bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PP2A Inhibitor PME-1 Drives Kinase Inhibitor Resistance in Glioma Cells
Authors: Kaur Amanpreet , Denisova Oxana V. , Qiao Xi , Jumppanen Mikael , Peuhu Emilia , Ahmed Shafiq U. , Raheem Olayinka , Haapasalo Hannu , Eriksson John , Chalmers Anthony J. , Laakkonen Pirjo , Westermarck Jukka
Published: September 2016

Glioblastoma multiforme lacks effective therapy options. Although deregulated kinase pathways are drivers of malignant progression in glioblastoma multiforme, glioma cells exhibit intrinsic resistance toward many kinase inhibitors, and the molecular basis of this resistance remains poorly understood. Here, we show that overexpression of the protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) inhibitor protein PME-1 drives resistance of glioma cells to various multikinase inhibitors. The PME-1–elicited resistance was dependent on specific PP2A complexes and was mediated by a decrease in cytoplasmic HDAC4 activity. Importantly, both PME-1 and HDAC4 associated with human glioma progression, supporting clinical relevance of the identified mechanism. Synthetic lethality induced by both PME-1 and HDAC4 inhibition was dependent on the coexpression of proapoptotic protein BAD. Thus, PME-1–mediated PP2A inhibition is a novel mechanistic explanation for multikinase inhibitor resistance in glioma cells. Clinically, these results may inform patient stratification strategies for future clinical trials with selected kinase inhibitors in glioblastoma multiforme. Cancer Res; 76(23); 7001–11. ©2016 AACR.
Endoscopic Diagnosis of the Invasion Depth of T1 Colorectal Carcinoma for Endoscopic Resection by Using Narrow-Band Imaging Magnification as Total Excisional Biopsy
Authors: Sanomura Makoto , Tanaka Shinji , Sasaki Yuichi , Fukunishi Shinya , Higuchi Kazuhide
Published: September 2016

Background/Aims: We established a new colorectal T1 invasion depth sub-classification and evaluated it to determine whether total excisional biopsy can be performed on colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cases using narrow-band imaging (NBI) magnification. Methods: The cases included 73 T1 carcinomas selected from 173 early CRC cases. The T1 invasion depth sub-classification was defined as follows: T1a, invasion less than 1,000 μm from the inferior border of the muscularis mucosae; T1b-1, between T1a and T1b-2; and T1b-2, T1b lesions with invasion from the deepest part of the carcinoma to within 1,000 μm of the superior border of the muscularis propria. The T1b-2 lesions were not suitable for total excisional biopsy to be performed on them. We examined the maximum diameter of Type C2 (NBI Hiroshima classification) areas and invasion depth. Results: Among 47 lesions classified as Type C2, 38 lesions showed a maximum diameter of 10 mm or less and were classified as Tis, T1a, or T1b-1. The remaining 9 lesions exceeded 10 mm, and among these, 3 cases were classified as T1b-2 (p = 0.0035). Conclusion: For using the new T1 invasion depth sub-classification to classify T1 CRCs in which total excisional biopsy is possible, it is useful to measure the maximum diameter of the Type C2 area.
Cytomorphology and Histology Correlation of Rosai-Dorfman Disease: A 15-Year Study from a Tertiary Referral Centre in South India
Authors: Hussain Abid , Tandon Ashwani , Prayaga Aruna K. , Paul Tara Roshni , Narendra Anukonda M.V.R.
Published: September 2016

Objectives: Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) is an uncommon, benign histiocytic disorder of unknown etiology, typically presenting in young adulthood. We highlight the cytomorphology of RDD and correlate it with the histopathology. Study Design: All cases diagnosed as RDD on fine-needle aspiration cytology between January 2001 and June 2015 were included. Clinical details were obtained from medical records. The cytology smears were reviewed along with the histopathology and immunohistochemistry, wherever available. Results: The study included 10 cases ranging in age from 11 to 68 years (median 29). There was a male predominance with a male:female ratio of 1.5:1. The patients commonly presented with bilateral cervical lymphadenopathy. Extranodal involvement was seen in 2 cases in the nose and mandible, respectively. Of these 10 cases, 8 were later biopsied. The cytological features included numerous crescentic histiocytes, emperipolesis, reactive lymphocytes and plasma cells. A histological diagnosis of RDD was made in 7 out of 8 cases, and 1 was diagnosed as Hodgkin lymphoma. Conclusion: FNA represents an efficient, minimally invasive, cost-effective and reliable technique for the diagnosis of RDD and may obviate the need for further biopsy. However, the disease has close differential diagnoses, including Langerhans cell histiocytosis, granulomatous lesions, and Hodgkin lymphoma. Hence, it must be remembered that there can be pitfalls when the diagnosis is made by cytology alone.
A Multi-Institutional Feasibility Study on the Use of Automated Screening Systems for Quality Control Rescreening of Cervical Cytology
Authors: Sugiyama Yuko , Sasaki Hiroshi , Komatsu Kyoko , Yabushita Ryuji , Oda Mizue , Yanoh Kenji , Ueda Masatsugu , Itamochi Hiroaki , Okugawa Kaoru , Fujita Hiromasa , Tase Toru , Nakatani Eiji , Moriya Takuya
Published: September 2016

