bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determination of Propranolol Hydrochloride in Pharmaceutical Preparations Using Near Infrared Spectrometry with Fiber Optic Probe and Multivariate Calibration Methods
Authors: Marques Junior Jucelino Medeiros , Muller Aline Lima Hermes , Foletto Edson Luiz , da Costa Adilson Ben , Bizzi Cezar Augusto , Irineu Muller Edson
Published: March 2015

A method for determination of propranolol hydrochloride in pharmaceutical preparation using near infrared spectrometry with fiber optic probe (FTNIR/PROBE) and combined with chemometric methods was developed. Calibration models were developed using two variable selection models: interval partial least squares (iPLS) and synergy interval partial least squares (siPLS). The treatments based on the mean centered data and multiplicative scatter correction (MSC) were selected for models construction. A root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 8.2 mg g−1was achieved using siPLS (s2i20PLS) algorithm with spectra divided into 20 intervals and combination of 2 intervals (8501 to 8801 and 5201 to 5501 cm−1). Results obtained by the proposed method were compared with those using the pharmacopoeia reference method and significant difference was not observed. Therefore, proposed method allowed a fast, precise, and accurate determination of propranolol hydrochloride in pharmaceutical preparations. Furthermore, it is possible to carry out on-line analysis of this active principle in pharmaceutical formulations with use of fiber optic probe.
The Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors Imatinib and Dasatinib Reduce Myeloid Suppressor Cells and Release Effector Lymphocyte Responses
Authors: Christiansson Lisa , Söderlund Stina , Mangsbo Sara , Hjorth-Hansen Henrik , Höglund Martin , Markevärn Berit , Richter Johan , Stenke Leif , Mustjoki Satu , Loskog Angelica , Olsson-Strömberg Ulla
Published: March 2015

Immune escape mechanisms promote tumor progression and are hurdles of cancer immunotherapy. Removing immunosuppressive cells before treatment can enhance efficacy. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) may be of interest to combine with immunotherapy, as it has been shown that the inhibitor sunitinib reduces myeloid suppressor cells in patients with renal cell carcinoma and dasatinib promotes expansion of natural killer–like lymphocytes in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). In this study, the capacity of dasatinib and imatinib to reduce myeloid suppressor cells and to induce immunomodulation in vivo was investigated ex vivo. Samples from CML patients treated with imatinib (n = 18) or dasatinib (n = 14) within a Nordic clinical trial (clinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00852566) were investigated for the presence of CD11b+CD14−CD33+ myeloid cells and inhibitory molecules (arginase I, myeloperoxidase, IL10) as well as the presence of natural killer cells, T cells (naïve/memory), and stimulatory cytokines (IL12, IFNγ, MIG, IP10). Both imatinib and dasatinib decreased the presence of CD11b+CD14−CD33+ myeloid cells as well as the inhibitory molecules and the remaining myeloid suppressor cells had an increased CD40 expression. Monocytes also increased CD40 after therapy. Moreover, increased levels of CD40, IL12, natural killer cells, and experienced T cells were noted after TKI initiation. The presence of experienced T cells was correlated to a higher IFNγ and MIG plasma concentration. Taken together, the results demonstrate that both imatinib and dasatinib tilted the immunosuppressive CML tumor milieu towards promoting immune stimulation. Hence, imatinib and dasatinib may be of interest to combine with cancer immunotherapy. Mol Cancer Ther; 14(5); 1181–91. ©2015 AACR.
Incidence of Respiratory Viral Infections Detected by PCR and Real-Time PCR in Adult Patients with Community-Acquired Pneumonia: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wu Xiaodong , Wang Qin , Wang Min , Su Xin , Xing Zheng , Zhang Weiyun , Shi Yi
Published: March 2015

Background: With the development of more rapid and sensitive detection methods based on PCR techniques, the contributions of respiratory viral infections to community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in adult patients are being more and more recognized. Yet, up to now, there has been a lack of synthetic data that clearly demonstrates the incidence of respiratory viral infections in adult patients with CAP. Objectives: We intended to demonstrate the incidence of respiratory viral infections detected by PCR and real-time PCR in adult patients with CAP. Methods: We searched PubMed and Embase for studies providing the incidence of respiratory viral infections in adult patients with CAP. We investigated potential sources of heterogeneity by a univariant metaregression analysis and calculated the combined incidence of viral infections, viral infections mixed with other pathogens and individual respiratory virus species. Results: We eventually identified 23 eligible reports with a total number of 6,404 patients. Incidences ranged from 8.6 to 56.2% for overall respiratory viral infections. We noted significant heterogeneity in incidence estimates for the incidence of viral infections (Cochran's χ2 = 269.9, p < 0.0001, I2 = 91.8%). The combined incidence of viral infections was 22.4% (95% CI = 19.0-25.7). Incidences of viral coinfections with other pathogens ranged from 3 to 28%. A high level of heterogeneity was identified as well during the estimates for incidences of coinfections (χ2 = 200.9, p < 0.0001, I2 = 91.5%). The combined incidence of viral coinfections with other pathogens was 12.4% (95% CI = 9.7-15.0). Our heterogeneity analyses suggested that a lower respiratory tract sample was associated with higher overall viral incidence. Moreover, the influenza virus, rhinovirus and coronavirus were the 3 most frequently detected viral pathogens in adult patients with CAP according to our study. Conclusions: Respiratory viruses are probably crucial pathogens of adult patients with CAP, with the influenza virus being the most frequent viral pathogen identified. More than half of the viral infections are characterized as mixed infections with other pathogens.
Accommodation of End-State Comfort Reveals Subphonemic Planning in Speech
Authors: Derrick Donald , Gick Bryan
Published: March 2015

