bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Climate Change Scenarios of Precipitation Extremes in the Carpathian Region Based on an Ensemble of Regional Climate Models
Authors: Gaál Ladislav , Beranová Romana , Hlavčová Kamila , Kyselý Jan
Published: September 2014

The study examines projected changes in precipitation extremes, aggregated on several time scales (1 hour, 1 day, and 5 days), in simulations of 12 regional climate models (RCMs) with high spatial resolution (~25 km). The study area is the Carpathian Basin (Central and Southeastern Europe) which has a complex topography and encompasses the whole territory of Slovakia and Hungary as well as major parts of Romania and western Ukraine. We focus on changes in mean seasonal maxima and high quantiles (50-year return values) projected for the late 21st century (time slice 2070–2099) in comparison to the control period (time slice 1961–1990), for summer and winter. The 50-year return values are estimated by means of a regional frequency analysis based on the region-of-influence method, which reduces random variability and leads to more reliable estimates of high quantiles. In winter, all examined characteristics of precipitation (seasonal totals, mean seasonal maxima, and 50-year return values for both short-term and multi-day aggregations) show similar patterns of projected increases for the late 21st century. In summer, by contrast, drying is projected for seasonal totals in all RCMs while increases clearly prevail for the 50-year return values. The projected increases are larger for short-term (hourly) extremes that are more directly related to convective activity than multiday extremes. This suggests that the probability of occurrence of flash floods may increase more than that of large-scale floods in a warmer climate. The within-ensemble variability (and associated uncertainty) is, nevertheless, much larger in summer than in winter.
Augmentedβ-Cell Function and Mass in Glucocorticoid-Treated Rodents Are Associated with Increased Islet Ir-β/AKT/mTOR and Decreased AMPK/ACC and AS160 Signaling
Authors: Protzek André O. P. , Costa-Júnior José M. , Rezende Luiz F. , Santos Gustavo J. , Araújo Tiago Gomes , Vettorazzi Jean F. , Ortis Fernanda , Carneiro Everardo M. , Rafacho Alex , Boschero Antonio C.
Published: September 2014

Glucocorticoid (GC) therapies may adversely cause insulin resistance (IR) that lead to a compensatory hyperinsulinemia due to insulin hypersecretion. The increasedβ-cell function is associated with increased insulin signaling that has the protein kinase B (AKT) substrate with 160 kDa (AS160) as an important downstream AKT effector. In muscle, both insulin and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling phosphorylate and inactivate AS160, which favors the glucose transporter (GLUT)-4 translocation to plasma membrane. Whether AS160 phosphorylation is modulated in islets from GC-treated subjects is unknown. For this, two animal models, Swiss mice and Wistar rats, were treated with dexamethasone (DEX) (1 mg/kg body weight) for 5 consecutive days. DEX treatment induced IR, hyperinsulinemia, and dyslipidemia in both species, but glucose intolerance and hyperglycemia only in rats. DEX treatment caused increased insulin secretion in response to glucose and augmentedβ-cell mass in both species that were associated with increased islet content and increased phosphorylation of the AS160 protein. Protein AKT phosphorylation, but not AMPK phosphorylation, was found significantly enhanced in islets from DEX-treated animals. We conclude that the augmentedβ-cell function developed in response to the GC-induced IR involves inhibition of the islet AS160 protein activity.
Qualitative Analysis of Indoor and Outdoor Airborne Fungi in Cowshed
Authors: Pavan R. , Manjunath K.
Published: September 2014

Air pollution is one of the most serious problems to human health. Fungi are the causal agents for different diseases in animals, plants, and human beings. Otomycosis, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, allergy, and systemic mycosis are among the fungal diseases caused. The present study was conducted to analyze the monthly incidence of airborne fungi, seasonal variation, and influence of meteorological parameters in indoor and outdoor fungi of cowshed at Hesaraghatta village, Bangalore. An aeromycological survey of indoor and outdoor area of cowshed at Hesaraghatta village in Bangalore city was carried out using the Andersen two-stage sampler onto a petri dish containing malt extract agar from January 2011 to December 2011. Altogether, 29 species belonging to 13 genera from indoor and 26 species belonging to 12 genera were recorded from outdoor environment of the cowshed; the dominant fungal species identified were Cladosporium sp., Aspergillus sp., and Alternaria alternata. Seasonal occurrence of fungal spores in both indoor and outdoor of the cowshed revealed that maximum spores were recorded in summer season followed by winter and rainy season.
Antitumor Efficacy of a Bispecific Antibody That Targets HER2 and Activates T Cells
Authors: Junttila Teemu T. , Li Ji , Johnston Jennifer , Hristopoulos Maria , Clark Robyn , Ellerman Diego , Wang Bu-Er , Li Yijin , Mathieu Mary , Li Guangmin , Young Judy , Luis Elizabeth , Lewis Phillips Gail , Stefanich Eric , Spiess Christoph , Polson Andrew , Irving Bryan , Scheer Justin M. , Junttila Melissa R. , Dennis Mark S. , Kelley Robert , Totpal Klara , Ebens Allen
Published: September 2014

