bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accumulative Roll Bonding of Pure Copper and IF Steel
Authors: Tamimi Saeed , Ketabchi Mostafa , Parvin Nader , Sanjari Mehdi , Lopes Augusto
Published: September 2014

Severe plastic deformation is a new method to produce ultrafine grain materials with enhanced mechanical properties. The main objective of this work is to investigate whether accumulative roll bonding (ARB) is an effective grain refinement technique for two engineering materials of pure copper and interstitial free (IF) steel strips. Additionally, the influence of severely plastic deformation imposed by ARB on the mechanical properties of these materials with different crystallographic structure is taken into account. For this purpose, a number of ARB processes were performed at elevated temperature on the materials with 50% of plastic deformation in each rolling pass. Hardness of the samples was measured using microhardness tests. It was found that both the ultimate grain size achieved, and the degree of bonding depend on the number of rolling passes and the total plastic deformation. The rolling process was stopped in the 4th cycle for copper and the 10th cycle for IF steel, until cracking of the edges became pronounced. The effects of process temperature and wire-brushing as significant parameters in ARB process on the mechanical behaviour of the samples were evaluated.
The Comorbidity of Reduplicative Paramnesia, Intermetamorphosis, Reverse-Intermetamorphosis, Misidentification of Reflection, and Capgras Syndrome in an Adolescent Patient
Authors: Arısoy Ozden , Tufan A. Evren , Bilici Rabia , Taskiran Sarper , Topal Zehra , Demir Nuran , Cansız M. Akif
Published: September 2014

Delusional misidentification syndromes may be superimposed on neurological or psychiatric disorders and include delusional beliefs that the people, objects, or places around the patient change or are made to change with one another. In this paper, an adolescent patient displaying Capgras syndrome, metamorphosis, reverse-intermetamorphosis, misidentification of reflection, and reduplicative paramnesia was presented. The findings that our patient struggled with visuospatial tests applied in the acute phase as well as the observation that she refused to meet her family face-to-face while accepting to speak on the phone may support the role of right hemisphere and visuospatial functions in the development of those syndromes. Further studies or case series evaluated more extensively are needed to reveal the relationship between right hemisphere functions and delusional misidentification syndromes.
Phosphorus Placement Effects on Phosphorous Recovery Efficiency and Grain Yield of Wheat under No-Tillage in the Humid Pampas of Argentina
Authors: Barbieri Pablo Andrés , Sainz Rozas Hernán René , Covacevich Fernanda , Echeverría Hernán Eduardo
Published: September 2014

No-till (NT) affects dynamics of phosphorus (P) applied. Wheat response to P fertilization can be affected by available soil P, grain yield, placement, rate, and timing of fertilization. Furthermore, mycorrhizal associations could contribute to improving plant P uptake. Three experiments were used to evaluate P rate (0, 25, and 50 kg P ha−1) and fertilizer placement (broadcasted or deep-banded) effects in NT wheat on P recovery efficiency (PRE) yield and arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization (AMC) which was assessed in one experiment. Fertilization increased dry matter (DM) and accumulated P. Broadcasted P produced lower P accumulation than deep-banded P only at tillering. Phosphorus rate decreased PRE, and placement method did not affect it. Grain yield response was increased by P rate (857 and 1805 kg ha−1for 25 and 50 kg P ha−1, resp.) and was not affected by placement method (4774 and 5333 kg ha−1for broadcasted and deep-banded, resp.). Deep-banded P depressed root AMC compared with broadcast applications. Highest AMC in P broadcasted treatments could help to explain the lack of differences between placement methods. These results indicate that Mollisol have low P retention capacity. Therefore, broadcasted P could be used as an alternative of fertilizer management for NT wheat.
Inherited or Behavior? What Causal Beliefs about Obesity Are Associated with Weight Perceptions and Decisions to Lose Weight in a US Sample?
Authors: Fleary Sasha A. , Ettienne Reynolette
Published: September 2014

Objectives. To identify the extent to which (1) beliefs about obesity and obesity-related behaviors distinguish individuals based on weight perception (WP) and (2) beliefs about obesity predict perceived health status and WP and how these in turn predict decisions to try to lose weight. Method. 7456 noninstitutionalized US adults (Mage=54.13, SDage=16.93; 61.2% female; 75.9% White) completed the 2007 Health Information National Trends Survey. Multinomial logistic regressions and structural equation modeling were used to accomplish study objectives. Results. Age, gender, information-seeking, health status, belief that obesity is inherited, and knowledge of fruits and vegetables recommendations distinguished participants based on WP. Beliefs about obesity predicted health status, WP, and trying to lose weight in the general model. The models varied based on gender, race/ethnicity, education, and weight misperception. Conclusion. This study supports the role of beliefs about obesity, WP, and health perceptions in individuals’ decisions and actions regarding weight management. This study increases our understanding of gender, race/ethnicity, education, and weight misperceptions differences in decisions to lose weight. This knowledge may lead to targeted interventions, rather than “one size fits all” interventions, to promote health and prevent obesity.
The Effect of an Acidic Food-Simulating Environment on the Shear Bond Strength of Self-Ligating Brackets with Different Base Designs
Authors: Sheibaninia Ahmad , Sepasi Sepehr , Saghiri Mohammad Ali , Sepasi Setareh
Published: September 2014

