bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of Antioxidative Enzymes Polymorphisms with Efficacy of Platin and Fluorouracil-Based Adjuvant Therapy in Gastric Cancer
Authors: Zhang Honghong , Zhao Weiyong , Gu Dongying , Du Mulong , Gong Weida , Tan Yongfei , Wang Meilin , Wen Juan , Zhai Yongning , Xu Zhi
Published: August 2018

Background/Aims: Imbalance of oxidative/antioxidative enzymes in cells is associated with carcinogenesis and cancer cell chemoresistance. The aim of this study was to examine the clinical significance of potentially functional single nucleotides polymorphisms (SNPs) in antioxidative enzymes, GPxs and CAT, in stages II and III gastric cancer patients. Methods: A total of 591 gastric cancer patients who had radical gastrectomy were recruited. 207 patients received platinum and fluorouracil-based (PF-based) adjuvant chemotherapy and 384 patients were untreated. GPx1 rs1050450, GPx2 rs4902346, GPx3 rs736775, rs3828599 and CAT rs769218 were genotyped in the DNA samples extracted from paraffin-embedded tumor tissue. Results: CAT rs769218 was significantly correlated with the overall survival (OS) in the dominant model (P = 0.014). Multivariate analysis revealed that CAT rs769218 GA/AA (HR, 0.715; 95%CI, 0.562-0.910, P = 0.006) was an independent prognostic marker indicating improved survival. After adjustments, GPx3 rs736775 TC/CC was significantly associated with improved OS (HR, 0.621; 95%CI, 0.399-0.965; P=0.034) in patients treated with PF-based adjuvant chemotherapy, and CAT rs769218 GA/AA was significantly associated with improved OS (HR, 0.646; 95% CI, 0.482-0.864; P = 0.003) in the untreated patients. PF-based chemotherapy significantly decreased risk of death for patients carrying GPx3 rs736775 TC/CC and age ≤ 60 years or with diffused type adenocarcinoma compared to surgery alone. Conclusion: our findings suggested CAT rs769218 and GPx3 rs736775 may be considered as prognostic markers in gastric cancer. Patient stratification by GPx3 rs736775 and conventional pathological parameters may provide additional predictive information in treatment decision-making.
Overexpressed D2 Dopamine Receptor Inhibits Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Progression through Inhibiting NF-κB Signaling Pathway
Authors: Wu Xiao-Yuan , Zhang Chen-Xi , Deng Li-Chun , Xiao Jie , Yuan Xin , Zhang Bin , Hou Zhi-Bo , Sheng Zhi-Hong , Sun Lan , Jiang Qi-Chen , Zhao Wei
Published: August 2018

Background/Aims: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide. Dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) has multiple roles in clinical progression of NSCLC and functional maintenance of cancer cells. However, little is known about the molecular mechanism. Here, we clarified whether DRD2 inhibits lung cancer progression and identified the underlying downstream signaling. Methods: DRD2 mRNA and protein levels were detected in clinical specimens by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. MTT and colony formation assays were applied to analyze cell proliferation. The underlying molecular mechanism was identified by dual luciferase, western blot, qRT-PCR, cAMP detection, immunoprecipitation, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. A murine NSCLC model was used to clarify the role of DRD2 in tumor cell proliferation. Results: We found that DRD2 ablated tumor cell growth. DRD2 expression in NSCLC tissues was lower than in adjacent normal lung tissues. Moreover, DRD2 mRNA and protein levels in NSCLC were negatively correlated with the tumor size, TNM status, and patient overall survival. In vitro experiments showed that disruption of DRD2 promoted the proliferation of NSCLC cell lines A549 and SK-MES-1 by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway. Furthermore, DRD2 overexpression not only blocked lipopolysaccharide-induced A549 and SK-MES-1 cell proliferation and growth, but also inhibited the tumorigenesis in murine xenograft models. Conclusion: These results indicate that DRD2 may be a potential therapeutic target for lung cancer patients with high DRD2 expression by ablating the NF-κB signaling pathway.
Orai1 and Stim1 Mediate the Majority of Store-Operated Calcium Entry in Multiple Myeloma and Have Strong Implications for Adverse Prognosis
Authors: Wang Wei , Ren Yuyue , Wang Lianjie , Zhao Weiwei , Dong Xiushuai , Pan Jiaqi , Gao Haiyan , Tian Yaoyao
Published: August 2018

