bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acculturation and Ethnic Variations in Breast Cancer Risk Factors, Gail Model Risk Estimates and Mammographic Breast Density
Authors: Tehranifar P , Protacio A , Akinyemiju TF , Schmitt K , Desperito E , Terry MB
Published: April 2015

Breast cancer (BC) incidence varies across countries and across US ethnic groups. US Immigrants often exhibit an intermediate level of risk between those observed in their birth country and in the US. This transition of risk may partly be explained by uptake of risk factors associated with acculturation. Investigating whether immigration and acculturation risk patterns are similarly reflected in disease biomarkers can provide insight into mechanisms underlying the transition of risk. We examined differences in the distribution of BC risk factors, absolute risk estimates and mammographic density by ethnicity and acculturation. We used data from 366 women recruited from an urban mammography clinic (ages 40–64 years) to compare BC risk factors and Gail model risk estimates across US-born white, US-born African American [AA], US-born Hispanic and foreign-born Hispanic women. We used linear regression models to examine the associations of immigration and acculturation indicators (e.g., generational status, age and life stage at immigration, language use) with percent density and dense breast area, measured from mammograms. Differences in BC risk factors were mostly observed for ethnic groups, with white women having higher reproductive and lifestyle risk profiles (e.g., lower parity, older age at first birth, higher alcohol intake), Hispanics having shorter height and AAs having larger body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. The average lifetime and 5-year Gail estimates were highest in whites (11.4% & 1.4%), intermediate in AAs (7.2% & 1.0%) and lowest in Hispanics (6.9% & 0.7% in US-born and 6.6% & 0.8% in foreign-born). After adjusting for age, BMI and parity, lower linguistic acculturation, shorter residence in the US, and later age at immigration were associated with lower percent density (all p values for trend across acculturation levels <0.05); e.g., monolingual Spanish and bilingual speakers respectively had on average 5.6% (95% CI, −10.0–−1.3) and 3.8% (95% CI, −8.1–0.4) lower percent density than monolingual English speakers. Similar but more modest associations were observed for dense area. The increase in BC risk after immigration to the US and subsequent acculturation may operate via influences on mammographic density in Hispanic women.
Effects of a 16-week Resistance and Aerobic Exercise Intervention on Metabolic Syndrome in Overweight/Obese Latina Breast Cancer Survivors
Authors: Dieli-Conwright CM , Mortimer JE , Spicer D , Tripathy D , Buchanan T , Demark-Wahenfried W , Bernstein L
Published: April 2015

This randomized controlled trial was designed to assess the effects of a 16-week combined (aerobic and resistance) exercise intervention on metabolic syndrome (MetS) in overweight and obese Latina breast cancer survivors (LBCS). MetS is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and possibly cancer recurrence, and is defined by increased waist circumference (WC), elevated blood glucose (BG), high triglycerides (TG), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and elevated blood pressure (BP). Methods. Forty LBCS (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) were recruited from the USC Lee Breast Clinic and Los Angeles County Hospitals. Participants were randomized to either the Control (CON; n = 20) or the Exercise (EX; n = 20) groups. Participants were tested for MetS outcomes including BP, WC, fasting levels of FBG, HDL, and TG at baseline, post-intervention, and 12-weeks post- intervention (EX group only). The EX group participated in aerobic and resistance exercise sessions 3 times a week for 16 weeks, supervised by an exercise specialist at the WHEL. Aerobic exercise included cycling, walking, or jogging at 65–85% heart rate maximum. Resistance exercise was performed in circuit-fashion with 3 sets of 10–15 repetitions including upper and lower body exercises at 65–70% 1-repetition maximum. The CON group was asked to maintain less than 120 min/week of exercise during the study period. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to test for statistically significant between-group differences in MetS. Results. There were no significant group differences in MetS between the EX and CON groups at baseline (P > 0.01). However, post-intervention, all MetS components were significantly lower in the EX group than the CON group (P < 0.01). Further, in the EX group, MetS at 12-week post- intervention was not statistically different from post-intervention (P > 0.01). Conclusions. A 16-week supervised resistance and aerobic exercise intervention attenuated MetS in overweight and obese LBCS. Further, reductions in MetS components were maintained following the completion of the intervention, suggesting that the benefits of the intervention on MetS were sustainable in the absence of a supervised intervention.
Dual Blockade with AFatinib and Trastuzumab as NEoadjuvant Treatment for Patients with Locally Advanced or Operable Breast Cancer Receiving Taxane–Anthracycline Containing Chemotherapy—DAFNE (GBG-70)
Authors: Hanusch Claus , Schneeweiss Andreas , Loibl Sibylle , Untch Michael , Paepke Stefan , Kümmel Sherko , Jackisch Christian , Huober Jens , Hilfrich Jörn , Gerber Bernd , Eidtmann Holger , Denkert Carsten , Costa Serban , Blohmer Jens Uwe , Engels Knut , Burchardi Nicole , von Minckwitz Gunter
Published: April 2015

Purpose: Dual anti-HER2 blockade with trastuzumab/pertuzumab or trastuzumab/lapatinib in combination with anthracycline/taxane–based chemotherapy can reach pathologic complete response (pCR) rates of up to 60% in HER2-positive breast cancer. The DAFNE (Dual blockade with AFatinib and trastuzumab as NEoadjuvant treatment) phase II study (NCT015591477) investigated a dual blockade with the irreversible pan-HER inhibitor afatinib and trastuzumab in this setting.

