bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sympathetic nervous system activation, arterial shear rate, and flow-mediated dilation
Authors: Thijssen Dick H. J. , Atkinson Ceri L. , Ono Kumiko , Sprung Victoria S. , Spence Angela L. , Pugh Christopher J. A. , Green Daniel J.
Published: April 2014

The aim of this study was to examine the contribution of arterial shear to changes in flow-mediated dilation (FMD) during sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activation in healthy humans. Ten healthy men reported to our laboratory four times. Bilateral FMD, shear rate (SR), and catecholamines were examined before/after 10-min of −35-mmHg lower body negative pressure (LBNP10). On day 1, localized forearm heating (LBNP10+heat) was applied in one limb to abolish the increase in retrograde SR associated with LBNP. Day 2 involved unilateral cuff inflation to 75 mmHg around one limb to exaggerate the LBNP-induced increase retrograde SR (LBNP10+cuff). Tests were repeated on days 3 and 4, using 30-min interventions (i.e., LBNP30+heat and LBNP30+cuff). LBNP10 significantly increased epinephrine levels and retrograde SR and decreased FMD (all P < 0.05). LBNP10+heat prevented the increase in retrograde SR, whereas LBNP10+cuff further increased retrograde SR ( P < 0.05). Heating prevented the decrease in percent FMD (FMD%) after LBNP10 (interaction effect, P < 0.05), whereas cuffing did not significantly exaggerate the decrease in FMD% (interaction effect, P > 0.05). Prolongation of the LBNP stimulus for 30-min normalized retrograde SR, catecholamine levels, and FMD (all P > 0.05). Attenuation of retrograde SR during 30 min (LBNP30+heat) was associated with increased FMD% (interaction effects, P < 0.05), whereas increased retrograde SR (LBNP30+cuff) diminished FMD% (interaction effects, P < 0.05). These data suggest that LBNP-induced SNS stimulation decreases FMD, at least in part due to the impact of LBNP on arterial shear stress. Prolonged LBNP stimulation was not associated with changes in SR or FMD%. Our data support a role for changes in SR to the impact of SNS stimulation on FMD.
Redox Modulation of Adjacent Thiols in VLA-4 by AS101 Converts Myeloid Leukemia Cells from a Drug-Resistant to Drug-Sensitive State
Authors: Layani-Bazar Adi , Skornick Itai , Berrebi Alain , Pauker Maor H. , Noy Elad , Silberman Alon , Albeck Michael , Longo Dan L. , Kalechman Yona , Sredni Benjamin
Published: April 2014

Interaction between the integrin VLA-4 on acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cells with stromal fibronectin is a decisive factor in chemotherapeutic resistance. In this study, we provide a rationale for a drug repositioning strategy to blunt integrin activation in AML cells and restore their sensitivity to chemotherapy. Specifically, we demonstrate that the nontoxic tellurium compound AS101, currently being evaluated in clinical trials, can abrogate the acquired resistance of AML. Mechanistic investigations revealed that AS101 caused redox inactivation of adjacent thiols in the exofacial domain of VLA-4 after its ligation to stromal fibronectin. This effect triggered cytoskeletal conformational changes that decreased PI3K/Akt/Bcl2 signaling, an obligatory step in chemosensitization by AS101. In a mouse xenograft of AML derived from patient leukemic cells with high VLA-4 expression and activity, we demonstrated that AS101 abrogated drug resistance and prolonged survival in mice receiving chemotherapy. Decreased integrin activity was confirmed on AML cells in vivo. The chemosensitizing activity of AS101 persisted in hosts with defective adaptive and innate immunity, consistent with evidence that integrin deactivation was not mediated by heightening immune attack. Our findings provide a mechanistic rationale to reposition the experimental clinical agent, AS101, to degrade VLA-4–mediated chemoresistance and improve clinical responses in patients with AML. Cancer Res; 74(11); 3092–103. ©2014 AACR.
Association between Upper Digestive Tract Microbiota and Cancer-Predisposing States in the Esophagus and Stomach
Authors: Yu Guoqin , Gail Mitchell H. , Shi Jianxin , Klepac-Ceraj Vanja , Paster Bruce J. , Dye Bruce A. , Wang Guo-Qing , Wei Wen-Qiang , Fan Jin-Hu , Qiao You-Lin , Dawsey Sanford M. , Freedman Neal D. , Abnet Christian C.
Published: April 2014

Background: The human upper digestive tract microbial community (microbiota) is not well characterized and few studies have explored how it relates to human health. We examined the relationship between upper digestive tract microbiota and two cancer-predisposing states, serum pepsinogen I/pepsinogen II ratio (PGI/II; predictor of gastric cancer risk) and esophageal squamous dysplasia (ESD; the precursor lesion of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; ESCC) in a cross-sectional design.

Methods: The Human Oral Microbe Identification Microarray was used to test for the presence of 272 bacterial species in 333 upper digestive tract samples from a Chinese cancer screening cohort. Serum PGI and PGII were determined by ELISA. ESD was determined by chromoendoscopy with biopsy.

Results: Lower microbial richness (number of bacterial genera per sample) was significantly associated with lower PGI/II ratio (P = 0.034) and the presence of ESD (P = 0.018). We conducted principal component (PC) analysis on a β-diversity matrix (pairwise difference in microbiota), and observed significant correlations between PC1, PC3, and PGI/II (P = 0.004 and 0.009, respectively), and between PC1 and ESD (P = 0.003).

Conclusions: Lower microbial richness in upper digestive tract was independently associated with both cancer-predisposing states in the esophagus and stomach (presence of ESD and lower PGI/II).

