bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation of orthologous pathogen recognition gene-rich regions in solanaceous species
Authors: Di Donato A. , Andolfo G. , Ferrarini A. , Delledonne M. , Ercolano M.R.
Published: July 2017

Pathogen receptor proteins such as receptor-like protein (RLP), receptor-like kinase (RLK), and nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) play a leading role in plant immunity activation. The genome architecture of such genes has been extensively investigated in several plant species. However, we still know little about their elaborate reorganization that arose during the plant speciation process. Using recently released pepper and eggplant genome sequences, we were able to identify 1097 pathogen recognition genes (PRGs) in the cultivated pepper Zunla-1 and 775 in the eggplant line Nakate-Shinkuro. The retrieved genes were analysed for their tendency to cluster, using different methods to infer the means of grouping. Orthologous relationships among clustering loci were found, and interesting reshuffling within given loci was observed for each analysed species. The information obtained was integrated into a comparative map to highlight the evolutionary dynamics in which the PRG loci were involved. Diversification of 14 selected PRG-rich regions was also explored using a DNA target-enrichment approach. A large number of gene variants were found as well as rearrangements of sequences encoding single protein domain and changes in chromosome gene order among species. Gene duplication and transposition activity have clearly influenced plant genome R-gene architecture and diversification. Our findings contribute to addressing several biological questions concerning the parallel evolution that occurred between genomes of the family Solanaceae. Moreover, the integration of different methods proved a powerful approach to reconstruct the evolutionary history in plant families and to transfer important biology findings among plant genomes.
Multi-Factor Synthesis Decision-Making for Trust-Based Access Control on Cloud
Authors: Riad Khaled , Yan Zhu
Published: July 2017

Providing a creditable basis for access control decision-making is not an easy task for the resource pooling, dynamic, and multi-tenant cloud environment. The trust notation can provide this creditable basis, based on multiple factors that can accurately compute the user’s trust for the granting access entity. In this paper, the formal trust model has been introduced, which presents a novel method to provide the basis for granting access. It is based on three factors and their semantic relations, which investigate important measures for the cloud environment. Also, a new Trust-Based Access Control (TB-AC) model has been proposed. The proposed model supports dynamically changing the user’s assigned permissions based on its trust level. In addition, TB-AC ensures secure resource sharing among potential untrusted tenants. TB-AC has been deployed on a separated VM in our private cloud environment, which is built using OpenStack. The experimental results indicated that TB-AC can evaluate access requests within reasonable and acceptable processing times, which is based on the final trust level calculation and the communication between TB-AC and some of the intended OpenStack services. By considering very rough conditions and huge traffic overhead, the final trust level can be calculated in an average time of 200[Formula: see text]ms. Furthermore, the communication overhead between TB-AC and each of Keystone, Nova, and Neutron is very light. Finally, TB-AC has been tested under different scenarios and is provable, usable and scalable.
Dynamics of tripartite quantum correlations in mixed classical environments: The joint effects of the random telegraph and static noises
Authors: Kenfack Lionel Tenemeza , Tchoffo Martin , Fouokeng Georges Collince , Fai Lukong Cornelius
Published: July 2017

In the present paper, the joint effects of two kinds of classical environmental noises, without direct interaction among each other, on the dynamics of quantum correlations (QCs) of a three-qubit system coupled in independent environments is investigated. More precisely, we join the random telegraph noise (RTN) and the static noise (SN) and focus on the dynamics of entanglement and quantum discord (QD) when the qubits are initially prepared in the GHZ- and W-type states. The overall noise affecting the qubits is obtained by combining the RTN and SN in two different setups. The results show that the disorder of the environmental noise as well as its memory qualities and the purity of the initial state considered play a crucial role in the time evolution of the system in such a way that the dynamics of QCs can be controlled by varying them. In fact, we show that, depending on the initial state and noise regime considered, the rate of collapse of QCs may either decrease or increase with the increase of the degree of disorder of the SN, the switching rate of the RTN and the purity of the initial state.
Clickstream User Behavior Models
Authors: Wang Gang , Zhang Xinyi , Tang Shiliang , Wilson Christo , Zheng Haitao , Zhao Ben Y.
Published: July 2017

The next generation of Internet services is driven by users and user-generated content. The complex nature of user behavior makes it highly challenging to manage and secure online services. On one hand, service providers cannot effectively prevent attackers from creating large numbers of fake identities to disseminate unwanted content (e.g., spam). On the other hand, abusive behavior from real users also poses significant threats (e.g., cyberbullying).

In this article, we propose clickstream models to characterize user behavior in large online services. By analyzing clickstream traces (i.e., sequences of click events from users), we seek to achieve two goals: (1) detection: to capture distinct user groups for the detection of malicious accounts, and (2) understanding: to extract semantic information from user groups to understand the captured behavior. To achieve these goals, we build two related systems. The
first
one is a
semisupervised
system to detect malicious user accounts (Sybils). The core idea is to build a clickstream similarity graph where each node is a user and an edge captures the similarity of two users’ clickstreams. Based on this graph, we propose a coloring scheme to identify groups of malicious accounts without relying on a large labeled dataset. We validate the system using ground-truth clickstream traces of 16,000 real and Sybil users from Renren, a large Chinese social network. The
second
system is an
unsupervised
system that aims to capture and understand the fine-grained user behavior. Instead of binary classification (malicious or benign), this model identifies the natural groups of user behavior and automatically extracts features to interpret their semantic meanings. Applying this system to Renren and another online social network, Whisper (100K users), we help service providers identify unexpected user behaviors and even predict users’ future actions. Both systems received positive feedback from our industrial collaborators including Renren, LinkedIn, and Whisper after testing on their internal clickstream data.
Expression Profile of Genes Potentially Associated with Adequate Glycemic Control in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Corbi Sâmia Cruz Tfaile , Bastos Alliny Souza , Nepomuceno Rafael , Cirelli Thamiris , Santos Raquel Alves dos , Takahashi Catarina Satie , Rocha Cristiane S. , Orrico Silvana Regina Perez , Maurer-Morelli Claudia V. , Scarel-Caminaga Raquel Mantuaneli
Published: July 2017

