bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Abstract POSTER-TECH-1130: Identification of putative genes involved in early steps of epithelial ovarian cancer pathogenesis
Authors: Tamimi Yahya , Burney Ikram , Al-Kalbani Moza , Lakhtari Ritu , Godbout Roseline , Al-Moundhri Mansour
Published: August 2015

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is a deadly q disease and the related statistics are alarming with 15000 lives claimed in USA each year. EOC is a subtle disease since the majority of patients at presentation are diagnosed with a higher stage disease characterized by an aggressive potential. Early diagnosis seems to be of importance since complete cure can reach up to 90% if the disease is diagnosed at an early stage. Therefore, biological markers to detect patients at an early stage of the disease progression are urgently needed. In this study, the focus was centered on the transcription factor E2F5 used as biomarker and highly expressed at early stages of EOC pathogenesis. Therefore, we hypothesize that downstream genes regulated by this transcription factor might be also involved in the early events leading to ovarian cancer and can therefore potentially serve as useful biomarkers.

Chromatin Immuno-Precipitation (ChIP) was performed using two ovarian cancer cell lines SK-OV-3 and OVCAR-3 and an antibody against E2F5 transcription factor.

The enriched chromatin was cloned and sequenced before using available databases for BLAST and identification of downstream regulated genes.

A short list of relevant genes, all involved in cancer, was obtained and analysis for their putative role in early detection of EOC is ongoing. The selected genes will be also validated using frozen human ovarian tissues available in our institution.

ChIP is a robust technology to identify genes regulated by E2F5 with a putative potential to play a crucial role in the early steps of ovarian cancer pathogenesis.

Citation Format: Yahya Tamimi, Ikram Burney, Moza Al-Kalbani, Ritu Lakhtari, Roseline Godbout, Mansour Al-Moundhri. Identification of putative genes involved in early steps of epithelial ovarian cancer pathogenesis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 10th Biennial Ovarian Cancer Research Symposium; Sep 8-9, 2014; Seattle, WA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2015;21(16 Suppl):Abstract nr POSTER-TECH-1130.
Abstract POSTER-THER-1403: FZD7 drives aggressiveness in stem-A subtype of ovarian cancer via regulation of non-canonical Wnt/PCP pathway
Authors: Asad Mohammad , Kang Wong Meng , Zea Tan Tuan , Choolani Mahesh , Low Jeffery , Mori Seiichi , Thiery Jean Paul , Huang Ruby Yun-Ju
Published: August 2015

Ovarian cancer (OC) can be classified into five biologically distinct molecular subgroups—Epi-A, Epi-B, Mes, Stem-A and Stem-B. Among them, Stem-A expresses genes relating to stemness and is correlated with poor clinical prognosis. In this study, we show that FZD7, a receptor for Wnt signalling, is overexpressed in the Stem-A subgroup. To elucidate the functional roles of FZD7, we used an RNA interference (RNAi) gene knockdown approach in three Stem-A cell lines: CH1, PA1 and OV-17R. Si-FZD7 OC cells showed reduced cell proliferation with an increase in the G0/G1 subpopulation, with no effect on apoptosis. The cells also displayed a distinctive morphological change by colony compaction to become more epithelial-like and polarised with smaller inter-nuclear distances and increased z-axis height. Immunofluorescence (IF) staining patterns of pan-cadherin and β-catenin suggested an increase in cadherin-based cell-cell adhesion in si-FZD7 cells. We also observed a significant rearrangement in the actin cytoskeleton and an increase in tensile contractility in si-FZD7 OC cells, as evident by the loss of stress fibres and the redistribution of phospho-myosin light chain (pMLC) from the sites of cell-cell contacts to the periphery of cell colonies. Furthermore, there was reciprocal regulation of RhoA and Rac1 activities upon FZD7 knockdown, with a significant reduction in RhoA activity and a concomitant up-regulation in Rac1 activity. These changes in pMLC and RhoA as well as the increased TOPFLASH reporter activities in si-FZD7 cells suggested involvement of the non-canonical Wnt/planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway. Selected PCP pathway genes (CELSR3, PRICKLE4, DAAM1, PFN2, PCDH9, PCDHA1, PCDHB17, PCDHB3, SPRY1, and PTK7) were found to be more highly expressed in Stem-A than non Stem-A subgroup of OC. Taken together, our results suggest that FZD7 might drive aggressiveness in Stem-A OC by regulating cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, maintenance of the mesenchymal phenotype, and cell migration via CK1ϵ-mediated non-canonical Wnt/PCP pathway.

Citation Format: Mohammad Asad, Wong Meng Kang, Tan Tuan Zea, Mahesh Choolani, Jeffery Low, Seiichi Mori, Jean Paul Thiery, Ruby Yun-Ju Huang. FZD7 drives aggressiveness in stem-A subtype of ovarian cancer via regulation of non-canonical Wnt/PCP pathway [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 10th Biennial Ovarian Cancer Research Symposium; Sep 8-9, 2014; Seattle, WA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2015;21(16 Suppl):Abstract nr POSTER-THER-1403.
Abstract POSTER-THER-1418: PD-1 mediated paralysis of ovarian cancer infiltrating dendritic cells
Authors: Karyampudi Lavakumar , Krempski James , Lamichhane Purushottam , Kalli Kimberly R. , Behrens Marshall D. , Vargas Doris M. , Hartmann Lynn C , Hedin Karen E , Goode Ellen L. , Knutson Keith L.
Published: August 2015

Purpose: It is well known that the immune system impacts the clinical course of ovarian cancer suggesting that immune-based approaches may effective in treating the disease. This has led to several clinical trials of novel treatments such as antibody, vaccine, and adoptive T cell therapy. PD-1:PD-L1 axis is a major immune regulatory pathway that blunts immune effectors in the tumor microenvironment. It is well known that high surface expression of PD-1 on tumor infiltrating T cells is a sign of their exhaustion. However, the complete mechanism behind the PD-1 regulation of T cell exhaustion is yet to be explored. Recently we identified that PD-1 is also expressed on ovarian tumor-infiltrating myeloid dendritic cells (DCs) that exhibit an immunosuppressive phenotype. Our goal in this study was to understand the mechanism by which PD-1 mediates the paralysis of ovarian cancer infiltrating DCs.

