bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inactivation of the Human Papillomavirus E6 or E7 Gene in Cervical Carcinoma Cells by Using a Bacterial CRISPR/Cas RNA-Guided Endonuclease
Authors: Kennedy Edward M. , Kornepati Anand V. R. , Goldstein Michael , Bogerd Hal P. , Poling Brigid C. , Whisnant Adam W. , Kastan Michael B. , Cullen Bryan R.
Published: August 2014

High-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs), including HPV-16 and HPV-18, are the causative agents of cervical carcinomas and are linked to several other tumors of the anogenital and oropharyngeal regions. The majority of HPV-induced tumors contain integrated copies of the normally episomal HPV genome that invariably retain intact forms of the two HPV oncogenes E6 and E7. E6 induces degradation of the cellular tumor suppressor p53, while E7 destabilizes the retinoblastoma (Rb) protein. Previous work has shown that loss of E6 function in cervical cancer cells induces p53 expression as well as downstream effectors that induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Similarly, loss of E7 allows increased Rb expression, leading to cell cycle arrest and senescence. Here, we demonstrate that expression of a bacterial Cas9 RNA-guided endonuclease, together with single guide RNAs (sgRNAs) specific for E6 or E7, is able to induce cleavage of the HPV genome, resulting in the introduction of inactivating deletion and insertion mutations into the E6 or E7 gene. This results in the induction of p53 or Rb, leading to cell cycle arrest and eventual cell death. Both HPV-16- and HPV-18-transformed cells were found to be responsive to targeted HPV genome-specific DNA cleavage. These data provide a proof of principle for the idea that vector-delivered Cas9/sgRNA combinations could represent effective treatment modalities for HPV-induced cancers.

IMPORTANCE
Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are the causative agents of almost all cervical carcinomas and many other tumors, including many head and neck cancers. In these cancer cells, the HPV DNA genome is integrated into the cellular genome, where it expresses high levels of two viral oncogenes, called E6 and E7, that are required for cancer cell growth and viability. Here, we demonstrate that the recently described bacterial CRISPR/Cas RNA-guided endonuclease can be reprogrammed to target and destroy the E6 or E7 gene in cervical carcinoma cells transformed by HPV, resulting in cell cycle arrest, leading to cancer cell death. We propose that viral vectors designed to deliver E6- and/or E7-specific CRISPR/Cas to tumor cells could represent a novel and highly effective tool to treat and eliminate HPV-induced cancers.
Report into "on the day cancellations" for plastic surgery in patients who failed to stop their medication
Authors: Bass Edward , Gill Parneet
Published: August 2014

It was noted that a number of patients were having their procedures cancelled on the day of surgery because their antiplatelet or anticoagulative medications had not been stopped preoperatively. The team recognised that this problem was leading to an unnecessary waste of the department‘s labour and financial resources, and more importantly was becoming a source of disappointment and anxiety to patients.

A retrospective analysis of all plastic surgery cases was performed for procedures listed for the previous 12 months. All cancellations and the reasons for them were recorded, which came to 23 cases. The sum of the financial tariffs for each cancelled procedure was calculated to assess the financial impact of the identified problem: £20,000. A root cause analysis was performed to assess where this problem was arising in the patient’s preoperative journey. The common theme was the lack of information for the gatekeeper regarding the patients' anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications.

A new gatekeeper form was introduced to practice with a subsection specifically highlighting antiplatelet and anticoagulative medications. In addition, this issue was highlighted to the relevant staff in the department.

After four months, a second PDSA cycle was performed in the same manner. Seven cases were cancelled due to anticoagulants or antiplatelets not being stopped prior to surgery. This equated to a net loss of £11,865 to the department when projected over 12 months, improving on the performance prior to the newly introduced changes.
p70 Ribosomal protein S6 kinase (Rps6kb1): an update
Authors: Bahrami-B Farnaz , Ataie-Kachoie Parvin , Pourgholami Mohammad H , Morris David L
Published: August 2014

TheRps6kb1gene encodes the 70 kDa ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K), which is a serine/threonine kinase regulated by phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. p70S6K plays a crucial role in controlling cell cycle, growth and survival. The PI3K/mTOR signalling pathway is one of the major mechanisms for controlling cell survival, proliferation and metabolism and is the central regulator of translation of some components of protein synthesis system. Upon activation, this kinase phosphorylates S6 protein of ribosomal subunit 40S resulting in selective translation of unique family of mRNAs that contain oligopyrimidine tract on 5’ transcriptional site (5′TOP). 5′TOP mRNAs are coding the components of translational apparatus including ribosomal proteins and elongation factors. Due to the role of p70S6K in protein synthesis and also its involvement in a variety of human diseases ranging from diabetes and obesity to cancer, p70S6K is now being considered as a new therapeutic target for drug development. Furthermore, p70S6K acts as a biomarker for response to immunosuppressant as well as anticancer effects of inhibitors of the mTOR. Because of the narrow therapeutic index of mTOR inhibitors, drug monitoring is essential, and this is usually done by measuring blood drug levels, therapeutic response and drug-induced adverse effects. Recent studies have suggested that plasma p70S6K is a reliable index for the monitoring of patient response to mTOR inhibitors. Therefore, a better understanding of p70S6K and its role in various pathological conditions could enable the development of strategies to aid diagnosis, prognosis and treatment schedules.
Spatial and temporal variability of forest floor duff characteristics in long-unburnedPinus palustrisforests
Authors: Kreye Jesse K. , Varner J. Morgan , Dugaw Christopher J.
Published: August 2014

