bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Abstract IA11: Oxidized 5-methylcytosine: At the interface of epigenetics and DNA repair
Authors: Pfeifer Gerd Peter
Published: December 2017

5-methylcytosine (5mC) is an epigenetic DNA modification that represses transcription when placed into CpG-rich promoter sequences. The removal of 5mC from DNA occurs through stepwise oxidation of the methyl group by 5mC oxidases, the so-called Ten-Eleven-Translocation (TET) enzymes. These oxidases sequentially produce 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), 5-formylcytosine (5fC) and 5-carboxylcytosine (5caC). Whereas 5hmC occurs at substantial levels in several mammalian cell and tissue types, the other two oxidation products are often described as intermediates in the DNA demethylation pathway, which is completed by base excision repair following excision of 5fC and 5caC by thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG). 5caC is a block to polymerases and may elicit a DNA damage response. Mammalian genomes encode three TET enzymes, TET1, TET2, and TET3. TET3 exists as three major isoforms including an oocyte-specific form, likely responsible for the preferential oxidation of 5mC in the paternal genome of fertilized oocytes, as well as two somatic isoform that differ with regards to presence or absence of an N-terminal zinc finger-type CXXC domain. We recently characterized the full-length TET3 isoform containing the CXXC domain (TET3FL). This CXXC domain binds to unmethylated CpG sequences but, unexpectedly, its highest affinity is towards 5-carboxylcytosine (5caC). We determined the crystal structure of the CXXC domain - 5caC-DNA complex revealing the structural basis of the binding specificity of this domain as a reader of 5CcaCG sequences. We propose that binding of TET3 to its reaction product 5caC through its CXXC domain enforces the genomic specificity of this protein. Mapping of TET3FL in neuronal cell populations showed that Tet3FL is localized at the transcription start sites (TSS) of genes involved in lysosome function, mRNA processing and key genes of the base excision repair pathway. Thus, Tet3FL may function as a regulator of 5caC removal by base excision repair. TET3FL peaks coincided with binding sites for the master regulator of the lysosome and autophagy pathways, TFEB. Active removal of accumulating 5mC from the TSS of genes coding for essential proteins by TET3FL may be important for preventing age-associated diseases including neurodegeneration and cancer.

Citation Format: Gerd Peter Pfeifer. Oxidized 5-methylcytosine: At the interface of epigenetics and DNA repair [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR International Conference: New Frontiers in Cancer Research; 2017 Jan 18-22; Cape Town, South Africa. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(22 Suppl):Abstract nr IA11.
Abstract IA18: Moving towards precision medicine for melanoma
Authors: Marais Richard
Published: December 2017

Cutaneous melanoma is a potentially deadly skin cancer that is linked to exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Rapid advances in genome sequencing approaches have provided enormous insight into the genetics of melanoma, revealing that about half of human melanomas carry activating mutations in the protein kinase BRAF. Drugs that target BRAF, or its downstream signaling component MEK, can extend both progression free and overall survival in BRAF mutant melanoma patients. In parallel, drugs that stimulate the immune system to attack melanomas are effective in 20-50% of patients, and in some cases can even lead to cure. Thus, in the last 6-7 years there has been a paradigm shift in the clinical management of melanoma, but nevertheless, the majority of patients still die of their disease, because despite initial excellent responses to BRAF/MEK drugs, most patients will eventually develop resistance and relapse, and we currently do not have effective biomarkers to stratify patients for the large number of immunotherapies that are being developed.

New approaches are therefore needed to stratify melanoma patients to improve clinical outcomes, and to that end we have developed a platform of technologies to guide selection of treatments for individual patients. Next generation sequencing is used to investigate the genetics of tumours with the eventual aim of using selecting the most appropriate drugs for an individual patient. Patient-derived xenografts have been developed from over 100 patients and are used to investigate melanoma biology and the response of individual tumours to hypothesis-driven therapeutic approaches. In cases where tumours are inaccessible, xenografts can sometimes be developed from circulating tumour cells (CDX), allowing the biology of late-stage disease to be investigated. Finally, cell-free tumour DNA (ctDNA) in the blood is used to monitor patient responses to treatments and clinical trials are being designed to use this approach to provide insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying tumour growth, to guide clinical decisions about which drugs to administer and also to guide when to switch treatment from one modality to another.

Citation Format: Richard Marais. Moving towards precision medicine for melanoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR International Conference: New Frontiers in Cancer Research; 2017 Jan 18-22; Cape Town, South Africa. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(22 Suppl):Abstract nr IA18.
Abstract IA28: Deciphering immune regulation and recognition at the tumour site
Authors: Quezada Sergio A.
Published: December 2017

