bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geoepidemiology, Genetic and Environmental Risk Factors for PBC
Authors: Zhang Haiyan , Carbone Marco , Lleo Ana , Invernizzi Pietro
Published: December 2015

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is the most paradigmatic autoimmune liver disease with still several controversial issues in epidemiology, diagnosis, causation, and therapy. Although we are witnessing an enormous increase in the quantum of our basic knowledge of the disease with an initial translation in clinical practice, there are still a number of key open questions in PBC. Among them are the following questions: Why are there vast geographical variations in disease frequency? What are the reasons for female preponderance? Why do only small-size bile ducts get affected: What is the real role of genetics and epigenetics in its development? In particular, the prevalence of PBC is known to vary both on an international and a regional level, suggesting the existence of substantive geographical differences in terms of genetic susceptibility and environmental factors. New theories on potential environmental triggers, such as chemical xenobiotics, which lead to the breaking of self-tolerance within a unique immunological milieu of the liver, have been suggested. On the other hand, new and solid data on the genetic architecture of PBC are now obtained from recent high-throughput studies, together with data on sex chromosomes defects, and epigenetic abnormalities, thus strongly suggesting a role of genetic and epigenetic factors in the triggering and perpetuation of the autoimmune aggression in PBC. Based on these evidences, a number of novel drugs directed against specific immune-related molecules are currently under development. In this paper, we review a comprehensive collection of current epidemiological reports from various world regions. We also discuss here the most recent data regarding candidate genetic and environmental risk factors for PBC.
Treatment Withdrawal in Autoimmune Hepatitis
Authors: Bouma Gerd , van Nieuwkerk Carin M.
Published: December 2015

Background: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic inflammatory liver disorder of unknown aetiology, which when left untreated can lead to liver cirrhosis and hepatic failure. Current treatment strategies include long-term treatment with corticosteroids and/or azathioprine. Most patients respond well to immunosuppressive therapy and treatment usually results in an asymptomatic course of AIH in remission. Nevertheless, both drugs are associated with serious side effects that can sometimes be severe and may necessitate drug withdrawal. Whether or not treatment in patients who are in longstanding remission can be discontinued is unknown. Key Messages: Available data rely on retrospective data sets and are not conclusive. Some studies indicate that a sustained remission after treatment withdrawal is feasible, whereas other studies have found relapse rates in up to 90% of patients, even in patients with established histological remission. Patients who relapse after drug withdrawal have a high probability for a re-relapse to occur. Life-long maintenance therapy should be strongly considered in these patients, since patients who have multiple relapses are more likely to progress to cirrhosis, liver transplantation and death from liver failure. Conclusion: For a majority of patients, AIH is a lifelong disease requiring permanent treatment. Patients in longstanding clinical remission on monotherapy, with complete normalisation of aminotransferases and IgG could be offered one attempt of drug withdrawal. The risk of disease progression after a single relapse appears low, while a patient's realization that infinite maintenance therapy is mandatory may improve drug adherence.
Non-Invasive Assessment of Liver Fibrosis Progression and Prognosis in Primary Biliary Cholangitis
Authors: Poupon Raoul
Published: December 2015

PBC (formerly known as primary biliary cirrhosis and now named primary biliary cholangitis) is a disease with a wide range of severity and variable rate of progression. The diagnosis of advanced liver fibrosis/cirrhosis portends an increased risk of liver-related morbidity and mortality. Because of its invasiveness, liver biopsy tends to be replaced by non-invasive tools for assessing liver fibrosis, making prognosis and optimising risk stratification for selection of patients, requiring new medical approaches. Many direct or indirect biomarkers have been found to correlate with the severity of liver fibrosis in PBC. They are easy to use but lack sensitivity and reproducibility in individuals with early stage disease. Three main radiologic approaches are currently proposed to assess liver fibrosis: vibration controlled transient elastography (VCTE), acoustic radiation force impulse and magnetic resonance elastography. Data using VCTE are available only for the longitudinal evaluation of liver fibrosis and prognosis in PBC. VCTE outperformed all other non-invasive current surrogate markers of liver fibrosis in PBC. Because of its high acceptability and its ability to predict hepatic decompensation, VCTE could be a useful tool to help allocate cirrhotic patients into different categories of risk. None of the radiologic and serum markers have a perfect accuracy in studies so far published. Concordance between VCTE and serum biomarkers is a prerequisite for a correct prognosis assessment in individuals in clinical practice.
Diagnosis, Differential Diagnosis, and Epidemiology of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
Authors: Ponsioen Cyriel Y.
Published: December 2015

