bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Food Security and Leukocyte Telomere Length in Adult Americans
Authors: Mazidi Mohsen , Kengne Andre Pascal , Vatanparast Hassan
Published: August 2017

Background and Purpose. Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is a biomarker of biologic age. Whether food security status modulates LTL is still unknown. We investigated the association between food security and LTL in participants of the 1999–2002 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Methods. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to evaluate the association between food security categories and LTL controlling for sex, race, and education and accounting for the survey design and sample weights. Results. We included 10,888 participants with 5228 (48.0%) being men. They were aged on average 44.1 years. In all, 2362 (21.7%) had less than high school, 2787 (25.6%) had achieved high school, while 5705 (52.5%) had done more than high school. In sex‐, race‐, and education‐adjusted ANCOVA, average LTL (T/S ratio) for participants with high food security versus those with marginal, low, or very low food security was 1.32 versus 1.20 for the age group 25–35 years and 1.26 versus 1.11 for the 35–45 years, (p < 0.001). Conclusion. The association between food insecurity and LTL shortening in young adults suggest that some of the future effects of food insecurity on chronic disease risk in this population could be mediated by telomere shortening.
Chinese Medicine Treatment for Afatinib-Induced Paronychia
Authors: Yang Pei-Yuu , Tai Chen-Jei
Published: August 2017

Afatinib (Gilotrif™) is widely used to treat patients with mutant activating epidermal growth factor receptor- (EGFR-) dependent lung adenocarcinoma; however, it has various adverse side effects. Here, we report a patient with afatinib-induced paronychia. After Chinese medicine treatment with the well-known anticancer Chinese herbs, Jen-Ren-Hwo-Minq-Saan, and decoction of Ban-Zhi-Lian (Scutellaria barbata) with Bai-Hua-She-She-Cao (Hedyotis diffusa Willd), patient’s condition was significantly improved. This shows that these Chinese medicines can not only be used in cancer treatment but also be used in the afatinib-induced paronychia.
Influence of Vanadium 4+ and 5+ Ions on the Differentiation and Activation of Human Osteoclasts
Authors: König Matthias A. , Gautschi Oliver P. , Simmen Hans-Peter , Filgueira Luis , Cadosch Dieter
Published: August 2017

Background. In the pathophysiology of implant failure, metal ions and inflammation-driven osteoclasts (OC) play a crucial role. The aim of this study was to investigate whether vanadium (V) ions induce differentiation of monocytic OC precursors into osteoresorptive multinucleated cells. In addition, the influence of V ions on the activation and function of in vitro generated OC was observed. Methods. Human monocytes and osteoclasts were isolated from peripheral blood monocytic cells (PBMCs). Exposition with increasing concentrations (0–3 μM) of V4+/V5+ ions for 7 days followed. Assessment of OC differentiation, cell viability, and resorptional ability was performed by standard colorimetric cell viability assay 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenil)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) expression, and functional resorption assays on bone slides during a period of 21 days. Results. No significant differences were noted between V4+/V5+ ions (p>0.05). MTS showed significant reduction in cellular viability by V concentrations above 3 μM (p<0.05). V concentrations above 0.5 μM showed negative effects on OC activation/differentiation. Higher V concentrations showed negative effects on resorptive function (all p<0.05) without affecting cell viability. V4+/V5+ concentrations below 3 μM have negative effects on OC differentiation/function without affecting cell survival. Conclusion. Vanadium-containing implants may reduce implant failure rate by influencing osteoclast activity at the bone-implant interface. V-ligand complexes might offer new treatment options by accumulating in the bone.
Alterations in Bronchial Airway miRNA Expression for Lung Cancer Detection
Authors: Pavel Ana B. , Campbell Joshua D. , Liu Gang , Elashoff David , Dubinett Steven , Smith Kate , Whitney Duncan , Lenburg Marc E. , Spira Avrum
Published: September 2017

We have previously shown that gene expression alterations in normal-appearing bronchial epithelial cells can serve as a lung cancer detection biomarker in smokers. Given that miRNAs regulate airway gene expression responses to smoking, we evaluated whether miRNA expression is also altered in the bronchial epithelium of smokers with lung cancer. Using epithelial brushings from the mainstem bronchus of patients undergoing bronchoscopy for suspected lung cancer (as part of the AEGIS-1/2 clinical trials), we profiled miRNA expression via small-RNA sequencing from 347 current and former smokers for which gene expression data were also available. Patients were followed for one year postbronchoscopy until a final diagnosis of lung cancer (n = 194) or benign disease (n = 153) was made. Following removal of 6 low-quality samples, we used 138 patients (AEGIS-1) as a discovery set to identify four miRNAs (miR-146a-5p, miR-324-5p, miR-223-3p, and miR-223-5p) that were downregulated in the bronchial airway of lung cancer patients (ANOVA P < 0.002, FDR < 0.2). The expression of these miRNAs is significantly more negatively correlated with the expression of their mRNA targets than with the expression of other nontarget genes (K-S P < 0.05). Furthermore, these mRNA targets are enriched among genes whose expression is elevated in cancer patients (GSEA FDR < 0.001). Finally, we found that the addition of miR-146a-5p to an existing mRNA biomarker for lung cancer significantly improves its performance (AUC) in the 203 samples (AEGIS-1/2) serving an independent test set (DeLong P < 0.05). Our findings suggest that there are miRNAs whose expression is altered in the cytologically normal bronchial epithelium of smokers with lung cancer, and that they may regulate cancer-associated gene expression differences. Cancer Prev Res; 10(11); 651–9. ©2017 AACR.
Antigen-Presenting Intratumoral B Cells Affect CD4+ TIL Phenotypes in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients
Authors: Bruno Tullia C. , Ebner Peggy J. , Moore Brandon L. , Squalls Olivia G. , Waugh Katherine A. , Eruslanov Evgeniy B. , Singhal Sunil , Mitchell John D. , Franklin Wilbur A. , Merrick Daniel T. , McCarter Martin D. , Palmer Brent E. , Kern Jeffrey A. , Slansky Jill E.
Published: August 2017