Duff fires (smouldering in fermentation and humus forest floor horizons) and their consequences have been documented in fire-excluded ecosystems but with little attention to their underlying drivers. Duff characteristics influence the ignition and spread of smouldering fires, and their spatial patterns on the forest floor may be an important link to the heterogeneity of consumption observed following fires. We evaluated fuel bed characteristics (depths, bulk densities, and moisture) of duff in a long-unburned longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) forest and corresponding spatial variation across 100to 103m scales. Fermentation and humus horizon depths both varied (∼100% coefficient of variation) but with moderate to strong spatial autocorrelation at fine scales. Fermentation bulk density varied less than humus bulk density, which varied considerably at fine scales. Fermentation horizons held more moisture (average 49%–172%) and were much more variable than humus following rainfall, which remained stable and relatively dry (average 28%–62%). Humus moisture was moderately autocorrelated at fine scales, but fermentation moisture was highly variable, showing no evidence of spatial autocorrelation under dry, intermediate, or wet conditions. Observations from this study highlight the underlying spatial variability in duff, informing future sampling and fire management efforts in these long-unburned coniferous forests.
The remnants in Reissner–Nordström–de Sitter quintessence black hole
Authors: Feng Zhongwen , Zhang Li , Zu Xiaotao
Published: August 2014

According to the effects of quantum gravity, we investigated the fermion tunneling from the Reissner–Nordström–de Sitter quintessence (RN–dSQ) black hole. The corrected temperature is not only determined by the mass and charge of the black hole, but also depended on the quantum number of the emitted fermion and β, which is a small value representing the effects of quantum gravity. The effects of quantum gravity slowed down the increase of the temperature and led to the remnants of the black hole. We think it is a method to avoid the information loss paradox of black holes.
Fermions in a Reissner–Nordström–anti-de Sitter black hole background and N = 4 supersymmetry with nontrivial topological charges
Authors: Oikonomou V. K.
Published: August 2014

We demonstrate that the fermions in Reissner–Nordström–anti-de Sitter black hole background in the chiral limit m = 0, are related to an N = 4 extended one-dimensional supersymmetry with nontrivial topological charges. We also show that the N = 4 extended supersymmetry is unbroken and we extend the two N = 2 one-dimensional supersymmetries that the system also possesses, to have a trivial central charge. The implications of the trivial central charge on the Witten index are also discussed.
THE EFFECT OF THE DOUBLE-DECK FILAMENT SETUP ON ENHANCING THE UNIFORMITY OF TEMPERATURE FIELD ON LONG-FLUTE CUTTING TOOLS
Authors: SHEN BIN , CHEN SULIN , CHENG LEI , SUN FANGHONG
Published: August 2014

In the present study, a double-deck filament setup is proposed for the hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD) method and an optimization method is presented to determine its optimal geometry that is able to produce a highly uniform temperature field on the whole flute surface of long-flute cutting tools. The optimization method is based on the finite volume method (FVM) simulation and the Taguchi method. The simulation results show that this double-deck filament setup always produce a highly uniform temperature distribution along the filament direction. Comparatively, for the temperature uniformity along the drill axis, the heights of the two filament decks present virtually significant influence, while the separations between the two filaments in either deck exhibit a relative weak effect. An optimized setup is obtained that can produce a highly uniform temperature field with an average temperature of 834°C, a standard deviation (σ) of 2.59°C and a temperature range (R) of 11.75°C. Finally, the precision of the proposed simulation method is verified by an additional temperature measurement. The measured temperature results show that a highly uniform temperature fields with σ/R = 9.6/35.2°C can be generated by the optimized setup and the deviation of the simulated results from the measured actual temperatures are within 0.5–3.5%, which justifies the correctness of the simulation method proposed in present study.
Derivation of Born Rule from Algebraic and Statistical Axioms
Authors: Ojima Izumi , Okamura Kazuya , Saigo Hayato
Published: August 2014

In this paper we propose a new system of algebraic and statistical axioms as working hypotheses, from which Born rule can be seen to emerge. In this process the concept of sectors defined as quasi-equivalence classes of factor states plays a crucial role.
Monotonicity of the von Neumann Entropy Expressed as a Function of Rényi Entropies
Authors: Fannes Mark
Published: August 2014

The von Neumann entropy of a density matrix of dimension d, expressed in terms of the first d − 1 integer order Rényi entropies, is monotonically increasing in Rényi entropies of even order and decreasing in those of odd order.
Enhanced brain responses to C-fiber input in the area of secondary hyperalgesia induced by high-frequency electrical stimulation of the skin
Authors: van den Broeke Emanuel N. , Mouraux André
Published: August 2014

