bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combination of Broccoli Sprout Extract and Zinc Provides Better Protection against Intermittent Hypoxia-Induced Cardiomyopathy Than Monotherapy in Mice
Authors: Wang Jiqun , Zhang Jian , Chen Liping , Cai Jun , Li Zhijie , Zhang Zhiguo , Zheng Qi , Wang Yonggang , Zhou Shanshan , Liu Quan , Cai Lu
Published: December 2019

Nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and metallothionein have each been reported to protect against chronic intermittent hypoxia- (IH-) induced cardiomyopathy. Sulforaphane-rich broccoli sprout extract (BSE) and zinc can effectively induce Nrf2 and metallothionein, respectively, to protect against IH-induced cardiomyopathy via antioxidative stress. However, whether the cardiac protective effects of the combination of BSE and zinc can be synergistic or the same has not been evaluated. In this study, we treated 8-week-old C57BL/6J mice with BSE and/or zinc during exposure to IH for 8 weeks. Cardiac dysfunction, as determined by echocardiography, and pathological remodeling and abnormalities, including cardiac fibrosis, inflammation, and oxidative damage, examined by histopathology and western blotting, were clearly observed in IH mice but were not significant in IH mice treated with either BSE, zinc, or zinc/BSE. Furthermore, the effects of the combined treatment with BSE and zinc were always greater than those of single treatments. Nrf2 function and metallothionein expression in the heart increased to a greater extent using the combination of BSE and zinc than using BSE or zinc alone. These findings for the first time indicate that the dual activation of Nrf2 and metallothionein by combined treatment with BSE and zinc may be more effective than monotherapy at preventing the development of IH-induced cardiomyopathy.
Microalbuminuria and Traditional Serum Biomarkers of Nephropathy among Diabetic Patients at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital in South Western Uganda
Authors: Kiconco Ritah , Rugera Simon Peter , Kiwanuka Gertrude N.
Published: December 2019

Background. Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a common finding in diabetic patients. Microalbuminuria is the earliest clinical evidence of DN. Early detection of microalbuminuria is very important; it allows timely interventions to prevent progression to macroalbuminuria and later end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Objectives. To determine the prevalence of microalbuminuria in diabetic patients and establish its association with traditional serum renal markers in assessment of incipient nephropathy. Methods. This cross-sectional study involved 140 participants with diabetes mellitus (DM) attending the diabetic clinic of Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital. Questionnaires were used to obtain participant data after obtaining written informed consent. Data collected included: age, sex, level of education, history of smoking and alcohol consumption, hypertension, body mass index, family history, and duration of DM. Morning spot urine samples were collected from each participant and blood drawn for analysis of other renal markers. Urine microalbumin was determined quantitatively using immunoturbidity assay (Microalbumin kit, Mindray). Serum creatinine and uric acid and glucose levels were determined by spectrophotometric methods. Results. The overall prevalence of microalbuminuria was 22.9%. Using a simple and multiple linear regression model, serum creatinine (β=0.010, 95% CI (0.005, 0.014), P=0.0001) and glucose (β=0.030, 95% CI (0.011, 0.048), P=0.0017) levels were significantly associated with microalbuminuria. After adjusting for linearity, family history of DM was the only predictor of microalbuminuria (β=0.275, 95% CI (0.043, 0.508), P=0.002). Although microalbuminuria was weakly associated with eGFR (OR=1.2, 95% CI (0.24, 5.96)), the relationship was not statistically significant (P=0.824). Conclusion. The prevalence of microalbuminuria in patients with diabetes in this study was high. The study suggests the need to screen for microalbuminuria early to reduce the possible burden of ESRD. When serum creatinine is used as a renal function marker among diabetic patients, it should be combined with microalbuminuria for better assessment of incipient nephropathy.
Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Skin Cancers: A Review
Authors: Hodorogea Anastasia , Calinescu Andreea , Antohe Mihaela , Balaban Mihaela , Nedelcu Roxana Ioana , Turcu Gabriela , Ion Daniela Adriana , Badarau Ioana Anca , Popescu Catalin Mihai , Popescu Raluca , Popp Cristiana , Cioplea Mirela , Nichita Luciana , Hulea Ionela , Brinzea Alice
Published: December 2019

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is involved in physiologic processes such as embryogenesis and wound healing. A similar mechanism occurs in some tumors where cells leave the epithelial layer and gain mesenchymal particularities in order to easily migrate to other tissues. This process can explain the invasiveness and aggressiveness of these tumors which metastasize, by losing the epithelial phenotype (loss of E-cadherin, desmoplakin, and laminin-1) and acquiring mesenchymal markers (N-cadherin). Complex changes and interactions happen between the tumor cells and the microenvironment involving different pathways, transcription factors, altered expression of adhesion molecules, reorganization of cytoskeletal proteins, production of ECM-degrading enzymes, and changes in specific microRNAs. The purpose of this review is to determine particularities of the EMT process in the most common malignant cutaneous tumors (squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma) which still have an increasingly high incidence. More studies are required on this topic in order to establish clear correlations. High costs related to skin cancer therapies in general as well as high impact on patients’ quality of life demand finding new, reliable prognostic and therapeutic markers with significant public health impact.
Solar Charge Controller with Maximum Power Point Tracking for Low-Power Solar Applications
Authors: Abuzairi Tomy , Ramadhan Wing Wira Adimas , Devara Kresna
Published: December 2019