Background/Aims: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell neoplasm which constitutes about 10% of all hematologic malignancies. Despite the development and application of novel agents, MM still undergoes an aggressive and incurable course in the vast majority of patients. Ca2+ is one of the critical regulators of cell migration. Ca2+ influx is essential for the migration of various types of cells including tumor cells. However, the role of store-operated calcium entry (SOC) channels, the only Ca2+ channels of non-excitable cells, has not yet been reported in MM cell survival. Methods: We evaluated the expression of Stim1 and Orai1 (two key regulators of SOC) in MM tissues and cell lines by immunohistochemical assay, quantitative real-time PCR assay and western blot. MM cell lines were pretreated with pharmacological blockers and siRNAs, and then MM cell proliferation, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis were examined by FACS (flow cytometry) assay, and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining. The correlation between the expression of Stim1 (or Orai1) level and outcome in MM were assessed by using Progress Free Survival (PFS). Results: Stim1 and Orai1 were both abundantly expressed in MM tissue and MM cell lines. Inhibition of SOCE reduced MM cell viability, and induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Stim1 or Orai1 silencing also reduced cell viability, caused cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in MM cell lines. Over-expression of Stim1/Orai1 in MM patients was closely associated with the clinical outcome of MM. Conclusion: The Stim1/Orai1-mediated signaling participates in the pathogenesis of MM, which represents an attractive target for future therapeutic intervention.
Metabolic Shift Induced by ω -3 PUFAs and Rapamycin Lead to Cancer Cell Death
Authors: Zhu Shenglong , Feng Ninghan , Lin Guangxiao , Tong Yuelin , Jiang Xuan , Yang Qin , Wang Shunhe , Chen Wei , He Zhao , Chen Yong Q
Published: August 2018

Background/Aims: Rapamycin (Rp), the main mammalian target of rapamycin complex inhibitor, is a promising therapeutic agent for breast cancer. However, metabolic disorders and drug resistance reduce its efficacy. Epidemiological, clinical, and experimental studies have demonstrated that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) significantly reduce the incidence and mortality of breast cancer and improve metabolic disorders. Methods: Three breast cancer cell lines and immunocompetent and immunodeficient mice were used to evaluate the therapeutic effects of Rp plus ω-3 PUFA treatment. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glucose uptake were examined by flow cytometry. Metabolic shift was examined by metabonomics, seahorse experiments, and western blot analysis. Results: We found that ω-3 PUFAs and Rp synergistically induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in vitro and in vivo, accompanied by autophagy blockage. In addition, Rp-induced hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia were completely abolished by ω-3 PUFA supplementation. Moreover, the combined treatment of ω-3 PUFA and Rp significantly inhibited glycolysis and glutamine metabolism. The anti-tumor effects of this combination treatment were dependent on ROS production, which was increased by β-oxidation and oxidative phosphorylation. Conclusion: Our study revealed that ω-3 PUFA enhanced the anti-tumor activity of Rp while minimizing its side effects in vitro and in vivo. These results provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying the potential beneficial effects of Rp combined with ω-3 PUFAs on the prevention of breast cancer.
Long Noncoding RNA BCYRN1 Promotes the Proliferation of Colorectal Cancer Cells via Up-Regulating NPR3 Expression
Authors: Gu Lei , Lu Liesheng , Zhou Donglei , Liu Zhongchen
Published: August 2018

Background/Aims: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) constitute a large proportion of noncoding transcripts that have recently emerged as a new class of important regulators in cancers. LncRNA BCYRN1, also known as BC200, has a potential function in tumorigenesis. However, the clinical significance of BCYRN1 and its effect on colorectal cancer (CRC) progression remains unclear. Methods: Quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to investigate the expression of BCYRN1 in CRC tissues and cell lines. The biological function of BCYRN1 was also investigated through knockdown and overexpression of BCYRN1 in vitro. Microarray bioinformatics analysis was performed to analyze the putative targets of BCYRN1. Results: The results showed that BCYRN1 expression was significantly upregulated in 96 CRC tumor tissues compared with para-carcinoma control tissues. Additionally, BCYRN1 overexpression was associated with larger tumor size and advanced pathological stages in CRC patients. In vitro BCYRN1 knockdown significantly inhibited the proliferation and apoptosis of CRC cells. Furthermore, NPR3 was identified to be a target of BCYRN1 and was downregulated by BCYRN1 knockdown. Conclusion: Together, we provide the first evidence that BCYRN1 plays an oncogenic role in CRC cells. BCYRN1 may be a promising prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for CRC.
CD38 Deficiency Protects Heart from High Fat Diet-Induced Oxidative Stress Via Activating Sirt3/FOXO3 Pathway
Authors: Wang Ling-Fang , Huang Cong-Cong , Xiao Yun-Fei , Guan Xiao-Hui , Wang Xiao-Nv , Cao Qing , Liu Yu , Huang Xuan , Deng Li-Bin , Deng Ke-Yu , Xin Hong-Bo
Published: August 2018