Aim.This study aims to evaluate the effect of acidic food simulant and (acetic acid 3%) on the shear bond strength (SBS) and adhesive remnant index (ARI) scores of one conventional and three different self-ligating brackets with different base designs.Materials and Methods.Freshly extracted first maxillary premolars(n=160)were embedded in resin blocks. A conventional stainless steel bracket, Equilibrium 2, and three types of self-ligating brackets, Speed, In-Ovation R, and Damon 3MX, were bonded to teeth and exposed to distilled water (groups 1, 3, 5, and 7) or acetic acid 3% (groups 2, 4, 6, 8) for 12 weeks. SBS and ARI were calculated and statistical analysis was performed with the analysis of variance (SBS) orχ2test (ARI) to compare values between the different groups.Results.Equilibrium 2 and In-Ovation R showed a significantly lower SBS in the acidic environment than in distilled water. Significant differences in ARI scores were found for Equilibrium 2 after immersion in an acidic environment, shifting from 0 in distilled water to 2 in an acidic environment.Conclusions.Equilibrium 2 and In-Ovation R brackets showed a significant decrease in SBS after a 12-week immersion in acetic acid 3%, although all groups showed clinically acceptable SBS. Equilibrium 2 showed significant differences in ARI scores when exposed to acetic acid 3%.
Development of Corn Starch-Neusilin UFL2 Conjugate as Tablet Superdisintegrant: Formulation and Evaluation of Fast Disintegrating Tablets
Authors: Juneja Prateek , Kaur Birender , Odeku Oluwatoyin A. , Singh Inderbir
Published: September 2014

In the present study, corn Starch-Neusilin UFL2 conjugates were prepared by physical, chemical, and microwave methods with the aim of using the conjugates as tablet superdisintegrant. Various powder tests, namely, angle of repose, bulk density, tapped density, Hausner’s ratio, Carr’s index, swelling index, and powder porosity were conducted on the samples. The conjugates were characterized by ATR-FTIR, XRD, DSC, and SEM techniques. Heckel and Kawakita models were applied to carry out compression studies for the prepared conjugates. Fast disintegrating tablets of domperidone were prepared using corn starch and corn Starch-Neusilin UFL2 conjugates as tablet superdisintegrants in different concentrations. Conjugates were found to possess good powder flow and tabletting properties. Heckel analysis indicated that the conjugates prepared by microwave method showed the slowest onset of plastic deformation while Kawakita analysis indicated that the conjugates prepared by microwave method exhibited the highest amount of total plastic deformation. The study revealed that the corn Starch-Neusilin UFL2 conjugates possess improved powder flow properties and could be a promising superdisintegrant for preparing fast disintegrating tablet. Also, the results sugessted that the microwave method was found to be most effective for the preparation of corn Starch-Neusilin UFL2 conjugates.
Trace Element Soil Quality Status of Mt. Cameroon Soils
Authors: Manga Veronica E. , Agyingi Christopher M. , Suh Cheo E.
Published: September 2014

The concentrations of Cu, Co, Zn, Ni, V, and Cr in topsoils at six sites located along the lower slopes of Mt. Cameroon were assessed for their potential toxicity to humans and the ecosystem. Soils were collected from horizons down to a depth of 70 cm and analysed for trace element concentration by ICP-MS technique. The Dutch soil quality standards which use %clay/silt and organic matter content to derive target values were used to assess the contamination levels of the soils. The content of these soils was also compared to the United Kingdom ICRCL “soil trigger” values. Zinc and Cu values were persistently below the normal value (A) and occurred in the lower elevation, the region of extreme weathering, while Cr and V values were above the intervention (C) values. The high content of Cr in common fertilisers poses a potential risk in toxicity in the higher elevations experiencing lower weathering rates, where soil Cr levels are elevated.
Telomere-Regulating Genes and the Telomere Interactome in Familial Cancers
Authors: Robles-Espinoza Carla Daniela , del Castillo Velasco-Herrera Martin , Hayward Nicholas K. , Adams David J.
Published: September 2014

Telomeres are repetitive sequence structures at the ends of linear chromosomes that consist of double-stranded DNA repeats followed by a short single-stranded DNA protrusion. Telomeres need to be replicated in each cell cycle and protected from DNA-processing enzymes, tasks that cells execute using specialized protein complexes such as telomerase (that includes TERT), which aids in telomere maintenance and replication, and the shelterin complex, which protects chromosome ends. These complexes are also able to interact with a variety of other proteins, referred to as the telomere interactome, to fulfill their biological functions and control signaling cascades originating from telomeres. Given their essential role in genomic maintenance and cell-cycle control, germline mutations in telomere-regulating proteins and their interacting partners have been found to underlie a variety of diseases and cancer-predisposition syndromes. These syndromes can be characterized by progressively shortening telomeres, in which carriers can present with organ failure due to stem cell senescence among other characteristics, or can also present with long or unprotected telomeres, providing an alternative route for cancer formation. This review summarizes the critical roles that telomere-regulating proteins play in cell-cycle control and cell fate and explores the current knowledge on different cancer-predisposing conditions that have been linked to germline defects in these proteins and their interacting partners. Mol Cancer Res; 13(2); 211–22. ©2014 AACR.
Functional TCR Retrieval from Single Antigen-Specific Human T Cells Reveals Multiple Novel Epitopes
Authors: Simon Petra , Omokoko Tana A. , Breitkreuz Andrea , Hebich Lisa , Kreiter Sebastian , Attig Sebastian , Konur Abdo , Britten Cedrik M. , Paret Claudia , Dhaene Karl , Türeci Özlem , Sahin Ugur
Published: September 2014

