bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic Counselors’ Experience with and Opinions on the Management of Newborn Screening Incidental Carrier Findings
Authors: Leppert Kristen , Bisordi Katharine , Nieto Jessica , Maloney Kristin , Guan Yue , Dixon Shannan , Egense Alena
Published: April 2018

Newborn screening (NBS) is a public health program whose aim is to identify infants who will be clinically affected with a serious metabolic, genetic, or endocrine disorder; however, the technology utilized by many NBS programs also detects infants who are heterozygous carriers for autosomal recessive conditions. Discussion surrounding disclosure of these incidental carrier findings remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to assess genetic counselors’ attitudes about disclosure of carrier status results generated by NBS and to gather data on their experiences with incidental carrier findings. An electronic survey was distributed to genetic counselors of all specialties via the NSGC listserv, and a total of 235 survey responses were analyzed. Quantitative data were analyzed using IBM SPSS v24, and qualitative data were manually analyzed for thematic analysis. Results show that the counselor participants were overall in favor of routine disclosure. Those with experience in NBS were much more likely to strongly agree with one or more reasons for disclosure (p < 0.001), whereas those with five or fewer years of experience were more likely to strongly agree with one or more reasons for non‐disclosure (p = 0.031). Qualitative analysis identified key motivating factors for disclosure, including helping parents to understand a positive screen, parents may otherwise be unaware of reproductive risk and they may not otherwise have access to this information, and, while genetic testing is inherently a complex and ambiguous process, this does not justify non‐disclosure. The main motivating factor for non‐disclosure was the need for better counseling and informed consent. The data suggest that implementation of an “opt‐in/out” policy for parents to decide whether or not to receive incidental findings would be beneficial. The results of this study support the continued disclosure of incidental carrier findings; however, additional research is necessary to further determine and implement the most effective disclosure practices.
Visual evoked potentials are similar in polysomnographically defined quiet and active sleep in healthy newborns
Authors: Cubero‐Rego Lourdes , Corsi‐Cabrera María , Ricardo‐Garcell Josefina , Cruz‐Martínez Rogelio , Harmony Thalía
Published: April 2018

Morphology and late components of evoked potentials change depending on wake‐sleep stages in adults. Visual Evoked potentials (VEPs) have been frequently studied in newborns to identify abnormal development of visual pathways; however, large variability has been reported and there is uncertainty as to the effect of sleep stages on VEPs in neonates.

Objective

To describe the characteristics of VEPs in one month old, healthy full‐term newborns during active sleep (AS) and quiet sleep (QS), defined by simultaneous polysomnography (PSG).

Methods

VEPs were obtained by monocular LEDs stimulation of each eye during AS and QS, in 20 healthy full‐term newborns (gestational age 37–40 weeks) with normal birth weights and normal prenatal Doppler ultrasound indices. Latencies and amplitudes of N2, P2 and N3 components in AS and QS were compared, and their association with absolute power of EEG frequency bands, assessed.

Results

There were no significant differences in VEP morphology, latencies and amplitudes between sleep states. Typical wave forms were obtained in all newborns in AS; however, no VEPs could be identified clearly in 3 newborns in QS; QS VEPs were less reliable than in AS: more averaging was required; correlation was significantly lower between the VEP averages; and a larger number of babies needed more than two averages to obtain replicable responses needed for clinical purposes.

Conclusions

These results indicate that changes in amplitude and latency of some VEP components observed in NREM and REM sleep in adults are not yet present in one month old newborns probably due to immaturity of cortical and sleep mechanisms. VEPs are more reliable during AS than QS in newborns. Systematic VEP recording during AS, and polysomnographic control to identify this stage, are highly recommended as methods that can increase there liability of neonatal VEPs.
Declining Sexual Activity and Desire in Men—Findings From Representative German Surveys, 2005 and 2016
Authors: Beutel Manfred E. , Burghardt Juliane , Tibubos Ana N. , Klein Eva M. , Schmutzer Gabriele , Brähler Elmar
Published: April 2018

Background

Surveys have indicated an increase of sexual activity in aging men; recently, however, a decrease of sexual activity has been reported in young men.

Aim

To assess (i) sexual activity and desire and their determinants across the age range in a population-based male sample and (ii) their changes over 11 years.

Methods

A representative survey of men (N = 1,095) 18 to 93 years old from 2016 was compared with a survey from 2005 (N = 1,106 men) with the same age range. Samples were drawn from the German population at random using standardized sampling procedures. Questions were filled out by participants in the presence of a trained interviewer. Sexual activity was compared using logistic regression with the factors survey (2005 vs 2016), living with a partner (yes vs no), and age. Frequency of sexual desire was compared using analysis of covariance with the factors survey (2005 vs 2016), living with a partner (yes vs no), and the covariate age.

Outcomes

Sexual activity was assessed as having been intimate with someone in the past year; frequency of sexual desire was evaluated within the past 4 weeks.

Results

The great majority of men cohabiting with a partner in 2016 was sexually active and indicated sexual desire until 70 years of age; half did so at an older age. Across the age range, men living without a partner reported considerably less sexual activity and desire. Compared with 2005, fewer men reported living with a partner. The overall proportion of men reporting sexual activity deceased from 81% to 73% in 2016 and absent sexual desire increased from 8% to 13%.