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of the automated screening system FocalPoint for cervical cytology quality control (QC) rescreening. False-negative rates (FNRs) were evaluated by a multi-institutional retrospective study. Study Design: Cervical cytology slides that had already been reported as negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy (NILM) were chosen arbitrarily for FocalPoint rescreening. Slides stratified into the highest 15% probability of being abnormal were rescreened by a cytotechnologist. The slides that were abnormal were reevaluated by a cytopathologist to be false negatives. Results: Rescreening of 12,000 slides, i.e. 9,000 conventional slides and 3,000 liquid-based cytology (LBC) slides, was performed; 9,826 (7,393 conventional and 2,433 LBC) were satisfactory for FocalPoint (2,174 were determined unsatisfactory) and those within the highest 15% of probability (1,496, i.e. 1,123 conventional and 373 LBC) were rescreened. As a result, 117 (96 conventional and 21 LBC) were determined as abnormal (other than NILM) and the FNR was 1.19%. Among these 117 slides, 40 (35 conventional and 5 LBC) were determined as high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and greater (HSIL+). Conclusion: Of 117 (1.19%) abnormal slides detected, 40 (0.41%) were determined to be HSIL+. This result suggests that FocalPoint is effective for QC rescreening of cervical cytology.
Predictors of Mortality in Long-Term Follow-Up of Patients with Terminal Alcoholic Cirrhosis: Is It Time to Accept Remodeled Scores
Authors: Radisavljevic Mirjana M. , Bjelakovic Goran B. , Nagorni Aleksandar V. , Stojanovic Miroslav P. , Radojkovicn Milan D. , Jovic Jasna Z. , Ignjatovic Aleksandra M. , Radisavljevic Misa M. , Simonovic Maja M.
Published: September 2016

Objective: To identify the prognostic score that is the best predictor of outcome in patients hospitalized with decompensated liver cirrhosis. Material and Methods: In this prospective study, 126 patients were enrolled and followed up for 29 months. For each patient, prognostic scores were calculated; these included the Child-Turcotte-Pugh score (CTP score), CTP creatinine-modified I score, CTP creatinine-modified II score, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD score), MELD model for end-stage liver disease sodium-modified score, Integrated MELD score, updated MELD score, United Kingdom MELD, and the MELD score remodeled by serum sodium index (MESO index). Cox regression analysis was used to assess the ability of each of the scores for predicting mortality in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. Their discriminatory ability was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: The updated MELD score had the highest predictive value (3.29) among the tested scores (95% CI: 2.26-4.78). ROC curve analysis demonstrated that the MELD score of 22.50 (AUC = 0.914, 95% CI: 0.849-0.978; p < 0.001) had the best discriminative ability for identifying patients with a high risk of mortality; the next best was the MESO index of 16.00 (AUC = 0.912, 95% CI: 0.847-0.978; p < 0.001). Conclusion: The risk of mortality was highest in patients with the highest updated MELD score, and those with MELD scores >22.50 and a MESO index >16.00.
Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) of Gujarat University Campus, Ahmedabad, India with additional description of Eilica tikaderi (Platnick, 1976)
Authors: Prajapati Dhruv A. , Patel Krunal R. , Munjpara Sandeep B. , Chettiar Shiva S. , Jhala Devendrasinh D.
Published: September 2016

We report a checklist of spiders based on a survey made from August 2013 to July 2014 in Gujarat University Campus, an urban area located in the middle of Ahmadabad City, Gujarat State. A total of 77 species of spiders belonging to 53 genera and 20 families of spiders were recorded from the study area represented by 31.74% of the total 63 families reported from India. Salticidae was found to be the most dominant family with 18 species from 14 genera. Guild structure analysis revealed six feeding guilds, namely stalkers, orb-web builders, space-web builders, ambushers, foliage hunters and ground runners. Stalkers and orb-web builders were the most dominant feeding guilds representing 28.58% and 20.78% respectively among all studied guilds. Species Eilica tikaderi (Platnick, 1976) is reported for the first time from Gujarat with additional description and detailed genitalic illustrations.
Heavy metal distribution in mangrove sediment cores from selected sites along western coast of India
Authors: Vidya P. , Patil Rajashekhar K.
Published: September 2016

Sediment cores were collected from four different mangrove areas of northern Kerala and southern Karnataka, western coast of India.  The cores were analysed for the concentration of five heavy metals (Pb, Ni, Zn, Cu Fe) using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry.  The levels of heavy metals in the present study from all the four sediment cores were in the order Fe > Pb > Zn > Ni > Cu and the mean concentrations of each elements in different cores were comparable.  According to Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQG), the mangrove sediments analysed here were moderately contaminated with Ni and heavily contaminated with Pb.  The increased concentration of Ni and Pb in the sediments might be due to their atmospheric deposition or water discharge from different far away sources since the areas selected for study were not disturbed by direct anthropogenic impacts.  Elevated levels of Fe which is considered to be a common phenomenon in mangrove sediments have also been found in the present study.  Heavy metal levels in sediments showed statistically significant correlations with pH, calcium carbonate and organic matter.  This suggests the influence of physico-chemical parameters on the adsorption, deposition and persistence of heavy metals in mangrove sediments.  The heavy metal concentration and the pollution status of the mangroves of west coast, especially the areas selected in this work are less studied before. Hence the data provide from the present baseline study would be further helpful in remediation and management of mangrove ecosystem.
Small carnivores of Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, southern Western Ghats, India
Authors: Sreehari R. , Nameer P. O.
Published: September 2016