The determination of the epitope specificity of disease-associated T-cell responses is relevant for the development of biomarkers and targeted immunotherapies against cancer, autoimmune, and infectious diseases. The lack of known T-cell epitopes and corresponding T-cell receptors (TCR) for novel antigens hinders the efficient development and monitoring of new therapies. We developed an integrated approach for the systematic retrieval and functional characterization of TCRs from single antigen-reactive T cells that includes the identification of epitope specificity. This is accomplished through the rapid cloning of full-length TCR-α and TCR-β chains directly from single antigen-specific CD8+ or CD4+ T lymphocytes. The functional validation of cloned TCRs is conducted using in vitro–transcribed RNA transfer for expression of TCRs in T cells and HLA molecules in antigen-presenting cells. This method avoids the work and bias associated with repetitive cycles of in vitro T-cell stimulation, and enables fast characterization of antigen-specific T-cell responses. We applied this strategy to viral and tumor-associated antigens (TAA), resulting in the retrieval of 56 unique functional antigen-specific TCRs from human CD8+ and CD4+ T cells (13 specific for CMV-pp65, 16 specific for the well-known TAA NY-ESO-1, and 27 for the novel TAA TPTE), which are directed against 39 different epitopes. The proof-of-concept studies with TAAs NY-ESO-1 and TPTE revealed multiple novel TCR specificities. Our approach enables the rational development of immunotherapy strategies by providing antigen-specific TCRs and immunogenic epitopes. Cancer Immunol Res; 2(12); 1230–44. ©2014 AACR.
TWIK-2 Channel Deficiency Leads to Pulmonary Hypertension Through a Rho-Kinase–Mediated Process
Authors: Pandit Lavannya M. , Lloyd Eric E. , Reynolds Julia O. , Lawrence William S. , Reynolds Corey , Wehrens Xander H.T. , Bryan Robert M.
Published: September 2014

TWIK-2 (
KCNK6
) is a member of the 2-pore domain (K
2P
) family of potassium channels, which are highly expressed in the vascular system. We tested the hypothesis that TWIK-2 deficiency leads to pulmonary hypertension. TWIK-2 knockout mice and their wildtype littermates at 8 weeks of age had similar mean right ventricular systolic pressures (24±3 and 21±3 mm Hg, respectively.) Significantly, by 20 weeks of age, the mean right ventricular systolic pressures in TWIK-2 knockout mice increased to 35±3 mm Hg (
P
≤0.036), whereas mean right ventricular systolic pressures in wildtype littermates remained at 22±3 mm Hg. Elevated mean right ventricular systolic pressures in the TWIK-2 knockout mice was accompanied by pulmonary vascular remodeling as determined by a 25% increase in the cross-sectional area of the vessels occupied by the vessel wall. Additionally, secondary branches of the pulmonary artery from 20-week-old TWIK-2 knockout mice showed an enhanced contractile response to U46619 (10
–6
moles/L), a thromboxane A2 mimetic, which was completely abolished with the Rho-kinase inhibitor, Y27632 (10
–6
and 10
–5
moles/L). Treatment of TWIK-2 knockout mice with the Rho-kinase inhibitor, fasudil, in the drinking water for 12 weeks, abolished the development of pulmonary hypertension and attenuated the vessel remodeling. We concluded that mice deficient in the TWIK-2 channel develop pulmonary hypertension between 8 and 20 weeks of age through a mechanism involving Rho-kinase. Our results suggest that downregulation of TWIK-2 in the pulmonary vasculature may be an underlying mechanism in the development of pulmonary hypertension.
CYP2J2 Targeting to Endothelial Cells Attenuates Adiposity and Vascular Dysfunction in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet by Reprogramming Adipocyte Phenotype
Authors: Abraham Nader G. , Sodhi Komal , Silvis Anne M. , Vanella Luca , Favero Gaia , Rezzani Rita , Lee Craig , Zeldin Darryl C. , Schwartzman Michal L.
Published: September 2014