My laboratory is interested in defining and targeting the key pathways regulating immune recognition and destruction of cancerous cells within tumours. In recent years, a number of publications have demonstrated the essential role of the tumour microenvironment in the in vivo activity of checkpoint targeting antibodies. In this talk I will discuss novel developments in this area relating to the mechanism of action and the development of immune modulatory antibodies that promote maximal modulatory activity in different tumour microenvironments. In addition to immune regulation, another key area of research in the field of cancer immunology relates to the recognition of tumour cells by T lymphocytes. Whilst recent studies highlight the potential importance of T cell reactivity towards patient-specific mutant epitopes in the successful outcome of immune modulatory therapies, little is known about the impact of intra-tumour heterogeneity (ITH) on this relation. In the second part of this talk I will describe recent data using multi tumour region sampling to characterise the interplay between ITH, immune-reactivity and immune-regulation in non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Citation Format: Sergio A. Quezada. Deciphering immune regulation and recognition at the tumour site [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR International Conference: New Frontiers in Cancer Research; 2017 Jan 18-22; Cape Town, South Africa. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(22 Suppl):Abstract nr IA28.
Abstract IA32: Metabolic syndrome and breast cancer risk among black women: An exercise intervention
Authors: Adams-Campbell Lucile L.
Published: December 2017

Breast cancer rates, which are increasing worldwide, parallel the increases in lifestyle diseases including Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome (MetS). MetS represents a cluster of risk factors associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, and includes several components individually related to breast cancer etiology, i.e., central obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Among Black women who have high rates of MetS and breast cancer mortality, it is hypothesized that lifestyle interventions on MetS may improve the MetS profile and reduce breast cancer risk. In the present randomized controlled trial (RCT) we compared two exercise interventions: a supervised facility-based and a home-based exercise intervention to a control group in Black women with MetS who are at increased risk for breast cancer (based on the CARE model). This 6-month three-arm RCT assesses the impact of the exercise interventions on biomarkers related to obesity, insulin-related pathways, inflammation, and hormones. The specific aim of the proposed study is to compare the impact of a supervised facility-based and a home-based exercise intervention on obesity, metabolic syndrome and known breast cancer biomarkers in postmenopausal Black women with MetS who are at increased risk of breast cancer. There was a total of N=213 women randomized to the 3 arms of the RCT comprising 73, 69, and 71 women in the supervised, home-based, and control groups. The data reveal that the home-based intervention arm results have more favorable changes in metabolic components compared to the supervised and control groups. These findings appear to have broad public health utility in addressing lifestyle interventions among Black women, with a successful home-based intervention.

Citation Format: Lucile L. Adams-Campbell. Metabolic syndrome and breast cancer risk among black women: An exercise intervention [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR International Conference: New Frontiers in Cancer Research; 2017 Jan 18-22; Cape Town, South Africa. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(22 Suppl):Abstract nr IA32.
Abstract IA5: Aspirin for precision chemoprevention of colorectal cancer
Authors: Chan Andrew T.
Published: December 2017

Remarkably consistent experimental and epidemiologic evidence demonstrates that aspirin is associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancer. These studies have been complemented by compelling data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Five placebo-controlled RCTs among individuals with a history of colorectal adenoma or cancer showed that aspirin reduced the risk of recurrent adenomas, the precursors of the vast majority of cancers. Data from long-term follow-up of the CAPP2 trial, a RCT of aspirin among individuals with the Lynch hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome and the Women's Health Study, a RCT of aspirin among women for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer demonstrated that randomized aspirin treatment was associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancer. Finally, secondary analyses of RCTs of aspirin for cardiovascular prevention have shown that aspirin reduces incidence of and mortality from colorectal cancer. As a reflection of the strength of the evidence, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) updated its primary prevention guidelines for aspirin in 2016. The USPSTF now recommends low-dose aspirin (81 mg/day) for chronic disease prophylaxis, including colorectal cancer prevention, among U.S. adults between ages 50-59, and possibly ages 60-69, with a greater than 10% ten-year risk of cardiovascular events. The new USPSTF recommendation represents a significant milestone for the field of preventive medicine. With the exception of tamoxifen for women at high-risk for breast cancer, this is the first medication broadly recommended for cancer prevention by the USPSTF. Despite this advance, wider scale efforts to implement aspirin chemoprevention are limited by concerns about risk-benefit profile in view of the established association of aspirin with gastrointestinal bleeding. In concert with broader efforts to tailor prevention strategies, our group has led several studies into the mechanistic basis of aspirin's anti-cancer effect that has led to the development of intratumoral, colonic, germline, and circulating molecular correlates of outcomes. Such biomarkers can be exploited for risk stratification to more effectively target aspirin chemoprevention for those with more favorable risk-benefit profiles. In this presentation, we will review the evidence supporting a role for aspirin in the prevention of colorectal cancer, with a focus on novel methods for molecular risk stratification. Such a precision chemoprevention strategy could play a role in global efforts for chronic disease prevention and control.

Citation Format: Andrew T. Chan. Aspirin for precision chemoprevention of colorectal cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR International Conference: New Frontiers in Cancer Research; 2017 Jan 18-22; Cape Town, South Africa. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(22 Suppl):Abstract nr IA5.
Abstract B12: Analysis of Lipid Metabolism and Gene Expression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Reveals Mitochondrial Function as a Potential Target for Combinatorial Treatment
Authors: Zarrinpar Ali , Palumbo Tiziana , Barupal Dinesh
Published: December 2017

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common malignant liver tumor, is a heterogeneous disease with little efficacious chemotherapy. Lipid metabolic dysfunction is integral to the pathogenesis of HCC, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. HCC cell lines and patient tumors can be classified into hepatocyte and hepatoblast subtypes based on gene expression patterns, with the hepatoblast type being more aggressive.