Clinical results from the latest strategies for T-cell activation in cancer have fired interest in combination immunotherapies that can fully engage T-cell immunity. In this study, we describe a trastuzumab-based bispecific antibody, HER2-TDB, which targets HER2 and conditionally activates T cells. HER2-TDB specifically killed HER2-expressing cancer cells at low picomolar concentrations. Because of its unique mechanism of action, which is independent of HER2 signaling or chemotherapeutic sensitivity, HER2-TDB eliminated cells refractory to currently approved HER2 therapies. HER2-TDB exhibited potent antitumor activity in four preclinical model systems, including MMTV-huHER2 and huCD3 transgenic mice. PD-L1 expression in tumors limited HER2-TDB activity, but this resistance could be reversed by anti–PD-L1 treatment. Thus, combining HER2-TDB with anti–PD-L1 yielded a combination immunotherapy that enhanced tumor growth inhibition, increasing the rates and durability of therapeutic response. Cancer Res; 74(19); 5561–71. ©2014 AACR.
Oral Interleukin-10 Alleviates Polyposis via Neutralization of Pathogenic T-Regulatory Cells
Authors: Chung Allen Y. , Li Qingsheng , Blair Sarah J. , De Jesus Magdia , Dennis Kristen L. , LeVea Charles , Yao Jin , Sun Yijun , Conway Thomas F. , Virtuoso Lauren P. , Battaglia Nicholas G. , Furtado Stacia , Mathiowitz Edith , Mantis Nicholas J. , Khazaie Khashayarsha , Egilmez Nejat K.
Published: September 2014

Immune dysregulation drives the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory, autoimmune, and dysplastic disorders. While often intended to address localized pathology, most immune modulatory therapies are administered systemically and carry inherent risk of multiorgan toxicities. Here, we demonstrate, in a murine model of spontaneous gastrointestinal polyposis, that site-specific uptake of orally administered IL10 microparticles ameliorates local and systemic disease to enhance survival. Mechanistic investigations showed that the therapeutic benefit of this treatment derived from neutralization of disease-promoting FoxP3+RoRγt+IL17+ pathogenic T-regulatory cells (pgTreg), with a concomitant restoration of FoxP3+RoRγt−IL17− conventional T-regulatory cells (Treg). These findings provide a proof-of-principle for the ability of an oral biologic to restore immune homeostasis at the intestinal surface. Furthermore, they implicate local manipulation of IL10 as a tractable therapeutic strategy to address the inflammatory sequelae associated with mucosal premalignancy. Cancer Res; 74(19); 5377–85. ©2014 AACR.
CtBP2 Modulates the Androgen Receptor to Promote Prostate Cancer Progression
Authors: Takayama Ken-ichi , Suzuki Takashi , Fujimura Tetsuya , Urano Tomohiko , Takahashi Satoru , Homma Yukio , Inoue Satoshi
Published: September 2014

The androgen receptor (AR) is the key driver of both early and advanced prostate cancer, making a complete understanding of its regulation important. Here, we report the identification of multiple AR-binding sites in the gene encoding the transcription factor CtBP2 (carboxyl terminal–binding protein), genetic variations of which have been associated with prostate cancer susceptibility. Notably, we found that SNPs in the human CTBP2 gene that were associated with prostate cancer development were correlated with AR-enhancer activity. High CtBP2 expression levels correlated with poor prognosis in patients, whereas CtBP2 silencing reduced tumor growth in a mouse xenograft model of human prostate cancer. Consistent with its function as a transcriptional corepressor, CtBP2 repressed tumor-suppressor genes and AR corepressors in prostate cancer cells, such as NCOR and RIP140, by binding with AR to the promoter enhancers of these genes. Global gene-expression analyses revealed a positive effect on androgen-mediated gene expression, and CtBP2 silencing was found to increase AR interactions with corepressors that limit histone modification. Overall, our results show how CtBP2 contributes to prostate cancer progression by modulating AR and oncogenic signaling. Cancer Res; 74(22); 6542–53. ©2014 AACR.
Two Novel ALK Mutations Mediate Acquired Resistance to the Next-Generation ALK Inhibitor Alectinib
Authors: Katayama Ryohei , Friboulet Luc , Koike Sumie , Lockerman Elizabeth L. , Khan Tahsin M. , Gainor Justin F. , Iafrate A. John , Takeuchi Kengo , Taiji Makoto , Okuno Yasushi , Fujita Naoya , Engelman Jeffrey A. , Shaw Alice T.
Published: September 2014

Purpose: The first-generation ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) crizotinib is a standard therapy for patients with ALK-rearranged non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Several next-generation ALK-TKIs have entered the clinic and have shown promising activity in crizotinib-resistant patients. As patients still relapse even on these next-generation ALK-TKIs, we examined mechanisms of resistance to the next-generation ALK-TKI alectinib and potential strategies to overcome this resistance.

Experimental Design: We established a cell line model of alectinib resistance, and analyzed a resistant tumor specimen from a patient who had relapsed on alectinib. We developed Ba/F3 models harboring alectinib-resistant ALK mutations and evaluated the potency of other next-generation ALK-TKIs in these models. We tested the antitumor activity of the next-generation ALK-TKI ceritinib in the patient with acquired resistance to alectinib. To elucidate structure–activity relationships of ALK mutations, we performed computational thermodynamic simulation with MP-CAFEE.

Results: We identified a novel V1180L gatekeeper mutation from the cell line model and a second novel I1171T mutation from the patient who developed resistance to alectinib. Both ALK mutations conferred resistance to alectinib as well as to crizotinib, but were sensitive to ceritinib and other next-generation ALK-TKIs. Treatment of the patient with ceritinib led to a marked response. Thermodynamics simulation suggests that both mutations lead to distinct structural alterations that decrease the binding affinity with alectinib.