Clinical Translation

The findings highlight the relevance of living with a partner for sexual activity and desire. We advocate using a measure of sexual activity that encompasses many variants of intimate behavior.

Strengths and Limitations

Large and methodologically comparable population-based samples were compared. However, interpretations are limited by the absence of longitudinal data. We did not assess the effect of having a partner living elsewhere.

Conclusion

Sexual activity and desire decreased, especially in the young and middle-age groups. The decrease of men living with a partner contributed to this decreased sexual activity and desire. There was a generation effect, with younger and middle-age men living without a partner becoming less sexually active and experiencing less desire compared with the previous survey. The findings unveil changes in sexual activity and desire in a short time span.
Underwater Photo-Elicitation: A New Experiential Marine Education Technique
Authors: Andrews Steve , Stocker Laura , Oechel Walter
Published: April 2018

Underwater photo-elicitation is a novel experiential marine education technique that combines direct experience in the marine environment with the use of digital underwater cameras. A program called Show Us Your Ocean! (SUYO!) was created, utilising a mixed methodology (qualitative and quantitative methods) to test the efficacy of this technique. Participants (adults and high school students) snorkelled, explored the ocean, and captured images both in and out of the water. Underwater photo-elicitation was proven effective at increasing awareness, eliciting emotional reactions, and fostering a sense of connection to the ocean. However, it was not necessarily effective for raising awareness of environmental issues nor for motivating pro-environmental behaviour. Interestingly, while some attitudes about and behaviours toward the ocean did become more environmentally sensitive, others appeared to shift unexpectedly away from environmental concern. This result was perhaps due to the lack in the program of an ecological knowledge-based component. Participants enjoying the beauty of the ocean did not realise the threats facing it or what to do about these. If the goal is to achieve significant attitude change and cultivate pro-environmental behaviour, this new approach should be supplemented with critical thinking/action competence and ecological/ocean literacy.
Can composite digital monitoring biomarkers come of age? A framework for utilization
Authors: Kovalchick Christopher , Sirkar Rhea , Regele Oliver B. , Kourtis Lampros C. , Schiller Marie , Wolpert Howard , Alden Rhett G. , Jones Graham B. , Wright Justin M.
Published: April 2018

Introduction

The application of digital monitoring biomarkers in health, wellness and disease management is reviewed. Harnessing the near limitless capacity of these approaches in the managed healthcare continuum will benefit from a systems-based architecture which presents data quality, quantity, and ease of capture within a decision-making dashboard.

Methods

A framework was developed which stratifies key components and advances the concept of contextualized biomarkers. The framework codifies how direct, indirect, composite, and contextualized composite data can drive innovation for the application of digital biomarkers in healthcare.

Results

The de novo framework implies consideration of physiological, behavioral, and environmental factors in the context of biomarker capture and analysis. Application in disease and wellness is highlighted, and incorporation in clinical feedback loops and closed-loop systems is illustrated.

Conclusions

The study of contextualized biomarkers has the potential to offer rich and insightful data for clinical decision making. Moreover, advancement of the field will benefit from innovation at the intersection of medicine, engineering, and science. Technological developments in this dynamic field will thus fuel its logical evolution guided by inputs from patients, physicians, healthcare providers, end-payors, actuarists, medical device manufacturers, and drug companies.
Personhood as Ongoing Gift from Others and to Others
Authors: Bracken Joseph A.
Published: April 2018

Human personhood should be understood as a gift from and to others as well as a permanent and unchanging attribute of what it means to be a human being, for this understanding of human personhood fits better within a contemporary systems-oriented approach to reality. Likewise, for Christians it can also be seen as derivative from a more contemporary process-oriented understanding of the doctrine of the Trinity, namely, as co-constitutive members of a transcendent community or archetypal life-system. Finally, given the individualistic character of contemporary Western culture, an emphasis on the interdependence of entities on one another rather than on their independence from one another seems to be more needed at the present moment.
-APPROXIMATION OF HOLOMORPHIC FUNCTIONS ON A CLASS OF CONVEX DOMAINS
Authors: HA LY KIM
Published: April 2018

Let $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA}$ be a member of a certain class of convex ellipsoids of finite/infinite type in $\mathbb{C}^{2}$. In this paper, we prove that every holomorphic function in $L^{p}(\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA})$ can be approximated by holomorphic functions on $\bar{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA}}$ in $L^{p}(\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA})$-norm, for $1\leq p<\infty$. For the case $p=\infty$, the continuity up to the boundary is additionally required. The proof is based on $L^{p}$ bounds in the additive Cousin problem.
INEQUALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH RATIOS OF GAMMA FUNCTIONS
Authors: CRINGANU JENICA
Published: April 2018

We use properties of the gamma function to estimate the products$\prod _{k=1}^{n}(4k-3)/4k$and$\prod _{k=1}^{n}(4k-1)/4k$, motivated by the work of Chen and Qi [‘Completely monotonic function associated with the gamma function and proof of Wallis’ inequality’,Tamkang J. Math.36(4) (2005), 303–307] and Morticiet al.[‘Completely monotonic functions and inequalities associated to some ratio of gamma function’,Appl. Math. Comput.240(2014), 168–174].
In vivoexperiences with magnetic resonance imaging scans in Vibrant Soundbridge type 503 implantees
Authors: Todt I , Mittmann P , Ernst A , Mutze S , Rademacher G
Published: April 2018

Objective:

To observe the effects of magnetic resonance imaging scans in Vibrant Soundbridge 503 implantees at 1.5Tin vivo.

