bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detection of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in Patients with Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease in the Cardiology and Nephrology Communities
Authors: Chaudhry Rafia I. , Mathew Roy O. , Sidhu Mandeep S. , Sidhu-Adler Preety , Lyubarova Radmila , Rangaswami Janani , Salman Loay , Asif Arif , Fleg Jerome L. , McCullough Peter A. , Maddux Frank , Bangalore Sripal
Published: August 2018

Background: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) with a glomerular filtration rate of < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 body surface area. The availability of high-quality randomized controlled trial data to guide management for the population with CKD and ASCVD is limited. Understanding current practice patterns among providers caring for individuals with CKD and CVD is important in guiding future trial questions. Methods: A qualitative survey study was performed. An electronic survey regarding the diagnosis and management of CVD in patients with CKD was conducted using a convenience sample of 450 practicing nephrology and cardiology providers. The survey was administered using Qualtrics® (https://www.qualtrics.com). Results: There were a total of 113 responses, 81 of which were complete responses. More than 90% of the respondents acknowledged the importance of CVD as a cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with CKD. Outside the kidney transplant evaluation setting, 5% of the respondents would screen an asymptomatic patient with advanced CKD for ASCVD. Outside the kidney transplant evaluation scenario, the respondents did not opt for invasive management strategies in advanced CKD. Conclusions: The survey results reveal a lack of consensus among providers caring for patients with advanced CKD about the management of ASCVD in this setting. Future randomized controlled trials will be needed to better inform the clinical management of ASCVD in these patients. The limitations of the study include its small sample size and the relatively low response rate among the respondents.
Thyroid Function Changes in the Elderly and Their Relationship to Cardiovascular Health: A Mini-Review
Authors: Barbesino Giuseppe
Published: August 2018

Background: Thyroid hormones have significant effects on the cardiovascular systems. In general, hyperthyroidism is associated with an increased risk of dysrhythmias, while hypothyroidism may cause atherosclerosis. Recent large studies have sought to identify aging-associated changes in thyroid function and their relevance to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the elderly. Conflicting results have often been published, likely due to the heterogeneity of the studied populations. Objective: This review seeks to briefly summarize the most recent large population studies analyzing thyroid changes with aging and interpreting their effects on cardiovascular health in the elderly. Methods: Selective review of recent literature. Results: The emerging pattern suggests a slight decrease in thyroid function in the elderly leading to slightly higher thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels. However, the incidence of mild hyperthyroidism also increases, especially in populations with historical or current iodine deficiency. Large observational studies suggest that the potential harm from mild hypothyroidism seen in younger population tends to diminish in older subjects, while the harm from mild hyperthyroidism becomes more significant. A markedly increased risk of atrial fibrillation is a well-established consequence of subclinical hyperthyroidism in patients in the sixth decade of life and beyond. Conclusions: The absence of large prospective interventional data does not allow the formulation of strict clinical recommendations, but a higher TSH threshold for treating both subclinical hypothyroidism and subclinical hyperthyroidism in the elderly seems reasonable.
Tracheal Perforation following Chemotherapy of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
Authors: Kongpolprom Napplika
Published: August 2018

Tracheal perforation is a rare and life-threatening complication following the treatment of lymphoma. There are only a few published cases of tracheal disruption from invasive lymphoma, and most of the patients did not survive. Tumor erosion and nodal necrosis from rapid tumor growth or chemotherapeutic response can cause tracheal disruption. We report here a case of tracheal perforation after chemotherapy of lymphoma. A 69-year-old Thai man presented with upper airway obstruction from a large neck mass encasing and invading the trachea. The patient was intubated to bypass the tracheal obstruction. Biopsy of the mass showed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Chemotherapy was urgently administered. Two days after treatment, the patient developed acute respiratory distress with high airway resistance. Emergency bronchoscopy and chest computerized tomography revealed disrupted anterior wall of trachea and endotracheal tube displacement, which created a false track into the mass. Tumor necrosis was thought to be the cause of this perforation and tube malposition. The tube was repositioned by bronchoscopic guidance. Unfortunately, the disrupted trachea could not be reconstructed. Palliative care was consequently provided, and the patient finally passed away a week after the catastrophic event. This report demonstrates clinical presentation, chest imaging, and bronchoscopic findings of tracheal perforation, which is a rare complication following the treatment of lymphoma.
Salt Intake and All-Cause Mortality in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Ikenoue Tatsuyoshi , Koike Kiyomi , Fukuma Shingo , Ogata Satoshi , Iseki Kunitoshi , Fukuhara Shunichi
Published: August 2018

