bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Overexpression of Lymphocyte Antigen 6 Complex, Locus E in Gastric Cancer Promotes Cancer Cell Growth and Metastasis
Authors: Lv Yan , Song Yu , Ni Chen , Wang Shaokai , Chen Zhipeng , Shi Xiaojing , Jiang Qin , Cao Cong , Zuo Yun
Published: February 2018

Background/Aims: Lymphocyte antigen 6 complex, locus E (LY6E) is a member of the lymphostromal cell membrane Ly6 superfamily protein. The present study investigated the clinical significance and potential biological function of LY6E in gastric cancer (GC). Methods: LY6E mRNA and protein expressions in human GC tissues and GC cells were tested. Relationship between LY6E expression and the GC patients’ clinicopathologic characteristics was analyzed. LY6E was silenced by siRNA in the cultured GC cells. Results: The RNA expression microarray profiling assay results demonstrated that LY6E mRNA was significantly increased in multiple human GC tumor tissues. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining analysis revealed that 59 of 75 (78.7%) GC specimens were LY6E positive. LY6E over-expression in human GC was correlated with the histology grade, AJCC stage, N classification, lymphatic invasion, and tumor location. Notably, functional LY6E expression was also detected in AGS and other established GC cell lines. LY6E knockdown by targeted-siRNA inhibited AGS cell survival and proliferation. Meanwhile, the LY6E siRNA induced G1-S cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in AGC cells. Additionally, AGC cell migration was also inhibited by LY6E knockdown. Expressions of tumor-suppressing proteins, including PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog) and E-Cadherin, were increased in LY6E-silenced AGS cells. Conclusion: LY6E over-expression in GC is potentially required for cancer cell survival, proliferation and migration.
LncRNA GAS5 Overexpression Reverses LPS-Induced Inflammatory Injury and Apoptosis Through Up-Regulating KLF2 Expression in ATDC5 Chondrocytes
Authors: Li Feng , Sun Jianguang , Huang Shilei , Su Gao , Pi Guofu
Published: February 2018

Background/Aims: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most frequently occurring joint disease and characterized by degeneration of cartilage. As the unique cell type in cartilage, chondrocytes play a crucial role during OA. Our study explored the influence of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) growth arrest-specific transcript 5 (GAS5) on lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced injury in ATDC5 cells. Methods: Cell viability, apoptosis and expression of inflammatory cytokines were all assessed to evaluate LPS-induce inflammatory injury. Expression of GAS5 in LPS-induced cells was evaluated by qRT-PCR. After cell transfection, effect of abnormally expressed GAS5 on LPS-induced inflammatory injury was determined. Then, the possible target of GAS5 was screened by bioinformatics and verified by qRT-PCR and luciferase activity assay. Together, whether aberrant expression of target gene affected the modulation of GAS5 in LPS-induced inflammatory injury was also assessed. Finally, the influences of aberrant expressed Kruppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) on nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and Notch pathways were detected by Western blot analysis. Results: LPS reduced cell viability and promoted cell apoptosis and secretion of inflammatory cytokines, along with down-regulation of GAS5. LPS-induced injury was alleviated by GAS5 overexpression while was exacerbated by GAS5 silence. KLF2 was predicted and verified as a target of GAS5, and GAS5 functioned through regulating expression of KLF2. Besides, aberrant expression of KLF2 regulated expressions of key kinases involved in the NF-κB and Notch pathways. Conclusion: GAS5 might ameliorate LPS-induced inflammatory injury in ATDC5 chondrocytes by inhibiting the NF-κB and Notch signaling pathways.
Bempedoic Acid Lowers Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Attenuates Atherosclerosis in Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor–Deficient (
LDLR
+/−
and
LDLR
−/−
) Yucatan Miniature Pigs
Authors: Burke Amy C. , Telford Dawn E. , Sutherland Brian G. , Edwards Jane Y. , Sawyez Cynthia G. , Barrett P. Hugh R. , Newton Roger S. , Pickering J. Geoffrey , Huff Murray W.
Published: February 2018

Objective—

Bempedoic acid (BemA; ETC-1002) is a novel drug that targets hepatic ATP-citrate lyase to reduce cholesterol biosynthesis. In phase 2 studies, BemA lowers elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in hypercholesterolemic patients. In the present study, we tested the ability of BemA to decrease plasma cholesterol and LDL-C and attenuate atherosclerosis in a large animal model of familial hypercholesterolemia.

Approach and Results—

Gene targeting has been used to generate Yucatan miniature pigs heterozygous (
LDLR
+/−
) or homozygous (
LDLR
−/−
) for LDL receptor deficiency (ExeGen).
LDLR
+/−
and
LDLR
−/−
pigs were fed a high-fat, cholesterol-containing diet (34% kcal fat; 0.2% cholesterol) and orally administered placebo or BemA for 160 days. In
LDLR
+/−
pigs, compared with placebo, BemA decreased plasma cholesterol and LDL-C up to 40% and 61%, respectively. In
LDLR
−/−
pigs, in which plasma cholesterol and LDL-C were 5-fold higher than in
LDLR
+/−
pigs, BemA decreased plasma cholesterol and LDL-C up to 27% and 29%, respectively. Plasma levels of triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting glucose and insulin, and liver lipids were unaffected by treatment in either genotype. In the aorta of
LDLR
+/−
pigs, BemA robustly attenuated en face raised lesion area (−58%) and left anterior descending coronary artery cross-sectional lesion area (−40%). In
LDLR
−/−
pigs, in which lesions were substantially more advanced, BemA decreased aortic lesion area (−47%) and left anterior descending coronary artery lesion area (−48%).