Applying the ‘end-state comfort' hypothesis of Rosenbaum et al. [J Exp Psych Learn Mem Cogn 1992;18:1058; Acta Psychol (Amst) 1996;94:59] to tongue motion provides evidence of long-distance subphonemic planning in speech. Speakers' tongue postures may anticipate upcoming speech up to three segments, two syllables, and a morpheme or word boundary later. We used M-mode ultrasound imaging to measure the direction of tongue tip/blade movements for known variants of flap/tap allophones of North American English /t/ and /d/. Results show that speakers produce different flap variants early in words or word sequences so as to facilitate the kinematic needs of flap/tap or other /r/ variants that appear later in the word or word sequence. Similar results were also observed across word boundaries, indicating that this is not a lexical effect.
Poor Tolerance and Limited Effects of Isosorbide-5-Mononitrate in Microvascular Angina
Authors: Wu Monica , Villano Angelo , Russo Giulio , Di Franco Antonino , Stazi Alessandra , Lauria Christian , Sestito Alfonso , Lanza Gaetano A. , Crea Filippo
Published: March 2015

Objectives: To assess the effects of isosorbide-5-mononitrate (ISMN) in patients with microvascular angina (MVA). Methods: We randomized 20 MVA patients, treated with a β-blocker or a calcium antagonist, to 60 mg slow-release ISMN (halved to 30 mg if not tolerated) or placebo once a day for 4 weeks; the patients were then switched to the other treatment for another 4 weeks. Their clinical status was assessed with the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) and the EuroQoL score for quality of life. The exercise stress test (EST), coronary blood flow (CBF) response to nitrate and the cold pressor test (CPT), brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and nitrate-mediated dilation (NMD) were also assessed. Results: Nine patients (45%) did not complete the ISMN phase due to side effects; 2 patients refused a follow-up. Nine patients completed the study. The SAQ and EuroQoL scores were significantly better with ISMN than with placebo, although the differences were small. No differences were found between the treatments in the EST results, CBF response to nitroglycerin (p = 0.55) and the CPT (p = 0.54), FMD (p = 0.26) and NMD (p = 0.35). Conclusions: In this study, a high proportion of MVA patients showed an intolerance to ISMN; in those tolerating the drug, significant effects on their angina status were observed, but the benefit appeared to be modest and independent of effects on coronary microvascular function.
Postoperative Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy Improved Survival in Lymph Node-Positive or Stage III Thoracic Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Wencheng , Liu Xiao , Xiao Zefen , Zhang Hongxing , Chen Dongfu , Feng Qinfu , Zhou Zongmei , Lv Jima , Liang Jun , Hui Zhouguang , Wang Lvhua , Yin Weibo , Cheng Guiyu , Sun Kelin , Liu Xiangyang , Fang Dekang , He Jie
Published: March 2015

Background: The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the effect of postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) on recurrence and survival in lymph node-positive or stage III thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (TESCC) patients, and evaluate its role in TESCC therapy. Methods: We enrolled 538 patients who underwent radical resection with (S + R) or without (S) postoperative IMRT. The median total postoperative IMRT dose was 60 Gy. The Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test, and chi-square test were used for survival rate calculation, univariate analysis, and sites of failure analysis, respectively. Results: The 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival rates were 32.7 and 27.3%, respectively. The 5-year OS rates of lymph node-positive S and S + R patients were 28.4 and 38.8%, respectively (p < 0.001). The 5-year OS rates of stage III S and S + R patients were 24.0 and 38.0%, respectively (p = 0.001). Postoperative IMRT resulted in significantly decreased intrathoracic and supraclavicular recurrence, and obviously delayed median local recurrence and systemic metastases. Systemic metastases increased following postoperative IMRT. Conclusion: Postoperative IMRT reduces local recurrence and improves survival in lymph node-positive or stage III TESCC patients, providing a rationale for selection criteria for postoperative IMRT in TESCC.
Lifestyle Factors and Coronary Artery Calcification
Authors: Lee Chong-Do , Jae Sae Young
Published: March 2015