The first ever detailed study on the small carnivores of the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve (PkTR) in the southern Western Ghats, using camera trap techniques, reported 11 species.  A total of 1,350 camera-trap nights were used for the study.  This was supplemented with 242km of day transects and 344km of night transects using spot-lights.  The small carnivores reported were the Small Indian Civet Viverricula indica, Common Palm Civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus, Brown Palm Civet Paradoxurus jerdoni, Indian Grey Mongoose Herpestes edwardsii, Stripe-necked Mongoose Herpestes vitticollis, Brown Mongoose Herpestes fuscus, Ruddy Mongoose Herpestes smithii, Smooth-coated Otter Lutrogale perspicillata, Nilgiri Marten Martes gwatkinsii, Jungle Cat Felis chaus and Leopard Cat Prionailurus bengalensis.  About 90% of the small carnivores captured in the camera traps in PKTR were members of the Viverridae family such as the Small Indian Civet (31.67%), Common Palm Civet (30%) and Brown Palm Civet (28.33%).  The study recorded all the four species of mongoose known from the Western Ghats from PkTR.  Two out of the 11 small carnivores belong to the ‘Vulnerable’ category on the IUCN Red List.
An update on the distribution pattern and endemicity of three lesser-known tree species in the Western Ghats, India
Authors: Rao K. Sankara , Page N. V. , Sringeswara A. N. , Singh R. Arun , Baig Imran
Published: September 2016

The present communication reports an update on the distribution of three endemic tree species of the Western Ghats-Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot, namely, Atuna indica (Bedd.) Kosterm., Paracroton integrifolius (Airy Shaw) N.P.Balakr. & Chakrab. and Phaeanthus malabaricus Bedd.  The discovery of these taxa in the Makutta Ghat of Kodagu District results in the extension of their northern range limits and further enriches the flora of Karnataka state by three more tree species.  Within the Western Ghats, these taxa were previously recorded only from the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, while Paracroton integrifolius (Airy Shaw) N.P.Balakr. & Chakrab. has also been recorded from Sri Lanka.  Nomenclature updates, detailed descriptions, conservation status and relevant notes on the habitat, phenology and distribution localization are supplied.  Additionally, field photographs and scanned herbarium specimens are provided to facilitate easy identification of these taxa in the field.
Reappearance of the rare Shingle Urchin Colobocentrotus (Podophora) atratus (Camarodonta: Echinometridae) after eight decades from the rocky shore of Kodiyaghat (Port Blair), South Andaman Islands, India
Authors: Pandey Vikas , Ganesh T.
Published: September 2016

The present work is aimed at facilitating conservation efforts of a rare species of sea urchin (Colobocentrotus atratus) reported nearly eight decades after its initial description by Bell (1887) and later by Clarke (1925) from the coastal waters of south Andaman Islands. Recently, during a three years study (2011-14) on the macrobenthic epifauna along the south Andaman coast, five live specimens of C. atratus were recorded from Kodiyaghat (11031'532''N; 092043'457'' E), south Andaman Islands. Available information shows that this species has reappeared in the south Andaman Islands seventy nine years after the citation by Sastry (1994) collected in the year 1935. The disappearance of this species from the literature in the intermittent years and a sparse population in coastal reaches of south Andaman Islands at present suggest that this species makes a candidate taxa for inclusion in the list of ‘endangered’ or ‘vulnerable’ Indian marine species following IUCN Red List criteria to Wild species.
Road kills of the endemic snake Perrotet’s Shieldtail Plectrurus perrotetii, Dumeril, 1851 (Reptilia: Squamata: Uropeltidae) in Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India
Authors: Santhoshkumar P. , Kannan P. , Ramakrishnan B. , Veeramani A , Samson A. , Karthick S. , Leonaprincy J. , Nisha B. , Dineshkumar N. , Abinesh A. , Vigneshkumar U. , Girikaran P.
Published: September 2016

Twenty seven road killed specimens of Plectrurus perrotetii were recorded in Emerald and its surrounding areas in the Nilgiris. Among the road kills, fourteen of them were females, seven were males and six are juveniles. Among the road kill female specimens of this species, it was observed that seven were gravid with fully developed young. Three to six developing young ones were observed
First record of Dobson’s Long-tongued Fruit Bat Eonycteris spelaea (Dobson, 1871) (Mammalia: Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) from Kerala, India
Authors: Nameer P. O. , Ashmi R. , Aravind Sachin K. , Sreehari R.
Published: September 2016

A new site record for the Dobson‘s Long-tongued Fruit Bat Eonycteris spelaea (Pteropodidae, Chiroptera) is presented from Kerala, India.  A revised distribution map of the species is also given.  The morphometry of Eonycteris spelaea is discussed. DNA sequences have been deposited in GenBank.
Odonata (Insecta) diversity of southern Gujarat, India
Authors: Rathod Darshana M. , Parasharya B M. , Talmale S. S.
Published: September 2016

The diversity of the Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) was studied in seven districts of southern area of Gujarat State in India during 2014 to 2015.  A total of 55 species belonging to two suborders and 37 genera under eight families were recorded.  A total of 18 species of Zygoptera (damselflies) and 37 species of Anisoptera (dragonflies) were recorded.  Dang and Navsari districts were surveyed intensively and a maximum of 47 and 35 species were recorded respectively, whereas the districts that were surveyed less intensively, i.e., Bharuch (26), Valsad (21), Surat (29), Narmada (25) and Tapi (27) had comparatively low species richness.  Thirty-two species are being reported for the first time from southern Gujarat, raising the total list of odonates to 60.  Fifteen species namely, Lestes elatus Hagen in Selys, 1862; Elattoneura nigerrima (Laidlaw, 1917); Dysphaea ethela Fraser, 1924; Paracercion malayanum (Selys, 1876); Pseudagrion spencei Fraser, 1922; Burmagomphus laidlawi- Fraser, 1924; Cyclogomphus ypsilon Selys, 1854; Microgomphus torquatus (Selys, 1854); Onychogomphus acinaces (Laidlaw, 1922); Hylaeothemis indica Fraser, 1946; Lathrecista asiatica (Fabricius, 1798); Rhodothemis rufa (Rambur, 1842); Tramea limbata (Desjardins, 1832); Trithemis kirbyi Selys, 1891 and Zyxomma petiolatum Rambur, 1842 are recorded for the first time from Gujarat State raising the number of odonates of Gujarat State to 80 species.
New distribution records of Mesoclemmys vanderhaegei (Testudines: Chelidae) from southeastern Brazil, including observations on reproduction
Authors: Maffei Fábio , Nascimento Bruno Tayar Marinho do , Moya Guilherme Marson , Donatelli Reginaldo José
Published: September 2016