Methods:

In a prospective case study of five Vibrant Soundbridge 503 implantees, 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging scans were performed with and without a headband. The degree of pain was evaluated using a visual analogue scale. Scan-related pure tone audiogram and audio processor fitting changes were assessed.

Results:

In all patients, magnetic resonance imaging scans were performed without any degree of pain or change in pure tone audiogram or audio processor fitting, even without a headband.

Conclusion:

In this series, 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging scans were performed with the Vibrant Soundbridge 503 without complications. Limitations persist in terms of magnetic artefacts.
The Prevalence and the Increasing Significance ofGuanxi
Authors: Bian Yanjie
Published: April 2018

This paper provides an analytical review of the social science literature onguanxi. The focus of this review is on the prevalence and the increasing significance ofguanxiduring China's post-1978 reforms, which were implemented to move the country towards a market economy. Since then, researchers have engaged in debates on whatguanxiactually means to Chinese people in the past and today, how it has been adaptive to ongoing institutional transformations, and why its influence in economic, social, and political spheres can stabilize, increase or decrease with market reforms and economic growth. The author provides a synthesis of these debates before offering a theoretical framework which provides an understanding of the dynamics ofguanxithrough the changing degrees of institutional uncertainty and market competition. Survey findings on the increasing use ofguanxiin labour markets from 1978 to 2009 are presented to illustrate the usefulness of this framework. In the conclusion, the author argues thatguanxiis a five-level variable, and that the nature and forms ofguanxiinfluence are contingent upon whetherguanxiis a tie of connectivity, a sentimental tie, a sentiment-derived instrumental tie, an instrumental-particular tie, or an obligational tie that facilitates power and money exchanges. This five-level conceptualization is aimed at advancing future scholarship ofguanxiin China's rapidly changing society.
Orthopedic Knowledge and Need in the Provincial Philippines: Pilot Study of a Population-Based Survey
Authors: Courtney Christopher S. , Kirsch Thomas D.
Published: April 2018

Introduction

Interventions to reduce disability from acute orthopedic injuries require a primary assessment of knowledge and need. There are no previous studies to assess this need in the remote provincial islands of the Philippines, an area recurrently affected by natural disaster.

Problem

A preliminary assessment of orthopedic knowledge and need was performed to be expanded for regional or national implementation.

Methods

Two independent surveys were conducted of households and mid-level providers who represent the first contact of care. The goal of the survey was to describe the local health care system, to identify barriers to care, and to assess gaps in knowledge for acute traumatic orthopedic injuries. Both surveys were conducted in June of 2015.

Population proportional sampling assessed a total of 100 households from 25 local Barangay communities. Questions focused on existing knowledge of acute traumatic orthopedic injuries and barriers to care.

The mid-level provider survey focused on knowledge and barriers to care regarding acute traumatic orthopedic injuries. A total of 10 school nurses and Barangay midwives representing 25 local Barangay were surveyed.

Results

In the household population survey, 84% of respondents reported cost was either always or sometimes a barrier to care; 73% cited transportation as a barrier to care. A total of 68% of respondents reported that they would seek care at the provincial hospital for a suspected broken bone; 28% percent of respondents did not believe broken bones making an arm or leg crooked could be corrected without surgery. Only 55% percent believed care should be sought within six hours of injury, and 37% stated that more than three days after an injury was an appropriate timeframe to seek care.

Of the mid-level providers surveyed, 90% reported that they would refer possible broken bones to a higher level of care. Aggregate ranking of barriers to care from greatest to least were: cost, transportation, knowledge of time sensitive nature of treatment, religious beliefs, and other (not specified). In all, 100% reported that an education initiative regarding acute orthopedic injuries would increase the number of patients seeking care within 12 hours.

Conclusion

The survey describes perceived barriers to care and gaps in knowledge for acute orthopedic injuries. With some modification, this survey tool could be expanded and utilized on a regional or national level to assess gaps in knowledge and barriers to acute orthopedic care.

CourtneyCS, KirschTD. Orthopedic knowledge and need in the Provincial Philippines: pilot study of a population-based survey. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2018;33(3):293–298.
Sleep patterns and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among
children from around the world
Authors: Chaput Jean-Philippe , Tremblay Mark S , Katzmarzyk Peter T , Fogelholm Mikael , Hu Gang , Maher Carol , Maia Jose , Olds Timothy , Onywera Vincent , Sarmiento Olga L , Standage Martyn , Tudor-Locke Catrine , Sampasa-Kanyinga Hugues ,   for the ISCOLE Research Group
Published: April 2018

Objective

To examine the relationships between objectively measured sleep patterns
(sleep duration, sleep efficiency and bedtime) and sugar-sweetened beverage
(SSB) consumption (regular soft drinks, energy drinks, sports drinks and
fruit juice) among children from all inhabited continents of the world.

Design

Multinational, cross-sectional study.