Experimental procedures: PD-1+ DCs obtained from ID8 mouse model of ovarian cancer were used in this study. Data from this preclinical model was confirmed by using myeloid DCs obtained from ovarian cancer patient’s samples. Using standard flow cytometry, immunoassays (ELISA, multiplexed cytokine assay), PCR array, western blot and confocal microscopy, PD-1 mediated paralysis of ovarian cancer DCs was determined.

Results: Our data shows that blockade of surface PD-1 on ovarian cancer infiltrating DCs results in their activation by, enhancing their surface co-stimulatory molecules expression, increasing their motility, enhancing their antigen presentation capacity, and increasing their production of immunostimulatory cytokines. Also, our results suggest that PD-1 expressed on tumor DCs mediates the suppression of NFkB which occurs through SHP-2 and IKK dependent mechanisms.

Conclusion: Our study reveals that blockade of PD-1 on ovarian cancer infiltrating DCs results in the reversal of their paralysis to such an extent that it overrides their B7-H1 mediated suppression of T cells and this occurs through the reversal of PD-1 mediated tonic suppression of NFkB.

Citation Format: Lavakumar Karyampudi James Krempski, Purushottam Lamichhane, Kimberly R. Kalli, Marshall D. Behrens, Doris M. Vargas, Lynn C Hartmann, Karen E Hedin, Ellen L. Goode, Keith L. Knutson. PD-1 mediated paralysis of ovarian cancer infiltrating dendritic cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 10th Biennial Ovarian Cancer Research Symposium; Sep 8-9, 2014; Seattle, WA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2015;21(16 Suppl):Abstract nr POSTER-THER-1418.
Abstract POSTER-THER-1428: Effects of atypical PKC inhibitors on ovarian cancer proliferation and RNA levels
Authors: Shah Minjel , Apostolatos Christopher , Apostolatos Hercules , Acevedo-Duncan Mildred
Published: August 2015

Ovarian cancers are highly lethal tumors which account for approximately four percent of all women’s cancers and are the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death among women. At diagnosis the majority of patients have metastatic disease and the long-term survival remains low. Certain ovarian cancers are highly lethal tumors due to the emergence of therapy-resistant ovarian cancer cells. Protein kinase C-iota (PKC-ι) has been shown to aid in the ability of cancer cells to resist drug-induced apoptosis. Recently, it has been reported that PKC-ι which is located in chromosome 3 at 3q26.2 is the most common genomic amplicon as identified by comparative genomic hybridization [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 102:12519–12524(2005)]. Additionally, an increase in PKC-ι DNA copy number was associated with decreased progression-free survival of ovarian cancer patients. Moreover, only PKC-ι gene amplification is highly correlated with protein overexpression, tumor size, lymph node metastasis and clinical stage out of four genes studied on the 3q26 amplification [Genes Chromosomes Cancer 47:127-136(2008)]. The focus of this research was to determine the in-vitro efficacy of the pan-atypical PKC inhibitor, 2-acetyl-1,3-cyclopentanedione (ACPD; Diabetes. 2014 Apr 4) and the novel PKC-iota inhibitor, ICA-1, (1H-imidazole-4-carboxamide, 5-amino-1-[2,3-dihydroxy-4-[(phosphonooxy) methyl]cyclopentyl]-,[1R-(1α, 2β, 3 β, 4 α) [The Inter. J. Biochem. & Cell Biol. 43:784-794(2011)] on HEY ovarian cancer cell proliferation and RNA concentration. In contrast to ACPD which inhibits both PKC-ι and PKC-zeta (PKC-ζ), ICA-1 specifically inhibits the activity of PKC-ι but not (PKC-ζ). The effects of ACPD and ICA-1on HEY proliferation was quantified by Trypan blue exclusion assay. RNA was isolated from treated and untreated cells using the Rneasy Mini Kit and protocol. Total RNA concentration was estimated using the NanoDrop1000 Spectrophotometer. Results showed that incubation of HEY ovarian cancer cells with ICA-1(1 μm) decreased proliferation by 41% compared to controls at 72 hours post-treatment. ICA-1(2 μM) reduced RNA levels by 17% at 72 hours post-treatment compared to controls. In contrast, ACPD (2 μM) inhibited proliferation by 82% compared to controls and RNA levels were reduced by 97% at 24 hours post-treatment. These results suggest the potential of ICA-1 and ACPD as chemotherapeutic agents.