Mesoclemmys vanderhaegei is a poorly known freshwater turtle widely distributed in central South America, where it occurs in Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, and probably Bolivia.  It is considered “Near Threatened” by the IUCN Red List and “Data Deficient” by other local lists. Herein, we present new records and data on the reproductive biology of Mesoclemmys vanderhaegei in southeastern Brazil.
A note on the taxonomy, field status and threats to three endemic species of Syzygium (Myrtaceae) from the southern Western Ghats, India
Authors: Ramasubbu R. , Divya C. , Anjana S.
Published: September 2016

Taxonomy, field status and threats of three endemic species of Syzygium,  Syzygium densiflorum Wall. ex Wight & Arn., Syzygium myhendrae (Bedd. ex Brandis) Gamble and Syzygium travancoricum Gamble of the southern Western Ghats were discussed.
Arnebia nandadeviensis Sekar & Rawal (Boraginaceae) a new synonym of Onosma bracteata Wall.
Authors: Tiwari Umeshkumar L
Published: September 2016

Arnebia nandadeviensis Sekar & Rawal, Journal of American Science 5(2): 105-106. 2009 is being suggested here as synonym of a well-established taxon Onosma bracteata Wall., giving taxonomic reasons.
First record of the Diadem Leaf-Nosed Bat Hipposideros diadema (E. Geoffroy, 1813) (Chiroptera: Hipposideridae) from the Andaman Islands, India with the possible occurrence of a hitherto unreported subspecies
Authors: Srinivasulu Bhargavi , Srinivasulu Aditya , Srinivasulu Chelmala , Dar Tauseef Hamid , Gopi Asad , Jones Gareth
Published: September 2016

The Diadem Leaf-nosed Bat Hipposideros diadema (E. Geoffroy, 1813) is recorded for the first time from the Andaman Islands, India. A solitary female specimen was collected on October 13, 2015 from a limestone cave on Baratang Island. Cranial measurements and other morphological characters indicate that the specimen differs from the endemic subspecies, the Nicobar Diadem Leaf-nosed Bat Hipposideros diadema nicobarensis (Dobson, 1871), but compares favourably with the South-east Asian subspecies, Mason’s Diadem Leaf-nosed Bat Hipposideros diadema masoni (Dobson, 1872), in description, craniodental characters, and echolocation calls. This is the first record of Hipposideros diadema (E. Geoffroy, 1813) from Andaman Islands, and the subspecies Mason’s Diadem Leaf-nosed Bat Hipposideros diadema masoni (Dobson, 1872) from India.
New distribution record of the Bhutan Takin Budorcas taxicolor whitei Hodgson, 1850 (Cetartiodactyla: Bovidae) in Bhutan
Authors: Dhendup Tashi , Tempa Tshering , Tshering Tsethup , Norbu Nawang
Published: September 2016

A camera trapping survey in eastern Bhutan in 2015 has yielded a picture of the Bhutan Takin in the uplands of Kurichu River watersheds in east of Wangchuck Centennial National Park, and is the easternmost documented  distribution of the species in Bhutan. The photograph was taken on 30th June 2015 at 9:24 AM in the site located on 27056’03.8’’E & 91004’53.7”N at 3,898m. The habitat is dominated by Fir and Rhododendron.
New records of Termite species from Kerala (Isoptera: Termitidae)
Authors: Amina Poovoli , Rajmohana K. , Bhavana K. V. , Rabeeha P. P.
Published: September 2016

The present taxonomic study on the termites of Kerala, reports six species and one genus for the first time from the state.  They are Odontotermes yadevi Thakur, Microtermes unicolor Snyder Grallatotermes niger Chatterjee and Thapa, Nasutitermes matangensis matangensis (Haviland), Dicuspiditermes gravelyi (Silvestri) and Microcerotermes minor Holmgren.  The Genus Grallatotermes Holmgren is documented for the first time from Kerala.  O. yadevi recovered from firewood is hereby added to the list of wood destroying termites of India.
Enhancing Literacy in Cardiovascular Genetics: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
Authors: Mital Seema , Musunuru Kiran , Garg Vidu , Russell Mark W. , Lanfear David E. , Gupta Rajat M. , Hickey Kathleen T. , Ackerman Michael J. , Perez Marco V. , Roden Dan M. , Woo Daniel , Fox Caroline S. , Ware Stephanie
Published: September 2016

Advances in genomics are enhancing our understanding of the genetic basis of cardiovascular diseases, both congenital and acquired, and stroke. These advances include finding genes that cause or increase the risk for childhood and adult-onset diseases, finding genes that influence how patients respond to medications, and the development of genetics-guided therapies for diseases. However, the ability of cardiovascular and stroke clinicians to fully understand and apply this knowledge to the care of their patients has lagged. This statement addresses what the specialist caring for patients with cardiovascular diseases and stroke should know about genetics; how they can gain this knowledge; how they can keep up-to-date with advances in genetics, genomics, and pharmacogenetics; and how they can apply this knowledge to improve the care of patients and families with cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
Central Angiotensin-II Increases Blood Pressure and Sympathetic Outflow via Rho Kinase Activation in Conscious Rabbits
Authors: Pellegrino Peter R. , Schiller Alicia M. , Haack Karla K.V. , Zucker Irving H.
Published: September 2016

