bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patch Similarity Modulus and Difference Curvature Based Fourth-Order Partial Differential Equation for Image Denoising
Authors: Bai Yunjiao , Zhang Quan , Shangguan Hong , Gui Zhiguo , Liu Yi , Liu Yanli
Published: July 2015

The traditional fourth-order nonlinear diffusion denoising model suffers the isolated speckles and the loss of fine details in the processed image. For this reason, a new fourth-order partial differential equation based on the patch similarity modulus and the difference curvature is proposed for image denoising. First, based on the intensity similarity of neighbor pixels, this paper presents a new edge indicator called patch similarity modulus, which is strongly robust to noise. Furthermore, the difference curvature which can effectively distinguish between edges and noise is incorporated into the denoising algorithm to determine the diffusion process by adaptively adjusting the size of the diffusion coefficient. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can not only preserve edges and texture details, but also avoid isolated speckles and staircase effect while filtering out noise. And the proposed algorithm has a better performance for the images with abundant details. Additionally, the subjective visual quality and objective evaluation index of the denoised image obtained by the proposed algorithm are higher than the ones from the related methods.
Nasal Adenocarcinoma in a Horse with Metastasis to Lung, Liver, and Bone and Review of Metastasis in Nine Horses with Sinonasal Tumors
Authors: Hanna Ashley , Stieger-Vanegas Susanne M. , Heidel Jerry R. , Esser Melissa , Schlipf John , Mecham Jacob
Published: July 2015

Sinonasal neoplasia metastasizing to distant organs is rare in horses. This case report describes the clinical and imaging findings of a horse with sinonasal neoplasia, which had metastasized to the lung, liver, and humerus. Additionally, the prevalence of sinonasal neoplasia and their incidence of distant metastasis among horses that presented to the Oregon State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (OSU-VTH) were estimated. Of 5,558 equine patients who presented to the OSU-VTH in the last nine years, 1.4% were diagnosed with sinonasal disease and 10.3% of these cases had sinonasal neoplasia with only one having confirmed distant metastasis. This case was an eleven-year-old quarter horse which was evaluated due to a history of a right forelimb lameness of three weeks duration. Two and a half months later he presented again, this time for unilateral epistaxis and persistent right forelimb lameness. Radiography of the right elbow noted an increasingly irregular, periosteal response and osteolytic lesion of the right distal humeral condyle. At the time of the second presentation, nasosinal endoscopy identified a lobulated mass in the region of the ethmoid turbinates. Histopathology of this mass revealed an adenocarcinoma of nasal origin with metastasis to the lung, liver, and right humerus.
Prenatal Diagnosis of Rare Familial Unbalanced Translocation of Chromosomes 7 and 12
Authors: Tezcan Berrin , Bredaki Foteini Emmanouella
Published: July 2015

Case Details. We report rare familial unbalanced translocation of chromosomes 7 and 12, which was diagnosed prenatally at 20+3 weeks of gestation. Woman’s partner had been tested in the past and was found to be a carrier of a balanced translocation; his karyotype showed a balanced reciprocal translocation of 46, XY, t(7;12)(q34;q24,32). Partner’s brother had an unbalanced form of the translocation with severe learning disability. The diagnosis of the anomaly was based on two- and three-dimensional ultrasound and microarray analysis. Ultrasonography findings included fetal microcephaly and alobar holoprosencephaly, dysmorphic face (flat occiput, absent nasal bone, microphthalmia, hypotelorism, and single nostril), and hyperechogenic bowel. Genome-wide array analysis and cytogenetic results from the amniotic fluid showed unbalanced translocation in chromosomes 7 and 12 with deletion of an approximately 16.5 Mb and a duplication of 6.1 Mb, respectively, Arr 7q34q36.3(142,668,576-159,161,648)x1,12q24.32q24.33(127,708,720-133,777,560)x3, karyotype (der (7) t(7;12) (q34;q24)pat). This unbalanced translocation was due to the segregation of the father’s balanced translocation. In this particular case, the recurrence of an unbalanced translocation in the subsequent pregnancies is estimated to be 20%. Understanding the individuals’ phenotype in association with the gain and loss of copy number is important and can further provide us with information on that particular region of the named chromosomes.
Convolution Properties for Some Subclasses of Meromorphic Functions of Complex Order
Authors: Aouf M. K. , Mostafa A. O. , Zayed H. M.
Published: July 2015

Making use of the operatorLυfor functions of the formfz=1/z+∑k=1∞akzk-1, which are analytic in the punctured unit discU∗={z:z∈Cand0<|z|<1}=U∖{0}, we introduce two subclasses of meromorphic functions and investigate convolution properties, coefficient estimates, and containment properties for these subclasses.
Circulating C-Reactive Protein and Breast Cancer Risk—Systematic Literature Review and Meta-analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies
Authors: Chan Doris S.M. , Bandera Elisa V. , Greenwood Darren C. , Norat Teresa
Published: July 2015

