bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Between insanity and love
Authors: Asai Ryoko
Published: January 2016

Technology has opened up more opportunities to find better partners, especially via online dating sites. In addition, technology related to love and sex currently goes far beyond online dating sites. Technology influences our intimate life more and more. Media started to pick up romantic relationship between human beings and digital characters often. Furthermore, today, many wearable devices to experience virtual sex have come into the market. And also robots designed for having a sex with human beings are being developed rapidly. Some might claim having a sex without love or without reproduction is just totally pointless. Or, having a sex with robots is totally "insane". But apparently there are big market needs, and modern technology seems to be able to satisfy them. This paper explores how it is possible for us to feeling love or sexual desire for non-organic objects by conducting the interview survey, and also considers why people want to have technology for satisfying sexual desire from a philosophical perspective.
Cryptocurrencies as narrative technologies
Authors: Coeckelbergh Mark , Reijers Wessel
Published: January 2016

Transitions in monetary technologies raise novel ethical and philosophical questions. One prominent transition concerns the introduction of cryptocurrencies, which are digital currencies based on blockchain technology. Bitcoin is an example of a cryptocurrency. In this paper we discuss ethical issues raised by cryptocurrencies by conceptualising them as what we call "narrative technologies". Drawing on the work of Ricoeur and responding to the work of Searle, we elaborate on the social and linguistic dimension of money and cryptocurrencies, and explore the implications of our proposed theoretical framework for the ethics of cryptocurrencies. In particular, taking a social-narrative turn, we argue that technologies have a temporal and narrative character: that they are made sense of by means of individual and collective narratives but also themselves co-constitute those narratives and inter-human and social relations; configuring events in a meaningful temporal whole. We show how cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin dynamically re-configure social relations and explore the consequent ethical implications.
Digital wildfires
Authors: Webb Helena , Jirotka Marina , Stahl Bernd Carsten , Housley William , Edwards Adam , Williams Matthew , Procter Rob , Rana Omer , Burnap Pete
Published: January 2016

The last 5--10 years have seen a massive rise in the popularity of social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr etc. These platforms enable users to post and share their own content instantly, meaning that material can be seen by multiple others in a short period of time. The growing use of social media has been accompanied by concerns that these platforms enable the rapid and global spread of harmful content. A report by the World Economic Forum puts forward the global risk factor of 'digital wildfires' -- social media events in which provocative content spreads rapidly and broadly, causing significant harm. This provocative content may take the form of rumour, hate speech or inflammatory messages etc. and the harms caused may affect individuals, groups, organisations or populations. In this paper we draw on the World Economic Forum report to ask a central question: does the risk of digital wildfires necessitate new forms of social media governance? We discuss the results of a scoping exercise that examined this central question. Focusing on the UK context, we present short case studies of digital wildfire scenarios and describe four key mechanisms that currently govern social media content. As these mechanisms tend to be retrospective and individual in focus, it is possible that further governance practices could be introduced to deal with the propagation of content proactively and as a form of collective behaviour. However ethical concerns arise over any restrictions to freedom of speech brought about by further governance. Empirical investigation of social media practices and perspectives is needed before it is possible to determine whether new governance practices are necessary or ethically justifiable.
What is required of requirements?
Authors: Wilford Sara H.
Published: January 2016

Responsible research and innovation (RRI) considers the impact of development on stakeholders and provides a direction for the future of science and technology. Therefore, in the practical world of the lab, what is needed is a set of guidelines to assist in the application of those RRI principles. However, to ensure that any guidelines are usable and acceptable, it is important to engage with those who would actually be expected to implement them.

Stakeholders are often asked to evaluate a set of guidelines or recommendations without having any say in how they are constructed, what they should look like or what they should contain. The process of stakeholder engagement in the development of a set of 'requirements' therefore provides insight from which a set of guidelines can be developed. In this way, acceptance is fostered through stakeholder involvment in the process, which has been built from the core principles of RRI.
Teaching smart phone ethics
Authors: Jones Simon
Published: January 2016

The phenomenal rise of the smartphone, and the rapid diffusion of mobile computing generally, are amongst the most notable developments of recent times in information and communication technologies (ICTs). The smartphone has become a ubiquitous communication tool, evolving into a digital Swiss Army knife, with an ever growing number of functions, from personal communications manager, navigation system, gaming terminal and camera, to payment device, internet access point and all-round digital lifestyle hub. For these reasons, the smartphone represents a prime topic for teaching and thinking about ICT ethics. This paper proposes an inter-disciplinary approach to this task.
RNA Interference (RNAi)-Based Therapeutics: Delivering on the Promise?
Authors: Bobbin Maggie L. , Rossi John J.
Published: January 2016

A resurgence in clinical trials using RNA interference (RNAi) occurred in 2012. Although there were initial difficulties in achieving efficacious results with RNAi without toxic side effects, advances in delivery and improved chemistry made this resurgence possible. More than 20 RNAi-based therapeutics are currently in clinical trials, and several of these are Phase III trials. Continued positive results from these trials have helped bolster further attempts to develop clinically relevant RNAi therapies. With a wide variety of disease targets to choose from, the first RNAi therapeutic to be clinically approved is not far off. This review covers recently established and completed clinical trials.
Positive cross talk between protein kinase D and β-catenin in intestinal epithelial cells: impact on β-catenin nuclear localization and phosphorylation at Ser552
Authors: Wang Jia , Han Liang , Sinnett-Smith James , Han Li-Li , Stevens Jan V. , Rozengurt Nora , Young Steven H. , Rozengurt Enrique
Published: January 2016