The effective prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a global health challenge. Adopting a combined primary (prevention of the first episode of coronary heart disease or stroke) and primordial (prevention of the causal risk factors of CVD) prevention strategy is the best approach to prevent CVD. Most importantly, the primordial prevention strategy should in the first place be to promote cardiovascular health across individual and population levels by improving the underlying causal risk factors for CVD (i.e., unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, obesity, and cigarette smoking). Epidemiological evidence indicates that maintaining favorable underlying risk factors (lifestyle factors) is associated with a lower risk of incident CVD. Prevention of early atherosclerotic vascular disease is also an important strategy to prevent CVD. However, there has been limited research on the association between lifestyle factors and early atherosclerotic vascular disease (i.e., coronary or carotid atherosclerosis) across race and gender groups in population-based studies. This article briefly reviews whether lifestyle factors relate to subclinical atherosclerosis as assessed by coronary artery calcification in asymptomatic individuals.
Paediatric arterial ischaemic stroke and cerebral sinovenous thrombosis
Authors: Suppiej Agnese , Gentilomo Chiara , Saracco Paola , Sartori Stefano , Agostini Manuela , Bagna Rossana , Bassi Bianca , Giordano Paola , Grassi Massimo , Guzzetta Andrea , Lasagni Donatella , Luciani Matteo , Molinari Angelo C. , Palmieri Antonella , Putti Maria Caterina , Ramenghi Luca Antonio , Rota Lidia Luciana , Sperlì Domenico , Laverda Anna Maria , Simioni Paolo ,   the Stroke working group of the R. I. T. I. (Registro Italiano Trombosi Infantili)
Published: March 2015

Data from large case series of children with cerebral thrombotic events are pivotal to improve prevention, early recognition and treatment of these conditions. The Italian Registry of Pediatric Thrombosis (R. I. T. I.) was established in 2007 by a multidisciplinary team, aiming for a better understanding of neonatal and paediatric thrombotic events in Italy and providing a preliminary source of data for the future development of specific clinical trials and diagnostic-therapeutic protocols. We analysed data relative to the paediatric cerebral thrombotic events of the R. I. T. I. which occurred between January 2007 and June 2012. In the study period, 79 arterial ischaemic stroke (AIS) events (49 in males) and 91 cerebral sinovenous thrombosis (CSVT) events (65 in males) were enrolled in the R. I. T. I. Mean age at onset was 4.5 years in AIS, and 7.1 years in CSVT. Most common modes of presentation were hemiparesis, seizures and speech disturbances in AIS, and headache, seizures and lethargy in CSVT. Most common etiologies were underlying chronic diseases, vasculopathy and cardiopathy in AIS, and underlying chronic diseases and infection in CSVT. Time to diagnosis exceeded 24 hours in 46 % AIS and 59 % CSVT. Overall data from the Italian Registry are in substantial agreement with those from the literature, despite small differences. Among these, a longer time to diagnosis compared to other registries and case series poses the accent to the need of an earlier recognition of paediatric cerebrovascular events in Italy, in order to enable prompt and effective treatment strategies.
Randomized Controlled Trials of Blood Pressure Lowering in Hypertension
Authors: Zanchetti Alberto , Thomopoulos Costas , Parati Gianfranco
Published: March 2015

Sixty-eight blood pressure (BP)–lowering randomized controlled trials (defined as randomized controlled trials comparing active treatment with placebo, or less active treatment, achieving a BP difference, performed between 1966 and end 2013 in cohorts with ≥40% hypertensive patients, and exclusive of trials in acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, acute stroke, and dialysis) were identified and meta-analyzed grouping the randomized controlled trials on the basis of clinically relevant questions: (1) does BP lowering reduce all types of cardiovascular outcome? (2) Is prevention of all outcomes proportional to the extent of systolic, diastolic, and pulse BP? (3) Have all classes of BP-lowering drugs been shown capable of reducing all types of cardiovascular outcome? (4) Is BP lowering beneficial when intervention is initiated at any grade (or stage) of hypertension? (5) Do BP-lowering randomized controlled trials provide evidence about systolic BP and diastolic BP targets of treatment? (6) Should BP-lowering treatment be preferentially addressed to patients in higher risk categories promising larger absolute treatment benefits? The results of these meta-analyses provide further support to current hypertension treatment guidelines by showing that BP lowering can significantly reduce major cardiovascular outcomes largely independent of the agents used, significant risk reduction is found at all hypertension grades (stages), and when systolic BP is lowered below a cut off of 140 mm Hg with some further reduction limited to stroke at systolic BP values just <130 mm Hg. Absolute risk reduction progressively increases higher is total cardiovascular risk, but this greater benefit is associated with a progressively higher residual risk, ie, higher treatment failures.
Two or Three Things I Know about Harun Farocki
Authors: Alter Nora M.
Published: March 2015

I last saw my friend Harun Farocki a few days before the opening of his exhibition at the Hamburger Bahnhof in late January 2014. Astonishingly, this was his first major one-person show in Berlin, a city that he called home and that had shaped his intellectual and artistic sensibility for over half a century. “I should have been born in Berlin,” he muses in his autobiographical “Written Trailers” (2009). Farocki was initially drawn to West Berlin in the early 1960s because the island city had been spared the Wirtschaftswunder (economic miracle) of the 1950s that had reshaped the rest of West Germany. It retained a forlorn rawness, a sense of bohemia, and a countercultural public sphere that attracted hippies, draft dodgers, political outcasts, and artists of all kinds. Farocki was a member of the first Deutsche Film und Fernsehakademie (Berlin Film Academy) class, along with Helke Sander, Holger Meins, and Wolfgang Petersen. He lived in a commune, wrote criticism, and produced relatively obscure agitprop films such as Herstellung eines Molotow-Cocktails (How to Make a Molotov Cocktail) (1968), Anleitung, Polizisten den Helm abzurissen (How to Remove a Police Helmet) (1969), and the better-known Nicht löschbares Feuer (Inextinguishable Fire) (1969). As Berlin changed over the years, however, so, too, did Farocki and his filmmaking practice.
The Logic of Disorder: The Sculptural Materialism of Abraham Cruzvillegas
Authors: Greeley Robin Adèle
Published: March 2015