Citation Format: Minjel Shah, Christopher Apostolatos, Hercules Apostolatos, Mildred Acevedo-Duncan. Effects of atypical PKC inhibitors on ovarian cancer proliferation and RNA levels [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 10th Biennial Ovarian Cancer Research Symposium; Sep 8-9, 2014; Seattle, WA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2015;21(16 Suppl):Abstract nr POSTER-THER-1428.
KDM6B Elicits Cell Apoptosis by Promoting Nuclear Translocation of FOXO1 in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Ma Jun , Wang Ning , Zhang Yurong , Wang Cun , Ge Tianxiang , Jin Haojie , Deng Xuan , Huo Xisong , Gu Dishui , Ge Zhouhong , Chu Wei , Jiang Liyan , Qin Wenxin
Published: August 2015

Background/Aims: Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer and the cause of most cancer-related deaths. The molecular mechanisms that are involved in NSCLC development are currently not well understood. Accumulating evidence shows that histone demethylases play important roles in the regulation of pathological developmental processes in many diseases, including various types of cancers. Methods: Mitochondrial membrane potential assays, migration and invasion assays, caspase-3 and caspase-9 activity assays and western blot analysis were used in this research. Results: We found that overexpression of KDM6B, a demethylase that acts on histone H3 at lysine 27 (H3K27), inhibited cell growth by initiating mitochondria-dependent apoptosis and by attenuating the invasion-metastasis cascade in NSCLC cells. Moreover, our results showed that KDM6B directly interacted with FOXO1 and that overexpression of KDM6B promoted nuclear accumulation of FOXO1. The effects of KDM6B on cell apoptosis and metastasis were weakened by knockdown of FOXO1 expression. On the contrary, knocking down expression of KDM6B inhibited cell apoptosis and promoted cell growth by mitigating the nuclear translocation of FOXO1 in NSCLC cells. Conclusions: These findings suggest that KDM6B may act in a pro-apoptotic role in NSCLC by causing the nuclear translocation of FOXO1.
The Retina of Ansorge's Cusimanse (Crossarchus ansorgei): Number, Topography and Convergence of Photoreceptors and Ganglion Cells in Relation to Ecology and Behavior
Authors: Coimbra João Paulo , Kaswera-Kyamakya Consolate , Gilissen Emmanuel , Manger Paul R. , Collin Shaun P.
Published: August 2015

The family Herpestidae (cusimanses and mongooses) is a monophyletic radiation of carnivores with remarkable variation in microhabitat occupation and diel activity, but virtually nothing is known about how they use vision in the context of their behavioral ecology. In this paper, we measured the number and topographic distribution of neurons (rods, cones and retinal ganglion cells) and estimated the spatial resolving power of the eye of the diurnal, forest-dwelling Ansorge's cusimanse (Crossarchus ansorgei). Using retinal wholemounts and stereology, we found that rods are more numerous (42,500,000; 92%) than cones (3,900,000; 8%). Rod densities form a concentric and dorsotemporally asymmetric plateau that matches the location and shape of a bright yellow tapetum lucidum located within the dorsal aspect of the eye. Maximum rod density (340,300 cells/mm2) occurs within an elongated plateau below the optic disc that corresponds to a transitional region between the tapetum lucidum and the pigmented choroid. Cone densities form a temporal area with a peak density of 44,500 cells/mm2 embedded in a weak horizontal streak that matches the topographic distribution of retinal ganglion cells. Convergence ratios of cones to retinal ganglion cells vary from 50:1 in the far periphery to 3:1 in the temporal area. With a ganglion cell peak density of 13,400 cells/mm2 and an eye size of 11 mm in axial length, we estimated upper limits of spatial resolution of 7.5-8 cycles/degree, which is comparable to other carnivores such as hyenas. In conclusion, we suggest that the topographic retinal traits described for Ansorge's cusimanse conform to a presumed carnivore retinal blueprint but also show variations that reflect its specific ecological needs.
Jewish Law, Scarcity of Sperm Donors and the Consequent Private Import of Sperm of Non-Jews by Israeli Women
Authors: Bokek-Cohen Ya''arit
Published: August 2015

Aim: The objective of this article is to explore how Israeli Jewish women cope with the religious prohibition on sperm donation and the scarcity of Israeli donors, and to estimate the number of available sperm donors in Israel. Methods: A key word search was employed to retrieve relevant Hebrew and English sources; additional information was collected via interviews with two sperm donors and twelve donor insemination patients. Results: Rabbinical instructions focus on married women and refrain from acknowledging the growing number of non-married donor insemination patients. Non-married women follow the restrictions relevant to married women and hence refrain from purchasing Jewish sperm. Israeli sperm banks offer donations of Jewish donors whose number is estimated at a maximum of 140 and a minimum of 50 for the entire Jewish population of 6.2 million. In order to abide by American Society for Reproductive Medicine recommendations, the number of available donors should optimally be six times larger. The scarcity of sperm donors drives the private import of American sperm donations. Conclusion: Reconsideration of the rabbinical prohibition to allow collecting sperm for donating to women who wish to have a baby is needed for the sake of increasing the donor pool, along with measures to ensure donors' privacy and dignity.
The Effects of All-Trans Retinoic Acid on the Induction of Oral Tolerance in a Murine Model of Bronchial Asthma
Authors: Sakamoto Hirotaka , Koya Toshiyuki , Tsukioka Keisuke , Shima Kenjiro , Watanabe Satoshi , Kagamu Hiroshi , Kimura Yosuke , Sakagami Takuro , Hasegawa Takashi , Suzuki Eiichi , Narita Ichiei
Published: August 2015