Setting

The International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment
(ISCOLE).

Subjects

Children (n 5873) 9–11 years of age.

Results

Sleep duration was 12 min per night shorter in children who reported
consuming regular soft drinks ‘at least once a day’
compared with those who reported consuming ‘never’ or
‘less than once a week’. Children were more likely to
sleep the recommended 9–11 h/night if they reported
lower regular soft drink consumption or higher sports drinks consumption.
Children who reported consuming energy drinks ‘once a week or
more’ reported a 25-min earlier bedtime than those who reported
never consuming energy drinks. Children who reported consuming sports drinks
‘2–4 d a week or more’ also reported a
25-min earlier bedtime compared with those who reported never consuming
sports drinks. The associations between sleep efficiency and SSB consumption
were not significant. Similar associations between sleep patterns and SSB
consumption were observed across all twelve study sites.

Conclusions

Shorter sleep duration was associated with higher intake of regular soft
drinks, while earlier bedtimes were associated with lower intake of regular
soft drinks and higher intake of energy drinks and sports drinks in this
international study of children. Future work is needed to establish
causality and to investigate underlying mechanisms.
Carer and clinician perceptions of the use of emergency medical services by people with dementia: a qualitative study
Authors: Voss Sarah , Brandling Janet , Black Sarah , Cheston Rik , Cullum Sarah , Iliffe Steve , Purdy Sarah , Benger Jonathan
Published: April 2018

A growing number of older people are accessing emergency medical services (EMS), and many calls to EMS are made by, or on behalf of, people with dementia. Their needs are frequently complex; however, EMS staff are often given minimal guidance on ensuring patient safety, accurate diagnosis, and timely transfer to the most appropriate care. This study aimed to qualitatively explore the EMS experiences of carers for people with dementia and assess the views of EMS staff on the management of dementia, using focus groups and interviews. Themes were focussed on the circumstances surrounding EMS calls to people with dementia. These can prove frustrating due to a lack of information sharing, limited alternatives to hospital attendance and the amount of time that it can take to meet the complex needs of a person with dementia.
The Analogue Method Comes Unfastened – The Awkward Space between Market and Non-Market Economies in EC–Fasteners (Article 21.5)
Authors: ESPA ILARIA , LEVY PHILIP I.
Published: April 2018

The compliance Appellate Body decision marks the latest twist in the long-running EC–Fasteners dispute. The question before the AB is whether the European Union complied with earlier rulings on its anti-dumping procedures. Broadly, the AB found that the EU had not, generally ruling in favor of the People's Republic of China. In the process, the AB raised interesting questions about what it means to be a Non-Market Economy (NME) in the WTO. While NME status has traditionally led to large dumping margins, the AB approach in this case may lessen the consequences for China. Among other things, the case raises the interesting and important question of how pervasive the taint of NME status may be when calculating margins. By allowing for adjustments of certain costs, the AB seems to constrain the more draconian analogue country methodology of calculation.
WTO Case Law 2016
Authors: BOWN CHAD P. , MAVROIDIS PETROS C.
Published: April 2018

The WTO adjudicating bodies faced some very tough questions in 2016: the status of non-market economies, the consistency of policies aiming to address tax evasion with the WTO, and the clash between environment and trade policies were all on the menu. Old issues, like the consistency of zeroing, resurfaced as well, albeit with a twist this time, since the Appellate Body (AB) had to address the question whether zeroing is consistent with the WTO when practiced in the realm of a methodology that was so far untested.
Colombia – Measures Relating to the Importation of Textiles, Apparel and Footwear (DS461)
Authors: FRANCOIS JOSEPH , WHITTAKER JANET
Published: April 2018

In this paper, we examine the recent WTO dispute Colombia – Measures Relating to the Importation of Textiles, Apparel and Footwear. The dispute centers on the appropriate use of trade measures to target trade-related money laundering, the WTO consistency of such measures, and an ancillary question of appropriate time for remedies to be applied. The economics of the measures employed do not directly target the ostensible justification for the measures, while Colombia failed to convince the Panel and Appellate Body of key points related to the necessity of the measures taken. There has been success targeting trade-related money laundering following from cooperation of customs authorities and financial regulators to more directly target the agents involved. There may be a role for the WTO, in the form of steps taken to encourage such cooperation (as in Argentina – Measures Relating to Trade in Goods and Services). The basic lesson is that second best, blunt, and likely misdirected policies are not easily justified at the WTO, though more direct measures may be.
UNRAMIFIEDNESS OF GALOIS REPRESENTATIONS ATTACHED TO HILBERT MODULAR FORMS MOD OF WEIGHT 1
Authors: Dimitrov Mladen , Wiese Gabor
Published: April 2018

The main result of this article states that the Galois representation attached to a Hilbert modular eigenform defined over $\overline{\mathbb{F}}_{p}$of parallel weight 1 and level prime to$p$is unramified above $p$. This includes the important case of eigenforms that do not lift to Hilbert modular forms in characteristic 0 of parallel weight 1. The proof is based on the observation that parallel weight 1 forms in characteristic $p$embed into the ordinary part of parallel weight $p$forms in two different ways per prime dividing $p$, namely via ‘partial’ Frobenius operators.
Population and quantitative genomic properties of the USDA soybean germplasm collection
Authors: Xavier Alencar , Thapa Rima , Muir William M. , Rainey Katy Martin
Published: April 2018