Background: Although some clinical practice guidelines regarding hemodialysis recommend salt restriction, few studies have examined the association between salt intake and clinical outcomes in hemodialysis patients. This study aimed to clarify the association between salt intake and mortality in hemodialysis patients. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was based on the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy renal data registry database (2008) and included 88,115 adult patients who had received hemodialysis for at least 2 years. Estimated salt intake was the main predictor and was calculated from intra-dialytic weight loss and pre- and post-dialysis serum sodium levels. Nonlinear logistic regression was used to determine the association between salt intake and mortality, adjusting for potential confounders. The outcomes considered were all-cause mortality and cardiovascular death at 1 year. Results: The median (25–75th percentile) salt intake at baseline was 6.4 (4.6–8.3) g/day. At 1 year, all-cause mortality occurred in 1,845 (2.1%) patients, including 807 cardiovascular deaths. The low salt intake group (< 6 g/day) demonstrated the highest all-cause mortality and cardiovascular deaths. No association was observed between high salt intake, all-cause mortality and cardiovascular deaths. The lowest risk for all-cause mortality and cardiovascular death occurred among patients with an estimated salt intake of 9 g/day. Conclusion: Low salt intake, but not high salt intake, was associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in Japanese hemodialysis patients. Further studies to justify including a lower limit of salt intake for hemodialysis patients are suggested.
Periodic Mechanical Stress Stimulates Cav-1-Dependent IGF-1R Mitogenic Signals in Rat Chondrocytes Through ERK1/2
Authors: Ren Kewei , Tang Jilei , Jiang Xuefeng , Sun Huiqing , Nong Luming , Shen Nan , Gu Yanqing
Published: August 2018

Background/Aims: The biological effects of periodic mechanical stress on the mitogenesis of chondrocytes have been studied extensively over the past few years. However, the mechanisms underlying the ability of chondrocytes to sense and respond to mechanical stimuli remain to be determined. In the current study, we analyzed the mechanisms by which periodic mechanical stress is translated into biochemical signals and verified the key role of non-integrin mechanosensors including Caveolin-1 (Cav-1), and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) in chondrocyte proliferation. Methods: Two steps were undertaken in the experiment. In the first step, the cells were maintained under static conditions or periodic mechanical stress for 0 h and 1 h prior to Western blot analysis. In the second step, the cells were pretreated with short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeted to Cav-1 or IGF-1R or control scrambled shRNA. Moreover, they were pretreated with their selective inhibitors methyl β-cyclodextrin (MCD) or Linsitinib (OSI-906). They were maintained under static conditions or periodic mechanical stress for 1 h prior to Western blot analysis, and for 3 days, 8 h per day, prior to direct cell counting and CCK-8 assay, respectively. Results: Periodic mechanical stress significantly induced sustained phosphorylation of Cav-1 at Tyr14 and IGF-1R at Tyr1135/1136. Proliferation was inhibited by pretreatment with Cav-1 inhibitor MCD and by shRNA targeted to Cav-1 in chondrocytes in response to periodic mechanical stress. Meantime, MCD and shRNA targeted to Cav-1 also attenuated IGF-1R, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 activation. In addition, inhibiting IGF-1R activity by Linsitinib and shRNA targeted to IGF-1R abrogated chondrocyte proliferation and phosphorylation level of ERK1/2 subjected to periodic mechanical stress, while the phosphorylation site of Cav-1 was not affected. Conclusion: These findings collectively suggested that periodic mechanical stress promoted chondrocyte proliferation through Cav-1-IGF-1R-ERK1/2.
Pyr3 Induces Apoptosis and Inhibits Migration in Human Glioblastoma Cells
Authors: Chang Hsin-Han , Cheng Yu-Chen , Tsai Wen-Chiuan , Tsao Min-Jen , Chen Ying
Published: August 2018

Background/Aims: Glioblastoma, also known as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is a fast-growing type of tumor that is the most aggressive brain malignancy in adults. According to GEO profile analysis, patients with high transient receptor potential canonical 3 (TRPC3) expression have poor survival rates. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of Ethyl-1-(4-(2,3,3-trichloroacrylamide)phenyl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate (Pyr3), a selective TRPC3 channel blocker, on the proliferation and migration of human glioblastoma cells. Methods: We first analyzed the TRPC3 mRNA expression in Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Then, TRPC3 protein expression was analyzed by Western blotting in three human GBM cell lines. The survival rate was measured by sulforhodamine B. JC1 staining was used to analyze the mitochondria membrane potential by flow cytometric analysis. Besides, the migration and invasion were evaluated by wound healing and Transwell assays. Annexin V and 7-aminoactinomycin D staining was used to monitor the apoptosis by flow cytometric analysis. The expression of apoptotic-related and migration-related proteins after Pyr3 treatment was detected by Western blotting. In addition, an orthotropic xenograft mouse model was used to assay the effect of Pyr3 in the in vivo study. Results: Basis on the results of bioinformatics study, glioma patients with higher TRPC3 expression had a shorter survival time than those with lower TRPC3 expression. GBM cell proliferation was decreased by Pyr3 treatment. The migration and invasion abilities of glioma cells were also inhibited via focal adhesion kinase and myosin light chain dephosphorization after Pyr3 treatment. Moreover, Pyr3 induced caspase-dependent apoptosis and mitochondria membrane potential imbalance in the GBM cells. In a xenograft animal model, Pyr3 in combination with temozolomide (TMZ) inhibited GBM tumor growth. Conclusion: Pyr3 inhibited GBM tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Pyr3-TMZ combination therapy could be used to treat glioblastoma in the future.
A Novel Tumor-Suppressor, CDH18, Inhibits Glioma Cell Invasiveness Via UQCRC2 and Correlates with the Prognosis of Glioma Patients
Authors: Bai Ya-hui , Zhan Yun-bo , Yu Bin , Wang Wei-Wei , Wang Li , Zhou Jin-qiao , Chen Ruo-kun , Zhang Feng-jiang , Zhao Xin-wei , Duan Wen-chao , Wang Yan-min , Liu Jun , Bao Jian-ji , Zhang Zhen-Yu , Liu Xian-zhi
Published: August 2018

