bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Presynaptic gain control by endogenous cotransmission of dopamine and GABA in the olfactory bulb
Authors: Vaaga Christopher E. , Yorgason Jordan T. , Williams John T. , Westbrook Gary L.
Published: December 2016

In the olfactory bulb, lateral inhibition mediated by local juxtaglomerular interneurons has been proposed as a gain control mechanism, important for decorrelating odorant responses. Among juxtaglomerular interneurons, short axon cells are unique as dual-transmitter neurons that release dopamine and GABA. To examine their intraglomerular function, we expressed channelrhodopsin under control of the DAT-cre promoter and activated olfactory afferents within individual glomeruli. Optical stimulation of labeled cells triggered endogenous dopamine release as measured by cyclic voltammetry and GABA release as measured by whole cell GABAAreceptor currents. Activation of short axon cells reduced the afferent presynaptic release probability via D2and GABABreceptor activation, resulting in reduced spiking in both mitral and external tufted cells. Our results suggest that short axon cells influence glomerular activity not only by direct inhibition of external tufted cells but also by inhibition of afferent inputs to external tufted and mitral cells.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Sensory systems, including the olfactory system, encode information across a large dynamic range, making synaptic mechanisms of gain control critical to proper function. Here we demonstrate that a dual-transmitter interneuron in the olfactory bulb controls the gain of intraglomerular afferent input via two distinct mechanisms, presynaptic inhibition as well as inhibition of a principal neuron subtype, and thereby potently controls the synaptic gain of afferent inputs.
Cutaneous neurturin overexpression alters mechanical, thermal, and cold responsiveness in physiologically identified primary afferents
Authors: Jankowski Michael P. , Baumbauer Kyle M. , Wang Ting , Albers Kathryn M. , Davis Brian M. , Koerber H. Richard
Published: December 2016

Neurotrophic factors play an important role in the regulation of functional properties of sensory neurons under normal and pathological conditions. The GDNF family member neurturin is one such factor that has been linked to modulating responsiveness to peripheral stimuli. Neurturin binds to the GFRα2 receptor, a receptor found primarily in isolectin B4-expressing polymodal cutaneous nociceptors. Previous work has shown that knockout of GFRα2 alters heat, but not mechanical, responses in dissociated sensory neurons and reduces pain-related behaviors during the second phase of the formalin test. Research has also shown that overexpression of neurturin in basal keratinocytes increases behavioral responsiveness to mechanical stimulation and innocuous cooling of the skin without affecting noxious heat responses. Here we directly examined the impact of neurturin overexpression on cutaneous afferent function. We compared physiological responses of individual sensory neurons to mechanical and thermal stimulation of the skin, using an ex vivo skin-nerve-dorsal root ganglion-spinal cord preparation produced from neurturin-overexpressing (NRTN/OE) mice and wild-type littermate controls. We found that neurturin overexpression increases responsiveness to innocuous mechanical stimuli in A-fiber nociceptors, alters thermal responses in the polymodal subpopulation of C-fiber sensory neurons, and changes the relative numbers of mechanically sensitive but thermally insensitive C-fiber afferents. These results demonstrate the potential roles of different functional groups of sensory neurons in the behavioral changes observed in mice overexpressing cutaneous neurturin and highlight the importance of neurturin in regulating cutaneous afferent response properties.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY GDNF family neurotrophic factors regulate the development and function of primary sensory neurons. Of these, neurturin has been shown to modulate mechanical and cooling sensitivity behaviorally. Here we show that overexpression of neurturin in basal keratinocytes regulates mechanical responsiveness in A-fiber primary sensory neurons while increasing the overall numbers of cold-sensing units. Results demonstrate a crucial role for cutaneous neurturin in modulating responsiveness to peripheral stimuli at the level of the primary afferent.
Efficacy and Safety of Electroacupuncture on Treating Depression Related Sleep Disorders: Study Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Yin Xuan , Xu Jian , Dong Bo , Ma Jie , Chen Zeqin , Yin Ping , Wu Junyi , Zhu Bochang , Cao Yan , Zheng Huimin , Lao Lixing , Xu Shifen
Published: December 2016

Background. Depression is frequently accompanied by sleep disturbances including insomnia. Insomnia may persist even after mood symptoms have been adequately treated. Acupuncture is considered to be beneficial to adjust the state of body and mind and restore the normal sleep‐awake cycle. This trial is aimed at evaluating the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture on treating insomnia in patients with depression. Methods. We describe a protocol for a randomized, single‐blinded, sham controlled trial. Ninety eligible patients will be randomly assigned to one of 3 treatment groups: treatment group (acupuncture), control A group (superficial acupuncture at sham points), and control B group (sham acupuncture). All treatment will be given 3 times per week for 8 weeks. The primary outcome is the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The secondary outcomes are sleep parameters recorded in the Actigraphy, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD), and Self‐Rating Depression Scale (SDS). All adverse effects will be accessed by the Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS). Outcomes will be evaluated at baseline, 4 weeks after treatment, 8 weeks after treatment, and 4 weeks of follow‐up. Ethics. This trial has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (2015SHL‐KY‐21) and is registered with ChiCTR-IIR-16008058.
Full Debonding Process of Adhesively Bonded Composite and Metallic Pipe Joints under Torsion
Authors: Han Jun , Yuan Hong
Published: December 2016