According to recent guidelines, primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is diagnosed when a patient has a cholestatic liver enzyme profile, characteristic bile duct changes on imaging, and when secondary causes of sclerosing cholangitis are excluded. In patients with a clinical suspicion but normal cholangiography, a liver biopsy is indicated to establish a diagnosis of small duct PSC. Several other disease entities such as IgG4-associated cholangitis (IAC), cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), and secondary causes of sclerosing cholangitis such as choledocholithiasis, AIDS-cholangiopathy, ischemia, surgical bile duct trauma, or mast cell cholangiopathy can mimic PSC. IAC can be differentiated from PSC by applying the HISORt criteria including the serum IgG4 level. In cases where serum IgG4 is less than 2 × ULN, the ratio of IgG4/IgG1 >0.24 is indicative for IAC. Choledocholithiasis with recurrent cholangitis as a cause of sclerosing cholangitis can pose a conundrum, since PSC itself is associated with an increased prevalence of gallstones. The epidemiology of PSC worldwide has been poorly described. Incidence and prevalence rates vary from 0-1.3 and 0-16.2 per 100,000 inhabitants respectively. However, these figures are not based on population-based cohorts. A recent large population-based cohort from the Netherlands reported an incidence of 0.5 and a prevalence of 6/100,000. Approximately 10% fulfil the criteria for small duct PSC. At diagnosis of PSC, concurrent inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), primarily ulcerative colitis or Crohn's colitis is present in 50%, but increasing to 80%, 10 years or more after diagnosis. Conversely, 3% of IBD patients will develop PSC. PSC predisposes to malignancy. The estimated cumulative risk of developing CCA after 30 years is 20%. For colorectal carcinoma in PSC/colitis patients, the estimated cumulative risk at 30 years is 13%.
Malignancies in Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis - A Continuing Threat
Authors: Bonato Giulia , Cristoferi Laura , Strazzabosco Mario , Fabris Luca
Published: December 2015

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic inflammatory liver disease of unknown etiology, primarily targeting cholangiocytes at any portion of the biliary tree. No effective medical treatments are currently available. A unique feature of PSC is its close association (about 80%) with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), mainly ulcerative colitis (UC). As in many chronic inflammatory conditions, cancer development can complicate PSC, accounting for >40% of deaths. Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) and colorectal carcinoma (CRC) have been variably associated to PSC, with a prevalence up to 13-14%. The risk of cancer is one of the most challenging issues in the management of PSC; it raises several questions about cancer surveillance, early diagnosis, prevention and treatment. Key Messages: Among the different cancers complicating PSC, CCA is the most relevant, because it is more frequent (incidence of 0.5-1.5%) and because the prognosis is poor (5-year survival <10%). Early diagnosis of CCA in PSC can be difficult because lesions may not be evident in radiological studies. Surgical resection provides disappointing results; liver transplantation combined with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is being proposed, but this approach is limited to a highly selected group of patients and is available only in a few specialized centers. Similar to CCA, GBC carries a dismal prognosis. Since it is difficult to discriminate GBC from other gallbladder abnormalities, cholecystectomy has been proposed in all gallbladder lesions detected in PSC, regardless of their size. CRC is a frequent complication of PSC associated to UC; its incidence steadily increases with time of colitis, reaching up to 20-30% of the patients after 20 years. Colonoscopy with extensive histologic sampling at an annual/biannual interval is an effective surveillance strategy. However, when dysplastic lesions are detected, preemptive proctocolectomy should be considered. Conclusions: PSC may be regarded as paradigmatic of the sequence leading from chronic inflammatory epithelial damage to neoplastic transformation. Understanding the molecular mechanisms regulating this pathogenetic sequence, may improve strategies of disease surveillance and cancer prevention and treatment. PSC is a chronic inflammatory cholangiopathy of unknown etiology but likely immune-mediated, characterized by peribiliary inflammation and fibrosis leading to strictures in any portion (intra- and/or extrahepatic) of the bile duct system. No effective medical treatments are currently available. A unique feature of PSC is the close association (about 80%) with IBD, mainly UC, often diagnosed before PSC (PSC/UC). As in other chronic inflammatory diseases, development of malignancies is a feared complication of PSC.
Therapy of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis - Today and Tomorrow
Authors: Halilbasic Emina , Fuchs Claudia , Hofer Harald , Paumgartner Gustav , Trauner Michael
Published: December 2015

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) represents a fibro-obliterative bile duct disease with unpredictable individual clinical course that may progress to liver cirrhosis and malignancy. Due to our incomplete understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of this disease, the therapeutic options are still rather limited. Bile acids play a key role in mediating cholangiocellular and hepatocellular injury in cholangiopathies such as PSC. Therefore, strategies targeting bile composition and homeostasis are valid approaches in PSC. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is the paradigm therapeutic bile acid and its role in medical therapy of PSC is still under debate. Promising novel bile acid-based therapeutic options include 24-norursodeoxycholic acid (norUDCA), a side chain-shortened C23 homologue of UDCA, and bile acid receptor/farnesoid X receptor agonists (e.g. obeticholic acid). Other nuclear receptors such as fatty acid-activated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, vitamin D receptor and vitamin A receptors (retinoic acid receptor, retinoid X receptor) are also of potential interest and can be targeted by already available drugs. Furthermore, drugs targeting the gut-liver axis (e.g. intregrin blockers such as vedolizumab, antibiotics) appear promising, based on the close link of PSC to inflammatory bowel disease and the emerging relevance of the gut microbiome for the development of PSC. Finally, fibrosis represents a valid therapeutic target for anti-fibrotic drugs (e.g. simtuzumab) in PSC as paradigm fibro-obliterative disease. This review summarizes the current status and recent progress in the development of targeted therapeutic approaches based on increasing knowledge about the pathogenesis of this disease.
Oxidized Docosahexaenoic Acid Species and Lipid Peroxidation Products Increase Amyloidogenic Amyloid Precursor Protein Processing
Authors: Grimm Marcus O.W. , Haupenthal Viola J. , Mett Janine , Stahlmann Christoph P. , Blümel Tamara , Mylonas Nadine T. , Endres Kristina , Grimm Heike S. , Hartmann Tobias
Published: December 2015