High-frequency electrical stimulation (HFS) of the human skin induces an increase in both mechanical and heat pain sensitivity in the surrounding unconditioned skin. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of HFS on the intensity of perception and brain responses elicited by the selective activation of C fibers. HFS was applied to the ventral forearm of 15 healthy volunteers. Temperature-controlled CO2 laser stimulation was used to activate selectively low-threshold C-fiber afferents without concomitantly activating Aδ-fiber afferents. These stimuli were detected with reaction times compatible with the conduction velocity of C fibers. The intensity of perception and event-related brain potentials (ERPs) elicited by thermal stimuli delivered to the surrounding unconditioned skin were recorded before (T0) and after HFS (T1: 20 min after HFS; T2: 45 min after HFS). The contralateral forearm served as a control. Mechanical hyperalgesia following HFS was confirmed by measuring the change in the intensity of perception elicited by mechanical punctate stimuli. HFS resulted in increased intensity of perception to mechanical punctate stimulation and selective C-fiber thermal stimulation at both time points. In contrast, the N2 wave of the ERP elicited by C-fiber stimulation (679 ± 88 ms; means ± SD) was enhanced at T1 but not at T2. The P2 wave (808 ± 105 ms) was unaffected by HFS. Our results suggest that HFS enhances the sensitivity to thermal C-fiber input in the area of secondary hyperalgesia. However, there was no significant enhancement of the magnitude of the C-fiber ERPs at T2, suggesting that quickly adapting C fibers do not contribute to this enhancement.
Tobacco Exposure by Various Modes May Alter Proinflammatory (IL-12) and Anti-Inflammatory (IL-10) Levels and Affects the Survival of Prostate Carcinoma Patients: An Explorative Study in North Indian Population
Authors: Dwivedi Shailendra , Goel Apul , Khattri Sanjay , Mandhani Anil , Sharma Praveen , Pant Kamlesh Kumar
Published: August 2014

Objective. Inflammation is an important hallmark of all cancers and net inflammatory response is determined by a delicate balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, which may be affected by tobacco exposure, so the present study was designed to explore the effect of various modes of tobacco exposure on interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) inflammatory cytokine levels and survival in prostate carcinoma (PCa) patients.Methods. 285 cancer patients and equal controls with 94 BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) were recruited; baseline levels of serum IL-12 and IL-10 were measured and analyzed in various tobacco exposed groups by appropriate statistical tool. Five-year survivals of patients were analyzed by Log-rank (Mantel-Cox) test (graph pad version 5).Results. The expression of serum proinflammatory (IL-12) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines was correlated with tobacco exposed group as smokers, chewers, and alcohol users have shown significantly higher levels (P<0.001) with significantly lower median survivals (27.1 months, standard error = 2.86, and 95% CI: 21.4–32.62); than nonusers. Stages III and IV of tobacco addicted patients have also shown significantly increased levels of IL-12 and IL-10.Conclusions. IL-12 and IL-10 seem to be affected by various modes of tobacco exposure and inflammation also affects median survival of cancer patients.
Delineation of a FOXA1/ERα/AGR2 Regulatory Loop That Is Dysregulated in Endocrine Therapy–Resistant Breast Cancer
Authors: Wright Tricia M. , Wardell Suzanne E. , Jasper Jeff S. , Stice James P. , Safi Rachid , Nelson Erik R. , McDonnell Donald P.
Published: August 2014

Tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor (ER) modulator (SERM), remains a frontline clinical therapy for patients with ERα-positive breast cancer. However, the relatively rapid development of resistance to this drug in the metastatic setting remains an impediment to a durable response. Although drug resistance likely arises by many different mechanisms, the consensus is that most of the implicated pathways facilitate the outgrowth of a subpopulation of cancer cells that can either recognize tamoxifen as an agonist or bypass the regulatory control of ERα. Notable in this regard is the observation here and in other studies that expression of anterior gradient homology 2 (AGR2), a known proto-oncogene and disulfide isomerase, was induced by both estrogen (17β-estradiol, E2) and 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4OHT) in breast cancer cells. The importance of AGR2 expression is highlighted here by the observation that (i) its knockdown inhibited the growth of both tamoxifen-sensitive and -resistant breast cancer cells and (ii) its increased expression enhanced the growth of ERα-positive tumors in vivo and increased the migratory capacity of breast cancer cells in vitro. Interestingly, as with most ERα target genes, the expression of AGR2 in all breast cancer cells examined requires the transcription factor FOXA1. However, in tamoxifen-resistant cells, the expression of AGR2 occurs in a constitutive manner, requiring FOXA1, but loses its dependence on ER. Taken together, these data define the importance of AGR2 in breast cancer cell growth and highlight a mechanism where changes in FOXA1 activity obviate the need for ER in the regulation of this gene.