Effective immunotherapy options for patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are becoming increasingly available. The immunotherapy focus has been on tumor-infiltrating T cells (TILs); however, tumor-infiltrating B cells (TIL-Bs) have also been reported to correlate with NSCLC patient survival. The function of TIL-Bs in human cancer has been understudied, with little focus on their role as antigen-presenting cells and their influence on CD4+ TILs. Compared with other immune subsets detected in freshly isolated primary tumors from NSCLC patients, we observed increased numbers of intratumoral B cells relative to B cells from tumor-adjacent tissues. Furthermore, we demonstrated that TIL-Bs can efficiently present antigen to CD4+ TILs and alter the CD4+ TIL phenotype using an in vitro antigen-presentation assay. Specifically, we identified three CD4+ TIL responses to TIL-Bs, which we categorized as activated, antigen-associated, and nonresponsive. Within the activated and antigen-associated CD4+ TIL population, activated TIL-Bs (CD19+CD20+CD69+CD27+CD21+) were associated with an effector T-cell response (IFNγ+ CD4+ TILs). Alternatively, exhausted TIL-Bs (CD19+CD20+CD69+CD27−CD21−) were associated with a regulatory T-cell phenotype (FoxP3+ CD4+ TILs). Our results demonstrate a new role for TIL-Bs in NSCLC tumors in their interplay with CD4+ TILs in the tumor microenvironment, establishing them as a potential therapeutic target in NSCLC immunotherapy. Cancer Immunol Res; 5(10); 898–907. ©2017 AACR.
Stellenwert von Atemwegsbypässen bei Patienten mit schwerem Lungenemphysem
Authors: Hekmat Khosro
Published: August 2017

Hintergrund: Das Emphysem ist durch eine obstruktive Ventilationsstörung, Lungenüberblähung und daraus resultierende Dyspnoe gekennzeichnet. Es soll untersucht werden, ob eine Druckentlastung die Lungenmechanik verbessert und die Lebensqualität (QoL) erhöht. Ziele: Der Zweck dieser Studie war es, die Machbarkeit und Sicherheit der Schaffung eines transthorakalen Pneumostomas zu beschreiben, das eine Verringerung des Lungenvolumens ermöglichen soll. Methoden: Über eine Inzision des dritten Interkostalraums wurde ein transthorakaler Portaero™ Zugangsschlauch mit 10 mm Durchmesser (von Portaero, Inc. in Cupertino, CA, USA) bei 15 Patienten mit schwerem Lungenemphysem implantiert (mittleres Alter: 63 Jahre; forcierte exspiratorische Einsekundenkapazität: 54% vorhergesagt; Kohlenmonoxid-Diffusionskapazität: 31% vorhergesagt; Residualvolumen: 246% vorhergesagt; Sechs-Minuten-Gehtest: 296 m). Vier Wochen später wurde dieser durch einen 8-mm-Portaero-Schlauch zum Einmalgebrauch (3-8 cm lang) ersetzt, der danach täglich gewechselt wurde. Die beabsichtigten primären Endpunkte waren ein Anstieg ≥12% der forcierten exspiratorischen Einsekundenkapazität und eine Abnahme von ≥4 Punkten beim Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire nach 6 Monaten. Ergebnisse: Es wurden 16 Verfahren bei 15 Patienten durchgeführt. Als Komplikation kam es zu einer Interkostalblutung, einem Pneumothorax und einem leichten generalisiertem Hautemphysem. Frühzeitige Durchgängigkeitsprobleme kamen häufig vor, sprachen jedoch oft auf externes endoskopisches Debridement oder die Behandlung durch Argon-Plasma-Laser an. Bei 9 von 15 Patienten bestand die Durchgängigkeit auch nach 3 Monaten, und 6 dieser Patienten erreichten eine langfristige Durchgängigkeit (im Mittel 4 Jahre). Die Durchgängigkeit war mit potenziell besseren Langzeitverläufen bzw. einer Stabilität bei Spirometrie, Residualvolumen und QoL assoziiert. Allerdings wurden die primären Endpunkte nach 6 Monaten nicht erreicht. Schlussfolgerung: Die Schaffung und Erhaltung eines transthorakalen Pneumostomas erscheint bei Patienten mit schwe- rem Emphysem machbar und sicher. Es sollten weitere Studien zur Verfeinerung der Patientenauswahl (eventuell über Bewertungen der Kollateralventilation und Lungenfissuren mittels CT-Thorax) und der Schlauchmaterialien durchgeführt werden.
Antibody Isotypes for Tumor Immunotherapy
Authors: Kretschmer Anna , Schwanbeck Ralf , Valerius Thomas , Rösner Thies
Published: September 2017