Bonded joints are very common in many pipeline systems, in which the bond behavior of the joint interface is of crucial importance. This paper presents two analytical solutions for the debonding process of a pipe joint under torsion, assuming that the bond interface follows either an exponential softening bond-slip law or a simplified bilinear model. The solutions are general, applicable to composites and metallic and indeed other pipes. Based on the analytical solutions, the influences of the bond length and stiffness on the torque-displacement curve and ultimate load are investigated. The solutions can be used to explain the stress transfer mechanism, the interface crack propagation, and the ductility of the joint.
A Decoupled Calibration Method for Camera Intrinsic Parameters and Distortion Coefficients
Authors: Yan Kun , Tian Hong , Liu Enhai , Zhao Rujin , Hong Yuzhen , Zuo Dan
Published: December 2016

Camera calibration is a necessary process in the field of vision measurement. In this paper, we propose a flexible and high-accuracy method to calibrate a camera. Firstly, we compute the center of radial distortion, which is important to obtain optimal results. Then, based on the radial distortion of the division model, the camera intrinsic parameters and distortion coefficients are solved in a linear way independently. Finally, the intrinsic parameters of the camera are optimized via the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm. In the proposed method, the distortion coefficients and intrinsic parameters are successfully decoupled; calibration accuracy is further improved through the subsequent optimization process. Moreover, whether it is for relatively small image distortion or distortion larger image, utilizing our method can get a good result. Both simulation and real data experiment demonstrate the robustness and accuracy of the proposed method. Experimental results show that the proposed method can be obtaining a higher accuracy than the classical methods.
Applications and Engineering Analysis of Lotus Roots under External Water Pressure
Authors: Zhu Yiyun , Wang Chang Jiang , Mynors Diane
Published: December 2016

Engineers can learn from nature for inspirations to create new designs. The internal structure of lotus roots with several oval holes was studied in this paper for engineering inspirations. The structural performance of lotus roots under outside water pressure was simulated and compared with various cross-sectional areas. The distribution of stresses in the cross-sectional area of lotus roots was analysed and presented. It was found that the maximum compressive stresses in the cross-sectional area of lotus roots were occurring at the long axis ends of the holes. This was very different from that of circular holes. Further analysis on the triaxiality factors revealed that the cross-sectional area of the lotus root resulted in large areas of high triaxiality factors. The resulting hydrostatic stress in the cross-sectional area of lotus root ranges from zero to 2.7 times the applied outside pressure. In contrast, the hydrostatic stress in a cylindrical cross-sectional area is a fixed value. The study showed that the lotus root and the orientation of the oval holes could be mimicked in the design of new structures, for example, underwater pipes and vessels.
Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation and Mineralization of Furfural Using UVC/TiO2/GAC Composite in Aqueous Solution
Authors: Ghasemi Bahram , Anvaripour Bagher , Jorfi Sahand , Jaafarzadeh Neematollah
Published: December 2016

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles were immobilized on granular activated carbon (GAC) as a porous and low-density support for photocatalytic degradation of furfural. The TiO2/GAC composite was synthetized using the simple sol-gel method and fully characterized. The effects of the operational parameters of furfural concentration (200–700 mg/L), initial pH (2–12), TiO2/GAC composite dosage (1–3.5 g/L), and irradiation time (20–120 min) were studied. The synthetized TiO2/GAC composite exhibited a total pore volume of 0.13 cm3/g and specific surface area of 35.91 m2/g. Removal efficiency of up to 95% was observed at initial pH of 10, TiO2/GAC dosage of 2.5 g/L, irradiation time of 80 min, and initial furfural concentration of 500 mg/L. The photocatalyst could be reused at least four consecutive times with a mere 2% decrease in furfural removal efficiency. Mineralization efficiency of 94% was obtained within 80 min. Pseudo-first-order kinetics best fit the photocatalytic degradation of furfural under experimental conditions.
Topical Application of TAT‐Superoxide Dismutase in Acupoints LI 20 on Allergic Rhinitis
Authors: Guo Jing-Ke , Xu Ming-Ming , Zheng Mei-Feng , Liu Shu-Tao , Zhou Jian-Wu , Ke Li-Jing , Chen Tian-Bao , Rao Ping-Fan
Published: December 2016

Reactive oxygen species are products of cellular metabolism and assigned important roles in biomedical science as deleterious factors in pathologies. In fact, some studies have shown that the therapeutic benefits of taking antioxidants were limited and the potential for therapeutic intervention remains unclear. New evidences showed that ROS have some ability of intercellular transportation. For treating allergic rhinitis, as a novel intracellular superoxide quencher, TAT‐SOD applied to acupoints LI 20 instead of directly to nasal cavity can be used to test that. TTA group apply TAT‐SOD cream prepared by adding purified TAT‐SOD to the vehicle cream to acupoints LI 20, while placebo group used the vehicle cream instead. TTN group applied the same TAT‐SOD cream directly to nasal cavity three times daily. Symptom scores were recorded at baseline and days 8 and 15. For the overall efficacy rate, TTA group was 81.0%, while placebo group was 5.9% and TTN was 0%. Malondialdehyde levels decreased observably in TTA group, and superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase levels remained basically unaffected. Enzymatic scavenging of the intracellular superoxide at acupoints LI 20 proved to be effective in treating allergic rhinitis, while no improvement was observed with the placebo group and TTN group.
A Novel Microspheres Formulation of Puerarin: Pharmacokinetics Study and In Vivo Pharmacodynamics Evaluations
Authors: Song Xiao , Bai Xihui , Liu Shiyu , Dong Linjuan , Deng Hui , Wang Changli
Published: December 2016

The aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of puerarin loaded carboxymethyl chitosan microspheres (Pue‐CCMs). The differences in pharmacokinetics parameters of rats after intragastric administration of Pue‐CCMs and puerarin were investigated using HPLC. To assess the protective effect of Pue‐CCMs on myocardial injury in rats, serum levels of creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total superoxide dismutase (T‐SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured, in addition to pathological examinations and immunohistochemical staining. Our present study has shown that the AUC0–t, Cmax, Tmax, MRT0–t of Pue‐CCMs, and puerarin were 20.176 mg·h/L, 3.778 μg/mL, 1 h, 4.634 h and 9.474 mg·h/L, 2.618 μg/mL, 0.542 h, and 3.241 h, respectively. Pue‐CCMs alleviated myocardial ischemic injury. Pretreatment with Pue‐CCMs could significantly decrease CK, LDH, and MDA levels and increase T‐SOD level in the serum. Pue‐CCMs downregulated expression of the Bcl‐2 associated X protein (Bax) and upregulated B‐cell lymphoma‐2 (Bcl‐2) expression. Compared with puerarin group, the Pue‐CCMs group could improve the oral bioavailability of puerarin. The protective effect of Pue‐CCMs against myocardial injury was significantly greater than puerarin at the same dose. In summary, Pue‐CCMs should be a qualified and promising candidate as a new oral preparation of puerarin.
Unsteady Squeezing Flow of Casson Fluid with Magnetohydrodynamic Effect and Passing through Porous Medium
Authors: Khan Hamid , Qayyum Mubashir , Khan Omar , Ali Murtaza
Published: December 2016

An unsteady squeezing flow of Casson fluid having magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) effect and passing through porous medium channel is modeled and investigated. Similarity transformations are used to convert the partial differential equations (PDEs) of non-Newtonian fluid to a highly nonlinear fourth-order ordinary differential equation (ODE). The obtained boundary value problem is solved analytically by Homotopy Perturbation Method (HPM) and numerically by explicit Runge-Kutta method of order 4. For validity purpose, we compare the analytical and numerical results which show excellent agreement. Furthermore, comprehensive graphical analysis has been made to investigate the effects of various fluid parameters on the velocity profile. Analysis shows that positive and negative squeeze numberSqhave opposite effect on the velocity profile. It is also observed that Casson parameterβshows opposite effect on the velocity profile in case of positive and negative squeeze numberSq. MHD parameterMgand permeability constantMphave similar effects on the velocity profile in case of positive and negative squeeze numbers. It is also seen that, in case of positive squeeze number, similar velocity profiles have been obtained forβ,Mg, andMp. Besides this, analysis of skin friction coefficient has also been presented. It is observed that squeeze number, MHD parameter, and permeability parameter have direct relationship while Casson parameter has inverse relationship with skin friction coefficient.
Bionic Design for Mars Sampling Scoop Inspired by Himalayan Marmot Claw
Authors: Xue Long , Zhang Rong Rong , Zong Wei , Song Jia Feng , Zou Meng
Published: December 2016

Cave animals are often adapted to digging and life underground, with claw toes similar in structure and function to a sampling scoop. In this paper, the clawed toes of the Himalayan marmot were selected as a biological prototype for bionic research. Based on geometric parameter optimization of the clawed toes, a bionic sampling scoop for use on Mars was designed. Using a 3D laser scanner, the point cloud data of the second front claw toe was acquired. Parametric equations and contour curves for the claw were then built with cubic polynomial fitting. We obtained 18 characteristic curve equations for the internal and external contours of the claw. A bionic sampling scoop was designed according to the structural parameters of Curiosity’s sampling shovel and the contours of the Himalayan marmot’s claw. Verifying test results showed that when the penetration angle was 45° and the sampling speed was 0.33 r/min, the bionic sampling scoops’ resistance torque was 49.6% less than that of the prototype sampling scoop. When the penetration angle was 60° and the sampling speed was 0.22 r/min, the resistance torque of the bionic sampling scoop was 28.8% lower than that of the prototype sampling scoop.
Parameter Selection for Ant Colony Algorithm Based on Bacterial Foraging Algorithm
Authors: Li Peng , Zhu Hua
Published: December 2016

The optimal performance of the ant colony algorithm (ACA) mainly depends on suitable parameters; therefore, parameter selection for ACA is important. We propose a parameter selection method for ACA based on the bacterial foraging algorithm (BFA), considering the effects of coupling between different parameters. Firstly, parameters for ACA are mapped into a multidimensional space, using a chemotactic operator to ensure that each parameter group approaches the optimal value, speeding up the convergence for each parameter set. Secondly, the operation speed for optimizing the entire parameter set is accelerated using a reproduction operator. Finally, the elimination-dispersal operator is used to strengthen the global optimization of the parameters, which avoids falling into a local optimal solution. In order to validate the effectiveness of this method, the results were compared with those using a genetic algorithm (GA) and a particle swarm optimization (PSO), and simulations were conducted using different grid maps for robot path planning. The results indicated that parameter selection for ACA based on BFA was the superior method, able to determine the best parameter combination rapidly, accurately, and effectively.
Ship Pipe Routing Design Using NSGA-II and Coevolutionary Algorithm
Authors: Niu Wentie , Sui Haiteng , Niu Yaxiao , Cai Kunhai , Gao Weiguo
Published: December 2016