We conducted a systematic literature review to explore the association between circulating C-reactive protein (CRP), a low-grade inflammation biomarker, and breast cancer risk. Relevant prospective studies in women were identified in PubMed and Web of Science until February 2015. Random-effects dose–response meta-analysis was conducted, overall and in postmenopausal women. Twelve out of 15 studies identified were included in the meta-analysis on any breast cancers (3,522 cases; 69,610 women) and nine on postmenopausal breast cancer (2,516 cases; 36,847 women). For each doubling of CRP concentration, a 7% [95% confidence interval (CI), 2%–12%] and 6% (95% CI, 1%–11%) increased risk was observed (I2 = 47% and 32%; Pheterogeneity = 0.04 and 0.17), respectively. The association was linear over most of the range of CRP concentrations. Positive associations remained in the studies that examined the exclusion of early years of follow-up. Associations were attenuated in studies adjusted for lifestyle factors, which partly explained the significant heterogeneity between studies in the overall analysis. On average, the associations in studies adjusted or not adjusted for body mass index were similar. Low-grade inflammation may have a role in breast cancer development. Additional prospective studies are needed to better understand confounding and effect modification from lifestyle factors. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 24(10); 1439–49. ©2015 AACR.
Integrative Protein-Based Prognostic Model for Early-Stage Endometrioid Endometrial Cancer
Authors: Yang Ji-Yeon , Werner Henrica M.J. , Li Jie , Westin Shannon N. , Lu Yiling , Halle Mari K. , Trovik Jone , Salvesen Helga B. , Mills Gordon B. , Liang Han
Published: July 2015

Purpose: Endometrioid endometrial carcinoma (EEC) is the major histologic type of endometrial cancer, the most prevalent gynecologic malignancy in the United States. EEC recurrence or metastasis is associated with a poor prognosis. Early-stage EEC is generally curable, but a subset has high risk of recurrence or metastasis. Prognosis estimation for early-stage EEC mainly relies on clinicopathologic characteristics, but is unreliable. We aimed to identify patients with high-risk early-stage EEC who are most likely to benefit from more extensive surgery and adjuvant therapy by building a prognostic model that integrates clinical variables and protein markers.

Experimental Design: We used two large, independent early-stage EEC datasets as training (n = 183) and validation cohorts (n = 333), and generated the levels of 186 proteins and phosphoproteins using reverse-phase protein arrays. By applying an initial filtering and the elastic net to the training samples, we developed a prognostic model for overall survival containing two clinical variables and 18 protein markers and optimized the risk group classification.

Results: The Kaplan–Meier survival analyses in the validation cohort confirmed an improved discriminating power of our prognostic model for patients with early-stage EEC over key clinical variables (log-rank test, P = 0.565 for disease stage, 0.567 for tumor grade, and 1.3 × 10−4 for the integrative model). Compared with clinical variables (stage, grade, and patient age), only the risk groups defined by the integrative model were consistently significant in both univariate and multivariate analyses across both cohorts.

Conclusions: Our prognostic model is potentially of high clinical value for stratifying patients with early-stage EEC and improving their treatment strategies. Clin Cancer Res; 22(2); 513–23. ©2015 AACR.
Dysfunctional Antibodies in the Tumor Microenvironment Associate with Impaired Anticancer Immunity
Authors: Zhang Ningyan , Deng Hui , Fan Xuejun , Gonzalez Anneliese , Zhang Songlin , Brezski Randall J. , Choi Byung-Kwon , Rycyzyn Michael , Strohl William , Jordan Robert , An Zhiqiang
Published: July 2015

Purpose: Studies have demonstrated that cancer-associated matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) can generate single peptide bond cleavages in the hinge region of immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1). This study investigated the cleavage of endogenous IgGs by MMPs in the tumor microenvironment and the consequences of the IgG hinge cleavage for humoral immunity.

Experimental Design: We investigated the occurrence of single peptide bond cleaved IgGs (scIgG) in tumor tissues and plasma samples collected from a cohort of breast cancer patients (n = 60). Samples from healthy people (n = 20) were used as the control. Antibody hinge cleavage was detected by multiple assays, including IHC, ELISA, and flow cytometry. A correlation analysis was conducted between scIgG levels and patient clinical parameters.

Results: Levels of scIgGs in tumors were significantly higher than in normal tissues. In addition, scIgG levels in tumors were enriched compared with that in the plasma of the same patients. The appearance of scIgGs in tumor tissues was associated with altered host IgG content and decreased IgG1. Increased tumor scIgGs were found to be positively correlated with adverse clinical factors, such as elevated tumor-associated macrophages, increased expression of MMP9 and other MMPs, and local metastasis to axillary lymph nodes.

Conclusions: The study contributes to mounting evidence for the presence of hinge-cleaved antibodies with reduced Fc immune effector function in the tumor microenvironment. The results highlight a link between tumor scIgGs and poor patient outcomes, and reveal a component of compromised humoral immunity within tumors that could point to new immunotherapeutic strategies to rescue host immunity. Clin Cancer Res; 21(23); 5380–90. ©2015 AACR.
Mass Cytometry: A High-Throughput Platform to Visualize the Heterogeneity of Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Do Priscilla , Byrd John C.
Published: July 2015

Summary: Behbehani and colleagues use mass cytometry to profile the heterogeneity of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) as compared with normal hematopoiesis. By using this approach and characterizing leukemic stem cells, important differences in response to chemotherapy between AML subsets can potentially be explained and new targeted approaches considered. Cancer Discov; 5(9); 912–4. ©2015 AACR.