Compared to the evolutionary diversity of antibody isotypes, the spectrum of currently approved therapeutic antibodies is biased to the human IgG1 isotype. Detailed studies into the different structures and functions of human isotypes have suggested that other isotypes than IgG1 may be advantageous for specific indications - depending on the complex interplay between the targeted antigen or epitope, the desired mode of action, the pharmacokinetic properties, and the biopharmaceutical considerations. Thus, it may be speculated that with the increasing number of antibodies becoming available against a broadening spectrum of target antigens, identification of the optimal antibody isotype for particular therapeutic applications may become critical for the therapeutic success of individual antibodies. Thus, investments into this rather unexplored area of antibody immunotherapy may provide opportunities for distinction in the increasingly busy ‘antibody space'. Therefore, IgG, IgA, IgE as well as IgM isotypes will be discussed in this review.
The Role of Age and Initial Deformation on Final Cranial Asymmetry in Infants with Plagiocephaly Treated with Helmet Therapy
Authors: Mackel Charles E. , Bonnar Michael , Keeny Heather , Lipa Bethany M. , Hwang Steven W.
Published: August 2017

Background/Aims: To characterize the impact of cranial asymmetry and age at initiation of therapy on final cranial asymmetry in infants with deformational plagiocephaly treated with helmet orthotics. Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective review of 45 pediatric patients <12 months of age with deformational plagiocephaly who underwent STARband cranial orthotic helmet treatment. Cranial asymmetry was measured using a 3-dimensional laser surface scanner and defined as a cranial vault asymmetry index (CVAI) >3.5%. Results: Twenty-one patients (47%) were <6 months of age at the start of helmet therapy. A greater initial CVAI or age at therapy initiation correlated with a greater final CVAI (univariate analysis, r = 0.53, p < 0.001; r = 0.42, p = 0.004). Subgroup analysis of 18 patients beginning therapy at 4-5 months of age and 20 patients beginning therapy at 6-8 months of age revealed that only a change in the initial CVAI was associated with a change in the final CVAI (r = 0.43, p = 0.007). Conclusion: In a comparison of patients who initiated helmet therapy at 4-5 and 6-8 months of age, only cranial asymmetry at the outset of therapy was correlated with final cranial asymmetry (r = 0.43, p = 0.007).
Genomic Organization and Physical Mapping of Tandemly Arranged Repetitive DNAs in Sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus)
Authors: Biltueva Larisa S. , Prokopov Dimitry Y. , Makunin Alexey I. , Komissarov Alexey S. , Kudryavtseva Anna V. , Lemskaya Natalya A. , Vorobieva Nadezhda V. , Serdyukova Natalia A. , Romanenko Svetlana A. , Gladkikh Olga L. , Graphodatsky Alexander S. , Trifonov Vladimir A.
Published: August 2017

Acipenseriformes represent a phylogenetically basal clade of ray-finned fish characterized by unusual genomic traits, including paleopolyploid states of extant genomes with high chromosome numbers and slow rates of molecular evolution. Despite a high interest in this fish group, only a limited number of studies have been accomplished on the isolation and characterization of repetitive DNA, karyotype standardization is not yet complete, and sex chromosomes are still to be identified. Here, we applied next-generation sequencing and cluster analysis to characterize major fractions of sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) repetitive DNA. Using FISH, we mapped 16 tandemly arranged sequences on sterlet chromosomes and found them to be unevenly distributed in the genome with a tendency to cluster in particular regions. Some of the satellite DNAs might be used as specific markers to identify individual chromosomes and their paralogs, resulting in the unequivocal identification of at least 18 chromosome pairs. Our results provide an insight into the characteristic genomic distribution of the most common sterlet repetitive sequences. Biased accumulation of repetitive DNAs in particular chromosomes makes them especially interesting for further search for cryptic sex chromosomes. Future studies of these sequences in other acipenserid species will provide new perspectives regarding the evolution of repetitive DNA within the genomes of this fish order.
BAX and BCL2 Gene Polymorphisms in Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment
Authors: Moschos Marilita M. , Chatziralli Irini , Brouzas Dimitrios , Gazouli Maria
Published: September 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential association between rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and BAX and BCL2 polymorphisms. Methods: This is a case control study of 99 patients with RRD and 120 healthy control subjects of Greek origin, surveyed for BAX and BCL2 polymorphisms (rs2279115 and rs4645878) and a potential correlation to RRD. Results: The rs4645878 AA genotype was found to be significantly associated with RRD (p = 0.003; OR: 6.89, 95% CI: 1.76-26.93), while the rs2279115 CC genotype as well as the C allele was not found in patients with RRD. Conclusions: This is the first study evaluating the potential relationship between BCL2 and BAX gene polymorphisms and RRD in a Greek population, showing a significant association between BAX rs4645878 polymorphism and RRD susceptibility. This finding suggests that an apoptotic mechanism is implicated in the pathogenesis of RRD.
The Histopathological Characteristics Caused by Trionyx sinensis Hemorrhagic Syndrome Virus (TSHSV) and Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Liver Tissue in TSHSV-Infected Chinese Soft-Shelled Turtles (Pelodiscus sinensis)
Authors: Liu Li , Cao Zheng , Lin Feng , Ye Xueping , Lu Shujuan , Lyv Sunjian
Published: September 2017