Pipe route design plays a prominent role in ship design. Due to the complex configuration in layout space with numerous pipelines, diverse design constraints, and obstacles, it is a complicated and time-consuming process to obtain the optimal route of ship pipes. In this article, an optimized design method for branch pipe routing is proposed to improve design efficiency and to reduce human errors. By simplifying equipment and ship hull models and dividing workspace into three-dimensional grid cells, the mathematic model of layout space is constructed. Based on the proposed concept of pipe grading method, the optimization model of pipe routing is established. Then an optimization procedure is presented to deal with pipe route planning problem by combining maze algorithm (MA), nondominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II), and cooperative coevolutionary nondominated sorting genetic algorithm II (CCNSGA-II). To improve the performance in genetic algorithm procedure, a fixed-length encoding method is presented based on improved maze algorithm and adaptive region strategy. Fuzzy set theory is employed to extract the best compromise pipeline from Pareto optimal solutions. Simulation test of branch pipe and design optimization of a fuel piping system were carried out to illustrate the design optimization procedure in detail and to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed methodology.
Generation of Multispot PSF for Scanning Structured Illumination via Phase Retrieval
Authors: Bardales Alex , Li Qinggele , Zhu Bingzhao , Tao Xiaodong , Reinig Marc , Kubby Joel
Published: December 2016

In this work, we propose a structured illumination (SI) method based on a two-photon excitation (TPE) scanning laser beam. Advantages of TPE methods include optical sectioning, low phototoxicity, and robustness in the face of sample-induced scattering. We designed a novel multispot point spread function (PSF) for a fast, two-photon scanning SIM microscope. Our multispot PSF is generated with a phase retrieval algorithm. We show how to obtain the phase distribution and then simulate the effect of this distribution on a spatial light modulator (SLM), which produces the multispot PSF in the object plane of the microscope. We produce simulations that show the viability of this method. The results are simulated and a multispot PSF scanning SIM microscope is proposed.
Reprogramming Medulloblastoma-Propagating Cells by a Combined Antagonism of Sonic Hedgehog and CXCR4
Authors: Ward Stacey A. , Warrington Nicole M. , Taylor Sara , Kfoury Najla , Luo Jingqin , Rubin Joshua B.
Published: December 2016

The CXCR4 chemokine and Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) morphogen pathways are well-validated therapeutic targets in cancer, including medulloblastoma. However, single-agent treatments with SHH or CXCR4 antagonists have not proven efficacious in clinical trials to date. Here, we discovered that dual inhibition of the SHH and CXCR4 pathways in a murine model of SHH-subtype medulloblastoma exerts potent antitumor effects. This therapeutic synergy resulted in the suppression of tumor-propagating cell function and correlated with increased histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation within the promoters of stem cell genes, resulting in their decreased expression. These results demonstrate that CXCR4 contributes to the epigenetic regulation of a tumor-propagating cell phenotype. Moreover, they provide a mechanistic rationale to evaluate the combination of SHH and CXCR4 inhibitors in clinical trials for the treatment of medulloblastoma, as well as other cancers driven by SHH that coexpress high levels of CXCR4. Cancer Res; 77(6); 1416–26. ©2016 AACR.
Immune Toxicities Elicted by CTLA-4 Blockade in Cancer Patients Are Associated with Early Diversification of the T-cell Repertoire
Authors: Oh David Y. , Cham Jason , Zhang Li , Fong Grant , Kwek Serena S. , Klinger Mark , Faham Malek , Fong Lawrence
Published: December 2016

While immune checkpoint blockade elicits efficacious responses in many patients with cancer, it also produces a diverse and unpredictable number of immune-related adverse events (IRAE). Mechanisms driving IRAEs are generally unknown. Because CTLA-4 blockade leads to proliferation of circulating T cells, we examined in this study whether ipilimumab treatment leads to clonal expansion of tissue-reactive T cells. Rather than narrowing the T-cell repertoire to a limited number of clones, ipilimumab induced greater diversification in the T-cell repertoire in IRAE patients compared with patients without IRAEs. Specifically, ipilimumab triggered increases in the numbers of clonotypes, including newly detected clones and a decline in overall T-cell clonality. Initial broadening in the repertoire occurred within 2 weeks of treatment, preceding IRAE onset. IRAE patients exhibited greater diversity of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, but showed no differences in regulatory T-cell numbers relative to patients without IRAEs. Prostate-specific antigen responses to ipilimumab were also associated with increased T-cell diversity. Our results show how rapid diversification in the immune repertoire immediately after checkpoint blockade can be both detrimental and beneficial for patients with cancer. Cancer Res; 77(6); 1322–30. ©2016 AACR.
Functional Activation of Mutant p53 by Platinum Analogues in Cisplatin-Resistant Cells Is Dependent on Phosphorylation
Authors: Xie Xiaolei , He Guangan , Siddik Zahid H.
Published: December 2016

Dysfunctionality of the p53 tumor suppressor is a major cause of therapeutic drug resistance in cancer. Recently, we reported that mutant, but otherwise functional, p53v172F was inactivated in cisplatin-resistant 2780CP/Cl-16 and 2780CP/Cl-24 human ovarian tumor cells by increased recruitment of the inhibitor MDM4. The current study demonstrates that, unlike cisplatin, platinum analogues oxaliplatin and DACH-diacetato-dichloro-Pt(IV) (DAP) strongly stabilize and activate p53v172F in resistant cells, as indicated by prolonged p53 half-life and transactivation of targets p21 (CDKN1A) and MDM2. This increase in MDM2 reduced MDM4 levels in cell lysates as well as the p53 immunocomplex and prevented reversion of p53 to the inactive p53-MDM2-MDM4–bound state. Phosphorylation of p53 at Ser15 was demonstrated by all three drugs in sensitive A2780 and corresponding resistant 2780CP/Cl-16 and 2780CP/Cl-24 cell lines. However, cisplatin induced Ser20 phosphorylation in A2780 cells only, but not in resistant cells; in contrast, both DAP and oxaliplatin induced this phosphorylation in all three cell lines. The inference that Ser20 phosphorylation is more important for p53 activation was confirmed by ectopic expression of a phosphomimetic (S20D) mutant p53 that displayed reduced binding, relative to wild-type p53, to both MDM2 and MDM4 in p53-knockout A2780 cells. In consonance, temporal studies demonstrated drug-induced Ser15 phosphorylation coincided with p53 stabilization, whereas Ser20 phosphorylation coincided with p53 transactivation.