Elevated sympathetic tone and activation of the renin–angiotensin system are pathophysiologic hallmarks of hypertension, and the interactions between these systems are particularly deleterious. The importance of Rho kinase as a mediator of the effects of angiotensin-II (AngII) in the periphery is clear, but the role of Rho kinase in sympathoexcitation caused by central AngII is not well established. We hypothesized that AngII mediates its effects in the brain by the activation of the RhoA/Rho kinase pathway. Chronically instrumented, conscious rabbits received the following intracerebroventricular infusion treatments for 2 weeks via osmotic minipump: AngII, Rho kinase inhibitor Fasudil, AngII plus Fasudil, or a vehicle control. AngII increased mean arterial pressure over the course of the infusion, and this effect was prevented by the coadministration of Fasudil. AngII increased cardiac and vascular sympathetic outflow as quantified by the heart rate response to metoprolol and the depressor effect of hexamethonium; coadministration of Fasudil abolished both of these effects. AngII increased baseline renal sympathetic nerve activity in conscious animals and impaired baroreflex control of sympathetic nerve activity; again Fasudil coinfusion prevented these effects. Each of these end points showed a statistically significant interaction between AngII and Fasudil. Quantitative immunofluorescence of brain slices confirmed that Rho kinase activity was increased by AngII and decreased by Fasudil. Taken together, these data indicate that hypertension, elevated sympathetic outflow, and baroreflex dysfunction caused by central AngII are mediated by Rho kinase activation and suggest that Rho kinase inhibition may be an important therapeutic target in sympathoexcitatory cardiovascular diseases.
The Role of the Autonomic Nervous System in the Regulation of Aortic Stiffness
Authors: Mäki-Petäjä Kaisa M. , Barrett Sharon M.L. , Evans Sarah V. , Cheriyan Joseph , McEniery Carmel M. , Wilkinson Ian B.
Published: September 2016

The autonomic nervous system is important in regulating blood pressure, but whether it regulates aortic stiffness is more contentious. We conducted 3 studies in young, healthy individuals to address this important question. Study 1 was a cross-sectional study of 347 subjects with detailed measurements of hemodynamics and heart rate variability. In study 2, 9 subjects were given a bolus of intravenous nicotinic ganglion blocker, pentolinium, or saline in a random order and hemodynamics and heart rate variability were assessed before and after. In study 3, changes in hemodynamics and heart rate variability were assessed during stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system with the use of isometric handgrip exercise in 12 subjects. Study 1: aortic pulse wave velocity (
P
=0.003) was lowest in the subjects with the highest parasympathetic activity, but after adjusting for mean arterial pressure, the effect was abolished (
P
=0.3). Study 2: after pentolinium, sympathetic and parasympathetic activity fell (
P
=0.001 for both), mean arterial pressure, and heart rate increased (
P
=0.004 and
P
=0.04, respectively), but there was no change in pulse wave velocity in comparison to placebo (
P
=0.1). Study 3: during handgrip exercise, sympathetic activity (
P
=0.003), mean arterial pressure (
P
<0.0001), and aortic pulse wave velocity increased (
P
=0.013). However, pulse wave velocity adjusted for mean arterial pressure did not change (
P
=0.1). The main finding of these studies is that in young healthy subjects, the autonomic nervous system does not have a pressure-independent role in the regulation of aortic stiffness. However, these findings may not apply to patients with increased sympathetic tone or hypertension.
Breaking the Cycle
Authors: Dayton Alex , Exner Eric C. , Bukowy John D. , Stodola Timothy J. , Kurth Theresa , Skelton Meredith , Greene Andrew S. , Cowley Allen W.
Published: September 2016

Despite the striking differences between male and female physiology, female physiology is understudied. In response, the National Institutes of Health is promulgating new policies to increase the use of female organisms in preclinical research. Females are commonly believed to have greater variability than males because of the estrous cycle, but recent studies call this belief into question. Effects of estrous cycling on mean arterial pressure were assessed in female Dahl S rats using telemetry and vaginal cytometry and found that estrous cycling did not affect mean arterial pressure magnitude or variance. Data from the PhysGen arm of the Program for Genomic Applications was used to compare male and female variance and coefficient of variation in 142 heart, lung, vascular, kidney, and blood phenotypes, each measured in hundreds to thousands of individual rats from over 50 inbred strains. Seventy-four of 142 phenotypes from this data set demonstrated a sex difference in variance; however, 59% of these phenotypes exhibited greater variance in male rats rather than female. Remarkably, a retrospective power analysis demonstrated that only 16 of 74 differentially variable phenotypes would be detected when using an experimental cohort large enough to detect a difference in magnitude. No overall difference in coefficient of variation between male and female rats was detected when analyzing these 142 phenotypes. We conclude that variability of 142 traits in male and female rats is similar, suggesting that differential treatment of males and females for the purposes of experimental design is unnecessary until proven otherwise, rather than the other way around.
Irisin Inhibits Atherosclerosis by Promoting Endothelial Proliferation Through microRNA126‐5p
Authors: Zhang Yuzhu , Song Haibo , Zhang Yuan , Wu Fei , Mu Qian , Jiang Miao , Wang Fang , Zhang Wen , Li Liang , Shao Lei , Li Shiwu , Yang Lijun , Zhang Mingxiang , Wu Qi , Tang Dongqi
Published: September 2016

Background

Irisin is a newly discovered myokine that has been considered a promising candidate for the treatment of cardiovascular disease through improving endothelial function. However, little is known about the role of irisin in the progression of atherosclerosis.