Trionyx sinensis hemorrhagic syndrome virus (TSHSV) is a pathogen that causes severe hemorrhagic syndrome and irreversible damage to different infected tissues of Pelodis cus sinensis, ending in the death of affected organisms. In the present study, the histopathological characteristics of TSHSV-infected P. sinensis were analyzed and compared by HE staining. Relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ)-based proteomic analysis was employed to explore the molecular pathology of liver injury. Anatomical features indicated that TSHSV caused obvious congestion in the liver, kidney, intestine, and other tissues of P. sinensis. The typical clinical symptoms included hepatomegaly, fragility, spotty and severe congestion in liver tissue, and also obvious intestinal bleeding. The histopathological studies corroborated such lesions in the liver and kidney, etc. iTRAQ-based proteomic analysis revealed that there were 252 differentially expressed proteins in the liver tissue between healthy and infected P. sinensis, of which 118 proteins were upregulated and 134 proteins were downregulated. GO enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway analysis initially revealed the molecular mechanism of pathological changes in P. sinensis by TSHSV infection. The expression of some differentially expressed proteins was further confirmed by qRT-PCR. These results provided important information for the pathological diagnosis of TSHSV-caused disease, as well as the mechanism underlying TSHSV-caused disease.
Nivolumab-Induced Myocarditis Concomitant with Myasthenia Gravis
Authors: Fukasawa Yoko , Sasaki Kazuya , Natsume Maika , Nakashima Makoto , Ota Shuji , Watanabe Kiyotaka , Takahashi Yoshihisa , Kondo Fukuo , Kozuma Ken , Seki Nobuhiko
Published: September 2017

We report a 69-year-old female patient with advanced lung cancer who developed myocarditis concomitant with myasthenia gravis (MG), also known as “Herzmyasthenie,” after 3 cycles of nivolumab administration. Her initial symptoms were general malaise and double vision. However, her myocarditis deteriorated rapidly the following day, necessitating a temporary pacemaker and noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in the intensive care unit. Immunohistochemical examination of a myocardial biopsy suggested an immune response on the basis of HLA associations. The patient also developed impaired adduction of her left eye and elevated serum levels of acetylcholine receptor antibody, suggesting the onset of MG. Her condition gradually improved after immediate methylprednisolone pulse therapy. This case of nivolumab-induced “Herzmyasthenie” highlights the need to be aware that fulminant myocarditis might occur at the same time as MG during treatment with anti-programmed cell death-1 monoclonal antibodies.
Expression of Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain Complexes in the Vaginal Wall in Postmenopausal Women with Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Authors: Alujević Jakus Ivana , Jakus Dora , Marinović Jasna , Ćavar Marija , Banić Ivana , Vilović Katarina
Published: August 2017

Background/Aims: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common disease affecting adult women. It is a result of the vaginal wall disorder as well as damage of the supportive structures contributing to the integrity of the pelvic floor. Mitochondrial disorders may have an important role in the vaginal wall degeneration leading to POP. The goal of this research is to examine if POP is associated with an altered expression of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes. Methods: Samples of vaginal tissue were collected from 16 postmenopausal women: 10 had POP and 6 had other forms of benign gynecological disease. Using western blot, samples were analyzed to assess the expression of mitochondrial proteins including citrate synthase (CS), individual complexes of the mitochondrial respiratory chain and alpha smooth muscle actin (SMA). Results: A significantly reduced expression of SMA and complex II in vaginal tissue of women with POP was found, compared to the control group (p < 0.05), with a tendency for a reduced expression of CS (p = 0.06) and other complexes in the POP group. Conclusions: Our results indicate that there is a decreased quantity of the smooth muscle and a decreased expression of mitochondrial markers in the vaginal wall of women with prolapse suggesting their possible role in the pathogenesis of POP.
Interstitial Immunostaining and Renal Outcomes in Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Glomerulonephritis
Authors: Geetha Duvuru , Sethi Sanjeev , De Vriese An S. , Specks Ulrich , Kallenberg Cees G.M. , Lim Noha , Spiera Robert , St. Clair E. William , Merkel Peter A. , Seo Philip , Monach Paul A. , Lepori Nicola , Fessler Barri J. , Langford Carol A. , Hoffman Gary S. , Sharma Rishi , Stone John H. , Fervenza Fernando C. ,   for the RAVE-ITN Research Group
Published: September 2017

Background: Immunopathologic features predict renal function at baseline and follow-up in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated glomerulonephritis (GN). The interstitial infiltrate consists predominantly of T lymphocytes, but their pathophysiologic significance is unclear, especially in light of the success of B-cell-directed therapy. Methods: Renal biopsies from 33 patients treated with cyclophosphamide (CYC; n = 17) or rituximab (RTX; n = 16) in the RTX in ANCA-associated vasculitis (RAVE) trial were classified according to the new ANCA GN classification. T- and B-cell infiltration in the interstitium was assessed by immunostaining for CD3 and CD20. Correlations of clinical and histologic parameters with renal function at set time points were examined. Results: The mean (SD) baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate was 36 (20) mL/min/1.73 m2. ANCA GN class distribution was 46% focal, 33% mixed, 12% sclerotic and 9% crescentic. The interstitial infiltrate consisted of >50% CD3 positive cells in 69% of biopsies, but >50% CD20 positive cells only in 8% of biopsies. In a multiple linear regression model, only baseline glomerular filtration rate (GFR) correlated with GFR at 6, 12, and 18 months. Interstitial B- and T-cell infiltrates had no significant impact on long-term prognosis, independent of the treatment limb. A differential effect was noted only at 6 months, where a dense CD3 positive infiltrate predicted lower GFR in the RTX group and a CD20 positive infiltrate predicted higher GFR in the CYC group. Conclusions: In ANCA-associated GN, the interstitial infiltrate contains mainly T lymphocytes. However, it is neither reflecting baseline renal function nor predictive of response to treatment, regardless of the immunosuppression regimen employed.
Three new species of the genus Ischnomesus (Isopoda: Asellota: Ischnomesidae) from Brazilian deep sea
Authors: SANTOS-SILVA ELINAI , SOUZA-FILHO JESSER F.
Published: August 2017