Methods: We characterized the RNA expression profiles of 20 HCC cell lines (13 hepatoblast and 7 hepatocyte type) and 1 normal immortalized liver cell line. We also characterized the steady state concentrations of hundred of metabolites of these cells lines. In addition, to find the specific small molecules to inhibit their growth we tested a panel of metabolic pathway inhibitors for activity against these cell lines.

Results: There are significant differences between the transcriptional profiles of the two subtypes of HCC, as well as between HCC cell lines and the normal liver cell line. The most important determinants of these differences are in lipid metabolic pathways. Analysis of the microarray data, corroborated by real time quantitative PCR analysis showed significant difference between transcript levels of ACOX1, ACOX2, FASN, SCD1, and SCAP, as well as in fatty acid transport proteins (FATPs, SLC27As) and elongation enzymes (ELOVL). Metabolomic studies show that not only are there differences between the steady state amounts of long chain and very long chain fatty acids among the groups, but there are also differences in the levels of acyl-carnitines. These differences indicate that there is variability in their reliance on mitochondrial oxidative respiration. Accordingly, there are significant differences between the sensitivity of the HCC cell lines to oligomycin compared with a normal liver cell line.

Conclusion: These data point to the importance of lipid metabolic and mitochondrial oxidative dysfunction in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma. We anticipate combining the inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation with the standard of care treatment consisting of sorafenib to allow for a much lower and better tolerated dose of both drugs while maintaining anti-tumor efficacy.

Citation Format: Ali Zarrinpar, Tiziana Palumbo, Dinesh Barupal. Analysis of Lipid Metabolism and Gene Expression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Reveals Mitochondrial Function as a Potential Target for Combinatorial Treatment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Precision Medicine Series: Opportunities and Challenges of Exploiting Synthetic Lethality in Cancer; Jan 4-7, 2017; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2017;16(10 Suppl):Abstract nr B12.
Abstract PR02: Synthetic lethality screen identifies novel druggable targets in the MYC pathway
Authors: Li Yulin , Deutzmann Anja , Bell John , Ji Hanlee , Felsher Dean
Published: December 2017

The MYC oncogene is frequently overexpressed in human cancers. However, targeting MYC directly has proven to be extremely difficult and MYC itself is currently considered undruggable. We sought to identify alternative genetic vulnerabilities of MYC-driven cancer by using CRISPR-based genome-wide synthetic lethality screens. The library screens were performed in a MYC-driven cancer cell line derived from our transgenic mouse model of hepatocellular carcinoma. In this cancer cell line, the level of MYC is regulated by the Tet-Off transgenic system. Using lentiviral infection, the Cas9 nuclease was delivered into the cells, followed by the CRISPR library with 130,000 guide RNAs to knock out each gene in the mouse genome. Comparison of the clonal dropouts under high MYC versus low MYC conditions lead to the identification of specific target genes that are essential to tumors with high MYC expression. Preliminary pathway analysis of our screening hits has revealed the functional landscape of the MYC oncogene. We found that several pathways that are essential for MYC function converge on RNA metabolism. Furthermore, we have identified and tested druggable targets that can be translated into therapeutics for MYC-driven cancers.

Citation Format: Yulin Li, Anja Deutzmann, John Bell, Hanlee Ji, Dean Felsher. Synthetic lethality screen identifies novel druggable targets in the MYC pathway [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Precision Medicine Series: Opportunities and Challenges of Exploiting Synthetic Lethality in Cancer; Jan 4-7, 2017; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2017;16(10 Suppl):Abstract nr PR02.
Abstract 45: Development of a molecular diagnostic tool for more precise diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Jacobsen Martha Rolland , Dongre Harsh , Ahmed Israa , Tuljaurkar Vidisha , Pai Prathamesh S. , Patil Asawari , Sapkota Dipak , Johannessen Anne Christine , Filipovic Nenad , Vaidya Milind , Sawant Sharda , Costea Daniela Elena
Published: December 2017

Expression of cancer-associated biomarkers represents a great potential for a more precise diagnosis for patient stratification and more personalized treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The aim of this study was to develop an immunohistochemistry-based malignancy index diagnostic system (IHC-MIDS) based on the expression of a panel of several molecules expressed by different tumor components and involved in different oncogenic pathways. IHC was performed on paraffin embedded formalin fixed tissue samples from 102 patients for the following biomarkers: p16, p53, ki67, p75NTR, LoxL4, aSMA, Foxp3, CD68, CD 163, CD80, FVIII and D2-40. The stained tissues were scanned and quantified using Immage J open source software. An IHC-MIDS score was developed using correlation-based feature selection algorithm. IHC-MIDS was able to stratify OSCC lesions for several clinical pathological features, including the risk of recurrence. This study shows that a scoring system based on expression of a panel of biomarkers is more precise than the use of a single biomarker and that it can be used for risk stratification of OSCC lesions in order to guide further management.

