bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
HER-Family Ligands Promote Acquired Resistance to Trastuzumab in Gastric Cancer
Authors: Sampera Aïda , Sánchez-Martín Francisco Javier , Arpí Oriol , Visa Laura , Iglesias Mar , Menéndez Sílvia , Gaye Élisabeth , Dalmases Alba , Clavé Sergi , Gelabert-Baldrich Mariona , Poulsen Thomas Tuxen , Kragh Michael , Bellosillo Beatriz , Albanell Joan , Rovira Ana , Montagut Clara
Published: September 2019

Despite the clinical benefit of trastuzumab, eventually all HER2-amplified gastric cancer tumors develop drug resistance. We aimed to identify molecular mechanisms of acquired resistance to trastuzumab in gastric cancer by using well-established cell line–based preclinical models, as well as samples from patients with HER2-positive gastric cancer treated with trastuzumab. We studied trastuzumab resistance in NCI-N87 and OE19, two gastric cancer cell lines that overexpress HER2 receptor and are trastuzumab sensitive. Differences at protein, DNA, and RNA levels between the parental and resistant cells were characterized and functional studies were performed. Paired pre- and post-trastuzumab blood and tissue samples from patients with gastric cancer treated with trastuzumab were analyzed. We found that resistant cells were associated with increased activation of MAPK/ERK and PI3K/mTOR pathways driven by SRC activation. Upstream, resistant cells showed increased coexpression of multiple HER-family ligands that allowed for compensatory activation of alternative HER receptors upon HER2 blockade. Simultaneous inhibition of EGFR, HER2, and HER3 by the novel antibody mixture, Pan-HER, effectively reverted trastuzumab resistance in vitro and in vivo. Similarly, an increase in HER-family ligands was observed in serum and tumor from patients with gastric cancer after trastuzumab therapy. We propose that trastuzumab resistance in gastric cancer is mediated by HER-family ligand upregulation that allows a compensatory activation of HER receptors and maintains downstream signaling activation despite trastuzumab therapy. Resistance is reverted by simultaneous inhibition of EGFR, HER2, and HER3, thereby revealing a potential therapeutic strategy to overcome trastuzumab resistance in patients with gastric cancer.
Efficacy of Difluoromethylornithine and Aspirin for Treatment of Adenomas and Aberrant Crypt Foci in Patients with Prior Advanced Colorectal Neoplasms
Authors: Sinicrope Frank A. , Velamala Pruthvi R. , Song Louis M. Wong Kee , Viggiano Thomas R. , Bruining David H. , Rajan Elizabeth , Gostout Christopher J. , Kraichely Robert E. , Buttar Navtej S. , Schroeder Kenneth W. , Kisiel John B. , Larson Mark V. , Sweetser Seth R. , Sedlack Robert R. , Sinicrope Stephen N. , Richmond Ellen , Umar Asad , Della'Zanna Gary , Noaeill Joni S. , Meyers Jeffrey P. , Foster Nathan R.
Published: September 2019

Difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an inhibitor of polyamine synthesis, was shown to act synergistically with a NSAID for chemoprevention of colorectal neoplasia. We determined the efficacy and safety of DFMO plus aspirin for prevention of colorectal adenomas and regression of rectal aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in patients with prior advanced adenomas or cancer. A double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial was performed in 104 subjects (age 46–83) randomized (1:1) to receive daily DFMO (500 mg orally) plus aspirin (325 mg) or matched placebos for one year. All polyps were removed at baseline. Adenoma number (primary endpoint) and rectal ACF (index cluster and total) were evaluated at a one year colonoscopy. ACF were identified by chromoendoscopy. Toxicity was monitored, including audiometry. Eighty-seven subjects were evaluable for adenomas or ACF modulation (n = 62). At one year of treatment, adenomas were detected in 16 (38.1%) subjects in the DFMO plus aspirin arm (n = 42) versus 18 (40.9%) in the placebo arm (n = 44; P = 0.790); advanced adenomas were similar (n = 3/arm). DFMO plus aspirin was associated with a statistically significant reduction in the median number of rectal ACF compared with placebo (P = 0.036). Total rectal ACF burden was also reduced in the treatment versus the placebo arm relative to baseline (74% vs. 45%, P = 0.020). No increase in adverse events, including ototoxicity, was observed in the treatment versus placebo arms. While adenoma recurrence was not significantly reduced by one year of DFMO plus aspirin, the drug combination significantly reduced rectal ACF number consistent with a chemopreventive effect.
A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Dose Escalation, Single Dose, and Steady-State Pharmacokinetic Study of 9cUAB30 in Healthy Volunteers
Authors: Kolesar Jill M. , Andrews Shannon , Green Heather , Havighurst Tom C. , Wollmer Barbara W. , DeShong Katina , Laux Douglas E. , Krontiras Helen , Muccio Donald D. , Kim KyungMann , Grubbs Clinton J. , House Margaret G. , Parnes Howard L. , Heckman-Stoddard Brandy M. , Bailey Howard H.
Published: September 2019

