bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cognitive Reserve and Social Capital Accrued in Early and Midlife Moderate the Relation of Psychological Stress to Cognitive Performance in Old Age
Authors: Ihle Andreas , Oris Michel , Sauter Julia , Rimmele Ulrike , Kliegel Matthias
Published: June 2018

Aims: The present study set out to investigate the relation of psychological stress to cognitive performance and its interplay with key life course markers of cognitive reserve and social capital in a large sample of older adults. Methods: We assessed cognitive performance (verbal abilities and processing speed) and psychological stress in 2,812 older adults. The Participants reported information on education, occupation, leisure activities, family, and close friends. Results: Greater psychological stress was significantly related to lower performance in verbal abilities and processing speed. Moderation analyses suggested that the relations of psychological stress to cognitive performance were reduced in individuals with higher education, a higher cognitive level of the first profession practiced after education, a larger number of midlife leisure activities, a larger number of significant family members, and a larger number of close friends. Conclusion: Cognitive reserve and social capital accrued in early and midlife may reduce the detrimental influences of psychological stress on cognitive functioning in old age.
The Role of an Undifferentiated Component in Submucosal Invasion and Submucosal Invasion Depth After Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Early Gastric Cancer
Authors: Miyahara Koji , Hatta Waku , Nakagawa Masahiro , Oyama Tsuneo , Kawata Noboru , Takahashi Akiko , Yoshifuku Yoshikazu , Hoteya Shu , Hirano Masaaki , Esaki Mitsuru , Matsuda Mitsuru , Ohnita Ken , Shimoda Ryo , Yoshida Motoyuki , Dohi Osamu , Takada Jun , Tanaka Keiko , Yamada Shinya , Tsuji Tsuyotoshi , Ito Hirotaka , Aoyagi Hiroyuki , Shimosegawa Tooru
Published: June 2018

Background/Aims: The role of an undifferentiated component in submucosal invasion and submucosal invasion depth (SID) for lymph node metastasis (LNM) of early gastric cancer (EGC) with deep submucosal invasion (SID ≥500 μm from the muscularis mucosa) after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has not been fully understood. This study aimed to clarify the risk factors (RFs), including these factors, for LNM in such patients. Methods: We enrolled 513 patients who underwent radical surgery after ESD for EGC with deep submucosal invasion. We evaluated RFs for LNM, including an undifferentiated component in submucosal invasion and the SID, which was subdivided into 500–999, 1,000–1,499, 1,500–1,999, and ≥2,000 µm. Results: LNM was detected in 7.6% of patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that an undifferentiated component in submucosal invasion (OR 2.22), in addition to tumor size >30 mm (OR 2.51) and lymphatic invasion (OR 3.07), were the independent RFs for LNM. However, the SID was not significantly associated with LNM. Conclusion: An undifferentiated component in submucosal invasion was one of the RFs for LNM, in contrast to SID, in patients who underwent ESD for EGC with deep submucosal invasion. This insight would be helpful in managing such patients.
The Effects of Emotion on Second Formant Frequency Fluctuations in Adults Who Stutter
Authors: Bauerly Kim R.
Published: June 2018

Objective: Changes in second formant frequency fluctuations (FFF2) were examined in adults who stutter (AWS) and adults who do not stutter (ANS) when producing nonwords under varying emotional conditions. Methods: Ten AWS and 10 ANS viewed images selected from the International Affective Picture System representing dimensions of arousal (e.g., excited versus bored) and hedonic valence (e.g., happy versus sad). Immediately following picture presentation, participants produced a consonant-vowel + final /t/ (CVt) nonword consisting of the initial sounds /p/, /b/, /s/, or /z/, followed by a vowel (/i/, /u/, /ε/) and a final /t/. CVt tokens were assessed for word duration and FFF2. Results: Significantly slower word durations were shown in the AWS compared to the ANS across conditions. Although these differences appeared to increase under arousing conditions, no interaction was found. Results for FFF2 revealed a significant group-condition interaction. Post hoc analysis indicated that this was due to the AWS showing significantly greater FFF2 when speaking under conditions eliciting increases in arousal and unpleasantness. ANS showed little change in FFF2 across conditions. Conclusions: The results suggest that AWS’ articulatory stability is more susceptible to breakdown under negative emotional influences.
Usefulness of Demarcation of Differentiated-Type Early Gastric Cancers after Helicobacter pylori Eradication by Magnifying Endoscopy with Narrow-Band Imaging
Authors: Akazawa Yoichi , Ueyama Hiroya , Yao Takashi , Komori Hiroyuki , Takeda Tsutomu , Matsumoto Kohei , Matsumoto Kenshi , Asaoka Daisuke , Hojo Mariko , Watanabe Sumio , Nagahara Akihito
Published: June 2018