Given the fundamental role of β-catenin signaling in intestinal epithelial cell proliferation and the growth-promoting function of protein kinase D1 (PKD1) in these cells, we hypothesized that PKDs mediate cross talk with β-catenin signaling. The results presented here provide several lines of evidence supporting this hypothesis. We found that stimulation of intestinal epithelial IEC-18 cells with the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) agonist angiotensin II (ANG II), a potent inducer of PKD activation, promoted endogenous β-catenin nuclear localization in a time-dependent manner. A significant increase was evident within 1 h of ANG II stimulation ( P < 0.01), peaked at 4 h ( P < 0.001), and declined afterwards. GPCR stimulation also induced a marked increase in β-catenin-regulated genes and phosphorylation at Ser552 in intestinal epithelial cells. Exposure to preferential inhibitors of the PKD family (CRT006610 or kb NB 142-70) or knockdown of the isoforms of the PKD family prevented the increase in β-catenin nuclear localization and phosphorylation at Ser552 in response to ANG II. GPCR stimulation also induced the formation of a complex between PKD1 and β-catenin, as shown by coimmunoprecipitation that depended on PKD1 catalytic activation, as it was abrogated by cell treatment with PKD family inhibitors. Using transgenic mice that express elevated PKD1 protein in the intestinal epithelium, we detected a marked increase in the localization of β-catenin in the nucleus of crypt epithelial cells in the ileum of PKD1 transgenic mice, compared with nontransgenic littermates. Collectively, our results identify a novel cross talk between PKD and β-catenin in intestinal epithelial cells, both in vitro and in vivo.
Mice with hepatocyte-specific FXR deficiency are resistant to spontaneous but susceptible to cholic acid-induced hepatocarcinogenesis
Authors: Kong Bo , Zhu Yan , Li Guodong , Williams Jessica A. , Buckley Kyle , Tawfik Ossama , Luyendyk James P. , Guo Grace L.
Published: January 2016

Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) belongs to the nuclear receptor superfamily with its endogenous ligands bile acids. Mice with whole body FXR deficiency develop liver tumors spontaneously, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Moreover, it is unknown whether FXR deficiency in liver alone serves as a tumor initiator or promoter during liver carcinogenesis. This study aims to evaluate the effects of hepatocyte-specific FXR deficiency (FXRhep−/−) in liver tumor formation. The results showed that FXRhep−/− mice did not show spontaneous liver tumorigenesis with aging (up to 24 mo of age). Therefore FXRhep−/− mice were fed a bile acid (cholic acid)-containing diet alone or along with a liver tumor initiator, diethylnitrosamine (DEN). Thirty weeks later, no tumors were found in wild-type or FXRhep−/− mice without any treatment or with DEN only. However, with cholic acid, while only some wild-type mice developed tumors, all FXRhep−/− mice presented with severe liver injury and tumors. Interestingly, FXRhep−/− mouse livers increased basal expression of tumor suppressor p53 protein, apoptosis, and decreased basal cyclin D1 expression, which may prevent tumor development in FXRhep−/− mice. However, cholic acid feeding reversed these effects in FXRhep−/− mice, which is associated with an increased cyclin D1 and decreased cell cycle inhibitors. More in-depth analysis indicates that the increased in cell growth might result from disturbance of the MAPK and JAK/Stat3 signaling pathways. In conclusion, this study shows that hepatic FXR deficiency may only serve as a tumor initiator, and increased bile acids is required for tumor formation likely by promoting cell proliferation.
Neural correlates of heat-evoked pain memory in humans
Authors: Wang Liping , Gui Peng , Li Lei , Ku Yixuan , Bodner Mark , Fan Gaojie , Zhou Yong-Di , Dong Xiao-Wei
Published: January 2016

The neural processes underlying pain memory are not well understood. To explore these processes, contact heat-evoked potentials (CHEPs) were recorded in humans with electroencephalography (EEG) technique during a delayed matching-to-sample task, a working memory task involving presentations of two successive painful heat stimuli (S-1 and S-2) with different intensities separated by a 2-s interval (the memorization period). At the end of the task, the subject was required to discriminate the stimuli by indicating which (S-1 or S-2) induced more pain. A control task was used, in which no active discrimination was required between stimuli. All event-related potential (ERP) analysis was aligned to the onset of S-1. EEG activity exhibited two successive CHEPs: an N2-P2 complex (∼400 ms after onset of S-1) and an ultralate component (ULC, ∼900 ms). The amplitude of the N2-P2 at vertex, but not the ULC, was significantly correlated with stimulus intensity in these two tasks, suggesting that the N2-P2 represents neural coding of pain intensity. A late negative component (LNC) in the frontal recording region was observed only in the memory task during a 500-ms period before onset of S-2. LNC amplitude differed between stimulus intensities and exhibited significant correlations with the N2-P2 complex. These indicate that the frontal LNC is involved in maintenance of intensity of pain in working memory. Furthermore, alpha-band oscillations observed in parietal recording regions during the late delay displayed significant power differences between tasks. This study provides in the temporal domain previously unidentified neural evidence showing the neural processes involved in working memory of painful stimuli.
Systems-level neurophysiological state characteristics for drug evaluation in an animal model of levodopa-induced dyskinesia
Authors: Tamtè Martin , Brys Ivani , Richter Ulrike , Ivica Nedjeljka , Halje Pär , Petersson Per
Published: January 2016