Citation Format: Martha Rolland Jacobsen, Harsh Dongre, Israa Ahmed, Vidisha Tuljaurkar, Prathamesh S. Pai, Asawari Patil, Dipak Sapkota, Anne Christine Johannessen, Nenad Filipovic, Milind Vaidya, Sharda Sawant, Daniela Elena Costea. Development of a molecular diagnostic tool for more precise diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-AHNS Head and Neck Cancer Conference: Optimizing Survival and Quality of Life through Basic, Clinical, and Translational Research; April 23-25, 2017; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2017;23(23_Suppl):Abstract nr 45.
Abstract 70: PARP1 as a potential therapeutic target in Merkel cell carcinoma
Authors: Ferrarotto Renata , Su Shirley , Diao Lixia , Eterovic A Karina , Prieto Victor , Morrison William , Wang Jing , Glisson Bonnie , Kies Merrill , Bell Diana
Published: December 2017

Background: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine skin tumor. Patients with incurable disease are treated with the same chemotherapy agents utilized in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) achieving similar responses. Overexpression of PARP1 is common in SCLC and promising antitumor activity of PARP inhibitors is being demonstrated in early clinical trials. Furthermore, PARP inhibitors are active in a subset of tumors harboring mutations in DNA-damage repair (DDR) genes and benefit correlates to response to platinum. Based on its similarities with SCLC, its association with DNA damage by UV light, and its sensitivity to platin, our study explores PARP1 as a therapeutic target in MCC.

Methods: We evaluated the prevalence of PARP1 expression by immunohistochemistry in 19 MCC. Polyoma virus (MCPyV) status was evaluated by staining with anti-MCPyV antibody in the tissue specimens. Exome-sequencing of 263 genes was performed in 14 patients' samples using next-generation sequencing. Only mutations predicted to impair protein function in 17 genes related to DDR or mismatch repair were included in our analysis. Fisher's exact test was used for statistical significance.

Results: The majority of MCC express PARP1 (84%), suggesting underlying defects in DNA damage repair. Approximately half of the tumors (47%) were associated with MCPyV. There was no statistical correlation between PARP1 expression and MCPyV status or primary site of disease. Mutations in genes predicted to impair DDR was identified in 9 samples (64%), occurred exclusively in head and neck primaries, and correlated with mutations in TP53 or RB1 (P=0.03). Mutations in ARID1A predictive to be loss-of-function and potentially confer sensitivity to PARP inhibitors were found in 36% of the patients, exclusively in MCPyV negative samples (P=0.003). Mutations in TP53 and/or RB1 were more frequent in MCPyV negative tumors (P=0.03).

Conclusions: In spite of the small sample size, the high prevalence of PARP1 expression in MCC samples, similarly to SCLC, suggests that patients with MCC might also benefit from PARP1 inhibitors. Furthermore, the frequent mutations in genes involved in DNA-damage repair and ARID1A, particularly in the MCPyV negative cases, merits further characterization. Taken together, we believe clinical trials with PARP inhibitors in MCC patients should be considered.

Citation Format: Renata Ferrarotto, Shirley Su, Lixia Diao, A Karina Eterovic, Victor Prieto, William Morrison, Jing Wang, Bonnie Glisson, Merrill Kies, Diana Bell. PARP1 as a potential therapeutic target in Merkel cell carcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-AHNS Head and Neck Cancer Conference: Optimizing Survival and Quality of Life through Basic, Clinical, and Translational Research; April 23-25, 2017; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2017;23(23_Suppl):Abstract nr 70.
Abstract IA03: Detection of tumor DNA in the saliva and plasma of patients with HNSCC
Authors: Agrawal Nishant
Published: December 2017

To explore the potential of tumor-specific DNA as a biomarker for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), we queried DNA from saliva or plasma of 93 HNSCC patients. We searched for somatic mutations or human papillomavirus genes, collectively referred to as tumor DNA. When both plasma and saliva were tested, tumor DNA was detected in 96% of 47 patients. The fractions of patients with detectable tumor DNA in early and late-stage disease were 100% (n = 10) and 95% (n = 37), respectively. When segregated by site, tumor DNA was detected in 100% (n = 15), 91% (n = 22), 100% (n = 7), and 100% (n = 3) of patients with tumors of the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, and hypopharynx, respectively. In saliva, tumor DNA was found in 100% of patients with oral cavity cancers and in 47 to 70% of patients with cancers of the other sites. In plasma, tumor DNA was found in 80% of patients with oral cavity cancers, and in 86 to 100% of patients with cancers of the other sites. Thus, saliva is preferentially enriched for tumor DNA from the oral cavity, whereas plasma is preferentially enriched for tumor DNA from the other sites. Tumor DNA in saliva was found postsurgically in three patients before clinical diagnosis of recurrence, but in none of the five patients without recurrence. Tumor DNA in the saliva and plasma appears to be a potentially valuable biomarker for detection of HNSCC.