Implications: Cisplatin fails to activate the pathway involved in phosphorylating mutant p53v172F at Ser20 in resistant cells, but this phosphorylation is restored by oxaliplatin and DAP that reactivates p53 function and circumvents cisplatin resistance. Mol Cancer Res; 15(3); 328–39. ©2016 AACR.
A Systematic Analysis of Negative Growth Control Implicates the DREAM Complex in Cancer Cell Dormancy
Authors: MacDonald James , Ramos-Valdes Yudith , Perampalam Pirunthan , Litovchick Larissa , DiMattia Gabriel E. , Dick Frederick A.
Published: December 2016

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) generates multicellular aggregates called spheroids that detach from the primary tumor and disseminate through ascites. Spheroids possess a number of characteristics of tumor dormancy including withdrawal from the cell cycle and resistance to chemotherapeutics. This report systematically analyzes the effects of RNAi depletion of 21 genes that are known to contribute to negative regulation of the cell cycle in 10 ovarian cancer cell lines. Interestingly, spheroid cell viability was compromised by loss of some cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors such as p57Kip2, as well as Dyrk1A, Lin52, and E2F5 in most cell lines tested. Many genes essential for EOC spheroid viability are pertinent to the mammalian DREAM repressor complex. Mechanistically, the data demonstrate that DREAM is assembled upon the induction of spheroid formation, which is dependent upon Dyrk1A. Loss of Dyrk1A results in retention of the b-Myb–MuvB complex, elevated expression of DREAM target genes, and increased DNA synthesis that is coincident with cell death. Inhibition of Dyrk1A activity using pharmacologic agents Harmine and INDY compromises viability of spheroids and blocks DREAM assembly. In addition, INDY treatment improves the response to carboplatin, suggesting this is a therapeutic target for EOC treatment.

Implications: Loss of negative growth control mechanisms in cancer dormancy lead to cell death and not proliferation, suggesting they are an attractive therapeutic approach. Mol Cancer Res; 15(4); 371–81. ©2016 AACR.
Klatki, budki i krzaki, czyli o stosunku do dzikich ptaków w przestrzeni Warszawy na przełomie XIX i XX wieku
Authors: Jaroszuk Anna
Published: December 2016

Birdcages, nestboxes, bushes, or on attitudes to wild birds in the space of Warsaw at the turn of the 20th centuryThe article attempts to present how at the turn of the 20th century the attitude of the inhabitants of Warsaw towards wild birds living in the city was being shaped. The author focuses on objects used to allocate such birds their space within the city, on practices related to birds and discourse concerning this subject. She points to changes that were initiated then, mainly by members of Warsaw Society for the Protection of Animals and journalists publishing in its magazine, „Przyjaciel Zwierząt” (Friend of Animals). Klatki, budki i krzaki, czyli o stosunku do dzikich ptaków w przestrzeni Warszawy na przełomie XIX i XX wiekuArtykuł jest próbą ukazania, w jaki sposób na przełomie XIX i XX wieku kształtował się stosunek mieszkańców Warszawy do dzikich ptaków obecnych w przestrzeni miasta. Autorka skupia się na przedmiotach wykorzystywanych do wyznaczania tego rodzaju ptakom miejsca w mieście, praktykach z ptakami związanych oraz dyskursie. Zwraca uwagę na zmiany, które w tej sferze zaczęły wówczas zachodzić, głównie za sprawą osób związanych z Warszawskim Towarzystwem Opieki nad Zwierzętami i jego organem prasowym, „Przyjacielem Zwierząt”.
Język a tożsamość: przypadek Czarnogóry
Authors: Melnytska Karina
Published: December 2016