Background/Aims: CDH18 (cadherin 18) is specifically expressed in the central nervous system and associated with various neuropsychiatric disorders. In this study, the role of CDH18 in glioma carcinogenesis and progression was investigated. Methods: The expression of CDH18 and its prognostic value in patients with gliomas were analyzed in public database and validated by real-time PCR/immunohistochemical staining (IHC) in our cohort. CCK-8 assay, transwell migration assay, wound healing assay, clonogenic assay and tumorigenicity assay were used to compare the proliferation, invasion and migration ability of glioma cells with different expressions of CDH18. iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomic analysis were used to reveal the downstream target of CDH18. Rescue experiments were conducted to further validate the relationship between UQCRC2 and CDH18. Results: The expression of CDH18 was depressed in a ladder-like pattern from normal tissues to WHO IV gliomas, and was an independent prognostic factor in TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas), CGGA (the Chinese glioma genome-atlas) and our glioma cohorts (n=453). Functional experiments in vitro and in vivo demonstrated that CDH18 inhibited invasion/migration, enhanced chemoresistance and suppressed tumorigenicity of glioma cells. UQCRC2 was identified as the downstream target of CDH18 by proteomic analysis. The expression of UQCRC2 was gradually absent as the WHO grades of gliomas escalated and was positively correlated with the expression of CDH18. Furthermore, in vitro assays demonstrated that down-regulation of UQCRC2 partly reversed the inhibition of invasion/migration ability and chemoresistance in CDH18 overexpressed glioma cell lines. Survival analysis demonstrated that combined CDH18/UQCRC2 biomarkers significantly influenced the prognosis of glioma patients. Conclusions: The present research demonstrated that CDH18 exerted its tumor-suppressor role via UQCRC2 in glioma cells and CDH18 might serve as a therapeutic target for treating gliomas.
miR-27b Suppresses Endothelial Cell Proliferation and Migration by Targeting Smad7 in Kawasaki Disease
Authors: Rong Xing , Ge Donghui , Shen Danping , Chen Xianda , Wang Xuliang , Zhang Lu , Jia Chang , Zeng Jingjing , He Yue’e , Qiu Huixian , Su Xiaoping , Chu Maoping
Published: August 2018

Background/Aims: Increasing evidence indicates that microRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in Kawasaki disease (KD). Our previous study demonstrated that hsa-miR-27b-3p (miR-27b) was up-regulated in KD serum. However, the specific role of miR-27b in KD remains unclear. We aimed to investigate that miR-27b could be a biomarker and therapeutic target for KD treatment. As well, the specific mechanism of miR-27b effecting endothelial cell functions was studied. Methods: The expression of miR-27b and Smad7 was measured by qRT-PCR. Gain-of-function strategy was used to observe the effect of miR-27b on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) proliferation and migration. Bioinformatics analyses were applied to predict miR-27b targets and then we verified Smad7 by a luciferase reporter assay. Western blot was performed to detect the protein expression of Smad7, PCNA, MMP9, MMP12 and TGF-β-related genes. Results: We confirmed that miR-27b was shown to be dramatically up-regulated in KD serum and KD serum-treated HUVECs and that elevated expression of miR-27b suppressed the proliferation and migration of HUVECs. Furthermore, our results verified that miR-27b mediated cell functions by affecting the TGF-β via targeting Smad7 in HUVECs. Conclusion: These results suggested that up-regulated miR-27b had a protective role in HUVECs proliferation and migration via targeting Smad7 and affecting TGF-β pathway. Therefore, miR-27b represented a potential biomarker for KD and may serve as a promising therapeutic target for KD treatment.
Activation of TRPV1 Prevents Salt-Induced Kidney Damage and Hypertension After Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rats
Authors: Yu Shuang-Quan , Ma Shuangtao , Wang Donna H.
Published: August 2018

Background/Aims: High-salt intake after recovery from renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury leads to hypertension with severe renal damage. Transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) channels have been involved in the regulation of inflammation and oxidative stress following ischemic organ injury. We tested the hypothesis that activation of TRPV1 conveys preconditioning protection to the kidney subjected to I/R. Methods: TRPV1 was activated or down-regulated by subcutaneous injection of a low (1mg/kg) or high (100mg/kg) dose of capsaicin, respectively, 3 hours before ischemia. Rats were fed a 0.4% NaCl diet for 5 weeks after I/R followed by a 4% NaCl diet for 4 more weeks in 4 groups: sham, I/R, I/R+high-dose capsaicin (HCap), and I/R+low-dose capsaicin (LCap). Results: Renal TRPV1 expression was decreased in I/R rats (P< 0.05) and further reduced in I/R+HCap group (P< 0.05) but unchanged in I/R+LCap rats compared with the sham group. Blood pressure were elevated in I/R rats (P< 0.05) and further increased in I/R+HCap group (P< 0.05) but unchanged in I/R+LCap rats compared with sham. Renal function was impaired in I/R rats (P< 0.05) and further deteriorated in I/R+HCap group (P< 0.05) but unchanged in I/R+LCap group. Renal inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, and renal collagen deposition were augmented in I/R rats (all P< 0.05) and further intensified in I/R+HCap group (all P< 0.05) but unchanged in I/R+LCap group. Conclusion: Activation of TRPV1 plays an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress role in preventing renal tissue damage and salt-induced hypertension after I/R injury, indicating that TRPV1 conveys preconditioning protection that may have therapeutic implication.
Feminism Against Crime Control: On Sexual Subordination and State Apologism
Authors: Duff Koshka
Published: August 2018