This study is the first assessment of the entire soybean [Glycine max(L.) Merr] collection of the United State Department of Agriculture National Plant Germplasm System (USDA) reporting quantitative and population genomic parameters. It also provides a new insight into soybean germplasm structure. Germplasm studies enable plant breeders to incorporate novel genetic resources into breeding pipelines to improve valuable agronomic traits. We conducted comprehensive analyses on the 19,652 soybean accessions in the USDA-ARS germplasm collection, genotyped with the SoySNP50 K iSelect BeadChip SNP array, to elucidate the quantitative properties of existing subpopulations inferred through hierarchical clustering performed with Ward'sDagglomeration method and Nei's standard genetic distance. We found the effective population size to be approximately 106 individuals based on the linkage disequilibrium of unlinked loci. The cladogram indicated the existence of eight major clusters. Each cluster displays particular properties with regard to major quantitative traits. Among those, cluster 3 represents the tropical and semi-tropical genetic material, cluster 5 displays large seeds and may represent food-grade germplasm, and cluster 7 represents the undomesticated material in the germplasm collection. The averageFSTamong clusters was 0.22 and a total of 914 SNPs were exclusive to specific clusters. Our classification and characterization of the germplasm collection into major clusters provides valuable information about the genetic resources available to soybean breeders and researchers.
“That's Not the Only Reason We Love Him”: Tchaikovskii Reception in Post-Soviet Russia
Authors: Bullock Philip Ross
Published: April 2018

This article examines the writing and reception of Tchaikovskii's biography in Russia since 1991, arguing that there has been a constant tension between documentary approaches to the composer's life on the one hand, and popular responses that have frequently resisted scholarly narratives on the other. After the Soviet collapse, a number of former taboos relating to Tchaikovskii's life were lifted, including his homosexuality. Documentary sources began to appear in print, including unexpurgated editions of his letters and diaries. Yet this process has not been without its detractors. Alongside a general tendency to decry the publication and citation of intimate personal correspondence, there have been a number of attempts in the popular press to “disprove” that Tchaikovskii was a homosexual. Social media have proved to be a further site for the discussion of these issues, disseminating the findings of scholarly literature to a readership far wider than originally anticipated. By way of conclusion, it will be suggested that one of the fundamental reasons for the frequent denial of Tchaikovskii's sexuality is that the cause of equal rights is in tension with current trends in Russian politics and society.
Identity, Belonging and Solidarity among Russian-speaking Queer Migrants in Berlin
Authors: Mole Richard C. M.
Published: April 2018

Drawing on the experience of Russian-speaking queer migrants in Berlin, the article furthers our understanding of queer migration by analyzing the motivations and integration strategies of LGBQ migrants, as well as their attempts to maintain and perform both their sexual and national identities in the post-migration context. The risk that they could be doubly marginalized—as ethnic minorities within the host society and sexual minorities in the established diasporic community—led to the establishment ofQuarteera, a forum for Russian-speaking queers to perform and maintain both their sexual and ethno-cultural identities and give and receive social and psychological support, as well as a channel for expressing feelings of solidarity towards other Russian-speaking queers in the post-Soviet homeland. A further contribution of the article is thus highlighting the benefit of “queer diaspora” as a heuristic device to think about identity, belonging, and solidarity among sexual minorities in the context of dispersal and transnational networks.
The Maiden and the Wolf: Law, Gender, and Sexual Violence in Imperial Russia
Authors: Antonova Katherine Pickering , Antonov Sergei
Published: April 2018

This article is a close reading of an 1859 court case from Moscow, in which a young orphaned noblewoman accused a much older, wealthier, and better-connected man. It situates the case in its cultural context among the striving middling classes of Moscow on the eve of the Great Reforms, revealing deeply fractured understandings of respectability, civic versus private spaces, masculine violence, and personal safety that permeated Russia's urban classes. Legally, the trial's outcome is not as surprising as the sharply conflicted reasoning of pre-reform judges. Each of the three tiers in the court system produced a radically different decision, pitching the obvious facts of the case against the state's pressure to convict the rapist and pre-reform Russia's supposedly archaic—but actually quite flexible—evidence law. Ultimately, the article argues that this noblewoman was able to use notions of female honor and domesticity in her favor, while the accused's status did not entirely serve to protect him where the need to protect male status conflicted with concerns over the dangers of westernization and modernization.
Continent‐Ocean Transition Across the Northeastern Nova Scotian Margin From a Dense Wide‐Angle Seismic Profile
Authors: Lau K. W. H. , Nedimović Mladen R. , Louden Keith E.
Published: April 2018