Impact: These novel findings suggest that the upper digestive tract microbiota may play a role in the etiology of chronic atrophic gastritis and ESD, and therefore in the development of gastric and esophageal cancers. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 23(5); 735–41. ©2014 AACR.
Cancer in Africa 2012
Authors: Parkin D. Maxwell , Bray Freddie , Ferlay Jacques , Jemal Ahmedin
Published: April 2014

Background: Noncommunicable diseases, and especially cancers, are recognized as an increasing problem for low and middle income countries. Effective control programs require adequate information on the size, nature, and evolution of the health problem that they pose.

Methods: We present estimates of the incidence and mortality of cancer in Africa in 2012, derived from “GLOBOCAN 2012,” published by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Results: There were 847,000 new cancer cases (6% of the world total) and 591,000 deaths (7.2% of the world total) in the 54 countries of Africa in 2012, with about three quarters in the 47 countries of Sub-Saharan Africa. While the cancer profiles often differ markedly between regions, the most common cancers in men were prostate (16.4% of new cancers), liver (10.7%), and Kaposi sarcoma (6.7%); in women, by far the most important are cancers of the breast (27.6% of all cancers) and cervix uteri (20.4%).

Conclusions: There are still deficiencies in surveillance systems, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and, specifically, of their most vital component, population-based cancer registries. With the number of annual cancer cases and deaths likely to increase by at least 70% by 2030, there is a pressing need for a coordinated approach to improving the extent and quality of services for cancer control in Africa, and better surveillance systems with which they can be planned and monitored.

Impact: The results are the best data currently available and provide a reasonable appraisal of the cancer situation in Africa. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 23(6); 953–66. ©2014 AACR.
Prognostic Biomarkers in Phase II Trial of Cetuximab-Containing Induction and Chemoradiation in Resectable HNSCC: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group E2303
Authors: Psyrri Amanda , Lee Ju-Whei , Pectasides Eirini , Vassilakopoulou Maria , Kosmidis Efstratios K. , Burtness Barbara A. , Rimm David L. , Wanebo Harold J. , Forastiere Arlene A.
Published: April 2014

Purpose: We sought to evaluate the correlation between tissue biomarker expression (using standardized, quantitative immunofluorescence) and clinical outcome in the E2303 trial.

Experimental Design: Sixty-three eligible patients with operable stage III/IV head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) participated in the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 2303 phase II trial of induction chemotherapy with weekly cetuximab, paclitaxel, and carboplatin followed by chemoradiation with the same regimen. A tissue microarray (TMA) was constructed and EGF receptor (EGFR), ERK1/2, Met, Akt, STAT3, β-catenin, E-cadherin, EGFR Variant III, insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor, NF-κB, p53, PI3Kp85, PI3Kp110a, PTEN, NRAS, and pRb protein expression levels were assessed using automated quantitative protein analysis (AQUA). For each dichotomized biomarker, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and event-free survival (EFS) were estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method and compared using log-rank tests. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate HRs and test for significance.

Results: Forty-two of 63 patients with TMA data on at least one biomarker were included in the biomarker analysis. Tumor extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 levels were significantly associated with PFS [HR (low/high), 3.29; P = 0.026] and OS [HR (low/high), 4.34; P = 0.008]. On multivariable Cox regression analysis, ERK1/2 remained significantly associated with OS (P = 0.024) and PFS (P = 0.022) after controlling for primary site (oropharynx vs. non-oropharynx) and disease stage (III vs. IV), respectively. Clustering analysis revealed that clusters indicative of activated RAS/MAPK/ERK and/or PI3K/Akt pathways were associated with inferior OS and/or PFS and maintained significance in multivariable analysis.

Conclusions: These results implicate PI3K/Akt and RAS/MAPK/ERK pathways in resistance to cetuximab-containing chemoradiation in HNSCC. Large prospective studies are required to validate these results. Clin Cancer Res; 20(11); 3023–32. ©2014 AACR.
miR-21 Targets 15-PGDH and Promotes Cholangiocarcinoma Growth
Authors: Lu Lu , Byrnes Kathleen , Han Chang , Wang Ying , Wu Tong
Published: April 2014

miRNAs are a group of small, noncoding RNAs that modulate the translation of genes by binding to specific target sites in the target mRNA. This study investigated the biologic function and molecular mechanism of miR-21 in human cholangiocarcinoma. In situ hybridization analysis of human cholangiocarcinoma specimens showed increased miR-21 in cholangiocarcinoma tissue compared with the noncancerous biliary epithelium. Lentiviral transduction of miR-21 enhanced human cholangiocarcinoma cell growth and clonogenic efficiency in vitro, whereas inhibition of miR-21 decreased these parameters. Overexpression of miR-21 also promoted cholangiocarcinoma growth using an in vivo xenograft model system. The NAD+-linked 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH/HPGD), a key enzyme that converts the protumorigenic prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) to its biologically inactive metabolite, was identified as a direct target of miR-21 in cholangiocarcinoma cells. In parallel, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) overexpression and PGE2 treatment increased miR-21 levels and enhanced miR-21 promoter activity in human cholangiocarcinoma cells.

Implications: Cholangiocarcinogenesis and tumor progression are regulated by a novel interplay between COX-2/PGE2 and miR-21 signaling, which converges at 15-PGDH. Mol Cancer Res; 12(6); 890–900. ©2014 AACR.
Unlikely Suspects Identified in Neuroblastoma Conspiracy
Authors: Bernards Rene
Published: April 2014

Summary: KIF1B is a candidate tumor-suppressor gene in neuroblastoma whose function is to mediate apoptosis when nerve growth factor becomes limiting in the developing nervous system. Chen and colleagues now provide mechanistic insight into how one of the protein products of this locus, KIF1Bβ, induces apoptosis. Cancer Discov; 4(4); 392–3. ©2014 AACR.