Citation Format: Nishant Agrawal. Detection of tumor DNA in the saliva and plasma of patients with HNSCC [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-AHNS Head and Neck Cancer Conference: Optimizing Survival and Quality of Life through Basic, Clinical, and Translational Research; April 23-25, 2017; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2017;23(23_Suppl):Abstract nr IA03.
Comparative Anti-Platelet Profiling Reveals a Potent Anti-Aggregatory Effect of CD34+ Progenitor Cell-Derived Late-Outgrowth Endothelial Cells in vitro
Authors: Chantzichristos Vasileios G. , Gkrozou Fani , Stellos Konstantinos , Paschopoulos Minas E. , Tselepis Alexandros D.
Published: December 2017

Background/Aims: Platelets affect endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) functionality, inducing their differentiation into mature endothelial cells. However, it remains to be established whether EPCs can influence platelet functionality. Methods: Mononuclear proangiogenic cells (MPCs) and early outgrowth cells (EOCs) were prepared from peripheral blood mononuclear cells, whereas late-outgrowth endothelial cells (OECs) were prepared from cord blood CD34+ cells. The effect of the above cells and their supernatants on washed platelet aggregation was studied. The effect of OECs and their supernatant on the adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced magnitude of platelet integrin receptor αIIbβ3 activation and on P-selectin membrane expression was investigated. The levels of nitric oxide (NO) and prostacyclin (PGI2) that were secreted from EOCs, OECs, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were also assessed. Results: Among all progenitors, OECs and their supernatant exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity towards platelet aggregation. Furthermore, OECs and their supernatant, but not CD34+ cells, reduced αIIbβ3 activation and P-selectin membrane expression. Finally, OECs secreted higher NO and PGI2 levels than EOCs did. Conclusion: The anti-platelet effect of EPCs depends highly on the degree of their endothelial phenotype, with OECs expressing the highest potency. Therefore, the induction of OEC generation and the enhancement of their functionality in vivo could be a new approach for the treatment of patients at a high thrombotic risk.
Alligator Song
Authors: Vander Meer Elizabeth
Published: December 2017

Alligators were perceived as dangerous by early settlers in Florida, and they also reflected the untamed and potentially untameable Florida wilderness. By the 20th century, alligator farms capitalized on the thrill of alligator encounters in controlled theme park experiences. Alligators are tamed in the current farm context and valued increasingly for the products that can be derived from their bodies. This anthrozoological investigation of perceptions of Florida alligators explores how farms define alligators and why visitors might accept these particular constructed images of alligators, concluding with a wider view to consider these perceptions of farmed animals in relation to the idea of the nuisance alligator. The discussion is framed by multi-species studies that rest on notions of embodiment and attentiveness, which in this case push the importance of alligator experience and agency to the foreground.
Lay Buddhists and Moral Activism in Contemporary China (当代中国的佛教居士与道德能动主义)
Authors: Fisher Gareth
Published: December 2017

The last few decades have seen the rise of grassroots groups of lay Buddhists in post-Mao China who, through the composition, exchange, and discussion of Buddhist-themed media, foster moral discourses that critique what they perceive as the materialistic direction of contemporary Chinese society. Disseminated at legal but unregulated spaces within Buddhist temples, these discourses empower the economically marginalized lay practitioners who gather there and provide them with new purpose in life. Practitioners are also able to transmit these moral discourses through networks to other temple spaces. However, they do not yet possess the means to use them to influence the social direction of Chinese society at large. This is due to (1) political restrictions against the circulation of religious-themed materials outside of approved religious activity sites; (2) economic obstacles faced by the practitioners who seek to spread anti-materialistic messages; (3) a lack of organizational cohesiveness among the practitioners; and (4) the influence on practitioners of doctrines within Buddhism that caution against proselytizing to those who do not already possess a pre-fated bond with the Buddha and his teachings. As a result, lay Buddhists do not as yet constitute a social movement in the way the term is conventionally used by sociologists.

佛教居士组成的草根社会团体在毛时代之后的几十年快速发展。通过书写、交流与讨论与佛教主题相关的文献，他们促进形成了一套批判当前中国社会拜金主义倾向的道德话语。这套话语在合法且相对自由的佛教寺院中传播，鼓励了经济窘迫的信徒，帮助他们获得新的生活目的。这一道德话语也借由信徒进一步传播给其他的寺院。但是因为以下原因，这些草根团体无力影响中国社会的整体方向：1)宗教政策限制了宗教思想在寺庙以外的传播；2)信徒的经济地位较低，难以宣传反对拜金主义的话语；3)信徒中间缺乏组织凝聚力；4)反对向那些与佛陀无缘的人宣传佛家思想的信条。因此到目前为止，佛教居士团体还没有形成社会学意义上的社会运动。
Novelties in Strychnos sect. Breviflorae (Loganiaceae)
Authors: BRANDÃO ELLEN KALLYNE DE SOUSA , RAPINI ALESSANDRO
Published: December 2017