Experimental Design: Participants with untreated, centrally HER2-positive breast cancer were treated for 6 weeks with afatinib (20 mg/d) and trastuzumab [(8) 6 mg/kg/3 weeks] alone; followed by 12-week treatment with paclitaxel (80 mg/m2/1 week), trastuzumab, and afatinib; followed by 12 weeks with epirubicin (90 mg/m2/3 weeks), cyclophosphamide (600 mg/m2/3 weeks), and trastuzumab before surgery. Primary objective was pCR rate, defined as ypT0/is ypN0. We expected a pCR rate of 70%; 65 patients were needed to exclude a rate of ≤55%.

Results: pCR rate was 49.2% [90% confidence interval (CI), 38.5–60.1] in 65 treated patients. Patients with hormone receptor–negative (N = 19) or hormone receptor–positive (N = 46) tumors showed pCR rates of 63.2% and 43.5%, respectively (P = 0.153). Patients with (N = 9) or without (N = 56) lymphocyte predominant breast cancer (LPBC) showed pCR rates of 100% and 41.1%, respectively (P < 0.001). PCR rate was not different in patients with or without PIK3CA tumor mutations (P = 0.363). Clinical responses were seen in 96.3% of 54 evaluable patients, and breast conserving surgery was possible in 59.4% of 62 assessable patients. Most frequent nonhematologic grade 3–4 toxicities were diarrhea (7.7%), increased creatinine (4.6%), and infection (4.6%). One patient developed symptomatic congestive heart failure.

Conclusions: Neoadjuvant treatment with afatinib, trastuzumab, and chemotherapy showed acceptable tolerability, and a pCR rate comparable with that of other anti-HER2 doublets but below challenging expectations. Clin Cancer Res; 21(13); 2924–31. ©2015 AACR.
Genetic Engineering of T Cells to Target HERV-K, an Ancient Retrovirus on Melanoma
Authors: Krishnamurthy Janani , Rabinovich Brian A. , Mi Tiejuan , Switzer Kirsten C. , Olivares Simon , Maiti Sourindra N. , Plummer Joshua B. , Singh Harjeet , Kumaresan Pappanaicken R. , Huls Helen M. , Wang-Johanning Feng , Cooper Laurence J.N.
Published: April 2015

Purpose: The human endogenous retrovirus (HERV-K) envelope (env) protein is a tumor-associated antigen (TAA) expressed on melanoma but not normal cells. This study was designed to engineer a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) on T-cell surface, such that they target tumors in advanced stages of melanoma.

Experimental Design: Expression of HERV-K protein was analyzed in 220 melanoma samples (with various stages of disease) and 139 normal organ donor tissues using immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis. HERV-K env–specific CAR derived from mouse monoclonal antibody was introduced into T cells using the transposon-based Sleeping Beauty (SB) system. HERV-K env–specific CAR+ T cells were expanded ex vivo on activating and propagating cells (AaPC) and characterized for CAR expression and specificity. This includes evaluating the HERV-K–specific CAR+ T cells for their ability to kill A375-SM metastasized tumors in a mouse xenograft model.

Results: We detected HERV-K env protein on melanoma but not in normal tissues. After electroporation of T cells and selection on HERV-K+ AaPC, more than 95% of genetically modified T cells expressed the CAR with an effector memory phenotype and lysed HERV-K env+ tumor targets in an antigen-specific manner. Even though there is apparent shedding of this TAA from tumor cells that can be recognized by HERV-K env–specific CAR+ T cells, we observed a significant antitumor effect.

Conclusions: Adoptive cellular immunotherapy with HERV-K env–specific CAR+ T cells represents a clinically appealing treatment strategy for advanced-stage melanoma and provides an approach for targeting this TAA on other solid tumors. Clin Cancer Res; 21(14); 3241–51. ©2015 AACR.
c-MYC Generates Repair Errors via Increased Transcription of Alternative-NHEJ Factors, LIG3 and PARP1, in Tyrosine Kinase–Activated Leukemias
Authors: Muvarak Nidal , Kelley Shannon , Robert Carine , Baer Maria R. , Perrotti Danilo , Gambacorti-Passerini Carlo , Civin Curt , Scheibner Kara , Rassool Feyruz V.
Published: April 2015

Leukemias expressing the constitutively activated tyrosine kinases (TK) BCR-ABL1 and FLT3/ITD activate signaling pathways that increase genomic instability through generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA double-strand breaks (DSB), and error-prone repair. The nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) pathway is a major pathway for DSB repair and is highly aberrant in TK-activated leukemias; an alternative form of NHEJ (ALT-NHEJ) predominates, evidenced by increased expression of DNA ligase IIIα (LIG3) and PARP1, increased frequency of large genomic deletions, and repair using DNA sequence microhomologies. This study, for the first time, demonstrates that the TK target c-MYC plays a role in transcriptional activation and subsequent expression of LIG3 and PARP1 and contributes to the increased error-prone repair observed in TK-activated leukemias. c-MYC negatively regulates microRNAs miR-150 and miR-22, which demonstrate an inverse correlation with LIG3 and PARP1 expression in primary and cultured leukemia cells and chronic myelogenous leukemia human patient samples. Notably, inhibition of c-MYC and overexpression of miR-150 and -22 decreases ALT-NHEJ activity. Thus, BCR-ABL1 or FLT3/ITD induces c-MYC expression, leading to genomic instability via augmented expression of ALT-NHEJ repair factors that generate repair errors.