See related article by Chen et al., p. 434
Metabolic Dysregulation in Melanoma: Cause or Consequence?
Authors: Haq Rizwan
Published: April 2014

Summary: Parmenter and colleagues identify molecular pathways by which BRAF–MAPK signaling regulates glycolysis in melanoma, suggesting novel approaches to target these metabolic dependencies. Cancer Discov; 4(4); 390–1. ©2014 AACR.

See related article by Parmenter et al., p. 423
Natural History and Clinical Manifestations of Hyponatremia and Hyperchlorhidrosis due to Carbonic Anhydrase XII Deficiency
Authors: Feinstein Yael , Yerushalmi Baruch , Loewenthal Neta , Alkrinawi Soliman , Birk Ohad S. , Parvari Ruti , Hershkovitz Eli
Published: April 2014

Introduction: We identified patients of Bedouin origin with a mutation in carbonic anhydrase XII (CA XII) leading to hyponatremia due to excessive salt loss via sweat. Methods: The medical records of patients were reviewed for clinical and laboratory data. Results: A total of 11 subjects were identified; 7 symptomatic patients presented with hyponatremic dehydration in infancy. Screening of the entire kindred identified 4 asymptomatic individuals with elevated sweat chloride. All symptomatic patients had failure to thrive and moderate-severe hyponatremia (106-124 mmol·l-1); 6 had hypochloremia (79-94 mmol·l-1). All asymptomatic subjects had normal or near-normal serum sodium and chloride concentrations. Both symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects had normal renal functions and normal cortisol response on low-dose ACTH test. All symptomatic patients were treated by dietary salt, which prevents episodes of hyponatremic dehydration and promotes growth. At follow-up, the chief complaints remained heat intolerance, accumulation of salt precipitates on the face and hyperhidrosis. No evidence for chronic renal, respiratory, gastrointestinal or fertility abnormalities was found. Conclusion: Recognizing this newly described entity and differentiating it from cystic fibrosis and pseudohypoaldosteronism are important. Patients with CA XII mutations should be followed even after early childhood, especially in hot temperatures and intense physical activity.
Starchy Food Consumption in French Adults: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Profile of Consumers and Contribution to Nutritional Intake in a Web-Based Prospective Cohort
Authors: Szabo de Edelenyi Fabien , Julia Chantal , Courtois Frédéric , Méjean Caroline , Péneau Sandrine , Galan Pilar , Hercberg Serge , Kesse-Guyot Emmanuelle
Published: April 2014

Background: French Nutritional Guidelines recommend eating starchy foods at each meal, according to appetite, and advise to vary sources. However, the proportion of energy from carbohydrates is currently too low in many Western European countries. Methods: Consumption of the different types of starchy foods was assessed among 80,209 adult participants in the French NutriNet-Santé cohort (78% women, mean age 42.9 ± 14.5). Description of starchy food consumption according to sociodemographics was provided as well as the contribution of starchy food to nutritional intake. Determinants of adherence to starchy food nutritional guidelines were estimated using multivariable polytomous logistic regression. Results: Starchy foods contributed approximately 22% of the energy intake, 75% of the complex carbohydrate intake and 36.1% of the fibre intake. About 43% of the subjects had intakes in line with the French Nutritional Guidelines concerning starchy foods. Men met the recommendation more frequently (55 vs. 33% for women), but were also more likely to exceed the recommendation (9.5 vs. 1.3%), even after adjustment for energy intake. According to our multivariable model, starchy food consumption increased also with age. Conclusions: A higher consumption of starchy foods should be promoted in the French population in order to increase the part of the energy intake coming from complex carbohydrates.
Histone Phosphorylation: Its Role during Cell Cycle and Centromere Identity in Plants
Authors: Zhang B. , Dong Q. , Su H. , Birchler J.A. , Han F.
Published: April 2014

As the main protein components of chromatin, histones can alter the structural/functional capabilities of chromatin by undergoing extensive post-translational modifications (PTMs) such as phosphorylation, methylation, acetylation, ubiquitination, sumoylation, and so on. These PTMs are thought to transmit signals from the chromatin to the cell machinery to regulate various processes. Histone phosphorylation is associated with chromosome condensation/segregation, activation of transcription, and DNA damage repair. In this review, we focus on how different histone phosphorylations mark for chromatin change during the cell cycle, the relationship between histone phosphorylation and functional centromeres, and the candidate kinases that trigger and the phosphatase or kinase inhibitors that alter histone phosphorylation. Finally, we review the crosstalk between different PTMs.
Nasal Expiratory Sound Analysis for Evaluation of Nasal Patency in Perennial Allergic Rhinitis Patients Treated with Nasal Corticosteroids
Authors: Cingi Cemal , Ural Ahmet , Seren Erdal , Erdogan Murat
Published: April 2014