Methods and Results

We used a carotid partial ligation model of apolipoprotein E–deficient mice fed on a high‐cholesterol diet to test the anti‐atherosclerosis effect of irisin. Irisin treatment significantly suppressed carotid neointima formation. It was associated with increased endothelial cell proliferation. In addition, irisin promoted human umbilical vein endothelial cell survival via upregulating microRNA126‐5p expression through the ERK signaling pathway. Inhibition of microRNA126‐5p using the microRNA126‐5p inhibitor abolished the prosurvival effect. The same results were demonstrated in vivo as the expression of microRNA126‐5p noticeably increased in ligated carotid artery after irisin treatment. Furthermore, in vivo blockade of microRNA126‐5p expression using the antagomir abolished the inhibitory effects of irisin on neointima formation, lesional lipid deposition, macrophage area, and the pro‐proliferation effects on endothelial cells.

Conclusions

Taken together, our study demonstrates that irisin significantly reduces atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E–deficient mice via promoting endothelial cell proliferation through microRNA126‐5p, which may have a direct therapeutic effect on atherosclerotic diseases.
The Contribution of Object Shape and Surface Properties to Object Ensemble Representation in Anterior-medial Ventral Visual Cortex
Authors: Cant Jonathan S. , Xu Yaoda
Published: September 2016

Our visual system can extract summary statistics from large collections of objects without forming detailed representations of the individual objects in the ensemble. In a region in ventral visual cortex encompassing the collateral sulcus and the parahippocampal gyrus and overlapping extensively with the scene-selective parahippocampal place area (PPA), we have previously reported fMRI adaptation to object ensembles when ensemble statistics repeated, even when local image features differed across images (e.g., two different images of the same strawberry pile). We additionally showed that this ensemble representation is similar to (but still distinct from) how visual texture patterns are processed in this region and is not explained by appealing to differences in the color of the elements that make up the ensemble. To further explore the nature of ensemble representation in this brain region, here we used PPA as our ROI and investigated in detail how the shape and surface properties (i.e., both texture and color) of the individual objects constituting an ensemble affect the ensemble representation in anterior-medial ventral visual cortex. We photographed object ensembles of stone beads that varied in shape and surface properties. A given ensemble always contained beads of the same shape and surface properties (e.g., an ensemble of star-shaped rose quartz beads). A change to the shape and/or surface properties of all the beads in an ensemble resulted in a significant release from adaptation in PPA compared with conditions in which no ensemble feature changed. In contrast, in the object-sensitive lateral occipital area (LO), we only observed a significant release from adaptation when the shape of the ensemble elements varied, and found no significant results in additional scene-sensitive regions, namely, the retrosplenial complex and occipital place area. Together, these results demonstrate that the shape and surface properties of the individual objects comprising an ensemble both contribute significantly to object ensemble representation in anterior-medial ventral visual cortex and further demonstrate a functional dissociation between object- (LO) and scene-selective (PPA) visual cortical regions and within the broader scene-processing network itself.
Geographical Narration of Interwar Yugoslavia
Authors: Duančić Vedran
Published: September 2016

The article examines the involvement of Yugoslav geographers in the multifaceted process of constructing the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes between the final stage of the First World War and the mid-1920s, when Yugoslavia’s external boundaries and internal arrangement were temporarily settled. Researchers have recognized Jovan Cvijić as the leading scientist behind the political-geographical legitimation of the newly created Yugoslav state. This article, however, examines the role of two hitherto neglected Yugoslav geographers—the Slovene Anton Melik and the Croat Filip Lukas—in the process of constructing the Yugoslav national space. This process, in fact, only intensified after the 1918 publication of Cvijić’s seminal work La Péninsule balkanique. Whereas Cvijić aimed at an international readership, the construction of Yugoslav national space by Croat and Slovene geographers was primarily a domestic enterprise; these were geographies of Yugoslavia by Yugoslav geographers, narrating Yugoslavia to Yugoslav readership. For a period, scholars from Ljubljana and Zagreb rather than Belgrade influenced the project of the geographical narration of Yugoslavia, and approached the pressing contemporary political issues in geographical works in a manner that revealed both connections and tensions between discourses of “center” and “periphery.”
Bio-politics between Nation and Empire
Authors: Stauter-Halsted Keely
Published: September 2016

The Polish Eugenics Society, founded in 1915, wielded considerable influence in the founding years of the Polish Second Republic. Leading medical experts in the Society placed issues of venereal contamination and the expansion of public sex at the forefront of their concerns. Unlike similar movements in Western Europe and North America, however, Polish eugenicists rarely attacked ethnic or religious difference and the organization included several prominent assimilated Jewish doctors. This article looks at the roots of Polish eugenics in the context of late imperial East-Central Europe, showing how scientific experts used their heightened public stature to challenge the governing empires. It demonstrates the ways in which the movement sought to protect the upper classes while promoting sterilization of unworthy lower-class citizens. The piece argues that the Polish eugenics movement was more classist than racist and that its scientific vocabulary helped position the Polish nation, broadly conceived, as more progressive than the imperial states governing Polish territory.
A taxonomic contribution to yellow-flowered members of Centaurea sect. Phaeopappus (Asteraceae) in Iran
Authors: RANJBAR MASSOUD , HEYDARI RAZAYEH
Published: September 2016