Two models of object experience dominate definitions of sculpture today. One argues that commodification is a universally uniform experience of relentless violence that frames all materialities everywhere within the demands of the globalized market. The second argues that the "unruliness of things" can still disrupt the "rule of the commodity." The autoconstrucción sculptural practice of Abraham Cruzvillegas, argues Greeley, marks a third position. Derived from the "self-building" architecture of the squatter settlement on the edge of Mexico City where he grew up, Cruzvillegas’s work is located in the dialectic between object experience in developing countries and object experience in the hegemonic 'centers' of developed countries and the market-driven international art circuit. Under the rubric of autoconstrucción, Cruzvillegas exploits this dialectic, not to claim any utopian redemptive space outside the world market system, nor to insist on a universally uniform experience of commodification within it, but rather to assert the asymmetries of object experience induced by global economic integration.
Psychological and Physiological Responses to Stereoscopic 3D Presentation in Handheld Digital Gaming: Comparing the Experiences of Frequent and Infrequent Game Players
Authors: Limperos Anthony , Waddell T. Franklin , Ivory Adrienne Holz , Ivory James D.
Published: March 2015

Recent advances in commercial gaming technology include stereoscopic 3D presentation. This experiment employed a mixed factorial design to explore the effects of game display format (2D; 3D), frequency of game play (weekly; non-weekly), and participant gender (male; female) on feelings of presence and arousal among participants playing a handheld racing video game. Responses to display format were moderated by frequency of game play, with stereoscopic 3D presentation eliciting reduced presence and increased arousal among weekly game players, but the reverse pattern among non-weekly game players. Theoretical and practical implications of the moderating role of game play frequency in effects of 3D presentation are discussed.
Combining EEG Data with Place and Plausibility Responses as an Approach to Measuring Presence in Outdoor Virtual Environments
Authors: Azevedo António Sérgio , Jorge Joaquim , Campos Pedro
Published: March 2015

Outdoor virtual environments (OVEs) are becoming increasingly popular, as they allow a sense of presence in places that are inaccessible or protected from human intervention. These virtual environments (VEs) need to address physical modalities other than vision and hearing. We analyze the influence of four different physical modalities (vision, hearing, haptics, and olfaction) on the sense of presence on a virtual journey through the sea and the Laurissilva Forest of Funchal, Portugal. We applied Slater et al.'s (2010) method together with data gathered by the Emotiv EPOC EEG in an OVE setting. In such a setting, the combination of haptics and hearing are more important than the typical virtual environment (vision and hearing) in terms of place and plausibility illusions. Our analysis is particularly important for designers interested in crafting similar VEs because we classify different physical modalities according to their importance in enhancing presence.
The Linguistic Representations of Causing Events and Caused Events in Narrative Discourse
Authors: Li Fuyin , Du Jing , Wolff Phillip
Published: March 2015

This article examines Talmyan claims on the order, linguistic form, and Figure/Ground alignment of causing events and caused events. Narratives are elicited from a set of 20 video clips of real situations. 50 native speakers of Mandarin Chinese were interviewed to set up a closed corpus of 1000 causative sentences. It is found that the data fell into three major types: the causing events are represented prior to the caused event; the caused events are specified initially in bei-construction; the caused events appear independently. The results suggest that Talmyan claims about the morphosyntactic features of causative expressions are not universal. The patterns in which causal events are described appear to be language specific and context dependent. It is hypothesized that causative expressions are best characterized in terms of continuums: the continuum of causative constructions; the continuum of causative elements; the continuum of causing event; and the continuum of caused events.
Sense Activation Triggering in English Epistentials: Attention Distribution, Contextual Modulation of Meaning, and Categorization Issues
Authors: Lampert Günther
Published: March 2015

Drawing on Talmy’s forthcomingThe Attention System of Languageand elaborating on a series of previous studies, this paper addresses the interrelation of attention distribution, contextual modulation of meaning, and categorization issues in the area of evidentiality and epistemic modality Adopting a corpus-based approach, it will investigate how the default salience levels of evidential and epistemic semantic components in so-called epistentials (linguistic items that syncretistically represent evidential and epistemic components) can be raised, lowered, or even inhibited under the impact of immediately adjacent items that themselves associate evidential or epistemic semantic components (in combinations such asobviously certainorcertainly obvious, and of ‘epistential’ adverbs with ‘epistential’must). All the emerging attentional effects turn out to be asymmetric: the first item in the combination is seen to strengthen the less salient semantic component in the target morpheme, sometimes leading to a re-categorization of the target.
A new species of Pactola Pascoe, 1876 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Eugnomini) from New Caledonia
Authors: MAZUR MIŁOSZ A. , JEZUITA ANNA
Published: March 2015