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of nasal expiratory sound analysis in determining the degree of nasal obstruction. Materials and Methods: We have analyzed and recorded the expiratory nasal sounds in 18 healthy controls and in 30 patients with inferior turbinate hypertrophy before and after the administration of nasal corticosteroid treatment. Analysis consisted of the time-expanded waveform, spectral analysis with time-averaged fast Fourier transform and waveform analysis of nasal sound. Results: Before treatment, an increase in sound intensity at high frequency was observed in the sound analyses of the patients, whereas after treatment, a decrease in sound intensity at high frequency was noted in the sound analyses of the patients. The differences between the patients and the control group were statistically significant. Data obtained with the Odiosoft-Rhino method were correlated with symptom scores and endoscopic examination. Conclusion: Expiratory nasal sound is a practical and objective tool, which can be reliably used not only for the assessment of the degree of nasal blockage but also for the comparison of different treatment alternatives.
Five-Year Outcomes in Patients With Left Main Disease Treated With Either Percutaneous Coronary Intervention or Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in the Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery Trial
Authors: Morice Marie-Claude , Serruys Patrick W. , Kappetein A. Pieter , Feldman Ted E. , Ståhle Elisabeth , Colombo Antonio , Mack Michael J. , Holmes David R. , Choi James W. , Ruzyllo Witold , Religa Grzegorz , Huang Jian , Roy Kristine , Dawkins Keith D. , Mohr Friedrich
Published: April 2014

Background—

Current guidelines recommend coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) when treating significant de novo left main coronary artery (LM) stenosis; however, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has a class IIa indication for unprotected LM disease in selected patients. This analysis compares 5-year clinical outcomes in PCI- and CABG-treated LM patients in the Synergy Between PCI With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) trial, the largest trial in this group to date.

Methods and Results—

The SYNTAX trial randomly assigned 1800 patients with LM or 3-vessel disease to receive either PCI (with TAXUS Express paclitaxel-eluting stents) or CABG. The unprotected LM cohort (N=705) was predefined and powered. Major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event rates at 5 years was 36.9% in PCI patients and 31.0% in CABG patients (hazard ratio, 1.23 [95% confidence interval, 0.95–1.59];
P
=0.12). Mortality rate was 12.8% and 14.6% in PCI and CABG patients, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.88 [95% confidence interval, 0.58–1.32];
P
=0.53). Stroke was significantly increased in the CABG group (PCI 1.5% versus CABG 4.3%; hazard ratio, 0.33 [95% confidence interval, 0.12–0.92];
P
=0.03) and repeat revascularization in the PCI arm (26.7% versus 15.5%; hazard ratio, 1.82 [95% confidence interval, 1.28–2.57];
P
<0.01). Major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events were similar between arms in patients with low/intermediate SYNTAX scores but significantly increased in PCI patients with high scores (≥33).

Conclusions—

At 5 years, no difference in overall major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events was found between treatment groups. PCI-treated patients had a lower stroke but a higher revascularization rate versus CABG. These results suggest that both treatments are valid options for LM patients. The extent of disease should accounted for when choosing between surgery and PCI, because patients with high SYNTAX scores seem to benefit more from surgery compared with those in the lower tertiles.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov.
Unique identifier: NCT00114972.
Perceptual Learning of Simple Stimuli Modifies Stimulus Representations in Posterior Inferior Temporal Cortex
Authors: Adab Hamed Zivari , Popivanov Ivo D. , Vanduffel Wim , Vogels Rufin
Published: April 2014

Practicing simple visual detection and discrimination tasks improves performance, a signature of adult brain plasticity. The neural mechanisms that underlie these changes in performance are still unclear. Previously, we reported that practice in discriminating the orientation of noisy gratings (coarse orientation discrimination) increased the ability of single neurons in the early visual area V4 to discriminate the trained stimuli. Here, we ask whether practice in this task also changes the stimulus tuning properties of later visual cortical areas, despite the use of simple grating stimuli. To identify candidate areas, we used fMRI to map activations to noisy gratings in trained rhesus monkeys, revealing a region in the posterior inferior temporal (PIT) cortex. Subsequent single unit recordings in PIT showed that the degree of orientation selectivity was similar to that of area V4 and that the PIT neurons discriminated the trained orientations better than the untrained orientations. Unlike in previous single unit studies of perceptual learning in early visual cortex, more PIT neurons preferred trained compared with untrained orientations. The effects of training on the responses to the grating stimuli were also present when the animals were performing a difficult orthogonal task in which the grating stimuli were task-irrelevant, suggesting that the training effect does not need attention to be expressed. The PIT neurons could support orientation discrimination at low signal-to-noise levels. These findings suggest that extensive practice in discriminating simple grating stimuli not only affects early visual cortex but also changes the stimulus tuning of a late visual cortical area.
Croton condorensis: an enigmatic new species of Euphorbiaceae from southern Ecuador
Authors: Riina Ricarda , VIGO MARCO A. , CERÓN CARLOS E.
Published: April 2014

Croton condorensis (Euphorbiaceae), a new species from the Cordillera del Cóndor in southern Ecuador, is here described and illustrated. The new species occurs in sclerophyllous vegetation on sandstone substrate. A detailed examination of its morphology indicates that the species has some characters in common with Croton sect. Cyclostigma, but it also differs from that section in several other key characters. Given its restricted geographic distribution, the particular substrate where it grows, and its unusual morphology, we hypothesize that Croton condorensis might represent a previously unsampled clade of the Croton phylogeny. Se describe e ilustra Croton condorensis (Euphorbiaceae), una nueva especie de la Cordillera del Cóndor en el sur de Ecuador. Esta especie se encuentra en vegetación esclerófila sobre substrato de arenisca. Una examinación detallada de su morfología indica que la especie comparte algunos caracteres morfológicos con miembros de Croton sect. Cyclostigma, pero también posee caracteres clave que no son compatibles con la morfología de dicha sección. Dada su restringida distribución geográfica, el particular substrato en el que crece, y la falta de afinidades morfológicas evidentes con alguna de las secciones de Croton, planteamos la hipótesis de que Croton condorensis podría representar un clado de la filogenia del género aún no muestreado.
Alkanna malatyana (Boraginaceae), a new species from East Anatolia, Turkey
Authors: YILDIRIM HASAN , ŞENOL SERDAR GÖKHAN
Published: April 2014