Background: Active suppression induced by regulatory T (Treg) cells is reported to be one of the mechanisms involved in oral tolerance. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) has been reported to affect Treg cell differentiation. The present study examined the effects of ATRA on the induction of oral tolerance in a murine model of bronchial asthma. Methods: BALB/c mice were sensitized to and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) through feeding followed by OVA challenges. In some study groups ATRA was orally administered concomitantly with OVA feeding either in the presence or absence of the retinoic acid receptor antagonist LE135. Lung CD4+ T cells were isolated from mice exposed to ATRA and/or OVA, and transferred to control mice. Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), cell counts and cytokine levels in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, and lung histology were assessed. Results: Concomitant administration of ATRA with OVA ameliorated AHR, airway eosinophilia, elevation of cytokines in BAL fluid and goblet cell metaplasia. The proportion of Treg cells in the lungs was increased in mice treated with OVA and ATRA, as compared to those treated with OVA only. Transfer of lung CD4+ T cells from mice treated with OVA and ATRA induced suppression of AHR and airway inflammation. LE135 completely reversed the effects of ATRA on AHR, airway allergic inflammation and the number of Treg cells in the lungs. Conclusion: These data suggested that oral administration of ATRA with OVA had the potential to enhance oral tolerance in this murine model of bronchial asthma. These effects were mediated, at least in part, by Treg cell expansion.
Phenotyping Stroke in Sub-Saharan Africa: Stroke Investigative Research and Education Network (SIREN) Phenomics Protocol
Authors: Akpalu Albert , Sarfo Fred Stephen , Ovbiagele Bruce , Akinyemi Rufus , Gebregziabher Mulugeta , Obiako Reginald , Owolabi Lukman , Sagoe Kwamena , Jenkins Carolyn , Arulogun Oyedunni , Adamu Sheila , Appiah Lambert T. , Adadey Martin A. , Agyekum Francis , Quansah Joseph A. , Mensah Yaw B. , Adeoye Abiodun M. , Singh Arti , Tosin Aridegbe O. , Ohifemen Osimhiarherhuo , Sani Abubabkar A. , Tabi-Ajayi Eric , Phillip Ibinaiye O. , Isah Suleiman Y. , Tabari Nasir A. , Mande Aliyu , Agunloye Atinuke M. , Ogbole Godwin I. , Akinyemi Joshua O. , Akpa Onoja M. , Laryea Ruth , Melikam Sylvia Ezinne , Adinku Dorcas , Uvere Ezinne , Burkett Nina-Serena , Adekunle Gregory F. , Kehinde Salaam I. , Azuh Paschal C. , Dambatta Abdul H. , Ishaq Naser A. , Arnett Donna , Tiwari Hemant K. , Lackland Dan , Owolabi Mayowa ,   on behalf of SIREN as part of the H3Africa Consortium
Published: August 2015

Background: As the second leading cause of death and the leading cause of adult-onset disability, stroke is a major public health concern particularly pertinent in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where nearly 80% of all global stroke mortalities occur, and stroke burden is projected to increase in the coming decades. However, traditional and emerging risk factors for stroke in SSA have not been well characterized, thus limiting efforts at curbing its devastating toll. The Stroke Investigative Research and Education Network (SIREN) project is aimed at comprehensively evaluating the key environmental and genomic risk factors for stroke (and its subtypes) in SSA while simultaneously building capacities in phenomics, biobanking, genomics, biostatistics, and bioinformatics for brain research. Methods: SIREN is a transnational, multicentre, hospital and community-based study involving 3,000 cases and 3,000 controls recruited from 8 sites in Ghana and Nigeria. Cases will be hospital-based patients with first stroke within 10 days of onset in whom neurovascular imaging will be performed. Etiological and topographical stroke subtypes will be documented for all cases. Controls will be hospital- and community-based participants, matched to cases on the basis of gender, ethnicity, and age (±5 years). Information will be collected on known and proposed emerging risk factors for stroke. Study Significance: SIREN is the largest study of stroke in Africa to date. It is anticipated that it will shed light on the phenotypic characteristics and risk factors of stroke and ultimately provide evidence base for strategic interventions to curtail the burgeoning burden of stroke on the sub-continent.
Investigation of the Endogenous Stress Response System in Patients with Chronic Schizophrenia
Authors: Monteleone Alessio Maria , Monteleone Palmiero , Di Filippo Carmela , Pellegrino Francesca , Grillo Francesco , Maj Mario
Published: August 2015

Objective: Cardiophysiological and neuroendocrine studies suggest that the two components of the endogenous stress response system, the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, are dysregulated in patients with schizophrenia. However, cardiophysiological measures are influenced by several confounding factors and the secretion of α-amylase in saliva is believed to represent a more reliable index of SNS activity. Therefore, to characterize the functional status of the SNS and HPA axis in schizophrenia we explored the concomitant salivary secretion of cortisol and α-amylase. Methods: Saliva cortisol and α-amylase levels were measured after awakening in 30 patients with chronic schizophrenia and 22 healthy subjects. Results: After awakening, saliva cortisol increased in a similar way in both patients and healthy controls, while saliva α-amylase concentrations showed a clear-cut decrease in healthy subjects but not in patients with schizophrenia. No significant correlation emerged between biochemical measures and patients' demographic or psychopathological characteristics. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate normal activity of the HPA axis with an enhanced SNS tone, which suggests a functional dissociation of the two components of the endogenous stress response system in patients with chronic schizophrenia. The pathophysiological significance of such dysregulation needs further studies to be clarified.
Early Glottic Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a 16-Year-Old: Case Report, Review of the Literature and Pediatric Head and Neck Radiotherapy Guidelines
Authors: Balakrishnan Rajesh , Chowdhury Qamruzzaman , Hussain Mohammed Astefchar , Hassan Arup Muhammad Masudul , Haque Nizamul , Sharmeen Fariah , Das Arunangshu , Naznin Bidoura
Published: August 2015