Floristic studies on the Loganiaceae from the state of Bahia, Brazil, allowed the recognition of a new species of Strychnos, S. nana, which is described and illustrated here. This is one of the few species of the genus inhabiting savannas, and can be promptly recognised by the small habit (< 50 cm high) and leaves (up to 1.1 × 1.1 cm). Besides, we are describing, for the first time, 1) the fruit and seed of S. alvimiana, species published based on sterile material, and 2) the inflorescence and flower of S. atlantica, which was established based on material only with fruits; epitypes are also designed for these two names.
Five new species of the genus Nannopus (Copepoda: Harpacticoida: Nannopodidae) from intertidal mudflats of the Korean West Coast (Yellow Sea)
Authors: VAKATI VINOD , LEE WONCHOEL
Published: December 2017

Five Nannopus Brady, 1880 species that are new to science are described from the intertidal mudflats of the Korean West Coast, Yellow Sea (South Korea). Nannopus minutus sp. nov. and N. dimorphicus sp. nov. belong to a group of species defined by seven elements on P4 exp-3, and these two species are unique by the pinnate caudal seta III. These species differ in the number of dorsal integumental windows on the cephalothorax (three in N. minutus, one in N. dimorphicus), shape of the distal small seta on the P4 endopod (naked in N. minutus, pinnate in N. dimorphicus), shape of the caudal seta IV (inflated and leaf-shaped in N. minutus, with a globular expansion at its insertion and slender in N. dimorphicus), and shape of the caudal seta V (anterior part cylindrical in N. minutus, inflated and bulbous in N. dimorphicus). The males of N. minutus and N. dimorphicus differ in the number of dorsal integumental windows on the cephalothorax (without any in N. minutus, with one integumental window in N. dimorphicus), number of outer spines on P2–P3 exp-3 (three in N. minutus, four in N. dimorphicus), shape of the inner seta on P3 enp-2 (naked in N. minutus, pinnate in N. dimorphicus), and shape of the outer medial and outermost setae on the P5 endopod (pinnate in N. minutus, naked in N. dimorphicus). Nannopus serratus sp. nov. and N. unisegmentatus Shen & Tai, 1964 share the presence of two setae on P2 enp-2 but differ in ornamentation and position of the setae on the mandibular palp, shape of the inner seta on P3 enp-2, and shape of distal seta on P4 enp-2. Nannopus parvus sp. nov. and N. bulbiseta sp. nov. belong to the group of species with the female P5 exopod fused, but these two species can be separated from the others by the presence of two bulbiform pinnate setae on the second segment of the antennule, as well as by the relative length and shape of the inner subdistal pectinate seta of P4 exp-3 (pectinate and 0.5 to 0.7 times as long as those in other congeners), and the shape of outer medial and outermost setae on the P5 endopod (naked only in female). However, they both display unique characters among all congeners. The caudal ramus of N. parvus is trapezoidal or square-shaped, and 0.4 to 0.5 times as long as those in other congeners, and the caudal seta V is very short and spine-like. Nannopus bulbiseta has four and five setae on P2 and P4 exp-3 respectively, the caudal ramus is sub-cylindrical or sub-rectangular, and the proximal part of the female caudal seta V is bulbous and very slender distally. A key to 14 valid species of Nannopus is provided.
Local and External Moisture Sources for the Arctic Warming over the Barents–Kara Seas
Authors: Zhong Linhao , Hua Lijuan , Luo Dehai
Published: December 2017

Water vapor is critical to Arctic sea ice loss and surface air warming, particularly in winter. Whether the local process or poleward transport from lower latitudes can explain the Arctic warming is still a controversial issue. In this work, a hydrological tool, a dynamical recycling model (DRM) based on time-backward Lagrangian moisture tracking, is applied to quantitatively evaluate the relative contributions of local evaporation and external sources to Barents–Kara Seas (BKS) moisture in winter during 1979–2015. On average, the local and external moistures explain 35.4% and 57.3% of BKS moisture, respectively. The BKS, Norwegian Sea, and midlatitude North Atlantic are the three major sources and show significant increasing trends of moisture contribution. The local moisture contribution correlates weakly to downward infrared radiation (IR) but significantly to sea ice variation, which suggests that the recent-decade increase of local moisture contribution is only a manifestation of sea ice melting. In contrast, the external moisture contribution significantly correlates to both downward IR and sea ice variation, thus suggesting that meridional moisture transport mainly explains the recent BKS warming.

The moisture contributions due to different sources are governed by distinct circulation patterns. The negative Arctic Oscillation–like pattern suppresses external moisture but favors local evaporation. In the case of dominant external moisture, a well-organized wave train spanning from across the midlatitude Atlantic to mid–high-latitude Eurasia has the mid–high-latitude components similar to a positive-phase North Atlantic Oscillation with a Ural blocking to the east. Moreover, the meridional shift of the wave train pathway and the spatial scale of the wave train anomalies determine the transport passage and strength of the major external moisture sources.
Effects of Projected Changes in Wind, Atmospheric Temperature, and Freshwater Inflow on the Ross Sea
Authors: Dinniman Michael S. , Klinck John M. , Hofmann Eileen E. , Smith Walker O.
Published: December 2017