Background/Aims: Early gastric cancer after Helicobacter pylori (Hp) eradication is difficult to demarcate. We used the vessel plus surface classification system (VSCS) to determine whether magnifying endoscopy with narrow-band imaging (ME-NBI) could demarcate differentiated-type early gastric cancers after Hp eradication, and to identify causes of an unclear demarcation line (DL). Methods: Among 100 lesions of differentiated-type early gastric cancer resected endoscopically, 34 lesions in the Hp-eradicated group and 66 in the Hp-infected group were retrospectively compared. Clinicopathological factors and ME-NBI findings, including the presence or absence of the DL, were examined. Histopathologically, histological gastritis, the surface structure at the tumor border, well-differentiated adenocarcinoma with low-grade atypia (tub1-low), and non-neoplastic epithelium (NE) coverage rate on the tumor surface and at the tumor border were evaluated. Results: DL (–) cases were more frequent in the Hp-eradicated group (11.8%, 4/34) than in the Hp-infected group (1.5%, 1/66; p < 0.05). The Hp-eradicated group had a higher NE coverage rate than the Hp-infected group (p < 0.05). All DL (–) cases had tub1-low or NE at the tumor border. Conclusion: ME-NBI with VSCS can identify the DL in most patients (88.2%) with differentiated-type early gastric cancer after Hp eradication.
Association between White Matter Lesions and Non-Motor Symptoms in Parkinson Disease
Authors: Lee Jeong-Yoon , Kim Ji Sun , Jang Wooyoung , Park Jinse , Oh Eungseok , Youn Jinyoung , Park Suyeon , Cho Jin Whan
Published: June 2018

Background: There are only few studies exploring the relationship between white matter lesions (WMLs) and non-motor symptoms in Parkinson disease (PD). This study aimed to investigate the association between WMLs and the severity of non-motor symptoms in PD. Methods: The severity of motor dysfunction, cognitive impairment, and non-motor symptoms was assessed by various scales in 105 PD patients. We used a visual semiquantitative rating scale and divided the subjects into four groups: no, mild, moderate, and severe WMLs. We compared the means of all scores between the four groups and analyzed the association between the severity of WMLs and the specific domain of non-motor symptoms. Results: The non-motor symptoms as assessed by the Non-Motor Symptoms Scale, Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39), Parkinson’s Disease Sleep Scale, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), and Parkinson Fatigue Scale (PFS) were significantly worse in the patients with moderate and severe WMLs than in those without WMLs. Compared with the no WML group, the scores for motor dysfunction were significantly higher in the mild, moderate, and severe WML groups. The scores for cognitive dysfunction were significantly higher in the patients with severe WMLs than in those without WMLs. The severity of WMLs showed linear associations with PFS, BDI, BAI, NPI, and PDQ-39 scores. The severity of WMLs also correlated linearly with scores for motor and cognitive dysfunction. Conclusions: Among the non-motor symptoms, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and quality of life were significantly affected by WMLs in PD. Confirmation of the possible role of WMLs in non-motor symptoms associated with PD in a prospective manner may be crucial not only for understanding non-motor symptoms but also for the development of treatment strategies.
Self-Expanding Metal Stents for the Treatment of Post-Surgical Esophageal Leaks: A Tertiary Referral Center Experience
Authors: Anderloni Andrea , Genco Chiara , Massidda Marco , Di Leo Milena , Fumagalli Uberto Romario , Rosati Riccardo , Correale Loredana , Maselli Roberta , Ferrara Elisa Chiara , Jovani Manol , Repici Alessandro
Published: June 2018

Background/Aims: The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) in the management of post-surgical esophageal leaks. Methods: Retrospective data of consecutive patients with a post-surgical esophageal leak treated by means of a metal stent between January 2008 and December 2014 at the Humanitas Research Hospital (Milan, Italy) were extracted from a prospectively maintained register of SEMS used for benign indications, such as post-surgical benign esophageal strictures and/or leaks. The primary outcome of the study was to assess the rate of successful leak closure and to identify the variables associated with its achievement. As a secondary outcome, we evaluated the overall safety of SEMS placement and the efficacy and safety for different types of SEMS in this specific setting of patients. Leak resolution was documented with endoscopic and/or imaging studies. In the case of leak persistence, further attempts of esophageal stenting were carried out at the discretion of both endoscopists and surgeons. Results: A total of 49 patients were included in the study (men 41 of 49, 83.7%, mean age 62.4 ± 11.9). One patient was excluded from analysis, because of death 1 day after stent insertion due to worsening of pre-existing mediastinitis. A total number of 82 stents were placed (mean number of stents per patient: 1.7) in 49 patients: 35 patients (71.4%) received a partially covered SEMS (PCSEMS) as the first stent positioned, while the remaining 14 (28.6%) received a fully covered SEMS (FCSEMS); but 1 patient (2%) died following stent insertion; therefore, data regarding therapeutic success were available for 48 patients. Stents were left in place for a mean period of 21.9 ± 15.2 days. Leak closure after the first stent placement was achieved in 22 of 48 (45.8%) patients. Of the 26 patients with failure of index stent placement, 18 patients underwent further stenting attempts (69.2%), and secondary closure of leak was achieved in 7 (38.9%) of these 18 patients. Thus, the overall success rate was 60.5% (29 of 48). On the basis of stent type, the success rate was 57.1% (8 of 14) for FCSEMS and 64.7% (22 of 34) for PCSEMS. Logistic regression analysis did not find any significant association between successful leak closure and analyzed variables. Overall mortality was 13.0%. Complication rate was 38.8% (19 of 49 patients). Conclusion: The use of SEMS is an effective and safe option for post-surgical esophageal leaks, with no evidence of any significant influence of stent type on outcome.
Lymph Node Radiotherapy Instead of Extended Axillary Surgery - the New Standard
Authors: Niehoff Peter , Hey-Koch Silla
Published: June 2018