Implications: In the context of TK-activated leukemias, c-MYC contributes to aberrant DNA repair through downstream targets LIG3 and PARP1, which represent viable and attractive therapeutic targets. Mol Cancer Res; 13(4); 699–712. ©2015 AACR.
Psychological, Social and Familial Factors Associated with Tobacco Cessation among Young Adults
Authors: Bowes Lucy , Chollet Aude , Fombonne Eric , Melchior Maria
Published: April 2015

Background/Aims: The younger individuals quit smoking, the greater the health benefits. We studied the role of adolescent and concurrent psychological, social and familial factors in successful tobacco cessation in a general population sample of French young adults. Methods: Our data came from participants of the TEMPO cohort study and their parents (members of the GAZEL cohort study) in France. Among regular smokers (n = 678), Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios of self-reported tobacco cessation of at least 12 months in relation to individual and socioenvironmental variables. Results: On average, participants (mean: 28.9 years) smoked for 10.51 years (SD = 5.9); the majority had attempted to quit smoking at least once (59.5%). In multiple regression analyses, cannabis use in the preceding year and recent financial difficulties were both negatively associated with successful smoking cessation. Conversely, living with a partner and, for women only, recent pregnancy or childbirth were associated with an increased likelihood of tobacco cessation. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of young adults' cannabis use, family situation and socioeconomic context with regard to their smoking behavior. Physicians and public health decision makers aiming to decrease the burden of tobacco smoking should take into consideration these social and behavioral factors.
Sound Source Localization by Hearing Preservation Patients with and without Symmetrical Low-Frequency Acoustic Hearing
Authors: Loiselle Louise H. , Dorman Michael F. , Yost William A. , Gifford René H.
Published: April 2015

The aim of this article was to study sound source localization by cochlear implant (CI) listeners with low-frequency (LF) acoustic hearing in both the operated ear and in the contralateral ear. Eight CI listeners had symmetrical LF acoustic hearing and 4 had asymmetrical LF acoustic hearing. The effects of two variables were assessed: (i) the symmetry of the LF thresholds in the two ears and (ii) the presence/absence of bilateral acoustic amplification. Stimuli consisted of low-pass, high-pass, and wideband noise bursts presented in the frontal horizontal plane. Localization accuracy was 23° of error for the symmetrical listeners and 76° of error for the asymmetrical listeners. The presence of a unilateral CI used in conjunction with bilateral LF acoustic hearing does not impair sound source localization accuracy, but amplification for acoustic hearing can be detrimental to sound source localization accuracy.
Risk Stratification Model in Elderly Patients with Multiple Myeloma: Clinical Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Combined with International Staging System and Cytogenetic Abnormalities
Authors: Song Moo-Kon , Chung Joo-Seop , Lee Je-Jung , Lee Jae-Hoon , Song Ik-Chan , Lee Sang-Min , Shin Dong-Yeop , Lee Gyeong-Won , Lee In-Sook
Published: April 2015

The International Staging System (ISS) does not take into consideration the clinical role of imaging modalities in multiple myeloma (MM), even though these are important. Some studies have indicated a lack of impact of ISS in MM patients who receive novel agents. Therefore, accessible novel risk stratification might be needed in elderly MM patients receiving conventional therapy or novel agents. We analyzed 198 newly diagnosed and symptomatic MM patients who were not eligible for transplantation. The initial treatment regimen was therapy with melphalan-prednisone (MP, n = 44), thalidomide-cyclophosphamide-dexamethasone (n = 89) or bortezomib-MP (VMP, n = 65). The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pattern was normal in 34 patients, focal in 30 and diffuse/variegated in 134. High-risk cytogenetic abnormalities were not associated with the diffuse/variegated MRI pattern (p = 0.182). ISS stage III [progression-free survival (PFS) p = 0.005; overall survival (OS) p = 0.027], high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities (PFS p = 0.001; OS p < 0.001) and diffuse/variegated MRI pattern (PFS p < 0.001; OS p < 0.001) were independently associated with poorer PFS and OS. Patients were further stratified according to the 3 prognostic factors. The PFS and OS of the 3 groups differed significantly. The addition of the diffuse/variegated MRI pattern may improve the prognostic potential of the current staging system which includes ISS and cytogenetic abnormalities.
Long-Term Results of Various Operations for Lumbar Disc Herniation: Analysis of over 39,000 Patients
Authors: Dohrmann George J. , Mansour Nassir
Published: April 2015