A 5-km horizontal resolution regional ocean–sea ice–ice shelf model of the Ross Sea is used to examine the effects of changes in wind strength, air temperature, and increased meltwater input on the formation of high-salinity shelf water (HSSW), on-shelf transport and vertical mixing of Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW) and its transformation into modified CDW (MCDW), and basal melt of the Ross Ice Shelf (RIS). A 20% increase in wind speed, with no other atmospheric changes, reduced summer sea ice minimum area by 20%, opposite the observed trend of the past three decades. Increased winds with spatially uniform, reduced atmospheric temperatures increased summer sea ice concentrations, on-shelf transport of CDW, vertical mixing of MCDW, HSSW volume, and (albeit small) RIS basal melt. Winds and atmospheric temperatures from the SRES A1B scenario forcing of the MPI ECHAM5 model decreased on-shelf transport of CDW and vertical mixing of MCDW for 2046–61 and 2085–2100 relative to the end of the twentieth century. The RIS basal melt increased slightly by 2046–61 (9%) and 2085–2100 (13%). Advection of lower-salinity water onto the continental shelf did not significantly affect sea ice extent for the 2046–61 or 2085–2100 simulations. However, freshening reduces on-shelf transport of CDW, vertical mixing of MCDW, and the volume of HSSW produced. The reduced vertical mixing of MCDW, while partially balanced by the reduced on-shelf transport of CDW, enhances the RIS basal melt rate relative to the twentieth-century simulation for 2046–61 (13%) and 2085–2100 (17%).
A nonlinear strain rate and pressure-dependent micro-mechanical composite material model for impact problems
Authors: Medikonda Sandeep , Tabiei Ala
Published: December 2017

A micro-mechanical composite material model is developed to simulate the behavior of unidirectional composites under impact loading conditions in the nonlinear finite element solver (LS-DYNA®). The nonlinear strain rate and pressure dependency in the composite material model is accounted by the resin, which uses previously developed state variable viscoplastic equations. These equations have been originally developed for metals; however, these are modified to account for the significant contributions of hydrostatic stresses typically observed in polymers. The material model also uses a continuum damage mechanics (CDM) based failure model to incorporate the progressive post-failure behavior. A set of Weibull distribution functions are used to quantify this behavior, and a methodology of assigning physical significance to the choice of damage/softening parameters used in these functions is presented. The impact response of composite laminate plates has been simulated and compared to the experiments. It has been observed that the predicted results compare favorably to the experiments.
Meat quality, free fatty acid concentration, and oxidative stability of pork from animals fed diets containing different sources of selenium
Authors: Calvo Luis , Segura José , Toldrá Fidel , Flores Mónica , Rodríguez Ana I , López-Bote Clemente J , Rey Ana I
Published: December 2017

This study evaluates the effect of the source of dietary selenium supplementation (organic versus mineral) and the combined effect of organic selenium and vitamin E on the fatty acid composition and lipolysis in pork intramuscular fat and other meat quality characteristics such as drip loss and lipid stability. Higher vitamin E deposition, lower drip loss, and higher stability against oxidation were detected in muscle from pigs fed organic selenium. Also higher proportion of free fatty acids was observed in intramuscular fat from pigs fed organic selenium than those fed inorganic selenium, being these mainly coming from neutral lipid fraction. In addition, the inclusion of vitamin E in the diet enhanced such effect. Dietary organic selenium also increased Δ9-desaturase and elongase indexes and C18:1n−9 concentration. A related decrease of C18:0 concentration was also observed. Described differences in the lipid fraction composition could affect sensory characteristics of meat and meat products.
Problematic gaming behaviour and health-related outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Männikkö Niko , Ruotsalainen Heidi , Miettunen Jouko , Pontes Halley M , Kääriäinen Maria
Published: December 2017

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the interplay between problematic gaming behaviour and health-related outcomes at different developmental stages. A total of 50 empirical studies met the specified inclusion criteria, and a meta-analysis using correlation coefficients was used for the studies that reported adverse health implications regarding the impact of problematic gaming behaviour on depression, anxiety, obsessive–compulsive disorder and somatisation. Overall, the results suggested that problematic gaming behaviour is significantly associated with a wide range of detrimental health-related outcomes. Finally, the limitations of this review alongside its implications were discussed and considered for future research.
A phenomenological account of social sources, coping effects and relational role of social support in nursing among chronic patients with hepatitis
Authors: Sohail MM , Yasin MG , Ahmad S
Published: December 2017

Social support plays an important role in the nursing of patients at a terminal stage. A literature review explored the influential link of social support in coping with chronic disease, but patients with chronic liver disease have not been studied in this context. The current study examined the lived experiences of social sources of social support, patients’ expectations and the role of social support. Furthermore, it explored the importance of support for patients, coping effect and whose support matters for nursing of terminal chronic liver disease patients. A total of 21 terminally ill patients with chronic liver disease were selected through an appropriate screening process. Subsequently, in-depth detailed interviews were conducted to gather experiences of the hepatitis patients. Researchers fulfilled all the ethical considerations during the process of data collection. Social support exerts multiple beneficial effects that help in coping with chronic diseases of terminally ill patients. It was found that patients with hepatitis expected emotional, instrumental and informational support from social relations. Social support was a source of emotional gratification and a buffer in psychological distress, and helped in enabling a peaceful death for patients with chronic diseases. Among all social sources of support, spousal and child support were the most important for patients.
Newspaper depictions of mental and physical health
Authors: Chen Marian , Lawrie Stephen
Published: December 2017

Aims and method

Media portrayals of mental illness have long been recognised as being misleading and stigmatising. Following the campaigns of several advocacy groups to address this issue, we aimed to evaluate the impact on mental health reporting over time. We repeated a survey we did 15 years ago using the same methods. Nine UK daily newspapers were surveyed over a 4-week period and coded with a schema to analyse the reporting of mental health compared with physical health.