9cUAB30 is a synthetic analogue of 9-cis retinoic acid with chemoprevention activity in cell lines and animal models. The purpose of this phase I placebo-controlled, double-blinded, dose escalation study of 9cUAB30 was to evaluate its safety, pharmacokinetics, and determine a dose for future phase II studies. Participants received a single dose of study drug (placebo or 9cUAB30) on day 1 followed by a 6-day drug-free period and then 28 days of continuous daily dosing starting on day 8. Fifty-three healthy volunteers were enrolled into five dose cohorts (20, 40, 80, 160, and 240 mg). Participants were randomized within each dose level to receive either 9cUAB30 (n = 8) or placebo (n = 2). 9cUAB30 was well tolerated, with no dose limiting toxicities reported and no evidence of persistent elevations in serum triglycerides or cholesterol. Treatment-emergent grade 3 hypertension occurred in 1 of 8 participants at the 20 mg dose level and in 2 of 8 at the 240 mg dose level, all considered unlikely related to study agent; no other grade 3 adverse events were observed. The AUC increased, as expected, between day 1 (single dose) and day 36 (steady state). Pharmacokinetics were linear in dose escalation through 160 mg. 9cUAB30 administered by daily oral dosing has a favorable safety and pharmacokinetic profile. On the basis of the observed safety profile and lack of linearity in pharmacokinetics at doses greater than 160 mg, the recommended phase II dose with the current formulation is 160 mg once daily.
Translation and Validation of the Voice Catastrophization Index for Persian-Speaking Patients with Dysphonia
Authors: Ahmadi Akram , Faham Maryam , Hosseinifar Shamim , Silverman Erin , Fazeli Mahnoosh , Shiani Amir , Ebadi Abbas
Published: September 2019

Purpose: Catastrophization refers to the cognitive distortion that is experienced by patients with several diseases who suffer from pain. There is some evidence that catastrophization may be found in patients with voice disorders. The Voice Catastrophization Index (VCI) was developed in English to measure catastrophization in patients with dysphonia. The goal of this research was to translate and validate the Persian version of the VCI (P-VCI) for use with Persian-speaking people in Iran and elsewhere. Methods: This was a prospective and cross-sectional study. First, the questionnaire was translated, then its various psychometric properties were investigated. Results: There was a significant difference in mean P-VCI score between participants with and without dysphonia (p < 0.001). Test-retest reliability for the total score of P-VCI was excellent (ICC = 0.94, p < 0.001), as was its internal consistency, as determined by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (α = 0.956). Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that some of the indices show a good fit for the 3-subscale model. There was a moderate correlation in criterion-related validity between the P-VCI and Voice Activity Participation Profile – Persian version (r = 0.644, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The translated test exhibited satisfactory psychometric properties. The P-VCI is a valid and reliable tool for the assessment of catastrophization in persons with voice disorders.
KAMRA-Inlays: Ursache von Trübungen sind Narbenreaktionen
Authors: Bachmann Björn
Published: September 2019

Objective: To investigate the histologic composition of opaque membranes associated with corneal intrastromal inlays implanted for the surgical treatment of presbyopia. Methods: This is an observational case series of KAMRA corneal inlays explanted due to the presence of adherent opaque membranes associated with peri-inlay corneal stromal haze and sent for histopathologic analysis. Routine histology was performed in addition to immunohistochemical staining with myofibroblast and keratocyte markers. Results: Eleven explanted inlay specimens were received, of which, after histologic processing, four demonstrated sufficient cellular material for histopathologic analysis. The opaque membranes surrounding the explanted inlays were composed of fibroconnective tissue, and myofibroblasts (positive for smooth muscle actin immunostain) were the predominant cell type. Immunostaining for the keratocyte marker CD34 was negative, confirming that the membranes were the result of a reactive scar-tissue formation process and not simply normal corneal stroma adherent to the explant. Conclusions: Corneal inlay implantation can lead to the formation of an adherent fibroconnective tissue membrane, suggesting keratocyte-to-myofibroblast transdifferentiation and reactive fibroconnective tissue scar formation that could potentially impact visual potential. Prospective patients should be counseled regarding the risk of this complication, as this may be associated with some risk of incomplete reversibility of the procedure.
Influence of Incision Site on Postoperative Outcome in Skin-/Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy: Is There a Difference between Radial and Inframammary Incision?
Authors: Lanthaler Monika , Spinelli Rossella , Tasch Christoph , Sieb Michael , Harfmann Manuel , Nitto Agnese , Pierer Gerhard , Bauer Thomas
Published: September 2019

Background: The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a difference in results between the radial and the inframammary approach in nipple-/skin-sparing mastectomy and immediate reconstruction. Methods: The patients were divided into two groups (group 1: radial incision; group 2: inframammary fold incision [IMF]), each consisting of two subgroups for direct-to-implant reconstruction (1a, 2a) and expander reconstruction (1b, 2b). The patients were operated on between March 2012 and May 2017. Preoperative tumor parameters, reconstruction parameters, postoperative tumor parameters, and immediate and late complications were assessed. Postoperative photographs were evaluated by the patients and 8 plastic surgeons by means of grading (1–5) and the visual analog scale (VAS; 1–10). Results: Enrolled in this study were 28 patients, namely, 7 patients in each subgroup. The median age was 46 years, and the median follow-up period was 40 months. No immediate complications occurred. Three patients had late complications, but there was no case of evident capsular fibrosis. Twenty-seven patients (96.42%) evaluated the postoperative result as excellent/good. The postoperative evaluation by the plastic surgeons was excellent/good for a median of 18 patients (64.28%). Group 1 showed a median VAS score of 7.63 (expander group: 7.50; direct-to-implant group: 7.75); the median VAS score for group 2 was 8.25 (expander group: 8.75; direct-to-implant group: 7.50). Conclusions: Our study shows good results for implant breast reconstruction in both groups, with minimally better results for the IMF group. In the direct-to-implant subgroups, the radial group showed slightly better results.
Abstract 002: Racial Disparities in Hypertension Among Young, Black and White Women, 1999-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys
Authors: Hines Anika L , Thorpe Roland J
Published: September 2019