Conclusions: We have identified two novel ALK mutations arising after alectinib exposure that are sensitive to other next-generation ALK-TKIs. The ability of ceritinib to overcome alectinib-resistance mutations suggests a potential role for sequential therapy with multiple next-generation ALK-TKIs. Clin Cancer Res; 20(22); 5686–96. ©2014 AACR.
Excellent Biochemical Response to Polychemotherapy with Nab-Paclitaxel/Gemcitabine in an 82-Year-Old Female with Metastatic Breast Cancer
Authors: Völkl Siegfried J.
Published: September 2014

We report the case of an 82-year-old female diagnosed with HER2-negative, hormone receptor (HR)-positive metastatic breast cancer. Upon biochemical disease progression of the initially HR-receptor positive disease under anti-hormonal treatment with tamoxifen and letrozole, she received combination chemotherapy with paclitaxel/gemcitabine. Due to her suffering from severe toxicity, therapy was switched to nab-paclitaxel/gemcitabine. From April 22, 2013, to July 15, 2013, the patient received 5 cycles of nab-paclitaxel/gemcitabine as a 30-min infusion every 3 weeks, with excellent biochemical responses to treatment. Tumor marker levels as well as bilirubin were reduced to baseline levels. Chemotherapy with nab-paclitaxel/gemcitabine was well tolerated. At a follow-up visit immediately after the end of chemotherapy, the patient reported well-being and presented with a Karnofsky performance status (KPS) of 100%. At the last follow-up in October 2013, she was alive with multiple metastatic sites in the liver and bone metastases in the spine without risk of fracture and a KPS of 90%. She has received palliative single agent chemotherapy with capecitabine (14/7 regimen, 1,500 mg b.i.d.) since August 2013 and continued to show a good biochemical treatment response at the last follow-up in October 2013. Since August 2013, the patient has also received denosumab (120 mg sc, q4w) for her metastatic bone disease. As of July 2014, treatment has not been changed and the patient reports her well-being.
Population Attributable Risks of Hypertension and Diabetes for Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke in the Northern Manhattan Study
Authors: Willey Joshua Z. , Moon Yeseon Park , Kahn Emily , Rodriguez Carlos J. , Rundek Tatjana , Cheung Ken , Sacco Ralph L. , Elkind Mitchell S. V.
Published: September 2014

Background

Understanding the population‐level risk factor contribution to disease incidence is critical for effective allocation of resources for prevention. There are little data on the contribution of cardiovascular disease (
CVD
) risk factors in multiethnic elderly populations.

Methods and Results

The Northern Manhattan Study (n=3298) is a population‐based prospective cohort study of
CVD
outcomes in a multiethnic urban population. Multivariable Cox's models were used to calculate hazard ratios, population attributable risk (
PAR
), and 95% confidence intervals (
CI
s) for (1) combined vascular event (
VE
) endpoint of stroke/myocardial infarction/vascular death (n=835) and (2) stroke (n=347). The
PAR
resulting from hypertension (
HTN
) was 24.3% (95%
CI
, 13.2 to 35.4) for
VE
and 29.9% (95%
CI
, 12.5 to 47.4) for stroke;
PAR
resulting from diabetes was 12.7% (95%
CI
, 8.2 to 17.2) for
VE
and 19.5% (95%
CI
, 12.4 to 26.5) for stroke. The
PAR
resulting from
HTN
and diabetes for stroke differed by race‐ethnicity and age (
P
for differences <0.05).
PAR
for stroke reslting from
HTN
was greater among Hispanics (50.6%; 95%
CI
, 29.2 to 71.9) than non‐Hispanic whites (2.6%; 95%
CI
, −33.2 to 38.6) and in those <80 years of age (35.6%; 95%
CI
, 18.9 to 52.3) than in those ≥80 (−0.3%; 95%
CI
, −34.2 to 33.6). Similarly, the
PAR
for stroke resulting from diabetes was 23.6% among those <80 years of age (95%
CI
, 15.7 to 31.5) and 2.3% among those ≥80 (95%
CI
, −8.2 to 12.7;
P
for difference=0.001). The
PAR
for
VE
did not differ by age/sex/race‐ethnicity.

Conclusions

HTN
and diabetes have important effects on the burden of stroke, particularly among those younger than age 80 and Hispanics. Public health campaigns targeted at specific risk factors in specific populations can lead to a greater reduction in
CVD
.
Atherosclerotic Plaque in the Left Carotid Artery Is More Vulnerable Than in the Right
Authors: Selwaness Mariana , van den Bouwhuijsen Quirijn , van Onkelen Robbert S. , Hofman Albert , Franco Oscar H. , van der Lugt Aad , Wentzel Jolanda J. , Vernooij Meike
Published: September 2014

Background and Purpose—

Ischemic stroke is more often diagnosed in the left hemisphere than in the right. It is unknown whether this asymmetrical prevalence relates to differences in carotid atherosclerosis. We compared atherosclerotic plaque prevalence, severity, and composition between left and right carotid arteries.