Despite increasing research in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), there are few studies showing the impact of the poor glycemic control on biological processes occurring in T2D. In order to identify potential genes related to poorly/well-controlled patients with T2D, our strategy of investigation included a primary screen by microarray (Human Genome U133) in a small group of individuals followed by an independent validation in a greater group using RT-qPCR. Ninety patients were divided as follows: poorly controlled T2D (G1), well-controlled T2D (G2), and normoglycemic individuals (G3). After using affy package in R, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were prospected as candidate genes potentially relevant for the glycemic control in T2D patients. After validation by RT-qPCR, the obtained DEGs were as follows—G1 + G2 versus G3: HLA-DQA1, SOS1, and BRCA2; G2 versus G1: ENO2, VAMP2, CCND3, CEBPD, LGALS12, AGBL5, MAP2K5, and PPAP2B; G2 versus G3: HLA-DQB1, MCM4, and SEC13; and G1 versus G3: PPIC. This demonstrated a systemic exacerbation of the gene expression related to immune response in T2D patients. Moreover, genes related to lipid metabolisms and DNA replication/repair were influenced by the glycemic control. In conclusion, this study pointed out candidate genes potentially associated with adequate glycemic control in T2D patients, contributing to the knowledge of how the glycemic control could systemically influence gene expression.
Clinician’s Update on the Benign, Premalignant, and Malignant Skin Tumours of the Vulva: The Dermatologist’s View
Authors: Sand Freja Lærke , Thomsen Simon Francis
Published: July 2017

Correct and rapid diagnosis of skin tumours often requires biopsy and histopathological examination to differentiate benign lesions such as seborrhoeic keratoses or melanocytic naevi from premalignant and malignant lesions such as malignant melanoma. Particularly, to the untrained eye, any benign skin tumour—pigmented or nonpigmented—is easily mistaken for a malignant lesion. Qualified clinical evaluation is paramount in order to reduce the frequency of unwarranted skin biopsies. Herein, the most common benign, premalignant, and malignant vulvar skin tumours are reviewed.
Dynamical System Analysis of Interacting Hessence Dark Energy inf(T)Gravity
Authors: Das Mandal Jyotirmay , Debnath Ujjal
Published: July 2017

We have carried out dynamical system analysis of hessence field coupling with dark matter inf(T)gravity. We have analysed the critical points due to autonomous system. The resulting autonomous system is nonlinear. So, we have applied the theory of nonlinear dynamical system. We have noticed that very few papers are devoted to this kind of study. Maximum works in literature are done treating the dynamical system as done in linear dynamical analysis, which are unable to predict correct evolution. Our work is totally different from those kinds of works. We have used nonlinear dynamical system theory, developed till date, in our analysis. This approach gives totally different stable solutions, in contrast to what the linear analysis would have predicted. We have discussed the stability analysis in detail due to exponential potential through computational method in tabular form and analysed the evolution of the universe. Some plots are drawn to investigate the behaviour of the system(this plotting technique is different from usual phase plot and that devised by us). Interestingly, the analysis shows that the universe may resemble the “cosmological constant” like evolution (i.e.,ΛCDM model is a subset of the solution set). Also, all the fixed points of our model are able to avoid Big Rip singularity.
From Inflammation to Current and Alternative Therapies Involved in Wound Healing
Authors: Serra Mariana Barreto , Barroso Wermerson Assunção , Silva Neemias Neves da , Silva Selma do Nascimento , Borges Antonio Carlos Romão , Abreu Iracelle Carvalho , Borges Marilene Oliveira da Rocha
Published: July 2017

Wound healing is a complex event that develops in three overlapping phases: inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling. These phases are distinct in function and histological characteristics. However, they depend on the interaction of cytokines, growth factors, chemokines, and chemical mediators from cells to perform regulatory events. In this article, we will review the pathway in the skin healing cascade, relating the major chemical inflammatory mediators, cellular and molecular, as well as demonstrating the local and systemic factors that interfere in healing and disorders associated with tissue repair deficiency. Finally, we will discuss the current therapeutic interventions in the wounds treatment, and the alternative therapies used as promising results in the development of new products with healing potential.
The Effect of Water Repellent Surface Impregnation on Durability of Cement-Based Materials
Authors: Zhang Peng , Shang Huaishuai , Hou Dongshuai , Guo Siyao , Zhao Tiejun
Published: July 2017