Disorders affecting the central nervous system have proven particularly hard to treat, and disappointingly few novel therapies have reached the clinics in recent decades. A better understanding of the physiological processes in the brain underlying various symptoms could therefore greatly improve the rate of progress in this field. We here show how systems-level descriptions of different brain states reliably can be obtained through a newly developed method based on large-scale recordings in distributed neural networks encompassing several different brain structures. Using this technology, we characterize the neurophysiological states associated with parkinsonism and levodopa-induced dyskinesia in a rodent model of Parkinson's disease together with pharmacological interventions aimed at reducing dyskinetic symptoms. Our results show that the obtained electrophysiological data add significant information to conventional behavioral evaluations and hereby elucidate the underlying effects of treatments in greater detail. Taken together, these results potentially open up for studies of neurophysiological mechanisms underlying symptoms in a wide range of neurological and psychiatric conditions that until now have been very hard to investigate in animal models of disease.
Role of Acid Sphingomyelinase-Induced Signaling in Melanoma Cells for Hematogenous Tumor Metastasis
Authors: Carpinteiro Alexander , Beckmann Nadine , Seitz Aaron , Hessler Gabriele , Wilker Barbara , Soddemann Matthias , Helfrich Iris , Edelmann Bärbel , Gulbins Erich , Becker Katrin Anne
Published: January 2016

Background: Hematogenous metastasis of malignant tumor cells is a multistep process that requires release of tumor cells from the local tumor mass, interaction of the tumor cells with platelets in the blood, and adhesion of either the activated tumor cells or the complexes of platelets and tumor cells to the endothelial cells of the target organ. We have previously shown that the interaction of melanoma cells with platelets results in the release of acid sphingomyelinase (Asm) from activated platelets. Secreted platelet-derived Asm acts on malignant tumor cells to cluster and activate integrins; such clustering and activation are necessary for tumor cell adhesion to endothelial cells and for metastasis. Methods: We examined the response of tumor cells to treatment with extracellular sphingomyelinase or co-incubation with wild-type and Asm-deficient platelets. We determined the phosphorylation and activation of several intracellular signaling molecules, in particular p38 kinase (p38K), phospholipase Cγ (PLCγ), ezrin, and extracellular signal-regulated kinases. Results: Incubation of B16F10 melanoma cells with Asm activates p38 MAP kinase (p38K), phospholipase Cγ (PLCγ), ezrin, and extracellular signal-regulated kinases. Co-incubation of B16F10 melanoma cells with wild-type or Asm-deficient platelets showed that the phosphorylation/activation of p38K is dependent on Asm. Pharmacological blockade of p38K prevents activation of β1 integrin and adhesion in vitro. Most importantly, inhibition of p38K activity in B16F10 melanoma cells prevents tumor cell adhesion and metastasis to the lung in vivo, a finding indicating the importance of p38K for metastasis. Conclusions: Asm, secreted from activated platelets after tumor cell-platelet contact, induces p38K phosphorylation in tumor cells. This in turn stimulates β1 integrin activation that is necessary for adhesion and subsequent metastasis of tumor cells. Thus, inhibition of p38K might be a novel target to prevent tumor metastasis.
Inhibiting HIF-1α Decreases Expression of TNF-α and Caspase-3 in Specific Brain Regions Exposed Kainic Acid-Induced Status Epilepticus
Authors: Yang Jixue , He Fang , Meng Qiang , Sun Yang , Wang Weiwen , Wang Chao
Published: January 2016

Background/Aims: A recent study demonstrates that pro-inflammatory cytokines (PICs, i.e., IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) in specific brain regions of rats play a role in regulating kainic acid (KA)-induced status epilepticus (SE) via a GABAergic mechanism. The purposes of this report were to examine contributions of hypoxia inducible factor subtype 1α (HIF-1α) to expression of PICs in these specific brain regions in epileptic rats. Particularly, we investigated the parietal cortex, hippocampus and amygdala. In addition, we further examined expression of Caspase-3 indicating cell apoptosis in those brain regions of epileptic rats after infusing 2-methoxyestradiol (2-MET, inhibitor of HIF-1α) and etanercept (TNF-α receptor antagonist). Methods: ELISA was used to determine the levels of HIF-1α and PICs and western blot analysis was used to examine Caspase-3 expression. Results: Our data show that HIF-1α was significantly increased in the parietal cortex, hippocampus and amygdala 1, 3 and 7 days after induction of SE (P<0.05 vs. control rats). Our results also show that inhibiting HIF-1α by central infusion of 2-MET significantly decreased the amplified TNF-α expression in these brain regions evoked by SE (P<0.05 vs. vehicle control), but did not modify IL-1β and IL-6. Our results demonstrate that 2-MET and etanercept attenuated an increase in Caspase-3 evoked by SE. Conclusion: Overall, we suggest that HIF-1α activated by SE is likely to contribute to epileptic activity via a TNF-α pathway, which has pharmacological implications to target specific HIF-1α and TNF-α pathways for neuronal dysfunction and vulnerability related to epilepsy.
Paraxial Nodal Expression Reveals a Novel Conserved Structure of the Left-Right Organizer in Four Mammalian Species
Authors: Schröder Silke S. , Tsikolia Nikoloz , Weizbauer Annette , Hue Isabelle , Viebahn Christoph
Published: January 2016