Conclusions—

In a large animal model of LDLR deficiency and atherosclerosis, long-term treatment with BemA reduces LDL-C and attenuates the development of aortic and coronary atherosclerosis in both
LDLR
+/−
and
LDLR
−/−
miniature pigs.
Comparison Between Different Strategies of Rheumatic Heart Disease Echocardiographic Screening in Brazil: Data From the PROVAR (Rheumatic Valve Disease Screening Program) Study
Authors: Nascimento Bruno R. , Sable Craig , Nunes Maria Carmo P. , Diamantino Adriana C. , Oliveira Kaciane K. B. , Oliveira Cassio M. , Meira Zilda Maria A. , Castilho Sandra Regina T. , Santos Júlia P. A. , Rabelo Letícia Maria M. , Lauriano Karlla C. A. , Carmo Gabriel A. L. , Tompsett Allison , Ribeiro Antonio Luiz P. , Beaton Andrea Z. , Lauar Amanda O. , Costa Ana Luísa M. , Ferreira Camila G. , Webb Catherine L. , Lopes Eduardo L. V. , Ruiz Gabriela Z. L. , Chequer Graziela , Richards Hedda , Castro Iara M. , Teixeira Isabella M. , Perlman Lindsay , Lafeta Luciana C. X. , Barros Luise Cristina T. R. , Galbas Michelle C. , Lourenço Tainá V. , de Rezende Vitória M. L. R.
Published: February 2018

Background

Considering the limited accuracy of clinical examination for early diagnosis of rheumatic heart disease (
RHD
), echocardiography has emerged as an important epidemiological tool. The ideal setting for screening is yet to be defined. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence and pattern of latent
RHD
in schoolchildren (aged 5–18 years) and to compare effectiveness of screening between public schools, private schools, and primary care centers in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Methods and Results

The
PROVAR
(Rheumatic Valve Disease Screening Program) study uses nonexperts and portable and handheld devices for
RHD
echocardiographic screening, with remote interpretation by telemedicine, according to the 2012 World Heart Federation criteria. Compliance with study consent and prevalence were compared between different screening settings, and variables associated with
RHD
were analyzed. In 26 months, 12 048 students were screened in 52 public schools (n=10 901), 2 private schools (n=589), and 3 primary care centers (n=558). Median age was 12.9 years, and 55.4% were girls. Overall
RHD
prevalence was 4.0% borderline (n=486) and 0.5% definite (n=63), with statistically similar rates between public schools (4.6%), private schools (3.5%), and primary care centers (4.8%) (
P
=0.24). The percentage of informed consents signed was higher in primary care centers (84.4%) and private schools (66.9%) compared with public schools (38.7%) (
P
<0.001). Prevalence was higher in children ≥12 years (5.3% versus 3.1%;
P
<0.001) and girls (4.9% versus 4.0%;
P
=0.02). Only age (odds ratio, 1.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.09–1.17;
P
<0.001) was independently associated with
RHD
.

Conclusions

RHD
screening in primary care centers seems to achieve higher coverage rates. Prevalence among schoolchildren is significantly high, with rates higher than expected in private schools of high‐income areas. These data are important for the formulation of public policies to confront
RHD
.
Zhang Shen’s Comprehensive Explanations on Calligraphy (Fashu Tongshi): A calligraphy companion of the early ming dynasty
Authors: de Laurentis Pietro
Published: February 2018

This paper presents an early Ming companion on Chinese calligraphy, the Comprehensive Explanations on Calligraphy (Fashu tongshi 法書通釋) as well as the life of its author Zhang Shen 張紳 (fl. half of the fourteenth century). By analysing the content and the quotations included therein, the present article traces the history and outlines the structure of Zhang’s compendium, while providing also a preliminary translation of the introductory sections of the ten chapters which constitute the entire work. Also, at the same time, through the analysis of biographical materials about the author, Zhang’s life, his official career, personality, and literary works are elucidated. It is concluded that Zhang Shen, an expert classicist as well as a Confucian scholar, whose purpose in his Explanations is to expose and clarify a series of fundamental questions related to the study and practice of calligraphy, which are pertinent to the analysis and interpretation of classical treatises of calligraphy.
New species of the genus Cheumatopsyche Wallengren 1891 (Insecta: Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) from Indian Himalaya
Authors: PANDHER MANPREET SINGH , MALICKY HANS , PAREY SAJAD H.
Published: February 2018