In many cases, service life of reinforced concrete structures is severely limited by chloride penetration until the steel reinforcement or by carbonation of the covercrete. Water repellent treatment on the surfaces of cement-based materials has often been considered to protect concrete from these deteriorations. In this paper, three types of water repellent agents have been applied on the surface of concrete specimens. Penetration profiles of silicon resin in treated concrete have been determined by FT-IR spectroscopy. Water capillary suction, chloride penetration, carbonation, and reinforcement corrosion in both surface impregnated and untreated specimens have been measured. Results indicate that surface impregnation reduced the coefficient of capillary suction of concrete substantially. An efficient chloride barrier can be established by deep impregnation. Water repellent surface impregnation by silanes also can make the process of carbonation action slow. In addition, it also has been concluded that surface impregnation can provide effective corrosion protection to reinforcing steel in concrete with migrating chloride. The improvement of durability and extension of service life for reinforced concrete structures, therefore, can be expected through the applications of appropriate water repellent surface impregnation.
A Resting-State Brain Functional Network Study in MDD Based on Minimum Spanning Tree Analysis and the Hierarchical Clustering
Authors: Li Xiaowei , Jing Zhuang , Hu Bin , Zhu Jing , Zhong Ning , Li Mi , Ding Zhijie , Yang Jing , Zhang Lan , Feng Lei , Majoe Dennis
Published: July 2017

A large number of studies demonstrated that major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterized by the alterations in brain functional connections which is also identifiable during the brain’s “resting-state.” But, in the present study, the approach of constructing functional connectivity is often biased by the choice of the threshold. Besides, more attention was paid to the number and length of links in brain networks, and the clustering partitioning of nodes was unclear. Therefore, minimum spanning tree (MST) analysis and the hierarchical clustering were first used for the depression disease in this study. Resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG) sources were assessed from 15 healthy and 23 major depressive subjects. Then the coherence, MST, and the hierarchical clustering were obtained. In the theta band, coherence analysis showed that the EEG coherence of the MDD patients was significantly higher than that of the healthy controls especially in the left temporal region. The MST results indicated the higher leaf fraction in the depressed group. Compared with the normal group, the major depressive patients lost clustering in frontal regions. Our findings suggested that there was a stronger brain interaction in the MDD group and a left-right functional imbalance in the frontal regions for MDD controls.
Bifurcation Analysis and Chaos Control in a Discrete-Time Predator-Prey System of Leslie Type with Simplified Holling Type IV Functional Response
Authors: Rana S. M. Sohel , Kulsum Umme
Published: July 2017

The dynamic behavior of a discrete-time predator-prey system of Leslie type with simplified Holling type IV functional response is examined. We algebraically show that the system undergoes a bifurcation (flip or Neimark-Sacker) in the interior ofR+2. Numerical simulations are presented not only to validate analytical results but also to show chaotic behaviors which include bifurcations, phase portraits, period 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 20 orbits, invariant closed cycle, and attracting chaotic sets. Furthermore, we compute numerically maximum Lyapunov exponents and fractal dimension to justify the chaotic behaviors of the system. Finally, a strategy of feedback control is applied to stabilize chaos existing in the system.
Pulmonary Hypertension in a Large Cohort with Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia
Authors: Vorselaars Veronique , Velthuis Sebastiaan , van Gent Marco , Westermann Cornelis , Snijder Repke , Mager Johannes , Post Martijn
Published: July 2017

Background: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a vascular disorder characterized by arteriovenous malformations in the brain, liver, and lungs. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is increasingly recognized as a severe complication of HHT. However, there are no studies describing the prevalence of PH in HHT compared to HHT-negative controls. Objective: To assess the estimated prevalence of PH in patients with HHT compared to HHT-negative controls. Methods: All consecutive subjects screened for HHT with available genetic testing and echocardiography-based peak tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TRV) measurement were included. Increased-probability PH was defined as a TRV >2.8 m/s. Results: In 578 subjects, both echocardiography and genetic testing were available. A reliable TRV was measured in 383 (66.3%), of whom 127 had HHT type 1 (HHT1), 150 had HHT type 2 (HHT2), and 106 were HHT-negative controls, with a mean TRV of 2.3 ± 0.4, 2.4 ± 0.5, and 2.2 ± 0.3 m/s, respectively (p = 0.008 and p < 0.001 vs. controls). Increased-probability PH was found in 42 subjects (8.7% in HHT1, 18.0% in HHT2, and 3.8% in HHT-negative controls). HHT2 and hepatic arteriovenous malformations (HAVMs) were the most important predictors for increased-probability PH (odds ratio 5.6, p = 0.002, and odds ratio 11.3, p < 0.001, respectively). Heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension (HPAH) was diagnosed in 2 patients (0.7%) and only found in HHT2 (1.3%). Conclusion: The estimated prevalence of PH is higher in HHT patients compared to HHT-negative controls. This increase is especially present in HHT2 and mainly associated with the presence of HAVMs. HPAH appears to be rare in HHT patients and was only diagnosed in HHT2.
Clinical, Endocrine, and Molecular Genetic Analysis of a Large Cohort of Saudi Arabian Patients with Laron Syndrome
Authors: Al-Ashwal Abdullah A. , Al-Sagheir Afaf , Ramzan Khushnooda , Al-Owain Mohammed , Allam Rabab , Qari Alya , Al-Numair Nouf S. , Imtiaz Faiqa
Published: July 2017