Three new species of genus Ischnomesus are described from three Brazilian sedimentary Basins: Alagoas-Sergipe, Espírito Santo and Campos. Ischnomesus hirsutus sp. nov. was found at depths between 1445 m and 3000 m in Alagoas-Sergipe Basin and Espírito Santo Basin. This species is characterized by having pereonite I with 1 pair of anterolateral small pedestal spines, pereonites I–IV with a pair of anterodorsal pedestal setae and pleotelson with lateral fields bulge Ischnomesus longiseta sp. nov. was found between 400 and 1000 m, on the upper slope in Alagoas-Sergipe Basin and Espírito Santo Basin, and is characterized by having the pereonites without spines or tubercles, but covered with long simple setae, pleotelson with 5 lateral simple setae, without spines or tubercles. Ischnomesus wilsoni sp. nov. was found on the upper slope between 750 and 830 m in Espírito Santo Basin and Campos Basin. This species has the body entirely ornamented with pedestal spines. This is the first record of the family Ischnomesidae for Brazilian waters.
Five new species of Amicromias Reitter, 1912 from Greece (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae: Omiini)
Authors: BOROVEC ROMAN , KAKIOPOULOS GEORGE , GERMANN CHRISTOPH
Published: August 2017

Five new species of Amicromias Reitter, 1912 from Greece are described, illustrated and compared with closely related species: A. cunevi sp. n., A. osellai sp. n., A. platanegrachei sp. n., A. thracicus sp. n. and A. yunakovi sp. n. The presently unknown male of A. intermedius Yunakov, 2005 is described. Amicromias fodori Yunakov, 2005 and A. intermedius Yunakov, 2005 are recorded for the first time from Greece. All Greek species of the genus are keyed and distributions are mapped.
An Overview of European Efforts in Generating Climate Data Records
Authors: Su Z. , Timmermans W. , Zeng Y. , Schulz J. , John V. O. , Roebeling R. A. , Poli P. , Tan D. , Kaspar F. , Kaiser-Weiss A. K. , Swinnen E. , Toté C. , Gregow H. , Manninen T. , Riihelä A. , Calvet J.-C. , Ma Y. , Wen J.
Published: September 2017

The Coordinating Earth Observation Data Validation for Reanalysis for Climate Services project (CORE-CLIMAX) aimed to substantiate how Copernicus observations and products can contribute to climate change analyses. CORE-CLIMAX assessed the European capability to provide climate data records (CDRs) of essential climate variables (ECVs), prepared a structured process to derive CDRs, developed a harmonized approach for validating essential climate variable CDRs, identified the integration of CDRs into the reanalysis chain, and formulated a process to compare the results of different reanalysis techniques. With respect to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), the systematic application and further development of the CORE-CLIMAX system maturity matrix (SMM) and the spinoff application performance metric (APM) were strongly endorsed to be involved in future implementations of C3S. We concluded that many of the current CDRs are not yet sufficiently mature to be used in reanalysis or applied in climate studies. Thus, the production of consistent high-resolution data records remains a challenge that needs more research urgently. Extending ECVs to close climate cycle budgets (e.g., essential water variables) is a next step linking CDRs to sectoral applications.
Beyond the Rigid Lid: Baroclinic Modes in a Structured Atmosphere
Authors: Edman Jacob P. , Romps David M.
Published: August 2017

The baroclinic-mode decomposition is a fixture of the tropical-dynamics literature because of its simplicity and apparent usefulness in understanding a wide range of atmospheric phenomena. However, its derivation relies on the assumption that the tropopause is a rigid lid that artificially restricts the vertical propagation of wave energy. This causes tropospheric buoyancy anomalies of a single vertical mode to remain coherent for all time in the absence of dissipation. Here, the authors derive the Green’s functions for these baroclinic modes in a two-dimensional troposphere (or, equivalently, a three-dimensional troposphere with one translational symmetry) that is overlain by a stratosphere. These Green’s functions quantify the propagation and spreading of gravity waves generated by a horizontally localized heating, and they can be used to reconstruct the evolution of any tropospheric heating. For a first-baroclinic two-dimensional right-moving or left-moving gravity wave with a characteristic width of 100 km, its initial horizontal shape becomes unrecognizable after 4 h, at which point its initial amplitude has also been reduced by a factor of 1/π. After this time, the gravity wave assumes a universal shape that widens linearly in time. For gravity waves on a periodic domain the length of Earth’s circumference, it takes only 10 days for the gravity waves to spread their buoyancy throughout the entire domain.
Big Data Surveillance: The Case of Policing
Authors: Brayne Sarah
Published: August 2017