Three new species belonging to genus Cheumatopsyche Wallengren are described and illustrated. The newly described species are Cheumatopsyche nigrocephala sp. nov. and Ch. similis sp. nov. both from Uttarakhand, and Ch. meghalayaensis sp. nov. from Meghalaya. Cheumatopsyche guadunica Li & Dudgeon 1988 is reported for the first time from India. Cheumatopsyche ningmapa Schmid 1975 and Ch. galahittigama Schmid 1958 are also redescribed and reillustrated based on Indian specimens (males only). Due to insufficient description five species described by the Navás are considered to be nomina dubia (Cheumatopsyche chlorogastra (Navás 1932), Ch. indica (Navás 1932), Ch. lebasi (Navás 1932), Ch. stenocyta (Navás 1932), Ch. suffusa (Navás 1932). Previously, this genus was represented by 23 species and, with the addition of 3 new species and one new country record, there are now 27 species known from India.
First record of the genus Ficobracon (Hymenoptera:Braconidae) from India, with description of new species
Authors: MAQBOOL AMIR , AKBAR SHAHID ALI , WACHKOO AIJAZ AHMAD
Published: February 2018

Ficobracon kashmirensis sp. nov., a new braconid species from Kashmir Himalayas, India, is described with illustrations. The discovery marks the first record of Ficobracon from India, and is the fifth known species of the genus globally. A discussion on the seasonal occurrence and some elements of biology, together with a revised key to the known species, are also provided.
Drepanosticta adenani sp. nov., from the Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary in Sarawak (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platystictidae)
Authors: DOW RORY A. , REELS GRAHAM T.
Published: February 2018

Drepanosticta adenani sp. nov. (holotype ♂, from a tributary of Sungai Jela, Nanga Segerak area, Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary, Sri Aman Division, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, 18 vii 2016, deposited in the Natural History Museum, London) is described from both sexes.
A new species of Esagonatopus Olmi (Hymenoptera, Dryinidae) from Central Brazil
Authors: MARTINS ANDRÉ LUIS
Published: February 2018

Esagonatopus antonioi Martins sp. nov. from Central Brazil is described and illustrated. The new species is characterized by having the head slightly excavated, almost flat, with granulate sculpture; the frontal line complete; the occipital carina absent; the mesosoma reticulate rugose and the scutum without lateral pointed apophyses. An updated key to the Neotropical species of the genus Esagonatopus Olmi is provided.
Halichondriidae Gray, 1867 from the Northeastern Brazil with description of a new species
Authors: SANTOS GEORGE GARCIA , NASCIMENTO ELIELTON , PINHEIRO ULISSES
Published: February 2018

In this paper we report and describe material of Halichondriidae sampled at 11 different stations in the Brazilian northeastern coast. Halichondria (Halichondria) marianae sp. nov. is a massively encrusting sponge, with firm texture, soft, fleshy, but compact and compressible. Color in vivo is dark green, becoming grayish or brown after fixation in ethanol; the spicules are smooth oxeas. Amorphinopsis atlantica from the Northeastern Brazil is thickly encrusting to massively, also with firm texture, color in vivo is usually yellow to dark green and both distributed in different regions, brownish after fixation in ethanol; the spicules are smooth oxeas and styles. A taxonomic study of these samples is given, including description and illustrations.
A new species of Metrobates Uhler, 1871 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Gerridae) from Colombia
Authors: CASTRO-VARGAS MARIA I. , MORALES IRINA , MOLANO-RENDÓN FREDY
Published: February 2018

A new species of Metrobates Uhler, 1871 (Trepobatinae: Metrobatini) from Colombia is described. Metrobates sanciprianensis sp. nov. resembles M. fugientis Drake & Harris but is distinguished by the shape of the parameres and the lack of a spine on the fore femur. In addition, M. amblydonti Nieser is redescribed and a key to males of the species of Metrobates in Colombia is presented.
Different Ways of Framing Event Attribution Questions: The Example of Warm and Wet Winters in the United Kingdom Similar to 2015/16
Authors: Christidis Nikolaos , Ciavarella Andrew , Stott Peter A.
Published: February 2018

Attribution analyses of extreme events estimate changes in the likelihood of their occurrence due to human climatic influences by comparing simulations with and without anthropogenic forcings. Classes of events are commonly considered that only share one or more key characteristics with the observed event. Here we test the sensitivity of attribution assessments to such event definition differences, using the warm and wet winter of 2015/16 in the United Kingdom as a case study. A large number of simulations from coupled models and an atmospheric model are employed. In the most basic case, warm and wet events are defined relative to climatological temperature and rainfall thresholds. Several other classes of events are investigated that, in addition to threshold exceedance, also account for the effect of observed sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies, the circulation flow, or modes of variability present during the reference event. Human influence is estimated to increase the likelihood of warm winters in the United Kingdom by a factor of 3 or more for events occurring under any atmospheric and oceanic conditions, but also for events with a similar circulation or oceanic state to 2015/16. The likelihood of wet winters is found to increase by at least a factor of 1.5 in the general case, but results from the atmospheric model, conditioned on observed SST anomalies, are more uncertain, indicating that decreases in the likelihood are also possible. The robustness of attribution assessments based on atmospheric models is highly dependent on the representation of SSTs without the effect of human influence.
A Fluctuation–Dissipation Relation for the Ocean Subject to Turbulent Atmospheric Forcing
Authors: Wirth Achim
Published: February 2018