Methods—

In a population-based cohort, carotid MRI scanning was performed in 1414 stroke-free participants (≥45 years). Using a multisequence MRI protocol, we assessed the prevalence, stenosis, and thickness of the plaque and its predominant component (ie, lipid core, intraplaque hemorrhage, calcification, or fibrous tissue in each carotid artery). Differences between left and right side were tested using paired
t
tests, McNemar test and Generalized Estimating Equation analyses.

Results—

The majority (85%) of the participants had bilateral carotid plaques. Unilateral plaques were twice more prevalent on the left than on the right side (67% versus 33%;
P
<0.001). Plaque thickness was also greater on the left (3.1±1.2 versus 2.9±1.3 mm;
P
<0.001); degree of stenosis did not differ. Intraplaque hemorrhage and fibrous tissue were more prevalent on the left (9.1 versus 5.9%;
P
<0.001 and 45.0 versus 38.5%;
P
<0.001), whereas calcification occurred more often on the right (37.4 versus 31.6% at the left;
P
<0.001). Lipid was equally distributed.

Conclusions—

Carotid atherosclerotic plaque size and composition are not symmetrically distributed. Predominance of intraplaque hemorrhage in left-sided carotid plaques suggests a greater vulnerability as opposed to right-sided plaques, which are more calcified and therefore considered more stable.
A Closed Book: Opacity of the Human Self in Mullā Ṣadrā
Authors: Kaukua Jari
Published: September 2014

Mullā Ṣadrā Shīrāzī (d. 1636) subscribes to the Avicennian view according to which the human subject is always and fully aware of herself. At the same time, his eschatology hinges on the Qur’ānic motif of the soul as a closed book that is first opened on the Final Day, that is, on the idea that each soul’s share in the afterlife should be understood as the full revelation of the soul’s true nature to itself. The two ideas thus have seemingly contradictory entailments: the soul is fully aware of and transparent to itself, but at the same time it has aspects that can remain opaque to it, at least in this life. The task of this paper is to investigate whether Ṣadrā can coherently hold on to the two ideas, and what kind of revisions this requires him to make to the received concepts of self and self-awareness.
Ockham on the Possibility of Self-Knowledge: Knowing Acts without Knowing Subjects
Authors: Schierbaum Sonja
Published: September 2014

My aim in this paper is to show that William Ockham (ca. 1287-1347) succeeds in accounting for a particular kind of self-knowledge, although in doing so he restricts the direct cognitive access to mental acts and states as they occur, in a way similar to the restriction in contemporary debates on self-knowledge. In particular, a considerable number of Ockham-scholars have argued that Ockham’s theory of mental content bears a substantial likeness to contemporary ‘externalist’ approaches, and I will argue for the success of this theory in three steps: first, I show that, although the form of what is judged (‘I am F’) implies the ascription of an act to oneself (as the subject of the act), through ‘intuition’ it suffices to directly cognize the act but not the subject. In Ockham’s conception, intuition is a specific kind of singular cognition. In the second step I show that, according to Ockham’s thesis of mental language, Person is an aspect of mental verbs and not of acts of intuition. Lastly I argue that the correctness of first-person judgments about one’s acts is guaranteed by an ontological fact, and not an epistemological fact. It becomes apparent that this reading is compatible with an epistemological externalism.
Leibniz on Phenomenal Consciousness
Authors: Barth Christian
Published: September 2014

The main aim of this paper is to show that we can extract an elaborate account of phenomenal consciousness from Leibniz’s (1646-1716) writings. Against a prevalent view, which attributes a higher-order reflection account of phenomenal consciousness to Leibniz, it is argued that we should understand Leibniz as holding a first-order conception of it. In this conception, the consciousness aspect of phenomenal consciousness is explained in terms of a specific type of attention. This type of attention, in turn, is accounted for in terms of cognitive appetites aiming at knowledge about a represented object by means of initiating cognitive operations on representational content. Furthermore, against the view that Leibniz holds a reifying account, it is argued that Leibniz accepts an epistemic account of phenomenal character. According to this view, the phenomenal character of phenomenally conscious states rests on the confusing effect of imperfect acts of attention directed towards representational contents. Holding this view, Leibniz finds fruitful middle ground between contemporary standard positions like higher-order theories, representationalist conceptions, and qualia accounts of phenomenal consciousness. His position possesses resources to meet several objections these standard accounts are confronted with.
Microsatellite markers for Bokermannohyla species (Anura, Hylidae) from the Brazilian Cerrado and Atlantic Forest domains
Authors: Nali Renato C. , Zamudio Kelly R. , Prado Cynthia P.A.
Published: September 2014

We characterized 22 polymorphic microsatellite markers for the Brazilian treefrog Bokermannohyla ibitiguara and tested their cross-amplification in B. alvarengai, B. circumdata and B. hylax. Our focal species occurs in protected and disturbed Brazilian Cerrado landscapes, a highly threatened savanna in central Brazil. Fourteen markers successfully cross-amplified for at least one congener. These microsatellites will be useful for studies of mating systems, relatedness and landscape genetics of Cerrado populations under various deforestation levels. Moreover, variable markers for B. circumdata and B. hylax will also be useful for landscape genetic studies of taxa typical of the threatened Atlantic Forest domain.
Functional morphology of the gut of the tropical house gecko Hemidactylus mabouia (Squamata: Gekkonidae)
Authors: Rodrigues-Sartori Sirlene Souza , de Oliveira Pinto Coelho Nogueira Katiane , dos Santos Rocha Alípio , Neves Clóvis Andrade
Published: September 2014