To improve constraints on rifting processes resulting in the formation of the southeastern Canadian margin, we interpret the most detailed regional 2‐D velocity model from offshore Nova Scotia constructed using wide‐angle OETR‐2009 data. This 405‐km‐long profile was collected with 78 ocean bottom seismometers. The presented data analysis and interpretation are supported by a reflection image from the coincident long streamer GXT‐2000 profile. We identify a continental zone where the full‐thickness (~30 km), three‐layered continental crust beneath the inner shelf thins sharply seaward by a listric fault that forms a 12‐km‐deep Huron Subbasin beneath a high‐velocity carbonate bank (~5.8 km/s), creating a shadow zone above tilted crustal blocks. Depth‐dependent and variable initial thinning is evidenced in all three modeled crustal layers, which, nevertheless, pinch out together at their seaward ends. More gradual and regional thinning and a local amagmatic thickening are modeled seaward beneath the slope until 70 km from the shelf break, beyond which a deepwater amagmatic continent‐ocean transition shows velocity characteristics not typical of either continental or oceanic crust. The 100‐km‐wide continent‐ocean transition is characterized by a low‐velocity (5.3–5.4 km/s), low gradient, <2‐km thick upper crust, above a high‐velocity (6.3–7.5 km/s), high gradient, <5‐km‐thick lower crust, which can be interpreted as moderately serpentinized mantle. Underneath this layer is a <5‐km‐thick low‐velocity (7.1–8.0 km/s) partially serpentinized mantle layer. A ~5‐km‐thick oceanic crust is modeled seaward. Our results suggest that amagmatic processes dominated the continental breakup in this area.
Simulation of Wave‐Current Interactions Under Hurricane Conditions Using an Unstructured‐Grid Model: Impacts on Ocean Waves
Authors: Sun Yujuan , Perrie William , Toulany Bechara
Published: April 2018

The effect of wave‐current interactions on ocean waves under hurricane conditions is investigated through application of the unstructured‐grid finite‐volume community ocean model (FVCOM) coupled to the unstructured‐grid surface wave model (SWAVE) in the North Atlantic Ocean. We study wave‐current interactions during the life cycles of extratropical hurricanes Juan (2003) and Bill (2009) as they propagate from subtropical waters to midlatitudes in the Northwest Atlantic. Simulations of wave parameters in each hurricane are shown to compare well with buoy and satellite altimeter observations, in terms of winds, significant wave heights, wave energy spectra, and wave directions. This is partially achieved by restricting the drag coefficient. It is well known that the maximum intensity of tropical cyclones depends on the ratio of the enthalpy coefficient to the drag coefficient. The latter increases with wind speed, levels off with category one hurricanes and may drop for even higher winds. In our study, we find that setting a limiting value on the drag coefficient improves the simulations of waves at peak storm intensities. Simulation of wave‐current interactions is also shown to improve the simulation of the wave heights and wave energy spectra. This is notable at the peak of the storms, in comparisons with observations from buoys in areas of both deep water and relatively shallow water. The effect of currents on significant wave heights is shown to reach 0.4 m for hurricane Juan and 1.0 m for hurricane Bill, or as much as about ±10% for wave heights distributed along the storm track.
Characteristics of Water Vapor Turbulence Profiles in Convective Boundary Layers During the Dry and Wet Seasons Over Darwin
Authors: Osman M. K. , Turner D. D. , Heus T. , Newsom R.
Published: April 2018

This study explores water vapor turbulence in the convective boundary layer (CBL) using the Raman lidar observations from the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement site located at Darwin, Australia. An autocovariance technique was used to separate out the random instrument error from the atmospheric variability during time periods when the CBL is cloud‐free, quasi‐stationary, and well mixed. We identified 45 cases, comprising of 8 wet and 37 dry seasons events, over the 5‐year data record period. The dry season in Darwin is known by warm and dry sunny days, while the wet season is characterized by high humidity and monsoonal rains. The inherent variability of the latter resulted in a more limited number of cases during the wet season. Profiles of the integral scale, variance, coefficient of the structure function, and skewness were analyzed and compared with similar observations from the Raman lidar at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Southern Great Plains (SGP) site. The wet season shows larger median variance profiles than the dry season, while the median profile of the variance from the dry season and the SGP site are found to be more comparable particularly between 0.4 and 0.75 zi. The variance and coefficient of the structure function show qualitatively the same vertical pattern. Furthermore, deeper CBL, larger gradient of water vapor mixing ratio at zi, and the strong correlation with the water vapor variance at zi are seen during the dry season. The median value in the skewness is mostly positive below 0.6 zi unlike the SGP site.
International Students’ Journeys From Academic Probation to Academic Success
Authors: Poyrazli Senel , Isaiah Jamiela
Published: April 2018

The purpose of this study was to determine factors that contribute to international students’ academic failure and positive factors that help students recover grades. Interviews were conducted with 21 international students who were on academic probation and had since recovered their grades. In this present qualitative study, we used conventional content analysis to uncover common themes. A major negative factor was the lack of adult supervision in academic and personal life. Other negative factors included unfamiliarity with the U.S. school system, culture shock, difficulty adjusting to different climates, and language barriers. Common positive factors included attending professors’ office hours, asking questions in class, seeking tutoring, and making friends. Professor characteristics such as being approachable, showing concern for student’s success, and having an engaging teaching style helped the students succeed academically.
Adolescent and Adult Time Inventory-Time Attitude Scales: Validity and Contributions to Physical Activity and Self-Concept in Spanish Adolescents
Authors: Konowalczyk Svenja , Mello Zena R. , Röske Lisa A. S. , Buhl Monika , Heim Rüdiger , Worrell Frank C.
Published: April 2018