Solar Charge Controller (SCC) with Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) is needed to extract maximum energy from photovoltaic. However, a SCC device with MPPT technology feature is expensive on the market due to the requirements for a high-power system. On the other hand, in lower power applications such as IoT sensors, solar street lights, and wireless communication nodes, these types of controllers can be produced at a lower cost. In this study, the design of a low-cost SCC was conducted using the MPPT technology for low-power solar applications. The SCC is designed based on the Arduino microcontroller, which has the role of controlling the circuit and producing PWM signals to regulate the DC-DC converter. Several tests were conducted to validate the efficiency of the MPPT algorithm. The SCC device succeeded in increasing efficiency up to 52% on the low irradiance level.
A Case Report onPasteurella multocidaPeritoneal Dialysis-Associated Peritonitis: When Cats Think Medical Equipment Are Toys
Authors: Mirzai Saeid , Rifai Ahmad Oussama , Tidrick Aron , Huang Qitan , Hale Justin
Published: December 2019

Pasteurella multocidais an aerobic gram-negative coccobacillus usually found in the oral cavities of most healthy cats and dogs as part of their natural oral flora. This zoonotic pathogen can cause a variety of infections in humans through bites, scratches, or licking. Infections range from less severe cases, such as infected animal bites and cellulitis, to more severe cases of pneumonia, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, sepsis, and meningitis. However, the number of reported cases of peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis caused byP. multocidahas been limited worldwide. Here, we report the case of a 59-year-old man undergoing continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis who developedP. multocidaperitonitis, believed to be secondary to domestic cat exposure to dialysis equipment. Due to the increasing trend of pet ownership, patients maintained on peritoneal dialysis should be educated on the importance of strict hygiene and avoiding pet contact with the dialysis equipment, especially in bag exchange areas. Although the best means of preventing such infections is to avoid having pets at home, the positive psychological effects of pet ownership should also be considered. Thus, patients in such situations should be continuously educated and encouraged to be mindful of the importance of environmental hygiene.
Spotlight on ROS andβ3-Adrenoreceptors Fighting in Cancer Cells
Authors: Calvani Maura , Subbiani Angela , Vignoli Marina , Favre Claudio
Published: December 2019

The role of ROS and RNS is a long-standing debate in cancer. Increasing the concentration of ROS reaching the toxic threshold can be an effective strategy for the reduction of tumor cell viability. On the other hand, cancer cells, by maintaining intracellular ROS concentration at an intermediate level called “mild oxidative stress,” promote the activation of signaling that favors tumor progression by increasing cell viability and dangerous tumor phenotype. Many chemotherapeutic treatments induce cell death by rising intracellular ROS concentration. The persistent drug stimulation leads tumor cells to simulate a process called hormesis by which cancer cells exhibit a biphasic response to exposure to drugs used. After a first strong response to a low dose of chemotherapeutic agent, cancer cells start to decrease the response even if high doses of drugs were used. In this framework,β3-adrenoreceptors (β3-ARs) fit with an emerging antioxidant role in cancer.β3-ARs are involved in tumor proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis, and immune tolerance. Its inhibition, by the selectiveβ3-ARs antagonist (SR59230A), leads cancer cells to increase ROS concentration thus inducing cell death and to decrease NO levels thus inhibiting angiogenesis. In this review, we report an overview on reactive oxygen biology in cancer cells focusing onβ3-ARs as new players in the antioxidant pathway.
Trichosanthes tricuspidata Lour. Methanol Extract Exhibits Anti-Inflammatory Activity by Targeting Syk, Src, and IRAK1 Kinase Activity
Authors: Ahuja Akash , Jeong Deok , Kim Mi-Yeon , Cho Jae Youl
Published: December 2019

Trichosanthes tricuspidata Lour., also known as T. palmata Roxb, T. bracteata Lam., T. puber Blume, and Modecca bracteata, is a vine belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family (English name: redball snake gourd). Distributed in China, South and East Asia, and tropical Australia, it has been traditionally used as a medicinal plant for its antifever, laxative, anthelmintic properties and for migraine treatment. In this paper, we examined the effects of Trichosanthes tricuspidata Lour. ethanol extract (Tt-ME) in vitro and in vivo. To confirm the effects of Tt-ME on inflammatory responses, we conducted experimental analyses including level of nitric oxide (NO) production, RT-PCR, and immunoblotting and using a HCl/EtOH-induced gastritis animal model. Tt-ME attenuated the release of NO and decreased mRNA levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), TNF-α, and IL-6 in lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced macrophages in a concentration-dependent manner. Tt-ME time-dependently suppressed nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) subunits p50 and p65, activator protein (AP-1) subunits c-Fos and c-Jun, and STAT3 transcriptional activity by inhibiting nuclear translocation of p50, p65, c-Fos, c-Jun, and STAT3. Tt-ME significantly downregulated NF-κB, MAPK, and JAK2 signaling by targeting Syk, Src, and IRAK1 protein kinases. Furthermore, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression and cell migration were observed to be downregulated by Tt-ME in LPS-activated macrophages. In vivo studies on Tt-ME also produced similar trends in Hcl/EtOH-induced gastritis mouse models by inhibiting proinflammatory cytokines and the inflammatory signaling pathway. Our results strongly suggest that Tt-ME exerted anti-inflammatory activity in LPS-stimulated macrophages and mouse models of acute inflammatory disease.
A Promising Candidate: Heparin-Binding Protein Steps onto the Stage of Sepsis Prediction
Authors: Yang Yang , Liu Guihuan , He Qingnan , Shen Jie , Xu Linyong , Zhu Ping , Zhao Mingyi
Published: December 2019