Its critics call it ‘feminism-as-crime-control’, or ‘Governance Feminism’, diagnosing it as a pernicious form of identity politics. Its advocates call it taking sexual violence seriously – by which they mean wielding the power of the state to ‘punish perpetrators’ and ‘protect vulnerable women’. Both sides agree that this approach follows from the radical feminist analysis of sexual violence most strikingly formulated by Catharine MacKinnon. The aim of this paper is to rethink the Governance Feminism debate by questioning this common presupposition. I ask whether taking MacKinnon’s analysis of sexual violence seriously might, in fact, itself give us reason to be critical of political strategies that embrace the punitive state. By raising this question, I hope to persuade radical feminists to listen to critics of carceral politics rather than dismissing them as rape apologists, and critics of carceral politics to listen to radical feminists rather than dismissing them as state apologists.
Taxonomic review of the tribe Sisyphini sensu stricto (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) in southern Africa, including new species descriptions
Authors: Daniel Gimo M. , Davis Adrian LV. , Sole Catherine L. , Scholtz Clarke H.
Published: August 2018

The tribe Sisyphini sensu stricto
Mulsant, 1842 comprises only three genera, the widespread Sisyphus
Latreille, 1807 and Neosisyphus
Müller, 1942, and the Mauritius endemic, Nesosisyphus
Vinson, 1946. In southern Africa, Sisyphus and Neosisyphus are represented by five species groups in each genus. Together, they comprise a total of 33 valid species, of which six are new: Sisyphus auricomus
sp. n;
Sisyphus australis
sp. n
; Sisyphus bicuariensis
sp. n; Sisyphus inconspicuus
sp. n; Sisyphus swazi
sp. n; and Neosisyphus tembyi
sp. n. A further Southern African species, Sisyphus crispatus
Gory, 1833, is proposed as a nomen dubium. Sisyphus natalensis
Balthasar, 1968 (syn. n), and Sisyphus bornemisszanus
Endrödi, 1983 (pars) (syn. n) are made synonyms of Sisyphus sordidus
Boheman, 1857. Lectotypes and paralectotypes are designated for Sisyphus costatus (Thunberg, 1818); Sisyphus seminulum
Gerstaecker, 1871; Sisyphus nanniscus
Péringuey, 1901; Sisyphus transvaalensis
Péringuey 1901; Neosisyphus spinipes (Thunberg, 1818) and Neosisyphus barbarossa (Wiedemann, 1823). Diagnoses, photographs of habitus and male genitalia, lists of examined material and distribution maps are presented for all species. An identification key to the southern African sisyphine species is provided.
Social Networks and Social Worlds
Authors: Hardesty Jared Ross
Published: August 2018

This essay argues that the “slave community” paradigm obfuscates alternative lived experiences for enslaved men and women, especially those living in the urban areas of the early modern Atlantic world, and uses eighteenth-century Boston as a case study. A bustling Atlantic port city where slaves comprised between ten and fifteen percent of the population, Boston provides an important counterpoint. Slaves were a minority of residents, lived in households with few other people of African descent, worked with laborers from across the socio-economic spectrum, and had near constant interaction with their masters. Moreover, slavery in Boston reached its zenith before the American Revolution, meaning older, pre-revolutionary and early modern notions of social order—hierarchy, deference, and dependence—structured their society and everyday lives. These factors imbricated enslaved Bostonians in the broader society. Boston’s slaves inhabited multiple “social worlds” where they fostered a rich tapestry of relations and forms of resistance.
Dolichopodidae of riverbeds and springs in Croatia with an updated checklist of Croatia (Diptera)
Authors: POLLET MARC , IVKOVIĆ MARIJA
Published: August 2018

Several invertebrate surveys in Croatia conducted between 2005 and 2014 and including; e.g., Plitvice Lakes, produced 123 bycatch samples of Dolichopodidae (Diptera) from 68 sampling sites collected at 36 localities in seven counties. Seventy-seven were retrieved from emergence traps, six from pan traps and 40 were collected with sweep net and/or aspirator. They contained 420 dolichopodid flies that belonged to 64 species in 22 genera. Four species, Campsicnemus umbripennis, Hercostomus chetifer, Liancalus virens and Syntormon pallipes, accounted for over half of the yields. Contrary to most species that were found in largest numbers in rivers, and their beds in particular, S. pallipes and Hercostomus gracilis were considerably more abundant at springs. Fifty-five species could be added to the national checklist which raises the total number to 94 species. All species records are given, the habitat of each species is described, if possible, and taxonomic notes are provided for some dubious species. Finally, elements are presented to support the assumption that the extant dolichopodid species richness of Croatia is at least three- to fourfold of the current number.
First record of a Xenophyophore (Rhizaria: Foraminifera) on the Chilean margin
Authors: ARAYA JUAN FRANCISCO , GOODAY ANDREW J.
Published: August 2018