Pactola corporosa sp. n. is described from New Caledonia. Illustrations of body parts, terminalia of both sexes and distributional data of the new species are provided. The genus Pactola Pascoe, 1876 now contains thirteen species distributed in New Zealand, New Caledonia and Taevuni Island (Fiji Archipelago).
Mechanism of Urbanization Impact on a Summer Cold-Frontal Rainfall Process in the Greater Beijing Metropolitan Area
Authors: Zhong Shi , Yang Xiu-Qun
Published: March 2015

The WRF–Noah–urban canopy model (UCM) coupled modeling system is used to investigate the influence of urbanization on a typical frontal rainfall event that occurred in June 2008 over the greater Beijing metropolitan area (GBMA). The comparison between results of two experiments with and without the presence of urban areas suggests that more precipitation can be induced over and in the area downwind of Beijing because of the urbanization effects while less rainfall is found in the upwind region of central urban areas. The urbanization effects delay the onset of precipitation over Beijing but keep it sustained for a longer period with stronger rainfall intensity. The underlying urban surface not only retards the cold-frontal movement but also favors the development of a wet and unstable atmosphere. This explains why the precipitation can be sustained for a longer time with higher rainfall intensity over urban areas. From analyses of a density-current speed equation, it is found that the abrupt pressure jump during the frontal passage has a significant influence on the cold-frontal movement. A method derived from the surface pressure tendency equation is used to explore the mechanism of urban effects on the cold-frontal system. The cold advection is less intense in the experiment with urban land surface than in the experiment with urban areas replaced by cropland. Hence, the weaker-than-normal cold advection and subsequent smaller pressure jump during the frontal passage over the GBMA are the major mechanisms behind the urbanization effects, which lead to the retardation of the cold-frontal movement and late onset of precipitation over the GBMA.
Characteristics of Mesoscale Convective Systems over China and Its Vicinity Using Geostationary Satellite FY2
Authors: Yang Xiangrong , Fei Jianfang , Huang Xiaogang , Cheng Xiaoping , Carvalho Leila M. V. , He Hongrang
Published: March 2015

This study investigates mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) over China and its vicinity during the boreal warm season (May–August) from 2005 to 2012 based on data from the geostationary satellite Fengyun 2 (FY2) series. The authors classified and analyzed the quasi-circular and elongated MCSs on both large and small scales, including mesoscale convective complexes (MCCs), persistent elongated convective systems (PECSs), meso-β circular convective systems (MβCCSs), meso-β elongated convective system (MβECSs), and two additional types named small meso-β circular convective systems (SMβCCSs) and small meso-β elongated convective systems (SMβECSs). Results show that nearly 80% of the 8696 MCSs identified in this study fall into the elongated categories. Overall, MCSs occur mainly at three zonal bands with average latitudes around 20°, 30°, and 50°N. The frequency of MCSs occurrences is maximized at the zonal band around 20°N and decreases with increase in latitude. During the eight warm seasons, the period of peak systems occurrences is in July, followed decreasingly by June, August, and May. Meanwhile, from May to August three kinds of monthly variations are observed, which are clear northward migration, rapid increase, and persistent high frequency of MCS occurrences. Compared to MCSs in the United States, the four types of MCSs (MCCs, PECSs, MβCCSs, and MβECSs) are relatively smaller both in size and eccentricity but exhibit nearly equal life spans. Moreover, MCSs in both countries share similar positive correlations between their duration and maximum extent. Additionally, the diurnal cycles of MCSs in both countries are similar (local time) regarding the three stages of initiation, maturation, and termination.
Integration of Satellite Soil Moisture and Rainfall Observations over the Italian Territory
Authors: Ciabatta Luca , Brocca Luca , Massari Christian , Moramarco Tommaso , Puca Silvia , Rinollo Angelo , Gabellani Simone , Wagner Wolfgang
Published: March 2015

State-of-the-art rainfall products obtained by satellites are often the only way of measuring rainfall in remote areas of the world. However, it is well known that they may fail in properly reproducing the amount of precipitation reaching the ground, which is of paramount importance for hydrological applications. To address this issue, an integration between satellite rainfall and soil moisture SM products is proposed here by using an algorithm, SM2RAIN, which estimates rainfall from SM observations. A nudging scheme is used for integrating SM-derived and state-of-the-art rainfall products. Two satellite rainfall products are considered: H05 provided by EUMESAT and the real-time (3B42-RT) TMPA product provided by NASA. The rainfall dataset obtained through SM2RAIN, SM2RASC, considers SM retrievals from the Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT). The rainfall datasets are compared with quality-checked daily rainfall observations throughout the Italian territory in the period 2010–13. In the validation period 2012–13, the integrated products show improved performances in terms of correlation with an increase in median values, for 5-day rainfall accumulations, of 26% (18%) when SM2RASC is integrated with the H05 (3B42-RT) product. Also, the median root-mean-square error of the integrated products is reduced by 18% and 17% with respect to H05 and 3B42-RT, respectively. The integration of the products is found to improve the threat score for medium–high rainfall accumulations. Since SM2RASC, H05, and 3B42-RT datasets are provided in near–real time, their integration might provide more reliable rainfall products for operational applications, for example, for flood and landslide early warning systems.
Hydroclimatic Conditions Preceding the March 2014 Oso Landslide*
Authors: Henn Brian , Cao Qian , Lettenmaier Dennis P. , Magirl Christopher S. , Mass Clifford , Brent Bower J. , Laurent Michael St. , Mao Yixin , Perica Sanja
Published: March 2015