The fluctuation–dissipation relation for a turbulent fluid layer (ocean) subject to frictional forcing by a superposed lighter fluid layer (atmosphere) in local models of air–sea dynamics is established. The fluctuation–dissipation relation reflects the fact that air–sea interaction not only injects energy in the ocean but also dissipates it. Energy injection and dissipation must therefore be related. The competition between the two processes determines the oceanic energy budget in the idealized dynamics considered here. When applying the fluctuation–dissipation relation to a two-dimensional, two-layer, Navier–Stokes model with turbulent dynamics, in the atmosphere and the ocean, coupled by a quadratic friction law, the friction parameter is estimated within 8% of the true value, while the estimation of the mass ratio between the atmosphere and the ocean fails, as the forcing time scale is not faster than the characteristic time scale of the atmospheric dynamics.
Political Advertising in the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election: Ad Hominem Ad Nauseam
Authors: Tedesco John C. , Dunn Scott W.
Published: February 2018

Political advertisements ( N = 136) from the 2016 U.S. presidential election are content analyzed in this study that investigates message strategy used by Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton in their televised ads. The negative nature of the campaign, and the high negative views voters held for Trump and Clinton, seems to have influenced the tone and focus of the ads. Despite Trump’s reputation for ad hominem attacks throughout the primary and general election phases of the presidential campaign, it was Clinton who waged more ad hominem attacks in her advertisements, mostly focused on labeling Trump as unfit for office. Trump and his supportive political action committee groups were more likely to run contrast ads to compare differences between his policies and Clinton’s policies, but Clinton’s campaign failed to use a full range of message strategies to contrast her policies with Trump’s and to bolster her own image through her campaign ads.
Carbon footprinting of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production systems in Zimbabwe
Authors: Svubure O , Struik PC , Haverkort AJ , Steyn JM
Published: February 2018

Agriculture contributes significantly to the global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Farmers need to fine-tune agricultural practices to balance the trade-offs between increasing productivity in order to feed a growing population and lowering GHG emissions to mitigate climate change and its impact on agriculture. We conducted a survey on the major cultural practices in four potato production systems in Zimbabwe, namely large-scale commercial, communal area, A1 and A2 resettlement production systems. The resettlement production systems were formed from the radical Fast Track Land Reform Programme initiated in 2000, which changed the landscape of commercial agriculture in Zimbabwe. We used survey data as an input into the ‘Cool Farm Tool – Potato’ model. The model calculates the contributions of various production operations to total GHG emission. Experienced growers were targeted. The average carbon footprint calculated was 251 kg CO2 eq./t potato harvested, ranging from 216 kg CO2 eq./t to 286 kg CO2 eq./t in the communal area and A2 resettlement production systems, respectively. The major drivers of the GHG emissions were fertilizer production and soil-related field emissions, which together accounted for on average 56% of the total emissions across all production systems. Although mitigation options were not assessed, the model outputs the factors/farm operations and their respective emission estimates allowing growers to choose the inputs and operations to reduce their carbon footprint. Opportunities for benchmarking as an incentive to improve performance exist given the large variation in GHG emission between individual growers.
Brazilian Photographic Figure Rating Scale for Men: Psychometric Investigation
Authors: de Castro Marcela R. , Morgado Fabiane F. R. , Freitas Ismael F.
Published: February 2018

As a follow-up to an earlier study from this research group involving women, this study examined the reliability and validity of the Brazilian Photographic Figure Rating Scale for Men (BPFRS-M) for evaluating men's body perception and dissatisfaction. In both versions of the Brazilian Photographic Figure Rating Scale (BPFRS), respondents viewed eight photographic images (seven distorted and one accurate) of themselves in standard poses and then offered self-ratings. In both versions, 10 experts assessed content validity and demonstrated high agreement (defined by ratings of 4–5 on a 5-point scale) that BPFRS items measured underlying constructs: and experts showed high (>70%) interrater agreement. For this version, participants were 149 Brazilian men (Mean = 22.4; SD = 2.7 years). Pearson correlations demonstrated convergence between the BPFRS-M and two related scales of men's body image. Positive correlations ( p = .0001) were found between actual and respondent-perceived body mass index (BMI). Test–retest and Kappa Index confirmed temporal stability. The BPFRS-M can accurately and reliably assess body perception and dissatisfaction in young men.
Quantitative prediction model of present-day low-TOC carbonate source rocks: Example from the Middle–upper Ordovician in the Tarim Basin
Authors: Chen Junqing , Pang Xiongqi , Pang Hong
Published: February 2018

Plenty of marine crude oil generated by the Middle–Upper Ordovician source rocks has been discovered in the Tabei Uplift, Tarim Basin. Previous studies on the extensively distributed low organic matter source rock total organic carbon ≤ 0.5%) imply that this contributes to oil accumulation. Thus, the identification of present-day low-total organic carbon source rocks that experience hydrocarbon expulsion and evaluation of their contribution is of considerable significance to analyze marine oil accumulation and to assess the resources in the Tarim Basin. Using the mass balance approach, we identify and verify present-day low-total organic carbon carbonate source rocks and present a quantitative model using well-logging data to predict the present-day low-total organic carbon carbonate source rocks in order to evaluate their contribution in the Tarim Basin. Hydrocarbon expulsion has occurred in the Yijianfang formation, which has present-day low-total organic carbon, between 6452 and 6487 m in the Yangwu 2 well. In the horizons depicting carbonates with hydrocarbon expulsion, the porosity is relatively high and the daily oil production is 0.19 m3 according to the perforation tests. The extracts have similar biomarker signatures to that of the crude oils in the Tabei Uplift. In this study, a quick and cost-effective quantitative model is developed using double lateral resistivity and uranium/thorium well-logging data. By applying the prediction model, the contribution of present-day low-total organic carbon carbonate source rocks in the Middle–Upper Ordovician formation of the Tarim Basin is primarily evaluated to be 363.38 × 109 bbl oil equivalent.
Correlation between epicardial fat thickness and aortic valve sclerosis
Authors: Nabati Maryam , Favaedi Maryam , Kheirgoo Masoud , Yazdani Jamshid , Dabirian Mozhdeh
Published: February 2018