See related article by Behbehani et al., p. 988.
Metastatic Breast Cancer to the Common Bile Duct Presenting as Obstructive Jaundice
Authors: Cochrane Justin , Schlepp Greg
Published: July 2015

Metastatic breast cancer is typically identified in the bones, lymph nodes, lungs and liver. Rarely does metastatic breast cancer involve the common bile duct (CBD) without direct extension from liver metastasis into the CBD. We present a woman diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in the CBD after presenting with obstructive jaundice. Patients with a history of primary breast cancer who present with obstructive jaundice secondary to CBD mass need identification of the mass in order to provide appropriate treatment.
Polyphosphates form antigenic complexes with platelet factor 4 (PF4) and enhance PF4-binding to bacteria
Authors: Brandt Sven , Krauel Krystin , Jaax Miriam , Renné Thomas , Helm Christiane A. , Hammerschmidt Sven , Delcea Mihaela , Greinacher Andreas
Published: July 2015

Short chain polyphosphates (polyP) are pro-coagulant and pro-inflammatory platelet released inorganic polymers. The platelet chemokine platelet factor 4 (PF4) binds to lipid A on bacteria, inducing an antibody mediated host defense mechanism, which can be misdirected against PF4/heparin complexes leading to the adverse drug reaction heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). Here, we demonstrate that PF4 complex formation with soluble short chain polyP contributes to host defense mechanisms. Circular dichroism spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry revealed that PF4 changed its structure upon binding to polyP in a similar way as seen in PF4/heparin complexes. Consequently, PF4/polyP complexes exposed neoepitopes to which human anti-PF4/heparin antibodies bound. PolyP enhanced binding of PF4 to Escherichia coli, hereby facilitating bacterial opsonisation and, in the presence of human anti-PF4/polyanion antibodies, phagocytosis. Our study indicates a role of polyP in enhancing PF4-mediated defense mechanisms of innate immunity.
Physical and Psychological Consequences of Left Cardiac Sympathetic Denervation in Long-QT Syndrome and Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia
Authors: Waddell-Smith Kathryn E. , Ertresvaag Kjetil N. , Li Jian , Chaudhuri Krish , Crawford Jackie R. , Hamill James K. , Haydock David , Skinner Jonathan R.
Published: July 2015

Background—

Left cardiac sympathetic denervation reduces risk in long-QT syndrome (LQTS) and catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia. Side effects and patient satisfaction have not been systematically analyzed in patients who underwent left cardiac sympathetic denervation. Aims of this study included documenting physical and psychological consequences and patient satisfaction after left cardiac sympathetic denervation in LQTS or catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia.

Methods and Results—

Patients with LQTS (N=40) and catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (N=7) underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic left cardiac sympathetic denervation, with a median follow-up of 29 months (range, 1–67 months). Clinical records were reviewed; 44 patients completed a telephone survey. Of 47 patients (53%), 25 were preoperatively symptomatic (15 syncope, 7 near-drowning, and 3 resuscitated sudden death). Indications for left cardiac sympathetic denervation included β-blocker intolerance (15; 32%) or nonadherence (10; 21%) and disease factors (18; 38%; catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia [6], near-drowning [2], exertional syncope [1], symptoms on therapy [2], LQT3 [1], QTc>520 ms [6]). Other indications were competitive sports participation (2), family history of sudden death (1), and other (1). Median QTc did not change among patients with LQTS (461±60 to 476±54 ms;
P
=0.49). Side effects were reported by 42 of 44 (95%). Twenty-nine patients (66%) reported dryness on left side, 26 (59%) a Harlequin-type (unilateral) facial flush, 24 (55%) contralateral hyperhidrosis, 17 (39%) differential hand temperatures, 5 (11%) permanent and 4 (9%) transient ptosis, 5 (11%) thermoregulation difficulties, 4 (9%) a sensation of left arm paresthesia, and 3 (7%) sympathetic flight/fright response loss. Majority of the patients were satisfied postoperatively: 38 (86%) were happy with the procedure, 33 (75%) felt safer, 40 (91%) recommended the procedure to others, and 40 (91%) felt happy with their scar appearance.

Conclusions—

Despite significant morbidity resulting from left cardiac sympathetic denervation, patients with LQTS and CPVT have high levels of postoperative satisfaction.
Clinical Risk Stratification for Primary Prevention Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators
Authors: Lee Douglas S. , Hardy Judy , Yee Raymond , Healey Jeffrey S. , Birnie David , Simpson Christopher S. , Crystal Eugene , Mangat Iqwal , Nanthakumar Kumaraswamy , Wang Xuesong , Krahn Andrew D. , Dorian Paul , Austin Peter C. , Tu Jack V.
Published: July 2015

Background—

A conceptualized model may be useful for understanding risk stratification of primary prevention implantable cardioverter defibrillators considering the competing risks of appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator shock versus mortality.