Language and Identity: The Case of MontenegroThe Montenegrin language was established as the official language of newly independent Montenegro in 2007. However, the idea of a separate Montenegrin language remained dormant until the mid-1990s, when a small group of Montenegrin pro-independence intellectuals, aiming to reconstruct all the trappings of a separate Montenegrin identity, started to emphasize the distinctiveness of the language of Montenegrins. How did it happen that once being a marginal idea, Montenegrin became the native language for almost 37 percent of the Montenegrin population in 2011? This article is an attempt to answer this question. It provides a brief overview of the language situation in Montenegro from the time of socialist Yugoslavia to the independence era, paying attention to the changes in the political elites’ attitudes towards the language issue. The standardization process of the Montenegrin language is described by focusing on the aspects, which are considered most significant from the perspective of identity. The paper also describes how the Montenegrin language is being narratized so that the language narrative is being produced as a part of the broader narrative about the Montenegrin identity. Finally, an analysis of the last two censuses’ data reveals changes in the population structure in Montenegro according to nationality and mother tongue between 2003 and 2011, i.e. the period when the issues of identity and language became extremely politicized. Język a tożsamość: przypadek CzarnogóryJęzyk czarnogórski został uznany za język urzędowy niepodległej Czarnogóry w 2007 roku. Temat odrębnego języka w Czarnogórze został nagłośniony dopiero w połowie lat 90. ubiegłego wieku przez niewielką grupę zorientowanych niepodległościowo intelektualistów, dążących do rekonstrukcji wszystkich aspektów odrębnej tożsamości czarnogórskiej. Podstawowe pytanie, na które artykuł odpowiada, brzmi: jak to się stało, że choć idea odrębności językowej była początkowo marginalna, język czarnogórski był w 2011 roku językiem ojczystym dla prawie 37 proc. ludności Czarnogóry? Artykuł przedstawia krótki zarys sytuacji językowej w Czarnogórze od czasów socjalistycznej Jugosławii do czasów niepodległości, z uwzględnieniem ewolucji w podejściu elit politycznych do kwestii języka czarnogórskiego. Omawia też przebieg i kluczowe aspekty procesu standaryzacji języka czarnogórskiego, uznane za istotne z punktu widzenia tożsamości. Kolejnym aspektem jest narratyzowanie języka czarnogórskiego i będąca jego wynikiem narracja o języku czarnogórskim jako części szerszej czarnogórskiej narracji tożsamościowej. Wreszcie – analiza danych spisów ludności z lat 2003 i 2011 ukazuje przemiany, które zaszły w strukturze narodowościowej i językowej w Czarnogórze w omawianym okresie, kiedy kwestie tożsamości i języka uległy silnej polityzacji.
Z historii leksemów: gzić się, grzać się, parzyć się, bzykać się
Authors: Krótki Zuzanna Maria
Published: December 2016

From the history of the lexemes gzić się, grzać się, parzyć się, bzykać sięThe present article undertakes a semasiological analysis of four Polish vulgarisms associated with sexual intercourse: gzić się, grzać się, parzyć się, bzykać się. Taking is the point of departure their etymology, it investigates the changes in the meanings of these units.It was discovered that initially the analysed lexemes communicated a very wide range of content, far from their contemporary semantic structure. Successively, some of their senses were rearranged, causing these units to become attributed to animal copulation and later to human sexual intercourse. However, it was until the mid-20th century that the analysed verbs have come to play the role of vulgarisms. Z historii leksemów: gzić się, grzać się, parzyć się, bzykać sięW artykule poddano analizie semazjologicznej cztery polskie wulgaryzmy wiązane ze stosunkiem seksualnym, tj.: gzić się, grzać się, parzyć się i bzykać się. Wychodząc od etymologii, badano zmiany w znaczeniach tych jednostek.Okazało się, że analizowane leksemy początkowo posiadały bardzo szerokie treści, dalekie ich współczesnej strukturze semantycznej. Sukcesywnie dochodziło jednak do przeszeregowania niektórych sensów, na skutek czego badane jednostki wpierw zaczęto odnosić do zwierzęcej kopulacji, natomiast nieco później do ludzkiego współżycia. Rolę wulgaryzmów analizowane czasowniki zaczęły odgrywać jednak dopiero w połowie XX wieku.
Sprawozdanie z międzynarodowej konferencji naukowej „Kobieta niepoznana: od starożytności po czasy współczesne”
Authors: Obara-Pawłowska Anna
Published: December 2016

“The Undiscovered Woman: from Antiquity to the Modern Times”: International Conference ReportThe international academic conference “The Undiscovered Woman: from Antiquity to the Modern Times” was organized on 22–23 September 2016 by the Department of Polish Medieval History and Economic History at the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin. The purpose of the conference was to identify categories of women and their activities less recognized in the field of contemporary humanities. A number of representatives from academic centres and institutions of scholarly research from Poland and abroad took part in the event. Sprawozdanie z międzynarodowej konferencji naukowej „Kobieta niepoznana: od starożytności po czasy współczesne”Międzynarodowa konferencja naukowa „Kobieta niepoznana: od starożytności po czasy współczesne” została zorganizowana 22–23 września 2016 r. przez Zakład Historii Polski Średniowiecznej i Dziejów Gospodarczych Uniwersytetu Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej w Lublinie. Jej celem było wskazanie dotychczas słabo rozpoznanych w nauce kategorii oraz obszarów aktywności kobiet. W spotkaniu wzięli udział przedstawiciele licznych ośrodków akademickich oraz instytucji naukowo-badawczych z Polski i zagranicy.
Introductory Comments
Authors: Sujecka Jolanta
Published: December 2016

Introductory CommentsThe fifth yearly volume of the Colloquia Humanistica comprises a thematic section on Nation, Natsiya, Ethnie. The subject it discusses has thus far received little attention as a research problem in the Slavia Orthodoxa, the Slavia Romana, the Balkans but also in Central and Eastern Europe. Uwagi wstępnePiąty numer rocznika "Colloquia Humanistica" przedstawia dział tematyczny, poświęcony kategoriom narodu, nacji i etni. Temat ten, w takiej perspektywie, którą proponujemy, nie spotkał się dotąd z należytym namysłem badawczym w sferze Slavia Otrhodoxa, Slavia Romana i na Bałkanach, jak też w Europie Środkowo-Wschodniej.
Yiddish and Judeo-Spanish as Determinants of Identity: As Illustrated in the Jewish Press of the First Half of the Twentieth Century
Authors: Olszewska Izabela , Twardowska Aleksandra
Published: December 2016