The purpose of this study was to characterize morphophysiological aspects of the gut of the gecko Hemidactylus mabouia, a predator species of tiny arthropods. Fourteen adult specimen of the gecko H. mabouia were euthanized and fragments of their small and large intestines were collected and processed according to routine methods for anatomical, topological, histological and histochemical analyses. Histological sections were stained with toluidine blue or submitted to techniques for identification of argyrophil and argentaffin endocrine cells, glycoconjugates and alkaline phosphatase activity. The small intestine of H. mabouia is much more extensive and convolute than the large intestine. There are subtle regional differences along the small intestine, as the tubule diameter and height of the inner folds noticeably decrease from the proximal toward the distal segment. There is no caecum between the small and large intestines and the abrupt change in the caliber marks the transition of the small intestine into the large intestine. The large intestine consists of a very dilated proximal segment followed by a short distal segment. The villi are absent, but the tall folds in the internal covering of the small intestine constitute important amplifier structures of the digestive and absorptive area. No mucosal or submucosal glands were observed along the intestine. The epithelial lining of the entire intestine is simple columnar with enterocytes, mucus-secreting cells and endocrine cells. The enterocytes are abundant in the small intestine and the mucus-secreting cells are abundant in the large intestine, which reflects the functional role of these organs. In sum, H. mabouia has small intestine that is longer than the large intestine, which is consistent with the species being a carnivorous reptile.
Parents’ presence affects embryos’ development in Salaria fluviatilis (Asso, 1801), a fish with parental care
Authors: Fabre Noëlle , García-Galea Eduardo , Vinyoles Dolors
Published: September 2014

In fishes, the parents’ presence generally improves embryos’ survival through parental care, but it is also associated with some disadvantages such as clutch cannibalism and loss of male physical condition. Captive breeding of the river blennySalaria fluviatilismight improve if these disadvantages were avoided by artificially replacing parental care benefits in the lab. Before accepting this procedure, it should be studied whether embryo development is dependent or not on any other unknown effect related to the parents’ presence. In this study, the ontogenetic sequence and several morphological structures – standard length, head height, jaw length and yolk-sac volume – from embryos reared both in the presence and in the absence of the parents were compared. At day 11 after oviposition, in the parents’ absence treatment, well-developed embryos were obtained, but a smaller size of the yolk-sac, a greater head height and a tendency to have a greater jaw length than in the parents’ presence treatment were found. These results suggest that the parents’ presence might affect embryo development and perhaps offspring sexual determination. Given these differences, the practise of depriving clutches from their parents in captivity breeding programmes should be questioned.
The Legal Politics of the Article 16 Decision: The International Criminal Court, the un Security Council and Ontologies of a Contemporary Compromise
Authors: Clarke Kamari Maxine , Koulen Sarah-Jane
Published: September 2014

This introductory essay aims to offer a framework through which to make sense of the controversies arising from International Criminal Court (icc) intervention in Africa. One such controversy is related to the deployment of the powers to refer and defer icc cases central to Article 16 of the Rome Statute for the icc. The manner in which the unsc has employed this power has led critics – particularly on the African continent – to conclude that a range of geopolitics has undermined the judicial independence of the icc. The essay argues, therefore, that the drafting history of Article 16 of the Rome Statute shows the workings of the political origins of the law and the manner in which foundational inequalities were woven into the very fabric of the Rome Statute. Following theorists such as Giorgio Agamben and Walter Benjamin who have conceptualized law as violence and who have taken seriously the ways in which violence and inequality live on through the law, the authors argue that not only can contemporary ontologies of international criminal law not escape the politics of its making, but if we are to adequately address the conditions of violence in the postcolonial African state there must be an ontological shift in the way we conceptualize law. They propose a rethinking that acknowledges root causes of violence and that take seriously politically adumbrated histories of violence that continue live in the armature of the postcolonial state. Considering how and when political settlements are relevant and rethinking how complementarity and cooperation might work more effectively are key to the conceptual framework.
Verbascum oreophilum var. oreophilum and Verbascum cheiranthifolium var. asperulum (Scrophulariaceae) two new records for the flora of Iran
Authors: SOTOODEH Arash , Civeyrel Laure , Attar Farideh , Zamani Asghar
Published: September 2014

Verbascum oreophilum Koch var. oreophilum and Verbascum cheiranthifolium var. asperulum (Boiss.) Murbeck (Scrophulariaceae) are reported and illustrated for the first time from North-West of Iran. The diagnostic morphological characters from closely related taxa are discussed, and a distribution map of these taxa is provided for Iran.
Dendrobium zhenyuanense (Orchidaceae), a new Chinese species in section Stachyobium
Authors: LI JIAN-WU , YE DE-PING , JIN XIAO-HUA , YIN JIAN-TAO
Published: September 2014