Methods and Results—

In a prospective, multicenter, population-based cohort with left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35% referred for primary prevention implantable cardioverter defibrillator, we developed dual risk stratification models to determine the competing risks of appropriate defibrillator shock versus mortality using a Fine-Gray subdistribution hazard model. Among 7020 patients referred, 3445 underwent defibrillator implant (79.7% men, median, 66 years [25th, 75th: 58–73]). During 5918 person-years of follow-up, appropriate shock occurred in 204 patients (3.6 shocks/100 person-years) and 292 died (4.9 deaths/100 person-years). Competing risk predictors of appropriate shock included nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, serum creatinine concentration, digoxin or amiodarone use, and QRS duration near 130-ms peak. One-year cumulative incidence of appropriate shock was 0.9% in the lowest risk category, and 1.7%, 2.5%, 4.9%, and 9.3% in low, intermediate, high, and highest risk groups, respectively. Hazard ratios for appropriate shock ranged from 4.04 to 7.79 in the highest 3 deciles (all
P
≤0.001 versus lowest risk). Cumulative incidence of 1-year death was 0.6%, 1.9%, 3.3%, 6.2%, and 17.7% in lowest, low, intermediate, high, and highest risk groups, respectively. Mortality hazard ratios ranged from 11.48 to 36.22 in the highest 3 deciles (all
P
<0.001 versus lowest risk).

Conclusions—

Simultaneous estimation of risks of appropriate shock and mortality can be performed using clinical variables, providing a potential framework for identification of patients who are unlikely to benefit from prophylactic implantable cardioverter defibrillator.
Autotaxin Derived From Lipoprotein(a) and Valve Interstitial Cells Promotes Inflammation and Mineralization of the Aortic Valve
Authors: Bouchareb Rihab , Mahmut Ablajan , Nsaibia Mohamed Jalloul , Boulanger Marie-Chloé , Dahou Abdellaziz , Lépine Jamie-Lee , Laflamme Marie-Hélène , Hadji Fayez , Couture Christian , Trahan Sylvain , Pagé Sylvain , Bossé Yohan , Pibarot Philippe , Scipione Corey A. , Romagnuolo Rocco , Koschinsky Marlys L. , Arsenault Benoît J. , Marette André , Mathieu Patrick
Published: July 2015

Background—

Mendelian randomization studies have highlighted that lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] was associated with calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD). Lp(a) transports oxidized phospholipids with a high content in lysophosphatidylcholine. Autotaxin (ATX) transforms lysophosphatidylcholine into lysophosphatidic acid. We hypothesized that ATX-lysophosphatidic acid could promote inflammation/mineralization of the aortic valve.

Methods and Results—

We have documented the expression of ATX in control and mineralized aortic valves. By using different approaches, we have also investigated the role of ATX-lysophosphatidic acid in the mineralization of isolated valve interstitial cells and in a mouse model of CAVD. Enzyme-specific ATX activity was elevated by 60% in mineralized aortic valves in comparison with control valves. Immunohistochemistry studies showed a high level of ATX in mineralized aortic valves, which colocalized with oxidized phospholipids and apolipoprotein(a). We detected a high level of ATX activity in the Lp(a) fraction in circulation. Interaction between ATX and Lp(a) was confirmed by in situ proximity ligation assay. Moreover, we documented that valve interstitial cells also expressed ATX in CAVD. We showed that ATX-lysophosphatidic acid promotes the mineralization of the aortic valve through a nuclear factor κB/interleukin 6/bone morphogenetic protein pathway. In LDLR
–/–
/ApoB
100/100
/IGFII mice, ATX is overexpressed and lysophosphatidic acid promotes a strong deposition of hydroxyapatite of calcium in aortic valve leaflets and accelerates the development of CAVD.

Conclusions—

ATX is transported in the aortic valve by Lp(a) and is also secreted by valve interstitial cells. ATX-lysophosphatidic acid promotes inflammation and mineralization of the aortic valve and thus could represent a novel therapeutic target in CAVD.
SMA Selectively Codes the Active Accumulation of Temporal, Not Spatial, Magnitude
Authors: Coull Jennifer T. , Charras Pom , Donadieu Maxime , Droit-Volet Sylvie , Vidal Franck
Published: July 2015

Estimating duration depends on the sequential integration (accumulation) of temporal information in working memory. Using fMRI, we directly compared the accumulation of information in temporal versus spatial domains. Participants estimated either the duration or distance of the dynamic trajectory of a moving dot or, in a control condition, a static line stimulus. Comparing the duration versus distance of static lines activated an extensive cortico-striatal network. By contrast, comparing the duration versus distance of dynamic trajectories, both of which required sequential integration of information, activated SMA alone. Indeed, activity in SMA, as well as right inferior occipital cortex, increased parametrically as a function of stimulus duration and also correlated with individual differences in the propensity to overestimate stimulus duration. By contrast, activity in primary visual cortex increased parametrically as a function of stimulus distance. Crucially, a direct comparison of the parametric responses to duration versus distance revealed that activity in SMA increased incrementally as a function of stimulus duration but not as a function of stimulus distance. Collectively, our results indicate that SMA responds to the active accumulation of information selectively in the temporal domain.
Animating Fermi—A Collaboration between Art Students and Astronomers
Authors: Arcadias Laurence , Corbet Robin
Published: July 2015

Undergraduate animation students at the Maryland Institute College of Art teamed up with scientists from the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope to produce a set of animations on several astronomy topics. Here, the authors describe the process and discuss the results, educational benefits and the cross-cultural experience. These animations are available for free online.
Visualizing Biological Complexity in Cephalopod Skin: A Synergy of Art and Science Technologies
Authors: Kripke Elizabeth , Senft Stephen , Mozzherin Dmitry , Hanlon Roger
Published: July 2015