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response syndrome caused by infection. With high morbidity and mortality of this disease, there is a need to find early effective diagnosis and assessment methods to improve the prognosis of patients. Heparin-binding protein (HBP) is a granular protein derived from polynuclear neutrophils. The biosynthetic HBP in neutrophils is rapidly released under the stimulation of bacteria, resulting in increased vascular permeability and edema. It is reasonable to speculate that the HBP in plasma may serve as a novel diagnostic marker for sepsis, bacterial skin infection, acute bacterial meningitis, leptospirosis, protozoan parasites, and even some noncommunicable diseases. It implies that in the detection and diagnosis of sepsis, it will be possible to make relevant diagnosis through this new indicator in the future. In this review, we summarize the typical biological function of HBP and its latest research progress to provide theoretical basis for clinical prediction and diagnosis of sepsis.
Mass Spectrometry Imaging Enables Discrimination of Renal Oncocytoma from Renal Cell Cancer Subtypes and Normal Kidney Tissues
Authors: Zhang Jialing , Li Shirley Q. , Lin John Q. , Yu Wendong , Eberlin Livia S.
Published: December 2019

Precise diagnosis and subtyping of kidney tumors are imperative to optimize and personalize treatment decision for patients. Patients with the most common benign renal tumor, renal oncocytomas, may be overtreated with surgical resection because of limited preoperative diagnostic methods that can accurately identify the benign condition with certainty. In this study, desorption electrospray ionization (DESI)-mass spectrometry (MS) imaging was applied to study the metabolic and lipid profiles of various types of renal tissues, including normal kidney, renal oncocytoma, and renal cell carcinomas (RCC). A total of 73,992 mass spectra from 71 patient samples were obtained and used to build predictive models using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso). Overall accuracies of 99.47% per pixel and 100% per patient for prediction of the three tissue types were achieved. In particular, renal oncocytoma and chromophobe RCC, which present the most significant morphologic overlap and are sometimes indistinguishable using histology alone, were also investigated and the predictive models built yielded 100% accuracy in discriminating these tumor types. Discrimination of three subtypes of RCC was also achieved on the basis of DESI-MS imaging data. Importantly, several small metabolites and lipids species were identified as characteristic of individual tissue types and chemically characterized using tandem MS and high mass accuracy measurements. Collectively, our study shows that the metabolic data acquired by DESI-MS imaging in conjunction with statistical modeling allows discrimination of renal tumors and thus has the potential to be used in the clinical setting to improve treatment of patients with kidney tumor.

Significance:

Metabolic data acquired by mass spectrometry imaging in conjunction with statistical modeling allows discrimination of renal tumors and has the potential to be used in the clinic to improve treatment of patients.
R-From-T as a Common Mechanism of Arrhythmia Initiation in Long QT Syndromes
Authors: Liu Michael B. , Vandersickel Nele , Panfilov Alexander V. , Qu Zhilin
Published: December 2019

Background:

Long QT syndromes (LQTS) arise from many genetic and nongenetic causes with certain characteristic ECG features preceding polymorphic ventricular tachyarrhythmias (PVTs). However, how the many molecular causes result in these characteristic ECG patterns and how these patterns are mechanistically linked to the spontaneous initiation of PVT remain poorly understood.

Methods:

Anatomic human ventricle and simplified tissue models were used to investigate the mechanisms of spontaneous initiation of PVT in LQTS.

Results:

Spontaneous initiation of PVT was elicited by gradually ramping up I
Ca,L
to simulate the initial phase of a sympathetic surge or by changing the heart rate, reproducing the different genotype-dependent clinical ECG features. In LQTS type 2 (LQT2) and LQTS type 3 (LQT3), T-wave alternans was observed followed by premature ventricular complexes (PVCs). Compensatory pauses occurred resulting in short-long-short sequences. As I
Ca,L
increased further, PVT episodes occurred, always preceded by a short-long-short sequence. However, in LQTS type 1 (LQT1), once a PVC occurred, it always immediately led to an episode of PVT. Arrhythmias in LQT2 and LQT3 were bradycardia dependent, whereas those in LQT1 were not. In all 3 genotypes, PVCs always originated spontaneously from the steep repolarization gradient region and manifested on ECG as R-on-T. We call this mechanism R-from-T, to distinguish it from the classic explanation of R-on-T arrhythmogenesis in which an exogenous PVC coincidentally encounters a repolarizing region. In R-from-T, the PVC and the T wave are causally related, where steep repolarization gradients combined with enhanced I
Ca,L
lead to PVCs emerging from the T wave. Since enhanced I
Ca,L
was required for R-from-T to occur, suppressing window I
Ca,L
effectively prevented arrhythmias in all 3 genotypes.