The 22 March 2014 Oso landslide was one of the deadliest in U.S. history, resulting in 43 fatalities and the destruction of more than 40 structures. We examine synoptic conditions, precipitation records, and soil moisture reconstructions in the days, months, and years preceding the landslide. Atmospheric reanalysis shows a period of enhanced moisture transport to the Pacific Northwest beginning on 11 February 2014. The 21–42-day periods prior to the landslide had anomalously high precipitation; we estimate that 300–400 mm of precipitation fell at Oso in the 21 days prior to the landslide. Relative only to historical periods ending on 22 March, the return periods of these precipitation accumulations are large (25–88 yr). However, relative to the largest accumulations from any time of the year (annual maxima), return periods are more modest (2–6 yr). In addition to the 21–42 days prior to the landslide, there is a secondary maximum in the precipitation return periods for the 4 yr preceding the landslide. Reconstructed soil moisture was also anomalously high prior to the landslide, with return periods relative to the particular day that exceeded 40 yr about a week before the event.
Thunderstorm Observation by Radar (ThOR): An Algorithm to Develop a Climatology of Thunderstorms
Authors: Houston Adam L. , Lock Noah A. , Lahowetz Jamie , Barjenbruch Brian L. , Limpert George , Oppermann Cody
Published: March 2015

The Thunderstorm Observation by Radar (ThOR) algorithm is an objective and tunable Lagrangian approach to cataloging thunderstorms. ThOR uses observations from multiple sensors (principally multisite surveillance radar data and cloud-to-ground lightning) along with established techniques for fusing multisite radar data and identifying spatially coherent regions of radar reflectivity (clusters) that are subsequently tracked using a new tracking scheme. The main innovation of the tracking algorithm is that, by operating offline, the full data record is available, not just previous cluster positions, so all possible combinations of object sequences can be developed using all observed object positions. In contrast to Eulerian methods reliant on thunder reports, ThOR is capable of cataloging nearly every thunderstorm that occurs over regional-scale and continental United States (CONUS)-scale domains, thereby enabling analysis of internal properties and trends of thunderstorms.

ThOR is verified against 166 manually analyzed cluster tracks and is also verified using descriptive statistics applied to a large (~35 000 tracks) sample. Verification also relied on a benchmark tracking algorithm that provides context for the verification statistics. ThOR tracks are shown to match the manual tracks slightly better than the benchmark tracks. Moreover, the descriptive statistics of the ThOR tracks are nearly identical to those of the manual tracks, suggesting good agreement. When the descriptive statistics were applied to the ~35 000-track dataset, ThOR tracking produces longer (statistically significant), straighter, and more coherent tracks than those of the benchmark algorithm. Qualitative assessment of ThOR performance is enabled through application to a multiday thunderstorm event and comparison to the behavior of the Storm Cell Identification and Tracking (SCIT) algorithm.
Initiation and Intensification of Tropical Depressions over the Southern Indian Ocean: Influence of the MJO
Authors: Duvel Jean-Philippe
Published: March 2015

Using ERA-Interim global atmospheric reanalysis, an original tracking approach is developed to follow tropical low pressure systems from the early tropical depression (TD) stage up to possible intensification into developed tropical cyclones (TCs). The different TC stages are identified using the IBTrACS dataset. This approach detects many more TD initiations compared to IBTrACS alone and thus gives a more comprehensive dataset to study the cyclogenesis by considering separately TD initiations and the probability of intensification.

In the south Indian Ocean (SIO), the MJO modulation of the number of TCs is primarily due to the modulation of the number of TD initiations and secondarily to the probability of their intensification. The TD initiations are more probable at 55°, 75°, and 95°E and can be primarily attributed to the development of an unstable cyclonic meridional shear of the zonal wind at low levels. The reinforcement of this shear results from (i) a heat low, related to a precipitation anomaly, which triggers westerly winds equatorward of the initiation region and (ii) an easterly wind strengthening south of the initiation regions due either to a reinforcement of the subtropical high (for western and central SIO) or to a large-scale depression over the western Maritime Continent (for eastern SIO). Over the western and central SIO, the concomitance of precipitation and subtropical high anomalies at the origin of the shear reinforcement could be partly stochastic, giving a weaker relation with MJO and ENSO. Over the eastern SIO, the large-scale MJO (and ENSO) perturbation pattern alone can reinforce the shear, giving a larger modulation of the number of TD initiations.
Kidney injury molecule-1 and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin as prognostic markers in idiopathic membranous nephropathy
Authors: Maas Rutger JH , van den Brand Jan AJG , Waanders Femke , Meijer Esther , Goor van Harry , Peters Hilde P , Hofstra Julia M , Wetzels Jack FM
Published: March 2015

Background

Urinary excretion of alpha-1-microglobulin and beta-2-microglobulin reflects tubular damage and predicts outcome in patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy with reasonable accuracy. Urinary kidney injury molecule-1 and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin are novel biomarkers of tubular damage. We investigated if these markers could improve prediction of outcome in idiopathic membranous nephropathy.