Implications: These findings reveal the transcriptional interplay between FOXA1 and ERα in controlling AGR2 during the transition from therapy-sensitive to -resistant breast cancer and implicate AGR2 as a relevant therapeutic target. Mol Cancer Res; 12(12); 1829–39. ©2014 AACR.
The ADO Index as a Predictor of Two-Year Mortality in General Practice-Based Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Cohorts
Authors: Abu Hussein Nebal , ter Riet Gerben , Schoenenberger Lucia , Bridevaux Pierre-Olivier , Chhajed Prashant N. , Fitting Jean-William , Geiser Thomas , Jochmann Anja , Joos Zellweger Ladina , Kohler Malcolm , Maier Sabrina , Miedinger David , Schafroth Török Salome , Scherr Andreas , Siebeling Lara , Thurnheer Robert , Tamm Michael , Puhan Milo A. , Leuppi Joerg Daniel
Published: August 2014

Background: Existing prediction models for mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients have not yet been validated in primary care, which is where the majority of patients receive care. Objectives: Our aim was to validate the ADO (age, dyspnoea, airflow obstruction) index as a predictor of 2-year mortality in 2 general practice-based COPD cohorts. Methods: Six hundred and forty-six patients with COPD with GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) stages I-IV were enrolled by their general practitioners and followed for 2 years. The ADO regression equation was used to predict a 2-year risk of all-cause mortality in each patient and this risk was compared with the observed 2-year mortality. Discrimination and calibration were assessed as well as the strength of association between the 15-point ADO score and the observed 2-year all-cause mortality. Results: Fifty-two (8.1%) patients died during the 2-year follow-up period. Discrimination with the ADO index was excellent with an area under the curve of 0.78 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.71-0.84]. Overall, the predicted and observed risks matched well and visual inspection revealed no important differences between them across 10 risk classes (p = 0.68). The odds ratio for death per point increase according to the ADO index was 1.50 (95% CI 1.31-1.71). Conclusions: The ADO index showed excellent prediction properties in an out-of-population validation carried out in COPD patients from primary care settings.
Rye B Chromosomes Influence the Dynamics of Histone H3 Methylation during Microgametogenesis
Authors: González-Sánchez Mónica , Heredia Victoria , Diez Manuel , Puertas María J.
Published: August 2014

We have studied the trimethylation dynamics of lysines 4 and 27 of histone H3 in rye with and without B chromosomes (Bs) in root tip mitosis, meiosis, and pollen grain mitosis by immunostaining. In root meristems, H3K4me3 immunolabeling was homogeneous along the chromosome arms of the normal complement (As), with the exception of the pericentromeric and subtelomeric regions which were unlabeled. On the contrary, a signal was observed on the long arm of the B chromosome, in the region where most of the B-specific repeats are located. H3K27me3 immunosignals were observed on the subtelomeric heterochromatic region of the As and the Bs and some interstitial bands of the As. Thus, the terminal region of the Bs showed both signals, whereas the subtelomeric region of the As showed H3K27me3 immunosignals only. During meiosis and first pollen grain mitosis, the immunosignals were observed distributed as in the root tip mitosis in plants with or without Bs. However, we observed remarkable changes in the immunolabeling patterns during the second pollen grain mitosis between 0B and +B plants. In 0B plants, H3K4me3 immunosignals were similarly distributed in the vegetative and generative nuclei. In B-carrying plants, the vegetative nucleus showed a lighter signal than the generative one. In 0B plants, all nuclei of the microgametophyte showed H3K27me3 immunosignals. In B-carrying plants, the generative nucleus and, correspondingly, the second metaphase, anaphase, and sperm nuclei did not show any signal. When the Bs were lost as micronuclei, they did not show any H3K4me3 or H3K27me3 signal. Most remarkably, Bs are able to change the pattern of H3 methylation on K4 and K27 during the second pollen mitosis, resulting in differently labeled sperm nuclei in 0 and +B plants.
Expression of Neural Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma and Its Correlation with Clinicopathological Features
Authors: Liu Guang-hua , Chen Jian , Ji Zhi-gang , Zhou Li
Published: August 2014

Introduction: Neural Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (N-WASP) expression is associated with tumor cell invasion and migration. However, its expression status in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) remains unclear. We examined the level of N-WASP in CCRCC and its association with clinicopathological features characteristic. Materials and Methods: 73 CCRCC patients who underwent radical nephrectomy or partial nephrectomy were enrolled. Immunohistochemical staining for N-WASP was performed on tissue microarrays constructed from tumor and para-tumor tissue obtained from these patients. The difference in N-WASP expression between tumor tissue and adjacent normal renal tissue was examined. Correlations between N-WASP expression in the tumor and clinicopathological parameters were analyzed and the relationship between N-WASP expression and overall survival also assessed. Uni- and multivariate survival analyses were performed. Results: N-WASP expression was significantly reduced in tumor tissues and was significantly related to the histological grade of CCRCC. A higher level of N-WASP expression in the tumor was associated with relatively poor survival in CCRCC patients. The level of N-WASP expression, age at time of surgery, and histological grade were all responsible for clinical outcome in CCRCC patients. N-WASP was an independent predictor for overall survival. Conclusions: N-WASP was downregulated in CCRCC and could serve as a prognostic biomarker for predicting clinical outcome of CCRCC.
Troponin T and B-Type Natriuretic Peptide After On-Pump Cardiac Surgery
Authors: Lurati Buse Giovanna A.L. , Bolliger Daniel , Seeberger Esther , Kasper Jorge , Grapow Martin , Koller Michael T. , Seeberger Manfred D. , Filipovic Miodrag
Published: August 2014

Background—

The independent predictive value of troponin T (TNT) after on-pump cardiac surgery was established in several studies. However, adjustment was limited to preoperative risk factors without considering perioperative complications. Data on the prognostic value of postoperative B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) are scarce. Our aim was to assess the independent value of TNT and BNP to predict 12-month outcome after cardiac surgery with adjustment for preoperative risk estimates and postoperative complications and to report risk stratification gains when considering the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) combined with postoperative biomarkers.