Black women are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease and its risk factors, including earlier onset compared to their white counterparts. Even with normal blood pressure, Blacks have nearly double the risk of developing hypertension by age 55 years. Despite this increased risk, little attention has been given to racial disparities in hypertension during young adulthood. The objective of this study was to compare prevalence of hypertension among young African American/Black and White women adjusting for other demographic, health behavior, and health status covariates. We used data from the 1999-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to perform a cross-sectional analysis of young women aged 18 to 35 years old (n=442; 2,137,064 (weighted)). Compared to White women, Black women in this age group: were less likely to be married; had lower income; were less likely to smoke; and were more likely to report fair or poor self-rated health. In addition, Black women demonstrated higher systolic (116.7(0.88) mm Hg versus 124.3(1.18) mm Hg; p<0.0001) and diastolic (71.7(0.85) mm Hg versus (74.8(1.20) mm Hg; p=0.04) blood pressure on average. In adjusted models, Black women aged 18 to 35 years demonstrated 58% higher likelihood of having hypertension (defined as BP ≥140/90 mm Hg) compared to White women [PR: 1.58 95% CI: 1.29, 1.93]. Adjusting for other factors, race served as the strongest predictor of hypertension among young women aged 18 to 35 years.
Abstract P2007: Muscadine Grape Extract Prevents Cardiac Cell Cytotoxicity Due to Oxidative Stress by Enhancing Mitochondrial Function
Authors: Soto-Pantoja David R , Tallant Elizabeth A , Gallagher Patricia E
Published: September 2019

Mitochondrial health is critical for the physiological function of tissues and responses to stress. During oxidative stress, failure to maintain mitochondrial respiration can ultimately lead to cell death and thus cardiac dysfunction. Agents that preserve mitochondrial integrity and maintain or increase mitochondrial respiratory capacity may prevent cardiac tissue damage due to oxidative stress. Muscadine grapes are rich in polyphenols, which are natural antioxidants, and are known to reduce cardiac damage. We treated cardiac cells with a proprietary muscadine grape extract (MGE), to prevent cardiac myoblast death due to reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the presence of the redox cycling agent 2,3 dimethoxynaphthoquinone (DMNQ), which generates both superoxide and hydrogen peroxide intracellularly, thus mimicking pathologies of elevated ROS. DMNQ increased cardiac cell cytotoxicity, as measured by LDH release, which was prevented by doses of MGE equivalent to 60 μg/mL of total phenolics (1.3 ± 0.023 DMNQ vs. 0.90 ± 0.030, n=3, *p<0.01). Moreover, cell respirometry measurements indicated that, while DMNQ reduced the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) by 50% (*p<0.05, n=3), treatment with MGE prevented this reduction, suggesting that the protective effect may be mediated by preservation of mitochondrial function. Furthermore, MGE treatment prevented the decrease in ATP-linked respiration (18.8 ±. 2.6 DMNQ vs. 34.0±.4.7 DMNQ + MGE, n=3, *p<0.01) and maximal respiratory capacity (31.6 ± 8.2 DMNQ vs. 48.91 ± 6.54 DMNQ + MGE, n=3, *p<0.01) observed with DMNQ treatment. Furthermore, the basal extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) was increased 2-fold with MGE pretreatment when compared to DMNQ alone (13.6 ± 2.3 DMNQ + MGE vs. 6.8 ±.0.88 DMNQ, n=3, *p<0.01), suggesting that MGE treatment may also increase glycolysis as a response to stress. These data suggest that MGE enhances mitochondrial function and cellular bioenergetics in cardiomyoblast cells during stress and thus may be used as a strategy to prevent tissue damage from oxidative stress observed in acute and chronic cardiac pathologies.
Cross-Cultural Comparisons between the Mughal Tomb Garden of Taj Mahal in Agra (India) and the Dry Landscape Garden of the Ryoan-Ji Zen Monastery in Kyoto (Japan)
Authors: Minnema Lourens
Published: September 2019

Gardens have always meant a lot to people. Gardens are as much about nature as they are about culture. The extent to which gardens carry and embody both similar and different layers of meaning will be demonstrated by comparing two classical gardens, the Taj Mahal tomb garden of the Mughal rulers in Agra, India, and the Ryoan-ji dry landscape garden of the Zen monks in Kyoto, Japan. Parallels will be drawn by offering a (diachronic) analysis of the historical accumulation of layers of meaning associated with each one of these two gardens, and (synchronic) structural comparisons will be drawn by raising two thematic issues in particular, the inside-outside relationship and the nature-culture relationship. The roles that Islam and Zen Buddhism play in the religious meaning making of these two classical gardens turn out to be strikingly similar, in that they confirm rather than transform other layers of cultural meaning.
Christian Hospitality in the Celebration of ʿId al-Fitr
Authors: Simatupang Florian
Published: September 2019