In this study, we examined the psychometric properties for the time attitude subscales of the Adolescent and Adult Time Inventory-Time Attitude Scale–Spanish (AATI-TA–Spanish). We sought to determine the internal consistency, structural validity, gender and age invariance, and convergent validity of scores on the six subscales: Past Positive, Past Negative, Present Positive, Present Negative, Future Positive, and Future Negative. Participants were 789 Spanish adolescents. Reliability estimates indicated high internal consistency across the subscales. Confirmatory factor analyses provided strong support for the theorized 6-factor structure. Configural, metric, and scalar invariance was demonstrated for gender and early and late adolescent groups. Convergent validity was shown for physical activity and self-concept. Overall, results provided strong psychometric evidence that Adolescent and Adult Time Inventory-Time Attitude Scale–Spanish scores may be used effectively with Spanish adolescents.
Psychologists’ Involvement in Repressive “Stasi” Secret Police Activities in Former East Germany
Authors: Maercker Andreas , Guski-Leinwand Susanne
Published: April 2018

The use of psychology within the context of intelligence or secret services around the world creates ethical issues that inherently erode psychology’s professional standards. The historic case of the East German “Stasi” secret police provides the opportunity to systematically study such clandestine abuses of psychology, as the Stasi archives are open and accessible. We present information on the structure and function of the Department of Operative Psychology at the former Academy of the Ministry for State Security (Stasi). This includes an outline of its history, corporate identity, curricula, research agenda, and academic (post-)graduation theses. The current article identifies and outlines practical secret police applications such as operational procedures, interrogation techniques, and proscription methods—some of which is subsumed in the Stasi term Zersetzung (decomposition of personalities). Finally, these findings will be discussed with regard to the professional ethics codes of psychologists. We outline recommendations for further scientific examination of this historic case sample and how to prevent this abuse of psychologists and psychological knowledge in the future.
Smad proteins differentially regulate obesity-induced glucose and lipid abnormalities and inflammation via class-specific control of AMPK-related kinase MPK38/MELK activity
Authors: Seong Hyun-A , Manoharan Ravi , Ha Hyunjung
Published: April 2018

Smad proteins have been implicated in metabolic processes, but little is known about how they regulate metabolism. Because Smad 2, 3, 4, and 7 have previously been shown to interact with murine protein serine–threonine kinase 38 (MPK38), an AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK)-related kinase that has been implicated in obesity-associated metabolic defects, we investigated whether Smad proteins regulate metabolic processes via MPK38. Smads2/3/4 increased, but Smad7 decreased, MPK38-mediated apoptosis signal-regulating kinase-1 (ASK1)/transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/p53 signaling. However, MPK38-mediated phosphorylation-defective Smad mutants (Smad2 S245A, Smad3 S204A, Smad4 S343A, and Smad7 T96A) had no such effect. In addition, Smads2/3/4 increased, but Smad7 decreased, the stability of MPK38. Consistent with this, Smads2/3/4 attenuated complex formation between MPK38 and its negative regulator thioredoxin (Trx), whereas Smad7 increased this complex formation. However, an opposite effect was observed on complex formation between MPK38 and its positive regulator zinc-finger-like protein 9 (ZPR9). When Smads were overexpressed in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed obese mice using an adenoviral delivery system, Smads2/3/4 improved, but Smad7 worsened, obesity-associated metabolic parameters and inflammation in a MPK38 phosphorylation-dependent manner. These findings suggest that Smad proteins have class-specific impacts on obesity-associated metabolism by differentially regulating MPK38 activity in diet-induced obese mice.
LincRNA 1700020I14Rik alleviates cell proliferation and fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy via miR-34a-5p/Sirt1/HIF-1α signaling
Authors: Li Ailing , Peng Rui , Sun Yan , Liu Handeng , Peng Huimin , Zhang Zheng
Published: April 2018

Long intergenic noncoding RNAs (lincRNAs) have been gradually identified to be functional in a variety of different mechanisms associating with development and epigenetic regulation of cellular homeostasis. However, the study of lincRNAs in diabetic nephropathy (DN) is still in its infancy. Here, we have found dysexpressed long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in renal tissues of db/db DN mice compared with db/m mice by RNA sequencing. In this study, 5 lincRNAs were confirmed to express in a consistent trend among these DN-related lncRNAs both in vivo and in vitro. Particularly, 1700020I14Rik was the downregulated one. Moreover, our data showed overexpression or knockdown of 1700020I14Rik could regulate cell proliferation and fibrosis in mouse mesangial cells (MCs). Furthermore, 1700020I14Rik was found to interact with miR-34a-5p via both the directly targeting way by bioinformatic investigation and luciferase assay and the Ago2-dependent manner by RIP assay. Results also displayed that overexpression of 1700020I14Rik inhibited cell proliferation and expressions of renal fibrosis markers through miR-34a-5p/Sirt1/HIF-1α pathway in MCs under high glucose condition, while knockdown of 1700020I14Rik could increase cell proliferation and expressions of renal fibrosis markers. In conclusion, these results provide new insights into the regulation between 1700020I14Rik and miR-34a-5p/Sirt1/HIF-1α signaling pathway during the progression of DN.
The deubiquitinating enzyme UCHL1 negatively regulates the immunosuppressive capacity and survival of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells
Authors: Gu Yuting , Ding Xinyuan , Huang Jiefang , Xue Mingxing , Zhang Jie , Wang Qiwei , Yu Hongshuang , Wang Yanan , Zhao Fang , Wang Hui , Jin Min , Wu Yeming , Zhang Yanyun
Published: April 2018