Objective: To determine the long-term follow-up of the various operations for lumbar disc herniation in a large patient population. Subjects and Methods: Patients who had operations for lumbar disc herniation (microdiscectomy, endoscopic microdiscectomy and the ‘classical operation', i.e. laminectomy/laminotomy with discectomy) were collected from the world literature. Patients who had follow-ups for at least 2 years were analyzed relative to the outcome. The outcome was graded by the patients themselves, and the operative groups were compared to one another. Results: 39,048 patients collected from the world literature had had lumbar disc operations for disc herniations. The mean follow-up period was 6.1 years, and 30,809 (78.9%) patients reported good/excellent results. Microdiscectomy was performed on 3,400 (8.7%) patients. The mean follow-up was 4.1 years with 2,866 (84.3%) good/excellent results, while 1,101 (3.6%) patients had endoscopic microdiscectomy. There, the mean follow-up was 2.9 years with 845 (79.5%) good/excellent results. The classical operation was performed on 34,547 (88.5%) patients with a mean follow-up period of 6.3 years, and 27,050 (78.3%) patients had good/excellent results. These results mirror those with discectomy and the placement of prosthetic discs. Conclusions: The analysis of 39,048 patients with various operations for lumbar disc herniation revealed the same pattern of long-term results. Patients who had microdiscectomy, endoscopic microdiscectomy or the classical operation (laminectomy/laminotomy with discectomy) all had approximately 79% good/excellent results. None of the operative procedures gave a different outcome.
Primary Pure and Nonsecreting Embryonal Carcinoma of the Anterior Third Ventricle: A Case Report
Authors: Ben Nsir Atef , Darmoul Mehdi , Hadhri Rym , Zemmali Maroua , Hattab Nejib
Published: April 2015

Central nervous system germ cell tumors (GCTs) account for less than 5% of primary brain tumors in children and adolescents but continue to attract much attention. To the best of our knowledge, a primary pure and nonsecreting embryonal carcinoma of the anterior third ventricle has never been previously reported. A 15-year-old boy presented with signs of increased intracranial pressure for the past 2 weeks complicated by 2 episodes of generalized tonic-clonic seizures 1 day before admission. Neurological examination was normal, and funduscopic examination disclosed a grade II papilledema bilaterally. CT and MRI revealed a well-demarcated and enhancing mass within the anterior third ventricle associated with a left lateral ventricle hydrocephalus. There was no evidence of tumor within the pineal or suprasellar region, and systemic and cerebrospinal fluid evaluation demonstrated normal levels of α-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin. Radical surgery was advised, and total tumor resection was achieved via a transcallosal transforaminal approach. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the final histological diagnosis was a pure embryonal carcinoma. Further screening showed no other location, and adjunctive high-dose chemotherapy was administered. The patient has been symptom free with no clinical or radiological sign of progression at the most recent follow-up examination 2 years after surgery. Primary pure and nonsecreting embryonal carcinoma can develop within the anterior third ventricle and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of anterior third ventricular masses especially in young patients. Accurate identification, radical surgery and high-dose chemotherapy can result in better tumor control and improve the postoperative outcome.
Short Stature in KBG Syndrome: First Responses to Growth Hormone Treatment
Authors: Reynaert Nele , Ockeloen C.W. , Sävendahl L. , Beckers D. , Devriendt K. , Kleefstra T. , Carels C.E.L. , Grigelioniene G. , Nordgren A. , Francois I. , de Zegher F. , Casteels K.
Published: April 2015

Background: KBG syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by intellectual disability and associated with macrodontia of the upper central incisors, specific craniofacial findings, short stature and skeletal anomalies. Genetic corroboration of a clinical diagnosis has been possible since 2011, upon identification of heterozygous mutations in or a deletion of the ANKRD11 gene. Methods: We summarized the height data of 14 adults and 18 children (age range 2-16 years) with a genetically confirmed diagnosis of KBG syndrome. Two of these children were treated with growth hormones. Results: Stature below the 3rd centile or -1.88 standard deviation score (SDS) was observed in 72% of KBG children and in 57% of KBG adults. Height below -2.50 SDS was observed in 62% of KBG children and in 36% of KBG adults. The mean SDS of height in KBG children was -2.56 and in KBG adults -2.17. Two KBG children on growth hormone therapy increased their height by 0.6 and 1 SDS within 1 year, respectively. The former also received a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist due to medical necessity. Conclusion: Short stature is prevalent in KBG syndrome, and spontaneous catch-up growth beyond childhood appears limited. Growth hormone intervention in short KBG children is perceived as promising.
Anatomic Characteristics and Clinical Implications of Angiographic Coronary Thrombus
Authors: Campos Carlos M. , Costa Francesco , Garcia-Garcia Hector M. , Bourantas Christos , Suwannasom Pannipa , Valgimigli Marco , Morel Marie-Angele , Windecker Stephan , Serruys Patrick W.
Published: April 2015

Background—

The distribution of thrombus-containing lesions (TCLs) in an all-comer population admitted with a heterogeneous clinical presentation (stable, ustable angina, or an acute coronary syndrome) and treated with percutaneous coronary intervention is yet unclear, and the long-term prognostic implications are still disputed. This study sought to assess the distribution and prognostic implications of coronary thrombus, detected by coronary angiography, in a population recruited in all-comer percutaneous coronary intervention trials.