A cross-disciplinary team of artists and scientists is working to illuminate the detailed properties of dynamic coloration in squid, cuttlefish and octopus. They have synergistically fused the 3D animation software Blender with scientific bio-imaging techniques to better visualize the organization of cephalopod skin and its intricate web of nerve connections. This paper presents the practical benefits of the collaboration: how scientific detail has enriched artistic appreciation of these exquisite marine species and how artistic visualization has enriched scientific understanding of how cephalopods dynamically manipulate color.
Morphology and taxonomy of deutonymphs of the genus Unionicola Haldeman, 1842 (Acari, Hydrachnidia, Unionicolidae) in Russia
Authors: TUZOVSKIJ PETR V. , SEMENCHENKO KSENIA A.
Published: July 2015

This study presents a detailed taxonomic review of water mite deutonymphs of the genus Unionicola Haldeman, 1842 (Hygrobatoidea: Unionicolidae) found in the fauna of Russia during the long-term survey period of 1979–2013. The review includes descriptions and illustrations of 14 Unionicola species found in this country: U. aculeata (Koenike, 1890), U. arcuata (Wolcott, 1898), U. bonzi (Claparède, 1869), U. hankoi Szalay, 1927, U. intermedia (Koenike, 1882), U. japonensis Viets, 1933, U. inusitata Koenike, 1914, U. tricuspis (Koenike, 1895), U. crassipes (Müller, 1776), U. gracilipalpis (Viets, 1908), U. markovensis Tuzovskij, 1990, U. minor (Soar, 1900), U. rossica Tuzovskij & Semenchenko, 2015, U. ypsilophora (Bonz, 1783). Key to all species based on deutonymphs is presented.
Discovery of Cryptophasa Lewin, 1805 (Lepidoptera: Xyloryctidae) from Indonesia with the descriptions of three new species
Authors: SUTRISNO HARI , WATUNG JACKSON F , SUWITO AWIT
Published: July 2015

Three new species of Cryptophasa Lewin, 1805 are described from eastern Indonesia: C. watungi Sutrisno & Suwito, 2015 sp. nov., C. kwerbaensis Sutrisno & Suwito, 2015 sp. nov., and C. choliki Sutrisno & Suwito, 2015 sp. nov. Each species is described based on adult external and genital characters. The potential apomorphic character in male genitalia of Cryptophasa, the shape of the uncus, is discussed.
Numerical Modeling of Multiscale Dynamics at a High Reynolds Number: Instabilities, Turbulence, and an Assessment of Ozmidov and Thorpe Scales
Authors: Fritts David C. , Wang Ling , Geller Marvin A. , Lawrence Dale A. , Werne Joe , Balsley Ben B.
Published: July 2015

A high–Reynolds number direct numerical simulation (DNS) is employed to explore the instability and turbulence dynamics accompanying an idealized multiscale flow that approximates such environments observed throughout the atmosphere. The DNS describes the superposition of a stable gravity wave (GW) and a stable, oscillatory, finescale shear flow that together yield significant wave–wave interactions, GW breaking, Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities (KHI), fluid intrusions, and turbulence. Larger-scale GW breaking and KHI events account for the strongest turbulence intensities, with intrusions competing with KHI and GW breaking at smaller spatial scales and later times. These dynamics drive a series of sheet-and-layer structures in the velocity, stability, and dissipation fields that persist for many buoyancy periods. Measures of local turbulence intensities include energy dissipation rates, Ozmidov and Thorpe scales (LO and LT, respectively), and a buoyancy Reynolds number sufficient to ensure sustained, strong turbulence events. These exhibit significant variability between and within instability events of different types. The Ozmidov and Thorpe scales for individual events are employed to assess variations of their ratio, C = LO/LT, with time. The value of C is highly variable with event type and time but typically increases with time because significant fluid overturning most often precedes turbulence. The value of C determined for the entire domain varies from 0 prior to instability to approximately 2 or larger at late times, with minima (maxima) prior to (following) significant instability and turbulence events. This appears to preclude an assumption that C is constant in stratified flows, except perhaps as an event average that may depend on event type.
Probabilistic Forecasts of Snow Water Equivalent and Runoff in Mountainous Areas*
Authors: Jörg-Hess Stefanie , Griessinger Nena , Zappa Massimiliano
Published: July 2015

Good initial states can improve the skill of hydrological ensemble predictions. In mountainous regions such as Switzerland, snow is an important component of the hydrological system. Including estimates of snow cover in hydrological models is of great significance for the prediction of both flood and streamflow drought events. In this study, gridded snow water equivalent (SWE) maps, derived from daily snow depth measurements, are used within the gridded version of the conceptual hydrological model Precipitation Runoff Evapotranspiration Hydrotope (PREVAH) to replace the model SWE at initialization. The ECMWF Ensemble Prediction System (ENS) reforecast is used as meteorological input for 32-day forecasts of streamflow and SWE. Experiments were performed in several parts of the Alpine Rhine and the Thur River. Predictions where modeled SWE estimates were replaced with SWE maps could successfully enhance the predictability of SWE up to a lead time of 25 days, especially at the beginning and the end of the snow season. Additionally, the prediction of the runoff volume was improved, particularly in catchments where the snow accumulation, and thus the runoff volume, had been greatly overestimated. These improvements in predictions have been made without affecting the ability of the forecast system to discriminate between the different runoff volumes observed. A spatial similarity score was first used in the context of SWE forecast verification. This confirmed the findings of the time series analysis and yielded additional insight on regional patterns of extended range SWE predictability.
The (Re)genesis of Values
Authors: Miles Andrew
Published: July 2015