Breast cancer treatment has undergone major changes in the last 20 years. Specifically, the role of axillary lymph node dissection has changed from radical axillary dissection with excision of a high number of lymph nodes to sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). This paradigm shift is associated with a controversial debate regarding the significance of axillary staging, the need for surgery, and the role of radiotherapy. Looking ahead, lymph node staging and axillary treatment might shift from SLNB and/or axillary dissection to ultrasound-guided needle biopsy and irradiation of regional lymph nodes in order to reduce treatment-related sequelae in early-stage breast cancer.
A Case of Annular Elastolytic Giant Cell Granuloma Associated with Syphilis
Authors: Liu Xiaoping , Zhang Wei , Liu Yeqiang , Xu Mingyuan
Published: June 2018

Annular elastolytic giant cell granuloma (AEGCG) is a rare granulomatous skin disease characterized by annular patches with slightly raised borders, hypopigmented and/or atrophic centers found mainly on sun-exposed skin. Histologically, it is characterized by phagocytosis of elastic fibers by multinucleated giant cells. The pathogenesis of the disease is unclear. We report a case of 55-year-old man with AEGCG in association with syphilis, whose condition improved when hydroxychloroquine sulfate and topical tacrolimus were administered over a 2-month period.
Post-Thalamic Stroke Movement Disorders: A Systematic Review
Authors: Gupta Navnika , Pandey Sanjay
Published: June 2018

Background: After a stroke, movement disorders are rare manifestations mainly affecting the deep structures of the brain like the basal ganglia (44%) and thalamus (37%), although there have been case studies of movement disorders in strokes affecting the cerebral cortex also. Summary: This review aims to delineate the various movement disorders seen in association with thalamic strokes and tries to identify the location of the nuclei affected in each of the described movement disorders. Cases were identified through a search of PubMed database using different search terms related to post-thalamic stroke movement disorders and a secondary search of references of identified articles. We reviewed 2,520 research articles and only 86 papers met the inclusion criteria. Cases were included if they met criteria for post-thalamic stroke movement disorders. Case-cohort studies were also reviewed and will be discussed further. Key Messages: The most common post-stroke abnormal movement disorder reported in our review was dystonia followed by hemiataxia. There was a higher association between ischaemic stroke and movement disorder. Acute onset movement disorders were more common than delayed. The posterolateral thalamus was most commonly involved in post-thalamic stroke movement disorders.
MicroRNAs in Acute Kidney Injury
Authors: Jones Timothy F. , Bekele Soliana , O’Dwyer Michael J. , Prowle John R.
Published: June 2018

Background: It is increasingly recognised that improved diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of acute kidney injury (AKI) requires an understanding of distinct underling cellular and molecular mechanisms (endotypes) that may distinguish overtly similar clinical AKI presentations. One important avenue of research is the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in response to kidney injury mediated by microRNAs. Summary: This mini-review summarises the use of microRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in AKI. The contribution of microRNAs to the pathophysiology of AKI will be highlighted along with the potential for therapeutic applications. Key Messages: While there is great potential for a better understanding of AKI, microRNAs form a complex regulatory network. Understanding the role and significance of microRNAs in the context of AKI and critical illness is a major endeavour in translational medicine, requiring the integration of clinical and experimental data.
Association of Intradialytic Hypertension with Left Ventricular Mass in Hypertensive Hemodialysis Patients Enrolled in the Blood Pressure in Dialysis (BID) Study
Authors: Shamir Amith Roy , Karembelkar Ameet , Yabes Jonathan , Yao Yi , Miskulin Dana , Gassman Jennifer , Ploth David , Negrea Lavinia , Paine Susan , Rahman Mahboob , Kwong Raymond Y. , Zager Philip , Jhamb Manisha
Published: June 2018

Background/Aims: Intradialytic hypertension (IDH), or paradoxical rise in blood pressure (BP) during hemodialysis (HD) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The association between IDH and increased left ventricular mass (LVM), a well-known risk factor for adverse cardiovascular outcomes in HD patients, has not been studied. The aim of our study is to evaluate the cross-sectional association of intradialytic change in BP with cardiac structure and function measured by cardiac MRI in hypertensive HD patients enrolled in the multi-center Blood Pressure in Dialysis (BID) clinical trial. Methods: Participants in the BID study were categorized into 3 groups based on average change (Δ) in systolic blood pressure (SBP) (post-HD SBP minus pre-HD SBP) during HD over a 1 month period: group 1 - patients with an increase in SBP ≥ 10mm Hg during HD (IDH); group 2 -patients with SBP decrease of greater ≥10mm Hg during HD; group 3 - patients with SBP increase or decrease by < 10mm Hg during HD. LVM index (LVMI) was measured using cardiac MRI, which were centrally read. Baseline characteristics were compared in the 3 groups and multivariable regression models were fitted for the adjusted association of IDH with LVMI. Results: Among the 80 participants, 7 (8.8%) had IDH and had average Δ SBP 17.0 ± 10.1 mmHg during HD. Patients with IDH were less likely to be diabetic, had lower pre-dialysis SBP and lower percent interdialytic weight gain as compared to the other 2 groups (p=0.02, p< 0.001 and p=0.02 respectively). In multivariable regression analyses, IDH was significantly associated with LVMI (adjusted mean difference relative to SBP decreased group [95% confidence interval (CI)] = 12.5 [3.6, 21.5], p=0.01) after adjusting for age, sex, diabetes, IDWG%, pre-HD SBP and beta blocker use. Every 1 mm rise in ΔSBP during HD was associated with 0.2 g/m2 increase in LVMI in adjusted models (p=0.04). Conclusion: IDH is independently associated with higher LVMI in hypertensive HD patients and may contribute to increased cardiovascular events.
Tempol Protects Against Acute Renal Injury by Regulating PI3K/Akt/mTOR and GSK3β Signaling Cascades and Afferent Arteriolar Activity
Authors: Zhang Gensheng , Wang Qin , Wang Wenwen , Yu Minghua , Zhang Suping , Xu Nan , Zhou Suhan , Cao Xiaoyun , Fu Xiaodong , Ma Zufu , Liu Ruisheng , Mao Jianhua , Lai En Yin
Published: June 2018