Centaurea salmasensis and C. zagrosmontana, two new species endemic to Iran, are described and illustrated. These new species belong to C. sect. Phaeopappus. Centaurea phaeopappa subsp. jiroftensis is raised in rank as C. jiroftensis. A key to yellow-flowered species of the section in Iran is provided.
One new species of the subgenus Xizicus (Zangxizicus) (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Meconematinae) from China
Authors: LIN CHANG YAN , XIA SU CAI , MING SHI FU
Published: September 2016

The paper reports one new species of the tribe Meconematini, Xizicus (Zangxizicus), curvus Chang & Shi sp. nov., and supplies the character photographs of the new species and Xizicus(Zangxizicus) tibeticus Wang, Jing, Liu & Li, 2014.
Confirmation of the occurrence of the sandbar shark Carcharhinus plumbeus (Nardo, 1827) at Norfolk Island, Tasman Sea
Authors: DUFFY C.A.J. , SCOTT M.
Published: September 2016

The occurrence of the sandbar shark Carcharhinus plumbeus at Norfolk Island is confirmed. Carcharhinus plumbeus occurs over the mid to outer insular shelf from 38 m to at least 53 m depth, and appears to be at least as abundant as C. galapagensis in this habitat. No C. plumbeus were caught from shore despite most fishing effort being land-based. The presence of young-of-the-year confirms C. plumbeus breeds on the Norfolk Island shelf. Size at birth and the timing of parturition appear similar to that reported for eastern Australia.
The identity of Calliphora bezzii Zumpt, 1956 (Diptera, Calliphoridae)
Authors: ROGNES KNUT
Published: September 2016

The holotype male of a nominal species described from Italy, Calliphora bezzii Zumpt, 1956, including a microscope slide of its terminalia, was examined. The holotype is shown to belong to the Nearctic taxon Calliphora latifrons Hough, 1899. Thus, Calliphora bezzii is a junior synonym of C. latifrons, syn. nov.
A study on the genus Stenus Latreille from Tianmushan Mountain Chain of East China (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae)
Authors: TANG LIANG , PUTHZ VOLKER , YUE YAN-LI
Published: September 2016

The species of the genus Stenus Latreille from Tianmushan Mountain Chain, North Zhejiang, East China, are reviewed and three new species are described: S. tianmushanus sp. n., S. tonghanggangus sp. n., and S. pseudomicuba sp. n. Diagnostic characters of the new species are illustrated and a key to species of the area is provided.
A new species of treefrog (Litoria) from Cape York Peninsula, Australia
Authors: MCDONALD KEITH R. , ROWLEY JODI J. L. , RICHARDS STEPHEN J. , FRANKHAM GRETA J.
Published: September 2016

We describe a new species of treefrog from northern Australia. Litoria bella sp. nov. is morphologically and genetically most similar to frogs in the L. gracilenta and L. chloris groups but is distinguished from all members in these groups by a combination of a moderately large male body size (34.5–41.8 mm SVL), near-immaculate green dorsum, orange venter, bright orange digits and webbing, bluish purple lateral surfaces of the thighs, no pale canthal stripe, white bones, and a highly-pulsed, single-note, male advertisement call with a pulse rate of 56–64 pulses/s and dominant frequency of 2.6–2.8 kHz. Litoria bella sp. nov. has a patchy distribution across the Cape York Peninsula, inhabiting rainforest and monsoon vine thicket in close association with watercourses. The new species’ affinities lie with L. auae from southern New Guinea rather than with L. gracilenta from eastern Australia. Molecular data suggest that the L. gracilenta group should be expanded to include L. chloris and L. xanthomera, two moderately large green treefrogs from eastern Australia.
The genus Prothrombosternus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Molytinae) rediscovered: a male from Rubeho Mountains, Tanzania
Authors: GREBENNIKOV VASILY V.
Published: September 2016

A male specimen of the monotypic weevil genus, Prothrombosternus Voss, 1965, so far known on the basis of only five syntypes from Mt. Meru and Mt. Hanang, Tanzania, is reported from the Rubeho Mountains, Tanzania. The lectotype of Prothrombosternus tarsalis Voss, 1965 is designated using a male from Mt. Meru. The Rubeho specimen shares the same external and genital morphological characters with the lectotype (both extensively illustrated) and, therefore, both are considered conspecific. The DNA barcode of the Rubeho specimen is publicly available at dx.doi.org/10.5883/DS-PROTHRO. All six known specimens of Prothrombosternus are flightless and were found by sifting leaf litter at elevations between 1833–2500 m in wet Afromontane forests. The genus is, therefore, thought to be restricted to this highly fragmented habitat threatened by human encroachment. Presence of the genus on both geologically old (Rubeho Mountains; >10Ma) and young (Mt. Meru and Mt. Hanang volcanoes, <2Ma) forested highlands suggests presently unknown means of dispersal. The phylogenetic position of the genus is unknown and its taxonomic placement in Cycloterini cannot be presently tested.
A new species of the genus Apollophanes O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1898 (Araneae: Philodromidae) with the first record to the Atlantic rainforest
Authors: FRANCISCO RAFAEL CARLO , OTT RICARDO , TEIXEIRA RENATO AUGUSTO
Published: September 2016