Dual-process models of culture and action posit that fast, automatic cognitive processes largely drive human action, with conscious processes playing a much smaller role than was previously supposed. These models have done much to advance our understanding of behavior, but they focus on generic processes rather than specific cultural content. As useful as this has been, it tells us little about which forms of culture matter for action. Drawing on a cross-disciplinary set of theory and evidence, I argue that values are tied to many forms of behavior, across both contexts and cultures, and they operate in ways consistent with dual-process models. I illustrate the plausibility of these claims using data from the second wave of the European Social Survey, as well as real-time decision data from a large, online survey. I show that values predict self-reported behaviors in a variety of substantive domains and across 25 nations, and they operate using automatic cognitive processes. These findings suggest that values merit renewed theoretical and empirical attention.
Nomi personali femminili a Laterza. Tra vecchie e nuove identità
Authors: Dell’Aglio Monica
Published: July 2015

Questo saggio vuole essere un contributo alle riflessioni sul sistema onomastico italiano. I nomi degli italiani stanno cambiando. Secondo le ultime ricerche, i nomi maschili che hanno caratterizzato il Novecento sono ancora imposti ai nuovi nati nel sud Italia, mentre per le femmine si preferiscono, ovunque, nomi di “moda”. Alla luce di questi elementi, ho dato il via ad un progetto di ricerca sui nomi personali e sulle pratiche di nominazione nei centri appartenenti alla Diocesi di Castellaneta, riservando un’attenzione particolare a quelli che rientrano nell’ “Alta Murgia Tarantina”, a partire da Laterza, senza tralasciare i centri convicini di Matera e Montescaglioso. In questa sede presento i primi dati sui nomi personali femminili di Laterza, in particolare quelli relativi a nomi ormai desueti, a nomi che, al contrario, sono stati imposti per tutto l’arco del secolo scorso, e a quelli che registrano più rese grafiche. L’obiettivo principale di questo studio è valutare l’impatto che fattori quali la modernizzazione e la globalizzazione possono avere sul tradizionale sistema onomastico, nel quale la scelta del nome per il nuovo nato consentiva di onorare la tradizione familiare di entrambi i genitori.
How Robustly Does Cannabis Use Associate to College Grades? Findings From Two Cohorts
Authors: Martinez Julia A. , Roth Madeline G. , Johnson Douglas N. , Jones Jane A.
Published: July 2015

Along with recent changes in cannabis legalization and decriminalization, there has been an increasing amount of attention aimed at cannabis use and outcomes in college. Although some amount of cannabis use might be expected under theories of collegiate identity development, public health research indicates that cannabis use ultimately associates with negative vocational outcomes. To examine how cannabis use associates with college grade point average specifically, we surveyed n = 1,080 full-time college students and a replication sample of n = 590. Results showed that even after accounting for other measures of student identity formation and drug use, increased cannabis use was robustly associated with lower grade point average. Future research should examine the mechanisms underlying this association. Nevertheless, while laws and attitudes toward cannabis evolve, initiatives to decrease college use should continue.
Immigrant–native fertility differentials: The Afghans in Iran
Authors: Abbasi-Shavazi Mohammad Jalal , Hugo (dec.) Graeme , Sadeghi Rasoul , Mahmoudian Hossein
Published: July 2015

International migration is increasingly important in shaping national population dynamics, both directly through adding or subtracting people, and indirectly, through the fertility of immigrants. International migrants rarely share the fertility characteristics of either origin or destination populations. However, the relationship between migration and fertility is little understood, especially that relating to refugee populations. This study examined the fertility differentials of one of the world’s largest refugee populations, the Afghans in Iran, in relation to the host population. Based on multivariate analysis, the study demonstrated that Afghan immigrants were moving from a high fertility regime to a low fertility regime. The findings suggest that fertility change among Afghans is associated with their adaptation to Iranian society. The role of education in mediating immigrant–native fertility differentials was also uncovered.
Redescribing the Resurrection: Beyond the Methodological Impasse?
Authors: Joseph Simon J.
Published: July 2015

The resurrection of Jesus is the central claim of the Christian faith. It is what makes Christianity a distinctive, perhaps even unique religion—the claim that “ God raised Jesus from the dead.” That is also what makes the claim so vulnerable to critics. Why? Because it presupposes the existence and agency of God. Historical hypotheses, however, presuppose human agency and natural causation, not supernatural interventions by God. It is not surprising that contemporary discourse on the resurrection of Jesus is at an impasse. This article explores the current state of research on this subject—a field polarized between apologetic defense and rationalistic expose—and examines various attempts to redefine, reimagine, and redescribe the resurrection tradition within early Christianity.
Subjective Accounts of the Turning Points that Facilitate Desistance From Intimate Partner Violence
Authors: Walker Kate , Bowen Erica , Brown Sarah , Sleath Emma
Published: July 2015