This article explores the possibility for Christians to discover hospitality and learn reconciliation through Halal bi-halal, a uniquely Indonesian way of observing the Islamic religious festival of ʿId al-Fitri. The exploration will be done in two ways: first, through a broad sacramental lens that will, second, lead to a more particular renewal perspective. The thrust of this presentation is to contend that Christians can experience, and therefore discover, a Christian understanding of hospitality from a non-Christian feast.
“China’s Military Assistance to North Vietnam Revisited”
Authors: Yin Chengzhi
Published: September 2019

North Vietnam announced its intention to unify its country with armed struggle in 1959. Thereafter, Hanoi consistently requested military assistance from the People’s Republic of China (prc). However, Beijing did not grant Hanoi’s request until 1962. Why did the prc agree to provide military assistance to North Vietnam? This article argues that China did so because the United States greatly increased its military presence in South Vietnam in late 1961 and 1962. Therefore, Beijing provided military assistance to Hanoi to secure China’s southern border. Employing primary sources, this study traces changes in Beijing’s attitude toward its Vietnam policy from 1958 to 1962. It shows that when U.S. military presence was limited, Beijing paid more attention to the avoidance of war with the United States and maintaining a hospitable environment in neighboring Indochina. However, when the prc perceived the U.S. presence as a threat to its security, the objective of seeking security overwhelmed other objectives.
New Agraeciini species from the Eastern Arc Mountains, East Africa (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae; Conocephalinae; Agraeciini)
Authors: HEMP CLAUDIA , HELLER KLAUS-GERHARD
Published: September 2019

Eleven new Agraeciini species are described. Six species of Afroanthracites are new to science from the North and South Pare, the West and East Usambara, the Udzungwa Mountains of Tanzania, and the Taita Hills of Kenya. The two Afroanthracites Hemp & Ingrisch, 2013 species from the Pare Mountains, A. guttatus n. sp. and A. maculatus n. sp., and A. magamba n. sp., from Magamba Forest Reserve in the West Usambara Mountains are morphologically closely related to each other and form a morphological lineage with the already described species from the West Usambara Mountains (A. discolor Hemp, Ingrisch & Ünal, 2013 and A. pseudodiscolor Hemp, 2015) and A. pommeri n. sp. from the Taita Hills of Kenya. A. lineatus n. sp. from Lutindi Forest Reserve in the East Usambara Mountains has its morphologically closest relative in A. jagoi Ünal & Hemp, 2013 endemic to the Mazumbai Forest Reserve of the West Usambara Mountains while A. montium (Sjöstedt, 1910) from the Kilimanjaro/Meru area, A. inopinatus n. sp. from the South Pare Mountains and A. usambaricus (Sjöstedt, 1913) from the West Usambara Mountains form another morphological lineage. Morphological traits like the shape of the last abdominal tergite in males, the male cerci and the colour pattern suggest at least two lineages reflecting dispersal of the ancestors at a time when forest connected the mountain ranges in the past during climatic fluctuations. In the genus Afroagraecia Ingrisch & Hemp, 2013 new species were collected on Zanzibar and in Kazimzumbwi Forest Reserve, the Udzungwa and Nguru Mountains. Distribution patterns and the morphology suggest recent speciation patterns of Afroagraecia in the Eastern Arc Mountains and along the Tanzanian coast. From the Nguru Mountains a third Dendrobia species of the genus, D. plagata n. sp., is described.
Two new species of Gyrodactylus von Nordmann, 1832 (Monogenoidea: Gyrodactylidae) parasitizing introduced poeciliids in Patagonia
Authors: VEGA ROCIO , RAZZOLINI EMANUEL , ARBETMAN MARINA , VIOZZI GUSTAVO
Published: September 2019

Gyrodactylus superbus (Szidat, 1973) Popazoglo & Boeger, 2000 was described from Corydoras paleatus (Jenyns) (Callichthyidae) and represents the only known viviparous gyrodactylid reported from the Parano-Platense basin of Argentina. We describe two new species of viviparous neotropical gyrodactylids parasitizing the introduced poeciliid, Cnesterodon decemmaculatus (Jenyns, 1842) (Poeciliidae), from southern Argentina: Gyrodactylus decemmaculati n. sp. and Gyrodactylus breviradix n. sp. The new species differ from other gyrodactylids parasitizing poeciliids in the morphology of superficial bars and hooklets. Gyrodactylus decemmaculati n. sp. has a superficial bar with two robust and rounded anterolateral projections (each with a ventral lobe), and a subtriangular shield, and has a slender hooklet with a delicate recurved point, a straight, elongate shaft, and a depressed, acute toe. Gyrodactylus breviradix n. sp. has a superficial bar with two robust, elongate anterolateral projections, folded inward, and a trapezoidal shield, and has a hooklet with a short point, angled at 90º, ending before level of toe tip, a straight, short shaft, a round, prominent heel, and a pointed, depressed toe. These identifications were supported by DNA analyses based on sequences of the ITS2 region and a barcoding gap analysis. Sequences of the Cytochrome oxidase II gene and fragments of the Internal Transcribed Spacers 1 for both species are also provided.
Numerical and Wind Tunnel Simulation Studies of the Flow Field and Pollutant Diffusion around a Building under Neutral and Stable Atmospheric Stratifications
Authors: Guo Dong-Peng , Zhao Peng , Yao Ren-Tai , Li Yun-Peng , Hu Ji-Min , Fan Dan
Published: September 2019