Obesity is a global epidemic and a common risk factor for endothelial dysfunction and the subsequent development of diabetes mellitus and vascular diseases such as hypertension. Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are cytochrome P450 (CYP)–derived metabolites of arachidonic acid that contribute to vascular protection by stimulating vasodilation and inhibiting inflammation. Heme oxygenase-1 is a stress response protein that plays an important cytoprotective role against oxidative insult in diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. We recently demonstrated interplay between EETs and heme oxygenase-1 in the attenuation of adipogenesis. We examined whether adipocyte dysfunction in mice fed a high-fat diet could be prevented by endothelial-specific targeting of the human CYP epoxygenase, CYP2J2. Tie2-CYP2J2 transgenic mice, fed a high-fat diet, had a reduction in body weight gain, blood glucose, insulin levels, and inflammatory markers. Tie2-CYP2J2 gene targeting restored HF-mediated decreases in vascular heme oxygenase-1, Cyp2C44, soluble epoxide hydrolase, phosphorylated endothelial nitric oxide synthase, phosphorylated protein kinase B, and phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate protein kinase protein expression, thus improving vascular function. These changes translated into decreased inflammation and oxidative stress within adipose tissue and decreased peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor-γ, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha, mesoderm-specific transcript, and adipocyte 2 expression and increased uncoupling protein 1 and uncoupling protein 2 expression, reflecting the effect of vascular EET overproduction on adipogenesis. The current study documents a direct link between endothelial-specific EET production and adipogenesis, further implicating the EET-heme oxygenase-1 crosstalk as an important cytoprotective mechanism in the amelioration of vascular and adipocyte dysfunction resulting from diet-induced obesity.
Effect of Long-Term Antihypertensive Treatment on White-Coat Hypertension
Authors: Mancia Giuseppe , Facchetti Rita , Parati Gianfranco , Zanchetti Alberto
Published: September 2014

Limited evidence is available on the extent and frequency by which antihypertensive treatment lowers office blood pressure (BP) in white-coat hypertension (WCH). Data are even more scanty and discrepant on the corresponding effect on ambulatory BP (ABP). In the hypertensive patients of the European Lacidipine Study on Atherosclerosis (ELSA), office and ABP were measured before treatment and at 6-month (office BP) or 12-month (ABP) intervals during the 4-year administration of calcium channel blocker–based or β-blocker–based treatment. The two groups were pooled and data were analyzed separately in patients with both office and ABP elevation (n=1670; sustained hypertension) or WCH (n=251; office BP elevation only). In sustained hypertension, office and 24-hour mean systolic BP were both markedly reduced through the treatment period, the mean change being −20.0±12.5 and −10.1±11.0 mm Hg, respectively (
P
<0.0001 for both). In striking contrast, in WCH the office BP reduction was almost as marked as in sustained hypertension (−19.1±11.2 mm Hg;
P
<0.0001), whereas 24-hour systolic BP values showed no fall or a slight progressive significant increase, its mean change during treatment being 1.6±8.6 mm Hg (
P
=0.007). Lowering of office BP occurred at a lower treatment intensity in WCH than in sustained hypertension. Similar findings were obtained for diastolic BP. In WCH, antihypertensive treatment should not be expected to have a lowering effect on ABP, even when office BP undergoes a concomitant marked and persistent reduction. The consequence of this contrasting effect on the incidence of hypertension-related outcomes remains to be established.
Low Carbohydrate Diet From Plant or Animal Sources and Mortality Among Myocardial Infarction Survivors
Authors: Li Shanshan , Flint Alan , Pai Jennifer K. , Forman John P. , Hu Frank B. , Willett Walter C. , Rexrode Kathryn M. , Mukamal Kenneth J. , Rimm Eric B.
Published: September 2014

Background

The healthiest dietary pattern for myocardial infarction (
MI
) survivors is not known. Specific long‐term benefits of a low‐carbohydrate diet (
LCD
) are unknown, whether from animal or vegetable sources. There is a need to examine the associations between post‐
MI
adherence to an LCD and all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality.

Methods and Results

We included 2258 women from the Nurses' Health Study and 1840 men from the Health Professional Follow‐Up Study who had survived a first
MI
during follow‐up and provided a pre‐
MI
and at least 1 post‐
MI
food frequency questionnaire. Adherence to an
LCD
high in animal sources of protein and fat was associated with higher all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality (hazard ratios of 1.33 [95%
CI
: 1.06 to 1.65] for all‐cause mortality and 1.51 [95%
CI
: 1.09 to 2.07] for cardiovascular mortality comparing extreme quintiles). An increase in adherence to an animal‐based
LCD
prospectively assessed from the pre‐ to post‐
MI
period was associated with higher all‐cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality (hazard ratios of 1.30 [95%
CI
: 1.03 to 1.65] for all‐cause mortality and 1.53 [95%
CI
: 1.10 to 2.13] for cardiovascular mortality comparing extreme quintiles). An increase in adherence to a plant‐based
LCD
was not associated with lower all‐cause or cardiovascular mortality.

Conclusions

Greater adherence to an
LCD
high in animal sources of fat and protein was associated with higher all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality post‐
MI
. We did not find a health benefit from greater adherence to an
LCD
overall after
MI
.
U-Processes and Preference Learning
Authors: Li Hong , Ren Chuanbao , Li Luoqing
Published: September 2014

Preference learning has caused great attention in machining learning. In this letter we propose a learning framework for pairwise loss based on empirical risk minimization of U-processes via Rademacher complexity. We first establish a uniform version of Bernstein inequality of U-processes of degree 2 via the entropy methods. Then we estimate the bound of the excess risk by using the Bernstein inequality and peeling skills. Finally, we apply the excess risk bound to the pairwise preference and derive the convergence rates of pairwise preference learning algorithms with squared loss and indicator loss by using the empirical risk minimization with respect to U-processes.
Phylogenetic position and taxonomic assignment of Thlaspi aghricum P.H.Davis & K.Tan (Brassicaceae)
Authors: Fırat Mehmet , Özüdoğru Barış , Tarıkahya Hacıoğlu Burcu , Bülbül Ali Savaş , Al-Shehbaz Ihsan Ali , Mummenhoff Klaus
Published: September 2014