Methods and Results—

Patient-level data from 3 contemporary coronary stent trials were pooled by an independent academic research organization (Cardialysis, Rotterdam, the Netherlands). Clinical outcomes in terms of major adverse cardiac events (major adverse cardiac events, a composite of death, myocardial infarction, and repeat revascularization), death, myocardial infarction, and repeated revascularization were compared between patients with and without angiographic TCL. Preprocedural TCL was present in 257 patients (5.8%) and absent in 4193 (94.2%) patients. At 3-year follow-up, there was no difference for major adverse cardiac events (25.3 versus 25.4%;
P
=0.683); all-cause death (7.4 versus 6.8%;
P
=0.683); myocardial infarction (5.8 versus 6.0%;
P
=0.962), and any revascularizations (17.5 versus 17.7%;
P
=0.822) between patients with and without TCL. The comparison of outcomes in groups weighing the jeopardized myocardial by TCL also did not show a significant difference. TCL were seen more often in the first 2 segments of the right (43.6%) and left anterior descending (36.8%) coronary arteries. The association of TCL and bifurcation lesions was present in 40.1% of the prespecified segments.

Conclusions—

TCL involved mainly the proximal coronary segments and did not have any effect on clinical outcomes. A more detailed thrombus burden quantification is required to investigate its prognostic implications.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifiers: NCT00114972, NCT01443104, NCT00617084.
Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial of Renal Sympathetic Denervation in Mild Resistant Hypertension
Authors: Desch Steffen , Okon Thomas , Heinemann Diana , Kulle Konrad , Röhnert Karoline , Sonnabend Melanie , Petzold Martin , Müller Ulrike , Schuler Gerhard , Eitel Ingo , Thiele Holger , Lurz Philipp
Published: April 2015

Few data are available with regard to the effectiveness of renal sympathetic denervation in patients with resistant hypertension yet only mildly elevated blood pressure (BP). Patients with resistant hypertension and slightly elevated BP (day-time systolic pressure, 135–149 and diastolic pressure, 90–94 mm Hg on 24-hour ambulatory measurement) were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to renal sympathetic denervation with the Symplicity Flex Catheter (Medtronic) or an invasive sham procedure. The primary efficacy end point was the change in 24-hour systolic BP at 6 months between groups in the intention to treat population. A total of 71 patients underwent randomization. Baseline day-time systolic BP was 144.4±4.8 mm Hg in patients assigned to denervation and 143.0±4.7 mm Hg in patients randomized to the sham procedure. The mean change in 24-hour systolic BP in the intention to treat cohort at 6 months was −7.0 mm Hg (95% confidence interval, −10.8 to −3.2) for patients undergoing denervation and −3.5 mm Hg (95% confidence interval, −6.7 to −0.2) in the sham group (
P
=0.15). In the per protocol population, the change in 24-hour systolic BP at 6 months was −8.3 mm Hg (95% confidence interval, −11.7 to −5.0) for patients undergoing denervation and −3.5 mm Hg (95% confidence interval, −6.8 to −0.2) in the sham group (
P
=0.042). In patients with mild resistant hypertension, renal sympathetic denervation failed to show a significant reduction in the primary end point of 24-hour systolic BP at 6 months between groups in the intention to treat analysis.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT01656096.
Successful Aging of Societies
Authors: Rowe John W.
Published: April 2015

As America ages, policy-makers' preoccupations with the future costs of Medicare and Social Security grow. But neglected by this focus are critically important and broader societal issues such as intergenerational relations within society and the family, rising inequality and lack of opportunity, productivity in late life (work or volunteering), and human capital development (lifelong education and skills training). Equally important, there is almost no acknowledgment of the substantial benefits and potential of an aging society. The MacArthur Foundation Research Network on an Aging Society offers policy options to address these issues and enhance the transition to a cohesive, productive, secure, and equitable aging society. Such a society will not only function effectively at the societal level but will provide a context that facilitates the capacity of individuals to age successfully. This volume comprises a set of papers, many of which are authored by members of the MacArthur Network, focusing on various aspects of the opportunities and challenges facing the United States while it passes through its current demographic transformation. This essay provides a general overview of the strategy the Network has used to address the various components of this broad subject.
A new species of Cyperus L. (Cyperaceae) from northeastern Brazil
Authors: Ribeiro André Rodolfo de Oliveira , ALVES MARCCUS , DE OLIVEIRA REGINA CÉLIA
Published: April 2015

A new species, Cyperus potiguar, is here described and illustrated. It is a perennial species morphologically related to C. alvesii and C. ligularis, but can be recognized by spikelet size, number and size of glumes, and length of rachilla internodes. It is found in the semi-arid vegetation of northeastern Brazil, locally called Caatinga.
Impacts of Intraseasonal SST Anomalies on Precipitation during Indian Summer Monsoon
Authors: Xi Jingyuan , Zhou Lei , Murtugudde Raghu , Jiang Lianghong
Published: April 2015

The forcing and response relation between the ocean and the atmosphere is often a two-way street. Based on the correlation between the surface heat flux and sea surface temperature (SST), it is found that the ocean plays an active role during the Indian summer monsoon (ISM) in two regions: one is the western coast of the Indian peninsula (WCI) and the other is the northern Bay of Bengal (NBB). A focus is made on the impacts of intraseasonal oceanic variabilities on heavy precipitation in these two regions during the ISM. Results show that warm intraseasonal SST anomalies contribute to the instabilities and deep convection in the atmosphere. In WCI, static instability is largely responsible for triggering convection, while in NBB, convection is mainly attributable to baroclinic instability. Despite such regional differences in instability mechanisms, heavy precipitation events during the ISM usually occur within ~3–6 days after the warm SST anomalies are organized. Understanding this process will be helpful to improve the predictive skill of the intraseasonal variabilities during the ISM, which is the lifeline for the countries on the rim of the Indian Ocean, whose food production depends critically on this seasonal phenomenon.
Quasi-Biweekly Oscillation over the Tibetan Plateau and Its Link with the Asian Summer Monsoon*
Authors: Wang Meirong , Duan Anmin
Published: April 2015