Background

Epicardial fat is a true visceral fat deposit with adverse effects through the secretion of numerous proinflammatory and proatherogenic cytokines. Previous studies showed an association between aortic valve sclerosis and coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between epicardial fat thickness and aortic valve sclerosis.

Method

The study involved 225 patients who were admitted for coronary angiography due to new-onset angina. They underwent transthoracic echocardiography and epicardial fat thickness was determined. The sclerosis scoring of each aortic cusp, average aortic valve sclerosis score index, and left ventricular ejection fraction were determined. The variables of left ventricular diastolic function obtained included the early diastolic velocity determined by transmitral pulsed Doppler, and early mitral annular velocity measured by tissue Doppler.

Results

Patients with an epicardial fat thickness ≥7 mm were older ( p = 0.006), with more hypertension ( p = 0.045) and hyperlipidemia ( p < 0.001). Their average aortic valve sclerosis score index was higher (1.4 ± 1.02 vs. 0.86 ± 0.85, p = 0.001), and left ventricular ejection fraction and early mitral annular velocity were lower ( p < 0.001 and 0.03, respectively). They also exhibited more left ventricular hypertrophy ( p = 0.026) and a trend towards more significant coronary artery disease and 3-vessel disease ( p = 0.086 and 0.073, respectively).

Conclusion

Our findings confirm that epicardial fat as a marker of visceral adipose tissue may have an important role in promoting inflammatory and atherosclerotic changes in the aortic valve.
The role of thoracic surgery in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation services
Authors: Heward Elliot , Hashmi Syed F , Malagon Ignacio , Shah Rajesh , Barker Julian , Rammohan Kandadai S
Published: February 2018

Background

Recent evidence surrounding the use of venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in treating acute respiratory failure has led to the expansion of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation services worldwide. The high rate of complications related to venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation often requires intervention by specialist thoracic surgeons. This study aimed to investigate the role of specialist thoracic surgeons within the multidisciplinary team managing these high-risk patients.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 90 patients who received venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation at our tertiary referral center between December 2011 and May 2015. Four patients who underwent lung transplantation were excluded.

Results

We found that 29.1% (25/86) of patients on venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation had undergone a thoracic intervention. A total of 82 interventions were performed: 11 thoracotomies, 49 chest drains, 13 rigid bronchoscopies, 4 flexible bronchoscopies, 4 temporary endobronchial blockers, and 1 sternotomy. Of the 11 thoracotomies, 3 were reexplorations. Survival to discharge for patients who underwent thoracic surgical interventions was 72% (18/25).

Conclusions

Our experience has demonstrated that a large proportion of patients receiving venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation require a thoracic intervention, many of which are major intraoperative procedures. Patients on venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation have benefited from rapid on-site access to thoracic surgical services to manage these challenging life-threatening complications.
Creative industries in a regional city: How much work is lost to rivals based elsewhere?
Authors: Welters Riccardo , Daniel Ryan , Fleischmann Katja
Published: February 2018

The ability to exploit the fruits of agglomeration in metropolitan environments may foster the perceived superiority of metropolitan vis-à-vis rural creative industries practitioners. Based on a unique survey conducted among the business community of the regional city of Townsville, the article quantifies the industry linkages between the creative industries sector in the regional city and the city’s wider business community; and the share of demand for creative industries services/products generated in the city that is sourced elsewhere: the import leakage. The import leakage – estimated at a quarter – is a yardstick for the competition that the industry faces from creative industries practitioners based elsewhere. The article shows that policies that reduce the import leakage have considerable impact on gross business income of the local creative industries sector.
Investigating d-cycloserine as a potential pharmacological enhancer of an emotional bias learning procedure
Authors: Woud Marcella L , Blackwell Simon E , Steudte-Schmiedgen Susann , Browning Michael , Holmes Emily A , Harmer Catherine J , Margraf Jürgen , Reinecke Andrea
Published: February 2018