Methods

We measured kidney injury molecule-1 and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in urine samples from patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy, who had nephrotic proteinuria and normal renal function. Excretion of alpha-1-microglobulin and beta-2-microglobulin had been measured previously. Progression was defined as a serum creatinine rise >30%, a rise in serum creatinine to an absolute value of ≥135  µmol/L, or a clinical decision to start immunosuppressive therapy. Remission was defined as proteinuria <3.5 g/day and >50% reduction from baseline.

Results

Sixty-nine patients were included. Median follow-up was 35 months (interquartile range 18–63 months). Progression occurred in 30 patients (44%), and spontaneous remission in 36 (52%). Kidney injury molecule-1 and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin excretion rates were significantly correlated with each other, and with alpha-1-microglobulin and beta-2-microglobulin. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for progression were 0.75 (0.62–0.87) for kidney injury molecule-1 and 0.74 (0.62–0.87) for neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin. In multivariate analysis with either alpha-1-microglobulin and beta-2-microglobulin, kidney injury molecule-1 and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin did not independently predict outcome.

Conclusion

Kidney injury molecule-1 and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin excretion rates correlated with excretion rates of other tubular damage markers and predicted outcome in patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy. They did not add prognostic value compared to measurement of either alpha-1-microglobulin or beta-2-microglobulin.
Preparation and properties of silk fabric grafted with ɛ-polylysine by tyrosinase
Authors: Xing Tieling , Li Xinyue , Guo Shoujiao , Tang Ren-cheng , Cai Jian-he , Zhou Shao-qiang
Published: March 2015

Silk fabrics were treated with tyrosinase then grafted by ɛ-polylysine (ɛ-PLL). The optimal enzymatic reaction condition was investigated through the test of enzymatic activity and consumption of dissolved oxygen concentration. Amino acid analysis and scanning electron microscope observation confirmed the grafting of ɛ-PLL onto the silk fabrics. The crease resistance of the grafted fabrics was increased. In particular, the wet wrinkle resistance property was improved. The strength of the grafted fabrics was nearly unchanged. The gas permeability and whiteness slightly decreased, which hardly has any impact on the wearability of the fabrics. The antibacterial test showed that the grafted silk fabric had an excellent resistant property to Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The inhibition rate was about 90% after 30 times of washing, suggesting its potential application in antibacterial textiles and silk biomedical materials.
Globalizing the Classroom
Authors: Bell Patricia , Coates Rodney , Colombo Enzo , Dolgon Corey , Hernandez Sarah , Margulis Matias E. , Nyamathi Adey , Pavlish Carol , Romo Harriett
Published: March 2015

This essay examines an innovative approach to teaching across international and cultural boundaries and evaluates the experience in a course on Globalization, Social Justice, and Human Rights, co-taught collaboratively by faculty from different campuses and countries since 2011. This course was created to address unmet needs in the traditional higher educational systems. These include, but are not limited to, lack of cross-cultural and interdisciplinary collaboration among students, faculty, and institutions. Although economies, polities, environments, and human societies are experiencing great connections across the globe, educational systems continue to be modeled on nineteenth century assumptions and structures. In this course, faculty teach at their respective universities but use an online platform to allow for cross-campus communication. In addition to the classroom rooted in a physical place, a major component of student work is to interact online with students on other campuses, including undertaking collaborative group work across borders. A shared core syllabus can be modified by institution to satisfy local needs. In this essay, we examine the following: the history and logistics of this course; the facilitators and barriers in its implementation, including the use of technology; the role of language and communication; and the mechanisms necessary for faculty to adopt such a collaborative, global effort to local curricular guidelines. We also address the benefits of the course for students, including exposure to global diversity (culture, worldviews, and pedagogy); developing teamwork skills such as leadership and flexibility; accepting and accommodating diverse educational needs/approaches; and promoting interdisciplinary communication and collaboration. Finally, we assess the challenges for faculty in designing and managing a course across different time zones and academic calendars, facilitating transnational group service learning projects, and the greater time demands required to coordinate and monitor students’ online interactions. Our objective is to help improve and encourage innovative approaches to teaching globalization, social justice, and human rights.
The development of self-definition and relatedness in emerging adulthood and their role in the development of depressive symptoms
Authors: Kopala-Sibley Daniel C , Zuroff David C , Hermanto Nicola , Joyal-Desmarais Keven
Published: March 2015

