Union against Cancer in 74.8% of GEP-NETs and according to European Neuroendocrine Tumour Society in 55.6%. Conclusions: The PRONET study shows that the current recommendations and diagnostic procedures are satisfactorily respected by most pathologists in daily practice.
Comparison of current platelet functional tests for the assessment of aspirin and clopidogrel response
Authors: Bordet Jean-Claude , Negrier Claude , Dargaud Yesim , Quellec Sandra Le
Published: July 2016

The two most widely used antiplatelet drugs in the world are aspirin and clopidogrel. However, some patients on aspirin and/or clopidogrel therapy do not respond appropriately to either aspirin or clopidogrel. This phenomenon is usually called “aspirin/clopidogrel resistance”. Several platelet function tests have been used in various studies for the assessment of aspirin and clopidogrel resistance in healthy individuals and patients admitted in cardiology departments. An accurate assessment of platelet response to aspirin/clopidogrel could benefit patients by proposing tailored-antiplatelet therapy based on test results. However, there is a clear lack of standardisation of such techniques and their analytical variability may induce misinterpretation. After a quick report of the mechanisms responsible for aspirin/clopidogrel resistance, we describe the pre-analytical aspects and the analytical performances of current platelet function tests (Light-transmission aggregometry, whole-blood aggregometry, VerifyNow®, Platelet Function Analyzer®, thromboelastography, VASP assay) that are used for the assessment of aspirin/clopidogrel resistance in clinical studies. Considering the different variables that have to be taken into account with each of the platelet function tests, a particular attention should be paid when interpreting results.
Biogeography of Abyssocythere and Dutoitella (Ostracoda), with descriptions of three new species
Authors: BRANDÃO SIMONE N. , STUHLMANN ANNALENA , VITAL HELENICE , BRANDT ANGELIKA
Published: July 2016

Ostracods have an extensive fossil record and are widely applied in palaeoenvironmental reconstructions. Here, we investigate the biogeography of two common and widespread genera, Abyssocythere and Dutoitella. Both appeared in the Cretaceous and are widely distributed in modern deep seas, but all species are restricted in distribution. The earliest record of Dutoitella is from shallow water, while the earliest Abyssocythere is from the deep sea. The Southern Ocean/Southern Atlantic seem to have been the area where both genera originated, and from which they eventually colonised other oceans. Dutoitella diversified into at least eleven species during Campanian-Eocene times, and by the end of the Eocene, the genus had spread to the Indian Ocean. This pattern continued after the establishment of the psychrosphere into the Neogene, with the development of numerous Miocene species. Abyssocythere, with 15 species, while also diversifying in the late Cretaceous South Atlantic, appears to have developed fewer species than Dutoitella. Finally, we describe three new species from the Southern Ocean (Abyssocythere bensoni sp. nov., Dutoitella karanovicae sp. nov. and Dutoitella richarddinglei  sp. nov.), re-illustrate the types of Abyssocythere squalidentata (Brady, 1880) and Dutoitella suhmi (Brady, 1880), and study the soft parts of the genus Dutoitella, which were previously undocumented.
Protaeropsis, a new replacement generic name for fossil Sphenaster Jeffery, 1999 (Echinoidea: Spatangida) nec Wilcoxon, 1970 (Protista: Haptomonada)
Authors: DOWELD ALEXANDER B.
Published: July 2016

The genus Sphenaster was erected by Jeffery (in Smith et al. 1999: 131) for a distinctive fossil echinoid of the Thanetian (Palaeocene) age from Spain and considered to be the most ancient element of the echinoid family Aeropsidae Clark, 1917 (Spatangida, Echinoidea). Unfortunately, up to now (Kroh 2010), it was not realized that the generic name Sphenaster is invalid, being a junior homonym of Sphenaster Wilcoxon, 1970: 80, a genus of fossil protist (Haptomonada).
Argentinian phlebotomine fauna, new records of Phlebotominae (Diptera: Psychodidae) for the country and the province of Chaco
Authors: SZELAG ENRIQUE A. , FILHO JOSE D. ANDRADE , ROSA JUAN R. , PARRAS MATIAS A. , QUINTANA MARIA G. , QUINTANA MARIA G. , SALOMON OSCAR D.
Published: July 2016