Background/Aims: Laron syndrome (LS) is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by marked short stature and very low serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels. This study assessed the clinical and endocrine features alongside determining the growth hormone receptor gene (GHR) mutation in Saudi Arabian patients with LS in order to establish whether or not a genotype/phenotype correlation is evident in this large cohort. Subjects and Methods: A total of 40 Saudi Arabian patients with a suspected diagnosis of LS were recruited and subjected to a full clinical and endocrine investigation together with direct sequencing of the coding regions of the GHR gene. Results: GHR mutations were identified in 34 patients from 22 separate nuclear families. All 34 molecularly confirmed patients had the typical clinical and endocrinological manifestations of LS. Eleven different mutations (9 previously unreported) were detected in this cohort of patients, all inherited in an autosomal recessive homozygous form. No genotype/phenotype correlation was apparent. Conclusion: The identification of pathogenic mutations causing LS will be of tremendous use for the molecular diagnosis of patients in Saudi Arabia and the region in general, with respect to prevention of this disease in the forms of future carrier testing, prenatal testing, premarital screening and preimplantation genetic diagnosis.
Vitreomakuläre Adhäsion verschlechtert das Ansprechen auf eine intravitreale Anti-VEGF-Therapie
Authors: Treder Maximilian
Published: July 2017

Ziel: Untersuchung der Auswirkung vitreomakulärer Adhäsion (VMA) auf das Ergebnis einer antiangiogenen Therapie der neovaskulären altersabhängige Makuladegeneration (nAMD). Methoden: Unsere Kohortenstudie fand an 99 Augen von 83 Patienten statt. Wir nahmen eine prospektive Bewertung der bestkorrigierten Sehschärfe (BCVA) und der zentralen Netzhautdicke (CRT) bei Patienten mit nAMD bei Therapiebeginn sowie 1, 2, 3, 6 und 12 Monate nach der Behandlung mit Wirkstoffen gegen den vaskulären endothelialen Wachstumsfaktor (Anti-VEGF-Wirkstoffen) vor. Alle Patienten wurden mittels SD-OCT (spectral domain optical coherence tomography) in 2 Gruppen (VMA(+) und VMA(-)) stratifiziert, je nachdem, ob VMA vorhanden war oder nicht, und es wurde das Ansprechen auf die Therapie beurteilt. Ergebnisse: Es wurden 54 Augen (54,5%) in die VMA(-)-Gruppe aufgenommen, die VMA(+)-Gruppe umfasste 45 Augen (45,5%). In gepaarten Vergleichen der mittleren BCVA zwischen Therapiebeginn und jedem Nachsorgetermin (nach 1, 2, 3, 6 und 12 Monaten) wies die VMA(-)-Gruppe eine statistisch signifikante Verbesserung nach 1, 2 und 3 Monaten gegenüber Therapiebeginn auf. In der VMA(+)-Gruppe verbesserte sich die BCVA erst nach 3 Monaten signifikant. Für beide Gruppe zeigten gepaarte Vergleiche der CRT eine statistisch signifikante Abnahme, als nach 1, 2, 3, 6 und 12 Monaten gewonnene Daten mit den Werten bei Therapiebeginn verglichen wurden (p < 0,05). Schlussfolgerung: Posteriore VMA ist mit einem schlechteren kurzfristigen Ergebnis bei Patienten mit nAMD verbunden, die mit Anti-VEGF-Wirkstoffen behandelt werden.
Messung des Augeninnendrucks mit einer Kontaktlinse: Bedeutung noch unklar
Authors: Pfeiffer Norbert
Published: July 2017

Zweck: Bestimmung des Verhältnisses zwischen glaukomatös bedingtem Gesichtsfeldverlust und der Amplitude eines 24-Stunden Augeninnendruckprofils, gemessen mit einer drucksensitiven Kontaktlinse. Methode: In dieser Beobachtungsstudie wurden 22 Patienten mit Glaukom und einem Augeninnendruck ≤21 mm Hg während des Tages eingeschlossen. Alle Teilnehmer erhielten Goldmann-Augeninnendruckmessungen, Statische Weiß-auf-Weiß-Perimetrien (SAP), Fundusuntersuchungen bei weiter Pupille und Messungen mit einer drucksensitiven Kontaktlinse. Eine Cosinusfunktion wurde verwendet, um höchste (Acrophase) und niedrigste (Bathyphase) Werte der gemessenen Amplitude zu bestimmen. Vorherige Veränderungsraten der mittleren Abweichung im Gesichtsfeld wurden berechnet und mit den durch die Kontaktlinsen gemessenen Parametern verglichen. Ergebnisse: Die Patienten waren im Durchschnitt 66,6 ± 8,2 Jahre alt (Bereich: 54-89 Jahre). Die durchschnittliche Nachbeobachtungsphase betrug 6,6 ± 5,0 Jahre mit durchschnittlich 8,3 ± 3,2 zuverlässigen SAP-Untersuchungen. Die mittlere Veränderungsrate der SAP betrug -0,86 ± 1,0 dB (Bereich: -0,11-2,12 dB) pro Jahr. Eine Regressionsanalyse ergab Hinweise auf eine schnellere Progression bei Augen mit einer höheren Amplitudenvariation, jedoch erreichte die statistische Analyse keine ausreichende Signifikanz (R2 = 0,174, p = 0,053). Anhand der Kontaktlinsenmessungen konnte man klar Schlaf- und Wachperioden unterscheiden. 59,1% der Augen hatten eine nächtliche Acrophase mit den höchsten Werten zwischen 23 Uhr und 7 Uhr. Es konnten keine signifikanten Unterschiede der Veränderungsraten beim Gesichtsfeld zwischen Patienten mit nächtlicher oder tageszeitlicher Acrophase aufgezeigt werden (-0,71 ± 1,17 bzw. -1,07 ± 0,84 dB/Jahr, p = 0,437). Zusammenfassung: Die Messungen mit der drucksensitiven Kontaktlinse bei Patienten mit Normaldruckglaukom (definiert auf Basis der Tagesmessungen) ergaben, dass etwa 60% aller Patienten den höchsten Augeninnendruck während der Nachtstunden hatten, was durch die tageszeitlichen Messungen mit der üblichen Goldmann-Applanationstonometrie nicht erfasst werden kann. Als neuer Parameter bietet sich die Messung mit der drucksensitiven Kontaktlinse an, mit der man möglicherweise das Risiko für Gesichtsfeldveränderungen bei Glaukom-Patienten bestimmen könnte.
Sleep and Olfaction among Older Adults
Authors: McSorley V. Eloesa , Pinto Jayant , Schumm L. Philip , Wroblewski Kristen , Kern David , McClintock Martha , Lauderdale Diane S.
Published: July 2017