In this paper, the k–ε renormalization group (RNG) turbulence model is used to simulate the flow and dispersion of pollutants emitted from a source at the top of a cubic building under neutral and stable atmospheric stratifications, the results of which were compared with corresponding wind tunnel experiment results. When atmosphere stratification is stable, the separation zones on the sides and at the top of a building are relatively smaller than those under neutral conditions, and the effect of the building in the horizontal direction is stronger than that in the vertical direction. The variation in turbulent kinetic energy under stable conditions is significantly lower than that under neutral conditions. The effect of atmospheric stratification on the turbulent kinetic energy becomes gradually more prominent with increased distance. When atmosphere conditions are stable, the vertical distribution of the plume is smaller than that of neutral conditions, but the lateral spread and near-ground concentration are slightly larger than those of neutral conditions, mainly because stable atmospheric stratification suppresses the vertical motions of airflow and increases the horizontal spread of the plume.
Changing Intrasynoptic Type Characteristics and Interannual Frequencies of Circulation Patterns Conducive to Lake-Effect Snowfall
Authors: Suriano Zachary J.
Published: September 2019

Using a temporal synoptic index, synoptic-scale atmospheric patterns suitable for lake-effect snow downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario are identified and analyzed from 1950 to 2009. In response to prior research noting a trend reversal of snowfall in this region, changes in the inherent meteorological characteristics and winter-season frequencies of lake-effect synoptic weather types are evaluated as possible forcing mechanisms. Four atmospheric patterns are identified during the December–February winter season as lake-effect synoptic types. Changes in inherent meteorological characteristics and winter frequencies of these types are attributed to between 88% and 95% of the observed snowfall changes during the study period. Decreasing air temperatures and surface pressures, increasing boundary layer instability, and changes toward stronger zonal flow are noted for multiple lake-effect synoptic types from 1950 to 1979 as likely forcing mechanisms of observed snowfall increases, on the order of nearly 1.0 cm yr−1 downwind of Lake Ontario per individual synoptic type. Similarly, the significant increases in the winter frequency of multiple lake-effect synoptic types also are attributed to some of the increases in snowfall. From 1980 to 2009, however, the lake-effect synoptic types remained relatively unchanged or decreased in frequency, as did snowfall totals. The results of this study indicate that changes in the synoptic-scale environment are a viable mechanism forcing snowfall trends, in addition to the more commonly considered seasonal temperature and lake-ice considerations, and should be incorporated into future discussions of lake-effect snowfall projections.
On the Efficiency of Baroclinic Eddy Growth and How It Reduces the North Pacific Storm-Track Intensity in Midwinter
Authors: Schemm Sebastian , Rivière Gwendal
Published: September 2019

This study investigates the efficiency of baroclinic eddy growth in an effort to better understand the suppression of the North Pacific storm-track intensity in winter. The efficiency of baroclinic eddy growth depends on the magnitude and orientation of the vertical tilt of the eddy geopotential isolines. The eddy efficiency is maximized if the orientation of the vertical tilt creates an eddy heat flux that aligns with the mean baroclinicity (defined as minus the temperature gradient divided by a stratification parameter) and if the magnitude of the vertical tilt is neither too strong nor too weak. The eddy efficiency is, in contrast to most other eddy measures, independent of the eddy amplitude and thus useful for improving our mechanistic understanding of the effective eddy growth. During the midwinter suppression, the eddy efficiency is reduced north of 40°N over a region upstream of the main storm track, and baroclinic growth is reduced despite a maximum in baroclinicity. Eulerian diagnostics and feature tracking suggest that the reduction in eddy efficiency is due to a stronger poleward tilt with height of eddies entering the Pacific through the northern seeding branch, which results in a more eastward-oriented eddy heat flux and a reduced alignment with the baroclinicity. The stronger poleward tilt with height is constrained by the eddy propagation direction, which is more equatorward when the subtropical jet moves equatorward in winter. In addition, the westward tilt with height is too strong. South of 40°N, the eddy efficiency increases during midwinter but in a region far away from the main storm track.
An Assessment of NASA’s GMAO MERRA-2 Reanalysis Surface Winds
Authors: Carvalho D.
Published: September 2019