One of the main characteristics of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) generated by β- and γ-secretase processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP). Previously it has been demonstrated that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are associated with a reduced risk of AD caused by decreased Aβ production. However, in epidemiological studies and nutritional approaches, the outcomes of DHA-dependent treatment were partially controversial. PUFAs are very susceptible to reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation, which are increased during disease pathology. In line with published results, lipid peroxidation was elevated in human postmortem AD brains; especially 4-hydroxy-nonenal (HNE) was increased. To investigate whether lipid peroxidation is only a consequence or might also influence the processes leading to AD, we analyzed 7 different oxidized lipid species including 5 oxidized DHA derivatives and the lipid peroxidation products of ω-3 and ω-6 PUFAs, HNE and 4-hydroxy-hexenal, in human neuroblastoma cells and mouse mixed cortical neurons. In the presence of oxidized lipids Aβ and soluble β-secreted APP levels were elevated, whereas soluble α-secreted APP was decreased, suggesting a shift from the nonamyloidogenic to the amyloidogenic pathway of APP processing. Furthermore, β- and γ-secretase activity was increased by oxidized lipids via increased gene expression and additionally by a direct effect on β-secretase activity. Importantly, only 1% oxidized DHA was sufficient to revert the protective effect of DHA and to significantly increase Aβ production. Therefore, our results emphasize the need to prevent DHA from oxidation in nutritional approaches and might help explain the divergent results of clinical DHA studies.
Glomerular Hypertrophy Is a Risk Factor for Relapse in Minimal Change Disease Patients
Authors: Lee Sung Woo , Yu Mi-Yeon , Baek Seon Ha , Ahn Shin Young , Kim Sejoong , Na Ki Young , Chae Dong-Wan , Chin Ho Jun
Published: December 2015

Background/Aims: Patients with minimal change disease (MCD) have a high relapse rate, which results in many complications. Identifying the risk factors for relapse is crucial, but little is known about these factors. Therefore, we performed the current study to determine the factors related to relapse in this patient population. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 51 adult patients with biopsy-proven primary MCD treated between 2003 and 2013. The demographic, physiologic, laboratory and therapeutic data were gathered from the electronic medical records database. Lesions of the glomerulus, tubulointerstitium and vasculature were analyzed for associations with relapse. Results: During a median 50.9 months, 96.1% (49 of 51) of patients had achieved complete remission, and the rest ultimately achieved at least partial remission. A total of 56.9% (29 of 51) patients experienced at least 1 episode of relapse after the first remission. Patients with relapse had a higher rate of glomerular hypertrophy (GH; 34.5%) than those without relapse (9.1%; p < 0.05). After adjusting for confounders, GH was associated with increased odds of relapse (OR 15.992; 95% CI 1.537-166.362; p = 0.02). In a subgroup analysis according to median age, sex and tubulointerstitial (TI) lesions, the association between GH and relapse was evident only in men and in the group with TI lesions. Conclusion: GH is associated with relapse in adult patients with MCD, particularly in men and in those with TI lesions. Frequent monitoring and early intervention are needed in these groups. Future large prospective cohort studies are needed to confirm the study results.
European Guidelines for Obesity Management in Adults
Authors: Yumuk Volkan , Tsigos Constantine , Fried Martin , Schindler Karin , Busetto Luca , Micic Dragan , Toplak Hermann
Published: December 2015

Obesity is a chronic metabolic disease characterised by an increase of body fat stores. It is a gateway to ill health, and it has become one of the leading causes of disability and death, affecting not only adults but also children and adolescents worldwide. In clinical practice, the body fatness is estimated by BMI, and the accumulation of intra-abdominal fat (marker for higher metabolic and cardiovascular disease risk) can be assessed by waist circumference. Complex interactions between biological, behavioural, social and environmental factors are involved in regulation of energy balance and fat stores. A comprehensive history, physical examination and laboratory assessment relevant to the patient's obesity should be obtained. Appropriate goals of weight management emphasise realistic weight loss to achieve a reduction in health risks and should include promotion of weight loss, maintenance and prevention of weight regain. Management of co-morbidities and improving quality of life of obese patients are also included in treatment aims. Balanced hypocaloric diets result in clinically meaningful weight loss regardless of which macronutrients they emphasise. Aerobic training is the optimal mode of exercise for reducing fat mass while a programme including resistance training is needed for increasing lean mass in middle-aged and overweight/obese individuals. Cognitive behavioural therapy directly addresses behaviours that require change for successful weight loss and weight loss maintenance. Pharmacotherapy can help patients to maintain compliance and ameliorate obesity-related health risks. Surgery is the most effective treatment for morbid obesity in terms of long-term weight loss. A comprehensive obesity management can only be accomplished by a multidisciplinary obesity management team. We conclude that physicians have a responsibility to recognise obesity as a disease and help obese patients with appropriate prevention and treatment. Treatment should be based on good clinical care, and evidence-based interventions; should focus on realistic goals and lifelong multidisciplinary management.
Malnutrition Predicts Clinical Outcome in Patients with Neuroendocrine Neoplasia
Authors: Maasberg Sebastian , Knappe-Drzikova Barbora , Vonderbeck Dorothée , Jann Henning , Weylandt Karsten H. , Grieser Christian , Pascher Andreas , Schefold Jörg C. , Pavel Marianne , Wiedenmann Bertram , Sturm Andreas , Pape Ulrich-Frank
Published: December 2015