Sand flies are insects of medical and veterinary importance, because some species are able to transmit several pathogens such as Bartonella spp., Phlebovirus spp., and protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania (Ross). They are widely distributed in the Americas, with recordings ranging from Canada to Argentina. Approximately 500 Phlebotominae species are known in the Americas, of which it is considered that at least 56 are involved in the transmission of leishmaniasis (Maroli et al. 2012). Previous studies have shown that the phlebotomine fauna in Argentina consists of 32 species distributed in 14 provinces (Quintana et al. 2012; Sábio et al. 2015; Salomón et al. 2010). Of these species, Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva), Nyssomyia neivai (Pinto), Ny. whitmani (Antunes & Countinho), Cortelezzii complex [Evandromyia cortelezzii (Brèthes) – Ev. sallesi (Galvão & Coutinho)], Micropygomyia quinquefer (Dyar) and Migonemyia migonei (França) have been found with DNA of Leishmania spp. (Moya et al. 2015). Five new records of species in the province of Chaco, obtained from different projects carried out between 2001 and 2015, four of which are also new records for Argentina, are described in this article. Their importance as potential vectors and the correct determination of the sympatric species is also discussed.
A Closer Look at the ABI on the GOES-R Series
Authors: Schmit Timothy J. , Griffith Paul , Gunshor Mathew M. , Daniels Jaime M. , Goodman Steven J. , Lebair William J.
Published: July 2016

The Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) on board the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R (GOES-R) is America’s next-generation geostationary advanced imager. GOES-R launched on 19 November 2016. The ABI is a state-of-the-art 16-band radiometer, with spectral bands covering the visible, near-infrared, and infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Many attributes of the ABI—such as spectral, spatial, and temporal resolution; radiometrics; and image navigation/registration—are much improved from the current series of GOES imagers. This paper highlights and discusses the expected improvements of each of these attributes. From ABI data many higher-level-derived products can be generated and used in a large number of environmental applications. The ABI’s design allows rapid-scan and contiguous U.S. imaging automatically interleaved with full-disk scanning. In this paper the expected instrument attributes are covered, as they relate to signal-to-noise ratio, image navigation and registration, the various ABI scan modes, and other parameters. There will be several methods for users to acquire GOES-R imagery and products depending on their needs. These include direct reception of the imagery via the satellite downlink and an online-accessible archive. The information from the ABI on the GOES-R series will be used for many applications related to severe weather, tropical cyclones and hurricanes, aviation, natural hazards, the atmosphere, the ocean, and the cryosphere.

The ABI on the GOES-R series is America’s next-generation geostationary advanced imager and will dramatically improve the monitoring of many phenomena at finer time and space scales.
Convective Outbreak over the Red Sea and Downstream Easterly Waves
Authors: Jury Mark R.
Published: July 2016

This study analyzes a convective outbreak over the Red Sea on 25 August 2009 that generated easterly waves over the Sahel, floods in Ouagadougou, and a hurricane in the east Atlantic. The convective outbreak occurred on the equatorward flank of the African easterly jet 18°–22°N and associated meridional heating gradients over the Arabian Peninsula. The Rift Valley mountains induced a vertical orographic undulation and cyclonic perturbation. Two thunderstorm clusters over the southern Red Sea received moist inflow from the Ethiopian highlands and northern Red Sea. This group of three easterly waves intensified downstream over the Sahel. One of the convective triggers was enhancement of the Arabian Ridge by the northern subtropical jet. Statistical analyses indicate that African easterly waves and subsequent tropical storms are more influenced by upstream kinematic shear than thermodynamic energy. The work offers new insights on the formation of easterly waves over the northern Rift Valley.
The Intraseasonal Oscillation of Eastern Tibetan Plateau Precipitation in Response to the Summer Eurasian Wave Train
Authors: Hu Wenting , Duan Anmin , Li Yun , He Bian
Published: July 2016