Conclusions:

Despite the complex molecular causes, these results suggest that R-from-T is likely a common mechanism for PVT initiation in LQTS. Targeting I
Ca,L
properties, such as suppressing window I
Ca,L
or preventing excessive I
Ca,L
increase, could be an effective unified therapy for arrhythmia prevention in LQTS.
PLF‐1 (Proliferin‐1) Modulates Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation and Development of Experimental Intimal Hyperplasia
Authors: Hu Lina , Huang Zhe , Ishii Hideki , Wu Hongxian , Suzuki Susumu , Inoue Aiko , Kim Weon , Jiang Haiying , Li Xiang , Zhu Enbo , Piao Limei , Zhao Guangxian , Lei Yanna , Okumura Kenji , Shi Guo‐Ping , Murohara Toyoaki , Kuzuya Masafumi , Cheng Xian Wu
Published: December 2019

Background

Although apoptosis and cell proliferation have been extensively investigated in atherosclerosis and restenosis postinjury, the communication between these 2 cellular events has not been evaluated. Here, we report an inextricable communicative link between apoptosis and smooth muscle cell proliferation in the promotion of vascular remodeling postinjury.

Methods and Results

Cathepsin K–mediated caspase‐8 maturation is a key initial step for oxidative stress–induced smooth muscle cell apoptosis. Apoptotic cells generate a potential growth‐stimulating signal to facilitate cellular mass changes in response to injury. One downstream mediator that cathepsin K regulates is PLF‐1 (proliferin‐1), which can potently stimulate growth of surviving neighboring smooth muscle cells through activation of PI3K/Akt/p38MAPK (phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase/protein kinase B/p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase)‐dependent and ‐independent mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) signaling cascades. We observed that cathepsin K deficiency substantially mitigated neointimal hyperplasia by reduction of Toll‐like receptor‐2/caspase‐8–mediated
PLF
‐1 expression. Interestingly,
PLF
‐1 blocking, with its neutralizing antibody, suppressed neointima formation and remodeling in response to injury in wild‐type mice. Contrarily, administration of recombinant mouse
PLF
‐1 accelerated injury‐induced vascular actions.

Conclusions

This is the first study detailing
PLF
‐1 as a communicator between apoptosis and proliferation during injury‐related vascular remodeling and neointimal hyperplasia. These data suggested that apoptosis‐driven expression of
PLF
‐1 is thus a novel target for treatment of apoptosis‐based hyperproliferative disorders.
Echocardiography in Low‐Risk Hypertensive Patients
Authors: Mancusi Costantino , Angeli Fabio , Verdecchia Paolo , Poltronieri Cristina , de Simone Giovanni , Reboldi Gianpaolo
Published: December 2019

Background

It is debated whether echocardiography should be part of the diagnostic workup in all hypertensive patients. We identified some factors potentially associated with left ventricular hypertrophy (
LVH
) at echocardiography in untreated hypertensive patients.

Methods and Results

We studied 2150 patients without
LVH
at
ECG
. All patients underwent standard 12‐lead
ECG
and echocardiography. Mean age was 48.7 years, and mean office blood pressure was 154/97 mm Hg. Prevalence of echocardiographic
LVH
(
LV
mass >47.0 g/m
2.7
in women and >50.0 g/m
2.7
in men) was 37.1%. We developed a nomogram based on 7 items (age, smoking, body mass index, office systolic and diastolic blood pressure, Cornell voltage, and chronic kidney disease) on the basis of a multivariable logistic regression analysis. We internally validated the model by bootstrap recalibration and obtained a calibration curve to assess agreement in the validation data set. Probability of
LVH
at echocardiography ranged from <10% (score, ≤100 points) to >90% (score, ≥180 points). Proportion of patients with
LVH
progressively increased with the total score (χ
2
=444.8;
P
<0.001). Prevalence of
LVH
was <2% and 90% at the lower 5th and upper 95th percentile of its distribution, respectively.

Conclusions

We developed and validated a novel score to assess the probability of
LVH
at echocardiography in hypertensive patients without
LVH
at
ECG
. The score may guide the appropriateness of echocardiographic study in low‐risk hypertensive patients. Echocardiography appears most appropriate for score values >136 in men and >124 in women.
Heart Rate Variability for Risk Assessment of Myocardial Ischemia in Patients Without Known Coronary Artery Disease: The HRV‐DETECT (Heart Rate Variability for the Detection of Myocardial Ischemia) Study
Authors: Goldenberg Ilan , Goldkorn Ronen , Shlomo Nir , Einhorn Michal , Levitan Jacob , Kuperstein Raphael , Klempfner Robert , Johnson Bruce
Published: December 2019

Background

Detecting significant coronary artery disease (CAD) in the general population is complex and relies on combined assessment of traditional CAD risk factors and noninvasive testing. We hypothesized that a CAD‐specific heart rate variability (HRV) algorithm can be used to improve detection of subclinical or early ischemia in patients without known CAD.

Methods and Results

Between 2014 and 2018 we prospectively enrolled 1043 patients with low to intermediate pretest probability for CAD who were screened for myocardial ischemia in tertiary medical centers in the United States and Israel. Patients underwent 1‐hour Holter testing, with immediate HRV analysis using the HeartTrends DyDx algorithm, followed by exercise stress echocardiography (n=612) or exercise myocardial perfusion imaging (n=431). The threshold for low HRV was identified using receiver operating characteristic analysis based on sensitivity and specificity. The primary end point was the presence of myocardial ischemia detected by exercise stress echocardiography or exercise myocardial perfusion imaging. The mean age of patients was 61 years and 38% were women. Myocardial ischemia was detected in 66 (6.3%) patients. After adjustment for CAD risk factors and exercise stress testing results, low HRV was independently associated with a significant 2‐fold increased likelihood for myocardial ischemia (odds ratio, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.41–2.89 [
P
=0.01]). Adding HRV to traditional CAD risk factors significantly improved the pretest probability for myocardial ischemia.