Alkanna malatyana (Boraginaceae) is described as a new species to science. It is endemic to the eastern Anatolia region of Turkey. A. malatyana is an obligated chasmophytic species, which colonizes on limestone rocky cliffs, known from a single locality in Levent Canyon, located in Malatya Province. It is related to A. mughlae and it shows some morphological similarities with A. confusa and A. kotschyana, but it clearly differs from them based on the morphological differences presented in the species description. In addition, the conservation status, a distribution map, and notes on the biogeography and ecology of the new species are given.
Two new species of Baccharis subgen. Baccharis (Asteraceae, Astereae) with single-flowered female capitula from the Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Authors: Heiden Gustavo , Pirani José Rubens
Published: April 2014

Two new species of Baccharis subgen. Baccharis endemic to the Serra do Cipó, south-eastern Brazil, are described and illustrated. Baccharis obdeltata is morphologically similar to the allopatric obdeltate-leaved B. truncata but is distinguished by its leaves with 3(–5)-dentate apex, fewer-flowered sessile capitula, the male capitula bearing 5–7 florets and the female capitula with solitary florets. Baccharis simplex resembles the sympatric B. concinna, from which can be differentiated by its oval to oblong leaves, with obtuse base and rounded to obtuse apex, and shorter female capitula, florets and cypselae. Illustrations, distribution map, habitat and conservation assessments are provided for the new species.
Taxonomic, bioacoustic and faunistic data on a collection of Tettigonioidea from Eastern Congo (Insecta: Orthoptera)
Authors: HELLER KLAUS-GERHARD , HEMP CLAUDIA , LIU CHUNXIANG , VOLLETH MARIANNE
Published: April 2014

During a 14-day excursion in March 1990, 28 species of tettigonioids were found at Irangi (1º54’S, 28º27’E), ca.100 km north west of Bukavu at Lake Kivu (Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly Zaire), and at other localities near Bukavu. One species —Arantia (Arantia) gracilicercata Heller sp. n. — is new to science, another one—Pantecphyllus helleri Schmidt et al. 2004—was already described as new in a generic revision. All our specimens of the morphologically quite diverse and sexually dimorphic phaneropterine genus Arantia were studied using molecular methods. We propose a new subgenus Arantia (Euarantia) Heller subgen. n. based on relative tegmen width. Songs and stridulatory organs were studied in 9 species. Two phaneropterines, Horatosphaga leggei and Pardalota asymmetrica, showed remarkable calling songs lasting more than 10 s and produced by quite complicated stridulatory movements. The song of the large phaneropterine Zeuneria biramosa is noteworthy because of its unusually low carrier frequency of 3.7 kHz. Based on the examination of other specimens and species, some taxonomic changes are proposed (Phaneropteridae Burmeister, 1838 stat. rev.; Afromecopoda monroviana (Karsch, 1886) stat. rev.; Leproscirtus ebneri Karny, 1919, syn. n., Leproscirtus karschi Karny, 1919, syn. n., Leproscirtus granulosus aptera Karny, 1919, syn. n., all synonyms of Leproscirtus granulosus (Karsch, 1886); Lanistoides Sjöstedt, 1913 stat. rev.; Plastocorypha cabrai Griffini, 1909 stat. n.).
An illustrated key to the species of subgenus Gyrostoma Kirby, 1828 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae) from China, with discovery of Polistes (Gyrostoma) tenuispunctia Kim, 2001
Authors: TAN JIANG-LI , VAN ACHTERBERG KEES , DUAN MEI-JIAO , CHEN XUE-XIN
Published: April 2014

The Chinese species of the subgenus Gyrostoma Kirby, 1828 of the polistine genus Polistes are reviewed. An illustrated key to the seven species of the subgenus known from China is given. New synonymy are proposed for Polistes rothneyi Cameron, 1900 =P. rothneyi grahami van der Vecht, 1968, syn. nov.; =P. r. hainanensis van der Vecht, 1968, syn. nov.; =P. r. iwatai van der Vecht, 1968, syn. nov.; =P. r. gressitti van der Vecht, 1968, syn. nov.; =P. r. tibetanus van der Vecht, 1968, syn. nov.; = P. r. yayeyamae Matsumura, 1908, syn. nov.; =P. r. koreanus van der Vecht, 1968, syn. nov.; =P. r. sikkimensis van der Vecht, 1968, syn. nov.. P. (Gyrostoma) tenuispuntia Kim, 2001 is newly recorded from China. Its nest is described for the first time. Compared with the sympatric and similar species P. rothneyi f. grahami the nest is concealed in a hollow space instead of having the nest directly exposed under an eave as in P. rothneyi. The differences in nest architecture are briefly discussed.
The King of the Dwarves: a new cryptic species of Dainty Frog (Anura: Pyxicephalidae: Cacosternum) from the eastern Great Escarpment of South Africa
Authors: CONRADIE WERNER
Published: April 2014

Phylogenetic reconstruction using the mitochondrial 16S marker shows the presence of a cryptic species of Cacosternum (Anura: Pyxicephalidae) from the eastern Great Escarpment of South Africa, supporting the Greater Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany region of vertebrate endemism. Bioacoustic and morphological characteristics, in conjunction with colouration differences, allow the description of this cryptic species. Tadpoles and details of life history are described.
Konstruowanie „ja” w twórczości Franciszka Karpińskiego na tle epoki i jej tendencji
Authors: Górecki Przemysław
Published: April 2014