Malnutrition is a common problem in oncological diseases, influencing treatment outcomes, treatment complications, quality of life and survival. The potential role of malnutrition has not yet been studied systematically in neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN), which, due to their growing prevalence and additional therapeutic options, provide an increasing clinical challenge to diagnosis and management. The aim of this cross-sectional observational study, which included a long-term follow-up, was therefore to define the prevalence of malnutrition in 203 patients with NEN using various methodological approaches, and to analyse the short- and long-term outcome of malnourished patients. A detailed subgroup analysis was also performed to define risk factors for poorer outcome. When applying malnutrition screening scores, 21-25% of the NEN patients were at risk of or demonstrated manifest malnutrition. This was confirmed by anthropometric measurements, by determination of serum surrogate parameters such as albumin as well as by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), particularly phase angle α. The length of hospital stay was significantly longer in malnourished NEN patients, while long-term overall survival was highly significantly reduced. Patients with high-grade (G3) neuroendocrine carcinomas, progressive disease and undergoing chemotherapy were at particular risk of malnutrition associated with a poorer outcome. Multivariate analysis confirmed the important and highly significant role of malnutrition as an independent prognostic factor for NEN besides proliferative capacity (G3 NEC). Malnutrition is therefore an underrecognized problem in NEN patients which should systematically be diagnosed by widely available standard methods such as Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS), serum albumin assessment and BIA, and treated to improve both short- and long-term outcomes.
Updated keys to the genera in the subfamilies of Cyclocoelidae Stossich, 1902, including a reconsideration of species assignments, species keys and the proposal of a new genus in Szidatitreminae Dronen, 2007
Authors: DRONEN NORMAN O. , BLEND CHARLES K.
Published: December 2015

Keys to the six subfamilies, 22 genera within subfamilies and 128 species recognized within the Cyclocoelidae are provided. Lists of species in each genus are provided, along with taxonomic summaries that include type host, type locality, additional hosts, additional localities, previously proposed synonyms, and remarks for each species. The following synonymies are proposed: Cyclocoelum mutabile (Zeder, 1800)—Syn. C. microstomum (Creplin, 1929); Cyclocoelum leidyi Harrah, 1922—Syn. C. cuneatum Harrah, 1922; Cyclocoelum mehrotrai Sinha & Sahay, 1975—Syn. C. mathuri Jain, 1984; Selfcoelum allahabadi (Khan, 1935) n. comb.—Syns. Cyclocoelum agamprasadi Jain, 1983, Cyclocoelum erythropis Khan, 1935 and Cyclocoelum indicum Khan, 1935; Selfcoelum obliquum (Harrah, 1921) n. comb.—Syn. Cyclocoelum mehrii Khan, 1935; Uvitellina adelphus (Johnston, 1917)—Syn. Cyclocoelum (Uvitellina) dollfusi Tseng, 1930; Uvitellina kaniharensis (Gupta, 1958)—Syn. U. indica Siddiqi & Jairajpuri, 1962; Uvitellina simile (Stossich, 1902) n. comb.—Syn. U. magniembria Witenberg, 1923; Uvitellina vanelli (Rudolphi, 1819)—Syns. U. keri Yamaguti, 1933 and U. tageri Yamaguti, 1933; Wardianum triangulare (Harrah, 1922)—Syn. Wardianum catoptrophori Dronen, 2007; Haematotrephus limnodromi Dronen, Gardner & Jiménez, 2006—Syn. H. selfi Dronen, Gardner & Jiménez, 2008; and Hyptiasmus arcuatus (Brandes, 1892 of Stossich, 1902)—Syn. H. coelonodus Witenberg, 1923. Based on the lack of adequate descriptive information, Cyclocoelum cornu (Zeder, 1800); Cyclocoelum crenulatum (Rudolphi, 1809); Haematotrephus nigropunctatum (von Linstow, 1883) n. comb.; Haematotrephus robustus Ukoli, 1968; Hyptiasmus californicus (Wootton, 1966); and Hyptiasmus vigisi Savinov, 1960 are considered to be species inquirendae. Hyptiasmus witenbergi Tret’iakova, 1940 (described in a dissertation) is considered to be a nomen nudum. Comparative tables containing measurements, morphometric percentages and morphometric ratios for species in the family are provided and the comparative characteristics used to distinguish species in the Cyclocoelidae are discussed.
Taxonomic revision of Phascogale tapoatafa (Meyer, 1793) (Dasyuridae;
Marsupialia), including descriptions of two new subspecies and confirmation of P. pirata Thomas, 1904 as a ‘Top End’ endemic
Authors: APLIN K. P. , RHIND S. G. , HAVE J. TEN , CHESSER R. T.
Published: December 2015