This article examines the intersection of two structural developments: the growth of surveillance and the rise of “big data.” Drawing on observations and interviews conducted within the Los Angeles Police Department, I offer an empirical account of how the adoption of big data analytics does—and does not—transform police surveillance practices. I argue that the adoption of big data analytics facilitates amplifications of prior surveillance practices and fundamental transformations in surveillance activities. First, discretionary assessments of risk are supplemented and quantified using risk scores. Second, data are used for predictive, rather than reactive or explanatory, purposes. Third, the proliferation of automatic alert systems makes it possible to systematically surveil an unprecedentedly large number of people. Fourth, the threshold for inclusion in law enforcement databases is lower, now including individuals who have not had direct police contact. Fifth, previously separate data systems are merged, facilitating the spread of surveillance into a wide range of institutions. Based on these findings, I develop a theoretical model of big data surveillance that can be applied to institutional domains beyond the criminal justice system. Finally, I highlight the social consequences of big data surveillance for law and social inequality.
Welfare Benefits and Unemployment in Affluent Democracies: The Moderating Role of the Institutional Insider/Outsider Divide
Authors: Biegert Thomas
Published: August 2017

The effect of generous welfare benefits on unemployment is highly contested. The dominant perspective contends that benefits provide disincentive to work, whereas others portray benefits as job-search subsidies that facilitate better job matches. Despite many studies of welfare benefits and unemployment, the literature has neglected how this relationship might vary across institutional contexts. This article investigates how unemployment benefits and minimum income benefits affect unemployment across levels of the institutional insider/outsider divide. I analyze the moderating role of the disparity in employment protection for holders of permanent and temporary contracts and of the configuration of wage bargaining. The analysis combines data from 20 European countries and the United States using the European Union Labour Force Survey and the Current Population Survey 1992–2009. I use a pseudo-panel approach, including fixed effects for sociodemographic groups within countries and interactions between benefits and institutions. The results indicate that unemployment benefits and minimum income benefits successfully subsidize job search and reduce unemployment in labor markets with a moderate institutional insider/outsider divide. However, when there is greater disparity in employment protection and when bargaining either combines low unionization with high centralization or high unionization with low centralization, generous benefits create a disincentive to work, plausibly because attractive job opportunities are scarce.
Contemporary Uses of the Golden Rule of Reciprocity in Abrahamic Interfaith Discourses
Authors: Untea Ionut
Published: August 2017

The second half of the twentieth and the beginning of the twenty-first centuries have witnessed a revival of the Golden Rule arguments in relation to the idea of religious toleration. Apologizing or acknowledging apologies for past mistakes, the Abrahamic religions have produced a series of texts inviting further ethical and theological discussions with the purpose of facilitating reconciliation and working to maintain a sustainable world peace. Inspired by three groundbreaking texts, Nostra Aetate (1965), Dabru Emet (2000), and A Common Word (2007), representatives of all three monotheisms have produced a number of important commentaries, responses, and critiques with the purpose of clarifying some key points that both unite and separate the interpretations, given the familiar look of common doctrinal and moral teachings.
Investigation on the effect of drilling parameters on the tool wear and delamination of glass fibre-reinforced polymer composite using vibration signal analysis
Authors: Prakash M , Dileep Aditya Dhar PVS
Published: August 2017

Glass fibre-reinforced polymer composite materials are widely used in industrial, aerospace and automotive sector. It has excellent properties such as high strength to weight ratio, higher fatigue limit, high stiffness to weight ratio, corrosion resistance and design flexibility. The strength of the composite highly depends upon orientation of the fibre material. Drilling is one of the major machining operations that are carried out on Glass fibre-reinforced polymer composite materials to the need for components assembly. There are many problems encountered while drilling glass fibre-reinforced polymer composites. The major problems are excessive tool wear and delamination of the composite during drilling, which reduce the strength of the composite during application. In the present study, the experimental investigations are carried out to analyse the effect of various machining parameters, i.e. cutting speed and feed rate on the tool wear and delamination. The time and frequency domain analysis of vibration signals measured using sound sensor is also used to predict the effect of machining parameters on delamination as well as to develop the tool replacement strategy.
The Relative Influence of Injunctive and Descriptive Social Norms on Methamphetamine, Heroin, and Injection Drug Use Among Homeless Youths: The Impact of Different Referent Groups
Authors: Barman-Adhikari Anamika , Craddock Jaih , Bowen Elizabeth , Das Rohan , Rice Eric
Published: August 2017

The current study assessed the relative influence of both injunctive and descriptive norms in the context of different referent groups (i.e., family, street peers, home-based peers, and staff members) on past 30-day methamphetamine, heroin, and injection drug use behaviors of homeless youth. Cross-sectional data ( N = 911) were collected from three drop-in centers in Los Angeles, California. The study consisted of two parts: a social network interview and a computerized self-administered survey. Multivariate logistic regression models examined the association of objection to drug use from referent groups (injunctive norms; that is, street-based peers, home-based peers, relatives, staff members) and drug use of referent groups (descriptive norms) with youths’ substance use behaviors. Multivariate results indicated that the role of injunctive and descriptive norms varied across the three substance use behaviors and by referent group. Findings indicate the need to carefully consider the diversity of homeless youths’ networks in designing substance use interventions.
Social media and dismissal: Towards a reasonable expectation of privacy?
Authors: Thornthwaite Louise
Published: August 2017