Conclusions

Our data from a large prospective international clinical study show that short‐term HRV testing can be used as a novel digital‐health modality for enhanced risk assessment in low‐ to intermediate‐risk individuals without known CAD.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL:
http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov
. Unique identifiers: NCT01657006, NCT02201017).
MENA ÜLKELERİNDE SEKTÖREL KADIN İSTİHDAMI VE KALKINMA ARASINDAKİ İLİŞKİNİN AMPİRİK ANALİZİ
Authors: EREN Mehmet Vahit
Published: December 2019

Ekonomik özgürlüğe sahip olma isteği
insanlar için en temel haklardan biridir. Emek piyasasında kadınların istihdam
konusunda ayrımcılıkla karşı karşıya kalması, toplum refahını olumsuz etkileyen
bir unsurdur. Bu çalışmanın amacı, MENA (Orta Doğu ve Kuzey Afrika)  ülkelerine ait veriler yardımıyla sektörel
kadın istihdamı ile kalkınma arasındaki ilişkiyi araştırmaktır. Çalışmanın
ampirik analizi için 1991-2017 arası veriler ve panel veri analizi yöntemi
kullanılmıştır. Çalışmadan elde edilen bulgular, sanayi sektöründeki kadın
istihdamı ile kalkınma arasında çift yönlü ve hizmet sektöründeki kadın
istihdamından kalkınmaya doğru tek yönlü nedensellik ilişkisi olduğunu
göstermektedir.  Bu sonuca göre, MENA
ülkelerinin kalkınma sürecinde sanayi ve hizmet sektöründe istihdam edilen
kadınların rolü önem arz etmektedir.
The Light and the Heat: Productivity Co-Benefits of Energy-Saving Technology
Authors: Adhvaryu Achyuta , Kala Namrata , Nyshadham Anant
Published: December 2019

We study the adoption of energy-efficient LED lighting in garment factories around Bangalore, India. Combining daily production line–level data with weather data, we estimate a negative, nonlinear productivity-temperature gradient. We find that LED lighting raises productivity on hot days. Using the firm's costs data, we estimate that the payback period for LED adoption is less than one-third the length after accounting for productivity co-benefits. The average factory in our data gains about $2,880 in power consumption savings and about $7,500 in productivity gains.
Is Your Lawyer a Lemon? Incentives and Selection in the Public Provision of Criminal Defense
Authors: Agan Amanda , Freedman Matthew , Owens Emily
Published: December 2019

Governments in the United States must offer free legal services to low-income people accused of crimes. To provide these services, many jurisdictions rely on assigned counsel systems, where private attorneys represent indigent defendants on a contract basis. These defendants are more likely to be convicted and incarcerated than defendants with privately retained attorneys. Using detailed court records, we investigate the mechanisms behind this disparity and consider their policy implications. We find that adverse selection among lawyers is not the primary contributor to the assigned counsel penalty. We conclude that reform efforts should address moral hazard in assigned counsel systems.
Zhuhong’s Communal Rules for the Late Ming Nunnery Filiality and Righteousness Unobstructed
Authors: Eichman Jennifer
Published: December 2019

This article presents a single detailed case study of communal life at a small private Buddhist nunnery governed by strict rules and inhabited by religiously active nuns. The first half of this article focuses on why the nunnery was constructed, how it was funded, where it was built, its architectural design, and its residents. The second half examines the daily ritual activities of the nuns, their education, disciplinary procedures, fundraising, and community relations. In bringing to life how the culture of monastic discipline shaped the daily rhythms of these nuns’ lives, this article further sheds light not only on monastic culture in Hangzhou at the end of the Ming, but also demonstrates the contrast between that culture and other Buddhist and contemporary religious competitors in the surrounding religious landscape. In so doing, this article shifts our attention from the study of hagiography to the broader context of female monastic culture exhibited in the genres of communal rules (guiyue) and vinaya texts.
Approaching Insect Death: Understandings and Practices of the UK’s Edible Insect Farmers
Authors: Bear Christopher
Published: December 2019

While insects are eaten by around two billion people globally, they are a relatively new addition to the UK’s culinary landscape. A domestic production sector has begun to emerge to supply this new appetite for insects. Social scientists have been quick to explore consumer attitudes to “edible insects” but insect farmers have thus far been largely ignored. This paper addresses this gap by drawing on interviews with the UK’s current and recent edible insect farmers to explore their understandings of, and approaches to, insect death, something about which all participants expressed concern. The paper examines: 1) reasons for farmers’ concerns around how they kill their insects, ranging from anxieties around insect pain to perceived consumer attitudes; and 2) farmers’ ideas about what constitutes a “good” death for insects, and how they incorporate this in their practices.
Aspects of mast building and the fine structure of “amphipod silk” glands in Dyopedos bispinis (Amphipoda, Dulichiidae)
Authors: Neretin Nikolai Y. , Zhadan Anna E. , Tzetlin Alexander B.
Published: December 2019