The transition from persistence to desistance in male perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV) is an understudied phenomenon. This article examines the factors that initiate and facilitate primary desistance from IPV. The narratives of 22 male perpetrators of IPV (13 desisters and 9 persisters), 7 female survivors, and 9 programme (IPV interventions) facilitators, in England, were analysed using thematic analysis. In their accounts, the participants described how the change from persister to desister did not happen as a result of discrete unique incidents but instead occurred through a number of catalysts or stimuli of change. These triggers were experienced gradually and accumulated over time in number and in type. In particular, Negative consequences of violence and Negative emotional responses needed to accumulate so that the Point of resolve: Autonomous decision to change was finally realised. This process facilitated and initiated the path of change and thus primary desistance from IPV.
Evaluation of blood neutrophil to lymphocyte and platelet to lymphocyte ratios according to plasma glucose status and serum insulin-like growth factor 1 levels in patients with acromegaly
Authors: Üçler R , Aslan M , Atmaca M , Alay M , Ademoğlu EN , Gülşen İ
Published: July 2015

Introduction:

Cardiovascular, respiratory, and cerebrovascular diseases and malignancies are responsible for morbidity and mortality in acromegaly. Also these diseases are associated with chronic inflammation. The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are currently gaining interest as new markers of inflammation. Moreover, increased morbidity and mortality are positively correlated with the presence of diabetes and levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in acromegaly. The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between these markers and acromegaly according to plasma glucose status and serum IGF-1 levels.

Materials and Methods:

We retrospectively analyzed data from 61 acromegaly patients who were in a newly diagnosed period (35 male, 26 female; mean age 38.13 ± 13.98). Patients with normal plasma glucose ( n = 27), impaired fasting glucose ( n = 18), and diabetes mellitus ( n = 16) were categorized into three different groups. NLR and PLR were compared between the study groups and were evaluated according to IGF-1 levels.

Results:

There were no statistically significant differences in NLR and PLR measurements among the study groups ( p > 0.05). However, there were significant positive correlations between NLR and IGF-1 levels and between PLR and IGF-1 levels when all patients were evaluated ( r = 0.334, p = 0.011 and r = 0.277, p = 0.035, respectively).

Conclusions:

This is the first report studying the relationship of NLR and PLR with glucose status and IGF-1 levels in acromegaly patients. Our study results suggest that subclinical inflammation may play a role in increased incidence of mortality and morbidity, which depends on uncontrolled IGF-1 levels in patients with acromegaly.
Why undocumented immigrant workers should have workplace rights
Authors: Clibborn Stephen
Published: July 2015

There exists a gap at the intersection of Australia’s immigration and employment laws that has serious implications for employees, employers and policy. Australia is host to a large and growing population of immigrants working without authorisation, described as the most significant problem facing Australian immigration authorities. These undocumented workers are often exploited by employers through wage theft, sexual harassment and unsafe working conditions. Yet, they are not entitled to protection under Australia’s employment laws. In addition to the implications for workers, there are broader policy concerns arising from the current system of regulation that effectively rewards employers who are equally in breach of immigration law. Left uncorrected, current regulation may in fact be encouraging a ‘race to the bottom’ for employment standards and increasing undocumented immigrant work. As well as highlighting the inadequacy of the existing regulatory framework, potential avenues for addressing this are explored.
Delays in accessing electroconvulsive therapy: a comparison between two urban and two rural populations in Australia
Authors: Johnston Natalie E
Published: July 2015

Objective:

A comparison of the timing, rates and characteristics of electroconvulsive therapy use between urban and rural populations.

Method:

The medical records of patients who received an acute course of electroconvulsive therapy at two rural and two urban psychiatric hospitals in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, in 2010 were reviewed retrospectively. Main outcome measures were the time from symptom onset, diagnosis and admission to commencing electroconvulsive therapy. Rates of use of electroconvulsive therapy were also compared between rural and urban hospitals using NSW statewide data.

Results:

There was a significant delay in the time it took for rural patients to receive electroconvulsive therapy compared with urban patients when measured both from the time of symptom onset and from when they received a diagnosis. There were corresponding delays in the time taken for rural patients to be admitted to hospital compared with urban patients. There was no difference in the time it took to commence electroconvulsive therapy once a patient was admitted to hospital. NSW statewide urban–rural comparisons showed rates of electroconvulsive therapy treatment were significantly higher in urban hospitals.

Conclusions:

Patients in rural areas receive electroconvulsive therapy later in their acute illness due to delays in being admitted to hospital. The rate of use of electroconvulsive therapy also differs geographically.
Social Stigma and Childbearing for Women Living With HIV/AIDS
Authors: Cuca Yvette P. , Rose Carol Dawson
Published: July 2015

As more women become infected with HIV, the issue of childbearing becomes increasingly salient. A more nuanced understanding of women’s situations is needed to provide high-quality and relevant services and support. We examined reproductive decision making among 20 women living with HIV through in-depth interviews. These women made decisions within situations of chaos, instability, and trauma, which often limited their ability to make truly informed choices about their lives and childbearing. Despite their HIV, many of the women wanted children, but experienced stigmatization related both to their HIV and to their decisions to have children. This stigmatization came from multiple sources, including health care providers, some of whom encouraged their patients to abort pregnancies because of their HIV. Participants, however, demonstrated resistance to stigmatization, through building supportive communities and developing trusting relationships with HIV providers. These results support the need for specialized HIV care for women of childbearing age.
Introduction: Tricksters, humour and activism
Authors: Weaver Simon , Mora Raúl Alberto
Published: July 2015