For over a decade, industrial tribunals have been adjudicating unfair dismissal cases concerning employees’ use of social media outside work. Early analyses suggested that tribunals tended to consider social media a public domain, in which communication constituted a broadcasting to the world at large, an interpretation, scholars argued, that would facilitate a shift in the boundaries of the employment relationship towards greater employer control of employees’ private lives. Has this continued to be the case as social media has become an ever more entrenched social phenomenon? Through an examination of decisions by the Australian Fair Work Commission since the dawn of Facebook in 2004, with a particular focus on more recent judgments, this article argues that the reasoning of industrial tribunals may be changing towards recognition of a reasonable expectation of privacy for employees when using social media in their private lives. This has implications for the shifting boundary between employees’ public and private lives, suggesting a need for continuing and comparative analysis of industrial tribunal decisions involving employee social media use.
Learning from schools that close opportunity gaps
Authors: LaCour Sarah E. , York Adam , Welner Kevin , Valladares Michelle Renée , Kelley Linda Molner
Published: August 2017

The Schools of Opportunity Project recognizes public high schools that employ research-based practices to close opportunity gaps. The commended schools illustrate how school quality can and should be measured by far more than just test scores. In doing so, they offer exemplars and a path forward for the nation’s schools.
The Editor’s Note
Authors: Richardson Joan
Published: August 2017

In the 2017 PDK Poll of the Public’s Attitudes Toward the Public Schools, Americans are calling for a course correction. They are saying that they want a blend of academics and practical preparation for students. That means job-related classes plus attention to the kind of social skills that make a difference in the workplace.
Highlighted & Underlined
Authors: Richardson Joan
Published: August 2017

Items included in this issue concern homework, a mental health resource for teens and their parents, school discipline and African-American girls, and the need for social-emotional learning for preschoolers.
A simulation study on the accuracy of cryptographic randomness tests
Authors: Demirhan Haydar , Bitirim Nihan
Published: August 2017

Randomness provided by pseudo-random number generators is the one of the most vital parts of cryptographic applications. There are two gaps in the cryptographic randomness test procedures used to evaluate the degree of randomness. Firstly, although there are more accurate alternatives, the usual chi-square test is directly applied regardless of the predictive power of the tests. Secondly, although there are more than 100 cryptographic randomness tests available in the literature of cryptography, the statistical characteristics and accuracy of those hypothesis tests have not been figured out by an extensive simulation study. To conduct appropriate and reliable hypothesis tests, the main statistical characteristics of the tests should be studied. In this article, the usage of alternatives to the chi-square test, such as Anderson–Darling, Kolmogorov–Smirnov, and Jarque–Bera tests, in testing the cryptographic randomness is proposed to get better statistical properties. Also, the effects of type-I error, sensitivity, specificity, power, negative predictive value, and goodness-of-fit tests on the accuracy of recently proposed and existing cryptographic randomness tests are evaluated by an extensive Monte Carlo simulation study. The results are beneficial for practitioners wishing to choose the most appropriate cryptographic randomness test procedure and for the evaluation of accuracy of the cryptographic randomness tests in the detection of non-randomness for cryptographic applications.
From Nonprofit Diversity to Organizational Multifunctionality: A Systems–Theoretical Proposal
Authors: Will Matthias Georg , Roth Steffen , Valentinov Vladislav
Published: August 2017

The remarkable feature of the nonprofit sector is its astonishing diversity. This feature gets short shrift in the traditional market or governmental failure theories of the nonprofit sector. Drawing on Niklas Luhmann’s concept of functional differentiation, we demonstrate that these theories are implicitly economy- and politics-biased. In seeking to overcome these biases, we show that nonprofits and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are better understood as those varieties of organizations whose primary focus is on function systems other than the economy and politics. We summarize this argument in the concept of organizational multifunctionality, which turns out to be likewise applicable to the for-profit sector.
Thinking Like a Psychologist Introductory Psychology Writing Assignments
Authors: Wentworth Diane Keyser , Whitmarsh Lona
Published: August 2017

Teaching the general psychology course provides instructors with the opportunity to invite students to explore the dynamics of behavior and mental processes through the lens of theory and research. Three innovative writing assignments were developed to teach students to think like a psychologist, operationalized as enhancing critical thinking, applying research concepts, and resisting plagiarism. The assignments were evaluated with two samples of general psychology students. In Sample 1, student reactions to the assignments were uniformly positive. In Sample 2, students were assessed directly on their critical thinking skills using a set of three scenarios. An increase in students’ ability to think critically was found. Therefore, these assignments were successful in helping develop our students’ ability to think like a psychologist.
L’esprit de l’escalier: 25 years of hindsight
Authors: Katz Elihu , Dayan Daniel
Published: August 2017

Media Events offer a recent example of the continuous transformation of the form ‘event’ throughout history. Illustrating the performative power of dramatic gestures, they characterize moments of heightened participation in the public sphere and the emergence of ‘performing publics’. Media Events must be compared to other sorts of ‘expressive events’, including ‘pseudo-events’ and conflictual events. We note that this variety involves enlisting broadcasters by agencies of the establishment or by forces of disruption. Assessing them in the context of ‘globalization’ involves noting that there are many conflicting globalizations. Despite their respective dogmatisms, both critical and functional approaches illuminate the interplay of hegemony and solidarity in the very same events. We speculate on the future of the genre in the age of social media and heightened audience skepticism.
Auditory Outcomes with Hearing Rehabilitation in Children with Unilateral Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review
Authors: Appachi Swathi , Specht Jessica. L. , Raol Nikhila , Lieu Judith E. C. , Cohen Michael S. , Dedhia Kavita , Anne Samantha
Published: August 2017

Objective

Options for management of unilateral hearing loss (UHL) in children include conventional hearing aids, bone‐conduction hearing devices, contralateral routing of signal (CROS) aids, and frequency‐modulating (FM) systems. The objective of this study was to systematically review the current literature to characterize auditory outcomes of hearing rehabilitation options in UHL.