The quality of MERRA-2 surface wind fields was assessed by comparing them with 10 years of measurements from a wide range of surface wind observing platforms. This assessment includes a comparison of MERRA-2 global surface wind fields with the ones from its predecessor, MERRA, to assess if GMAO’s latest reanalyses improved the representation of the global surface winds. At the same time, surface wind fields from other modern reanalyses—NCEP-CFSR, ERA-Interim, and JRA-55—were also included in the comparisons to evaluate MERRA-2 global surface wind fields in the context of its contemporary reanalyses. Results show that MERRA-2, CFSR, ERA-Interim, and JRA-55 show similar error metrics while MERRA consistently shows the highest errors. Thus, when compared with wind observations, the accuracy of MERRA-2 surface wind fields represents a clear improvement over its predecessor MERRA and is in line with the other contemporary reanalyses in terms of the representation of global near-surface wind fields. All reanalyses showed a tendency to underestimate ocean surface winds (particularly in the tropics) and, oppositely, to overestimate inland surface winds (except JRA-55, which showed a global tendency to underestimate the wind speeds); to represent the wind direction rotated clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere (positive bias) and anticlockwise in the Southern Hemisphere (negative bias), with the exception of JRA-55; and to show higher errors near the poles and in the ITCZ, particularly in the equatorial western coasts of Central America and Africa. However, MERRA-2 showed substantially lower wind errors in the poles when compared with the other reanalyses.
Dynamics and Thermodynamics of the Mean Transpolar Drift and Ice Thickness in the Arctic Ocean
Authors: Spall Michael A.
Published: September 2019

A theory for the mean ice thickness and the Transpolar Drift in the Arctic Ocean is developed. Asymptotic expansions of the ice momentum and thickness equations are used to derive analytic expressions for the leading-order ice thickness and velocity fields subject to wind stress forcing and heat loss to the atmosphere. The theory is most appropriate for the eastern and central Arctic, but not for the region of the Beaufort Gyre subject to anticyclonic wind stress curl. The scale analysis reveals two distinct regimes: a thin ice regime in the eastern Arctic and a thick ice regime in the western Arctic. In the eastern Arctic, the ice drift is controlled by a balance between wind and ocean drag, while the ice thickness is controlled by heat loss to the atmosphere. In contrast, in the western Arctic, the ice thickness is determined by a balance between wind and internal ice stress, while the drift is indirectly controlled by heat loss to the atmosphere. The southward flow toward Fram Strait is forced by the across-wind gradient in ice thickness. The basic predictions for ice thickness, heat loss, ice volume, and ice export from the theory compare well with an idealized, coupled ocean–ice numerical model over a wide range of parameter space. The theory indicates that increasing atmospheric temperatures or wind speed result in a decrease in maximum ice thickness and ice volume. Increasing temperatures also result in a decrease in heat loss to the atmosphere and ice export through Fram Strait, while increasing winds drive increased heat loss and ice export.
Creating a More Realistic Idealized Supercell Thunderstorm Evolution via Incorporation of Base-State Environmental Variability
Authors: Davenport Casey E. , Ziegler Conrad L. , Biggerstaff Michael I.
Published: September 2019

Convective environments are known to be heterogeneous in both time and space, yet idealized models use fixed base-state environments to simulate storm evolution. Recently, the base-state substitution (BSS) technique was devised to account for environmental variability in a controlled manner while maintaining horizontal homogeneity; BSS involves updating the background environment to reflect a new storm-relative proximity sounding at a prescribed time interval. The study herein sought to assess the ability of BSS to more realistically represent the structure and evolution of an observed supercell thunderstorm in comparison to simulations with fixed base-state environments. An extended dual-Doppler dataset of an intensifying supercell thunderstorm in a varying inflow environment was compared to idealized simulations of the same storm; simulations included those with fixed background environments, as well as a BSS simulation that incorporated environmental variability continuously via tendencies to the base-state variables based on changes in a series of observed soundings. While the simulated supercells were generally more intense than what was measured in the observations, broad trends in reflectivity, vertical velocity, and vertical vorticity were more similar between the observed and BSS-simulated supercell; with a fixed environment, the supercell either shrunk in size and weakened over time, or grew upscale into a larger convective system. Quantitative comparisons examining distributions, areas, and volumes of vertical velocity and vorticity further confirm these differences. Overall, BSS provides a more realistic result, supporting the idea that a series of proximity soundings can sufficiently represent the effects of environmental variability, enhancing accuracy over fixed environments.
Component-resolved diagnostics in the clinical and laboratory investigation of allergy
Authors: Callery Emma L , Keymer Catherine , Barnes Nicholas A , Rowbottom Anthony W
Published: September 2019

The diagnosis and management of allergy is complex; the clinical symptoms associated with allergic reactions span a broad spectrum of severity, from mild hay fever-type symptoms through to life-threatening anaphylaxis. Obtaining an allergy-focused clinical history is therefore vital for identifying possible allergic triggers and directing testing. However, this focus could be changing as scientific and technological advances have paved the way for developments within in vitro testing for allergy. With knowledge of allergens at the molecular level expanding, there are now the facilities to characterize the sensitization profiles of allergy sufferers and determine the specific molecules (or components) against which the allergen-inducing immunoglobulin type E proteins have been produced. This technology is termed component-resolved diagnostics. We know that accurate identification of immunoglobulin type E specificity, the source of the causative allergen, and knowledge of potential allergic cross-reactivities are required for optimal clinical management of allergy patients. These factors can make allergy a diagnostic challenge outside of a specialist centre, and contribute to the difficulties associated with requesting and interpreting allergy tests. The incorporation of component-resolved diagnostics into current practice has provided a platform for patient-tailored risk stratification and improved the application of allergen-specific immunotherapy, revolutionizing specialist management of these patients. This review discusses the roles of each type of testing in allergy management and predictions for future pathways.
The Reactions of Families to Childhood Leukemia
Authors: Lascari ANDRE D. , Stehbens JAMES A.
Published: September 2019