Nodal activity in the left lateral plate mesoderm is a conserved sign of irreversible left-right asymmetry at early somite stages of the vertebrate embryo. An earlier, paraxial nodal domain accompanies the emergence and initial extension of the notochord and is either left-sided, as in the chick and pig, or symmetrical, as in the mouse and rabbit; intriguingly, this interspecific dichotomy is mirrored by divergent morphological features of the posterior notochord (also known as the left-right organizer), which is ventrally exposed to the yolk sac cavity and carries motile cilia in the latter 2 species only. By introducing the cattle embryo as a new model organism for early left-right patterning, we present data to establish 2 groups of mammals characterized by both the morphology of the left-right organizer and the dynamics of paraxial nodal expression: presence and absence of a ventrally open surface of the early (plate-like) posterior notochord correlates with a symmetrical (in mice and rabbits) versus an asymmetrical (in pigs and cattle) paraxial nodal expression domain next to the notochordal plate. High-resolution histological analysis reveals that the latter domain defines in all 4 mammals a novel ‘parachordal' axial mesoderm compartment, the topography of which changes according to the specific regression of the similarly novel subchordal mesoderm during the initial phases of notochord development. In conclusion, the mammalian axial mesoderm compartment (1) shares critical conserved features despite the marked differences in early notochord morphology and early left-right patterning and (2) provides a dynamic topographical framework for nodal activity as part of the mammalian left-right organizer.
A Case for Returning to Multiplex Families for Further Understanding the Heritability of Schizophrenia: A Psychiatrist's Perspective
Authors: DeLisi Lynn E.
Published: January 2016

The genetic mechanism for schizophrenia still remains unknown despite decades of research. A tremendous amount of investigator time and effort has gone into ascertainment of clinical samples for genetic studies over the years. Most recently, a large international effort of unprecedented collaboration has occurred to combine data worldwide in pursuit of uncovering the relevant genetic risk factors. However, in the process, the use of multiplex families to understand the genetics has waned, and it has been presumed that large resources of unrelated patients and controls are more efficient to find risk alleles than families. This commentary is a call to return to the use of this largely abandoned resource for further understanding the underlying biological mechanism of this serious mental illness.
Global Consensus Recommendations on Prevention and Management of Nutritional Rickets
Authors: Munns Craig F. , Shaw Nick , Kiely Mairead , Specker Bonny L. , Thacher Tom D. , Ozono Keiichi , Michigami Toshimi , Tiosano Dov , Mughal M. Zulf , Mäkitie Outi , Ramos-Abad Lorna , Ward Leanne , DiMeglio Linda A. , Atapattu Navoda , Cassinelli Hamilton , Braegger Christian , Pettifor John M. , Seth Anju , Idris Hafsatu Wasagu , Bhatia Vijayalakshmi , Fu Junfen , Goldberg Gail , Sävendahl Lars , Khadgawat Rajesh , Pludowski Pawel , Maddock Jane , Hyppönen Elina , Oduwole Abiola , Frew Emma , Aguiar Magda , Tulchinsky Ted , Butler Gary , Högler Wolfgang
Published: January 2016

Background: Vitamin D and calcium deficiencies are common worldwide, causing nutritional rickets and osteomalacia, which have a major impact on health, growth, and development of infants, children, and adolescents; the consequences can be lethal or can last into adulthood. The goals of this evidence-based consensus document are to provide health care professionals with guidance for prevention, diagnosis, and management of nutritional rickets and to provide policy makers with a framework to work toward its eradication. Evidence: A systematic literature search examining the definition, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of nutritional rickets in children was conducted. Evidence-based recommendations were developed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system that describes the strength of the recommendation and the quality of supporting evidence. Process: Thirty-three nominated experts in pediatric endocrinology, pediatrics, nutrition, epidemiology, public health, and health economics evaluated the evidence on specific questions within five working groups. The consensus group, representing 11 international scientific organizations, participated in a multiday conference in May 2014 to reach a global evidence-based consensus. Results: This consensus document defines nutritional rickets and its diagnostic criteria and describes the clinical management of rickets and osteomalacia. Risk factors, particularly in mothers and infants, are ranked, and specific prevention recommendations including food fortification and supplementation are offered for both the clinical and public health contexts. Conclusion: Rickets, osteomalacia, and vitamin D and calcium deficiencies are preventable global public health problems in infants, children, and adolescents. Implementation of international rickets prevention programs, including supplementation and food fortification, is urgently required.
A Case of Advanced Extramammary Paget's Disease Successfully Controlled by Monthly but Not Weekly Docetaxel Chemotherapy
Authors: Yoshihara Yuki , Itoh Munenari , Nobeyama Yoshimasa , Nakagawa Hidemi
Published: January 2016

Extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) is an uncommon cutaneous adenocarcinoma arising from the apocrine glands within the epidermis or underlying skin appendages in the anogenital and axillary regions. Surgical excision is basically performed as a treatment for EMPD. However, therapeutic options for EMPD in an advanced stage are limited. Herein, we report the case of a Japanese woman with advanced EMPD successfully controlled by monthly but not weekly docetaxel therapy. We also demonstrate the possibility that a monthly regimen of docetaxel is a more effective and optimal schedule than a weekly one through this case report.
Expanding the CHARGE Geno-Phenotype: A Girl with Novel CHD7 Deletion, Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism, and Agenesis of Uterus and Ovaries
Authors: Reynaert Nele , de Zegher Francis , Francois Inge , Devriendt Koenraad , Beckers Dominique , Casteels Kristina
Published: January 2016

Background: CHARGE syndrome is a variable entity. Clinical diagnosis is based on the Blake-Verloes criteria and can be confirmed by identifying a mutation or deletion in the CHD7 gene. Hypoplasia of the male genitalia and lack or incomplete secondary sexual development in both sexes is a common feature, and is most often attributable to hypogonadotropic hypogonadism which is described in >80% of the CHARGE patients. Other genital anomalies in CHARGE patients are rare. Methods and Results: We describe the case of a girl with a novel heterozygous deletion in exon 15 of the CHD7 gene and combined agenesis of uterus and ovaries, besides gonadotropin deficiency, thus expanding the geno-phenotype of CHARGE syndrome. Conclusion: In case of persistent primary amenorrhea, despite estrogen replacement, this unusual combination should be considered in girls with CHARGE syndrome.
Paraneoplastic Choreoathetosis in a Patient with Small Cell Lung Carcinoma and Anti-CRMP5/CV2: A Case Report
Authors: Aydin Dogu , Somnier Finn , Lassen Lisbeth H.
Published: January 2016

Introduction: The occurrence of more or less monosymptomatic paraneoplastic choreoathetosis associated with anti-CRMP5/CV2 antibodies is rare. Typically, such autoantibodies are associated with a more classical syndrome - paraneoplastic encephalomyelitis. Frequently, small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) is the related neoplastic finding. Case Report: We present a 71-year-old woman who developed visual symptoms with papilledema and chorea. Anti-CRMP5/CV2 antibodies were a feature of both the serum and cerebrospinal fluid. Although SCLC was suspected already at the time of the initial examinations, no signs of primary or metastatic tumors were revealed on chest X-ray, MRI or whole-body PET scan. EEG and bronchoscopy were also unremarkable. However, 6 months after the onset, a repeated PET scan and subsequent bronchoscopic biopsy revealed SCLC. In spite of chemotherapy, the SCLC progressed, and the patient died 14 months after the onset of the symptoms. Conclusion: We report paraneoplastic choreoathetosis associated with anti-CRMP5/CV2 antibodies. Such published case histories are rare. Although expected, we did not find any reduced signal intensity at the basal ganglia on the T1-weighted or increased intensity on the T2-weighted MRI scans.
Intensive Working Memory Training Produces Functional Changes in Large-scale Frontoparietal Networks
Authors: Thompson Todd W. , Waskom Michael L. , Gabrieli John D. E.
Published: January 2016

Working memory is central to human cognition, and intensive cognitive training has been shown to expand working memory capacity in a given domain. It remains unknown, however, how the neural systems that support working memory are altered through intensive training to enable the expansion of working memory capacity. We used fMRI to measure plasticity in activations associated with complex working memory before and after 20 days of training. Healthy young adults were randomly assigned to train on either a dual n-back working memory task or a demanding visuospatial attention task. Training resulted in substantial and task-specific expansion of dual n-back abilities accompanied by changes in the relationship between working memory load and activation. Training differentially affected activations in two large-scale frontoparietal networks thought to underlie working memory: the executive control network and the dorsal attention network. Activations in both networks linearly scaled with working memory load before training, but training dissociated the role of the two networks and eliminated this relationship in the executive control network. Load-dependent functional connectivity both within and between these two networks increased following training, and the magnitudes of increased connectivity were positively correlated with improvements in task performance. These results provide insight into the adaptive neural systems that underlie large gains in working memory capacity through training.
Decoding fMRI Signatures of Real-world Autobiographical Memory Retrieval
Authors: Rissman Jesse , Chow Tiffany E. , Reggente Nicco , Wagner Anthony D.
Published: January 2016