Xenophyophores are a group of large foraminifera, confined to deep-sea habitats below ~500 m, whose often fragile agglutinated tests may attain sizes up to 10–15 cm or more; their agglutinated tests incorporate a variety of foreign particles (termed ‘xenophyae’), including mineral particles, foraminiferan and radiolarian tests, diatom frustules and sponge spicules, and form structures ranging from simple tubes, plates and rounded lumps to complex folded, branching or reticulated formations (Tendal, 1972). Xenophyophores are widely distributed around the world, particularly in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans with comparatively few records from the Indian Ocean and from Arctic and Antarctic seas; they occur at all depths in the oceans from ~500 m to >10,900 m (Tendal, 1972, 1996) and are particularly abundant in regions of high surface production, for example beneath upwelling zones, or on seamounts and sloped topography where particle flux is high (Levin and Gooday, 1992). There are scant records regarding xenophyophores in the SE Pacific. Species of the order Stannomida are recorded from the Ecuador and Peru margins (north of ~12°S) (Tendal 1972: Figs 18, 19), while species of the order Psamminida are common in the DISCOL experimental area of the Peru Basin (~7° 4ˈS, 88° 28’W; ~4150 m depth). Maybury and Evans (1994) illustrated two specimens of an undescribed Psammina species collected during the 1989 DISCOL campaign, but otherwise these collections remain largely unpublished.
A new species of Calliostoma (Vetigastropoda: Calliostomatidae) from Canopus Bank, off northeastern Brazil
Authors: CAVALLARI DANIEL C. , SIMONE LUIZ R.L.
Published: August 2018

In the present study, Calliostoma melliferum sp. nov. is described from Canopus Bank, a seamount located ~190 km off Fortaleza, Ceará, northeastern Brazil, at depths of 60–260 m. Shell morphology and anatomy of the soft parts are analyzed in detail with the aid of SEM and micro-computed tomography (CT-Scan) techniques. We take the opportunity to provide thorough conchological and anatomical comparisons with similar species from the Southwestern Atlantic.
Projected Trends in Interannual Variation in Summer Seasonal Precipitation and Its Extremes over the Tropical Asian Monsoon Regions in CMIP5
Authors: Kamizawa Nozomi , Takahashi Hiroshi G.
Published: August 2018

Long-term changes in the interannual variation in summer seasonal [June–August (JJA)] precipitation over the tropical Asian summer monsoon (ASM) region were investigated using 22 simulations from phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) of the representative concentration pathway 4.5 (RCP4.5) run. Objective evaluations were performed with statistical tests to determine if there was an agreement among the multiple models. A robust increasing trend in fluctuations in the interannual variation in JJA precipitation over the ASM region was found. Expansions in both the wet and dry extremes of JJA precipitation anomalies were identified from the beginning to end of the twenty-first century, which were indicative of an intensification in interannual variation. These results indicate that the frequency and/or intensity of floods and droughts will likely increase under global warming. The spatial distribution of the projected expansion of wet and dry extremes differed over the ASM region. The signals in the wet extreme appeared throughout the whole ASM region, whereas those in the dry extreme were strong, particularly over the area from the Bay of Bengal to the equatorial western North Pacific, corresponding with the monsoon trough where the mean JJA precipitation increased.
Atlantic Control of the Late Nineteenth-Century Sahel Humid Period
Authors: Villamayor Julián , Mohino Elsa , Khodri Myriam , Mignot Juliette , Janicot Serge
Published: August 2018

Precipitation regime shifts in the Sahel region have dramatic humanitarian and economic consequences such as the severe droughts during the 1970s and 1980s. Though Sahel precipitation changes during the late twentieth century have been extensively studied, little is known about the decadal variability prior to the twentieth century. Some evidence suggests that during the second half of the nineteenth century, the Sahel was as rainy as or even more rainy than during the 1950s and 1960s. Here, we reproduce such an anomalous Sahel humid period in the late nineteenth century by means of climate simulations. We show that this increase of rainfall was associated with an anomalous supply of humidity and higher-than-normal deep convection in the mid- and high troposphere. We present evidence suggesting that sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the Atlantic basin played the dominant role in driving decadal Sahel rainfall variability during this early period.
Observation-Informed Generalized Hybrid Error Covariance Models
Authors: Satterfield Elizabeth A. , Hodyss Daniel , Kuhl David D. , Bishop Craig H.
Published: August 2018

Because of imperfections in ensemble data assimilation schemes, one cannot assume that the ensemble-derived covariance matrix is equal to the true error covariance matrix. Here, we describe a simple and intuitively compelling method to fit calibration functions of the ensemble sample variance to the mean of the distribution of true error variances, given an ensemble estimate. We demonstrate that the use of such calibration functions is consistent with theory showing that, when sampling error in the prior variance estimate is considered, the gain that minimizes the posterior error variance uses the expected true prior variance, given an ensemble sample variance. Once the calibration function has been fitted, it can be combined with ensemble-based and climatologically based error correlation information to obtain a generalized hybrid error covariance model. When the calibration function is chosen to be a linear function of the ensemble variance, the generalized hybrid error covariance model is the widely used linear hybrid consisting of a weighted sum of a climatological and an ensemble-based forecast error covariance matrix. However, when the calibration function is chosen to be, say, a cubic function of the ensemble sample variance, the generalized hybrid error covariance model is a nonlinear function of the ensemble estimate. We consider idealized univariate data assimilation and multivariate cycling ensemble data assimilation to demonstrate that the generalized hybrid error covariance model closely approximates the optimal weights found through computationally expensive tuning in the linear case and, in the nonlinear case, outperforms any plausible linear model.
Observations and Predictability of a Nondeveloping Tropical Disturbance over the Eastern Atlantic
Authors: Brammer Alan , Thorncroft Chris D. , Dunion Jason P.
Published: August 2018