Background/Aims: Previous studies showed that CD38 deficiency protected heart from ischemia/reperfusion injury and high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in mice. However, the role of CD38 in HFD-induced heart injury remains unclear. In the present study, we have investigated the effects and mechanisms of CD38 deficiency on HFD-induced heart injury. Methods: The metabolites in heart from wild type (WT) and CD38 knockout (CD38-/-) mice were examined using metabolomics analysis. Cell viability, lactate hydrogenase (LDH) release, super oxide dismutase (SOD) activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, triglyceride concentration and gene expression were examined by biochemical analysis and QPCR. Results: Our results revealed that CD38 deficiency significantly elevated the intracellular glutathione (GSH) concentration and GSH/GSSG ratio, decreased the contents of free fatty acids and increased intracellular NAD+ level in heart from CD38-/- mice fed with HFD. In addition, in vitro knockdown of CD38 significantly attenuated OA-induced cellular injury, ROS production and lipid synthesis. Furthermore, the expression of mitochondrial deacetylase Sirt3 as well as its target genes FOXO3 and SOD2 were markedly upregulated in the H9C2 cell lines after OA stimulation. In contrast, the expressions of NOX2 and NOX4 were significantly decreased in the cells after OA stimulation. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that CD38 deficiency protected heart from HFD-induced oxidative stress via activating Sirt3/FOXO3-mediated anti-oxidative stress pathway.
Prognostic Implication of Urothelial Stem Cell Markers Differs According to Primary Tumour Location in Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer
Authors: Wang Longwang , Zhao Jun , Yang Chenlu , Kuang Renrui , Kazobinka Gallina , Pang Zili , Hou Teng
Published: August 2018

Background/Aims: This study aimed to validate the value of urothelial stem cell (USC) markers ΔNp63, integrin β4, CD47, and CD44v6 in predicting the prognosis of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) located in different anatomic regions of bladder. Methods: The study reviewed the clinicopathologic data of 169 patients with NMIBC. Using real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry, the expression of ΔNp63, integrin β4, CD47, and CD44v6 in archived specimens of patients with NMIBC were validated. Kaplan–Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards model were used to assess the prognostic impact of USC markers for recurrent-free survival (RFS). Results: The Real-time PCR data showed that the expression of USC markers were higher in tumors located in the trigone and posterior wall than that in other regions of bladder (P< 0.05). Statistical analysis showed that high expression of ΔNp63 was correlated with tumor stage (P=0.023) and tumor size (P=0.001), that high expression of integrin β4 was correlated with tumor stage (P=0.026), tumor grade (P=0.005) and tumor size (P=0.003), and that high integrin β4, CD47, and CD44v6 expression were significantly associated with tumor recurrence (P=0.032, P=0.010, and P=0.043, respectively). Moreover, high expression of ΔNp63 and integrin β4 was correlated with poor RFS in patients with tumors located in the trigone (P=0.025 and P=0.023, respectively). High expression of integrin β4, CD47, and CD44v6 was correlated with poor RFS in patients with tumors in the posterior wall (P=0.017, P=0.033 and P=0.047, respectively). High expression of integrin β4 and CD47 was correlated with poor RFS in patients with tumors in the trigone/posterior wall area (P=0.002 and P=0.005, respectively). Conclusion: Our results suggest that USC markers are linked with poor prognosis of NMIBC patients, especially in patients with tumors in the trigone and posterior wall.
Effect of Celecoxib on Surgical Site Inflammation after Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Study
Authors: Xu Xun , Sang Weilin , Liu Yu , Zhu Libo , Lu Haiming , Ma Jinzhong
Published: August 2018

Objective: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effectiveness of celecoxib and its effect on the rehabilitation of joint function after total knee arthroplasty. Methods: 72 patients presented between 2016 and 2017 and were divided into two groups. The experimental group was given 200 mg celecoxib twice daily with tramadol hydrochloride 50 mg twice daily (as required); the control group was given tramadol hydrochloride 50 mg twice daily for 6 weeks from the first day after total knee arthroplasty. Skin temperature around the knee was measured 1 day before surgery, on postoperative days 1 and 3, and at weeks 1, 2, and 6. Inflammatory markers (white blood cell count, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and interleukin-6) were measured preoperatively, on postoperative day 3, and at weeks 1 and 6. Knee Society Score was recorded preoperatively and at postoperative weeks 1, 2, and 6. Results: Except for preoperative skin temperature, the recorded skin temperatures of the experimental group were significantly different compared to those of the control group (p = 0.001, 0.024, 0.030, 0.041, 0.047, respectively). Levels of C-reactive protein were significantly different at the 1st and the 6th week after surgery, differing by 19.3 ± 4.64 mg/L (p < 0.001) and 2.6 ± 0.92 mg/L (p = 0.006). Levels of interleukin-6 showed a significant difference of 6.61 ± 2.36 pg/mL (p = 0.007) at the 1st week after surgery. Until the 6th week after surgery, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the experimental group and the control group differed by 17 ± 4.6 mm/h (p = 0.001). Conclusions: Celecoxib has a significant inhibitory effect on postoperative aseptic inflammation.
Attachment Theory and Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy for Vietnam Veterans
Authors: Meyer Laura , Sartori Ann
Published: August 2018

The persistence of chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among veterans of the Vietnam War warrants an exploration of new treatment approaches, such as equine-facilitated psychotherapy (EFP). The purpose of this study was to use open-ended interviews to explore five Vietnam veterans’ perceptions of their bond with an equine partner duringEFPand how it influences their behavior andPTSDsymptoms. Questions addressed their relationships with their equine partners, including its development and impact on their interpersonal relationships. Attachment Theory provided a framework for understanding the four main themes that emerged from analysis of the responses: positive changes in thoughts and behaviors, veterans’ beliefs about horses’ cognitions and emotions, emotions and emotional regulation, and interpersonal and interspecies relationships. The authors concluded thatEFPmay support personal growth and healing because horses serve as attachment figures, provide a secure base for emotional exploration, and encourage non-verbal communication.
Vulnerability, Transcendence, and the Body: Exploring the Human/Nonhuman Animal Divide within Jainism
Authors: Vallely Anne
Published: August 2018