This special issue, entitled ‘The Trickster Activist in Global Humour and Comedy’, investigates the relevance of the concept of the trickster for explaining activist expressions that emanate from comedians, or that appear in comedy and humour more generally. Comedy has traditionally been viewed as an aesthetic or entertainment medium. It has often been charged with encouraging stereotype and the affirmation of mainstream audience beliefs. Despite this, we argue, there have been moments in recent history where comedians have given their performances an increased level of social and political consciousness that resonates with the public at large, or with sections of the public. Comedians, we argue, are able to reach this level of social commentary due to their potential to become tricksters. Paradoxically, the mythical trickster is a liminal entity, one that is adept at destruction as well as creation, or at conservativism as well radicalism. The articles in this issue explore the complexity of the trickster concept, showing some of the polysemy involved in the social activism enabled by comedy and humour.
Navigating the boys’ club: Debra DiGiovanni and the performative strategy of comic self-deprecation
Authors: Deveau Danielle Jeanine
Published: July 2015

This article considers Canadian comedian Debra DiGiovanni’s self-deprecatory humour as a performative strategy. In keeping with a performance tradition of self-deprecation as established by women like Phyllis Diller and Joan Rivers, DiGiovanni offers ‘failure’ as a comic strategy. Her comedy is heavily reliant upon the framing of her lack in relationships, in self-control and in body image (in relation to normative gender standards and expectations). At the same time, however, DiGiovanni also engages critically with gendered expectations of heteronormative desirability, lampooning thin women, superficial men and celebrity culture. Although her comedy is generally characterized by self-deprecation, her humour also leaves space for an ambivalent politics of gender.
Choreographing Compassion: A Clinical Adventure of Rhythms
Authors: Yopst Charles George
Published: July 2015

Compassion is a primary catalyst motivating positive human relationships, especially of those less fortunate. Our rhythms Expand-Contract of our own non-verbal body joints movements and of the law of counter-balance, enable us to identify which of nine innate affects-emotions is directing the body's movements. With this reading, a trained person can synchronize choreography of these into fully authentic compassion between two or more persons. Primary references for this are the late Silvan S. Tomkins's four volumes “Affect Imagery Consciousness,” and choreographers the late Rudolf Laban, Warren Lamb, Irmgard Bartenieff, and Marian Chace. Professionals, clinicians, and laity counselors can all use these.
Colonial legacies and peripheral strategies: Social-spatial logic of China’s communications development since 1840
Authors: Hong Yu
Published: July 2015

This article describes and makes sense of why and how China’s communications was undeveloped from the late Qing Dynasty through the Civil War. The purpose is to bring into sharp focus the imprint of global capitalism and imperialism on China’s domestic social-spatial relations as well as the well-entrenched underdevelopment dynamics in communications. It argues that communications, shaped successively by historical configurations of relationships, domesticated spatially China’s peripheral position in the world capitalist system. This spatiality, expressing internal underdevelopment and external subordination, had never been effectively overhauled and even remained true of socialist modernity after the establishment of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), which then has informed and deformed communications development since the country’s market reform.
Mediated modernities: (Meta)narratives of modern nationhood in Indian and Pakistani media, 1947–2007
Authors: Shahin Saif
Published: July 2015

This article proposes a theoretical framework for understanding modernity as lying at the intersection of two dimensions: (1) the narrative of modernity as interpreted variously in particular nations and (2) the metanarrative of modernity as a universal goal that nations tend to share. It demonstrates that interpretations of modernity vary among nations, and even within nations over time. But modernity in former European colonies is nonetheless an ideological construct that seeks validation from the West. News media, this article shows, constitute a vital mechanism through which both the narratives and the metanarrative of modernity become collective. The media naturalize particular interpretations of modernity while also making ‘becoming modern’ a necessary objective of nationhood in non-Western societies. Empirical evidence comes from the comparative study of India’s Hindustan Times and Pakistan’s Dawn newspapers over a 60-year period (1947–2007) after the two nations gained freedom from British colonialism, using Derrida’s method of deconstruction.
Badminton shuttlecock stability: Modelling and simulating the angular response of the turnover
Authors: Lin Calvin Shenghuai , Chua CK , Yeo JH
Published: July 2015

Turnover of a badminton shuttlecock is the flipping motion of the shuttlecock after its initial contact with the racket. During the process, the shuttlecock experiences a large change in heading. In this article, the turnover stability of the shuttlecock is investigated through experiment and simulation. Three types of badminton shuttlecocks are experimentally evaluated: one feather shuttlecock (Li-Ning A+600) and two synthetic ones (Yonex Mavis 350 and Mizuno NS-5). The experimental results are applied to a response model that takes the form of an under-damped second-order transfer function. This angular response model is then used for the identification of the turnover parameters: the damping ratio and the time constant. The identified parameters are subsequently used as input for building a response function to predict the turnover angular behaviour of the shuttlecock. The feather shuttlecock, which has the highest damping ratio and the lowest time constant, is the shuttlecock with the best turnover stability. Finally, the simulated pitching moment components of the feather shuttlecock are evaluated.