A strong African easterly wave (AEW) left the West African coast in early September 2014 and operational global numerical forecasts suggested a potential for rapid tropical cyclogenesis of this disturbance in the eastern Atlantic, despite the presence of a large region of dry air northwest of the disturbance. Analysis and in situ observations show that after leaving the coast, the closed circulation associated with the AEW trough was not well aligned vertically, and therefore, low-level or midlevel dry air was advected below or above, respectively, areas of closed circulation. GPS dropwindsonde observations highlight the dry air undercutting the midlevel recirculation region in the southwestern quadrant. This advection of dry air constrains the spatial extent of deep convection within the AEW trough, leading to the vortex decaying. As the column continues to be displaced horizontally, losing vertical alignment, this enables increased horizontal advection of dry air into the system further limiting convective activity. Ensemble forecasts indicate that short-term errors in precipitation rate and vorticity generation can lead to an over intensified and well-aligned vortex, which then interacts less with the unfavorable environment, allowing for further convection and intensification. The stronger vortex provides more favorable conditions for precipitation through a more vertically coherent closed circulation and thus a positive feedback loop is initiated. The short-term forecasts of precipitation were shown to be sensitive to lower-tropospheric moisture anomalies around the AEW trough through ensemble sensitivity analysis from Global Ensemble Forecast System real-time forecasts.
Protecting Walnut Orchards against Frost: A Test of Extended Theory of Planned Behavior
Authors: Kazemi Neda , Sharifzadeh Maryam , Ahmadvand Mostafa
Published: August 2018

Cold stress is a major environmental constraint that limits nut productivity worldwide. Late spring frost is identified as a yield-reducing factor in Persian walnut production as well. Despite significant improvements in cold and freezing tolerance methods, orchardists have not taken advantage of these recommended protection methods. This study examined determinants of walnut orchardists’ frost-protection behavior, using the extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) as a conceptual framework. Based on TPB assumptions, frost-protection behavior is mediated by a series of constructs. The purpose of this research was to examine the role of TPB variables (extended by orchard-system profile) in meeting the necessities of performing active and passive methods of frost protection. A total of 91 orchardists completed a baseline questionnaire that included the TPB constructs. The present investigation was carried out in the major walnut growing site of Sepidan County, western Fars Province, Iran. The results from the hierarchical multiple regression showed that the behavioral attitude, perceived behavioral control (PBC), intention, orchard-system profile, and interaction of orchard-system features and PBC were significant predictors of frost-protection behavior in the prospective sample. Results of the present study provided evidence that the extended TPB is a useful framework for understanding orchardists’ frost-protection behavior.
Toward a Posthumanist Ethics of Qualitative Research in a Big Data Era
Authors: Mauthner Natasha S.
Published: August 2018

The Big Data phenomenon, and its uptake in qualitative research, raises ethical issues around data aggregation, data linkages, and data anonymization as well as concerns around changing meanings and possibilities of informed consent and privacy protection. In this article, I address the ethical issues that arise from Big Data through a posthumanist philosophical framework. The humanist ethics that underpins normative ethical concerns—as outlined above—focuses on the unequal power relationship between researchers and research subjects and the potential harm that research can cause to research participants. Ethical practice consists in following guidelines and codes of ethical conduct designed, not so much to avoid these power differentials, but to protect research participants from potential exploitation and infringements of their human rights. Unethical research is understood as research that breaches these principles and/or harms its research subjects. A posthumanist ethics treats knowledge-making itself as a matter of ethical concern. It shifts the focus away from the power of researchers over research participants toward the “world-making” powers of practices of inquiry: their ability to constitute (and not simply discover) the very nature of their objects/subjects of study. Its focus of ethical concern—what it regards as unethical—is research that claims to represent the world “as it really is.” On this approach, ethical practice consists in accounting for the ways in which research ontologically constitutes its objects and subjects of study. The critical intervention made possible by bringing a posthumanist perspective to bear on the ethics of qualitative research in a Big Data era is to foreground Big Data’s treatment of data as self-evident, and its positivist claim to represent the world innocently, accurately, and objectively, as matters of ethical concern.
A Communicative Constitutive Perspective on Corporate Social Responsibility: Ventriloquism, Undecidability, and Surprisability
Authors: Cooren François
Published: August 2018