In the present study, we investigated the biology of Dyopedos bispinis, a mast-building amphipod that is abundant near the N. Pertsov White Sea Biological Station. To examine the peculiarities of mast building in Dyopedos bispinis, we studied the social structure of individuals inhabiting the masts and identified the preferred substrata through underwater photography and direct observations, characterized the internal and external structures of the masts, and studied the ultrastructure of pereopodal silk glands using scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM, respectively). The most frequent substrata for mast building are other fouling organisms, including hydroids, bryozoans, ascidians and sponges. As in other corophiids, each Dyopedos bispinis mast represents the territory of one female and, occasionally, one male, but unique collective masts occupied by three or more (up to 23) adults were also observed. Masts comprise one or 2-4 central cylinders and a laminated cortex that contains detritus and amphipod silk layers. The pereopodal glandular complex of Dyopedos bispinis is composed of two distinct gland groups, proximal and distal, in each pereopod 3-4, and ducts in the glandular complex lead into a common chamber in the dactylus. The proximal glands are multicellular; their secretory cells are uninuclear, unlike in certain other amphipods; and the cell membrane is deeply invaginated. The invaginations are filled with extensions of the cytoplasm of lining cells, but the origin of the lining is unclear. Axon terminals were observed adjacent to the secretory cells, and it is assumed that these axons regulate amphipod silk glands. The proximal silk glands of Dyopedos bispinis have similarities with the lobed and rosette glands of isopods, but they have strongly elongated forms. We refer to these glands as pseudotubular glands. Such glands are rarely observed in Crustacea and have only been described in silk-producing pereopodal systems of marine Peracarida and in the antenna of terrestrial Malacostraca.
Another brick in the wall: population dynamics of a symbiotic species of Oxydromus (Annelida, Hesionidae), described as new based on morphometry
Authors: Martin Daniel , Meca Miguel A. , Gil João , Drake Pilar , Nygren Arne
Published: December 2019

Oxydromus humesi is an annelid polychaete living as a strict bivalve endosymbiont (likely parasitic) of Tellina nymphalis in Congolese mangrove swamps and of Scrobicularia plana and Macomopsis pellucida in Iberian saltmarshes. The Congolese and Iberian polychaete populations were previously considered as belonging to the same species, the latter showing regular distribution, intra-specific aggressive behaviour, and complex hostentering behaviour. The fresh Iberian samples enabled us to undertake consistent morphometric analyses, as well as to further analyse the characteristics of the association and the population dynamics of the Iberian population hosted by S. plana. Among the morphological differences between the Congolese and Iberian specimens, leading to the description of the latter as Oxydromus okupa sp. nov., the most important are: 1) longer cephalic appendages, 2) greater distance between the eyes, 3) larger dorsal cirrostyle in relation to the corresponding dorsal lobe and cirrophore. Moreover, dorsal and ventral lobes are similar in length, with the tip of the former reaching the tip of the latter in O. okupa sp. nov., while the dorsal lobe is much shorter than the ventral one in O. humesi. Mature adults of O. okupa sp. nov. occurred during the whole study period, with a higher percentage of ripe females in spring and, particularly, in summer. Numerous host specimens showed the symbiont’s most preferred shell length (>26 - 36 mm). However, the prevalence was very low (usually <5%) and showed a clear seasonal pattern, being lower during spring/summer. This suggests that males are able to leave their hosts during this period, most likely to improve fertilization by directly entering or approaching a host occupied by a ripe female, while females usually remain inside. Based on the new results, the current knowledge of symbiotic Hesionidae and their relationships with invertebrate hosts is updated and discussed.
A DNA-based description of a new carpenter moth species (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) from Morocco
Authors: YAKOVLEV ROMAN V. , SHAPOVAL NAZAR A. , KUFTINA GALINA N. , GAGARINA ANASTASIA V. , GORODILOVA ELIZAVETA YU.
Published: December 2019

We used a combination of morphological data (genitalia structure) and a molecular marker (a 658bp fragment of the COI gene) to demonstrate that carpenter moth populations from central and southern Morocco, previously identified as Cossus cossus (Linnaeus, 1758) based on external morphology, represent a new species, described herein as C. romantsovi Yakovlev & Shapoval, sp. n. The genetic divergence of the new species with respect to other members of genus Cossus is significant and includes at least 23 fixed nucleotide substitutions in the 658 bp of the COI barcode.
A new species of Zhangixalus (Anura: Rhacophoridae), previously confused with Zhangixalus smaragdinus (Blyth, 1852)
Authors: YU GUOHUA , HUI HONG , HOU MIAN , WU ZHENGJUN , RAO DINGQI , YANG JUNXING
Published: December 2019