This study examines the characteristics and mechanisms associated with the dominant intraseasonal oscillation (ISO) that controlled eastern Tibetan Plateau summer rainfall (ETPSR) over the period 1979–2011. The results of both power and wavelet spectrum analysis reveal that ETPSR follows a significant 7–20-day oscillation during most summers. The vertical structure of the ETPSR ISO in the dry phase is characterized by a vertical dipole pattern of geopotential height with a positive center on the eastern Tibetan Plateau (TP) and a negative center on the western TP. The wet phase shows the opposite characteristics to the dry phase. The transitions between the dry and wet phases during an ETPSR ISO cycle are related to a Rossby wave train that presents as large anomalous anticyclonic and cyclonic centers that alternate along the pathway from the eastern Atlantic to southern China via the TP. It corresponds to the evolution of the phase-independent wave-activity W, which implies an eastward/southeastward energy propagation of the ISO. The dominant modes of the daily 200-hPa geopotential height as identified by the rotated empirical orthogonal function (REOF) demonstrate that the different phases of the Rossby wave train influence the upper-level circulation over the eastern TP, which then impacts precipitation in the region. Furthermore, fluctuations in the eastern Atlantic may be the key factor for the propagation of the Rossby wave train that influences the upper-level circulation and rainfall variability over the eastern TP. Results from numerical experiments using an atmospheric general circulation model support the conclusion that the fluctuations over the eastern Atlantic contribute to the ISO of ETPSR.
Otopolyposis With Middle Ear Allergic Mucin in a Patient With Allergic Fungal Rhinosinusitis
Authors: Kumar Manvinder S. , Panella Nicholas J. , Magliocca Kelly R. , Vivas Esther X.
Published: July 2016

Objective:

The purpose of this study is to report a case of otopolyposis and middle ear allergic mucin in a patient with allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) and no history of middle ear disease and introduce these as possible otologic manifestations of the AFRS.

Methods:

A case of a 31-year-old female with the aforementioned findings is reported. A review of the pertinent literature was performed.

Results:

We report a case of a 31-year-old female with a history of AFRS but no history of middle ear disease or hearing loss who presented to our institution complaining of aural fullness. Physical exam was significant for middle ear masses of unknown etiology. Surgical exploration revealed the presence of allergic mucin and middle ear polyposis histologically identical to tissue sampled during prior sinonasal surgeries at the same institution. Aspiration of the middle ear space did not resolve the otologic symptoms.

Conclusion:

Otopolyposis and middle ear allergic mucin are extremely rare but possible otologic manifestations of AFRS. We encourage otolaryngologists to consider this in the clinical differential diagnosis of patients with a history of AFRS with new onset otologic symptoms.
Una poetica dell’ascolto: Tutto il miele è finito
Authors: Curcio Milly
Published: July 2016

Il racconto del viaggio in Sardegna di Carlo Levi, pubblicato nel 1964, porta per la prima volta nell’opera dello scrittore a mediare due differenti tipologie della memoria, quella arcaica e quella contemporanea. L’esperienza del viaggiatore si forma sulla capacità che egli ha di ascoltare e guardare gli episodi della sua esperienza sull’isola, confrontando il carattere di un patrimonio arcaico con la consapevolezza dell’intelligenza contemporanea. Il libro di Levi non è né un romanzo né un reportage, ma il ritratto non statico di un insieme di personaggi e luoghi, che si dispongono consapevolmente o inconsapevolmente a essere raccontati. Il saggio analizza le caratteristiche di questa narrazione formata da racconti o frammenti di racconto.
Evaluating Conflict Dynamics
Authors: Jones Benjamin T. , Metzger Shawna K.
Published: July 2016

Interest in processes has become increasingly pronounced in international conflict research in recent years, especially how these processes unfold across time “dynamics”. We focus in particular on “stage conceptions” of dynamics: processes that unfold over a series of sequential, and possibly recurrent, stages. We suggest that stage conceptions have two key properties: plurisectality and conditional covariate effects. We propose a novel econometric application to quantitatively assess claims regarding stage conceptions of dynamics: survival modeling. Specifically, we use multistate models to examine how a process evolves through its individual stages, and also whether covariate effects differ across these stages. We use Huth and Allee’s territorial dispute data to demonstrate the importance of conceptualizing conflict as a dynamic process, as well as empirically modeling it as such. We show democracy has different effects on dispute resolution, depending on the dispute’s stage, but that these different effects disappear after time passes.
Bullying Victimization Among Music Ensemble and Theatre Students in the United States
Authors: Elpus Kenneth , Carter Bruce Allen
Published: July 2016