Background/Aims: Free radical scavenger tempol is a protective antioxidant against ischemic injury. Tubular epithelial apoptosis is one of the main changes in the renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Meanwhile some proteins related with apoptosis and inflammation are also involved in renal I/R injury. We tested the hypothesis that tempol protects against renal I/R injury by activating protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PKB, Akt/mTOR) and glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) pathways as well as the coordinating apoptosis and inflammation related proteins. Methods: The right renal pedicle of C57Bl/6 mouse was clamped for 30 minutes and the left kidney was removed in the study. The renal injury was assessed with serum parameters by an automatic chemistry analyzer. Renal expressions of Akt/mTOR and GSK3β pathways were measured by western blot in I/R mice treated with saline or tempol (50mg/kg) and compared with sham-operated mice. Results: The levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine and superoxide anion (O2.-) increased, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) decreased significantly after renal I/R injury. However, tempol treatment prevented the changes. Besides, I/R injury reduced renal expression of p-Akt, p-GSK3β, p-mTOR, Bcl2 and increased NF-κB, p-JNK and p53 in kidney, tempol significantly normalized these changes. In addition, renal I/R injury reduced the response of afferent arteriole to Angiotensin II (Ang II), while tempol treatment improved the activity of afferent arteriole. Conclusion: Tempol attenuates renal I/R injury. The protective mechanisms seem to relate with activation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR and GSK3β pathways, inhibition of cellular damage markers and inflammation factors, as well as improvement of afferent arteriolar activity.
Between Republic and Empire: notes on the scope of this boundary
Authors: Faversani Fábio
Published: June 2018

Este artigo lança um desafio contra a visão estabelecida na historiografia de se ver República e Império como demarcações temporais naturalizadas. O autor propõe que sejam utilizadas diferentes escalas para pensar a articulação entre rupturas e permanências entre esses dois momentos da História Romana.
Panathenaic Amphorae and Structural Landscape.
Authors: Francisco Gilberto Da Silva
Published: June 2018

Este artigo discute a noção de paisagem relacionada a comportamentos estruturalmente articulados; dessa forma, paisagens estruturais. O objeto de análise são as dinâmicas diversas que organizaram comportamentos tradicionais relacionados ao manejo de um tipo de vaso: as ânforas panatenaicas.
Not All Insurance Is Equal: Differential Treatment and Health Outcomes by Insurance Coverage Among Nonelderly Adult Patients With Heart Attack
Authors: Niedzwiecki Matthew J. , Hsia Renee Y. , Shen Yu‐Chu
Published: June 2018

Background

The Affordable Care Act has provided health insurance to a large portion of the uninsured in the United States. However, different types of health insurance provide varying amounts of reimbursements to providers, which may lead to different types of treatment, potentially worsening health outcomes in patients covered by low‐reimbursement insurance plans, such as Medicaid. The objective was to determine differences in access, treatment, and health outcomes by insurance type, using hospital fixed effects.

Methods and Results

We conducted a multivariate regression analysis using patient‐level data for nonelderly adult patients with acute myocardial infarction in California from January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2014, as well as hospital‐level information to control for differences between hospitals. The probability of Medicaid‐insured and uninsured patients having access to catheterization laboratory was higher by 4.50 and 3.75 percentage points, respectively, relative to privately insured patients. When controlling for access to percutaneous coronary intervention facilities, however, Medicaid‐insured and uninsured patients had a 4.24– and 0.85–percentage point lower probability, respectively, in receiving percutaneous coronary intervention treatment compared with privately insured patients. They also had higher mortality and readmission rates relative to privately insured patients.

Conclusions

Although Medicaid‐insured and uninsured patients with acute myocardial infarction had better access to catheterization laboratories, they had significantly lower probabilities of receiving percutaneous coronary intervention treatment and a higher likelihood of death and readmission compared with privately insured patients. This provides empirical evidence that treatment received and health outcomes strongly vary between Medicaid‐insured, uninsured, and privately insured patients, with Medicaid‐insured patients most disproportionately affected, despite having better access to cardiac technology.
Stress and Achievement of Cardiovascular Health Metrics: The American Heart Association Life's Simple 7 in Blacks of the Jackson Heart Study
Authors: Brewer LaPrincess C. , Redmond Nicole , Slusser Joshua P. , Scott Christopher G. , Chamberlain Alanna M. , Djousse Luc , Patten Christi A. , Roger Veronique L. , Sims Mario
Published: June 2018

Background

Ideal cardiovascular health metrics (defined by the American Heart Association Life's Simple 7 [LS7]) are suboptimal among blacks, which results in high risk of cardiovascular disease. We examined the association of multiple stressors with LS7 components among blacks.