Adopting a communication as constitutive of organization (CCO) perspective on ethics and corporate social responsibility (CSR) invites us to create the conditions of a dialogue, discussion, or debate between various stakeholders, who can then try to confront their respective positions on a given issue, and possibly come to a decision regarding how a situation should be evaluated and/or responded to. As shown in this article, getting human stakeholders to voice their concerns about a specific situation is a way not only to rationally confront multiple viewpoints on what should be done about it (à la Habermas) but also to allow elements of this situation to reveal themselves in a discussion. This is why any ethical decision has to experience a form of undecidability and surprisability. When beliefs and opinions can be called into question, it means that participants are ready to become attentive to what a situation might surprisingly call for. Communication is therefore a matter of ventriloquism, as human participants should also be considered the means by which elements of a situation manage to express themselves in a discussion, dictating specific courses of action over others. This concretely means that multiple voices can be heard in such a scene: not only the voices of the human stakeholders who speak to each other but also the voices of facts, principles, future generations, ecosystems, populations that are made to say things through these various turns of talk.
Using Regression Discontinuity to Estimate the Effects of a Tier-1 Research-Based Mathematics Program in Seventh Grade
Authors: Jitendra Asha K. , Harwell Michael R. , Im Soo-hyun , Karl Stacy R. , Slater Susan C.
Published: August 2018

The present study used a regression discontinuity approach to test whether schema-based instruction (SBI) was effective for students identified with varying levels of mathematics difficulties (MD) who received Tier-1 instruction. The performance of these students was compared to similar students who received business-as-usual Tier-1 instruction. Results indicated SBI on average raised scores regardless of whether a student was categorized as having MD on outcome measures of mathematics problem solving, suggesting that SBI is effective for a wide range of proportional reasoning skills and general mathematical proficiency, which broadens the population of students who could benefit from SBI. Standardized slopes for the treatment effect also provide evidence of the effectiveness of SBI. Implications for practice and research are discussed.
The Relentless Pursuit of Discipline: An Africological March Toward Knowledge Liberation
Authors: Asante Molefi Kete
Published: August 2018

In this article, Molefi Kete Asante, the founder of the first PhD program in African American Studies gives a personal account of the aims, objectives, and the challenges he and his principal colleagues faced in the creation of the program. Asante recounts the political and campus cultural climate that helped to facilitate the pursuit. However, the article centers on the pursuit of discipline despite the ever-present attempts to divert the theoretical and methodological direction of the department. Asante saw the creation of the doctorate as the end of the process that was begun by Nathan Hare at San Francisco State University when he created the Department of Black Studies. Temple’s graduation of more than 180 doctorates has established its presence in the Academy as a dominant player in discipline development at the graduate level for Africology.
Enamel Remineralization with Novel Bioactive Glass Air Abrasion
Authors: Taha A.A. , Fleming P.S. , Hill R.G. , Patel M.P.
Published: August 2018

Enamel demineralization or white spot lesions (WSLs) are a frequent complication associated with fixed appliance–based orthodontic treatment. The remineralization potential of a novel fluoride-containing bioactive glass (QMAT3) propelled via an air abrasion system was compared with Sylc glass and artificial saliva on artificially induced WSLs. Thirty extracted human premolars were randomly assigned into 3 groups ( n = 10) per method of treatment and scanned with optical coherence tomography and noncontact profilometer in the 4 enamel states: sound, demineralized, after glass propulsion, and after immersion in artificial saliva. Knoop hardness testing was also performed. Twenty additional prepared teeth samples were also randomly selected for examination by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (2 teeth per technique) under each of the 4 enamel conditions. 19F MAS-NMR (magic angle spinning–nuclear magnetic resonance) was also used to detect the type of apatite formed on the enamel surface. Significant enamel remineralization with surface roughness and intensity of light backscattering similar to that of sound enamel was observed following treatment with QMAT3. In addition, mineral deposits were detected on the remineralized enamel surfaces, forming a protective layer and improving its hardness. This layer was rich in calcium, phosphate, and fluoride; 19F MAS-NMR confirmed the formation of fluorapatite. This finding is particularly beneficial since fluorapatite is more chemically stable than hydroxyapatite and has greater resistance to acid attack. Hence, a promising fluoride-containing bioactive glass for enamel remineralization has been developed, although further clinical evaluation and refinement is required.
Etiology of Hypomineralized Second Primary Molars: A Prospective Twin Study
Authors: Silva M.J. , Kilpatrick N.M. , Craig J.M. , Manton D.J. , Leong P. , Burgner D. , Scurrah K.J.
Published: August 2018