A general review of the taxonomic status of Thlaspi past and present is given, and a critical evaluations of its segregates based on both morphological and molecular data are  presented. ITS molecular phylogenetic study of Thlaspi aghricum and related species, as well as seed-coat morphology and anatomy strongly support the placement of the species in Noccaea. The new combination N. aghrica is proposed, and detailed description and distribution of the species are given.
Systematics of the Octopleura Clade of Miconia (Melastomataceae: Miconieae) in Tropical America
Authors: Gamba-Moreno Diana Lucia , Almeda Frank
Published: September 2014

The Octopleura clade of Miconia is a natural group of Neotropical subshrubs and small trees comprising some thirty-three species. These had previously been described in Ossaea and Clidemia, two traditionally recognized genera of Miconieae, but this natural group is nested within the megadiverse genus Miconia. This study represents the first comprehensive monograph of the clade across its entire range based on a study of over 2100 collections from seven herbaria. Thirteen new combinations are made (Miconia aguilarii, M. aurantiaca, M. biolleyana, M. boekei, M. chocoensis, M. evanescens, M. incerta, M. laxivenula, M. palenquensis, M. quinquenervia, M. radicans, M. reitziana, and M. rufibarbis). Thirteen new names are provided for epithets preempted in Miconia (M. albertobrenesii, M. alboglandulosa, M. approximata, M. atropurpurea, M. bensparrei, M. bractiflora, M. erikasplundii, M. magnifolia, M. neocoronata, M. quadridomius, M. sessilis, M. spiciformis, and M. variabilis). Six new species are proposed (M. alatissima, M. anchicayensis, M. formicaria, M. latidecurrens, M. renatoi, and M. veraguensis). A taxonomic key, detailed descriptions, distribution maps, and phenological and ecological information are presented for all species, along with SEM images of seed morphology for selected species. A preliminary geospatial conservation assessment is made for each species. Diagnostic illustrations are included for all new taxa and other selected species. A molecular phylogenetic analysis based on four genic loci is presented, along with a reconstruction of ancestral character states. Molecular and morphological data are used to develop a better understanding of the constituent species of the clade and their evolutionary relationships. Three subclades, Approximata, Quinquenervia, and Variabilis, are evident within the Octopleura clade, and supported by morphological synapomorphies.
Two new deep-sea stalked barnacles, Arcoscalpellum epeeum sp. nov. and Gymnoscalpellum indopacificum sp. nov., from the Coral Sea, with descriptions of the penis in Gymnoscalpellum dwarf males
Authors: Chan Benny K.K. , CoRbari Laure , MORENO PAULA A. RODRIGUEZ , Jones Diana S.
Published: September 2014

The present study describes a new species of Arcoscalpellum Hoek, 1907, and a new species of Gymnoscalpellum Newman & Ross, 1971, collected by deep-sea expeditions led by the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (Paris) in the Coral Sea off New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea (PNG), the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Arcoscalpellum epeeum sp. nov. differs from all described species of Arcoscalpellum by the presence of a long, sharp, sword-shaped carina, which extends beyond the apices of the terga by 1/3 to 1/4 of their length. The species is dioecious, with large females and dwarf males that are sac-like, lack shell plates and are housed in paired receptacles at the inner edges of the scutal plates. Arcoscalpellum epeeum sp. nov. was collected in the waters of New Caledonia and Vanuatu. Gymnoscalpellum indopacificum sp. nov. differs from the six currently described species of Gymnoscalpellum by having a very small inframedian latus and a branched upper latus. The species is dioecious, with large females and dwarf males, the latter composed of 4 shell plates and housed in paired receptacles at the inner edges of the scutal plates. The penis of the dwarf males of G. indopacificum sp. nov. is about 0.8 of the total length of the male and has five side branches extending out along its length. Gymnoscalpellum indopacificum sp. nov. is distributed in the waters of Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, and represents the first record of this genus in the Indo-Pacific region.
Scydmepitoxis gen. n., a new genus of Cyrtoscydmini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scydmaeninae) from Australia
Authors: JAŁOSZYŃSKI PAWEŁ
Published: September 2014

A new Australian genus of Cyrtoscydmini, Scydmepitoxis gen. n. with a single species S. paradoxa sp. n. is described from New South Wales. A remarkable character of the new genus is a deep sub-basal constriction of the pronotum. The morphology of Scydmepitoxis is described and illustrated in detail, and its diagnostic characters are discussed. Possible affinities with Sciacharis and Sciacharoides are suggested.
Community Support and Transition of Research to Operations for the Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting Model
Authors: Bernardet L. , Tallapragada V. , Bao S. , Trahan S. , Kwon Y. , Liu Q. , Tong M. , Biswas M. , Brown T. , Stark D. , Carson L. , Yablonsky R. , Uhlhorn E. , Gopalakrishnan S. , Zhang X. , Marchok T. , Kuo B. , Gall R.
Published: September 2014

The Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting Model (HWRF) is an operational model used to provide numerical guidance in support of tropical cyclone forecasting at the National Hurricane Center. HWRF is a complex multicomponent system, consisting of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) atmospheric model coupled to the Princeton Ocean Model for Tropical Cyclones (POM-TC), a sophisticated initialization package including a data assimilation system and a set of postprocessing and vortex tracking tools. HWRF’s development is centralized at the Environmental Modeling Center of NOAA’s National Weather Service, but it incorporates contributions from a variety of scientists spread out over several governmental laboratories and academic institutions. This distributed development scenario poses significant challenges: a large number of scientists need to learn how to use the model, operational and research codes need to stay synchronized to avoid divergence, and promising new capabilities need to be tested for operational consideration. This article describes how the Developmental Testbed Center has engaged in the HWRF developmental cycle in the last three years and the services it provides to the community in using and developing HWRF.
A Long-Term, High-Quality, High-Vertical-Resolution GPS Dropsonde Dataset for Hurricane and Other Studies
Authors: Wang Junhong (June) , Young Kate , Hock Terry , Lauritsen Dean , Behringer Dalton , Black Michael , Black Peter G. , Franklin James , Halverson Jeff , Molinari John , Nguyen Leon , Reale Tony , Smith Jeff , Sun Bomin , Wang Qing , Zhang Jun A.
Published: September 2014

A GPS dropsonde is a scientific instrument deployed from research and operational aircraft that descends through the atmosphere by a parachute. The dropsonde provides high-quality, high-vertical-resolution profiles of atmospheric pressure, temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and direction from the aircraft flight level to the surface over oceans and remote areas. Since 1996, GPS dropsondes have been routinely dropped during hurricane reconnaissance and surveillance flights to help predict hurricane track and intensity. From 1996 to 2012, NOAA has dropped 13,681 dropsondes inside hurricane eye walls or in the surrounding environment for 120 tropical cyclones (TCs). All NOAA dropsonde data have been collected, reformatted to one format, and consistently and carefully quality controlled using state-of-the-art quality-control (QC) tools. Three value-added products, the vertical air velocity and the radius and azimuth angle of each dropsonde location, are generated and added to the dataset. As a result, a long-term (1996–2012), high-quality, high-vertical-resolution (∼5–15 m) GPS dropsonde dataset is created and made readily available for public access. The dropsonde data collected during hurricane reconnaissance and surveillance flights have improved TC-track and TC-intensity forecasts significantly. The impact of dropsonde data on hurricane studies is summarized. The scientific applications of this long-term dropsonde dataset are highlighted, including characterizing TC structures, studying TC environmental interactions, identifying surface-based ducts in the hurricane environment that affect electromagnetic wave propagation, and validating satellite temperature and humidity profiling products.
Sea Ice and Dynamical Controls on Preindustrial and Last Glacial Maximum Accumulation in Central Greenland
Authors: Rhines Andrew , Huybers Peter J.
Published: September 2014

Greenland has experienced large changes since the last glacial with its summit warming by approximately 21°C, average accumulation rates tripling, and annual amplitudes of temperature and accumulation seemingly declining. The altered seasonal cycle of accumulation has been attributed to a combination of the large-scale dynamical response of the North Atlantic storm track to surface boundary conditions and the modulation of moisture availability due to changes in winter sea ice cover. Using atmospheric simulations of preindustrial and glacial climate, the contributions of these two mechanisms are evaluated. Estimates of moisture source footprints make it possible to distinguish between long-range transport related to the storm track and regional transport from the ocean surface near Greenland. It is found that the contribution of both mechanisms varies significantly with the background climate. With greater ice cover and the North Atlantic storm track locked to the topographically enhanced stationary wave during the glacial, seasonal migration of the sea ice edge becomes relatively important in controlling moisture availability. In contrast, the preindustrial simulation has relatively greater transient eddy activity and is less moisture limited by sea ice extent, so accumulation is more strongly related to synoptic variability in the North Atlantic. These results highlight how changes in atmospheric circulation and sea ice together explain the shifts in annual mean and seasonal moisture supply to Greenland. Also discussed are some implications of the inferred narrow source distribution of accumulation during the glacial for the interpretation of stable isotopes derived from the central Greenland ice cores.
Numerical Simulations and Observations of Airflow through the ‘Alenuihāhā Channel, Hawaii
Authors: Hitzl David Eugene , Chen Yi-Leng , Van Nguyen Hiep
Published: September 2014

During the summer, sustained winds in the ‘Alenuihāhā Channel, Hawaii, may exceed 20 m s−1 with higher gusts. The Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting model is used to diagnose airflow in the Hawaiian coastal waters. High-resolution (2 km) runs are performed for July 2005 covering the ‘Alenuihāhā Channel and nested in a 6-km state domain. Under normal trade wind conditions (7–8 m s−1), winds at the channel entrance are 1–2 m s−1 faster than upstream due to the convergence of the deflected airflows by the islands of Maui and Hawaii, and accelerate through the channel due to along-gap pressure gradients and lower pressure in the wakes of both islands. The acceleration is accompanied by descending airflow (>9 cm s−1) in the exit region with lowering of the trade wind inversion. Deceleration occurs downstream of the channel exit with a rapid change from sinking motion to rising motion (>3 cm s−1). Under normal or strong trade wind conditions, the flow is subcritical [Froude number (Fr) < 1] upstream of the channel, supercritical (Fr > 1) in the exit region, and subcritical again (Fr < 1) downstream with a weak hydraulic jump. The localized sinking motion on the lee side of bordering ridgelines (>1 m s−1) is most significant in the afternoon hours and results in warming and lowering of surface pressure on the lee side, into the channel, and farther downstream. As a result, the channel winds and the wind speed maximum along the southeastern coast of Maui exhibit an afternoon maximum.
Cochlear Implant Failure and Revision Surgery in Pediatric Population
Authors: Blanchard Marion , Thierry Briac , Glynn Fergal , De Lamaze Aude , Garabédian Erea Noël , Loundon Natalie
Published: September 2014