Data Sources

PubMed, EMBASE, Medline, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library were searched from inception to January 2016. Manual searches of bibliographies were also performed.

Review Methods

Studies analyzing auditory outcomes of hearing amplification in children with UHL were included. Outcome measures included functional and objective auditory results. Two independent reviewers evaluated each abstract and article.

Results

Of the 249 articles identified, 12 met inclusion criteria. Seven articles solely focused on outcomes with bone‐conduction hearing devices. Outcomes favored improved pure‐tone averages, speech recognition thresholds, and sound localization in implanted patients. Five studies focused on FM systems, conventional hearing aids, or CROS hearing aids. Limited data are available but suggest a trend toward improvement in speech perception with hearing aids. FM systems were shown to have the most benefit for speech recognition in noise. Studies evaluating CROS hearing aids demonstrated variable outcomes.

Conclusions

Data evaluating functional and objective auditory measures following hearing amplification in children with UHL are limited. Most studies do suggest improvement in speech perception, speech recognition in noise, and sound localization with a hearing rehabilitation device.
An Occupational Portrait of Emotional Labor Requirements and Their Health Consequences for Workers
Authors: Singh Diana , Glavin Paul
Published: August 2017

Scholarship has revealed inconsistent evidence on the issue of whether emotional labor represents an occupational health risk. Drawing from emotion regulation theory, the conservation of resources model and the interactive service work literature, we examine the association between occupational emotional labor requirements and worker well-being. Analyses of a national sample of American workers merged with occupational information from the O*NET database reveal no evidence that these requirements are associated with psychological distress or high blood pressure; in contrast, emotional labor requirements are associated with a reduced likelihood of self-rated poor health. Consistent with the conservation of resources model, however, we find health penalties for individuals with emotional labor requirements in resource-deprived work contexts. Our findings suggest that for individuals with limited job autonomy and little access to civil interpersonal relationships with coworkers, emotional labor requirements may impede successful emotion regulation in ways that contribute to negative occupational outcomes and strain.
Experimental study of saturation by visible light transmission in dual-scale fibrous reinforcements during composite manufacturing
Authors: LeBel F , Ruiz É , Trochu F
Published: August 2017

A new in situ monitoring strategy is proposed to study void formation during real-time impregnation of dual-scale fibrous reinforcements in liquid composite molding. Void content data from burn-off tests are used to calibrate a refractive index matching approach based on two optical principles: Beer–Lambert and Fresnel laws. Once calibrated, this approach based on visible light transmission is used to study the impact of key process parameters on the saturation footprint of dual-scale fibrous reinforcements during and after mold filling. The injection parameters investigated are the flow front velocity, the pressure distribution inside the mold cavity, the bleeding flow rate, and the mold packing pressure. The experimental setup is a computer-assisted injection system and a transparent resin transfer molding mold is used to perform unidirectional injections. A vinyl ester resin is injected through E-glass bidirectional non-crimp fabrics under various manufacturing conditions. This investigation not only confirms the decreasing trend in void formation by mechanical entrapment of air with the decrease in impregnation velocity, as it converges toward the optimal impregnation conditions for this fibrous reinforcement reported in previous studies, but it also brings insights on void dissolution and transport in liquid composite molding.
Is Perceived Need for Action Among Women in Violent Relationships Nonlinear and, If So, Why?
Authors: Katerndahl David A. , Burge Sandra K. , Ferrer Robert L. , Becho Johanna , Wood Robert
Published: August 2017

Despite the prevalence and impact of partner violence, we understand little about women’s action taking except that it seems an unpredictable, nonlinear process. This article determines the degree of nonlinearity in perceived need for help, legal action, or leaving among women in violent relationships. The participants included 143 women who experienced violence in the previous month, enrolled from six primary care clinics. Baseline surveys assessed background characteristics and factors which may affect perceived need for action. Multiple times series assessments of violence and need for action were collected daily for 8 weeks via telephone Interactive Voice Response. Measures of nonlinearity of violence, perceived need for help, legal action, and leaving were computed. Repeated measures ANOVA assessed differences across measures of nonlinearity. To identify factors contributing to nonlinearity, staged multiple regression assessed the relationship between nonlinearity measures and outcomes. Ninety-three women completed sufficient time series for nonlinearity assessment. Measures of nonlinearity were lower for need for legal action compared with needs for help and leaving. Regression analysis suggested that isolation, social networks, and lack of awareness contribute to nonlinearity. Women’s perceived need for legal action and its level of nonlinearity were lowest compared with those of help seeking and leaving. Although its relative linearity suggests that the need for legal action may be the most predictable, its lower mean rating suggests that legal action is a low priority. Although need for help and leaving are of higher priorities, their nonlinearity suggests that intervention will not yield predictable results.