The Australian Brush-tailed Phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa sensu lato) has a broad but highly fragmented distribution around the periphery of the Australian continent and all populations are under significant ongoing threat to survival. A new appraisal of morphological and molecular diversity within the group reveals that the population in the ‘Top End’ of the Northern Territory is specifically distinct from all others, including those in the Kimberley region of Western Australia to the west and on Cape York of Queensland to the east. The name P. pirata Thomas, 1904 is available for the ‘Top End’ taxon. Three geographically disjunct populations are distinguished at subspecies level within P. tapoatafa on a suite of external and cranio-dental features; these are found in southeast Australia from South Australia to mid-coastal Queensland (nominotypical tapoatafa), southwest Western Australia (wambenger subsp. nov.), and the Kimberley region of Western Australia (kimberleyensis subsp. nov.). A potential fourth subspecies occurs on Cape York but remains too poorly represented in collections for adequate characterization. Molecular divergence estimates based on partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene indicate that the range disjunction across southern Australia probably dates from the Late Pliocene, with the multiple disjunctions across northern Australia being more recent though almost certainly exceeding 400,000 years. An argument is made for the continued use of the subspecies rank in Australian mammalogy, despite a general lack of consistency in its current application.
Statistical Characteristic of Heavy Rainfall Associated with Typhoons near Taiwan Based on High-Density Automatic Rain Gauge Data
Authors: Wu Chun-Chieh , Yen Tzu-Hsiung , Huang Yi-Hsuan , Yu Cheng-Ku , Chen Shin-Gan
Published: December 2015

This study utilizes data compiled over 21 years (1993–2013) from the Central Weather Bureau of Taiwan to investigate the statistical characteristics of typhoon-induced rainfall for 53 typhoons that have impacted Taiwan. In this work the data are grouped into two datasets: one includes 21 selected conventional weather stations (referred to as Con-ST), and the other contains all the available rain gauges (250–500 gauges, mostly automatic ones; referred to as All-ST). The primary aim of this study is to understand the potential impacts of the different gauge distributions between All-ST and Con-ST on the statistical characteristics of typhoon-induced rainfall. The analyses indicate that although the average rainfall amount calculated with Con-ST is statistically similar to that with All-ST, the former cannot identify the precipitation extremes and rainfall distribution appropriately, especially in mountainous areas. Because very few conventional stations are located over the mountainous regions, the cumulative frequency obtained solely from Con-ST is not representative. As compared to the results from All-ST, the extreme rainfall assessed from Con-ST is, on average, underestimated by 23%–44% for typhoons approaching different portions of Taiwan. The uneven distribution of Con-ST, with only three stations located in the mountains higher than 1000 m, is likely to cause significant biases in the interpretation of rainfall patterns. This study illustrates the importance of the increase in the number of available stations in assessing the long-term rainfall characteristic of typhoon-associated heavy rainfall in Taiwan.
Characteristics of Long-Term Climate Change and the Ecological Responses in Central China
Authors: Lin Aiwen , Zhu Hongji , Wang Lunche , Gong Wei , Zou Ling
Published: December 2015

Measurements of air temperature and precipitation at 35 stations in Hubei Province, China, during 1962–2011 are used to investigate the regional climate change. There is an increasing trend for observed air temperature (0.23°C decade−1), which is slightly higher than that from multiple model simulations/predictions [phase 5 of CMIP (CMIP5) datasets] (0.16°C decade−1). The observed precipitation increases at the rate of 11.4 mm decade−1, while the CMIP5 results indicate a much lower decreasing trend (0.8 mm decade−1) in this region. To examine the ecological responses to the climate changes in Hubei Province, annual gross primary productivity (GPP) and net primary productivity (NPP) products during 2000–10 and leaf area index (LAI) products during 1981–2011 are also analyzed. It is discovered that GPP, NPP, and LAI increase at the rate of 1.8 TgC yr−1 yr−1, 1.1 TgC yr−1 yr−1, and 0.14 m2 m−2 decade−1, respectively. A linear model is further used to conduct the correlation analyses between climatic parameters (i.e., air temperature and precipitation) and ecological indicators (i.e., GPP, NPP, and LAI). The results indicate that the air temperature has a significant positive correlation with LAI (R2 = 0.311) and GPP (R2 = 0.189); precipitation is positively correlated with NPP (R2 = 0.209). Thus, it is concluded that the air temperature exerts a stronger effect on the ecosystem than precipitation in Hubei Province over the past decades.
Empirical Relationships of Sea Surface Temperature and Vegetation Activity with Summer Rainfall Variability over the Sahel*
Authors: He Yaqian , Lee Eungul
Published: December 2015