The purpose of this study was to analyze the prevalence of reported school victimization through physical, verbal, social/relational, and cyberbullying aggression among music ensemble and theatre students in the middle and high schools of the United States as compared to their peers involved in other school-based activities. We analyzed nationally representative data from five waves (2005–2013) of the biannual School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey, a joint project of the U.S. Bureau for Justice Statistics and the National Center for Education Statistics. Logistic regression results showed that music ensemble and theatre students were significantly more likely to be victimized by in-person bullying than their non-arts peers. A significant interaction between sex and arts status showed that male music and theatre students faced the greatest risk of being subjected to physical bullying aggression while female music and theatre students faced the greatest risk of victimization through social/relational aggression. Though incidents of experiencing hate speech were rare, music and theatre students faced a significantly greater risk of hate speech victimization than non-arts students. The overall probability of a music student being victimized by any type of in-person bullying was .34 compared to .25 for non-arts students.
Facial Emotion Recognition in Adolescents With Disabilities
Authors: Memisevic Haris , Mujkanovic Edin , Ibralic-Biscevic Inga
Published: July 2016

Emotion recognition is very important for successful social interactions. This study compared adolescents with intellectual disability and adolescents with hearing impairment on a facial emotion recognition task. The sample for this study comprised 78 adolescents (46.2% females, 53.8% males; M age = 16.4, SD = 1.0) divided into three groups ( N = 26) of adolescents with intellectual disability, adolescents with hearing impairment, and adolescents without disabilities. Emotion recognition abilities were measured using a computerized Emotion Recognition Test. Adolescents with intellectual disability achieved lower scores on Emotion Recognition Test in comparison with adolescents with hearing impairment and adolescents without disabilities. There were no significant differences on Emotion Recognition Test between adolescents with hearing impairment and adolescents without disabilities. Given the importance of emotion recognition in everyday functioning, it is of crucial importance to have emotional training programs as part of the school curriculum.
La médialisation du religieux dans la théorie du post néo-protestantisme
Authors: Bratosin Stefan
Published: July 2016

This article proposes a theory of post neo-Protestantism highlighting the key relationships maintained by this new postmodern manner of thinking and living religion with the medialization, that is to say, with the ‘mediatization of everything’ as a model of public communication developed in favor of broadband internet, wireless internet or social media. In this perspective, it is shown that post neo-Protestantism is basically the virtualization of neo-Protestantism still clinging to modernity and the communicative individual pragmatics of this virtualization now inescapably linked to new media.
Sources of Social Support and Mental Health Among LGB Youth
Authors: Watson Ryan J. , Grossman Arnold H. , Russell Stephen T.
Published: July 2016

Disparities in psychosocial adjustment have been identified for lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youth, yet research that explores multiple sources of social support among subgroups of LGB youth is sparse. Social support theory is used as a framework to analyze the ways that different sources of support might promote better psychosocial adjustment for LGB youth. Data from a diverse sample among LGB youth ( N = 835) were used to understand how social support from a close friend, teachers, classmates, and parents might be differently associated with depression and self-esteem. We found that parent support and its importance to the participant were consistently related to higher self-esteem and lower depression for all youth, except for lesbians for whom no forms of social support were associated with self-esteem. Teacher and classmate support influenced some subgroups more than others. These results provide parents, clinicians, and schools a roadmap to assist youth navigate supports.
Taking Chances for Love? Reflections on Love, Risk, and Harm Reduction in a Gay Slamming Subculture
Authors: Amaro Romain
Published: July 2016

With the recent legalization of gay marriage in France, the couple has become the most valued social unit in the gay community. The emergence of the “chemsex” and “slamming” subculture—which involves injecting drugs during sexual encounters—on the fringes of the gay online dating scene has thus aroused new fears and anxieties. While slamming is often portrayed as a risky, extreme, and deviant practice divorced from the sentimental norms of stable relationships, this article aims to provide a more nuanced understanding of how practices of injecting drug use—and significantly, attendant practices of managing risks and harms—are entangled with the search for love and willingness to build lasting emotional bonds among young gay men. Drawing on ethnographic immersion on two gay dating sites and 25 life story interviews with gay men who inject drugs in Paris and Lyon, I argue that the link between romantic relationships and injecting drug use is anything but straightforward. The suffering and loneliness that follow romantic breakups can trigger uncontrolled drug use while feelings of “love fusion” between “slammers” can encourage further risk-taking. But romantic relationships can also provide crucial symbolic and material support to place limits on drug use in ways that reduce harm.
The Media and Power in Postliberal Venezuela
Authors: Sapiezynska Ewa
Published: July 2016