Constructing the self in the literary work of Franciszek Karpiński against the background of the Enlightenment and its tendenciesThe presented paper provides analysis of the notion ‘autobiographism’ contextualised in the literary output of the Polish poet of the enlightenment, Franciszek Karpiński. The question of autobiographism is presented in terms of the literature and philosophy of Jean Jacques Rousseau. This analysis of the phenomena of authenticity and autobiographicality is concerned with constructing oneself in literature as illustrated by certain works, with the primacy of the mundane The History Of My Age And People With Whom I Lived. The essay draws on The Confessions by Rousseau with a view to specifying the connections between these two novels. The consciousness of the impact Rousseau had on the European sense of literature breaks new ground in the interpretation of the legacy of Karpiński. It also enables the recognition of the complete and compact project situated on the verge of literature and philosophy. The breakthrough of this project is contained in the priority given to the Polish historical literary process and the novelty of the autobiographical attitude, which is considered through the application of basic conceptions concerning autobiographism and the modern identity project of the aesthetic human. Konstruowanie „ja” w twórczości Franciszka Karpińskiego na tle epoki i jej tendencjiSzkic poświęcony jest zagadnieniu autobiografizmu w twórczości Franciszka Karpińskiego ujmowanemu pod kątem jego związków z twórczością i filozofią Jana Jakuba Rousseau. Analiza zjawisk autentyczności i autobiograficzności dotyka kwestii konstruowania siebie w literaturze na przykładzie konkretnych utworów, z których najważniejszym jest przełomowa dla historii polskiej literatury powieść Karpińskiego Historia mego wieku i ludzi z którymi żyłem. Przedmiotem analizy są m.in. jej związki z Wyznaniami Rousseau. Świadomość wpływu Rousseau na europejskie pojmowanie literatury otwiera nowe perspektywy interpretacyjne twórczości Karpińskiego. Pozwala także dostrzec w jego pisarstwie elementy kompletnego, spójnego projektu sytuującego się na granicy literatury i filozofii. Jego przełomowość polega na pierwszeństwie w polskim procesie historycznoliterackim oraz nowatorstwie postawy autobiograficznej, którą rozpatruję w odniesieniu do podstawowych koncepcji dotyczących autobiografizmu, a także nowoczesnego projektu tożsamościowego człowieka estetycznego.
Językowo-kulturowy obraz dziecka w gwarach góralskich
Authors: Gotówka Agnieszka
Published: April 2014

The linguistic and cultural child image in Gorale dialectsThe child image has not been examined in detail by dialectologists to date. However, researchers of standard Polish language and popular culture are interested in this subject. The paper analyses the reconstruction of the linguistic child image in many Gorale dialects (Podhale, Orawa, Spisz, Slask Cieszynski, Zywiecczyzna, Bukowina). Examples have been taken from regional and dialect dictionaries from the years 1900 - 2011, from proverbs and various mass media texts.Vocabulary which conceptualizes the child image in Gorale dialects is rich and interesting not only from a formal and stylistic point of view, but also, and it is worth mentioning, its origins and geography which are very diverse.This vocabulary reflects the people's relationships and traditions. It reveals the emotions and hierarchy of values, which are typical not only for Gorale but also reflect Polish people's attitude towards the family. Językowo-kulturowy obraz dziecka w gwarach góralskichObraz dziecka jest jak dotąd dość słabo spenetrowanym przez dialektologów obszarem badawczym, wzbudza natomiast zainteresowanie badaczy polszczyzny standardowej (ogólnej) i kultury popularnej. W artykule przeprowadzam rekonstrukcję językowego obrazu dziecka w szeroko rozumianych gwarach góralskich (Podhale, Orawa, Spisz, Śląsk Cieszyński, Żywiecczyzna, Bukowina) na podstawie materiału wyekscerpowanego ze słowników gwarowych i regionalnych, opublikowanych w latach 1900 – 2011, paremii i wybranych tekstów medialnych.Słownictwo służące konceptualizacji dziecka w gwarach góralskich jest bogate i ciekawe nie tylko pod względem formalnym i stylistycznym, ale też, co trzeba podkreślić, zróżnicowane pod względem pochodzenia i geografii. W leksyce nazywającej dziecko w gwarach góralskich odzwierciedla się bogata sieć relacji międzyludzkich, tradycji, ujawniają się emocje i hierarchia wartości, które możemy odnieść nie tylko do mentalności górali, ale w ogóle do postrzegania rodziny przez Polaków.
Relacja z konferencji „Mniejszości narodowe w Chorwacji – problem (nie)rozwiązany?”
Authors: Zanki Angelika
Published: April 2014