Methods and Results—

This prospective cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing on-pump cardiac surgery between 2007 and 2010. We evaluated postoperative TNT and BNP, the EuroSCORE, and postoperative complications as predictors of adverse events using Cox regression. The primary end point was death or major adverse cardiac events within 1 year after surgery. We calculated the net reclassification index of TNT and BNP in addition to the EuroSCORE. We enrolled 1559 patients, of whom 176 (11.3%) experienced an event. The adjusted hazard ratio of TNT >0.8 μg/L was 2.13 (95% confidence interval, 1.47–3.15) and of BNP >790 ng/L was 2.44 (95% confidence interval, 1.65–3.62). The net reclassification index of the addition of TNT and BNP to the EuroSCORE was 0.276 (95% confidence interval, 0.195–0.348).

Conclusions—

Postoperative TNT and BNP are strong predictors of 1-year events after on-pump cardiac surgery independent of preoperative risk factors and postoperative complications. Updating the preoperative EuroSCORE risk with postoperative TNT and BNP after surgery allows for improved prediction of 1-year death or major adverse cardiac events.
Make Lulz, Not War: How Online Remix and Meme Culture are Empowering Civic Engagement in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Authors: Sharbaugh Patrick E. , Nguyen Dang
Published: August 2014

Although social media platforms have garnered much attention in recent years for their putative role in dramatic social and political movements around the world, scholars such as Clay Shirky and Ethan Zuckerman have suggested that the real potential of such tools for change exists in the way they empower citizens to publicly articulate and debate an array of conflicting views throughout society. In this view, social media matters most not in the streets and squares but in the social commons that Jürgen Habermas termed the public sphere. New image-based social media platforms and creative practices in Vietnam appear to be emerging as powerful tools in this regard, offering a voice to a citizenry who, since 1975, have lived under an authoritarian, and not clearly delineated, legal order restricting the opinions and views eligible for public expression.

In 2013, Vietnamese netizens turned to the digital techniques of remix and memetic culture to indirectly express and debate sentiment on issues of often sensitive social and political relevance. Using two recent case studies, we argue that this widespread practice constitutes a culturally-specific form of civic and political engagement that appears to be exerting a subtle but real influence upon the state in this rapidly developing Southeast Asian nation.
The Aesthetics of Chinese Microblogging: State and Market Control of Weibo
Authors: Benney Jonathan
Published: August 2014

Microblogs, epitomized by Twitter in the West and Weibo in China, have attracted considerable attention over the past few years. There have been a number of optimistic accounts about their potential to stimulate political activism and social change, juxtaposed with suggestions that their networks are too weak and that they are too easily censored for such change to occur. Yet, in this debate, little attention has been paid to the medium itself; microblogs have too often been treated as mere conduits for information, and the practical and aesthetic experience of microblogging has been marginalized.

This article addresses this imbalance in two ways. First, it argues that the microblog is a distinctive medium with special potential for political communication. It applies Rancière’s ‘politics of aesthetics’ and Baudrillard’s ‘private telematics’ to microblogs, suggesting that the particularly immersive quality of microblogs provides new and distinct opportunities for the promotion of opinions and social movements. Second, it argues that by allowing, re-modelling, monitoring and censoring the Weibo service, the Chinese party-state, acting collaboratively with the key microblog companies and the market as a whole, is consciously manipulating the medium of the microblog to reduce the risk of activism, controversial use, and network formation. Thus, the medium of Weibo differs from other microblogs – of which Twitter is the key example – in several important ways, each of which, the article argues, are intended to maximize the cacophonous spectacle of entertainment and to minimize reasoned discussion and debate. Furthermore, while pure censorship of information can be evaded in many ways, it is more difficult for dissenters to evade state control when it is applied to the medium itself.
Revision of the brachiopod genus Amphithyris (Rhynchonelliformea: Platidiidae) with descriptions of two new species
Authors: NAUENDORF ALICE , WÖRHEIDE GERT , LÜTER CARSTEN
Published: August 2014