Squamous cell carcinoma in children and adolescents is extremely rare. Less than 80 case reports have been reported in the literature since it was first reported in 1868. In this article, we intend to report a case where a 16-year-old girl who presented with complaints of change in voice was found to have early-stage vocal cord carcinoma on evaluation.
Genetic Determinants of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms in the General Population
Authors: Peymani Abbas , Adams Hieab H.H. , Cremers Lotte G.M. , Krestin Gabriel , Hofman Albert , van Duijn Cornelia M. , Uitterlinden André G. , van der Lugt Aad , Vernooij Meike W. , Ikram M. Arfan
Published: August 2015

Background and Purpose—

Genome-wide association studies have identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for intracranial aneurysms in clinical samples. In addition, SNPs have been discovered for blood pressure, one of the strongest risk factors for intracranial aneurysms. We studied the role of these genetic variants on occurrence and size of unruptured intracranial aneurysms, discovered incidentally in a general community-dwelling population.

Methods—

In 4890 asymptomatic participants from the Rotterdam Study, 120 intracranial aneurysms were identified on brain imaging and segmented for maximum diameter and volume. Genetic risk scores (GRS) were calculated for intracranial aneurysms (10 SNPs), systolic blood pressure (33 SNPs), and diastolic blood pressure (41 SNPs).

Results—

The GRS for intracranial aneurysms was not statistically significantly associated with presence of aneurysms in this population (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 0.96–1.40;
P
=0.119), but showed a significant association with both maximum diameter (difference in log-transformed mm per SD increase of GRS, 0.10; 95% CI, 0.02–0.19;
P
=0.018) and volume (difference in log-transformed µL per SD increase of GRS, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.01–0.41;
P
=0.040) of aneurysms. GRSs for blood pressures were associated with neither presence nor size of aneurysms.

Conclusions—

Genetic variants previously identified for intracranial aneurysms in clinical studies relate to the size rather than the presence of incidentally discovered, unruptured intracranial aneurysms in the general population.
Lydia Prout’s Dreadfullest Thought
Authors: Winiarski Douglas L.
Published: August 2015

What was Lydia Prout’s “dreadfullest thought”? This microhistory, which examines one of the earliest devotional journals penned by a woman in British North America, uncovers surprising connections between the “unruly passion” of a devoted mother who suffered repeated bereavements during the 1710s and the Satanic fantasies of Salem witchcraft confessors in 1692. An annotated edition of Prout’s journal is reproduced in the essay’s appendix.
“The Humble Parish Bank”: The Cultural Origins of the U.S. Credit Union Movement
Authors: Richard Mark Paul
Published: August 2015

In examining the pivotal role French-Canadian Alphonse Desjardins and Franco-American parishes played in developing credit unions in the northeastern United States in the early twentieth century, this essay illustrates how issues of ethnicity, religion, and nationalism intersected successfully to shape the development of cooperative credit institutions across the international border.
Two mosses new to the Republic of South Africa and the moss Neckera valentiniana Besch. new to the Kingdom of Lesotho

Authors: Matcham Howard W. , Duckett Jeffrey G.
Published: August 2015

Three mosses are reported as new to countries in southern Africa: Brothera leana (Sull.) Müll.Hal., Gammiella ceylonensis (Broth. in Herzog) B.C.Tan & W.R.Buck from KwaZulu-Natal and Neckera valentiniana Besch. from Lesotho.
New records and range extension of some mosses in tropical areas of Chile

Authors: Cano María J.
Published: August 2015

A total of thirteen mosses are reported as new for Chile: Aloinella andina Delgad., Coscinodontella bryanii R.S. Williams, Didymodon acutus (Brid.) K. Saito, Erythrophyllopsis fuscula (Müll. Hal.) Hilp., Fissidens excurrentinervis R.S. Williams, Grimmia molesta J. Muñoz, Grimmia pseudoanodon Deguchi, Jaffueliobryum williamsii (Deguchi) Delgad., Leptopteriginandrum austroalpinum Müll. Hal., Pseudocrossidium elatum (R.S. Williams) Delgad., Rhexophyllum subnigrum (Mitt.) Hilp., Saitobryum lorentzii (Müll. Hal.) Ochyra, and Syntrichia fragilis (Taylor) Ochyra. In addition, Grimmia plagiopodia Hedw., which was previosly known from Southern Chile, is reported ca. 3500 km more to the north, near the Bolivian border.
Molecular evidence for the hybrid origin of Rosa lichiangensis (Rosaceae)
Authors: Zhu Zhangming , Gao Xinfen
Published: August 2015

Natural hybridization was assumed to play a significant role in the diversification of Rosa. Rosa lichiangensis was suspected to be of hybrid origin based on its intermediate morphological characters between R. soulieana and R. multiflora var. cathayensis. In this study, four chloroplast regions (ndhC-trnV, ndhF-rpl32, ndhJ-trnF, and psbJ-petA) and a single copy nuclear marker (GAPDH) were used to test the hybrid origin of R. lichiangensis. The results from molecular data supported the hybrid origin of R. lichiangensis and further identified R. soulieana as its maternal progenitor and R. multiflora var. cathayensis as the paternal progenitor.
The Influence of Urbanization on the Climate of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area: A Numerical Study
Authors: Kamal Samy , Huang Huei-Ping , Myint Soe W.
Published: August 2015