The partial N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor agonist d-cycloserine may enhance psychological therapies. However, its exact mechanism of action is still being investigated. Cognitive bias modification techniques allow isolation of cognitive processes and thus investigation of how they may be affected by d-cycloserine. We used a cognitive bias modification paradigm targeting appraisals of a stressful event, Cognitive Bias Modification-Appraisal, to investigate whether d-cycloserine enhanced the modification of appraisal, and whether it caused greater reduction in indices of psychopathology. Participants received either 250 mg of d-cycloserine ( n=19) or placebo ( n=19). As a stressor task, participants recalled a negative life event, followed by positive Cognitive Bias Modification-Appraisal training. Before and after Cognitive Bias Modification-Appraisal, appraisals and indices of psychopathology related to the stressor were assessed. Cognitive Bias Modification-Appraisal successfully modified appraisals, but d-cycloserine did not affect appraisals post-training. There were no post-training group differences in frequency of intrusions. Interestingly, d-cycloserine led to a greater reduction in distress and impact on state mood from recalling the event, and lower distress post-training was associated with fewer intrusions. Therefore, d-cycloserine may affect emotional reactivity to recalling a negative event when combined with induction of a positive appraisal style, but via a mechanism other than enhanced learning of the appraisal style.
Talaromycosis (Penicilliosis) in a Cynomolgus Macaque
Authors: Iverson William O. , Karanth Subramanya , Wilcox Angela , Pham Cau D. , Lockhart Shawn R. , Nicholson Simone M.
Published: February 2018

A sexually mature Chinese-origin female Macaca fascicularis assigned to the high-dose group in a 26-week toxicology study with an experimental immunomodulatory therapeutic antibody (a CD40 L antagonist fusion protein) was euthanized at the scheduled terminal sacrifice on study day 192. The animal was healthy at study initiation and remained clinically normal throughout the study. On study day 141, abnormal clinical pathology changes were found during a scheduled evaluation; splenomegaly was detected on study day 149 and supported by ultrasound examination. At the scheduled necropsy, there was marked splenomegaly with a nodular and discolored appearance. Cytologic examination of a splenic impression smear revealed yeast-like organisms within macrophages. Histologically, there was disseminated systemic granulomatous inflammation with 2- to 3-μm oval, intracytoplasmic yeast-like organisms in multiple organs identified as Talaromyces (Penicillium) marneffei. This organism, not previously reported as a pathogen in macaques, causes an important opportunistic infection in immunosuppressed humans in specific global geographic locations.
Circadian Clock Synchronization of the Cell Cycle in Zebrafish Occurs through a Gating Mechanism Rather Than a Period-phase Locking Process
Authors: Laranjeiro Ricardo , Tamai T. Katherine , Letton William , Hamilton Noémie , Whitmore David
Published: February 2018

Studies from a number of model systems have shown that the circadian clock controls expression of key cell cycle checkpoints, thus providing permissive or inhibitory windows in which specific cell cycle events can occur. However, a major question remains: Is the clock actually regulating the cell cycle through such a gating mechanism or, alternatively, is there a coupling process that controls the speed of cell cycle progression? Using our light-responsive zebrafish cell lines, we address this issue directly by synchronizing the cell cycle in culture simply by changing the entraining light-dark (LD) cycle in the incubator without the need for pharmacological intervention. Our results show that the cell cycle rapidly reentrains to a shifted LD cycle within 36 h, with changes in p21 expression and subsequent S phase timing occurring within the first few hours of resetting. Reentrainment of mitosis appears to lag S phase resetting by 1 circadian cycle. The range of entrainment of the zebrafish clock to differing LD cycles is large, from 16 to 32 hour periods. We exploited this feature to explore cell cycle entrainment at both the population and single cell levels. At the population level, cell cycle length is shortened or lengthened under corresponding T-cycles, suggesting that a 1:1 coupling mechanism is capable of either speeding up or slowing down the cell cycle. However, analysis at the single cell level reveals that this, in fact, is not true and that a gating mechanism is the fundamental method of timed cell cycle regulation in zebrafish. Cell cycle length at the single cell level is virtually unaltered with varying T-cycles.
Assisting the Investigation of Stranger Rapes: Predicting the Criminal Record of U.K. Stranger Rapists From Their Crime Scene Behaviors
Authors: Almond Louise , McManus Michelle , Bal Amarat , O’Brien Freya , Rainbow Lee , Webb Mark
Published: February 2018

Davies, Wittebrood, and Jackson (1997) were among the first to investigate whether offense behaviors are predictive of criminal history, with the findings of their paper then utilized by the National Crime Agency (NCA) Behavioral Investigative Advisors (BIAs) when assisting rape investigations. The aim of the study was to replicate this seminal paper with a larger contemporary sample of U.K. stranger rapists as identified by NCA. Data from 474 adult male stranger rapists were obtained in relation to 22 crime scene behaviors and nine preconviction variables. Results indicated significant differences between the Davies et al. original data set and this contemporary data set in both the behaviors and the preconvictions they displayed. The contemporary sample was significantly less likely to use sighting precautions, use violence, and take fingerprint precautions. This sample was also significantly less likely to have any of the preconviction crime types, with the exception of drugs offenses. When exploring the current data set of stranger rapists, statistical analyses indicated a number of key offense behaviors that were able to predict the criminal history of stranger rapists. However, contrary to previous research, no behaviors were found to be associated with sexual offense preconvictions. The results highlight that behaviors and characteristics of stranger sex offenders have changed since the 1990s. The implications for practice are discussed.
The effect of crystallization properties influenced by 2-methyl-1,3–propanediol units on the optical properties of modified poly(ethylene terephthalate)
Authors: Wang Qiu-xia , Zhang Fu-chen , Qu De-zhi , Bai Yong-ping
Published: February 2018