The recent brachiopod genus Amphithyris Thomson belongs to the family Platidiidae and to date comprises five species, A. seminula (Philippi, 1836), A. buckmani Thomson, 1918, A. hallettensis Foster, 1974, A. richardsonae Campbell & Fleming, 1981 and A. parva MacKinnon, Hiller, Long & Marshall, 2008. Like other platidiid genera, Amphithyris has a worldwide distribution, but is mainly found in the southern hemisphere, with the exception of A. seminula which occurs in the Mediterranean Sea. This study is the first revision of the genus Amphithyris. We describe two new species, A. cavernicola n. sp. from the Queensland Plateau, Coral Sea, Australia and A. comitodentis n. sp. from deep waters east of the South Island, New Zealand. A. cavernicola n. sp. represents the first record of the genus from Australian waters, whereas A. comitodentis n. sp. is the first species in the genus recorded from the deep sea. Additionally, we identified the type material of A. seminula in the brachiopod collection of the Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin and designated a lectotype for this species. Despite their simple shell morphology and few diagnostic features, we were able to clearly discriminate the (now) seven species by morphological (shell) characters such as absence/presence of a median septum, absence/presence of capillae, shell convexity and/or combinations of these. On the basis of all known records, the present distribution of Amphithyris spp. and a Cretaceous origin of the genus is discussed.
Atmospheric and Oceanic Conditions Associated with Southern Australian Heat Waves: A CMIP5 Analysis
Authors: Purich Ariaan , Cowan Tim , Cai Wenju , van Rensch Peter , Uotila Petteri , Pezza Alexandre , Boschat Ghyslaine , Perkins Sarah
Published: August 2014

Atmospheric and oceanic conditions associated with southern Australian heat waves are examined using phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) models. Accompanying work analyzing modeled heat wave statistics for Australia finds substantial increases in the frequency, duration, and temperature of heat waves by the end of the twenty-first century. This study assesses the ability of CMIP5 models to simulate the synoptic and oceanic conditions associated with southern Australian heat waves, and examines how the classical atmospheric setup associated with heat waves is projected to change in response to mean-state warming. To achieve this, near-surface temperature, mean sea level pressure, and sea surface temperature (SST) from the historical and high-emission simulations are analyzed. CMIP5 models are found to represent the synoptic setup associated with heat waves well, despite showing greater variation in simulating SST anomalies. The models project a weakening of the pressure couplet associated with future southern Australian heat waves, suggesting that even a non-classical synoptic setup is able to generate more frequent heat waves in a warmer world. A future poleward shift and strengthening of heat wave–inducing anticyclones is confirmed using a tracking scheme applied to model projections. Model consensus implies that while anticyclones associated with the hottest future southern Australian heat waves will be more intense and originate farther poleward, a greater proportion of heat waves occur in association with a weaker synoptic setup that, when combined with warmer mean-state temperatures, gives rise to more future heat waves.
Use of an Observation Network in the Great Basin to Evaluate Gridded Climate Data
Authors: McEvoy Daniel J. , Mejia John F. , Huntington Justin L.
Published: August 2014

Predicting sharp hydroclimatic gradients in the complex terrain of the Great Basin can prove to be challenging because of the lack of climate observations that are gradient focused. Furthermore, evaluating gridded data products (GDPs) of climate in such environments for use in local hydroclimatic assessments is also challenging and typically ignored because of the lack of observations. In this study, independent Nevada Climate-Ecohydrological Assessment Network (NevCAN) observations of temperature, relative humidity, and precipitation collected along large altitudinal gradients of the Snake and Sheep mountain ranges from water-year 2012 (October–September) are utilized to evaluate four GDPs of different spatial resolutions: Parameter–Elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM) 4 km, PRISM 800 m, Daymet 1 km, and a North American Land Data Assimilation System (NLDAS)–PRISM hybrid 4-km product. Inconsistencies and biases in precipitation measurements due to station siting and gauge type proved to be problematic with respect to comparisons to GDPs. This study highlights a weakness of GDPs in complex terrain: an underestimation of inversion strength and resulting minimum temperature in foothill regions, where cold air regularly drains into neighboring valleys. Results also clearly indicate that for semiarid regions, the assumption that daily average dewpoint temperature Tdew equals daily minimum temperature does not hold true and should not be used to interpolate Tdew spatially. Comparison statistics of GDPs to observations varied depending on the climate variable and grid spatial resolution, highlighting the importance of conducting local evaluations for hydroclimatic assessments.
A Fiber Optic Spectrometry System for Measuring Irradiance Distributions in Sea Ice Environments
Authors: Wang Hangzhou , Chen Ying , Song Hong , Laney Samuel R.
Published: August 2014

A fiber optic–based spectrometry system was developed to enable automated, long-term measurements of spectral irradiance in sea ice environments. This system utilizes a single spectrometer module that measures the irradiance transmitted by multiple optical fibers, each coupled to the input fiber of the module via a mechanical rotary multiplexer. Small custom-printed optical diffusers, fixed to the input end of each fiber, allow these probes to be frozen into ice auger holes as small as 5 cm in diameter. Temperature-dependent biases in the spectrometer module and associated electronics were examined down to −40°C using an environmental chamber to identify any artifacts that might arise when operating these electronic and optical components below their vendor-defined lower temperature limits. The optical performance of the entire system was assessed by freezing multiple fiber probes in a 1.2-m-tall ice column, illuminating from above with a light source, and measuring spectral irradiance distributions at different depths within the ice column. Results indicated that the radiometric sensitivity of this fiber-based system is comparable to that of commercially available oceanographic spectroradiometers.
Networked Influence in Social Media
Authors: Gruzd Anatoliy , Wellman Barry
Published: August 2014