Methods and Results

Using a community‐based cohort of blacks (N=4383), we examined associations of chronic stress, minor stressors, major life events, and a cumulative stress score with LS7 components (smoking, diet, physical activity, body mass index, blood pressure, total cholesterol, and fasting plasma glucose) and an LS7 composite score. Multivariable logistic regression assessed the odds of achieving intermediate/ideal levels of cardiovascular health adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, and biomedical factors. The LS7 components with the lowest percentages of intermediate/ideal cardiovascular health levels were diet (39%), body mass index (47%), and physical activity (51%). Higher chronic, minor, and cumulative stress scores were associated with decreased odds (odds ratio [OR]) of achieving intermediate/ideal levels for smoking (OR [95% confidence interval], 0.80 [0.73–0.88], 0.84 [0.75–0.94], and 0.81 [0.74–0.90], respectively). Participants with more major life events had decreased odds of achieving intermediate/ideal levels for smoking (OR, 0.84; 95% confidence interval, 0.76–0.92) and fasting plasma glucose (OR, 0.90; 95% confidence interval, 0.82–0.98). Those with higher scores for minor stressors and major life events were less likely to achieve intermediate or ideal LS7 composite scores (OR [95% confidence interval], 0.89 [0.81–0.97] and 0.91 [0.84–0.98], respectively).

Conclusions

Blacks with higher levels of multiple stress measures are less likely to achieve intermediate or ideal levels of overall cardiovascular health (LS7 composite score), specific behaviors (smoking), and biological factors (fasting plasma glucose).
“It is Your Right to Buy a Divorce”: Judicial Khuluu in Zanzibar
Authors: Stiles Erin E.
Published: June 2018

Judicialkhuluu(<Ar.khulʿ) in Zanzibar differs from judicialkhulʿin Arab countries that have recently introduced it through legislative reform. In Zanzibar’s Islamic courts,khuluuis used primarily as a judicial mechanism for ending a marriage when a judge determines a wife to be responsible for the breakdown of the marriage. Zanzibari women rarely file forkhuluubecause it is expensive and is associated with a woman’s failure in her marriage. Herein, I explain why judges in Zanzibar regardkhuluuas a punitive measure that can be used to end a marriage when a woman is determined to be responsible for the marital discord, or when there are no grounds for judicial dissolution throughfasikhi(<Ar.faskh, annulment).I also show that judges viewkhuluuas a right that a woman can exercise to extricate herself from marriage, a right that judges sometimes encourage in court.
Bitches, Fishes, and Monsters: Prison Slang and Nonhuman Animal Terminology
Authors: Hill Joshua B. , Banks Julie
Published: June 2018

The adult prison population in the U.S. is one of the most important, marginalized, yet misunderstood groups within the country. Not only is the population larger than those of other industrialized nations, but the prisons themselves also tend to be more punitive in nature. While there have been many proposed reasons for this, ranging from differences in the “American Character” to the increasing severity of mandatory sentencing guidelines, explanations of the American prisoner setting remain thin. One area that has relevance to this topic but in which there has been little research is the language used to describe prisoners. This language is replete with images of nonhuman animals. Examples and explanations of this phenomenon are provided through the inspection of the lexicons and argots (“prison slang”) for animal themes, and implications regarding implicit power relationships and the effects on both prisoners and nonhuman animals stemming from this language are explored.
Changing Politics: Thoreau, Dewey and Cavell, and Democracy as a Way of Life
Authors: Saito Naoko
Published: June 2018

This paper reconsiders the meaning of political action by way of a dialogue between Dewey, Thoreau, and Cavell. These philosophers demonstrate possibilities of political engagement and participation. Especially in response to the psychological and emotional dimensions of political crisis today, I shall claim that American philosophy can demonstrate something beyond problem-solving as conventionally understood in politics and that it has the potential to re-place philosophy in such a manner that politics itself is changed. First, I shall draw a contrast between the ways of political action demonstrated respectively by Dewey and Thoreau. Some points of divergence are revealed within American philosophy. I shall then explore the partially different sense of political action implied by Cavell’s ordinary language philosophy, identifying this as the politics of acknowledgment. Finally, I shall propose the idea of challenging inclusion as an alternative political education for human transformation, taking this as a key to changing politics.
Objectivity or Solidarity? Contemporary Discussions of Pragmatism in History
Authors: Yoon Jong-pil
Published: June 2018