Parents of 20 deceased leukemic children were interviewed to determine their reactions to the method of emotional management of their child's course. A common theme expressed by all parents was that they appreciated the physician's honesty; they wanted the hard facts of the child's illness and did not wish to be misled with unrealistic hopes. Most of the parents appeared to accept the reality of the disease and had no major emotional difficulties during the illness or after the child's death. Only occasional minor problems were encountered among the siblings after the child's death.
Neuropsychological Residuals Seven Years after Acute Encephalitis
Authors: Gunderman J. RICHARD , Stamler RICHARD
Published: September 2019

Neurologic abnormalities were found in 13 of 21 children studied seven years after having acute encephalitis, and EEG abnormalities were found in 8. The psychologic testing suggested that no significant loss of cognitive abilities had occurred, but these children showed decreased psychic energy and drives, with greater compliance and passivity. None had the hyperkinetic behavior which is traditionally believed to be a signal of acute encephalitis.
The State of Nutrition of Urban Black Children in the U. S. A.: The Role of Day Care Services in the Prevention of Nutritional Anemia
Authors: Adebonojo FESTUS O. , Strahs SUSAN
Published: September 2019

A study of dietary intakes of calories, protein, fat, carbohydrate and iron, along with determinations of hemogram, serum iron, iron binding capacity, transferrin, transferrin saturation and plasma proteins, was done on 26 Day Care children and 15 non-Day Care controls, aged 7 to 32 months, all registered in a Children and Youth health care program. Significant differences favoring the Day Care children were limited to HGB and HCT in the older children, and HGB, HCT, MCV, MCH, transferrin, and iron binding capacity in the younger children. Daily intakes calculated from nutritional history obtained from the parent or observed in the Day Care unit showed average iron intake low in all children. As a result of these findings, it is suggested that children under two years of age be afforded preference over older children when spaces are available in Day Care Centers, and that the dietary intakes of these children be examined carefully to ensure that they are receiving optimal nutrients.
A Long-Term Comparison of Two Treatment Regimens for Minimal Brain Dysfunction
Authors: Friedman Robert , Dale Earle P. , Wagner John H.
Published: September 2019

An eight-month study compared the effectiveness of drug therapy alone with that of combined drug therapy, educational-group training, and parent-group counseling. The control and experimental groups were each composed of 25 children with minimal brain dysfunction. Treatment effects were rated by the prescribing pediatrician, parents, and teachers. After six weeks, a statistically significant difference in response was noted in only one measure: the prescribing physician's rating. By the end of the eight months, no differences in responses were seen between the two groups. Physician and parent ratings showed highly significant gains over the eight months of treatment for most of the 50 children, all of whom were receiving drugs. The apparent benefits of adjunctive therapy for children with minimal brain dysfunction may represent a transitory response to intervention.
Dietary Management of Renal Failure in Infants and Children
Authors: Chan JAMES C. M.
Published: September 2019

The continued success of hemodialysis and later kidney transplantation when feasible have made these the accepted and recognized modes of therapy for children with terminal renal disease. As survival rates improve, dietary therapy is most important in bringing the patients to transplant in the best possible condition. The present paper not only reviews the known nutritional principles in the control of renal failure, but also offers practical guidelines and diets for good management of uremic infants and children.
Making up leaders: Reconfiguring the executive student through profiling, texts and conversations in a leadership development programme
Authors: Meier Frank , Carroll Brigid
Published: September 2019

Are leaders born or made? In this study of contemporary leadership development programmes, we find that leaders are not only made but also – in Ian Hacking’s sense – made up. Such programmes increasingly employ practices like personality profiling, appraisals, feedback and coaching aimed at creating knowledge about individual leaders in order for them to develop. The effects of these practices on participants have been theorized in terms of identity regulation and resistance, yet in our view the situated accomplishments of authority and identity remain inadequately theorized. This study follows a number of such practices as texts and conversations, and shows how a programme participant’s leader identity becomes authorized and acknowledged as participants and instructors ventriloquize texts in conversations. We theorize this as identity reconfiguration, as it entails the continual staging and authorizing of diverse figures. Our findings have implications for the relation between governmentality studies and studies of texts and conversations in leadership development programmes as well as for how we approach agency and context in this realm.
Book review: Rajvir S. Dhaka, Right to Information and Good Governance (Revised and Enlarged Edition)
Authors: Thapar Anuja , Yadav Suhasini
Published: September 2019

Rajvir S. Dhaka, Right to Information and Good Governance (Revised and Enlarged Edition). New Delhi: Concept Publishing Company, 2018, v +342 pp., ₹1,500 (hardback). ISBN-13: 978-93-5125-291-7.
Projected Behavioural Change in Swachh Bharat Mission: A Public Policy Perspective
Authors: Mohapatra Gadadhara
Published: September 2019