Dendrobium Swartz (1799: 82) comprises approximately 1500 species and is one of the largest genera of Orchidaceae. It is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and Australia, from India to Japan, south to Malaysia and Indonesia, east to Australia, New Guinea and the Pacific islands (Cribb & Govaerts, 2005; Wood 2006; Zhu et al. 2009). Recently, there have been debates about the generic delimitation of Dendrobium (Kraenzlin 1910, Schlechter 1911–1914, Tang & Wang 1951, Brieger 1981, Seidenfaden 1985, Yukawa et al. 2000, Clements & Jones 2002, Clements 2003, Wood 2006, Burke et al. 2008, Adams 2011, Schuiteman 2011, Xiang et al. 2013). Here we follow the broad concept of Dendrobium. There are about 80 species in China, of which 14 species are endemic (Chen, 2009).
A new species of Zingiber (Zingiberaceae) from Nagaland, India
Authors: Thongam Biseshwori , Konsam Bipin
Published: September 2014

A new species, Zingiber pherimaense related to Z. rubens (Roxb.), is described from Nagaland, India.
Mollusks from late Mesozoic seep deposits, chiefly in California
Authors: KAIM ANDRZEJ , JENKINS ROBERT G. , TANABE KAZUSHIGE , KIEL STEFFEN
Published: September 2014

Twenty-nine mollusk species from Late Jurassic to Eocene hydrocarbon seep deposits from California (USA), Japan, New Zealand, and Barbados are described and illustrated. Twenty species belong to Gastropoda and nine to Bivalvia. Seven new species, three new genera, and one new family are introduced. The gastropod Hikidea gen. nov. includes smooth-shelled Cantrainea-like colloniins from Cretaceous hydrocarbon seeps and plesiosaur falls. Hikidea osoensis sp. nov. is the oldest species of this genus. Chilodonta? reticulata sp. nov. is a distinctive vetigastropod though its supraspecific position is unclear. Phanerolepida onoensis sp. nov. is the first species of this colloniin genus from a seep deposit. We describe two new genera of Hokkaidoconchidae: Abyssomelania gen. nov. and Ascheria gen. nov.; this family includes now four genera (including Hokkaidoconcha and Humptulipsia) and ranges from the Late Jurassic to the Eocene. Abyssomelania is characterized by a large, high-spired shell and unusual widely-spaced prosocline riblets (here called abyssomelaniid riblets). Abyssomelania is represented by two new species: A. cramptoni sp. nov. from the Late Cretaceous of New Zealand and A. campbellae sp. nov. from the Early Cretaceous of California. Ascheria gen. nov. is characterized by a large high-spired cerithiform shell, a subsutural constriction, and mostly reticulate ornament. Two nominate species are included: Ascheria gigantea (Kiel et al., 2008) and A. eucosmeta (Ascher, 1906), both of Early Cretaceous age. Two further species potentially belonging to Ascheria from the Eocene of Barbados are reported in open nomenclature and are re-illustrated and re-described for comparison. Humtulipsia nobuharai sp. nov. is described based on specimens from the Campanian-Maastrichtian Sada Limestone seep deposit in Japan. The new family Paskentanidae fam. nov. is introduced for the genera Paskentana and Atresius. The species of this family are characterized by thin-shelled, broad to high-spired littoriniform adult shells and juvenile teleoconchs with a subsutural ramp. Paskentana hamiltonensis sp. nov. is described from the Early Cretaceous of California. Ataphrus is considered to represent a nomen dubium because its type species is poorly preserved and there are uncertainties regarding its type locality and age. The bivalves reported herein belong to known species, but our new material revealed additional characters, and/or their supraspecific position is revised and new combinations are proposed: Solemya stantoni Vokes, 1955 is transferred to Acharax, Nucula gabbi Stanton, 1895 is transferred to Leionucula, Pecten complexicostata Gabb, 1869 is transferred to Lyriochlamys, Astarte californica Stanton, 1895 is transferred to Neocrassina, Astarte trapezoidalis Stanton, 1895 is transferred to Oxyeurax, and Corbula? persulcata Stanton, 1895 is transferred to Cuspidaria?
Description of immatures of Mesomphalia gibbosa (Fabricius, 1781) and Mesomphalia turrita (Illiger, 1801) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Mesomphaliini)
Authors: SIMÕES MARIANNA V. P. , MONNÉ MARCELA L.
Published: September 2014

Immatures of Mesomphalia gibbosa (Fabricius, 1781) and Mesomphalia turrita (Illiger, 1801) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae, Mesomphaliini) are described based on specimen collections from Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. The last-instar larva and pupal exuviae of M. gibbosa (Fabricius, 1781) and the eggs, first-instar larva, and pupa of M. turrita (Illiger, 1801) are described, photographed and illustrated, with emphasis on chaetotaxy. Additional notes on their biology are presented.
The histo structure of galls induced by aphids as a useful taxonomic character: the case of Rectinasus (Hemiptera, Aphididae, Eriosomatinae)
Authors: ÁLVAREZ RAFAEL , MOLIST PILAR , GONZÁLEZ-SIERRA SILVIA , MARTINEZ JEAN JACQUES ITZHAK , NAFRÍA JUAN M. NIETO
Published: September 2014

Morphological differentiation of gall tissues induced on plants may play a role to characterize the real taxonomic position of the gall inducer. We verified this hypothesis with galls induced by Rectinasus buxtoni on Pistacia palaestina. There is controversy about the taxonomic localization of genus Rectinasus: in one classification it is situated with the genera Forda and Paracletus while in another it is linked to the genera Geoica and Baizongia. Histological examination of the walls of the galls reveals the presence of two opposed vascular bundles and an inner surface of the gall with cavities. These features place Rectinasus in the same group as Geoica and Baizongia, and not with Paracletus and Forda, whose galls have a different histological structure, as generally admitted.
Camptotarsopoda annulitarsis Stein: redescription, description of terminalia and new record to South Africa (Diptera: Muscidae)
Authors: Couri MÁRCIA Souto
Published: September 2014