Regional land surface and remote ocean variables have been considered as primary forcings altering the variability of summer rainfall over the Sahel. However, previous studies usually examined the two components separately. In this study, the authors apply statistical methods including correlation, multivariate linear regression, and Granger causality analyses to investigate the relative roles of spring–summer sea surface temperature (SST) and vegetation activity in explaining the Sahel summer rainfall variability from 1982 to 2006. The remotely sensed normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) is used as an indicator of land surface forcing. This study shows that spring and summer SSTs over the subtropical North Atlantic have significant positive correlations with summer rainfall. The spring and summer NDVIs over the Sahel have significant negative and positive correlations, respectively, with summer rainfall. Based on the multivariate linear regression analysis, the adjusted R2 for the integrated model with both the land and ocean variables is 0.70. It is around 2 times larger than the model with SST alone (adjusted R2 = 0.36). To further investigate the causal relationships of summer rainfall with the SST and NDVI variables selected in the integrated multivariate model, the authors perform a Granger causality test. This study finds that summer NDVI over the Sahel does Granger cause summer rainfall over the Sahel, while the summer SST over the subtropical North Atlantic does not Granger cause the summer rainfall. The results indicate that the regional land surface forcing has a relatively strong contribution to Sahel summer rainfall, compared to the remote ocean forcing, during the recent decades.
Variability in Severe Coastal Flooding, Associated Storms, and Death Tolls in Southeastern Australia since the Mid–Nineteenth Century
Authors: Power Scott B. , Callaghan Jeff
Published: December 2015

The variability in the number of severe floods that occurred in coastal catchments in southeastern Australia since the mid–nineteenth century, along with the variability in both the frequency of the weather types that triggered the floods and the associated death tolls, is analyzed. Previous research has shown that all of the severe floods identified were associated with one of two major weather types: east coast lows (ECLs) and tropical interactions (TIs). El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is shown to strongly modulate the frequency of severe coastal flooding, weather types, and the number of associated deaths. The analysis presented herein, which examines links over more than a century, provides one of very few known statistically significant links between ENSO and death tolls anywhere in the world. Over the period 1876/77–2013/14 the average numbers of coastal floods, ECLs, TIs, and deaths associated with freshwater drowning in La Niña years are 92%, 55%, 150%, and 220% higher than the corresponding averages in El Niño years. The average number of deaths per flood in La Niña years is 3.2, which is 66% higher than the average in El Niño years. Death tolls of 10 or more occurred in only 5% of El Niño years, but in 27% of La Niña years. The interdecadal Pacific oscillation also modulates the frequency of severe floods, weather types, and death tolls. The results of this study are consistent with earlier research over shorter periods and broader regions, using less-complete datasets.
An Approach to Generating Mutually Independent Initial Perturbations for Ensemble Forecasts: Orthogonal Conditional Nonlinear Optimal Perturbations
Authors: Duan Wansuo , Huo Zhenhua
Published: December 2015

Conditional nonlinear optimal perturbation (CNOP) is the initial perturbation that satisfies a certain physical constraint and causes the largest nonlinear evolution at prediction time. To yield mutually independent initial perturbations in ensemble forecasts, orthogonal CNOPs are developed. Orthogonal CNOPs are then applied to a Lorenz-96 model to generate initial perturbations for ensemble forecasting, as compared with orthogonal singular vectors (SVs). When the initial analysis errors are fast growing, the ensemble forecasts generated by orthogonal CNOPs of the control forecasts perform much more skillfully. Nevertheless, for slow-growing initial analysis errors, the ensemble forecasts generated by orthogonal SVs achieve higher skill when the ensemble initial perturbations are large, whereas the ensemble forecasts generated by orthogonal CNOPs achieve almost the same forecast skill as those generated by orthogonal SVs when the ensemble initial perturbations are sufficiently small. The initial analysis errors that possess much faster growth behavior are easily influenced by nonlinearity, and extreme events (extreme here refers to strong), because of strong nonlinear instability, may be much more likely to cause fast growth of initial analysis errors. Therefore, the ensemble forecasts generated by orthogonal CNOPs may have higher skill than those generated by orthogonal SVs for extreme events; in particular, the ensemble forecasts generated by orthogonal CNOPs, compared with those generated by orthogonal SVs, require a much smaller number of ensemble members to achieve high skill. Therefore, orthogonal CNOPs may provide another useful technique to generate initial perturbations for ensemble forecasting.
Tropical Atmospheric Forcing of the Wintertime North Atlantic Oscillation
Authors: Yu Bin , Lin Hai
Published: December 2015

The relationship between the interannual wintertime variability of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and tropical heating anomalies is examined using the NCEP–NCAR reanalysis and observation-based sea surface temperature (SST) and precipitation data for the period from 1980 to 2011. The NAO is found to be significantly correlated with the precipitation anomalies in the tropical Indian Ocean and tropical American–Atlantic region, but not with the underlying SST anomalies. The tropical heating impact on the NAO is examined and the evolution process of the influence is explored by numerical experiments using a primitive equation atmospheric model forced by atmospheric heating perturbations. Results from the reanalysis data and numerical experiments suggest that the atmospheric heating in the tropical Indian Ocean appears to be a driving force for the NAO variability. The atmospheric response to the tropical heating involves the combined effects of Rossby wave dispersion, normal mode instability, and transient eddy feedback. The remote forcing influence on the NAO tends to be organized and achieved by the circumglobal teleconnection pattern. By contrast, the influence of the tropical American–Atlantic heating on the NAO is weak. The linkage between the NAO and the tropical American–Atlantic heating is likely through the anomalously meridional atmospheric circulation over the Atlantic Ocean.
Mid- to Inner-Shelf Coupled ROMS–SWAN Model–Data Comparison of Currents and Temperature: Diurnal and Semidiurnal Variability
Authors: Kumar Nirnimesh , Feddersen Falk , Suanda Sutara , Uchiyama Yusuke , McWilliams James
Published: December 2015