Intraseasonal variation (ISV) is especially prominent and unique in the Asian summer monsoon region. In this work, the dominant ISV mode over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) in the summer monsoon season (June–August), together with its structure and evolution, is identified using station observations, Global Precipitation Climatology Project precipitation data, and ERA-Interim during 1979–2011. Results indicate that quasi-biweekly oscillation (QBWO) is the dominant mode of ISV over the TP and is significant in terms of the circulation, precipitation, and diabatic heating fields. In particular, the QBWO is closely related to the onset and active/break phases of the TP summer monsoon. In most cases, the QBWO originates from the equatorial western Pacific and first propagates northwestward to the Bay of Bengal and northern India, then northward to the southeastern TP, and finally eastward to the East Asian area, showing a clockwise propagation pathway. Two main mechanisms are responsible for the northward propagation of the QBWO signals. The first, in operation when the QBWO signals are located to the south of 20°N, is the generation of barotropic vorticity induced by the easterly vertical shear, leading to the northward movement of the convection. The second mechanism, responsible for the propagation taking place farther north toward the TP, is a moisture advection effect that destabilizes the lower atmosphere ahead of the convection. Further analyses suggest that the QBWO plays a role in linking the ISV of the different subsystems of the Asian summer monsoon as a macroscale monsoon system.
A Multimodel Ensemble Pattern Regression Method to Correct the Tropical Pacific SST Change Patterns under Global Warming
Authors: Huang Ping , Ying Jun
Published: April 2015

This study develops a new observational constraint method, called multimodel ensemble pattern regression (EPR), to correct the projections of regional climate change by the conventional unweighted multimodel mean (MMM). The EPR method first extracts leading modes of historical bias using intermodel EOF analysis, then builds up the linear correlated modes between historical bias and change bias using multivariant linear regression, and finally estimates the common change bias induced by common historical bias. Along with correcting common change bias, the EPR method implicitly removes the intermodel uncertainty in the change projection deriving from the intermodel diversity in background simulation.

The EPR method is applied to correct the patterns of tropical Pacific SST changes using the historical and representative concentration pathway 8.5 (RCP8.5) runs in 30 models from phase 5 of CMIP (CMIP5) and observed SSTs. The common bias patterns of the tropical Pacific SSTs in historical runs, including the excessive cold tongue, the southeastern warm bias, and the narrower warm pool, are estimated to induce La Niña–like change biases. After the estimated common change biases are removed, the corrected SST changes display a pronounced El Niño–like pattern and have much greater zonal gradients. The bias correction decreases by around half of the intermodel uncertainties in the MMM SST projections. The patterns of corrected tropical precipitation and circulation change are dominated by the enhanced SST change patterns, displaying a pronounced warmer-get-wetter pattern and a decreased Walker circulation with decreased uncertainties.
The Energetics of Centrifugal Instability
Authors: Jiao Yang , Dewar W. K.
Published: April 2015

It has been shown recently that the California Undercurrent (CUC), and possibly poleward eastern boundary currents in general, generate mixing events through centrifugal instability (CI). Conditions favorable for CI are created by the strong horizontal shears developed in turbulent bottom layers of currents flowing in the direction of topographic waves. At points of abrupt topographic change, like promontories and capes, the coastal current separates from the boundary and injects gravitationally stable but dynamically unstable flow into the interior. The resulting finite-amplitude development of the instability involves overturnings and diabatic mixing. The purpose of this study is to examine the energetics of CI in order to characterize it as has been done for other instabilities and develop a framework in which to estimate its regional and global impacts. This study argues that CI is very efficient at mixing and possibly approaches what is thought to be the maximum efficiency for turbulent flows. The authors estimate that 10% of the initial energy in a CUC-like current is lost to either local mixing or the generation of unbalanced flows. The latter probably leads to nonlocal mixing. Thus, centrifugal instability is an effective process by which energy is lost from the balanced flow and spent in mixing neighboring water masses. The mixing is regionally important but of less global significance given its regional specificity.
Variogram-Based Proper Scoring Rules for Probabilistic Forecasts of Multivariate Quantities*
Authors: Scheuerer Michael , Hamill Thomas M.
Published: April 2015

Proper scoring rules provide a theoretically principled framework for the quantitative assessment of the predictive performance of probabilistic forecasts. While a wide selection of such scoring rules for univariate quantities exists, there are only few scoring rules for multivariate quantities, and many of them require that forecasts are given in the form of a probability density function. The energy score, a multivariate generalization of the continuous ranked probability score, is the only commonly used score that is applicable in the important case of ensemble forecasts, where the multivariate predictive distribution is represented by a finite sample. Unfortunately, its ability to detect incorrectly specified correlations between the components of the multivariate quantity is somewhat limited. In this paper the authors present an alternative class of proper scoring rules based on the geostatistical concept of variograms. The sensitivity of these variogram-based scoring rules to incorrectly predicted means, variances, and correlations is studied in a number of examples with simulated observations and forecasts; they are shown to be distinctly more discriminative with respect to the correlation structure. This conclusion is confirmed in a case study with postprocessed wind speed forecasts at five wind park locations in Colorado.
Sensitivity of Idealized Supercell Simulations to Horizontal Grid Spacing: Implications for Warn-on-Forecast
Authors: Potvin Corey K. , Flora Montgomery L.
Published: April 2015