Objective:

This study aimed to report pediatric cochlear reimplantation data focusing on failure of the device and to assess surgical challenges and functional outcomes.

Methods:

Retrospective case review from 1990 to 2012. Tertiary referral academic center. A retrospective review of medical and surgical records, audiologic results, and report of the manufacturer’s analysis was performed. The causes of revision cochlear implantation were divided into hard failure and soft failure. Results compared speech perception in open set or closed set words before and after revision surgery with cochlear implant only.

Results:

During the study period, 877 cochlear implantations were performed. Our reimplantation rate for failure of the device is 5.7% (50 of 877). The main reasons for hard failure were loss of hermeticity and cracked casing following head trauma. Surgical difficulties might be due to neo-osteogenesis related to the use of bone dust. Initial atraumatic insertion is important to ensure that revision surgeries are less problematic. In postmeningitis deafness, initial choice of electrode array is of utmost importance. We would suggest a plain shape and a larger diameter array, to ensure sufficient subsequent insertion. Post-reimplantation audiologic results were the same or better than preoperative levels in 86% of cases.

Conclusion:

Failure might be difficult to diagnose in children with limited language skills. The surgical team and patients should be aware of the surgical difficulties that can be encountered, especially in cases of meningitis or initial traumatic insertion. Auditory performances after reimplantation are the same or better in most cases.
Family-Centered Practices and American Sign Language (ASL)
Authors: Hardin Belinda J. , Blanchard Sheresa Boone , Kemmery Megan A. , Appenzeller Margo , Parker Samuel D.
Published: September 2014

Families with children who are deaf face many important decisions, especially the mode(s) of communication their children will use. The purpose of this focus group study was to better understand the experiences and recommendations of families who chose American Sign Language (ASL) as their primary mode of communication and to identify strategies that empowered or hindered feelings of acceptance and belonging with regard to their deafness and use of ASL. Results from two focus groups with a total of 10 participants indicate a need for continued professional development about the complexities of self-identity, Deaf culture, and modes of communication for families with ASL users. Strategies to help professionals strengthen family-centered practices within special education services are emphasized.
Self-Management Interventions on Students With Autism
Authors: Carr Monica E. , Moore Dennis W. , Anderson Angelika
Published: September 2014

Self-management interventions aimed at skill acquisition and/or improving behavior of students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders were examined. Twenty-three single-subject research design studies met inclusion criteria. Quality assessment of these studies was conducted using the What Works Clearinghouse guidelines, and treatment effect sizes were calculated using the percentage of nonoverlapping data. Results were analyzed by age, setting, functional level, and target behaviors. Results indicate that self-management interventions are effective for increasing both social and academic skills for students of all ages and levels of ability. Results generalized to other settings and untreated behaviors and were maintained over time. Sufficient evidence supports the conclusion that self-management is an evidence-based procedure for students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders.
Terrorism and state repression of human rights: A cross-national time-series analysis
Authors: Shor Eran , Charmichael Jason , Nazif Munoz Jose Ignacio , Shandra John , Schwartz Michael
Published: September 2014

This study examines the major factors that predict states’ repressive policies, focusing on the relationship between oppositional terror attacks and state repression of core human rights. We rely on a theoretical framework that brings together actor-oriented explanations and socio-cultural approaches. While the former emphasize purposive rational action, international pressures, and domestic threats, the latter focus on the power of ideas and on processes of policy diffusion and cultural norms. Relying on a longitudinal cross-national analysis of panel data for the years 1981–2005, we find substantial evidence for the effects of both actor-oriented measurements and socio-cultural ones. These findings join a growing body of research that emphasizes the importance of the institutional and cultural determinants of states’ counterterrorist policies.
The Receding Sea of Catholic Faith: Collective Memory and Common Worship
Authors: Power David N.
Published: September 2014

This article offers an interpretation of ongoing changes in Catholic worship as seen in relation to the whole process of ecclesial reception of Vatican II in a changing world. The context is a weakening of common Catholic identity and collective memory. The reasons for this are explored, as well as the reasons why participation in Church life waned. As other changes took place, the implementation of the liturgical renewal mandated by Vatican II meant a transition for many from a ritual of devotion to active participation in liturgical ritual. The difficulties inherent to such ritual change are discussed and placed in relation to the deeper cultural and historical challenges to keeping memory of the Christ Event. New modes of expressing collective memory and collective identity are now being sought. There is no single path to follow; some look to a retrieval of popular piety and some to an interpersonal search for truth through scriptural reflection. This latter is often done in different kinds of small communities, allowing attention to be given to the personal and social quest of participants, to freedom of expression and to the cultural diversity of interpretation. This appeal to different modes of prayer has implications for the ongoing development of common worship and the retrieval of a common memory.
Universal Beauty: The Nature of Beauty and the Christian Response
Authors: Félix-Jäger Steven
Published: September 2014