Background: Sleep and olfaction are both critical physiological processes that tend to worsen with age. Decline in olfaction can be an early indicator of neurodegenerative diseases, whereas poor sleep quality is associated with reduced physical and mental health. Given associations with aging-related health declines, we explored whether variations in sleep were associated with olfactory function among older adults. Methods: We assessed the relationship between sleep characteristics and olfaction among 354 community-dwelling older adults. Olfaction was measured using a validated field and survey research tool. Sleep characteristics were measured using wrist actigraphy and with self-report of sleep problems. We fit structural equation models of latent constructs of olfaction based on olfactory task items and let this be a function of each sleep characteristic. Results: Actigraph sleep quality measures were associated with odor identification, but not with odor sensitivity. Longer duration sleepers had worse odor sensitivity compared to medium (58 h) sleepers, but sleep duration was not associated with odor identification. Reported sleep problems and reported usual duration were not associated with olfaction. Conclusions: Diminished sleep quality was associated with reduced capacity to identify odors. Determining whether this is a causal association will require further study and longitudinal data.
Mast Cells Granular Contents Are Crucial for Deep Vein Thrombosis in Mice
Authors: Ponomaryov Tatyana , Payne Holly , Fabritz Larissa , Wagner Denisa D. , Brill Alexander
Published: July 2017

Rationale:

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and its complication pulmonary embolism have high morbidity reducing quality of life and leading to death. Cellular mechanisms of DVT initiation remain poorly understood.

Objective:

We sought to determine the role of mast cells (MCs) in DVT initiation and validate MCs as a potential target for DVT prevention.

Methods and Results:

In a mouse model, DVT was induced by partial ligation (stenosis) of the inferior vena cava. We demonstrated that 2 strains of mice deficient for MCs were completely protected from DVT. Adoptive transfer of in vitro differentiated MCs restored thrombosis. MCs were present in the venous wall, and the number of granule-containing MCs decreased with thrombosis. Pharmacological depletion of MCs granules or prevention of MC degranulation also reduced DVT. Basal plasma levels of von Willebrand factor and recruitment of platelets to the inferior vena cava wall after DVT induction were reduced in MC-deficient mice. Stenosis application increased plasma levels of soluble P-selectin in wild-type but not in MC-deficient mice. MC releasate elevated ICAM-1 (intercellular adhesion molecule-1) expression on HUVEC (human umbilical vein endothelial cells) in vitro. Topical application of compound 48/80, an MC secretagogue, or histamine, a Weibel–Palade body secretagogue from MCs, potentiated DVT in wild-type mice, and histamine restored thrombosis in MC-deficient animals.

Conclusions:

MCs exacerbate DVT likely through endothelial activation and Weibel–Palade body release, which is, at least in part, mediated by histamine. Because MCs do not directly contribute to normal hemostasis, they can be considered potential targets for prevention of DVT in humans.
The network architecture of value learning
Authors: Mattar Marcelo G. , Thompson-Schill Sharon L. , Bassett Danielle S.
Published: July 2017

Value guides behavior. With knowledge of stimulus values and action consequences, behaviors that maximize expected reward can be selected. Prior work has identified several brain structures critical for representing both stimuli and their values. Yet, it remains unclear how these structures interact with one another and with other regions of the brain to support the dynamic acquisition of value-related knowledge. Here, we use a network neuroscience approach to examine how BOLD functional networks change as 20 healthy human subjects learn the values of novel visual stimuli over the course of four consecutive days. We show that connections between regions of the visual, frontal, and cingulate cortices become stronger as learning progresses, with some of these changes being specific to the type of feedback received during learning. These results demonstrate that functional networks dynamically track behavioral improvement in value judgments, and that interactions between network communities form predictive biomarkers of learning.
Visionary Experience and Ritual Realism in the Ascent of the Discourse on the Eighth and the Ninth (nhc vi,6)
Authors: Bull Christian H.
Published: July 2017

The Discourse on the Eighth and the Ninth (nhc vi,6) is a dialogue between Hermes Trismegistus and his son, during which they experience visions of the eighth and ninth spheres, above the seven planetary spheres. The paper aims to show that such experiences were not merely literary fiction, but actively pursued and allegedly obtained by those who followed the course of spiritual formation known as the Way of Hermes. A comparison with the Greek and Demotic magical papyri shows that these texts all show signs of “ritual realism,” meaning that correct ritual performance necessarily provides direct access to the divine realm, which should be experienced as real. It is furthermore argued that the Coptic translation of the text, and its presence in the Nag Hammadi codices, might be explained by the interest of Egyptian monks in visions of the divine.
Pseudonymity, Gnosis, and the Self in Gnostic Literature
Authors: Brakke David
Published: July 2017