The Warn-on-Forecast (WoF) program aims to deploy real-time, convection-allowing, ensemble data assimilation and prediction systems to improve short-term forecasts of tornadoes, flooding, lightning, damaging wind, and large hail. Until convection-resolving (horizontal grid spacing Δx < 100 m) systems become available, however, resolution errors will limit the accuracy of ensemble model output. Improved understanding of grid spacing dependence of simulated convection is therefore needed to properly calibrate and interpret ensemble output, and to optimize trade-offs between model resolution and other computationally constrained parameters like ensemble size and forecast lead time.

Toward this end, the authors examine grid spacing sensitivities of simulated supercells over Δx of 333 m–4 km. Storm environment and physics parameterization are varied among the simulations. The results suggest that 4-km grid spacing is too coarse to reliably simulate supercells, occasionally leading to premature storm demise, whereas 3-km simulations more often capture operationally important features, including low-level rotation tracks. Further decreasing Δx to 1 km enables useful forecasts of rapid changes in low-level rotation intensity, though significant errors remain (e.g., in timing).

Grid spacing dependencies vary substantially among the experiments, suggesting that accurate calibration of ensemble output requires better understanding of how storm characteristics, environment, and parameterization schemes modulate grid spacing sensitivity. Much of the sensitivity arises from poorly resolving small-scale processes that impact larger (well resolved) scales. Repeating some of the 333-m simulations with coarsened initial conditions reveals that supercell forecasts can substantially benefit from reduced grid spacing even when limited observational density precludes finescale initialization.
“My Brain Database Doesn’t See Skin Color”
Authors: Daniels Jessie
Published: April 2015

In this article, I examine three interconnected notions about color-blind racism and the Internet. The first is the fantasy that the Internet as a technology is color-blind with regard to race; the second is the reality that color-blind racism operates in the tech industry. The third notion is the way color-blind racism shapes Internet studies of race and racism, in which race is contained as a “variable” or as an “identity” that inhere exclusively in people of color, but that leaves the way race is embedded in structures, industry, and the very idea of the Internet unexamined. To explore these facets of color-blind racism, the article offers a theoretical meta-analysis of scholarly literature, the cultural artifacts of technoculture, and popular accounts of the tech industry.
Why do psychiatric patients have higher cancer mortality rates when cancer incidence is the same or lower?
Authors: Kisely Steve , Forsyth Simon , Lawrence David
Published: April 2015

Objective:

Studies of overall cancer incidence and mortality in psychiatric patients have had mixed results. Some have reported lower than expected cancer incidence or mortality, while others have found no association or an increased risk depending on sample, psychiatric diagnosis, cancer site and methodology. Few studies have compared cancer incidence and mortality using the same population and methodology.

Method:

A population-based record-linkage analysis to compare cancer incidence and mortality in psychiatric patients with that for the general Queensland population, using an historical cohort to calculate age- and sex-standardised rate ratios and hazard ratios. Mental health records were linked with cancer registrations and death records from 2002 to 2007.

Results:

There were 89,992 new cancer cases, of which 3349 occurred in people with mental illness. Cancer incidence was the same as the general population for most psychiatric disorders. Rates were actually lower for dementia (hazard ratio = 0.77; 95% confidence interval = [0.67, 0.88]) and schizophrenia (hazard ratio = 0.84; 95% confidence interval = [0.72, 0.98]). By contrast, mortality was increased in psychiatric patients (hazard ratio = 2.27; 95% confidence interval = [2.15, 2.39]) with elevated hazard ratios for all the main psychiatric diagnoses.

Conclusions:

Lifestyle, such as alcohol or tobacco use, would not explain our findings that people with mental illness are no more likely than the general population to develop cancer but more likely to die of it. Other factors may be the difficulty in differentiating medically explained and unexplained symptoms, greater case fatality or inequity in access to specialist procedures. The study highlights the need for improved cancer screening, detection and intervention in this population.
An Investigation of Operational Decision Making in Situ
Authors: Cohen-Hatton Sabrina R. , Butler Philip C. , Honey Robert C.
Published: April 2015

Objective

The aim of this study was to better understand the nature of decision making at operational incidents in order to inform operational guidance and training.

Background

Normative models of decision making have been adopted in the guidance and training for emergency services. In these models, it is assumed that decision makers assess the current situation, formulate plans, and then execute the plans. However, our understanding of how decision making unfolds at operational incidents remains limited.

Method

Incident commanders, attending 33 incidents across six U.K. Fire and Rescue Services, were fitted with helmet-mounted cameras, and the resulting video footage was later independently coded and used to prompt participants to provide a running commentary concerning their decisions.