We describe a new species of Zhangixalus from southern Yunnan of China, Vietnam, and Thailand based on morphological and molecular evidence. The new species had been confused with Zhangixalus smaragdinus (Blyth, 1852) in the past. Zhangixalus pachyproctus sp. nov. can be distinguished from Z. smaragdinus morphologically by the protruding vent in adult males, large thick grey reticular mottles below the white stripe on flank, more oblique snout in profile and wider head, longer snout, greater internarial distance, larger tympanum and longer hindlimb. The new species can be distinguished from other species of Zhangixalus with green dorsum by the following combination of characters: body size larger (SVL of adult males: 74.2–83.3 mm; SVL of adult female: 102.4 mm); dorsum smooth; narrow white stripes along edge of the lower jaw, body sides, outer side of limbs and above the vent; absence of brown bands on canthus rostralis, upper eyelid and supratympanic fold; webbing between fingers and toes complete except between the first two fingers; and internal single subgular vocal sac. Phylogeny based on comparison of 16S rRNA sequences suggests that the new species is the sister taxon to Z. smaragdinus and the two species differ by 7.63% in the uncorrected pairwise distance of 16S sequences.
Bratislavia dadayi (Michaelsen 1905) (Annelida, Clitellata, Naididae): discovery of an alien oligochaete in a technogenic fresh water body in Ukraine
Authors: GUSAKOV VLADIMIR A. , SYLAIEVA ANZHELIKA A.
Published: December 2019

A non-native oligochaete, Bratislavia dadayi (Michaelsen 1905), is recorded from a water body of the cooling system of the Khmelnitsky Nuclear Power Plant (Ukraine). This is the first registration of this species in the central part of the European continent, far from sea and river navigable waterways. The only previous record of B. dadayi in Europe had been from a Belgian estuary. The occurrence in samples taken over several years, and the presence of sexually mature individuals in the Ukrainian population indicate the worm’s successful naturalization in the new habitat. In this paper, we analyze the species’ morphology and abundance in the Ukrainian population and discuss its ecology, current and potential distribution.
An overview of the Ephydridae (Diptera) of Saudi Arabia
Authors: DAWAH HASSAN A. , AHMAD SYED K. , ABDULLAH MOHAMMED A. , ZATWARNICKI TADEUSZ
Published: December 2019

Despite the species richness of Ephydridae world-wide (2000 species) and its prominent environmental roles as a minor pest and as a food for wildlife, only 13 species have been recorded from Saudi Arabia. Between 2012 and 2016, a biodiversity study of Diptera was conducted at Jazan, Asir, and Najran in south-western Saudi Arabia, at 22 sites, was performed mainly using Malaise traps and sweep nets. In this study, 43 known species of Ephydridae were identified, 37 of them for the first time from southwestern Saudi Arabia and 16 from Arabian Peninsula. This brings the total number of Ephydridae species in Saudi Arabia to 49 (including previous records). There were a further four species, which could not be identified authoritatively to species level. A list of all species of Ephydridae recorded from Saudi Arabia is appended. Images of thirty-two species are presented. The species recorded in this study are more Palaearctic in origin as compared to other regions. Biological information (where known) and world-wide distribution are included. This study has added new records to the Saudi Arabian checklist of Ephydridae, which will provide the basis for systematic studies and fauna analyses of future work on the family. The need for further field and laboratory work and surveillance is highlighted.
Guide to the trematodes (Platyhelminthes) that infect the California horn snail (Cerithideopsis californica: Potamididae: Gastropoda) as first intermediate host
Authors: HECHINGER RYAN F.
Published: December 2019

The California horn snail, Cerithideopsis californica, lives in estuarine habitats from California (USA) in North America to Piura (Peru) in South America. Throughout this range, the snail serves as first intermediate host for a diverse guild of digenean trematodes. These parasites are used in teaching laboratories, and have been subject to a large amount of taxonomic, biological, evolutionary, and ecological research. Despite the abundance of research on these trematodes, we lack a satisfactory guide to these parasites. This manuscript treats the 19 trematode species that we are currently able to distinguish morphologically. I provide taxonomic affinities, information on second intermediate host use, an identification key focused on cercaria traits, information and a key for regressed infections lacking cercariae, information on early infections, and species accounts. The species accounts present photographs, additional diagnostic information, taxonomic notes, information concerning cryptic species, and connections to relevant literature. The primary aim of this manuscript is to facilitate research on this trematode guild by serving as an identification tool, and by providing background information, including highlighting gaps in our knowledge.
Two new species in the genus Destinoides (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae, Ledrinae) from China, with DNA barcoding data
Authors: HUANG WEIJIAN , ZHANG YALIN
Published: December 2019

Two new species in the genus Destinoides Cai & He, D. hainanensis and D. rubeus spp. nov. from China are described and illustrated. A checklist and key to the known species of Destinoides are provided.
Contributions of Atmospheric Stochastic Forcing and Intrinsic Ocean Modes to North Atlantic Ocean Interdecadal Variability
Authors: Arzel Olivier , Huck Thierry
Published: December 2019

Atmospheric stochastic forcing associated with the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and intrinsic ocean modes associated with the large-scale baroclinic instability of the North Atlantic Current (NAC) are recognized as two strong paradigms for the existence of the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO). The degree to which each of these factors contribute to the low-frequency variability of the North Atlantic is the central question in this paper. This issue is addressed here using an ocean general circulation model run under a wide range of background conditions extending from a supercritical regime where the oceanic variability spontaneously develops in the absence of any atmospheric noise forcing to a damped regime where the variability requires some noise to appear. The answer to the question is captured by a single dimensionless number Γ measuring the ratio between the oceanic and atmospheric contributions, as inferred from the buoyancy variance budget of the western subpolar region. Using this diagnostic, about two-thirds of the sea surface temperature (SST) variance in the damped regime is shown to originate from atmospheric stochastic forcing whereas heat content is dominated by internal ocean dynamics. Stochastic wind stress forcing is shown to substantially increase the role played by damped ocean modes in the variability. The thermal structure of the variability is shown to differ fundamentally between the supercritical and damped regimes, with abrupt modifications around the transition between the two regimes. Ocean circulation changes are further shown to be unimportant for setting the pattern of SST variability in the damped regime but are fundamental for a preferred time scale to emerge.
Exploring the Assimilation of GLM-Derived Water Vapor Mass in a Cycled 3DVAR Framework for the Short-Term Forecasts of High-Impact Convective Events
Authors: Hu Junjun , Fierro Alexandre O. , Wang Yunheng , Gao Jidong , Mansell Edward R.
Published: December 2019