In this study, the preparation and properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate-co-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol) copolyester (PEMT) were reported. The PEMT crystallization properties, optical properties, thermal properties, rheological properties, and other properties were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), differential scanning calorimetry, thermo gravimetric analysis, ultraviolet visible near-infrared (UV-VIS-NIR) spectroscopy, polarizing microscope crystal culture, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and rheometer. It was proved that the crystallization abilities and crystallization rate of PEMT copolyesters were significantly affected by the content of 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol (MPO) units; the copolyester becomes amorphous when the content of MPO units exceeded 20 mol%. According to the XRD data, the diffraction peaks of PEMT remained unchanged compared with those of poly(ethylene terephthalate). The transmittance of copolyesters displayed a tendency of increasing at first and then declining with the increase in MPO. In addition to the crystallization properties, the transmittance of copolyesters was also affected by the extent of yellowing. When the MPO addition was less than 20 mol%, PEMT can maintain good thermal decomposition performance and processability.
Reading Your Mind While You Are Reading—Evidence for Spontaneous Visuospatial Perspective Taking During a Semantic Categorization Task
Authors: Freundlieb Martin , Kovács Ágnes M. , Sebanz Natalie
Published: February 2018

Recent studies have demonstrated people’s propensity to adopt others’ visuospatial perspectives (VSPs) in a shared physical context. The present study investigated whether spontaneous VSP taking occurs in mental space where another person’s perspective matters for mental activities rather than physical actions. Participants sat at a 90° angle to a confederate and performed a semantic categorization task on written words. From the participants’ point of view, words were always displayed vertically, while for the confederate, these words appeared either the right way up or upside down, depending on the confederate’s sitting position. Participants took longer to categorize words that were upside down for the confederate, suggesting that they adopted the confederate’s VSP without being prompted to do so. Importantly, the effect disappeared if the other’s visual access was impeded by opaque goggles. This demonstrates that human adults show a spontaneous sensitivity to others’ VSP in the context of mental activities, such as joint reading.
The decoupling states of CO2 emissions in the Chinese transport sector from 1994 to 2012: A perspective on fuel types
Authors: Wu Dayong , Yuan Changwei , Liu Hongchao
Published: February 2018

This paper analyzes the decoupling states between CO2 emissions and transport development in China from 1994 to 2012. The results indicate that, at the aggregate level, the Chinese transport sector is far from reaching the decoupling state. Negative decoupling or non-decoupling years account for 72.2% of the study period. At the disaggregated level, the decoupling states between CO2 emissions and eight primary fuels are as follows: raw coal and coke are in the absolute decoupling state; crude oil, gasoline and diesel are in the weak negative state; and the other three types (kerosene, heavy fuel oil, and natural gas) are in the strong negative decoupling state. Policy implications underneath the identified decoupling states are also revealed to help China build a more sustainable transportation system.
The governance of poverty: Welfare reform, activation policies, and social assistance benefits and caseloads in Nordic countries
Authors: Minas Renate , Jakobsen Vibeke , Kauppinen Timo , Korpi Tomas , Lorentzen Thomas
Published: February 2018

Social assistance benefits are the last resort in national social protection systems, and decentralizing reforms leading to increasing local discretion over implementation of national legislation was an international trend frequently referred to as devolution. More recent reforms have instead often implied recentralization and/or involved mandatory institutional cooperation between welfare agencies located at different hierarchical levels. In contrast to North America, there is little European evidence on the extent to which shifting responsibilities influence benefit levels and benefit receipt. Using individual level register data from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden and applying a difference-in-difference approach, we link changes in legislation to changes in municipal benefits as well as caseloads during the period 1990–2010. We only find indications of reform effects linked to distinct benefit centralization, concluding that other reforms were too insubstantial to have an impact. Combined with earlier evidence, this suggests that in order to have an impact, welfare reform requires marked changes in authority.
Fiscal fault, financial fix? Capital Markets Union and the quest for macroeconomic stabilization in the Euro Area
Authors: Braun Benjamin , Hübner Marina
Published: February 2018

This article seeks to situate and explain the European Union’s push for a Capital Markets Union – and thus for a more market-based financial system – in the broader context of macroeconomic governance in politically fractured polities. The current governance structure of the European Monetary Union severely limits the capacity of both national and supranational actors to provide a core public good: macroeconomic stabilization. While member states have institutionalized fiscal austerity and abandoned other macroeconomic levers, the European polity lacks the fiscal resources necessary to achieve stable macroeconomic conditions – smoothing the business cycle, ensuring growth and job creation and mitigating the impact of output shocks on consumption. Capital Markets Union, we argue, is the attempt of European policymakers to devise a financial fix to this structural capacity gap. Using its regulatory powers, the Commission, supported by the European Central Bank (ECB), seeks to harness private financial markets and instruments to provide the public policy good of macroeconomic stabilization. We trace how technocrats, think tanks, and financial-sector lobbyists, through the strategic use of knowledge and expertise, established securitization and market-based finance as solutions to the European Monetary Union’s governance problems.
Persistent mania following cessation of corticosteroids
Authors: Roxanas Milton G
Published: February 2018

Objectives:

The aims of this study are to describe two patients whose manic symptoms persisted for several months after the cessation of corticosteroids, to review the literature and to suggest treatment.

Methods:

The presentation of two elderly patients with persistent manic symptoms following cessation of corticosteroids several months previously afforded the author the opportunity to examine them carefully, investigate and treat them.