Jainism’s renowned compassion toward nonhuman animals is derived from the vulnerability and finitude we share with them. The tradition recognizes the impetus to avoid suffering and preserve life as basic to all living beings and emphasizes our shared existential condition. Nevertheless, Jainism treats the condition of being human as privileged because of its capacity for radical bodily detachment. This article, based on long-term ethnographic work among Jain communities in India, brings Jainism’s traditional understandings of the human/nonhuman distinction into discussion with contemporary philosophical and anthropological reflections on the category of the “animal.”
Innovation Performance in the eu Comparative Perspective
Authors: Cepoi Victor , Golob Tea
Published: August 2018

This article explores innovation performance through the perspective lens of the National Innovation Systems (nis) placed in the context of the strategic action fields. The aim is to represent the three social forces as an alternative explanation for innovation processes while deploying the comparative perspective of the eu 28, which not only constitute different types of innovators, but also are part of different statistical classifications. In order to test the sufficient and necessary conditions for innovation performance, the authors use Qualitative Comparative Analysis. The results show that all three social forces intertwined influence the (un)successfulness of national social environments.
Political Competition in Sweden 1976-2014
Authors: Högström John
Published: August 2018

The main purpose of this study is to examine political competition on the local level in Sweden and to empirically test two theories of political competition, namely whether the size of the unit affects the variation in political competition and whether socioeconomic standards affect the variation in political competition. The findings support the suggested causal mechanism between socioeconomic standards and competition. Accordingly, units with higher socioeconomic standards have a higher level of political competition. Some empirical findings also support the suggested causal mechanism between the size of the units and the political competition. The findings show that population size is a robust determinant of competition and that a larger population size affects competition positively. The findings show also that area size is a relatively robust determinant of competition and that area size has a negative effect on competition. However the negative effect is contrary to the expectations.
Power through Collaboration: Stakeholder Influence in EU Climate and Energy Negotiations
Authors: Ydersbond Inga Margrete
Published: August 2018

Who gets what in high-level European Union (EU) negotiations and how? This study draws on data concerning stakeholder preferences during heated negotiations leading to the EU’s 2030 Climate and Energy Policy Framework. It tests the explanatory values of Liberal Intergovernmentalism (LI), the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF), and Historical Institutionalism (HI). Large member states were key (LI). However, coordinated groups of member states, bound by specific common interests, also played crucial roles. ACF explains the 2030 Framework only if: a) the decisive coalitions consisted of the EU’s supranational institutions, the coordinated groups of member states and long-term advocacy coalitions in the interest group community; b) coalition members held comparatively similar views; and c) coalition members adjusted their strategies mutually and/or shared information. The European Commission set the agenda (HI). The analysis demonstrates that LI, HI and ACF may be used as complementary analytical tools, filling several of each other’s gaps.
The Limits of Europeanization on the Minority Rights in Serbia: The Roma Minority
Authors: Cierco Teresa
Published: August 2018

Among the main conditions for joining the European Union (EU) is the protection of human rights, and particularly the protection of minority rights. In this way, the EU has become an important external dynamic that changes domestic policies. In this article, the limits of Europeanization are analysed at two different levels: at the legal and at the societal level. In recent years, Serbia has adopted legislative changes that have increased the protection level granted to minorities in the country. However, its implementation/internalization is considered to be one of the biggest post-conflict problems in Serbia. This article argues that Europeanization has strong limitations regarding minority rights in Serbia. Looking to the situation of the Roma minority in the country, we try to access the limits of Europeanization at the societal level, arguing that they are still victims of discrimination, segregation and limited participation in public life.
Federalism and Development: The Ethiopian Dilemma
Authors: Fiseha Assefa
Published: August 2018

Key to Ethiopia’s remarkable political and economic changes is its transformation from highly homogenising and centrist rule to a federal system aiming at managing its complex diversity. The post-1991 dispensation has ended years of civil war, and served as a foundation for the impressive economic performance. Lately the country has continued to face wide-spread protests. How does one explain the paradox between an impressive economic performance versus growing political instability? Development is centrally designed and managed along with the identification of poverty as an existential threat against which all resources must be mobilised. This means that development takes overriding priority and a central role, compromising the constitutional autonomy of the states. The outcome as witnessed in the protests is new mobilisation and conflict unleashed by growing ethno-nationalism. The absolute dominance of a single vanguard party that monopolised power has also overshadowed institutions and sidelined political opposition while emboldening hardliners.
The Concept of Hybrid Courts Revisited: The Case of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers
Authors: Muharremi Robert
Published: August 2018