Accurately representing diurnal and semidiurnal internal variability is necessary to investigate inner-shelf to midshelf exchange processes. Here, a coupled Regional Ocean Model System (ROMS)–Simulating Waves Nearshore (SWAN) model is compared to observed diurnal and semidiurnal internal tidal variability on the mid and inner shelf (26–8 m water depth) near San Pedro Bay, California. Modeled mean stratification is about one-half of that observed. Modeled and observed baroclinic velocity rotary spectra are similar in the diurnal and semidiurnal band. Modeled and observed temperature spectra have similar diurnal and semidiurnal band structure, although the modeled is weaker. The observed and modeled diurnal and semidiurnal baroclinic velocity- and temperature-dominant vertical structures are similar and consistent with mode-one internal motions. Both observed and modeled diurnal baroclinic kinetic energy are strongly correlated to diurnal wind forcing and enhanced by subtidal vorticity-induced reduction in the inertial frequency. The mid- and inner-shelf modeled diurnal depth-integrated heat budget is a balance between advective heat flux divergence and temperature time derivative. Temperature–velocity phase indicates progressive semidiurnal internal tide on the midshelf and largely standing internal tide on the inner shelf in both observed and modeled. The ratio of observed to modeled inferred phase speed is consistent with the observed to modeled stratification. The San Pedro Bay modeled semidiurnal internal tide has significant spatial variability, variable incident wave angles, and multiple local generation sites. Overall, the coupled ROMS–SWAN model represents well the complex diurnal and semidiurnal internal variability from the mid to the inner shelf.
Reducing Correlation Sampling Error in Ensemble Kalman Filter Data Assimilation
Authors: Anderson Jeffrey L.
Published: December 2015

Ensemble Kalman filters are widely used for data assimilation in large geophysical models. Good results with affordable ensemble sizes require enhancements to the basic algorithms to deal with insufficient ensemble variance and spurious ensemble correlations between observations and state variables. These challenges are often dealt with by using inflation and localization algorithms. A new method for understanding and reducing some ensemble filter errors is introduced and tested. The method assumes that sampling error due to small ensemble size is the primary source of error. Sampling error in the ensemble correlations between observations and state variables is reduced by estimating the distribution of correlations as part of the ensemble filter algorithm. This correlation error reduction (CER) algorithm can produce high-quality ensemble assimilations in low-order models without using any a priori localization like a specified localization function. The method is also applied in an observing system simulation experiment with a very coarse resolution dry atmospheric general circulation model. This demonstrates that the algorithm provides insight into the need for localization in large geophysical applications, suggesting that sampling error may be a primary cause in some cases.
Dynamics of Bengal coal mining in the nineteenth century: Dissemination of mineralogical knowledge and railway networking
Authors: Ray Indrajit
Published: December 2015

This study seeks to analyse the pattern of development of the coal mining industry in Bengal during the nineteenth century, and also its underlying causations. It reveals that though attempted for the first time in 1774, regular excavation of coal mines took off only around the mid-nineteenth century. I argue that mining in Bengal suffered initially from the adverse attitude of colonial governance and its institutions, and afterwards, from the lack of mineralogical knowledge, inefficient transport networks and the scarcity of labour. Once the style of governance shifted from the Company State to the rule of the British Crown, those impediments disappeared. These deliberations show how those successive events established a comparative cost advantage in favour of Bengal coal, enabling it to compete with British coal in the domestic market. The export ventures of the industry, especially in South and Southeast Asia, are also briefly discussed.
Book Review: Ghulam A. Nadri, Eighteenth-century Gujarat: The Dynamics of its Political Economy
Authors: Hasan Farhat
Published: December 2015

Ghulam A. Nadri, Eighteenth-century Gujarat: The Dynamics of its Political Economy, 1750–1800, Leiden: Brill, 2009, pp. 242.
Christmas Day in the National Archives: a review of Roy Parker’s Change and Continuity in Children’s Services
Authors: Little Michael
Published: December 2015

Michael Little discusses issues raised in Roy Parker’s recent book, Change and Continuity in Children’s Services. Bristol: Policy Press (2015) 216 pages. £80. ISBN: 978 1 447 32222 1.
South Asian Economic Union
Authors: Raihan Selim
Published: December 2015

The path to the South Asian Economic Union (SAEU) will have its own route, based on the contexts prevail in South Asia. The major challenges to move towards SAEU include a reduction in the sensitive list, removal of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs), effective and faster implementation of the South Asian Agreement on Trade in Services (SATIS), effective regional investment cooperation, promotion of trade facilitation measures, promotion of regional value chains, cross-border energy cooperation, dealing with informal trade and strengthening institutions. South Asia is at the verge of a new regime of regional integration which has to involve integration in trade in goods and services, integration in economic growth processes, promotion of regional investment and trade nexus, and harmonization of economic and trade policies.
Challenges to Regional Services Integration in South Asia
Authors: Chanda Rupa
Published: December 2015