Results:

The patients were investigated to rule out other causes and were treated with sodium valproate and quetiapine (in the second patient). When well, the medications were slowly decreased and stopped. Both patients were well at one-year follow-up.

Conclusions:

Manic symptoms may persist for many months after stopping corticosteroids and active treatment is needed to control them.
Muddy Waters: His Life and Music
Authors: Cardany Audrey Berger
Published: February 2018

The author reviews Mahin and Turk’s children’s book Muddy: The Story of Blues Legend Muddy Waters. This biography of McKinley Morganfield describes his challenges and successes in music and life. Illustrations reflect African American culture using color palettes to highlight the places Waters lived and the music connected to those places including the Mississippi Delta blues and the electric Chicago blues style. The musical writing of Mahin expresses Muddy’s story in a lyrical fashion, borrowing elements from the jazz idiom. The author includes a selected discography and suggestions for additional instruction in the music of Muddy’s life using the artistic processes of listening, responding, and performing appropriate for upper elementary and middle school students in general music.
Dexmedetomidine Decreases Postoperative Pain and Narcotic Use in Children Undergoing Alveolar Bone Graft Surgery
Authors: Lopez Mariela M. , Zech Derrick , Linton Judith L. , Blackwell Steven J.
Published: February 2018

Objective:

Dexmedetomidine is a parenteral agent that combines the benefits of cooperative sedation, anxiolysis, and analgesia without the risks of respiratory depression. Off-label use has been reported in children. We have introduced dexmedetomidine for use in patients having undergone alveolar bone graft (ABG). The objective is to demonstrate the value and safety of postoperative dexmedetomidine infusion in a non-ICU setting following ABG.

Design:

A retrospective review was performed on patients who underwent ABG by the senior author. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those who received postoperative dexmedetomidine and those who received patient-controlled anesthesia.

Main Outcome Measure(s):

The primary study outcome measures included patient demographics, adverse events, length of stay, pain scores, and doses of narcotics during admission were collected.

Results:

Inclusion criteria were met by 54 patients; 39 received dexmedetomidine whereas 15 did not. There were no significant differences between groups in age, gender, and length of stay. The patients who received dexmedetomidine used oral narcotics less often ( P = .01). In addition, more patients reported no pain after surgery ( P = .05) and at the time of discharge if they received dexmedetomidine ( P < .01). There were no reported adverse effects.

Conclusions:

Dexmedetomidine provided superior pain control after surgery and at the time of discharge, as well as a significant decrease in the use of oral narcotics. In our institution, it has since replaced the PCA as a postoperative pain control modality. Absent the risk for respiratory depression, dexmedetomidine has demonstrated a safe option for postoperative pain control in our focused group of pediatric patients.
Augmented constrained layer damping in plates through the optimal design of a 0-3 viscoelastic composite layer
Authors: Kumar Ambesh , Panda Satyajit , Narsaria Vivek , Kumar Ashish
Published: February 2018

In this work, a new 0-3 viscoelastic composite (VEC) layer is presented for augmented constrained layer damping of plate vibration. The 0-3 VEC layer comprises a rectangular array of the thin rectangular graphite-wafers embedded within the viscoelastic matrix. The inclusions of graphite-wafers in the constrained 0-3 VEC layer confine the motion of the viscoelastic phase for its reasonable in-plane strains along with the enhanced transverse shear strains. This occurrence of coincidental shear and extensional strains within the viscoelastic phase is supposed to cause augmented damping capacity of the constrained layer, and it is investigated by integrating the constrained 0-3 VEC layer over the top surface of a substrate plate. A finite element (FE) model of the overall plate is developed based on the layer-wise shear deformation theory. Using this FE model, first, a bending analysis of the overall plate is performed to investigate the mechanisms of damping in the use of 0-3 VEC layer. Next, the damping in the overall plate is quantified for different sets of values of the geometrical parameters of the 0-3 VEC layer. These results reveal significant improvement of damping in the plate due to the inclusions of graphite-wafers within the constrained viscoelastic layer. But, the augmentation of damping indicatively depends on the geometrical parameters in the arrangement of the graphite-wafers. So, the 0-3 VEC layer is configured appropriately through an optimization algorithm, and finally, the forced frequency responses of the overall plate are evaluated to demonstrate the augmented attenuation of vibration-amplitude via the inclusions of graphite-wafers within the constrained viscoelastic layer in an optimal manner.
Development of an on-site system for measuring the low-frequency noise and complainant’s responses
Authors: Sato Hiroshi , Ryu Jongkwan , Kurakata Kenji
Published: February 2018

An on-site system for measuring low-frequency noise and complainant's responses to the low-frequency noise was developed to confirm whether the complainant suffer from the environmental noise with low-frequency components. The system suggests several methods to find the dominant frequency and major sound pressure level spectrum of the noise causing annoyance. This method can also yield a quantified relationship (correlation coefficient and percentage of response to the noise) between physical noise properties and the complainant’s responses. The advantage of this system is that it can easily find the relationship between the complainant’s response to the acoustic event of the houses and the physical characteristics of the low-frequency noise, such as the time trends and frequency characteristics. This paper describes the developed system and provides an example of the measurement results.