In this study, the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model and its embedded land surface and urban canopy model are used to simulate effects of urbanization on the local climate of the Las Vegas, Nevada, metropolitan area. High-resolution simulations are performed with a 3-km horizontal resolution over the city. With identical lateral boundary conditions, three land use/land cover (LULC) maps for 2006, 1992, and hypothetical 1900 are used in multiple simulations. The differences in the simulated climate among those cases are used to quantify the urban effect. The study found that urbanization in Las Vegas produces a classic urban heat island (UHI) at night but a minor cooling trend during the day. An analysis of the surface energy balance helps illustrate the major roles of the decreases in surface albedo of solar radiation and increases in the effective emissivity of longwave radiation in shaping the local climate change in Las Vegas. In addition, the emerging urban structures are found to have a mechanical effect of slowing down the climatological wind field over the urban area as a result of an increased effective surface roughness. The slowing down of the diurnal circulation leads to a secondary modification of temperature, which exhibits a complicated diurnal dependence. This suggests the need for more investigations into the coupling of thermodynamic and mechanical effects of urbanization on local climate.
Numerical Experiments to Analyze Cloud Microphysical Processes Depicted in Vertical Profiles of Radar Reflectivity of Warm Clouds
Authors: Kuba Naomi , Suzuki Kentaroh , Hashino Tempei , Seiki Tatsuya , Satoh Masaki
Published: August 2015

Information about microphysical processes in warm clouds embedded in satellite measurements must be untangled to be used to improve the parameterization in global models. In this paper, the relationship between vertical profiles of horizontally averaged radar reflectivity Zm and cloud optical depth from cloud top τd was investigated using a hybrid cloud microphysical model and a forward simulator of satellite measurements. The particle size distributions were explicitly simulated using a bin method in a kinematic framework. In contrast to previous interpretations of satellite-observed data, three patterns of the Zm–τd relationship related to microphysical processes were identified. The first is related to the autoconversion process, which causes Zm to increase upward with decreasing τd. Before the initiation of surface precipitation, Zm increases downward with τd in the upper part of the cloud, which is considered to be a second characteristic pattern and is caused by the accretion process. The appearance of this pattern corresponds to the initiation of efficient production of raindrops in the cloud. The third is related to the sedimentation and evaporation of raindrops causing Zm to decrease downward with τd in the lower part of the Zm–τd relationship. It was also found that the bulk collection efficiency has a partially positive correlation with the slope factor of Zm with regard to τd and that the slope factor could be a gross measure of the collection efficiency in partial cases. This study also shows that differences in the aerosol concentration modulate the duration of these three patterns and change the slope factor of Zm.
Interhemispheric Aerosol Radiative Forcing and Tropical Precipitation Shifts during the Late Twentieth Century
Authors: Allen Robert J. , Evan Amato T. , Booth Ben B. B.
Published: August 2015

Through the latter half of the twentieth century, meridional shifts in tropical precipitation have been associated with severe droughts. Although linked to a variety of causes, the origin of these shifts remains elusive. Here, it is shown that they are unlikely to arise from internal variability of the climate system alone, as simulated by coupled ocean–atmosphere climate models. Similar to previous work, the authors find that anthropogenic and volcanic aerosols are the dominant drivers of simulated twentieth-century tropical precipitation shifts. Models that include the cloud-albedo and lifetime aerosol indirect effects yield significantly larger shifts than models that lack aerosol indirect effects and also reproduce most of the southward tropical precipitation shift in the Pacific. However, all models significantly underestimate the magnitude of the observed shifts in the Atlantic sector, unless driven by observed SSTs. Mechanistically, tropical precipitation shifts are driven by interhemispheric sea surface temperature variations, which are associated with hemispherically asymmetric changes in low-latitude surface pressure, winds, and low clouds, as well as the strength, location, and cross-equatorial energy transport of the Hadley cells. Models with a larger hemispheric aerosol radiative forcing gradient yield larger hemispheric temperature contrasts and, in turn, larger meridional precipitation shifts. The authors conclude that aerosols are likely the dominant driver of the observed southward tropical precipitation shift in the Pacific. Aerosols are also significant drivers of the Atlantic shifts, although one cannot rule out a contribution from natural variability to account for the magnitude of the observed shifts.
Wavelet-Based Methodology for the Verification of Stochastic Submeso and Meso-Gamma Fluctuations
Authors: Suarez Astrid , Stauffer David R. , Gaudet Brian J.
Published: August 2015

Numerical weather prediction model skill is difficult to assess for transient, nonstationary, nondeterministic, or stochastic motions, like submeso and small meso-gamma motions. New approaches are needed to complement traditional methods and to quantify and evaluate the variability and the errors for these high-frequency, nondeterministic modes. A new verification technique that uses the wavelet transform as a bandpass filter to obtain scale-dependent frequency distributions of fluctuations is proposed for assessing model performance or accuracy. This new approach quantifies the nondeterministic variability independent of time while accounting for the time scale and amplitude of each fluctuation.