Why did Sethian gnostic authors write pseudonymously? In addition to making a claim to authority, gnostic pseudepigraphy, exemplified by The Three Tablets of Seth, was multiple and performative, implying that the self is multiple—a manifestation of selfhood at different levels of a single reality—and that performing one’s self as multiple provides a path to higher knowledge of one’s self and thus of God. That is, gnostic pseudonymity stems from a distinctive understanding of the self and functions as a mystical practice that performs that understanding. The eschewal of pseudonymity in Valentinian literature reflects different conceptions of the self and of the path to gnosis.
Salvia luteistriata (Lamiaceae), a new species from northeastern Sichuan, China
Authors: HU GUO-XIONG , LIU EN-DE , ZHANG TING , CAI JIE , XIANG CHUN-LEI
Published: July 2017

Salvia luteistriata, a new species from northeastern Sichuan, China, is described and illustrated here. The new species morphologically resembles S. maximowicziana, but it can be easily distinguished from the latter by having bigger maroon corolla with showy creamy-yellow vertical stripes in the internal ventral surface of corolla tube. Other diagnostic characters between them include that the new species has bigger leaf blade, longer bract and pedicel, bigger oblong upper corolla lip, and bigger mericarp. An identification key for the species in Salvia ser. Maximowiczianae, including S. luteistriata, is provided.
Phyllagathis phamhoangii (Sonerileae, Melastomataceae), a new species from central Vietnam
Authors: PHAM VAN THE , VU TIEN CHINH , RAJAPAKSHA RANIL , TRINH NGOC BON , AVERYANOV LEONID , NGUYEN THI LIEN THUONG
Published: July 2017

Phyllagathis phamhoangii V.T.Pham, T.C.Vu & Ranil is described and illustrated from Quang Nam province, central Vietnam. Diagnostic features of the new species are the short acaulescent rhizomatous herbs with pink flowers. The described species is distinct from the closely allied P. nanakorniana in the sparse hairs on all its parts except petals and stamens, much longer petioles, dichasial inflorescences, longer hypanthia, stamens unequal in length, longer petals and ovary; and from P. subrotunda by the taller plants, smaller leaves with longer petioles, cordate to reniform blades with a shortly acuminate apex, dichasial inflorescences, longer and cylindrical peduncles, longer and narrower hypanthia. We suggest the IUCN conservation status for P. phamhoangii as Vulnerable.
Paris nitida (Melanthiaceae), a new species from Hubei and Hunan, China
Authors: WANG ZHI , CAI XIU-ZHEN , ZHONG ZHI-XIANG , XU ZHUN , WEI NENG , XIE JIA-FEN , HU GUANG-WAN , WANG QING-FENG
Published: July 2017

The genus Paris Linnaeus (1753: 367) was traditionally placed in Liliaceae (Melchior, 1964), and then in Trilliaceae, which was divided into two genera based on floral merosity: Trilliun Linnaeus (1753: 340) has trimerous flowers, and Paris has variable floral merosity (Li 1984; Zomlefer 1997; Li 1998). However, Trilliaceae were recently revised using molecular phylogenetic approaches and placed in Melanthiaceae (Ji et al. 2006; APG IV 2016; Kim et al. 2016). Paris consists of about 28 species of perennial herbs mainly distributed and endemic in eastern Asia (Osaloo & Kawano 1999; Liang & Vitor 2000; Li et al. 2017), with the center of species diversity in China, where Paris is well known for its medicinal value.
A new species of Colletotrichum from Sonchus sp. in Italy
Authors: JAYAWARDENA RUVISHIKA S. , CAMPORESI ERIO , ELGORBAN ABDALLAH M. , BAHKALI ALI H. , YAN JIYE , HYDE KEVIN D.
Published: July 2017

Colletotrichum sonchicola, sp. nov. from Sonchus sp. (dandelion tribe) in Forlì-Cesena Province, Italy, is introduced using morphological and molecular data. Combined phylogenetic analysis of ITS, GAPDH, CHS, ACT and TUB2 sequence data demonstrate that C. sonchicola is a distinct species within the dematium species complex. The new species is illustrated and compared with related taxa. This provides the first record of a Colletotrichum species from the genus Sonchus.
Morphological and micromorphological data support the independent specific status of Chamaesium spatuliferum (Apioideae, Apiaceae) from China
Authors: GUO XIAN-LIN , TAN JIN-BO , HU HAO-YU , YU HUAN-XI , HE XING-JIN
Published: July 2017

After consulting related original literature, examining relevant type specimens and conducting field work, it is convinced that Chamaesium spatuliferum could not be conspecific with C. novemjugum and these two species can be readily distinguishable by margin of leaf segment and pericarp length and the shape of calyx teeth. The independent specific status of Chamaesium spatuliferum is strongly supported by the evidence from morphology and micromorphology as well as geographical distribution.
An unusual new epiphytic species of Cymbidium (Orchidaceae: Epidedroideae) from Hainan, China
Authors: HUANG MINGZHONG , LIU ZHILONG , YANG GUANGSUI , YIN JUNMEI
Published: July 2017