Camptotarsopoda Strand (Diptera, Muscidae) comprises five species restricted to the Afrotropical region. The genus belongs to the subfamily Coenosiinae and tribe Limnophorini. The type-species, C. annulitarsis (Stein), is redescribed and the male and female terminalia are described and illustrated for the first time. The species is newly recorded from South Africa. The systematic placement of the genus is confirmed among the basal Limnophorini.
Stable Boundary Layer in Complex Terrain. Part II: Geometrical and Sheltering Effects on Mixing
Authors: Medeiros Luiz E. , Fitzjarrald David R.
Published: September 2014

The authors examine how terrain texture and topography influence nocturnal mixing rates. Local topographic curvature and site sheltering exhibit systematic influences on nocturnal heat and momentum fluxes and the near-surface potential temperature distribution. This influence is particularly evident in hilly terrain with patchy forested areas, typical of eastern North America and many other regions. Exposure to local obstacles, quantified using Fujita’s “transmission factor,” has its maximum influence on mixing during strong winds (>5 m s−1), whereas the effects of local terrain curvature dominate under weaker winds. Such complementary dominance conditions currently limit direct comparison of the two effects. Even with a limited network of 10 stations, it is clear that preferred regions for mixing can be identified in advance given knowledge of land cover and topography. When designing a network of surface stations to be deployed in heterogeneous terrain, one should consider site curvature, slope, and exposure in addition to spatial coverage.
Contributions of Surface Sensible Heat Fluxes to Tropical Cyclone. Part I: Evolution of Tropical Cyclone Intensity and Structure
Authors: Ma Zhanhong , Fei Jianfang , Huang Xiaogang , Cheng Xiaoping
Published: September 2014

The contributions of surface sensible heat fluxes (SHX) to the evolution of tropical cyclone (TC) intensity and structure are examined in this study by conducting cloud-resolving simulations. Results suggest that although the peak values of SHX could account for nearly 30% of those of the total surface latent and sensible heat fluxes, the impact of SHX on TC intensification is nonetheless not distinct. However, the TC size shows great sensitivity to the SHX that the storm is shrunk by over 20% after removing the SHX.

A potential temperature budget analysis indicates that the adiabatic cooling accompanying the radial inflow is largely balanced by the transfer of sensible heat fluxes rather than the entrainment of subsiding air from aloft. If there is upward transfer of SHX from underlying ocean so that the near-surface potential temperature decreases upward, the SHX will play a vital role; instead, if the upward SHX are absent so that the potential temperature increases upward near the surface, the downward sensible heat fluxes become the dominant contributor to warm the inflow air. The changes in TC size are found to be primarily caused by the rainband activities. The SHX help maintain high convective available potential energy as well as the cold pool feature outside the eyewall, thus being crucial for the growth of outer rainbands. If without upward transport of SHX, the outer-rainband activities could be largely suppressed, thereby leading to a decrease of the TC size.
Course Design in Religious Studies
Authors: Soucy Alexander , Crooks Shelagh
Published: September 2014

Metacognitive reflection on the process of thinking is widely believed to be an essential ingredient in successful learning. Students who are metacognitively aware of how they are processing new information are better able to take strategic control over their learning. They are able to plan, monitor, evaluate, and even revise their thinking when it is called for. In this paper, we seek to answer the question: How can educators promote the development of metacognitive thinking in Religious Studies courses? We provide a case study of a class of senior students in a seminar on the subject of ghosts who were challenged to perform the complex and consequential task of designing a new course which would be taught in a subsequent term to first- and second-year undergraduates. We argue that course design is inherently metacognitive, and we discuss the impact of the design task on the students’ willingness and ability to engage in metacognitive thought.
Descriptive Statistics for Modern Test Score Distributions
Authors: Ho Andrew D. , Yu Carol C.
Published: September 2014

Many statistical analyses benefit from the assumption that unconditional or conditional distributions are continuous and normal. More than 50 years ago in this journal, Lord and Cook chronicled departures from normality in educational tests, and Micerri similarly showed that the normality assumption is met rarely in educational and psychological practice. In this article, the authors extend these previous analyses to state-level educational test score distributions that are an increasingly common target of high-stakes analysis and interpretation. Among 504 scale-score and raw-score distributions from state testing programs from recent years, nonnormal distributions are common and are often associated with particular state programs. The authors explain how scaling procedures from item response theory lead to nonnormal distributions as well as unusual patterns of discreteness. The authors recommend that distributional descriptive statistics be calculated routinely to inform model selection for large-scale test score data, and they illustrate consequences of nonnormality using sensitivity studies that compare baseline results to those from normalized score scales.
Racial, Ethnic, and Immigrant Threat
Authors: Feldmeyer Ben , Warren Patricia Y. , Siennick Sonja E. , Neptune Malisa
Published: September 2014

Objectives:

The racial threat perspective argues that racial minorities are subjected to greater punishment in places with large or growing minority populations. However, prior research has focused largely on Black populations while devoting limited attention to potential “Latino threat” or “immigrant threat” effects. To address these gaps, this study explores the effects of racial, ethnic, and immigrant threat on sentence disposition (jail, prison, or community corrections) and sentence length.