Yiddish and Judeo-Spanish as Determinants of Identity: As Illustrated in the Jewish Press of the First Half of the Twentieth CenturyThe paper shows an image and functions of Yiddish and Judeo-Spanish languages among Jewish Diaspora groups – the Balkan Sephardim and the Ashkenazim (the Ostjuden group) – in the period from the beginning of the twentieth century until the outbreak of World War II. The study is based on the articles from Jewish weeklies, magazines and newspapers from pre-war Bosnia and Hercegovina and from Germany/Poland. It demonstrates a double-sided attitude towards the languages. On the one hand – an image of the languages as determinants of Jewish identity. Touching on this theme, the authors of the paper also try to highlight the images of Yiddish and Judeo-Spanish and as determinants in a narrower sense – of the Sephardi/Ashkenazi identity in that period. On the other hand, the paper shows a tendency to treat the languages as “corrupted” and “dying” languages, and as factors slowing down the assimilation of Jewish groups and also as an obstacle for Zionist ideologies. Języki jidysz i żydowsko-hiszpański jako wskaźniki tożsamości – na przykładzie żydowskich tekstów prasowych pierwszej połowy XX wiekuArtykuł ukazuje obraz i funkcje języków jidysz i żydowsko-hiszpańskiego wśród żydowskich grup diasporowych – bałkańskich Sefardyjczyków oraz Aszkenazyjczyków (Ostjuden) – w okresie od początków wieku XX do wybuchu II wojny światowej. Opis oparty jest na artykułach z żydowskich magazynów, tygodników, prasy codziennej z przedwojennej Bośni i Hercegowiny oraz Niemiec/Polski. Ukazany jest ambiwalentny stosunek wobec języków. Z jednej strony – obraz języków jako wskaźników żydowskiej tożsamości, jak również obraz jidysz i żydowsko-hiszpańskiego jako wskaźników tożsamości w węższym ujęciu: tożsamości sefardyjskiej/aszkenazyjskiej w omawianym okresie. Z drugiej strony zaś – artykuł zwraca uwagę także na to, że oba języki były traktowane jako „zepsute”, „umierające” i stanowiące czynniki spowalniające asymilację grup żydowskich oraz przeszkodę dla idei syjonistycznych.
Who Gets Carried Away by Europe?
Authors: Sujecka Jolanta
Published: December 2016

Who Gets Carried Away by Europe?In July 2014, the Young Academies from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Scotland and Sweden announced an international contest. “Who gets carried away by Europe?” – was the prize question to which all the participants were asked to give a reply. Od redakcjiKomunikat dotyczący nagrody akademickiej "Who gets carried away by Europe?".
Characteristics and Impacts of Extratropical Rossby Wave Breaking during the Atlantic Hurricane Season
Authors: Zhang Gan , Wang Zhuo , Peng Melinda S. , Magnusdottir Gudrun
Published: December 2016

This study investigates the characteristics of extratropical Rossby wave breaking (RWB) during the Atlantic hurricane season and its impacts on Atlantic tropical cyclone (TC) activity. It was found that RWB perturbs the wind and moisture fields throughout the troposphere in the vicinity of a breaking wave. When RWB occurs more frequently over the North Atlantic, the Atlantic main development region (MDR) is subject to stronger vertical wind shear and reduced tropospheric moisture; the basinwide TC counts are reduced, and TCs are generally less intense, have a shorter lifetime, and are less likely to make landfalls. A significant negative correlation was found between Atlantic TC activity and RWB occurrence during 1979–2013. The correlation is comparable to that with the MDR SST index and stronger than that with the Niño-3.4 index. Further analyses suggest that the variability of RWB occurrence in the western Atlantic is largely independent of that in the eastern Atlantic. The RWB occurrence in the western basin is more closely tied to the environmental variability of the tropical North Atlantic and is more likely to hinder TC intensification or reduce the TC lifetime because of its proximity to the central portion of TC tracks. Consequently, the basinwide TC counts and the accumulated cyclone energy have a strong correlation with western-basin RWB occurrence but only a moderate correlation with eastern-basin RWB occurrence. The results highlight the extratropical impacts on Atlantic TC activity and regional climate via RWB and provide new insights into the variability and predictability of TC activity.
Projected Significant Increase in the Number of Extreme Extratropical Cyclones in the Southern Hemisphere
Authors: Chang Edmund K. M.
Published: December 2016

Extratropical cyclones are responsible for much of the extreme weather in the midlatitudes; thus, how these cyclones may change under increasing greenhouse gas forcing is of much general interest. Previous studies have suggested a poleward shift in the location of these cyclones, but how the intensity may change remains uncertain, especially in terms of maximum wind speed. In this study, projected changes in extreme cyclones in the Southern Hemisphere, based on 26 models participating in phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5), are presented. Multiple definitions of extreme cyclones have been examined, including intensity exceeding constant thresholds of sea level pressure perturbations, 850-hPa vorticity, and 850-hPa winds, as well as variable thresholds corresponding to a top-5 or top-1 cyclone per winter month in these three parameters and the near-surface winds. Results presented show that CMIP5 models project a significant increase in the frequency of extreme cyclones in all four seasons regardless of the definition, with over 88% of the models projecting an increase. Spatial patterns of increase are also consistent, with the largest increase projected between 45° and 60°S, extending from the South Atlantic across the south Indian Ocean into the Pacific. The projected increases in cyclone statistics are consistent with those in Eulerian statistics, such as sea level pressure (SLP) variance. However, while the projected increase in SLP variance can be linked to increase in the mean available potential energy (MAPE), the increases in cyclone statistics are not well correlated with those in MAPE.
Rapid Oceanic Response to Tropical Cyclone Oli (2010) over the South Pacific
Authors: Oruba Ludivine , Planes Serge , Siu Gilles , Chancerelle Yannick , Dormy Emmanuel
Published: December 2016