“National minorities in Croatia - the (un)solved problem?” – Conference ReportThe conference “National minorities in Croatia – the (un)solved problem?”, that took place in Warsaw, 23.01.2014, was organized by the Association of Young Diplomats (student research circle) at the University of Warsaw. Invitations to participate in the discussion were accepted by Ivana Škaričić, Dr. Maciej Falski Dr. Marko Babić. The guests focused on the cause-effect relationship of historical events and the contemporary situation in Croatia, as well as on relations between Croats and representatives of national minorities in the country. Introduction - presentation of the legal regulations, figures and description of the situation in the Croatian War of Independence - became the basis for discussion of the most controversial issues, concerning the Serb minority. The guest speakers discussed the appropriateness of introducing bilingualism (problem of Vukovar and the wider perspective) and the purpose and possibility of organizing a referendum on the issue. Experts analyzed the possible implications of such an action on the rise of nationalism. Attention was also concentrated on other minorities in Croatia and their status. An important subject was the influence of the situation in the country on the region, as well as the reactions of the international community, including the European Union. Relacja z konferencji „Mniejszości narodowe w Chorwacji – problem (nie)rozwiązany?”Konferencja „Mniejszości narodowe w Chorwacji – problem (nie)rozwiązany?”, która odbyła się 23.01.2014 roku w Warszawie, zorganizowana została przez Koło Młodych Dyplomatów Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego. Zaproszeni goście -  Ivana Škaričić, Maciej Falski i Marko Babić - skoncentrowali się na wpływie wydarzeń historycznych i współczesnych na sytuację w Chorwacji oraz relacje Chorwatów z przedstawicielami mniejszości narodowych tego kraju. Wprowadzenie do tematu - przedstawienie obowiązujących regulacji prawnych, danych liczbowych oraz opis sytuacji po wojnie ojczyźnianej - stało się podstawą do dyskusji na temat najbardziej kontrowersyjny, dotyczący kwestii mniejszości serbskiej. Dyskutowano zasadność wprowadzenia  dwujęzyczności (problem Vukovaru) oraz cel i możliwość organizacji referendum w tej sprawie. Poruszono temat możliwych implikacji takich działań jak pobudzanie nacjonalizmu. Uwaga gości została poświęcona również mniejszościom w Chorwacji i ich statusowi. Przedyskutowano zarówno wpływ sytuacji w tym kraju na państwa regionu, jak i reakcje międzynarodowej opinii publicznej, w tym Unii Europejskiej.
Height Correction of Atmospheric Motion Vectors Using Satellite Lidar Observations from CALIPSO
Authors: Folger Kathrin , Weissmann Martin
Published: April 2014

Atmospheric motion vectors (AMVs) provide valuable wind information for the initial conditions of numerical weather prediction models, but height-assignment issues and horizontal error correlations require a rigid thinning of the available AMVs in current data assimilation systems. The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of correcting the pressure heights of operational AMVs from the geostationary satellites Meteosat-9 and Meteosat-10 with cloud-top heights derived from lidar observations by the polar-orbiting Cloud–Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) satellite. The study shows that the wind error of AMVs above 700 hPa is reduced by 12%–17% when AMV winds are assigned to 120-hPa-deep layers below the lidar cloud tops. This result demonstrates the potential of lidar cloud observations for the improvement of the AMV height assignment. In addition, the lidar correction reduces the “slow” bias of current upper-level AMVs and is expected to reduce the horizontal correlation of AMV errors.
The Generation of Near-Cloud Turbulence in Idealized Simulations
Authors: Zovko-Rajak Dragana , Lane Todd P.
Published: April 2014

This study explores the generation of turbulence in the upper outflow regions of simulated idealized mesoscale convective systems. The simulated storms are shown to generate parameterized turbulence that occurs significant distances (>100 km) from the main convective regions, in both the clear air surrounding the convection and low simulated reflectivity regions with cloud ice but negligible amounts of graupel and snow. The source of the turbulence is related to Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities that occur in the shear zones above and below the storm-induced upper-level outflow jet that is centered near the tropopause; the model produces resolved-scale billows within regions of low gradient Richardson number. Short-scale gravity waves are also coincident with the regions of turbulence, become trapped within the jet core, and appear to be generated by the shear instability. Additional experiments with different initial upper-level wind shear show similar mechanisms to those simulations with no initial upper-level shear. These results help elucidate the dynamics of turbulence generation near convection, which has important implications for the aviation industry and the fundamental understanding of how convective clouds interact with their environment.
Identification of Processes Driving Low-Level Westerlies in West Equatorial Africa
Authors: Pokam Wilfried M. , Bain Caroline L. , Chadwick Robin S. , Graham Richard , Sonwa Denis Jean , Kamga Francois Mkankam
Published: April 2014

This paper investigates and characterizes the control mechanisms of the low-level circulation over west equatorial Africa (WEA) using four reanalysis datasets. Emphasis is placed on the contribution of the divergent and rotational circulation to the total flow. Additional focus is made on analyzing the zonal wind component, in order to gain insight into the processes that control the variability of the low-level westerlies (LLW) in the region. The results suggest that the control mechanisms differ north and south of 6°N. In the north, the LLW are primarily a rotational flow forming part of the cyclonic circulation driven primarily by the heat low of the West African monsoon system. This northern branch of the LLW is well developed from June to August and disappears in December–February. South of 6°N, the seasonal variability of the LLW is controlled by the heating contrast between cooling associated with subsidence over the ocean and heating over land regions largely south of the equator, where ascent prevails. The heating contrasts lead to a Walker-type circulation with development of LLW as its lower branch. Thus, evidence is presented that the LLW are driven by differential heating. This contrasts with the traditional conceptual view that the Saint Helena high is the primary driver of low-level circulation off the Atlantic Ocean to WEA. Forest cover in WEA may modulate the latent heating that helps to drive the differential heating and maintain the LLW, and this interaction should be the focus of further study.
Evaluation of the Tropical TOA Flux Diurnal Cycle in MERRA and ERA-Interim Retrospective Analyses
Authors: Itterly Kyle F. , Taylor Patrick C.
Published: April 2014