The etiology of hypomineralized second primary molars (HSPM) is unclear, but genetic and environmental factors have been proposed. The aim of this study was to investigate the relative contribution of genes and environment to the etiology of HSPM and to identify potential environmental risk factors in a longitudinal twin cohort. Children from twin pregnancies ( N = 250) were recruited antenatally, and detailed demographic, health, and phenotypic data were collected at recruitment, 24- and 36-wk gestation, birth, and 18 mo of age. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D was quantified for mothers at 28-wk gestation and infants at birth. Dental examinations were conducted on the twins at 6 y of age to determine the presence, severity, and extent of HSPM per standardized criteria. To investigate associations of environmental risk factors with HSPM, multiple logistic regression models were fitted with generalized estimating equations to adjust for twin correlation. Within- and between-pair analyses were performed for unshared continuous variables: birthweight and birth 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Twin-twin concordance for monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) pairs was calculated and compared after adjusting for identified risk factors. A total of 344 twins underwent the 6-y-old dental assessment; HSPM occurred in 68 (19.8%). After adjusting for potential confounders, vitamin D levels at birth, infantile eczema, dizygosity, in vitro fertilization, socioeconomic position, and maternal smoking beyond the first trimester of pregnancy demonstrated the strongest associations with HSPM. Overall concordance for HSPM was 0.47 (95% CI, 0.32 to 0.62) with weak evidence ( P = 0.078) of higher concordance in MZ twins (0.63; 95% CI, 0.38 to 0.89) as compared with DZ twins (0.41; 95% CI, 0.24 to 0.58). After adjusting for known risk factors, there was no evidence ( P = 0.172) for an additive genetic influence. These findings suggest that shared and unshared environmental factors, such as maternal smoking later in pregnancy and infantile eczema, are important in the etiology of HSPM.
4D cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, 4D and 2D transthoracic echocardiography: a comparison of in-vivo assessment of ventricular function in rats
Authors: Stegmann Hedwig , Bäuerle Tobias , Kienle Katharina , Dittrich Sven , Alkassar Muhannad
Published: August 2018

Preclinical cardiovascular research is the foundation of our understanding and broad knowledge of heart function and cardiovascular disease. Reliable cardiac imaging modalities are the basis for applicable results. Four-dimensional cardiac magnetic resonance (4D CMR) has been set as the gold standard for in-vivo assessment of ventricular function in rodents. However, technical improvements in echocardiography now allow us to image the whole heart, which makes four-dimensional echocardiography (4DE) a possible alternative to 4D CMR. To date, no study has systematically assessed 4DE in comparison with 4D CMR in rats. In total we studied 26 juvenile Sprague-Dawley rats (Crl: CD (SD) IGS). Twenty rats underwent echocardiographic imaging (2D and 4D) and 4D CMR. Five of those rats underwent a ligation of the superior and inferior vena cava to reduce the cardiac inflow as a disease model. Six additional rats were used to assess reproducibility of echocardiography and underwent three echocardiographic examinations. 4D CMR was performed on a 7T scanner; 2D and 4D echocardiography was conducted using a 40 MHz transducer. Correlation between 4D CMR, 4DE and 2DE for left-ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was assessed. An excellent correlation was observed between 4DE and 4D CMR ( r = 0.95, p < 0.001). Correlation of 2DE and 4D CMR was weak ( r = 0.57, p < 0.01). 4DE provides results that are equally precise as 4D CMR and highly reproducible with less technical effort than 4D CMR.
Policy Failure Revisited: Conceptual Implications From the Chilean Case of Transantiago
Authors: Olavarría-Gambi Mauricio
Published: August 2018

The article analyzes the ability of policy failure frameworks to characterize and explain the reform of Santiago’s public transport system. It focuses on the following questions: When a policy may be deemed a failure, what sources led to the failure, and what lesson may be drawn from the case? It suggests that these three questions must be addressed simultaneously to integrally understand a policy failure. The case proposes areas of further investigation to elaborate a conceptual framework for a better understanding of why a particular policy may fail. Information comes from 53 interviews, official documents, academic bibliography, and the media.
Do teachers know their students? Examining teacher attunement in secondary schools
Authors: Marucci Eleonora , Oldenburg Beau , Barrera Davide
Published: August 2018

Using survey data from 457 Italian sixth grade secondary school students ( M age = 11.9, SD = 0.7, 46% girls) and 58 of their teachers ( M age = 45.7, SD = 9.4, 92.8% female) this study examined the extent to which secondary school teachers were attuned to their students. More specifically, we investigated the extent to which teachers were aware of which students were highly liked, disliked, prosocial, aggressive, or engaged in risky behavior. For each of these five dimensions, teacher attunement was measured by comparing teacher’s nominations to the proportion of received peer nominations per student. Then, a general teacher attunement score was constructed by calculating the mean of these five scores. Descriptive analyses showed a moderate teacher attunement, which was highest for prosocial behavior and lowest for risk behavior. It was investigated whether certain teachers had a higher attunement than others. Our analyses showed that teacher attunement was positively associated with the amount of time teachers spent with their students and with their experience as a teacher. Furthermore, attunement was negatively associated with classroom size.
Exploiting named entity recognition for improving syntactic-based web service discovery
Authors: Lizarralde Ignacio , Mateos Cristian , Rodriguez Juan Manuel , Zunino Alejandro
Published: August 2018

Web Services have become essential to the software industry as they represent reusable, remotely accessible functionality and data. Since Web Services must be discovered before being consumed, many discovery approaches applying classic Information Retrieval techniques, which store and process textual service descriptions, have arisen. These efforts are affected by term mismatch: a description relevant to a query can be retrieved only if they share many words. We present an approach to improve Web Service discoverability that automatically augments Web Service descriptions and can be used on top of such existing syntactic-based approaches. We exploit Named Entity Recognition to identify entities in descriptions and expand them with information from public text corpora, for example, Wikidata, mitigating term mismatch since it exploits both synonyms and hypernyms. We evaluated our approach together with classical syntactic-based service discovery approaches using a real 1274-service dataset, achieving up to 15.06% better Recall scores, and up to 17% Precision-at-1, 8% Precision-at-2 and 4% Precision-at-3.