The efficacy of this wavelet decomposition technique for the verification of submeso and meso-gamma motions is first illustrated for a single case before the analysis is extended to six cases. The sensitivity of subkilometer grid-length Weather Research and Forecasting Model forecasts to the choice of three initialization strategies is assessed for both deterministic and stochastic motions using observations from a special network located at Rock Springs, Pennsylvania. It is demonstrated that the use of data assimilation in a preforecast period results in improved temperature and wind speed statistics for deterministic motions and for nondeterministic fluctuations with periods greater than ~20 min. As expected, there is little-to-no accuracy forecasting the occurrence of variability for temperature and wind in the smaller-submeso range and greater accuracy in the larger-submeso and meso-gamma ranges. Nonetheless, the model has some difficulty reproducing the observed variability with the correct amplitude. It underestimates the amplitude of observed fluctuations even for larger time scales, where better model performance could be expected.
Cannabis use in first episode psychosis: Meta-analysis of prevalence, and the time course of initiation and continued use
Authors: Myles Hannah , Myles Nicholas , Large Matthew
Published: August 2015

Objectives:

Cannabis use is prevalent among people with first episode psychosis and the epidemiology of its use in early psychosis is unclear. We performed a meta-analysis of observational studies to determine; (1) the interval between age at initiation of cannabis use and age at onset of first episode psychosis, (2) the prevalence of cannabis use at time of first episode psychosis, and (3) the odds of continuing cannabis following treatment for first episode psychosis.

Data sources:

Search of electronic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science and CINAHL for English-language papers using search terms (psychosis OR schizophrenia) AND (cannabis OR marijuana) IN (title OR keyword OR abstract), current to October 2014.

Study selection:

Studies were included if they reported on prevalence of current cannabis use in first episode psychosis cohorts. A total of 37 samples were included for meta-analysis.

Data extraction:

Rates of cannabis use in each sample were extracted to determine prevalence estimates. The age at initiation of regular cannabis and age at onset of psychosis were used to determine the length of cannabis use preceding psychosis. Prevalence estimates at first episode psychosis and various time points of follow-up following first episode psychosis were analysed to determine odds ratio of continuing cannabis use. Data synthesis was performed using random-effects meta-analyses.

Results:

The pooled estimate for the interval between initiation of regular cannabis use and age at onset of psychosis was 6.3 years (10 samples, standardised mean difference = 1.56, 95% confidence interval = [1.40, 1.72]). The estimated prevalence of cannabis use at first episode psychosis was 33.7% (35 samples, 95% confidence interval = [31%, 39%]). Odds of continued cannabis use between 6 months and 10 years following first episode psychosis was 0.56 (19 samples, 95% confidence interval = [0.40, 0.79]).
Resource Wealth and Women’s Economic and Political Power in the U.S. States
Authors: Simmons Joel W.
Published: August 2015

Ross argues that oil wealth reduces women’s economic and political power, but critics maintain that accounting for a community’s attitudes toward gender equality makes the gendered resource curse disappear. This article disentangles the two perspectives by studying the effects of resource wealth on women’s economic and political status in the U.S. states, where resource wealth varies significantly while cultural differences are comparatively small. Data between 1997 and 2012 reveal evidence of a gendered resource curse, consistent with Ross. I also update the theory of the gendered resource curse by showing, via a culture-augmented labor–leisure model of workforce participation, that far from being irrelevant when accounting for varying attitudes toward gender roles, resource wealth and those patriarchal attitudes combine to suppress even more women’s economic and political influence. Data from the U.S. states support this expectation as well.
Liberal Intergovernmentalism, spillover and supranational immigration policy
Authors: Andersson Hans E
Published: August 2015

That the Lisbon Treaty lays the foundation for a supranational asylum and immigration policy is surprising, even more so for Liberal Intergovernmentalism (LI), whose founder Andrew Moravcsik predicts that no such development will take place. While the article uses LI as its point of departure, it shows that it runs into problems with regards to the policy area of asylum and immigration. The article therefore turns to the (neo-)functionalist concept of spillover. While working with the concept, it was deemed necessary to create a more coherent typology of different spillovers. The article suggests that the concept of spillover may be both descriptive and explanatory. With regards to descriptive spillover, it seems valuable to differentiate between widening and deepening spillovers, but concerning explanatory spillovers, more options became visible: there are unintended or intended functional spillovers, as well as unintended political, cultivated and social spillovers. The argument is illustrated through a detailed study of Sweden – a ‘reluctant European’ that within the area of asylum and immigration made a fundamental U-turn with regards to a supranationalism, a change that can be described as a social spillover.
Doubtful Illusions: Magic, Wonder and the Politics of Virtue in the Sathya Sai Movement
Authors: Srinivas Tulasi
Published: August 2015

This article examines the embattled intersection of magic and rationality in the transnational Sathya Sai movement and positions the magical materializations of the charismatic “godman” Sathya Sai Baba, and the sacred objects thus produced, within the neo-liberal economy. It then explores the tensions between the twin processes of magical production and rational debunking set against the framework of the discourse of nation building in contemporary India as it seeks to be and sustain a global power. The article illuminates the two conflicting discourses of materiality and rationality. It demonstrates that both are ethical subjectivities situated with regard to virtue—a “virtuous materiality” and a “virtuous rationality” —that together create a “critical politics of virtue”. The article concludes by tentatively suggesting that the critical politics of virtue can liberate current theory from a unitary understanding of ethical subjectivity in a neo-liberal world.
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Authors: Hynes K. , Menichanin D. , Bright R. , Ivanovski S. , Hutmacher D.W. , Gronthos S. , Bartold P.M.
Published: August 2015