According to Blatt (2004; Blatt & Luyten, 2009) and others (e.g., Beck, Epstein, Harrison, & Emery, 1983), establishing positive self-definition and mature relatedness to others represent core lifespan developmental tasks. In a sample of emerging adults, this study examined the effects of the quality of one close friendship and changes in romantic relationship status on the development of maladaptive personality traits from each domain (self-criticism and neediness and connectedness), and the effects of changes in these personality factors on the development of depressive symptoms. Participants consisted of 82 (13 male) emerging adults ( Mage = 19.00, SD = 0.75) and a single corresponding close friend. At baseline, participants and their friends completed measures of the quality of their relationship (i.e., acceptance and autonomy support). At baseline and again 12 months later, participants completed measures of self-criticism, neediness, connectedness, depressive symptoms, and current romantic relationship status. Adjusting for gender and baseline age, structural equation models showed that better friendship quality predicted decreases in self-criticism, which in turn predicted lower levels of depressive symptoms. Entering into a romantic relationship predicted increases in connectedness. Connectedness was unrelated to depression, although increases in neediness over time predicted increases in depressive symptoms. Results highlight the role of one close friend and changes in romantic relationship status in the development of self-definition and relatedness during emerging adulthood, and the role of those personality factors in the development of depression.
Where Does It Come From? Developmental Aspects of Art Appreciation
Authors: Schabmann Alfred , Gerger Gernot , Schmidt Barbara M. , Wögerer Eva , Osipov Igor , Leder Helmut
Published: March 2015

Art is a unique feature of human experience. It involves the complex interplay among stimuli, persons and contexts. Little is known of how the various features deemed important in art appreciation depend on development, thus are already present at a young age. Similarly to our previous approach with adults of differing levels of expertise, the present study uses structural equation modeling to explore this complex interplay by analyzing differences in the appreciation of classical, abstract and modern artworks by children of two age groups. We measured evaluations of perceived beauty, elicited emotions, arousal and understanding. Structural equation solutions for children not only revealed significant effects of emotion in all conditions, but also confirmed that the dependencies between emotion and liking were consistently higher for younger children, while the interactions of arousal and liking, as well as understanding, were higher for older children. These results are in accordance with a transition from an affective towards an increasingly cognitive knowledge based sense of aesthetics, but underline the importance of emotional processing as fundamental.
Cognitive and reactive control processes
Authors: Jarrett Matthew A. , Gilpin Ansley Tullos , Pierucci Jillian M. , Rondon Ana T.
Published: March 2015

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be identified in the preschool years, but little is known about the correlates of ADHD symptoms in preschool children. Research to date suggests that factors such as temperament, personality, and neuropsychological functioning may be important in understanding the development of early ADHD symptomatology. The current study sought to extend this research by examining how cognitive and reactive control processes predict ADHD symptoms. Data were drawn from a larger study that measured the cognitive, social, and emotional functioning of preschool children. Eighty-seven children (aged 4–6 years) were evaluated using teacher report and laboratory task measures relevant to cognitive control (i.e., conscientiousness, working memory) and reactive control (i.e., neuroticism, delay of gratification) processes. In multiple regression analyses, cognitive control variables added unique variance in the prediction of both inattention and hyperactivity, but only reactive control variables added unique variance in the prediction of hyperactivity. The current findings align with past research suggesting that cognitive control processes (e.g., conscientiousness) are related to both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity, while reactive control processes (e.g., neuroticism) are more strongly related to hyperactivity/impulsivity in preschool children. Future longitudinal research utilizing various methods and measures is needed to understand how cognitive and reactive control processes contribute to ADHD symptom development.
Blue Brides
Authors: Stafford Laura , Scott Allison M.
Published: March 2015

We conducted in-depth interviews with 28 newly married women to explore the experience of postnuptial depressive symptoms. Nearly half of the participants indicated that they felt let down or depressed following their wedding, and some participants reported clinical levels of depression. We found several stark contrasts between the bluest and the happiest brides. Blue brides described feeling uncertain in their marriages, focused on self during wedding planning, and characterized their wedding as an ending followed by unmet expectations. Happier brides expressed relational confidence, demonstrated a relational focus during wedding planning, and framed their wedding in terms of new beginnings and unexpected positive emotions. We discuss the implications of these results in terms of mental and relational health in early marriage.
Comparison of multislice computed tomography and clinical scores for diagnosing acute appendicitis
Authors: Liu Wen , Wei Qiang Jin , Xun Sun Rong
Published: March 2015

Objective

To compare Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Appendicitis (RIPASA) and Alvarado scores with multislice computed tomography (MSCT) for diagnosing acute appendicitis (AA).

Methods

This retrospective study included patients with abdominal pain who had undergone MSCT, and whose medical notes included RIPASA and Alvarado score parameters. MSCT was compared with RIPASA and Alvarado scores for diagnosing AA.

Results

Of 297 patients included, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for diagnosing AA were 95.2%, 73.6% and 87.2% for RIPASA score (cutoff value 7.5) and 63.1%, 80.9% and 69.7% for Alvarado score (cutoff value 7). Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of MSCT for diagnosing AA were 98.9%, 96.4% and 98.0%, respectively. In terms of accuracy, statistically significant differences were observed between RIPASA and Alvarado scores, and between MSCT and RIPASA scores. The mean RIPASA score was significantly different in the simple AA group (9.7 ± 2.2) compared with other AA groups (10.5 ± 1.7). No statistically significant difference was observed in RIPASA score between nonperforated and perforated AA. MSCT sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for diagnosing simple AA were 94.1%, 96.4% and 95.8%, respectively; for differentiating perforated and nonperforated AA, scores were 90.2%, 95.2% and 94.1%, respectively.

Conclusion

MSCT is the optimum diagnostic tool for AA, followed by RIPASA score and Alvarado score, particularly in diagnosing simple and perforated AA.