Two narratives dominate the literature about the state of freedom of expression in postliberal Venezuela, and they have few points in common, since they depend on different conceptualizations of the notion of freedom of expression. While the traditional liberal narrative focuses on the negative freedom that prohibits state interference, the postliberal narrative is based on positive freedom that encompasses the collective right of self-realization, particularly for the previously marginalized. During the government of Hugo Chávez, the discourse of freedom of expression was renewed, placing it in the context of power relations, accentuating positive freedom, and emphasizing the role of the public and community media. The establishment of the international public channel TeleSUR has revived the 1970s debate about the right to communication and contributed to the creation of a new Latin American-ness.

En la literatura predominan dos narrativas acerca del estado de la libertad de expresión en la Venezuela posliberal las que tienen pocos puntos en común porque parten de visiones distintas del concepto de la libertad de expresión. Mientras la narrativa liberal tradicional enfoca sólo en la libertad negativa que previene la injerencia estatal, la narrativa posliberal se centra en la libertad positiva que abarca la autorrealización del derecho colectivo, también de los previamente marginalizados. Durante el gobierno de Hugo Chávez el discurso acerca de la libertad de expresión se renueva, insertando el concepto en el contexto de las relaciones de poder, acentuando la libertad positiva y enfatizando el rol de los medios públicos y comunitarios. El establecimiento del medio público internacional TeleSUR revive los debates sobre el derecho a la comunicación de la década de los 70 y aporta a la creación de una nueva Latinoamericanidad.
Output regulation of output feedback systems with unknown exosystem and unknown high-frequency gain sign
Authors: Guo Meichen , Liu Lu
Published: July 2016

This paper discusses the global robust output regulation problem for a class of nonlinear output feedback systems. It is assumed that the exosystem and the high-frequency gain sign are unknown and that the unknown parameters can be arbitrarily large. To solve this problem, two major challenges are to be overcome. First, the concurrence of the unknown exosystem and the unknown high-frequency gain sign cannot be handled merely by designing estimators for the two unknown parameters respectively. Second, the conventional extended matching design approach cannot be directly implemented, owing to the arbitrarily large unknown parameters. To cope with these difficulties, a new estimator is developed, and the extended matching design approach is modified to obtain a suitable update law for the estimator. The effectiveness of the proposed adaptive controller is illustrated by an example.
Modelling and control of urea-SCR systems through the triple-step non-linear method in consideration of time-varying parameters and reference dynamics
Authors: Zhao Jinghua , Hu Yunfeng , Gong Xun , Chen Hong
Published: July 2016

Owing to the dynamic operation mode of urea selective catalytic reduction (urea-SCR) systems, advanced control strategies are required to improve urea dosing control. A new control-oriented model presentation of urea-SCR systems is developed in this study. A novel controller based on the triple-step non-linear method is designed. The controller drives the non-linear system with time-varying parameters to track the variable ammonia coverage ratio. Unlike the existing triple-step non-linear method, the third design procedure in the proposed method is adjusted as an [Formula: see text] error feedback control. The proposed method provides a concise design process so that derivation of the control law can be simple and straightforward. The robustness of the controller against measurement noises and system uncertainties is analysed. A transient simulation is conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy.
Area studies and geography: Trajectories and manifesto
Authors: Sidaway James D , Ho Elaine LE , Rigg Jonathan D , Woon Chih Yuan
Published: July 2016

We introduce the following set of essays on reformatting the relationship between area studies and geography and reflect on our individual and collective negotiation of this relationship. This leads us to revisit some key area studies’ controversies and agendas, notably strategies for comparison. Drawing on the work of Benedict Anderson and other comparatively minded scholars, we advocate staging comparisons in terms of difference/similarity, expectancy/surprise, present/past and familiarity/strangeness.