The effect of Tropical Cyclone Oli (2010) on the ocean is investigated using a variety of measurements. In situ temperature measurements on the cyclone track are available via the Centre de Recherches Insulaires et Observatoire de l’Environnement (CRIOBE) array of probes. This reflects an extreme fluctuation of the temperature some 18 h after the cyclone, lasting only 12 h and exceeding 3°C in amplitude. This study interprets this extreme fluctuation in terms of enhanced mixing associated with the time-dependent inertial currents due to the cyclonic winds. The authors show, using Lagrangian simulations, that this rapid event is compatible with the severe length-scale shortening observed in Lagrangian simulations.
Cloud-Base Height Estimation from VIIRS. Part II: A Statistical Algorithm Based on A-Train Satellite Data
Authors: Noh Yoo-Jeong , Forsythe John M. , Miller Steven D. , Seaman Curtis J. , Li Yue , Heidinger Andrew K. , Lindsey Daniel T. , Rogers Matthew A. , Partain Philip T.
Published: December 2016

Knowledge of cloud-base height (CBH) is important to describe cloud radiative feedbacks in numerical models and is of practical relevance to the aviation community. Whereas satellite remote sensing with passive radiometers traditionally has provided a ready means for estimating cloud-top height (CTH) and cloud water path (CWP), assignment of CBH requires heavy assumptions on the distribution of CWP within the cloud profile. An attempt to retrieve CBH has been included as part of the VIIRS environmental data records, produced operationally as part of the Suomi–National Polar-Orbiting Partnership (SNPP) and the forthcoming Joint Polar Satellite System. Through formal validation studies tied to the program, it was found that the operational CBH algorithm failed to meet performance specifications in many cases. This paper presents a new methodology for retrieving CBH of the uppermost cloud layer, developed through statistical analyses relating cloud geometric thickness (CGT) to CTH and CWP. The semiempirical approach, which relates these parameters via piecewise fitting, enlists A-Train satellite data [CloudSat cloud profiling radar (CPR), CALIPSO/CALIOP, and Aqua MODIS]. CBH is provided as the residual difference between CTH and CGT. By eliminating cloud type–dependent assumptions on CWP distribution, artifacts common to the operational algorithm (which contribute to high errors) are reduced. Special accommodations are made for handling optically thin cirrus and deep convection. An application to SNPP VIIRS is demonstrated, and the results are compared against global CloudSat observations. From the VIIRS–CloudSat daytime matchups (September–October 2013 and January–May 2015), the new algorithm outperforms the operational SNPP VIIRS algorithm, particularly when the retrieved CTH is accurate. Best performance is expected for single-layer liquid-phase clouds.
Analogs on the Lorenz Attractor and Ensemble Spread
Authors: Atencia Aitor , Zawadzki Isztar
Published: December 2016

Intrinsic predictability is defined as the uncertainty in a forecast due to small errors in the initial conditions. In fact, not only the amplitude but also the structure of these initial errors plays a key role in the evolution of the forecast. Several methodologies have been developed to create an ensemble of forecasts from a feasible set of initial conditions, such as bred vectors or singular vectors. However, these methodologies consider only the fastest growth direction globally, which is represented by the Lyapunov vector.

In this paper, the simple Lorenz 63 model is used to compare bred vectors, random perturbations, and normal modes against analogs. The concept of analogs is based on the ergodicity theory to select compatible states for a given initial condition. These analogs have a complex structure in the phase space of the Lorenz attractor that is compatible with the properties of the nonlinear chaotic system.

It is shown that the initial averaged growth rate of errors of the analogs is similar to the one obtained with bred vectors or normal modes (fastest growth), but they do not share other properties or statistics, such as the spread of these growth rates. An in-depth study of different properties of the analogs and the previous existing perturbation methodologies is carried out to shed light on the consequences of forecasting the choice of the perturbations.
WRF Hub-Height Wind Forecast Sensitivity to PBL Scheme, Grid Length, and Initial Condition Choice in Complex Terrain
Authors: Siuta David , West Gregory , Stull Roland
Published: December 2016

This study evaluates the sensitivity of wind turbine hub-height wind speed forecasts to the planetary boundary layer (PBL) scheme, grid length, and initial condition selection in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model over complex terrain. Eight PBL schemes available for the WRF-ARW dynamical core were tested with initial conditions sources from the North American Mesoscale (NAM) model and Global Forecast System (GFS) to produce short-term wind speed forecasts. The largest improvements in forecast accuracy primarily depended on the grid length or PBL scheme choice, although the most important factor varied by location, season, time of day, and bias-correction application. Aggregated over all locations, the Asymmetric Convective Model, version 2 (ACM2) PBL scheme provided the best forecast accuracy, particularly for the 12-km grid length. Other PBL schemes and grid lengths, however, did perform better than the ACM2 scheme for individual seasons or locations.
Optimal Sovereign Default
Authors: Adam Klaus , Grill Michael
Published: December 2016

When is it optimal for a fully committed government to default on its legal repayment obligations? Considering a small open economy with domestic production risk and noncontingent government debt, we show that it is ex ante optimal to occasionally deviate from the legal repayment obligation and to repay debt only partially. This holds true even if default generates significant deadweight costs ex post. A quantitative analysis reveals that default is optimal only in response to persistent disaster-like shocks to domestic output. Applying the framework to the situation in Greece, we find that optimal default policies suggest a considerably larger and more timely default than the one actually implemented in the year 2012. (JEL E23, E62, F41, H63)