Regional integration in services in South Asia holds considerable potential across many services. This article highlights the scope for and potential benefits from regional integration of services in this region and the many sectoral as well as cross-cutting challenges to this process. The article argues that there are regulatory, infrastructural, institutional and business environment related constraints in the SAARC member countries, which impede regional services integration. There are also political economy challenges which prevent progress on critical cross-cutting issues such as intraregional mobility of service providers and investment. The article argues for a broad-based, flexible regional services agreement, which takes a progressive approach to services integration alongside regional efforts to address issues of investment, regulatory harmonization, labour mobility and connectivity, national efforts to address issues of regulatory, institutional, infrastructural and human resource capacity and a favourable policy orientation and mindset at the individual country level.
“Context is Everything!”
Authors: Page Joshua
Published: December 2015

Sociologist and food critic Joshua Page talks with New York Times food critic about the sociological work of reviewing restaurants.
Not a Snowball’s Chance for Science
Authors: Fisher Dana R. , Waggle Joseph , Jasny Lorien
Published: December 2015

Using climate change denial as a case, the authors demonstrate how echo chambers are formed and reinscribed to limit information within bounded networks.
Dueling Interpretations of the Professional Organizing Industry
Authors: Lane Carrie M.
Published: December 2015

Professional organizers are depicted, in pop culture, as clutter cops, but see themselves, in real life, as helping others prioritize and make peace with the stuff of their lives.
Pride and Prejudice and Professionalism
Authors: Connell Catherine
Published: December 2015

LGBT educators struggle to balance professionalism and pride in the classroom, splittling, knitting, or quittting, in the words of the authors.
A Fracking Fracas Demonstrates Movement Potential
Authors: Obach Brian K.
Published: December 2015

A social movement against fracking is scoring victories in some states but not others. Why are some groups finding more success?
W.E.B. Du Bois and the Sociological Canon
Authors: Young Alford A.
Published: December 2015

Reviewing A Scholar Denied and placing W.E.B. DuBois among the sociological canon.
Alemtuzumab levels impact acute GVHD, mixed chimerism, and lymphocyte recovery following alemtuzumab, fludarabine, and melphalan RIC HCT
Authors: Marsh Rebecca A. , Lane Adam , Mehta Parinda A. , Neumeier Lisa , Jodele Sonata , Davies Stella M. , Filipovich Alexandra H.
Published: December 2015

Key Points

Alemtuzumab levels impact acute GVHD, mixed chimerism, and lymphocyte recovery after alemtuzumab, fludarabine, and melphalan RIC HCT. An in vivo lytic threshold appears to lie near 0.1 to 0.16 μg/mL; targeted dose trials are warranted to optimize outcomes.
Saprophytic and pathogenic fungi in the Ceratocystidaceae differ in their ability to metabolize plant-derived sucrose
Authors: Van der Nest M. A. , Steenkamp E. T. , McTaggart A. R. , Trollip C. , Godlonton T. , Sauerman E. , Roodt D. , Naidoo K. , Coetzee M. P. A. , Wilken P. M. , Wingfield M. J. , Wingfield B. D.
Published: December 2015

Background

Proteins in the Glycoside Hydrolase family 32 (GH32) are carbohydrate-active enzymes known as invertases that hydrolyse the glycosidic bonds of complex saccharides. Fungi rely on these enzymes to gain access to and utilize plant-derived sucrose. In fungi, GH32 invertase genes are found in higher copy numbers in the genomes of pathogens when compared to closely related saprophytes, suggesting an association between invertases and ecological strategy. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution and evolution of GH32 invertases in the Ceratocystidaceae using a comparative genomics approach. This fungal family provides an interesting model to study the evolution of these genes, because it includes economically important pathogenic species such as Ceratocystis fimbriata, C. manginecans and C. albifundus, as well as saprophytic species such as Huntiella moniliformis, H. omanensis and H. savannae.

Results

The publicly available Ceratocystidaceae genome sequences, as well as the H. savannae genome sequenced here, allowed for the identification of novel GH32-like sequences. The de novo assembly of the H. savannae draft genome consisted of 28.54 megabases that coded for 7 687 putative genes of which one represented a GH32 family member. The number of GH32 gene family members appeared to be related to the ecological adaptations of these fungi. The pathogenic Ceratocystis species all contained two GH32 family genes (a putative cell wall and a putative vacuolar invertase), while the saprophytic Huntiella species had only one of these genes (a putative cell wall invertase). Further analysis showed that the evolution of the GH32 gene family in the Ceratocystidaceae involved transposable element-based retro-transposition and translocation. As an example, the activity of a Fot5-like element likely facilitated the assembly of the genomic regions harbouring the GH32 family genes in Ceratocystis.

Conclusions

This study provides insight into the evolutionary history of the GH32 gene family in Ceratocystidaceae. Our findings suggest that transposable elements shaped the evolution of the GH32 gene family, which in turn determines the sucrolytic activities and related ecological strategies of the Ceratocystidaceae species that harbour them. The study also provides insights into the role of carbohydrate-active enzymes in plant-fungal interactions and adds to our understanding of the evolution of these enzymes and their role in the life style of these fungi.