Results

The analysis revealed that assessment of the operational situation was most often followed by plan execution rather than plan formulation, and there was little evidence of prospection about the potential consequences of actions. This pattern of results was consistent across different types of incident, characterized by level of risk and time pressure, but was affected by the operational experience of the participants.

Conclusion

Decision making did not follow the sequence of phases assumed by normative models and conveyed in current operational guidance but instead was influenced by both reflective and reflexive processes.

Application

These results have clear implications for understanding operational decision making as it occurs in situ and suggest a need for future guidance and training to acknowledge the role of reflexive processes.
Cultural identity change in expatriates: A social network perspective
Authors: Mao Jina , Shen Yan
Published: April 2015

We explore relational patterns of expatriates’ social networks and their impact on expatriates’ change in cultural identity while working abroad. We go beyond mono-cultural assumptions and highlight the importance of examining cross-cultural relational dynamics on maintenance and change in expatriates’ cultural identity. We argue that strong ties in dense networks are most conducive to helping expatriates stay attached to a national culture. Cultural diversity in a social network provides the impetus for cultural identity change. Cross-cultural interconnectedness within an expatriate’s social network contributes to the development of multiculturalism in one’s cultural identity. We also discuss the effect of cultural identity change on expatriation and repatriation adjustment, and provide some practical implications for individuals as well as organizations. Overall, we offer a cross-cultural social network perspective in theorizing about the expatriation experience.
The rise of engaged citizenship: The evolution of citizenship norms among adolescents in 21 countries between 1999 and 2009
Authors: Hooghe Marc , Oser Jennifer
Published: April 2015

Various authors claim that citizenship norms are changing rapidly in advanced democracies, leading to a stronger emphasis on self-expressive engagement and a decline of notions of civic duty. In this article, we compare results from two comparative surveys of adolescents: the 1999 Civic Education Study and the 2009 International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS). By using latent class analysis, we identify duty-based and engaged citizenship norms, both in 1999 and in 2009. As expected, the group supporting duty-based citizenship norms is clearly smaller in 2009 than in 1999, while the opposite is true for the group supporting engaged citizenship norms. In contrast to expectations, the empirical evidence also distinguishes additional normative concepts and shows that the distribution among countries is not according to the dynamics on value change as suggested in the literature, including a decline in engaged norms in Scandinavia and Western Europe.
Militias, Ideology, and the State
Authors: Staniland Paul
Published: April 2015

Research on militias portrays them as subservient proxies of governments used to achieve tactical goals. The conventional wisdom, however, ignores the diversity of state–militia relations. This article outlines four distinct strategies that states can pursue toward militias, ranging from incorporation to suppression. It then argues that regime ideology shapes how governments perceive and deal with militias. A new theory of armed group political roles brings politics back into the study of militias. Comparative evidence from India and Pakistan shows that varying regime ideological projects contribute to different patterns of militia–state relations. These findings suggest that political ideas ought to be central to the study of political violence, militias should be studied in direct dialog with other armed groups, and a traditional focus on civil war should be replaced by the broader study of “armed politics.”
At the Intersection of Modernities: Migrants as Agents of Economic and Cultural Change
Authors: Efremkin Evgeny
Published: April 2015

This article analyzes the infusion of North American ideas, culture and experience into the Soviet society, and depicts immigrants as agents of social and cultural change. Having embodied North American representations of modernity, they introduced new working methods, values and routines, as well as novel forms of labor organization to Soviet Karelia. With the help of imported machinery, tools, and equipment, immigrants drastically increased the production rates at Karelia’s industries. Glorified and publicized by the Karelian government and the media, their labour shops, and farm communes became models to be emulated in Karelia and throughout the Soviet Union. North American Finns also came to play an important part in Soviet elites’ attempt to modernize the Soviet society, both economically and culturally. Although they were agents of cultural and technological change in their own right, immigrants’ social and ethnic identities were subsumed and appropriated by the Soviet state and Karelia’s cultural producers in attempts to promote a Soviet version (an alternative) of economic and cultural modernity. Their physical and intellectual movement across national borders shaped and reconstituted the Soviet path to modernization, even if for a short period of time. In the process, concepts of the local, the national and the modern (that is, the global), became increasingly entangled.
In-vivo and in-vitro tick repellent properties of cotton fabric
Authors: İnceboz Tonay , Erkan Gökhan , Türkoğlu Gizem Ceylan , Sarıışık Ayşe Merih , Bakırcı Serkan , Üner Selin , Üner Ahmet
Published: April 2015

N,N-diethyl- m-toluamide (DEET) and eucalyptol were encapsulated by β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) using the kneading method at four different molar ratios. The products were applied to 100% cotton fabric through the impregnation method. Fourier transform infrared and differential scanning calorimetry analysis results confirmed that the inclusion complex occurred between β-CD and repellent agents at mole ratios of 1:3 and 1:2 for eucalyptol and DEET, respectively. The experiments carried out on Hyalomma marginatum showed that DEET and eucalyptol treated fabrics repel, inhibit and kill blood-feeding Hyalomma marginatum ticks in-vivo and in-vitro for a period of at least 48 and 72 hours under laboratory conditions. In-vitro essay showed good repellent activities for both DEET and eucalyptol. The results show that eucalyptol has more repellent effect than DEET. In the case of the in-vivo essay, a single washing cycle of eucalyptol: β-CD-treated fabric showed repellent activity.