The recent successful deployment of the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) on board the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite R series (GOES-16/17) provides nearly uniform spatiotemporal measurements of total lightning (intracloud plus cloud to ground) over the Americas and adjacent vast oceanic regions. This study evaluates the potential value of assimilating GLM-derived water vapor mixing ratio on short-term (≤6 h), cloud-scale (dx = 1.5 km) forecasts of five severe weather events over the Great Plains of the United States using a three-dimensional variational (3DVAR) data assimilation (DA) system. Toward a more systematic assimilation of real GLM data, this study conducted sensitivity tests aimed at evaluating the impact of the horizontal decorrelation length scale, DA cycling frequency, and the time window size for accumulating GLM lightning observations prior to the DA. Forecast statistics aggregated over all five cases suggested that an optimal forecast performance is obtained when lightning measurements are accumulated over a 10-min interval and GLM-derived water vapor mixing ratio values are assimilated every 15 min with a horizontal decorrelation length scale of 3 km. This suggested configuration for the GLM DA together with companion experiments (i) not assimilating any data, (ii) assimilating radar data only, and (iii) assimilating both GLM and radar data were evaluated for the same five cases. Overall, GLM data have shown potential to help improve the short-term (<3 h) forecast skill of composite reflectivity fields and individual storm tracks. While this result also held for accumulated rainfall, longer-term (≥3 h) forecasts were generally characterized by noteworthy wet biases.
Rediscovering Abductive Reasoning in Organization Development and Change Research
Authors: Shani Abraham B. (Rami) , Coghlan David , Alexander Benjamin N.
Published: December 2019

This article explores how abductive reasoning is central to Mode 2 organization development and change (ODC) research, despite the rarity with which it is made explicit. It differentiates between Peirce’s notions of deduction, induction, and abduction in the field of ODC and explores how Mode 2 ODC research, particularly that involving collaboration between academics and practitioners, draws on abductive reasoning. It is when confronted with an array of puzzling and paradoxical data that insights constitute abductive reasoning, a fundamental element in both the production of knowledge and the development of successful organizational interventions.
The Development and Validation of a Classification System Predicting Severe and Frequent Prison Misconduct
Authors: Duwe Grant
Published: December 2019

This study presents the results from the development and validation of a fully automated, gender-specific risk assessment system designed to predict severe and frequent prison misconduct on a recurring, semiannual basis. K-fold and split-population methods were applied to train and test the predictive models. Regularized logistic regression was the classifier used on the training and test sets that contained 35,506 males and 3,849 females who were released from Minnesota prisons between 2006 and 2011. Using multiple metrics, the results showed the models achieved a relatively high level of predictive performance. For example, the average area under the curve (AUC) was 0.832 for the female prisoner models and 0.836 for the male prisoner models. The findings provide support for the notion that better predictive performance can be obtained by developing assessments that are customized to the population on which they will be used.
Comorbid Traumatic Brain Injury and Visual Impairment: Vocational Rehabilitation Service Provision and Agency-Level Outcomes
Authors: McDonnall Michele C. , Cmar Jennifer L. , Lund Emily M.
Published: December 2019

Introduction:

The purpose of this study was to investigate how services are provided to state–federal vocational rehabilitation consumers with comorbid traumatic brain injury (TBI) and visual impairment and the prevalence of and competitive employment rates for this population.

Methods:

We utilized a mixed-methods approach by incorporating interview data from 51 vocational rehabilitation agency administrators (to identify strategies used to serve these consumers) and case service data (to identify prevalence and competitive employment rates at the agency level). We combined the data to examine the relationship between strategies used and the prevalence of and employment outcomes for this population. A modified grounded theory approach was used for qualitative data analysis and descriptive statistics, and analyses of variance were used for quantitative data analyses.

Results:

Strategies used to serve these consumers included collaboration between counselors, involvement of external organizations, specialized TBI units or caseloads, staff training in TBI, and personnel with dual expertise in TBI and visual impairment. Over a third of agency administrators reported that they did not do anything special or different to serve this population. The average percentage of consumers with visual impairments who also had TBIs being served by agencies was 2.1%. Their average competitive employment rate by agency was 43.2%. Employing staff with dual expertise in TBI and visual impairment was associated with serving a greater percentage of consumers and having a higher competitive employment rate.

Discussion:

No agencies had a unique service delivery program or method to serve this population, perhaps due to its low prevalence. Agencies had substantial variability in the proportion of consumers with TBI and visual impairment served and their competitive employment rates. Implications for practitioners: Training vocational rehabilitation professionals to develop expertise in both TBIs and visual impairments may help agencies better serve these consumers.