The problem of beauty’s nature has been the subject of debate in the field of theological aesthetics for many centuries. In general, the classical idea of objective beauty has been contrasted with the modernist assertion of beauty’s subjectivism. This article evaluates the nature of beauty in art so as to see what the Christian response to beauty ought to be. This is done first by analyzing the historical claims of beauty’s nature and by looking at various contemporary responses to beauty. Next, we assess the theological method of George Lindbeck, which allows one to see the objective reality of beauty once the subjective nature of the cultural-linguistic system is grasped.
Searching for a Self-Reflexive Theology: Ways Forward for Systematic Theology in Relation to (Non) Religious Thought in Contemporary Western Culture
Authors: Dickinson Colby
Published: September 2014

This article aims to draw attention, first, to the need to explore the inner plurality of theological discourse, as such plural discourses serve to promote a certain dynamism and fullness of the human person in theology as a field, especially in relation to religious studies today. Second, such a potential fullness is reflected in the modern struggle to characterize the relationship between faith and reason. Comprehending the misunderstandings, often construed as an impasse between faith and reason, could foster new relations between scientific methods and theological imaginations. Third, understanding these tensions from a systematic theological perspective also entails a more precise analysis of the structural dynamics between theology and the Church. Our contention is that there must be a permanent, dynamic tension between theology and the institutional structures that are the Church in order for self-critical impulses to be maintained as well as for the individual’s life of faith to come to its highest fruition.
The Asian American Writing Movement and Black Radicalism
Authors: Chon-Smith Chong
Published: September 2014

This article reconsiders the genesis and formation of Asian American literature by focusing less on the Chin-Kingston debate and more on the impact of Black radicalism and the genre of antiracist anthologies. I explore Aiiieeeee! An Anthology of Asian-American Writers and Yardbird Reader 3 to examine the centrality of Black cultural revolution for the rise of Asian American literature, and the works of multiethnic anthologies within cultural nationalisms and emergent multiethnic movements. During the post–civil rights era of racial realignment, Black radical thought is the counterpoint to forced Asian ethnic assimilation; this Asian-Black sensibility had challenged an uncritical complicity with white supremacy, which had suppressed Black revolution and modeled Asian America. In Aiiieeeee!, the editors use the vernacular languages, performance styles, and oppositional consciousness of Black masculinity as a means to expose the contradictions of post–civil rights racial formations that disunite Asian and Black communities. In Yardbird Reader 3, the institutional and homosocial bonds between Ishmael Reed and Frank Chin became a crucial relationship to solidify the Asian American Writing Movement and multiethnic collaborations through Afro-Asian connections. Both works carved a niche in U.S. national culture by conceptualizing new models of multiethnicity and subsequently birthed a germinal literary sensibility.
A Comparative Analysis Between the Nile Valley’s Liberal Arts Tradition and the Development of Western Education
Authors: Cook William S.
Published: September 2014

This article is an analysis of the original purpose of studying the seven liberal arts in the context of contemporary higher education. Nile Valley theorists in ancient Africa tied the purpose of studying liberal arts to the conceptualization that all humans are born divinely natured. In order to cultivate a learner’s divinity properly, the student studied the seven liberal arts. Greek theorists embraced and promoted liberal arts along Mediterranean Europe. However, Rome’s ascendency and eventual collapse created an educational void in the West until the Moors reintroduced liberal arts curricula into Europe during the medieval period. Medieval schools featuring liberal arts eventually incorporated Western cultural trends of male superiority, upper class privilege, social inequality, and ethnic-group discrimination into the academic environment. American higher education institutions followed the European model but included racial discrimination, segregation, and financial accumulation, which contrasted the original purpose of investigating the seven liberal arts.
In Defense of Value Pluralism in Public Administration
Authors: Spicer Michael W.
Published: September 2014

A response to Overeem and Verhoef’s criticism of value pluralism, arguing that my value pluralist approach is useful in understanding the role that politics should play in how we think about, teach, and practice public administration.
College Peer Counselor Teaching Modalities
Authors: Hatcher Sherry L. , Shields C. Comfort , Wierba Elizabeth E. , Hatcher-Ross Juliet L. , Hanley Steven J.
Published: September 2014

This study examined extended influences of peer helping courses on graduates’ self-reported experiences of interpersonal relationships, communication skills, and ongoing engagement with the training. The 109 participants included 49 college graduates who completed a peer counseling theory course, 47 graduated psychology concentrators who took a peer practicum that included both theory and supervised practice, and a comparison group of 13 graduated psychology concentrators who took neither peer counseling course. Participants in both peer training courses reported continuing effects on their interpersonal relationships, communication skills, and engagement with the training, with greatest effects reported by the psychology concentrators in both peer training courses. The small comparison group provided additional perspective on these findings. Suggestions for future research are offered, including potential benefits of more widespread utilization of college peer counselor training and the need for further follow-up studies on those who have been trained as peer counselors.