This essay critically examines contemporary discussions of pragmatism in history. First of all, as for the ‘practice before knowledge’ argument, I point out that historical inquiry cannot be properly explained by the argument whose validity is grounded in the instinct nature of practice because historical research is a contingent, intellectual behavior. About the ‘self-correcting’ argument, I maintain that historical inquiry cannot be rendered self-correcting by the pragmatic test of truth that is, in nature, future-oriented and consequentialist given that the main goal of history is to produce, not predictions or plans of action, but retrospective beliefs, which makes the mechanism of verification through action inapplicable to history. My view on the ‘disciplinary consensus’ argument is that showing how historical beliefs are produced and confirmed within the discipline does not necessarily amount to an explanation of why we should go through the whole process.
Reassessment of the taxonomic status of Craseomys and three controversial species of Myodes and Alticola (Rodentia: Arvicolinae)
Authors: TANG MING KUN , JIN WEI , TANG YING , YAN CHAO CHAO , MURPHY ROBERT W. , SUN ZHI YU , ZHANG XIU YUE , ZENG TAO , LIAO RUI , HOU QUAN FEN , YUE BI SONG , LIU SHAO YING
Published: June 2018

The genera Myodes (red-backed voles) and Alticola (mountain voles) appear to be sister taxa based on morphological similarities, but molecular analyses fail to resolve them as monophyletic genera owing to the uncertain taxonomic status of Craseomys and Phaulomys. As a result of incomplete sampling of related specimens, ongoing controversies on the taxonomic positions of several generic and specific taxa necessitate further clarifications. Herein, we combined molecular, morphometric, and geometric morphometric approaches to analyze 217 specimens of 10 taxa of Myodes and Alticola systematically. We sequenced three genes (Cytb, COI, GHR) de novo from specimens with fresh tissues, and published sequences for M. shanseius and A. stoliczkanus for the first time. Based on this new molecular dataset, we produced phylogenetic trees using Bayesian inference, maximum likelihood, and maximum parsimony approaches. Our molecular and morphological analyses both identified three primary clades within Myodes and Alticola. The Craseomys–Phaulomys clade consistently separated from Myodes sensu stricto (s. str.) and Alticola s. str.–Platycranius. Our results support the resurrection of the genus Craseomys and the treatment of Phaulomys as its junior synonym. As Craseomys shanseius clustered with C. rufocanus in three gene phylogenies and this assessment was congruent with morphological results, we assigned C. shanseius to a subspecies of C. rufocanus. Specimens from one sampling site in Pulan County of Tibet possess M3 patterns typical of A. stoliczkanus and A. stracheyi, despite clustering together in matrilineal genealogy. Thus, we tentatively assigned A. stracheyi as a junior synonym of A. stoliczkanus. Our analyses confirmed the validity of A. semicanus and unambiguously distinguished it from A. argentatus by the ratio of tail length to head–body length, color of tail and feet, M3 pattern, and distribution.
New species and record of Nazeris Fauvel in southern China (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Paederinae)
Authors: HU JIA-YAO , LUO YONG-TING , LI LI-ZHEN
Published: June 2018

Four species of Nazeris Fauvel are reported from Guangdong and Hunan, China, with three of them described as new: N. rubidus Hu, Luo & Li, sp. n., N. nanlingensis Hu, Luo & Li, sp. n., and N. gaoleii Hu, Luo & Li, sp. n. Nazeris inaequalis Assing, 2014 is newly recorded from Guangdong Province.
Taxonomy of deep-water tetillid sponges (Porifera, Demospongiae, Spirophorina) from Brazil, with description of three new species and new characters
Authors: FERNANDEZ JULIO C.C. , RODRIGUEZ PABLO R.D. , SANTOS GEORGE G. , PINHEIRO ULISSES , MURICY GUILHERME
Published: June 2018

Since the 19th century the deep-sea sponges from Brazil have been studied and many of them are still being discovered. This study describes five species of tetillid sponges from deep waters of the Brazilian economic exclusive zone; three are new, one is a new occurrence, and another is a known species which is here analyzed. The new species found are: Cinachyrella clavaeformis sp. nov. from the Columbia Seamount (85 m depth), Cinachyrella strongylophora sp. nov. from the Almirante Saldanha Seamount (270 m depth) and Craniella curviclada sp. nov. from slope of the Espírito Santo Basin (500 m depth). The two new species of Cinachyrella possess microacanthoxeas like those found in Cinachyrella kuekenthali (Uliczka 1929); this last species occurs in Caribbean region (4–100 m depth) and in N, NE and SE Brazil (0.2–100 m depth). The type material of Craniella corticata (Boury-Esnault 1973); from NE Brazil (75 m depth), has been found to be a synonym of Cinachyrella kuekenthali. Craniella crustocorticata van Soest 2017; from the Guyana shelf and slope (618–500 m depth), is here reported from the slope of NE and SW Brazil (400–700 m depth). A disorganized choanosomal skeleton (in Cinachyrella clavaeformis sp. nov.), strongyles (in Cinachyrella strongylophora sp. nov.) and a single-layered cortex of tangential oxeas (in Craniella crustocorticata) are new diagnostic characters that have led us to propose slight amendments in the definitions of Cinachyrella Wilson 1925 and Craniella Schmidt 1870. We discuss these and other morphological characters as well as their usefulness in Tetillidae. The diversity, distribution and bathymetry of tetillid sponges from Brazil are discussed and our knowledge of the composition of deep-sea sponges (deeper than 100 m) off Brazil is updated.
Two new species of Acontias (Acontinae, Scincidae) from the Mpumalanga Highveld escarpment of South Africa
Authors: CONRADIE WERNER , BUSSCHAU THEO , EDWARDS SHELLEY
Published: June 2018