It is known that proinflammatory cytokines empower multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) the immunosuppressive capacity to treat various inflammatory diseases. Nevertheless, how the proinflammatory cytokines modulate the immunosuppressive capacity of MSCs is poorly understood. In the present study, we identified that the deubiquitinating enzyme ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase 1 (UCHL1) was upregulated in MSCs upon stimulation of proinflammatory cytokines IFN-γ plus TNF-α. Interestingly, through intervening UCHL1 by shRNA knockdown or its inhibitor LDN57444 or overexpression, we found that UCHL1 played a critical role in suppressing cytokines-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in murine MSCs and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase expression in human MSCs, thereby restrained their immunosuppressive capacity. This effect of UCHL1 was attributed to the negative role in regulating NF-κB and STAT1 signaling, as exhibited by promoting NF-κB and STAT1 activation upon inhibition of UCHL1. Besides, inhibition of UCHL1 suppressed cytokines-induced MSC apoptosis via upregulation of Bcl-2. As a consequence, UCHL1-inhibited MSCs effectively alleviated concanavalin A-induced inflammatory liver injury. Therefore, our study demonstrates a novel role of UCHL1 in regulating the immunosuppressive capacity and survival of MSCs, which further affects their immunotherapy for inflammatory diseases.
Whole-exome sequencing of cell-free DNA and circulating tumor cells in multiple myeloma
Authors: Manier S. , Park J. , Capelletti M. , Bustoros M. , Freeman S. S. , Ha G. , Rhoades J. , Liu C. J. , Huynh D. , Reed S. C. , Gydush G. , Salem K. Z. , Rotem D. , Freymond C. , Yosef A. , Perilla-Glen A. , Garderet L. , Van Allen E. M. , Kumar S. , Love J. C. , Getz G. , Adalsteinsson V. A. , Ghobrial I. M.
Published: April 2018

Liquid biopsies including circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) have enabled minimally invasive characterization of many cancers, but are rarely analyzed together. Understanding the detectability and genomic concordance of CTCs and cfDNA may inform their use in guiding cancer precision medicine. Here, we report the detectability of cfDNA and CTCs in blood samples from 107 and 56 patients with multiple myeloma (MM), respectively. Using ultra-low pass whole-genome sequencing, we find both tumor fractions correlate with disease progression. Applying whole-exome sequencing (WES) to cfDNA, CTCs, and matched tumor biopsies, we find concordance in clonal somatic mutations (~99%) and copy number alterations (~81%) between liquid and tumor biopsies. Importantly, analyzing CTCs and cfDNA together enables cross-validation of mutations, uncovers mutations exclusive to either CTCs or cfDNA, and allows blood-based tumor profiling in a greater fraction of patients. Our study demonstrates the utility of analyzing both CTCs and cfDNA in MM.
Deconvolution of subcellular protrusion heterogeneity and the underlying actin regulator dynamics from live cell imaging
Authors: Wang Chuangqi , Choi Hee June , Kim Sung-Jin , Desai Aesha , Lee Namgyu , Kim Dohoon , Bae Yongho , Lee Kwonmoo
Published: April 2018

Cell protrusion is morphodynamically heterogeneous at the subcellular level. However, the mechanism of cell protrusion has been understood based on the ensemble average of actin regulator dynamics. Here, we establish a computational framework called HACKS (deconvolution of heterogeneous activity in coordination of cytoskeleton at the subcellular level) to deconvolve the subcellular heterogeneity of lamellipodial protrusion from live cell imaging. HACKS identifies distinct subcellular protrusion phenotypes based on machine-learning algorithms and reveals their underlying actin regulator dynamics at the leading edge. Using our method, we discover “accelerating protrusion”, which is driven by the temporally ordered coordination of Arp2/3 and VASP activities. We validate our finding by pharmacological perturbations and further identify the fine regulation of Arp2/3 and VASP recruitment associated with accelerating protrusion. Our study suggests HACKS can identify specific subcellular protrusion phenotypes susceptible to pharmacological perturbation and reveal how actin regulator dynamics are changed by the perturbation.
Limits on determining the skill of North Atlantic Ocean decadal predictions
Authors: Menary Matthew B. , Hermanson Leon
Published: April 2018

The northern North Atlantic is important globally both through its impact on the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and through widespread atmospheric teleconnections. The region has been shown to be potentially predictable a decade ahead with the skill of decadal predictions assessed against reanalyses of the ocean state. Here, we show that the prediction skill in this region is strongly dependent on the choice of reanalysis used for validation, and describe the causes. Multiannual skill in key metrics such as Labrador Sea density and the AMOC depends on more than simply the choice of the prediction model. Instead, this skill is related to the similarity between the nature of interannual density variability in the underlying climate model and the chosen reanalysis. The climate models used in these decadal predictions are also used in climate projections, which raises questions about the sensitivity of these projections to the models’ innate North Atlantic density variability.