Extant neuroimaging data implicate frontoparietal and medial-temporal lobe regions in episodic retrieval, and the specific pattern of activity within and across these regions is diagnostic of an individual's subjective mnemonic experience. For example, in laboratory-based paradigms, memories for recently encoded faces can be accurately decoded from single-trial fMRI patterns [Uncapher, M. R., Boyd-Meredith, J. T., Chow, T. E., Rissman, J., & Wagner, A. D. Goal-directed modulation of neural memory patterns: Implications for fMRI-based memory detection. Journal of Neuroscience, 35, 8531–8545, 2015; Rissman, J., Greely, H. T., & Wagner, A. D. Detecting individual memories through the neural decoding of memory states and past experience. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, U.S.A., 107, 9849–9854, 2010]. Here, we investigated the neural patterns underlying memory for real-world autobiographical events, probed at 1- to 3-week retention intervals as well as whether distinct patterns are associated with different subjective memory states. For 3 weeks, participants (n = 16) wore digital cameras that captured photographs of their daily activities. One week later, they were scanned while making memory judgments about sequences of photos depicting events from their own lives or events captured by the cameras of others. Whole-brain multivoxel pattern analysis achieved near-perfect accuracy at distinguishing correctly recognized events from correctly rejected novel events, and decoding performance did not significantly vary with retention interval. Multivoxel pattern classifiers also differentiated recollection from familiarity and reliably decoded the subjective strength of recollection, of familiarity, or of novelty. Classification-based brain maps revealed dissociable neural signatures of these mnemonic states, with activity patterns in hippocampus, medial PFC, and ventral parietal cortex being particularly diagnostic of recollection. Finally, a classifier trained on previously acquired laboratory-based memory data achieved reliable decoding of autobiographical memory states. We discuss the implications for neuroscientific accounts of episodic retrieval and comment on the potential forensic use of fMRI for probing experiential knowledge.
The genus Anarsia in Cambodia and the Northern Vietnam (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae), with descriptions of ten new species and a catalogue of the genus in the Central-East Asia
Authors: BAE YANG-SEOP , SHIN YOUNG-MIN , NA SOL-MOON , PARK KYU-TEK
Published: January 2016

The genus Anarsia Zeller in Vietnam and Cambodia is reviewed, with 19 species including 10 new species: A. deuterodes Park, sp. nov., Anarsia diversiola Park, sp. nov., A. porthmista Park, sp. nov., A. melanodes Park, sp. nov., A. gryphodes Park, sp. nov., A. campestra Park, sp. nov., A. similicampa Park, sp. nov., A. kepensis Park, sp. nov., A. pusillidia Park, sp. nov., and A. houhunlii Park, sp. nov. Nine previously described species, namely A. tricornis Meyrick, A. choana Park, A. isogona Meyrick, A. paraisogona Meyrick, A. incerta Ueda, A. acerata Meyrick, A. didymopa Meyrick, A. phortica Meyrick, and A. patulella (Walker), are reported for the first time from Vietnam or Cambodia. Anarsia magnibimaculata Li & Zheng, 1998 is newly synonymized with A. bimaculata Ponomarenko, 1989. A tentative check list of the genus in the Central and East Asia (including Indochina, China, Russian Far East, Korea, and Japan) is given.
Morphological tricks and blessed genitalia: rectifying the family placement of Fijicolana tuberculata (Opiliones: Laniatores: Zalmoxidae)
Authors: Pérez-González ABEL , Sharma Prashant P. , Proud Daniel N.
Published: January 2016

The type specimens of Fijicolana tuberculata Roewer, 1963 were re-examined and the male genital morphology is illustrated and described for the first time. Despite the presence of several morphological features that are typical of Samoidae, such as the presence of scopulae on legs III and IV, genital morphology unambiguously indicates that this species belongs to the Zalmoxidae rather than to the Samoidae. Fijicolana Roewer, 1963 is newly synonymized with Zalmoxis Sørensen, 1886. However, the newly implied combination is preoccupied by Z. tuberculatus Goodnight & Goodnight, 1948 thus the replacement name Zalmoxis roeweri nom. nov. is proposed to avoid secondary homonymy. The definition of Z. roeweri nom. nov. is amended, and the morphology of this species is compared with other representatives of Zalmoxidae and Samoidae. We conclude that the presence of scopulae alone is not a sufficiently diagnostic characteristic for Samoidae and, therefore, correctly placing taxa into families within Samooidea + Zalmoxoidea requires additional morphological evidence (e.g. genital morphology). In light of this result, we point out that the "scopulated" Australasian samoids Badessania metatarsalis Roewer, 1949, Sawaiellus berlandi Roewer, 1949 and Parasamoa gressitti Goodnight & Goodnight, 1957 require re-examination in order to detect potential errors in their family placement.
The advertisement call of Bokermannohyla flavopicta Leite, Pezzuti & Garcia, 2012 (Anura: Hylidae) from the mountains of Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil
Authors: ROCHA PEDRO CARVALHO , THOMPSON JULIA RESENDE , LEITE FELIPE SÁ FORTES , GARCIA PAULO CHRISTIANO DE ANCHIETTA
Published: January 2016

Bokermannohyla Faivovich, Haddad, Garcia, Frost, Campbell & Wheeler (2005) is a Brazilian treefrog genus currently composed of 32 species (Brandão et al. 2012; Leite et al. 2012; Frost 2015). The genus comprehends four, putatively monophyletic, species groups: B. circumdata, B. claresignata, B. martinsi, and B. pseudopseudis (sensu Faivovich et al. 2005). The B. pseudopseudis group includes nine species: B. alvarengai (Bokermann 1956), B. flavopicta Leite et al. 2012, B. ibitiguara (Cardoso 1983), B. itapoty Lugli & Haddad 2006a, B. oxente Lugli & Haddad 2006b, B. pseudopseudis (Miranda-Ribeiro 1937), B. sagarana Leite et al. 2011, B. sapiranga Brandão et al. 2012, and B. saxicola (Bokermann 1964).
Chilocoris laevicollis Horváth, 1919, and Ch. umbricola Linnavuori, 1993—two trogloxenic burrower bugs recorded for the first time in Gabon (Central Africa)
Authors: LIS BARBARA , LIS JERZY A.
Published: January 2016