Apollophanes has a wide distribution, with some species in Asia and most of the species recorded from North and Central America (World Spider Catalog 2016). New species described from the Galapagos Islands by Baert (2013) have extended the genus range to South America. According to Dondale and Redner (1975) and Dondale and Redner (1978), the species of Apollophanes have a moderately low prosoma, usually of yellow to orange-brown color and with black or brown spots on the lateral margins. The posterior eyes distances are equally spaced and the legs are long, slender and speckled with dark spots, with leg I usually being longer than IV (characteristic observed only in the male exemplar of the new species). The opisthosoma has a conspicuous heart mark, dark longitudinal spots on the lateral margins and a pale ventral region with purple spots. According to Dondale and Redner (1975) and Logunov (1996), Apollophanes shares some features with species of Cleocnemis, Thanatus and Tibellus, e.g. the shape and coloration patterns of the dorsal shield of the prosoma, as well as the slender legs with dark spots. Apollophanes can be distinguished from Cleocnemis by the presence of two tibial apophyses (ventral and retrolateral) and by the size of the copulatory ducts openings that are long slits that reach the posterior margin of epigastric furrow in Apollophanes, while in Cleocnemis the openings are shorter and situated in central region of the median septum (Dondale & Redner 1975). Apollophanes differs from Thanatus by the presence of macrosetae on the prolateral region of the metatarsus, and differs from Tibellus by the size of leg IV, that is longer than leg I (Dondale & Redner 1975).
WHATCH’EM: A Weather-Driven Energy Balance Model for Determining Water Height and Temperature in Container Habitats for Aedes aegypti
Authors: Steinhoff Daniel F. , Monaghan Andrew J. , Eisen Lars , Barlage Michael J. , Hopson Thomas M. , Tarakidzwa Isaac , Ortiz-Rosario Karielys , Lozano-Fuentes Saul , Hayden Mary H. , Bieringer Paul E. , Welsh Rodríguez Carlos M.
Published: September 2016

The mosquito virus vector Aedes (Ae.) aegypti exploits a wide range of containers as sites for egg laying and development of the immature life stages, yet the approaches for modeling meteorologically sensitive container water dynamics have been limited. This study introduces the Water Height and Temperature in Container Habitats Energy Model (WHATCH’EM), a state-of-the-science, physically based energy balance model of water height and temperature in containers that may serve as development sites for mosquitoes. The authors employ WHATCH’EM to model container water dynamics in three cities along a climatic gradient in México ranging from sea level, where Ae. aegypti is highly abundant, to ~2100 m, where Ae. aegypti is rarely found. When compared with measurements from a 1-month field experiment in two of these cities during summer 2013, WHATCH’EM realistically simulates the daily mean and range of water temperature for a variety of containers. To examine container dynamics for an entire season, WHATCH’EM is also driven with field-derived meteorological data from May to September 2011 and evaluated for three commonly encountered container types. WHATCH’EM simulates the highly nonlinear manner in which air temperature, humidity, rainfall, clouds, and container characteristics (shape, size, and color) determine water temperature and height. Sunlight exposure, modulated by clouds and shading from nearby objects, plays a first-order role. In general, simulated water temperatures are higher for containers that are larger, darker, and receive more sunlight. WHATCH’EM simulations will be helpful in understanding the limiting meteorological and container-related factors for proliferation of Ae. aegypti and may be useful for informing weather-driven early warning systems for viruses transmitted by Ae. aegypti.
An Extension of the Ensemble Kalman Filter for Estimating the Observation Error Covariance Matrix Based on the Variational Bayes’s Method
Authors: Nakabayashi Akio , Ueno Genta
Published: September 2016

This paper presents an extension of the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) that can simultaneously estimate the state vector and the observation error covariance matrix by using the variational Bayes’s (VB) method. In numerical experiments, this capability is examined for a time-variant observation error covariance matrix, and it is noteworthy that this method works well even when the true observation error covariance matrix is nondiagonal. In addition, two complementary studies are presented. First, the stability of a long-run assimilation is demonstrated when there are unmodeled disturbances. Second, a maximum-likelihood (ML) method is derived and demonstrated for optimizing the hyperparameters used in this method.
A Scandinavian success story? Women’s labour market outcomes in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden
Authors: Grönlund Anne , Halldén Karin , Magnusson Charlotta
Published: September 2016

In current research, the extensive family policies of the Scandinavian countries have been problematized and described as hampering women’s careers. However, mechanisms have been little investigated and the Scandinavian countries are often regarded as a single policy model. Based on an account of institutional variety we study gender gaps in hourly wages and access to authority positions in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden and explore the importance of segregation, skills and work interruptions. The analysis uses pooled cross-sectional data from the European Social Survey (ESS) for 2004 and 2010. The results show that gender gaps vary both in size and regarding the mechanisms producing them. In particular, we find that gender segregation has a radically different impact in the four countries. The analysis suggests that the mechanisms linking family policies to labour market outcomes are more complex than envisaged in the current debate and point to the importance of comparing seemingly similar countries.
Interactive iPhone/iPad App for Increased Tympanic Membrane Familiarity
Authors: Samra Sheena , Wu Andrew , Redleaf Miriam
Published: September 2016

Introduction:

Otology relies on clinical examination to teach anatomy of the ear. The purpose of this report is to introduce the Buckingham Virtual Tympanum iPhone app as an adjuvant educational tool to teach the anatomical details of the tympanic membrane (TM).

Materials and Methods:

This app, available free at the Apple Store, was constructed using archival photographs of normal and abnormal TMs, stratified by difficulty. Each image has 4 labeled structures, linked to questions to encourage active learning. Third-year medical students then used the app to familiarize themselves with the TM.

Results:

The free app was readily accessible and functioned without technical issues. By being interactive, it forced the user into the role of active learner. This pilot study found that students who used the app understood images of the TM better than those who did not use it.

Discussion:

We introduce an interactive, iPhone-based smartphone application that we found to be a useful adjunct for teaching TM anatomy.