This special issue presents leading-edge work into how the characteristics of social media affect the nature of influence in networks. Our central thesis is that social influence has become networked influence. Influence is networked in two ways: by occurring in social networks and by propagating through online communication networks. We want to understand online social influence in its diversity: who is exercising influence, how it is done, how to measure influence, what its consequences are, and how online and offline influences intertwine in different contexts.
Vascular Reactivity Is Impaired and Associated With Walking Ability in Patients With Intermittent Claudication
Authors: Silva Rita de Cassia Gengo e , Wolosker Nelson , Yugar-Toledo Juan Carlos , Consolim-Colombo Fernanda Marciano
Published: August 2014

We verified whether vascular reactivity is impaired and whether there is any association between vascular reactivity, walking ability, and peripheral artery disease (PAD) severity in patients with intermittent claudication (IC). We studied 63 patients and 17 age- and sex-matched volunteers without PAD. Vascular reactivity was evaluated in the brachial artery during reactive hyperemia (flow-mediated dilation [FMD]) and after a sublingual single dose of nitroglycerin (nitroglycerin-induced vasodilation [NID]). Walking ability was verified by a 6-minute walk test. Vascular reactivity and walking ability were significantly worse in patients with IC compared with control participants. The ankle–brachial index correlated with FMD, NID, as well as total and pain-free distances. The NID and walking ability progressively decreased as PAD severity increased. Walking ability correlated with NID but not with FMD. In patients with IC, vascular reactivity is impaired and is related to the severity of PAD and to walking ability.
A Comparative Analysis of Contraceptive Use in Africa: Evidence from DHS
Authors: Stiegler N , Susuman A Sathiya
Published: August 2014

The aim of this article is to show a comparative analysis of contraceptive use in areas of traditionally high fertility that have gone through profound changes. Data have been taken from the latest Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS). Logistic regression models were adopted for four selected representative countries, namely Egypt, Mali, Namibia and Niger. There were two selection criteria: data should be recent, and selected countries should have high (Egypt 57.4%; Namibia 46.4%) or low (Mali 7.5%; Niger 10.0%) contraceptive use. The probability of using contraception when a woman has had one to four children is 2.4 times higher than when they have had no children. Contraception data are always gathered at a point of time, but cross-sectional data are not sufficient to understand all the mechanisms hidden behind contraceptive use. Different contraceptive behaviours need good estimation tools to develop specific family planning programmes.
Matricide by Mentally Disordered Sons
Authors: Catanesi Roberto , Rocca Gabriele , Candelli Chiara , Carabellese Felice
Published: August 2014

Matricide is one of the rarest of reported murders and has always been considered one of the most abhorrent crimes. Psychiatric investigations as to why a son might murder his mother yield indications of a high rate of mental illness, primarily psychotic disorders, in perpetrators. In an attempt to gain an in-depth understanding of the role of the mother–son bond in the etiology of matricide by mentally disordered sons, this article presents a qualitative study of nine cases of matricide examined at two Italian Forensic Psychiatry Departments between 2005 and 2010 and retrospective analysis of forensic psychiatry reports on the offenders. Most matricides suffered from psychotic disorders, especially schizophrenia. Nevertheless, not all the perpetrators had psychotic symptoms at the time of the crime. A “pathologic” mother–son bond was found in all cases. However, mental illness is not the only variable related to matricide and, taken alone, is not enough to explain the crime. Several factors in the history of the mother and son need to be probed, especially how their relationship developed over the years. The peculiar dynamics of the mother–son relationship and the unique personalities and life experiences of both subjects are the real key to cases of matricide.
Mobile Diabetes Intervention for Glycemic Control in 45- to 64-Year-Old Persons With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Quinn Charlene C. , Shardell Michelle D. , Terrin Michael L. , Barr Erik A. , Park DoHwan , Shaikh Faraz , Guralnik Jack M. , Gruber-Baldini Ann L.
Published: August 2014

The purpose of this study was to assess effects of a mobile coaching system on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in younger versus older patients over 1 year. Participants ( n = 118) included adult patients with Type 2 diabetes cared for by community physicians. Intervention patients received mobile phone coaching and individualized web portal. Control patients received usual care. Patients were stratified into two age groups: younger (<55 years) and older (≥55 years). The intervention resulted in greater 12-month declines in HbA1c, compared with usual care, for patients in both age groups ( p < .0001). Among older patients, HbA1c changed by −1.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] = [−2.4, −1.1]) in the intervention group and −0.3% (95% CI = [−0.9, +0.3]) in the control group. Among younger patients, HbA1c changed by −2.0% (95% CI = [−2.5, −1.5]) in the intervention group and −1.0% (95% CI = [−1.6, −0.4]) in the control group. The mobile health intervention was as effective at managing Type 2 diabetes in older adults as younger persons.
Large-eddy simulation analysis of the influence of the needle lift on the cavitation in diesel injector nozzles
Authors: Desantes José María , Salvador Francisco Javier , Carreres Marcos , Martínez-López Jorge
Published: August 2014