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are the newest member of a growing list of stem cell populations that hold great potential for use in cell-based treatment approaches in the dental field. This review summarizes the dental tissues that have successfully been utilized to generate iPSC lines, as well as the potential uses of iPSCs for tissue regeneration in different dental applications. While iPSCs display great promise in a number of dental applications, there are safety concerns with these cells that need to be addressed before they can be used in clinical settings. This review outlines some of the apprehensions to the use of iPSCs clinically, and it details approaches that are being employed to ensure the safety and efficacy of these cells. One of the major approaches being investigated is the differentiation of iPSCs prior to use in patients. iPSCs have successfully been differentiated into a wide range of cells and tissue types. This review focuses on 2 differentiation approaches—the differentiation of iPSCs into mesenchymal stem cells and the differentiation of iPSCs into osteoprogenitor cells. Both these resulting populations of cells are particularly relevant to the dental field.
Wnt Signaling and Its Contribution to Craniofacial Tissue Homeostasis
Authors: Yin X. , Li J. , Salmon B. , Huang L. , Lim W.H. , Liu B. , Hunter D.J. , Ransom R.C. , Singh G. , Gillette M. , Zou S. , Helms J.A.
Published: August 2015

A new field of dental medicine seeks to exploit nature’s solution for repairing damaged tissues, through the process of regeneration. Most adult mammalian tissues have limited regenerative capacities, but in lower vertebrates, the molecular machinery for regeneration is an elemental part of their genetic makeup. Accumulating data suggest that the molecular pathways responsible for the regenerative capacity of teleosts, amphibians, and reptiles have fallen into disuse in mammals but that they can be “jumpstarted” by the selective activation of key molecules. The Wnt family of secreted proteins constitutes one such critical pathway: Wnt proteins rank among the most potent and ubiquitous stem cell self-renewing factors, with tremendous potential for promoting human tissue regeneration. Wnt reporter and lineage-tracing strains of mice have been employed to create molecular maps of Wnt responsiveness in the craniofacial tissues, and these patterns of Wnt signaling colocalize with stem/progenitor populations in the rodent incisor apex, the dental pulp, the alveolar bone, the periodontal ligament, the cementum, and oral mucosa. The importance of Wnt signaling in both the maintenance and healing of these craniofacial tissues is summarized, and the therapeutic potential of Wnt-based strategies to accelerate healing through activation of endogenous stem cells is highlighted.
Stem Cell–Soluble Signals Enhance Multilumen Formation in SMG Cell Clusters
Authors: Maruyama C.L.M. , Leigh N.J. , Nelson J.W. , McCall A.D. , Mellas R.E. , Lei P. , Andreadis S.T. , Baker O.J.
Published: August 2015

Saliva plays a major role in maintaining oral health. Patients with salivary hypofunction exhibit difficulty in chewing and swallowing foods, tooth decay, periodontal disease, and microbial infections. At this time, treatments for hyposalivation are limited to medications (e.g., muscarinic receptor agonists: pilocarpine and cevimeline) that induce saliva secretion from residual acinar cells as well as artificial salivary substitutes. Therefore, advancement of restorative treatments is necessary to improve the quality of life in these patients. Our previous studies indicated that salivary cells are able to form polarized 3-dimensional structures when grown on growth factor–reduced Matrigel. This basement membrane is rich in laminin-III (L1), which plays a critical role in salivary gland formation. Mitotically inactive feeder layers have been used previously to support the growth of many different cell types, as they provide factors necessary for cell growth and organization. The goal of this study was to improve salivary gland cell differentiation in primary cultures by using a combination of L1 and a feeder layer of human hair follicle–derived mesenchymal stem cells (hHF-MSCs). Our results indicated that the direct contact of mouse submandibular (mSMG) cell clusters and hHF-MSCs was not required for mSMG cells to form acinar and ductal structures. However, the hHF-MSC conditioned medium enhanced cell organization and multilumen formation, indicating that soluble signals secreted by hHF-MSCs play a role in promoting these features.
Ex Vivo Modeling of Multidomain Peptide Hydrogels with Intact Dental Pulp
Authors: Moore A.N. , Perez S.C. , Hartgerink J.D. , D’Souza R.N. , Colombo J.S.
Published: August 2015

Preservation of a vital dental pulp is a central goal of restorative dentistry. Currently, there is significant interest in the development of tissue engineering scaffolds that can serve as biocompatible and bioactive pulp-capping materials, driving dentin bridge formation without causing cytotoxic effects. Our earlier in vitro studies described the biocompatibility of multidomain peptide (MDP) hydrogel scaffolds with dental pulp–derived cells but were limited in their ability to model contact with intact 3-dimensional pulp tissues. Here, we utilize an established ex vivo mandible organ culture model to model these complex interactions. MDP hydrogel scaffolds were injected either at the interface of the odontoblasts and the dentin or into the pulp core of mandible slices and subsequently cultured for up to 10 d. Histology reveals minimal disruption of tissue architecture adjacent to MDP scaffolds injected into the pulp core or odontoblast space. Additionally, the odontoblast layer is structurally preserved in apposition to the MDP scaffold, despite being separated from the dentin. Alizarin red staining suggests mineralization at the periphery of MDP scaffolds injected into the odontoblast space. Immunohistochemistry reveals deposition of dentin sialophosphoprotein by odontoblasts into the adjacent MDP hydrogel, indicating continued functionality. In contrast, no mineralization or dentin sialophosphoprotein deposition is evident around MDP scaffolds injected into the pulp core. Collagen III expression is seen in apposition to gels at all experimental time points. Matrix metalloproteinase 2 expression is observed associated with centrally injected MDP scaffolds at early time points, indicating proteolytic digestion of scaffolds. Thus, MDP scaffolds delivered centrally and peripherally within whole dental pulp tissue are shown to be biocompatible, preserving local tissue architecture. Additionally, odontoblast function and pulp vitality are sustained when MDP scaffolds are intercalated between dentin and the odontoblast region, a finding that has significant implications when considering these materials as pulp-capping agents.