Cymbidium lii (Orchidaceae: Epidedroideae: Cymbidiinae), endemic to Hainan, China and the only one well-developed rhizome epiphytic species ever found in the genus, is newly described. A detailed morphology comparison including the seed characters between the newly discovered orchid and the related species was conducted. A local palm, Livistona saribus (Lour.) Merr. ex A. Chev was found to be the unique host plant. It is considered to be critically endangered according to the latest IUCN Red List criteria.
Impact of the Diurnal Radiation Cycle on Secondary Eyewall Formation
Authors: Tang Xiaodong , Tan Zhe-Min , Fang Juan , Sun Y. Qiang , Zhang Fuqing
Published: July 2017

The sensitivity of the secondary eyewall formation (SEF) of Hurricane Edouard (2014) to the diurnal solar insolation cycle is examined with convection-permitting simulations. A control run with a real diurnal radiation cycle and a sensitivity experiment without solar insolation are conducted. In the control run, there is an area of relatively weak convection between the outer rainbands and the primary eyewall, that is, a moat region. This area is highly sensitive to solar shortwave radiative heating, mostly in the mid- to upper levels in the daytime, which leads to a net stabilization effect and suppresses convective development. Moreover, the heated surface air weakens the wind-induced surface heat exchange (WISHE) feedback between the surface fluxes (that promote convection) and convective heating (that feeds into the secondary circulation and then the tangential wind). Consequently, a typical SEF with a clear moat follows. In the sensitivity experiment, in contrast, net radiative cooling leads to persistent active inner rainbands between the primary eyewall and outer rainbands, and these, along with the absence of the rapid filamentation zone, are detrimental to moat formation and thus to SEF. Sawyer–Eliassen diagnoses further suggest that the radiation-induced difference in diabatic heating is more important than the vortex wind structure for moat formation and SEF. These results suggest that the SEF is highly sensitive to solar insolation.
Understanding the Time Scales of the Tropospheric Circulation Response to Abrupt CO2 Forcing in the Southern Hemisphere: Seasonality and the Role of the Stratosphere
Authors: Grise Kevin M. , Polvani Lorenzo M.
Published: July 2017

This study examines the time scales of the Southern Hemisphere (SH) tropospheric circulation response to increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations in models from phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5). In response to an abrupt quadrupling of atmospheric CO2, the midlatitude jet stream and poleward edge of the Hadley circulation shift poleward on the time scale of the rising global-mean surface temperature during the summer and fall seasons but on a much more rapid time scale during the winter and spring seasons. The seasonally varying time scales of the SH circulation response are closely tied to the meridional temperature gradient in the upper troposphere–lower stratosphere and, in particular, to temperatures in the SH polar lower stratosphere. During summer and fall, SH polar lower-stratospheric temperatures cool on the time scale of warming global surface temperatures, as the lifting of the tropopause height with tropospheric warming is associated with cooling at lower-stratospheric levels. However, during winter and spring, SH polar lower-stratospheric temperatures cool primarily from fast time-scale radiative processes, contributing to the faster time-scale circulation response during these seasons.

The poleward edge of the SH subtropical dry zone shifts poleward on the time scale of the rising global-mean surface temperature during all seasons in response to an abrupt quadrupling of atmospheric CO2. The dry zone edge initially follows the poleward shift in the Hadley cell edge but is then augmented by the action of eddy moisture fluxes in a warming climate. Consequently, with increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations, key features of the tropospheric circulation response could emerge sooner than features more closely tied to rising global temperatures.
Large-Scale Forcing of the Amundsen Sea Low and Its Influence on Sea Ice and West Antarctic Temperature
Authors: Clem Kyle R. , Renwick James A. , McGregor James
Published: July 2017

Using empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis and atmospheric reanalyses, the principal patterns of seasonal West Antarctic surface air temperature (SAT) and their connection to sea ice and the Amundsen Sea low (ASL) are examined. During austral summer, the leading EOF (EOF1) explains 35% of West Antarctic SAT variability and consists of a widespread SAT anomaly over the continent linked to persistent sea ice concentration anomalies over the Ross and Amundsen Seas from the previous spring. Outside of summer, EOF1 (explaining ~40%–50% of the variability) consists of an east–west dipole over the continent with SAT anomalies over the Antarctic Peninsula opposite those over western West Antarctica. The dipole is tied to variability in the southern annular mode (SAM) and in-phase El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO)/SAM combinations that influence the depth of the ASL over the central Amundsen Sea (near 105°W). The second EOF (EOF2) during autumn, winter, and spring (explaining ~15%–20% of the variability) consists of a dipole shifted approximately 30° west of EOF1 with a widespread SAT anomaly over the continent. During winter and spring, EOF2 is closely tied to variability in ENSO and a tropically forced wave train that influences the ASL in the western Amundsen/eastern Ross Seas (near 135°W) with an opposite-sign circulation anomaly over the Weddell Sea; the ENSO-related circulation brings anomalous thermal advection deep onto the continent. The authors conclude that the ENSO-only circulation pattern is associated with SAT variability across interior West Antarctica, especially during winter and spring, whereas the SAM circulation pattern is associated with an SAT dipole over the continent.
In Need of God: Mozart, Faith, and Così fan tutte
Authors: Lösel Steffen
Published: July 2017