First country records of two burrower bugs, Chilocoris laevicollis, and Ch. umbricola (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Cydnidae) from Gabon (Central Africa) are presented. The study was based on the specimens collected by Dr. V. Aellen, a well-known Swiss speleologist, taken from two caves near Lastoursville in the Gabonese Republic. Diagnostic characters for both recorded species are provided, and data on their biology and distribution are summarized.
Catalogue of families and their type genera in the mite suborder Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata)
Authors: HALLIDAY R. B.
Published: January 2016

This paper reviews 47 names that have been used at the levels of Family, Subfamily and Tribe, for mites in the suborder Uropodina. Complete bibliographic references are provided for all of these names and the names of their type genera. The spelling and authorship of taxon names is corrected where necessary. Fifteen of these family-group names are unavailable, because they do not satisfy the requirements of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. However, some of these names represent taxonomic concepts that may be useful in future revisions of the group.
Tornadoes in Europe: Synthesis of the Observational Datasets
Authors: Antonescu Bogdan , Schultz David M. , Lomas Fiona , Kühne Thilo
Published: January 2016

A synthesis of tornado observations across Europe between 1800 and 2014 is used to produce a pan-European climatology. Based on regional tornado-occurrence datasets and articles published in peer-reviewed journals, the evolution and the major contributions to tornado databases for 30 European countries were analyzed. Between 1800 and 2014, 9563 tornadoes were reported in Europe with an increase from 8 tornadoes per year between 1800 and 1850 to 242 tornadoes per year between 2000 and 2014. The majority of the reports came from northern, western, and southern Europe, and to a lesser extent from eastern Europe where tornado databases were developed after the 1990s. Tornadoes occur throughout the year with a maximum in June–August for most of Europe and in August–November for southern Europe. Tornadoes occur more frequently between 1300 and 1500 UTC over most of Europe and between 0900 and 1100 UTC over southern Europe. Where intensity was known, 74.7% of tornadoes were classified as F0 and F1, 24.5% as F2 and F3, and 0.8% as F4 and F5. Comparing this intensity distribution over Europe with the intensity distribution for tornadoes in the United States shows that tornadoes over western and eastern Europe are more likely to be supercellular tornadoes and those over northern and southern Europe are likely to also include nonsupercellular tornadoes.
Defining spatial housing submarkets: Exploring the case for expert delineated boundaries
Authors: Keskin Berna , Watkins Craig
Published: January 2016

Although there are numerous reasons for real estate analysts to construct spatial housing submarkets, there is little clarity about how this might best be done in practice. The existing literature offers a variety of techniques including those based on principal components analysis, cluster analysis and a range of other statistical procedures. This paper asks whether, given their market expertise and their role in disseminating information, shaping search patterns and informing bid formation, real estate agents might offer an effective but less data intensive method of submarket construction. The empirical research is based on an experiment that compares the predictive of different sets of submarket boundaries constructed by using either standard statistical methods or through consultation with real estate agents and other market analysts. The analysis draws on housing transactions data from Istanbul, Turkey. While the results do not demonstrate the outright superiority of any single method, they do suggest that expert-defined boundaries tend to perform at least as well as alternative construction techniques. Importantly, the results suggest that agent-based methods for delineating submarket boundaries might be used with a degree of confidence by real estate analysts and planners in market contexts where rich micro-datasets are not readily available. This has been one of the constraints internationally on wider adoption of submarket boundaries as an analytical tool.
Orbito-frontal cortex and thalamus volumes in the patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder before and after cognitive behavioral therapy
Authors: Atmaca Murad , Yildirim Hanefi , Yilmaz Seda , Caglar Neslihan , Mermi Osman , Korkmaz Sevda , Akaslan Unsal , Gurok M Gurkan , Kekilli Yasemin , Turkcapar Hakan
Published: January 2016

Background

The effect of a variety of treatment modalities including psychopharmacological and cognitive behavioral therapy on the brain volumes and neurochemicals have not been investigated enough in the patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to investigate the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy on the volumes of the orbito-frontal cortex and thalamus regions which seem to be abnormal in the patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. We hypothesized that there would be change in the volumes of the orbito-frontal cortex and thalamus.

Methods

Twelve patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder and same number of healthy controls were included into the study. At the beginning of the study, the volumes of the orbito-frontal cortex and thalamus were compared by using magnetic resonance imaging. In addition, volumes of these regions were measured before and after the cognitive behavioral therapy treatment in the patient group.

Results

The patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder had greater left and right thalamus volumes and smaller left and right orbito-frontal cortex volumes compared to those of healthy control subjects at the beginning of the study. When we compared baseline volumes of the patients with posttreatment ones, we detected that thalamus volumes significantly decreased throughout the period for both sides and that the orbito-frontal cortex volumes significantly increased throughout the period for only left side.