The article analyses and criticizes the concept of hybrid courts. The main proposition is that the concept of hybrid courts is unclear and that there are no clear criteria which would provide guidance for establishing if a judicial body is a hybrid court or not. The idea of hybrid courts is conceptually misleading because it creates the perception that hybrid courts are a separate institutional category different from international and domestic criminal courts. The author argues that the concept of hybrid courts should therefore be abandoned in favour of clearer criteria which distinguish between international and domestic courts. Analysing the Kosovo Specialist Chambers from this perspective, the author argues that the Kosovo Specialist Chambers are an international criminal court and not a domestic court which has legal implications, such as concerning immunity of heads of state.
Conceptualizing a New Public Diplomacy Model: ‘Intermestic’ Strategies and Instruments to Promote Change in Mexico’s GM Food Policy
Authors: Martínez Pantoja Yadira Ixchel
Published: August 2018

Public diplomacy emphasizes the participation of state and non-state actors to achieve common goals. This article recognizes the participation of state and non-state actors engaged in shaping the political environment of a host country to advance common interests, with different levels of leadership. A model comprised of state and non-state actors implementing reactive, proactive and relationship-building strategies and instruments is proposed. In Mexico, regulations for genetically modified (GM) foods have moved from a restrictive to a liberal approach, and this change may be explained by analysing US public diplomacy efforts to promote ideas related to GM foods. This is an ‘intermestic’ issue with international and domestic actors involved. Applying the proposed model thus helps us to understand the strategies and instruments that state actors, such as the US executive agencies, and non-state actors, including MNCs and NGOs, implement to target Mexican stakeholders and generate policy change.
Bjerknes Compensation in the CMIP5 Climate Models
Authors: Outten Stephen , Esau Igor , Otterå Odd Helge
Published: August 2018

This study examines the atmospheric and oceanic heat transports in preindustrial control and historical runs of 15 fully coupled global climate models from the CMIP5 project. The presence of Bjerknes compensation is confirmed in all models by the strong anticorrelation and approximately equal magnitude of the anomalies of these heat transports. Previous studies of Bjerknes compensation in the absence of external forcing have all shown the strongest compensation at high latitudes, where the warm ocean meets the cold Arctic atmosphere. In this study, however, it is found that many of the 15 models have a second and often dominant peak of compensation in the northern midlatitudes, where strong air–sea interaction is often associated with the midlatitude storm tracks. It has also been suggested that variations in heat transport in the ocean lead those in the atmosphere, but this work has found no clear and robust support for this, as only half the models show such a relationship. In the historical simulations where external forcings are applied, Bjerknes compensation continues to be present, but many models show pronounced trends in the heat transports. All of the models show multidecadal variability in heat transports in both preindustrial control and historical simulations. Any anthropogenic climate change signal could potentially be masked or amplified by the natural variability governed by Bjerknes compensation. Given its presence in the CMIP5 models, which are the basis of so much policy and adaptation planning, an improved understanding of Bjerknes compensation may have socioeconomic relevance for the future.
Impact of Mesoscale Eddy Transfer on Heat Uptake in an Eddy-Parameterizing Ocean Model
Authors: Saenko Oleg A. , Yang Duo , Gregory Jonathan M.
Published: August 2018

Using a set of experiments with an eddy-parameterizing ocean model, it is found that the strength of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) intensifies with the decrease of the density-dependent mesoscale eddy transfer. However, the intensification is weaker than that suggested by simple scaling relationships previously applied. Perturbing the model control sea surface temperature (SST) to mimic its change in response to doubling of CO2, it is shown that the associated ocean heat uptake (OHU) increases and penetrates deeper with the decrease of the mesoscale eddy transfer. It is shown that the OHU correlates with the AMOC strength, and both these quantities are affected by the mesoscale eddy transfer. Passive tracer experiments in the ocean model provide a possible explanation for the finding in coupled-model climate simulations that the ocean heat uptake efficiency (OHUE) increases with the AMOC strength and decreases with the eddy energy generated from the mean state. It is also found that the OHU in the SST-perturbation experiments scales with the net downward advection of heat. The contribution of the AMOC to the downward heat flux is illustrated using a streamfunction in depth–temperature space.
Deep Atlantic Ocean Warming Facilitated by the Deep Western Boundary Current and Equatorial Kelvin Waves
Authors: Zhang Min , Wu Zhaohua , Qiao Fangli
Published: August 2018

Increased heat storage in deep oceans has been proposed to account for the slowdown of global surface warming since the end of the twentieth century. How the imbalanced heat at the surface has been redistributed to deep oceans remains to be elucidated. Here, the evolution of deep Atlantic Ocean heat storage since 1950 on multidecadal or longer time scales is revealed. The anomalous heat in the deep Labrador Sea was transported southward by the shallower core of the deep western boundary current (DWBC). Upon reaching the equator around 1980, this heat transport route bifurcated into two, with one continuing southward along the DWBC and the other extending eastward along a narrow strip (about 4° width) centered at the equator. In the 1990s and 2000s, meridional diffusion helped to spread warming in the tropics, making the eastward equatorial warming extension have a narrow head and wider tail. The deep Atlantic Ocean warming since 1950 had overlapping variability of approximately 60 years. The results suggest that the current basinwide Atlantic Ocean warming at depths of 1000–2000 m can be traced back to the subsurface warming in the Labrador Sea in the 1950s. An inference from these results is that the increased heat storage in the twenty-first century in the deep Atlantic Ocean is unlikely to partly account for the atmospheric radiative imbalance during the last two decades and to serve as an explanation for the current warming hiatus.
The Unexpected Rapid Intensification of Tropical Cyclones in Moderate Vertical Wind Shear. Part II: Vortex Tilt
Authors: Ryglicki David R. , Doyle James D. , Jin Yi , Hodyss Daniel , Cossuth Joshua H.
Published: August 2018