The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) is the largest behavioural change programme in the world. The mission has shifted its focus from production outputs (i.e. toilet construction) to behavioural outcomes (open-defecation-free [ODF] India). The SBM’s emphasis on behavioural change in rural sanitation at the grassroots level also leads to rigorous verification and sustainability of the benefits accrued to rural communities. The SBM targets to achieve an ODF India by 2019, on the eve of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. In addition to this, the mission will also contribute to India reaching the UN Sustainable Development Goal 6, which calls for ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. It is in this context that the article critically analyses the sanitation services in general and with special reference to SBM in India from a public policy perspective. It seeks to establish the linkages between public health and sanitation and problemetises the issue of open-defecation and its health implications. It provides an analysis of behavioural change techniques in community-led total sanitation (CLTS) and its application in achieving Swachh Bharat (clean India). The article presents a historical account of sanitation situation in colonial and post-independence India, followed by an in-depth analysis of the formulation of the SBM. Lastly, the article examines the current status of implementation of SBM and it also discusses the emerging issues and concerns that could be addressed in achieving ODF India.
Book review: M. P. Singh and S. N. Mishra, Ethics, Probity and Accountability in Public Services
Authors: Dey Moitri
Published: September 2019

M. P. Singh and S. N. Mishra, Ethics, Probity and Accountability in Public Services. New Delhi: Indian Institute of Public Administration, 2017, xl + 425 pp., ₹450. ISBN: 9788186641947.
The Challenge of a Church Going into Liquidation
Authors: de Groot Kees
Published: September 2019

This article engages in the debate on religion in Europe and suggests a way of understanding that takes both discontinuities and continuities within the process of secularization into account. The central thesis is that institutional religion is not simply coming to an end in Western societies; rather, its assets and properties are being redistributed. Dutch Catholicism is presented as an example giving insights into the presence of religion in liquid modernity. The article concludes with a suggestion as to how the Church might respond to a situation where the secular world is taking over ecclesial initiatives.
Affirmative Action in Government Jobs in India: Did the Job Reservation Policy Benefit Disadvantaged Groups?
Authors: Kumar Deepak , Pratap Bhanu , Aggarwal Archana
Published: September 2019

In this study we use the India Human Development Survey (2011–2012) data and Logit model analysis to investigate how far the affirmative action policy has helped in increasing the chances of representation of eligible individuals from scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and other backward classes in government jobs in India. Analysis of the data reveals that the reservation policy in government jobs in India has helped in increasing the chances of representation of people from these groups because they have a higher probability of representation in government jobs than upper caste (unreserved) individuals after controlling for individual and household characteristics.
Severity assessment in pigs after partial liver resection: evaluation of a score sheet
Authors: Hagemeister Kerstin , Ernst Lisa , Kadaba Srinivasan Pramod , Tanaka Hirokazu , Fukushima Kenji , Tolba René
Published: September 2019

Severity assessment in biomedical research is required by the European authorities. Therefore, a variety of score sheets are available. The first score sheets were designed and introduced by Morton and Griffith (M&G) in 1985, to assess pain and distress in animals. Score sheets are an important part of the 3R principles to evaluate the degree of severity in different studies. Here, we used a modified score sheet from M&G for severity assessment of 12 Aachen minipigs after partial liver resection for safety testing of a novel synthetic sealant (VIVO-107). The control group was treated with the clinical standard fibrin. Estimation of recovery status of both groups was performed from the day of surgery to postoperative day 7 using a score sheet. Included parameters were blood loss during the surgical procedure, general state, spontaneous behaviour and clinical results. Values from 0 to 20 were graded for each category and resulted in the degree of strain (DS) from DS0 to DS4. An increasing DS indicated higher severity. Suitability of the implemented score sheet was evaluated. Higher score points were documented almost exclusively as an outcome of the clinical results, influenced mainly by increased temperature in the fibrin treated control group, whereas, spontaneous behaviour had only slight influence and general state had no influence. The average score seven days after surgery was <2. The laparotomy, where the partial liver resection is a part, is rated as moderate severity in the EU Directive 2010/63, while the assessment done in the present study hints to a mild severity of the model in our hands.
Women, the Early Development of Sociological Research Methods in Britain and the London School of Economics: A (Partially) Retrieved History
Authors: Oakley Ann
Published: September 2019

Histories of sociology have concentrated on the development of theory rather than methods. This article examines the work of five women researchers associated with the London School of Economics in the early 20th century to highlight an aspect of this neglected history: the development of research methods. Mildred Bulkley, Maud Davies, Amy Harrison, Bessie Hutchins and Varvara De Vesselitsky all carried out empirical research on the sociology of work, women and the household deploying multiple research methods, including surveys, interviews, observations, covert ethnography and diaries and schedules for recording household diets and finances. Their work combined a sensitivity to social context and lived experience within a framework integrating the drive to social reform with a focus on scientific sociology. Very little of this work is known today. An awareness of it changes our understanding of disciplinary history, particularly with respect to the provenance of research methods, and their role in establishing academic sociology.
DelibAnalysis: Understanding the quality of online political discourse with machine learning
Authors: Fournier-Tombs Eleonore , Di Marzo Serugendo Giovanna
Published: September 2019

This article proposes an automated methodology for the analysis of online political discourse. Drawing from the discourse quality index (DQI) by Steenbergen et al., it applies a machine learning–based quantitative approach to measuring the discourse quality of political discussions online. The DelibAnalysis framework aims to provide an accessible, replicable methodology for the measurement of discourse quality that is both platform and language agnostic. The framework uses a simplified version of the DQI to train a classifier, which can then be used to predict the discourse quality of any non-coded comment in a given political discussion online. The objective of this research is to provide a systematic framework for the automated discourse quality analysis of large datasets and, in applying this framework, to yield insight into the structure and features of political discussions online.