This article offers readers a theological entrée to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s comic opera, Così fan tutte, written in collaboration with Lorenzo da Ponte in 1789. It engages the opera as a means of social and theological criticism. The opera presents Mozart’s understanding of love through a critical engagement with the late Enlightenment and French materialism. While da Ponte’s libretto may well endorse materialism’s attack on the church and on Christian anthropology, Mozart’s music is more ambiguous: on the one hand, it demonstrates the weakness of Baroque Catholicism to withstand the rationalist criticism of the Enlightenment; on the other hand, it exposes the sobering reality which such rationalist materialism itself produces—a reality marked by strained and ultimately impoverished human relationships.
Governing the countryside through state-led programmes: A case study of Jiangning District in Nanjing, China
Authors: Shen Mingrui , Shen Jianfa
Published: July 2017

Over the last decade, a large part of the Chinese countryside has experienced a ‘hollowing out’ process in economy and state administration, as rapid urbanisation and development have concentrated in urban areas. To deal with this challenge, the Chinese government has launched rural programmes, resulting in significant transformation in the countryside. Applying the state rescaling theory as an analytical lens, this paper argues that these state-led rural programmes have strengthened the state role in governing the countryside significantly based on the case study of Jiangning. These programmes are not fixed yet developed and expanded through the interaction of multi-level governments. While local governments follow the discourse of the higher-level governments in this process, they also restructure the state apparatus for programme implementation. Local governments have some autonomy by echoing and responding to the initiative of the higher-level governments actively. Thus the programme evolution is not simply a top-down process as it encompasses interesting dynamics of state rescaling. Generally speaking, the state plays an important role in moving toward ‘good governance’ in rural China at the initial stage. The state-led rural programmes enable the state to regain its leading role in the countryside and restore the rural public administation to some extent. There is still a long way to go for the civil society to achieve self-governance in the countryside.
Appropriateness of Tympanostomy Tubes in the Boston Metropolitan Area: Are the AAO‐HNSF Guidelines Being Met?
Authors: Hughes Amy L. , Roberson David , Bannos Cassandra , Trudell Emily K. , Vernacchio Louis
Published: July 2017

Introduction

Otitis media (OM) is the most common reason children receive general anesthesia, with bilateral tympanostomy tube (TT) insertion the second most common surgery in children. Prior research suggests overuse of TT. As part of a project designed to improve appropriateness of OM referrals, we evaluated appropriateness of TT insertion in a patient cohort.

Methods

Patients younger than 9 years with initial otolaryngology (ORL) visits in academic and private office settings for OM from January 1, 2012, to August 31, 2013, were identified through claims database. A detailed retrospective chart review of patients undergoing TT insertion was performed to determine appropriateness of TT insertion per the 2013 American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO‐HNSF) guidelines.

Results

A total of 120 patients undergoing TT insertion were randomly chosen for detailed chart review; 32 patients were excluded. Sixty‐six (75%) of 88 patients available for analysis met AAO‐HNSF guidelines for TT. Recurrent acute OM with middle ear effusion was the most common indication (56%). Other indications included chronic OME and TT in at‐risk patients with speech, learning, or behavioral delays. Of the 22 patients undergoing TT insertion not meeting AAO‐HNSF guidelines, 11(50%) had abnormal exams, but were 1 to 2 infections short of meeting guidelines; 7 (33%) had normal exams but met criteria for number of infections.

Discussion

Contrary to prior publications, 75% of patients undergoing TT insertion had an appropriate indication per AAO‐HNSF guidelines. In only 5% was TT insertion a substantial departure from guidelines.

Implications for Practice

The study outcomes suggest appropriate clinical decision making, improved guideline adherence, and better guideline applicability from the previously published 1994 and 2004 guidelines.
Psychometric Properties in Forensic Application of the Screening Version of the Psychopathy Checklist
Authors: Higgs Tamsin , Tully Ruth J. , Browne Kevin D.
Published: July 2017

The Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version (PCL: SV) is a short form of the Psychopathy Checklist–Revised (PCL-R), an expert-rated assessment that measures psychopathic personality traits in research, clinical, and community settings. The PCL-R is an extensively relied upon tool in psycho-legal contexts. The screening version is also widely used; however, it has received far less empirical attention than the PCL-R. This review examines the psychometric properties of the PCL: SV, specifically in relation to forensic samples, and evaluates its comparability with the full PCL-R. Previously reported similarity in the reliability and validity of the PCL: SV as established for the PCL-R was supported through further testing in forensic samples. However, limitations in terms of available normative data are highlighted, and the review engages with wider debate concerning the measurement of psychopathy.
Examining the Long-Term Stability of a Strengths-Based Screener Over 2 Years
Authors: Warmbold-Brann Kristy , Maras Melissa A. , Splett Joni W. , Smith-Millman Marissa , Dinnen Hannah , Flaspohler Paul
Published: July 2017

The success of universal screening for effective school mental health programs is dependent on the availability of usable measures as well as empirically based recommendations for use. The current study examined the long-term stability of a strengths-based social-emotional screening tool, the Devereux Student Strengths Assessment-Mini (DESSA-Mini). Elementary teachers rated students ( N = 273; kindergarten and first grade at Time 1) 3 times per year over 2 years to identify students for early intervention. Stability coefficients were moderate to large for continuous and categorical data but lower between years, and a transition matrix demonstrated greater movement across categories compared with prior research. A latent profile analysis with all six time-point T-Scores indicated four stability profiles. Three patterns were stable across all times while one profile improved over time. Profile results were compared with covariates of free and reduced-price lunch, special education, and intervention status as well as outcomes of reading achievement and behavior referrals. Practice implications and areas for future research are discussed.