We investigate a class of tropical cyclones (TCs) that undergo rapid intensification (RI) in moderate vertical wind shear through analysis of a series of idealized model simulations. Two key findings derived from observational analysis are that the average 200–850-hPa shear value is 7.5 m s−1 and that the TCs displayed coherent cloud structures, deemed tilt-modulated convective asymmetries (TCA), which feature pulses of deep convection with periods of between 4 and 8 h. Additionally, all of the TCs are embedded in an environment that is characterized by shear associated with anticyclones, a factor that limits depth of the strongest environmental winds in the vertical. The idealized TC develops in the presence of relatively shallow environmental wind shear of an anticyclone. An analysis of the TC tilt in the vertical demonstrates that the source of the observed 4–8-h periodicity of the TCAs can be explained by smaller-scale nutations of the tilt on the longer, slower upshear precession. When the environmental wind shear occurs over a deeper layer similar to that of a trough, the TC does not develop. The TCAs are characterized as collections of updrafts that are buoyant throughout the depth of the TC since they rise into a cold anomaly caused by the tilting vortex. At 90 h into the simulation, RI occurs, and the tilt nutations (and hence the TCAs) cease to occur.
Soldiers without a war? Public and private framings of Norway’s engagement in Afghanistan
Authors: Gustavsen Elin , Rafoss Tore Witsø
Published: August 2018

This article examines how the military engagement in Afghanistan has been framed in the Norwegian public sphere and by veterans who have participated on the ground. Drawing on public documents and personal interview data, the analysis demonstrates how different frames were used in the public and private spheres to convey the meaning of the operation. The analysis focuses in particular on the mismatch experienced by the veterans between the official framing of the operation as a humanitarian endeavor, and their perception of having been at war. In the discussion of the findings, we argue that the study sheds light on broader questions concerning the place of contemporary soldiers in Western societies, where people in general have become largely detached from the direct experience of warfare.
Active and latent social groups and their interactional expertise
Authors: Arminen Ilkka , Segersven Otto EA , Simonen Mika
Published: August 2018

As a part of their normative theory of expertise, Harry Collins and Robert Evans proposed that interactional expertise forms the third kind of knowledge, located between formal propositional knowledge and embodied skills. Interactional expertise refers to the capability to grasp the conceptual structure of another’s social world, and it is expressed as the ability to speak fluently the language spoken in that social world. According to their theory, it is a key concept of sociology, because it refers to the understanding and coordination of joint actions between members of different social groups. Collins and Evans have further claimed that minority social group members tend to outpace majority social group members in terms of interactional expertise. Drawing on ethnomethodology, we detail the ways in which interactional expertise is displayed and revealed in experiments. This allowed us to specify the underlying reasons for the distribution of interactional expertise between social groups. Our results indicate that the difference between the groups depends on whether a group is either actively maintained or a passive latent category, because interactional expertise provides for not only the crossing of social boundaries but also their maintenance. The minority social group members’ greater interactional expertise or competence is therefore proven to be illusory.
Precarious Entrepreneurship: Day Laborers in the U.S. Southwest
Authors: Valdez Zulema , Plankey-Videla Nancy , Murga Aurelia Lorena , Menchaca Angelica C. , Barahona Cindy
Published: August 2018

With the advent of globalization, neoliberalism, and immigration policy reforms that enlarged the non-White workforce in the United States, precarious employment—work that is contingent, risky, and socially stratified—has increased dramatically. The 2008 Great Recession exacerbated labor market uncertainty, deepening the demand for precarious labor. These same structural forces have conditioned a rise in precarious entrepreneurship in the informal economy; yet little is known about how precarity is experienced among “survival entrepreneurs” or its effects on their entrepreneurial outcomes. This study uses unique ethnosurvey data collected between 2012 and 2018 on 116 street corner day laborers in Texas, a state in the Southwest region of the United States, to investigate these relationships. In the context of a more precarious economy, findings reveal that undocumented Latino immigrant men continue to dominate day labor activity; however, the expanding supply and demand for day laborers has resulted in a more diverse day labor pool that includes legal permanent residents, naturalized citizens, and U.S.-born citizens, including Black and White Americans. At the same time, day labor remains a “bad job” characterized by exploitive and abusive working conditions and low hourly income. That said Latino immigrant day laborers are subject to a distinct process of criminalization and racialization that conditions a lower hourly income for this group, regardless of legal status. Findings suggest that day labor is a form of precarious entrepreneurship that is polarized by race and nativity.
Exploring the Effect of Disability, Race-Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Status on Scores on the Self-Determination Inventory: Student Report
Authors: Shogren Karrie A. , Shaw Leslie A. , Raley Sheida K. , Wehmeyer Michael L.
Published: August 2018