The cavitation phenomenon has a strong influence on the internal flow and spray development in diesel injector nozzles. Despite its importance, there are many aspects which still remain unclear, especially for partial needle lifts when the injector is in the opening and closing phases. For that reason, the current paper is focused on the influence of the needle lift on the internal flow in a diesel nozzle. This study was carried out with three-dimensional simulations at a high injection pressure (160 MPa) using a homogeneous equilibrium model implemented in OpenFOAM to model the cavitation phenomenon. The nozzle was simulated with large-eddy simulation methods at six different needle lifts (10 μm, 30 μm, 50 μm, 75 μm, 100 μm and 250 μm), providing relevant information about the evolution of the internal flow, the turbulence development (the vorticity, the turbulence–cavitation interaction and the turbulent structures) and the flow characteristics in the nozzle outlet (the mass flow, the momentum flux and the effective velocity) with the needle position.
Active load control of wind turbine blade section with trailing edge flap: Wind tunnel testing
Authors: Lee Jong-Won , Han Jae-Hung , Shin Hyung-Ki , Bang Hyung-Joon
Published: August 2014

In order to reduce the cost of energy, the rotor diameter of wind turbine has been continuously increased. Fatigue load becomes more important as wind turbines increase in size. The reduction of fatigue load can result in increased component lifetimes, reduced maintenance requirements, and an overall lower cost of energy. In this article, a load reduction analysis and experiment are performed to show the load reduction abilities of an active aerodynamic load control device, namely trailing edge flaps, in the operation of large wind turbines. Through numerical simulations that use trailing edge flaps as active aerodynamic load control devices on wind turbines, a 30%–50% reduction in the standard deviation oscillations of root bending moment from the mean value was achieved. To validate the active load control analysis and show the potential of the trailing edge flap for load reduction, an active load control experiment of the wind turbine blade was performed. The experimental model was developed using a non-rotating blade equipped with a trailing edge flap and load-cell sensors to facilitate feedback control. A controller is based on the proportional–derivative control in order to minimize the blade root load variation in the flapwise direction. Through the experiment, a 20%–30% reduction in the standard deviation oscillations of blade root load from the mean value was achieved.
Lateral Attitude Change
Authors: Glaser Tina , Dickel Nina , Liersch Benjamin , Rees Jonas , Süssenbach Philipp , Bohner Gerd
Published: August 2014

The authors propose a framework distinguishing two types of lateral attitude change (LAC): (a) generalization effects, where attitude change toward a focal object transfers to related objects, and (b) displacement effects, where only related attitudes change but the focal attitude does not change. They bring together examples of LAC from various domains of research, outline the conditions and underlying processes of each type of LAC, and develop a theoretical framework that enables researchers to study LAC more systematically in the future. Compared with established theories of attitude change, the LAC framework focuses on lateral instead of focal attitude change and encompasses both generalization and displacement. Novel predictions and designs for studying LAC are presented.
Story-ing memory in the Licheń Pilgrimage Centre (Poland)
Authors: Haładewicz-Grzelak Małgorzata , Lubos-Kozieł Joanna
Published: August 2014

This article examines the topic of ‘heritage’ in the context of the skyrocketing development of a Catholic pilgrimage centre in Licheń (Poland). Using photographic documentation of local memorabilia, gathered during joint fieldwork done on the premises of the centre in September 2010, we posit that Licheń is an instance of lieu de mémoire (cf. Nora, 1996), prepared for pilgrims/tourists as a pedestrian walk (cf. Plate, 2006; Urry, 2002). Along these lines, we explore pervasive and instrumental references to the past in Licheń, as well as the superficial status of such references. We highlight the crucial relevance of this study to the body of work devoted to the sacrosanct and exclusive aspect of heritage as opposed to history (cf., for example, Lowenthal 1996). We find strong evidence for positing referring to heritage as a means of in-group mobilization of Polish nationality. In particular, we focus on strategies of avoiding conflict between heritage references and other values, such as novelty, modernity, luxury and so on, as well as on strategies of exposing the past without being subject to any limitations connected with the presence of relics of such a past. We also focus on the national dimension of the religious code in Licheń, that is, how typical units of identity such as ‘nation’ are re-negotiated and fortified in contemporary society.
What can we learn about social network sites by studying Facebook? A call and recommendations for research on social network sites
Authors: Rains Stephen A , Brunner Steven R
Published: August 2014

The substantial growth in research examining social network sites (SNSs) during recent years makes this an opportune time to reflect on the state of SNS scholarship. In this review, we consider what—in the form of specific brands—has been studied. A content-analysis of SNS research published in six interdisciplinary journals between 1997 and 2013 is first reported to better understand the degree to which studies published in these journals have examined various SNS brands (e.g. Facebook, MySpace, Cyworld, Hyves). The results show that more than two-thirds of SNS studies were explicitly limited to a single brand and that Facebook was the brand examined in approximately 80% of these studies. Five implications of this trend are then discussed as potentially limiting what can be learned in aggregate from such a body of SNS scholarship. The review concludes with recommendations for future research on SNSs.