Methods:

Using 2000 through 2006 data from the Florida Department of Corrections Guideline database, we use multilevel modeling techniques to explore the effects of racial, ethnic, and immigrant threat on state criminal sentencing.

Results:

The results provide support for racial/ethnic threat theory among Black but not Latino defendants. Black defendants are more likely to be sentenced to prison and are given longer sentences in counties with growing Black populations. In contrast, Latino sentences are not significantly influenced by Latino population growth. Results provide no support for immigrant threat positions.

Conclusions:

Overall, our findings offer a complex picture for racial/ethnic and immigrant threat. However, one pattern remains clear. Within Florida courts, Black defendants continue to be the prime targets for effects of racial threat and resulting disadvantages in criminal sentencing.
Physical and chemical effects of washing and wet cleaning on durable press finished cotton fabrics
Authors: Rijavec Tatjana , Jevšnik Simona , Soljačić Ivo , Tomljenović Antoneta , Višić Ksenija , Pušić Tanja
Published: September 2014

The influence of wet cleaning, as a promising process compared to washing, on the physical and chemical properties of functional cotton fabrics with high added value is presented. Fabric characterization before and after durable press finishing and after 10 cycles of washing and wet cleaning is made using standard methods – measuring dimensional stability, construction characteristics, crease resistance, tensile properties, swelling properties, appearance with coefficient of friction and geometrical roughness, surface characterization by scanning electron microscopy and electrokinetic potential. It can be seen that wet cleaning, which has been used in practice, together with adequate pretreatment, as a substitute for dry cleaning, can also be successfully implemented as a process to substitute washing, particularly when high-value-added articles are concerned.
Application of a fuzzy neural network to control the diameter and evenness of melt-spun yarns
Authors: Kuo Chung-Feng Jeffrey , Su Te-Li , Huang Chang-Chiun , Tai Yu-Han
Published: September 2014

In the melt-spinning process, evenness of melt-spun yarns will affect the appearance, hairiness, strength, and the production of yarns. Great variations in yarns may cause defects. Yarns with small variation can have a more stable quality. In this study, we applied the fuzzy neural network (FNN) control theory to the melt-spinning machine. By adjusting the speed of the take-up rollers, the average yarn diameter reached the target value, allowing a reduction in variations. Diameter error and diameter error variation were also used as input, and the increments in take-up roller speed were used as output. The FNN was used to adjust the mean and standard deviation of the membership function in the second layer and the connection weighted value of the third and fourth layers in order to achieve convergence and the learning effect. The experimental results showed that the FNN controller maintained the average diameter of yarns and reduced the variation of the yarn diameter. Therefore, the proposed method could be successfully applied to on-line control of yarn evenness.
Effect of bioactive modified nonwoven systems on the development of house dust mites Dermatophagoides farinae (Acari: Pyroglyphidae) in laboratory assay
Authors: Cieślak Małgorzata , Solarz Krzysztof , Kamińska Irena
Published: September 2014

Limiting the exposure to house dust mite allergens requires integrated approaches and suitable design, and bio-modified textile materials may be used as an element of the complex anti-dust mite protection. The aim of this work was to study the effects of nonwoven systems modified with triclosan on the development of Dermatophagoides farinae house dust mites in laboratory assay. Two four-layer nonwoven polypropylene systems were designed: A – two inner meltblown nonwovens and two outer spun-bonded nonwovens and B – an inner spun-bonded nonwoven, an inner needle-felt nonwoven, an inner meltblown nonwoven, and an outer spun-bonded nonwoven. Bioactive microspheres consisting of poly(L-lactide) (95 wt%) and triclosan (5 wt%) were used. Both systems were modified using dispersion with 2.5 wt% and 10 wt% of microspheres, which corresponds to the content of 0.26 wt% and 1.22 wt% of triclosan in nonwoven samples. The culture tests were performed for modified and unmodified nonwoven samples and the control sample. The anti-dust mite properties were assessed based on the mortality of mites. All modified nonwoven systems showed a strong suppressive effect on the tested Dermatophagoides farinae, compared to the control sample. A higher mortality was observed for nonwoven system B. It was found that a nearly five-fold increase in the triclosan concentration does not lead to a substantial increase in the decline rate of mite populations.
From Fan Parks to Live Sites: Mega events and the territorialisation of urban space
Authors: McGillivray David , Frew Matt
Published: September 2014

This article draws on the work of Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari to consider the phenomenon of Live Sites and Fan Parks which are now enshrined within the viewing experience of mega sports events. Empirically, the article draws upon primary research on Live Sites generated during the London 2012 Olympic Games. Live Sites are represented as new spaces within which to critically locate and conceptually explore the shifting dynamics of urban space, subjectivity and its performative politic. The authors argue that the first, or primary, spaces of mega sporting events (the official venues) and their secondary counterparts (Live Sites) simply extend brandscaping tendencies but that corporate striation is always incomplete, opening up possibilities for disruption and dislocation.
A Note on Parameter Estimate Comparability
Authors: Paek Insu , Cho Sun-Joo
Published: September 2014

The use of mixture item response theory modeling is exemplified typically by comparing item profiles across different latent groups. The comparisons of item profiles presuppose that all model parameter estimates across latent classes are on a common scale. This note discusses the conditions and the model constraint issues to establish a common scale across latent classes.