Reanalysis model output is extensively used in atmospheric research and must be rigorously and continuously evaluated to understand the strengths and weaknesses. This paper evaluates the tropical top-of-atmosphere (TOA) flux diurnal cycle in NASA’s Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA) and the ECMWF Interim Re-Analysis (ERA-Interim) against Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) synoptic edition 3A (SYN Ed3A) TOA flux data. MERRA and ERA-Interim are able to reproduce large-scale features of the diurnal cycle, including land–ocean contrast. MERRA and ERA-Interim, however, fail to reproduce many regional features of the climatological annual diurnal cycle. The TOA flux diurnal cycle errors in regions dominated by convective diurnal cycles are 5–10 times larger than in nonconvective regions. These errors in the TOA radiative flux diurnal cycle are primarily attributed to errors in the cloud diurnal evolution and specifically the failure to reproduce diurnally forced propagating convection. The largest diurnal cycle errors are found in ocean convective regions (e.g., Indian and equatorial Pacific Oceans); the observed longwave cloud forcing (LWCF) diurnal evolution in several oceanic convective regions shows two peaks: an afternoon and a near midnight peak; however, the reanalysis models produce a single midnight peak. The outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) diurnal cycle over tropical land is 20%–30% too weak in both reanalyses. The small diurnal cycle errors in marine stratocumulus regions are a result of two common misrepresentations in MERRA and ERA-Interim: 1) the dissipation of marine stratocumulus clouds from morning to afternoon is too slow and 2) the cloud diurnal cycle is too weak. Overall, the intermodel differences in the representation of the TOA flux diurnal cycle are smaller than the differences between reanalysis models and observations.
The Role of Vertical Shear on Aviation Turbulence within Cirrus Bands of a Simulated Western Pacific Cyclone
Authors: Kim Jung-Hoon , Chun Hye-Yeong , Sharman Robert D. , Trier Stanley B.
Published: April 2014

At 0300 UTC 9 September 2010, commercial aircraft traveling between Tokyo and Hawaii encountered regions of moderate and severe intensity turbulence at about 12-km elevation in or just above banded structures in the cirrus anvil associated with an oceanic cyclone located off the east coast of Japan. The generation mechanisms of the cirrus bands and turbulence are investigated using the Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting Model with five nested domains having a finest horizontal grid spacing of 370 m. The simulation reproduces the satellite-observed patterns of cloud brightness, including the bands, and suggests that synoptic-scale vertical shear within the anvil cloud layer and radiative effects, including longwave cooling at cloud top and warming at cloud base, act together to produce banded structures within the southern edge of the cirrus cloud shield. The character of the bands within the nearly neutral or convectively unstable layer of the cirrus shield is similar to boundary layer rolls in that the vertical wind shear vectors are nearly parallel to the cirrus bands. The strong vertical shear aligned with the banded convection leads to flow deformations and mixing near the cloud top, resulting in localized moderate and severe turbulence. The estimated maximum value of the cube root of eddy dissipation rate within the bands is ~0.7 m2/3 s−1, consistent with severe turbulence levels experienced by large aircraft.
A comparison of different methods of demand management on requesting activity in a teaching hospital intensive care unit
Authors: Tyrrell Samuel , Roberts Hywel , Zouwail Soha
Published: April 2014

Background

Laboratory services in the UK have witnessed an annual increase in requesting activity often with no associated increase in budget. This study evaluated the impact of different demand management strategies on biochemistry test requesting activity from a tertiary Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at a UK teaching hospital.

Method

We conducted an observational longitudinal study in which biochemistry requesting activity from the ICU was gathered over five separate six-month periods between 2009 and 2013. During this time, two different strategies aimed at reducing inappropriate biochemistry requesting were in use and the effects of the two strategies were compared.

Results

Implementation of minimum re-testing intervals (MRIs) resulted in an overall 22.7% reduction in total requesting activity in the first year with minor change in clinical workload. In the second year, a 13.3% rise in requesting activity was seen but this was against a background of a 14.6% increase in ICU workload. Removal of the MRIs rules associated with the introduction of an ICU test testing schedule resulted in a 13.4% reduction in total requesting activity in the first year. ICU workload during this year was 1.8% lower than the previous year. In the final year, requesting activity was almost unchanged but ICU workload grew by 6.8%.

Conclusion

Implementation of MRIs reduced biochemistry test requesting activity on the ICU. Introduction of an agreed test schedule and removal of the MRIs, however, produced a further reduction in ICU requesting activity. Variation in ICU workload does not account for all the observed changes.
Using High-Dose Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements to Lower Triglyceride Levels in 10- to 19-Year-Olds
Authors: de Ferranti Sarah D. , Milliren Carly E. , Denhoff Erica R. , Steltz Sarah K. , Selamet Tierney Elif Seda , Feldman Henry A. , Osganian Stavroula K.
Published: April 2014

Background. Omega-3 fatty acids supplements lower triglyceride (TG) levels in adults; little pediatric information is available. We evaluated their effect in hypertriglyceridemic adolescents. Methods. Twenty-five patients aged 10 to 19 years with TG levels 150 to 1000 mg/dL were randomized to 6 months double-blind trial of Lovaza (~3360 mg docosahexaenoic acid + eicosapentaenoic acid per day) versus placebo. Results. Baseline mean TG levels were 227 mg/dL (standard deviation = 49). TG levels declined at 3 months in the Lovaza group by 54 ± 27 mg/dL (mean ± standard error; P = .02) and by 34 ± 26 mg/dL ( P = .16) in the placebo group. The difference in TG lowering between groups was not significant ( P = .52). There were no between-group differences in endothelial function, blood pressure, body mass index, C-reactive protein, or side effects. Conclusions. High-dose omega-3 fatty acid supplements are well tolerated in adolescents. However, declines in TG levels did not differ significantly from Placebo in this small study.