The Self-Determination Inventory: Student Report (SDI:SR) was developed to address a need in the field for tools to assess self-determination that are aligned with current best practices in assessment development and administration, and emerging research and best practices in promoting self-determination. The present study explored patterns of differences in self-determination scores across students with and without disabilities (i.e., no disability, learning disabilities, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, and other health impairments) of varying racial-ethnic backgrounds (i.e., White, African American or Black, Hispanic or Latino[a], and Other) as well as the impact of receiving free and reduced price lunch (as a proxy for socioeconomic status) on self-determination scores in these groups. Findings suggest an interactive effect of disability, race-ethnicity, and free and reduced price lunch status on self-determination scores. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.
The Sunyani-Domase (Ghana) Chieftaincy Dispute in Retrospect
Authors: Adum-Kyeremeh Kwame , Ayesu Ebenezer , Oppong-Boateng Juliet
Published: August 2018

This paper interrogates the historical background to the diarchy system of rule in the Odomase traditional area in the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana. Relying on archival documents complemented by interviews, the research reveals that unlike chieftaincy forms in other traditional Ghanaian societies, the people of Odomase have a completely different practice in electing chiefs. The two royal houses have the endorsement of central government to elect two candidates to be installed concurrently as chiefs for the traditional area. The authors argue that the dual chieftaincy arrangement in Odomase, despite its seeming challenges, is the best solution to address the intractable conflict in the traditional polity of the area.
Mechanical behavior of carbon nanotubes-based polymer composites under impact tests
Authors: El Moumen A , Tarfaoui M , Benyahia H , Lafdi K
Published: August 2018

This study was focused on the effect of carbon nanotubes on the impact resistance and damage evolution in laminate carbon nanotubes/epoxy composites under an impact loading. The composite panels were made from carbon fibers and carbon nanotubes randomly distributed into epoxy resin. The amount of carbon nanotubes dispersion was varied up to 4% by weight. Taylor impact tests were carried out to obtain the impact response of specimens with dimensions of 70×70×4 mm3. A projectile manufactured from a high strength and hardened steel with a diameter of 20 mm and 1.5 kg of mass was launched by a compressed gas gun within the velocity of 3 m/s, 7 m/s and 12 m/s. For the experimental test, three velocity levels were used: 3 m/s for the elastic deformation, 7 m/s for the penetration of the impactor and 12 m/s for the perforation of panels. Deformation histories and damage modes in specimens were recorded during the impact test using a high-speed camera. Processing of carbon nanotubes dispersed in laminates, testing, damage, and key findings is reported. It is observed that the impact resistance of laminates reinforced with a random distribution of carbon nanotubes increases up to 15.6% at high-strain rate compared with that of 0% of carbon nanotubes. It is also observed that the resistance to damage initiation and evolution increases with the addition of carbon nanotubes concentration.
Guided wave-based system for real-time cure monitoring of composites using piezoelectric discs and phase-shifted fiber Bragg gratings
Authors: Hudson Tyler B , Auwaijan Nicolas , Yuan Fuh-Gwo
Published: August 2018

A real-time, in-process cure monitoring system employing a guided wave-based concept for carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites was developed. The system included a single piezoelectric disc that was bonded to the surface of the composite for excitation, and an embedded phase-shifted fiber Bragg grating for sensing. The phase-shifted fiber Bragg grating almost simultaneously measured both quasi-static strain and the ultrasonic guided wave-based signals throughout the cure cycle. A traditional FBG was also used as a base for evaluating the high sensitivity of the phase-shifted fiber Bragg grating sensor. Composite physical properties (degree of cure and glass transition temperature) were correlated to the amplitude and time of arrival of the guided wave-based measurements during the cure cycle. In addition, key state transitions (gelation and vitrification) were identified from the experimental data. The physical properties and state transitions were validated using cure process modeling software (e.g. RAVEN®). This system demonstrated the capability of using an embedded phase-shifted fiber Bragg grating to sense a wide bandwidth of signals during cure. The distinct advantages of a fiber optic-based system include multiplexing of multiple gratings along a single optical fiber, small size compared to piezoelectric sensors, ability to embed or surface mount, utilization in harsh environments, electrically passive operation, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) immunity. The embedded phase-shifted fiber Bragg grating fiber optic sensor can monitor the entire life-cycle of the composite structure from curing, post-cure/assembly, and in-service creating “smart structures”.
Initiatives interreligieuses et gouvernance locale : les cas de Barcelone et de Turin
Authors: Griera Mar , Giorda Maria Chiara , Fabretti Valeria
Published: August 2018