Conclusions

In summary, we found that cognitive behavioral therapy might volumetrically affect the key brain regions involved in the neuroanatomy of obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, future studies with larger sample are required.
“Death Is Better Than Misery”
Authors: Chane Samson , Adamek Margaret E.
Published: January 2016

As the proportion of elders in developing nations increases and the ability of families to meet their needs is stretched thin, the risk of elder abuse will grow. This study examined the types and nature of abuse and neglect from the perspective of elders in Ethiopia who experienced abuse in noninstitutional settings. A qualitative design guided by hermeneutic phenomenology was used to explore the lived experiences of abuse and neglect of 15 Ethiopian elders. Nine women and six men ranging in age from 64 to 93 years were interviewed. Most were victims of multiple forms of abuse, especially financial exploitation, emotional abuse, and neglect. Economic vulnerability was a clear underlying factor contributing to elders' risk for encountering abuse. Effective prevention efforts must address the societal level factors that ultimately contribute to elder abuse while also holding individuals responsible for their harmful behaviors against elders.
Real utopias, reciprocity and concern for others
Authors: Kuch Hannes
Published: January 2016

The article explores the early Marx’s vision of communal relationships, which is centered on the idea that in producing for others individuals can be concerned with satisfying the needs of others, and may reciprocally value their interdependence in producing for one another. It is argued that if the ideal of communal reciprocity is to be realized in a viable and desirable form, it must be compatible with some forms of self-interest, social indifference and instrumental action, typically realized through the institution of the market. The article shows that communal reciprocity may go together with market reciprocity as long as market relations are structured such that exploitative motives are not systematically promoted. The article examines various economic institutions that could meet the non-exploitation requirement, either by transforming the constitutive rules of the market, in contrast to its regulative rules, or by regulating the market internally, in contrast to its external regulation.
Maternal high-fat diet influences outcomes after neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in rodents
Authors: Barks John D , Liu Yiqing , Shangguan Yu , Djuric Zora , Ren Jianwei , Silverstein Faye S
Published: January 2016

The typical US diet has >30% calories from fat; yet, typical laboratory diets contain 17% calories from fat. This disparity could confound the clinical relevance of findings in cerebral ischemia models. We compared outcomes after neonatal brain injury in offspring of rat dams fed standard low-fat chow (17% fat calories) or a higher fat diet (34% fat calories) from day 7 of pregnancy. On postnatal day 7, hypoxic-ischemic injury was induced by right carotid ligation, followed by 60, 75 or 90 min 8% oxygen exposure. Sensorimotor function, brain damage, and serum and brain fatty acid content were compared 1 to 4 weeks later. All lesioned animals developed left forepaw placing deficits; scores were worse in the high-fat groups (p < 0.0001, ANOVA). Similarly, reductions in left forepaw grip strength were more pronounced in the high-fat groups. Severity of right hemisphere damage increased with hypoxia-ischemia duration but did not differ between diet groups. Serum and brain docosahexaenoic acid fatty acid fractions were lower in high-fat progeny (p < 0.05, ANOVA). We speculate that the high-fat diet disrupted docosahexaenoic acid-dependent recovery mechanisms. These findings have significant implications both for refinement of neonatal brain injury models and for understanding the impact of maternal diet on neonatal neuroplasticity.
Poor response to platinum-based chemotherapy is associated with KRAS mutation and concomitant low expression of BRAC1 and TYMS in NSCLC
Authors: Zhou Hongxuan , Dai Yun , Zhu Liqun , Wang Chun , Fei Xiaodong , Pan Qin , Chen Juxiang , Shi Xianqing , Yang Yanfeng , Tao Xiaoxing , Shi Pinghuai
Published: January 2016

Objective

To evaluate treatment response, survival, and the associations between KRAS mutation status and tumour expression levels of BRCA1, TYMS and SRC retrospectively in a cohort of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), treated exclusively with conjunctive platinum-based doublet chemotherapy.

Methods

KRAS mutation status was determined via amplification refractory mutation and multiple quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Tumour expression levels of BRCA1, TYMS and SRC were determined via real time quantitative PCR.

Results

Patients with KRAS mutations ( n = 3) had significantly shorter survival duration than patients with wild type KRAS ( n = 42). Tumour expression levels of BRCA1 and TYMS, but not SRC, were significantly lower in patients with, than in those without, KRAS mutations. Tumour expression level of BRCA1 was positively correlated with survival duration.

Conclusions

KRAS mutation status and BRCA1 tumour expression are potential biomarkers for tailoring chemotherapy and predicting clinical outcome.
An experimental study of temperature distribution in an autoclave
Authors: Kluge NEJ , Lundström TS , Ljung A-L , Westerberg LG , Nyman T
Published: January 2016

In this work, the temperature distribution on an industrial mold tool is monitored during autoclave runs with three settings. In one of the settings, the temperature and pressure follow a scheme used in real moldings, while in the other two cases, the temperature is increased as fast as possible with and without an applied pressure. The temperature difference over the tool is relatively large and varies between 29℃ and 76℃ validating a detailed investigation of the temperature at different points. Two results of this are that positions on the up-stream side of the tool are heated faster than positions down-stream and the heating over the tool is symmetric while that within is asymmetric. Roughly estimated heat transfer coefficients reveal that the temperature ramping has no significant effect on the local heat transfer coefficients while the applied pressure more than doubled them. In addition flow field measurements with particle image velocimetry are performed, revealing a very slow flow near the roof of the autoclave and a velocity peak near the floor of it, indicating that the flow profile within the autoclave and variation in heat transfer coefficients should be considered in autoclave simulations.