Results

In total, 963 articles – 200 on mental health and 763 on physical health – were identified. Over half of the articles on mental health were negative in tone: 18.5% indicated an association with violence compared with 0.3% of articles on physical health. However, there were more quotes from patients with mental disorders than physical disorders (22.5% v. 19.7%) and an equal mention of treatment and rehabilitation.

Clinical implications

Mental health in print media remains tainted by themes of violence, however some improvement in reporting in recent years is evident, in particular by providing a voice for people with mental illness.
Population-Based Study to Determine the Health System Costs of Using the 21-Gene Assay
Authors: Mittmann Nicole , Earle Craig C. , Cheng Stephanie Y. , Julian Jim A. , Rahman Farah , Seung Soo Jin , Levine Mark N.
Published: December 2017

Purpose

The 21-gene assay Oncotype Dx (Genomic Health, Redwood City, CA) test is used to aid the decision about chemotherapy in patients with hormone receptor–positive breast cancer who received endocrine therapy. Economic studies to support test adoption used decision-analytic models with assumptions and data derived from disparate sources. The objective was to evaluate whether the 21-gene assay test resulted in an overall cost expense or saving to the health system.

Patients and Methods

One thousand participants enrolled in a field evaluation study, were linked to population-level health system administrative databases, and were observed for 20 months. The cost for the cohort, which included the cost of the test, subsequent treatments received, and health care encounters, was determined. The cost in the absence of the test was compared with the pretest recommendation about chemotherapy from the field study for a base case and under scenarios that reflected different adjuvant chemotherapy use. Overall health system costs and incremental costs were calculated.

Results

The 21-gene assay resulted in a net decrease in chemotherapy use of 23%. For the base case incremental analysis, the actual overall health system cost of this cohort, including the cost of 21-gene assay, was $29.2 million compared with $26.2 million in the absence of the test—an increase of $3.1 million. For three of the four scenario analyses, the actual overall cost to the health system exceeded the estimated cost in the absence of the test. Results showed that, when at least half of the population received adjuvant chemotherapy, the cost increased to $30.2 million.

Conclusion

The use of real-world administrative data showed that, despite lower rates of chemotherapy use, the 21-gene assay test results in an overall incremental cost to the health care system in the short-term under most assumptions.
Is Compliance With Surgical Care Improvement Project Cardiac (SCIP-Card-2) Measures for Perioperative β-Blockers Associated With Reduced Incidence of Mortality and Cardiovascular-Related Critical Quality Indicators After Noncardiac Surgery?
Authors: Kertai Miklos D. , Cooter Mary , Pollard Richard J. , Buhrman William , Aronson Solomon , Mathew Joseph P. , Stafford-Smith Mark
Published: December 2017

BACKGROUND:

While continuation of β-blockers (BBs) perioperatively has become a national quality improvement measure, the relationship between BB withdrawal and mortality and cardiovascular-related critical quality indicators has not been studied in a contemporary cohort of patients undergoing noncardiac surgery.

METHODS:

For this retrospective study, the quality assurance database of a large community-based anesthesiology group practice was used to identify 410,288 surgical cases, 18 years of age or older, who underwent elective or emergent noncardiac surgical procedures between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2014. Each surgical case that was withdrawn from BBs perioperatively was propensity matched by clinical and surgical characteristics to 4 cases that continued BBs perioperatively. Subsequently, multivariable conditional logistic regression analyses were performed in the matched cohort to determine the extent to which withdrawal of perioperative BBs was independently associated with mortality as the primary outcome and cardiovascular-related critical quality indicators as the secondary outcome (need for vasopressor, electrocardiographic changes requiring treatment, unplanned admission to intensive care unit, postanesthesia care unit stay >2 hours, and a combination of cardiac arrest and myocardial infarction) within 48 hours postoperatively.

RESULTS:

Of the 66,755 (16%) cases in the cohort admitted on BB therapy, BBs were withdrawn in 3829 (6%) and continued in 62,926 (94%). Propensity score matching resulted in an analysis cohort of 19,145 cases. Withdrawal of perioperative BBs in the multivariable conditional logistic regression analysis was significantly associated with an increased risk for mortality (odds ratio [OR], 3.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.75–7.35;P= .0003), but a significantly decreased risk for need of blood pressure support requiring vasopressor initiation (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.76–0.92;P= .0003) and extended postanesthesia care unit stay (OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.54–0.88;P= .004) within 48 hours after noncardiac surgery.

CONCLUSIONS:

Perioperative withdrawal of BBs was associated with increased risk for mortality within 48 hours after noncardiac surgery and with decreased risk for need of vasopressor during the early postoperative period and a shorter stay in the postanesthesia care unit.