Many European local governments are seeking out ways to encourage interreligious initiatives. This article focuses on the cases of Barcelona and Turin. Both cities are pioneering new forms of governance of the religious field in Southern Europe, while also being a source of inspiration for other cities. The article traces the genealogy of the institutional collaboration between interreligious actors and local governments, and develops a typology to examine how interreligious groups intervene in both cities’ public sphere. The article shows the crucial role of Catholic intellectuals and also of the celebration of the Olympic Games in fostering local dynamics of cooperation between municipalities and religious actors. The article concludes by arguing that the increasing securitarization of the religious domain in both cities have transformed the active involvement of interreligious groups in local governance into a process of domestication of the religious field.
Malpractice Environment vs Direct Litigation: What Drives Nursing Home Exit?
Authors: Konetzka R. Tamara , Sharma Hari , Park Jeongyoung
Published: August 2018

An ongoing concern about medical malpractice litigation is that it may induce provider exit, potentially affecting consumer welfare. The nursing home sector is subject to substantial litigation activity but remains generally understudied in terms of the effects of litigation, due perhaps to a paucity of readily available data. In this article, we estimate the association between litigation and nursing home exit (closure or change in ownership), separating the impact of malpractice environment from direct litigation. We use 2 main data sources for this study: Westlaw’s Adverse Filings database (1997-2005) and Online Survey, Certification and Reporting data sets (1997-2005). We use probit models with state and year fixed effects to examine the relationship between litigation and the probability of nursing home closure or change in ownership with and without adjustment for malpractice environment. We examine the relationship on average and also stratify by profit status, chain membership, and market competition. We find that direct litigation against a nursing home has a nonsignificant effect on the probability of closure or change in ownership within the subsequent 2 years. In contrast, the broader malpractice environment has a significant effect on change in ownership, even for nursing homes that have not been sued, but not on closure. Effects are stronger among for-profit and chain facilities and those in more competitive markets. A high-risk malpractice environment is associated with change of ownership of nursing homes regardless of whether they have been directly sued, indicating that it is too blunt an instrument for weeding out low-quality nursing homes.
Direct Medical Cost of Hospitalization for Acute Stroke in Lebanon: A Prospective Incidence-Based Multicenter Cost-of-Illness Study
Authors: Abdo Rachel R. , Abboud Halim M. , Salameh Pascale G. , Jomaa Najo A. , Rizk Rana G. , Hosseini Hassan H.
Published: August 2018

Stroke is a major social and health problem posing heavy burden on national economies. We provided detailed financial data on the direct in-hospital cost of acute stroke care in Lebanon and evaluated its drivers. This was an observational, quantitative, prospective, multicenter, incidence-based, bottom-up cost-of-illness study. Medical and billing records of stroke patients admitted to 8 hospitals in Beirut over 1 year were analyzed. Direct medical costs were calculated, and cost drivers were assessed using a multivariable linear regression analysis. In total, 203 stroke patients were included (male: 58%; mean age: 68.8 ± 12.9 years). The direct in-hospital cost for all cases was US$1 413 069 for 2626 days (US$538 per in-hospital day). The average in-hospital cost per stroke patient was US$6961 ± 15 663. Hemorrhagic strokes were the most costly, transient ischemic attack being the least costly. Cost drivers were hospital length of stay, intensive care unit length of stay, type of stroke, stroke severity, modified Rankin Scale, third party payer, surgery, and infectious complications. Direct medical cost of acute stroke care represents high financial burden to Lebanese health system. Development of targeted public health policies and primary prevention activities need to take priority to minimize stroke admission in future and to contain this cost.
Thrilled to Have “Bagged a Bargain” or “Bitter” and “Very Frustrating”? Exploring Consumer Attitudes to Value and Deals in Tourism
Authors: McCabe Scott , Branco Illodo Ines
Published: August 2018

Similar to most global tourism markets, UK consumers adjusted their behavior during the global financial crisis, emphasizing value for money in travel choices. However, there is little evidence concerning consumers’ value-seeking behavior and especially how deals, discounts, and other sales promotions influence tourist decision making. This project explores concepts of value consciousness and deal proneness to shed light on attitudes toward monetary value in travel purchases. Using focus groups, the study found that deals and discounts frequently underpin some tourist choices, but that value consciousness is related to deal proneness, and interactions between the two could result in negative, positive, or mixed emotions. This relationship was captured through a dynamic categorization of tourists’ attitudes and behavior into four approaches to deals and value, namely, deals (1) as a way of life, (2) as a bonus, (3) as a problem, and (4) as toxic. The categories were dynamic in that individuals could move across them. The implications for tourism marketers are outlined.
Married to martyrdom
Authors: Haripriya Soibam
Published: August 2018

The post-1984 situation in Punjab indexes the importance (and fascination) of the symbol of the shahid (martyr) and shahadat (martyrdom) in the Khalistani political project. Through the examination of the narratives of a widowed informant, this article attempts to relate the concept of martyrdom to that of widowhood. The widow Bibi’s ‘militant’ husband was killed in police encounter almost a decade after 1984. Although remarried, Bibi insists on calling herself ‘widow’ of a ‘martyr’. The article examines Bibi’s embracing of widowhood as a celebration of identity that is articulated using the trope of martyrdom. I explore the idea of the ‘widow of the martyr’ and the ‘sibling-like’ non-conjugal relationship that she shares with her present husband as a way of memorialisation that moves from material/ concrete memorials to narratives as memorials.