The African genus of fossorial legless lizards (Acontias Cuvier) currently comprises 26 species and subspecies. In a recent study on the two disjunct populations of Acontias breviceps Essex, the presence of cryptic species was discovered. Here, we increase the sampling size and describe these disjunct populations from the Mpumalanga Escarpment of South Africa as new species. The new species differ from congeners based on a combination of factors, including the number of midbody, ventral, and subcaudal scale counts, ventral pigmentation, allopatric distributions, and genetic divergences. The new species are genetically distant from nominal A. breviceps, with which it shares overall pigmentation and scalation. The new description adds to the growing number of Mpumalanga escarpment endemic reptiles, and highlights the area as a biodiversity hotspot. The use of vertebral counts as a distinguishing character between species is briefly discussed.
Two new species of the genus Chibiraga Matsumura, 1931 (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae) from China
Authors: JI SHUQIN , HUANG SIYAO , MA LIJUN , WANG MIN
Published: June 2018

Two new species in the genus Chibiraga, C. houshuaii sp. nov. and C. yukei sp. nov., are described based on specimens collected in Yunnan Province and Sichuan Province, respectively. Illustrations depicting male adults and male genitalia are provided, along with venation patterns and a distribution map of the genus Chibiraga. COI DNA fragments of C. yukei sp. nov. and both sexes of C. banghaasi (Hering & Hopp, 1927) are also depicted.
Evaluation of Modeled Lake Breezes Using an Enhanced Observational Network in Southern Ontario: Case Studies
Authors: Dehghan Armin , Mariani Zen , Leroyer Sylvie , Sills David , Bélair Stéphane , Joe Paul
Published: June 2018

Canadian Global Environmental Multiscale (GEM) numerical model output was compared with the meteorological data from an enhanced observational network to investigate the model’s ability to predict Lake Ontario lake breezes and their characteristics for two cases in the Greater Toronto Area—one in which the large-scale wind opposed the lake breeze and one in which it was in the same direction as the lake breeze. An enhanced observational network of surface meteorological stations, a C-band radar, and two Doppler wind lidars were deployed among other sensors during the 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games in Toronto. The GEM model was run for three nested domains with grid spacings of 2.5, 1, and 0.25 km. Comparisons between the model predictions and ground-based observations showed that the model successfully predicted lake breezes for the two events. The results indicated that using GEM 1 and 0.25 km increased the forecast accuracy of the lake-breeze location, updraft intensity, and depth. The accuracy of the modeled lake breeze timing was approximately ±135 min. The model underpredicted the surface cooling caused by the lake breeze. The GEM 0.25-km model significantly improved the temperature forecast accuracy during the lake-breeze circulations, reducing the bias by up to 72%, but it mainly underpredicted the moisture and overpredicted the surface wind speed. Root-mean-square errors of wind direction forecasts were generally high because of large biases and high variability of errors.
Intraseasonal Variability of Air–Sea Fluxes over the Bay of Bengal during the Southwest Monsoon
Authors: Sanchez-Franks Alejandra , Kent Elizabeth C. , Matthews Adrian J. , Webber Benjamin G. M. , Peatman Simon C. , Vinayachandran P. N.
Published: June 2018

In the Bay of Bengal (BoB), surface heat fluxes play a key role in monsoon dynamics and prediction. The accurate representation of large-scale surface fluxes is dependent on the quality of gridded reanalysis products. Meteorological and surface flux variables from five reanalysis products are compared and evaluated against in situ data from the Research Moored Array for African–Asian–Australian Monsoon Analysis and Prediction (RAMA) in the BoB. The reanalysis products: ERA-Interim (ERA-I), TropFlux, MERRA-2, JRA-55, and CFSR are assessed for their characterization of air–sea fluxes during the southwest monsoon season [June–September (JJAS)]. ERA-I captured radiative fluxes best while TropFlux captured turbulent and net heat fluxes Qnet best, and both products outperformed JRA-55, MERRA-2, and CFSR, showing highest correlations and smallest biases when compared to the in situ data. In all five products, the largest errors were in shortwave radiation QSW and latent heat flux QLH, with nonnegligible biases up to approximately 75 W m−2. The QSW and QLH are the largest drivers of the observed Qnet variability, thus highlighting the importance of the results from the buoy comparison. There are also spatially coherent differences in the mean basinwide fields of surface flux variables from the reanalysis products, indicating that the biases at the buoy position are not localized. Biases of this magnitude have severe implications on reanalysis products’ ability to capture the variability of monsoon processes. Hence, the representation of intraseasonal variability was investigated through the boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation, and we found that TropFlux and ERA-I perform best at capturing intraseasonal climate variability during the southwest monsoon season.
Responding to a Potentially Disruptive Technology: How Big Pharma Embraced Biotechnology
Authors: Birkinshaw Julian , Visnjic Ivanka , Best Simon
Published: June 2018

How do incumbent firms respond over time to a potentially disruptive technology? This article documents the strategies of 12 large pharmaceutical firms over 25 years as they addressed the opportunity/threat of biotechnology. All showed awareness of biotechnology’s potential, but their response profiles varied dramatically in terms of timing (early/late) and focus (external/internal). Late movers mostly made large acquisitions to “catch up,” but early movers maintained their lead in terms of biotechnology-based drug sales and profitability, and those with a more “open” response profile performed better. This response involves a three-step process: building awareness (sensing), building capability (responding), and building commitment (scaling).
New Medications in the Treatment of Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis
Authors: Walker Scot
Published: June 2018

Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis is an inherited disorder that results in the gradual progressive deposit of abnormal protein called amyloid in the body’s organs and tissues. There are currently no approved drugs to treat transthyretin amyloidosis, and patients may require liver transplantation for survival. There are a few drugs in development to treat hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis either by stabilizing the abnormal protein or by decreasing production of transthyretin. Both methods are being developed to slow progression of the disease.
Religion and Religiosity in Russia
Authors: Upadhyay Archana
Published: June 2018

The collapse of the USSR marked the end of the multiethnic ‘Soviet Nation’. Consequent to the moving out of the republics from the federation, Russia and Russians faced the challenge of defining their own identity and that of a new, multinational, multi-confessional state—the Russian Federation. Towards this end of regenerating identity, religion proved to be a very potent instrument. Religion and religiosity in Russia is closely interconnected with ethnic self-awareness and consolidation of political identities that go beyond religion. It has been employed to foster both inclusive and exclusive identities and have also impacted crucial decisions of the state. Its social and political role is profound and so is its engagement with the institutions of the state. It is significant that both the institutional and ideological aspects of religion have emerged as distinct factors in contemporary Russian politics. The re-emergence and the consolidation of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) in the social and political life of contemporary Russia has submerged smaller religious identities in all spheres of social and political life. Given Russia’s religious diversity, this has impacted intergroup relations and generated tensions in the society, resulting from both the ‘politicization of religion’ and the ‘desecularization’ project from above.
Missing ‘Ethnographic Turn’ in Indian International Relations
Authors: Suthar Sudhir Kumar
Published: June 2018

This article provides a critical analysis of approaches of international relations (IR) in India in general and studies of post-Soviet countries in particular. It is argued here that methodologically the Indian IR has been dominated by the discourse analysis. The critical questions of everyday forms of social life and its impact upon transformation of state and institutions are at the margins of the disciplinary analysis. This phenomenon can be related to an absence of the ‘ethnographic turn’ in the Indian IR scholarship. Even Soviet/Russian studies, despite history of very strong India–Soviet/Russia bilateral relations, are quite narrow in their scope and lack field-based ethnographic studies. This article further argues that promoting usage of ethnographic method can be a useful methodological addition in making IR study and research in India more broad, critical, relevant and grounded.
Linguistic Revivalism and National Identity in Uzbekistan
Authors: Khairi Abuzar
Published: June 2018

Uzbekistan became an independent and sovereign state in 1991. Earlier, it was part of the Tsarist and Communist ideological states which sought to assimilate its centuries-old religious, cultural and linguistic identities. After disintegration of the Soviet Union, the new regime rejected the communist ideals and committed itself to fostering all-round development of historical, national and cultural traditions of the people of Uzbekistan. The new regime exchanged the Soviet hammer and sickle for traditional symbols of nation-hood—a flag, an anthem and new holidays ranging from the national/political (Flag Day and Independence Day) to the cultural (Novroz).

After 25 years of independence, Uzbekistan seems successful in all fields. It has developed its own strategy for renewal of the society, known as Uzbek Model. All Central Asian republics embarked upon the path of self-discovery and national reconstruction to rest their worldview into their own specific cultural and linguistic moorings. They are reviving and reshaping their economy, history, language and national identity in the process of regaining their pre-soviet legacy. For this, each republic is reinvigorating its linguistic distinctiveness as a vehicle for expressing national identity. This article deals with the revival of Uzbek language and national identity in the post-independence period.
Modernization and Russian Culture
Authors: Das Preeti D.
Published: June 2018

The twenty-first century is marked by relative stability of the sociopolitical situation in Russia, which created space for the development of culture and provided a tool to look back into its history. The amalgamation of different religions, cultures or schools of thought occupies an influential place in the development of multicultural Russian society. It is noticeable that the cultural process was not hampered by the disintegration of the former USSR and continues to reflect the social reality of today’s world. Reduced state intervention in the cultural activities lessened the number of participants. The transition from state funding to self-maintenance led to the commercialization of culture, though this commercialization was limited to transition phase only. This article makes an attempt to evaluate the process of modernization and highlights its impact on the development of Russian culture. It provides an outline of the main stages in the development of Russian culture and analyses the directions it has taken.
Economic Transformation in Central Asia: A Journey of Twenty-five Years
Authors: Yadav Raj
Published: June 2018

Disintegration of the Soviet state was unanticipated in Central Asia and the new independent states were unprepared. The end of central planning in the late 1980s led to transitional recession and this got worse with the dissolution of the USSR. In this difficult situation, the five countries moved at different paces to stabilize their economies and establish market-based system. During transition era, Central Asian states introduced stabilization and structural reforms in the form of monetary policy, introduction of national currencies, price liberalization, privatization and fiscal reforms. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan lead by introducing various reforms while Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan lagged behind and were slow reformers. Tajikistan was one state that suffered due to internal civil war. These stabilization and structural reforms produced mixed results for Central Asian states. Present study will provide an overview of the journey of 25 years of the five Central Asian states since independence, their experience with the reforms and their performance in the region.