bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Eulerian video magnification and analysis
Authors: Wadhwa Neal , Wu Hao-Yu , Davis Abe , Rubinstein Michael , Shih Eugene , Mysore Gautham J. , Chen Justin G. , Buyukozturk Oral , Guttag John V. , Freeman William T. , Durand Frédo
Published: December 2016

The world is filled with important, but visually subtle signals. A person's pulse, the breathing of an infant, the sag and sway of a bridge---these all create visual patterns, which are too difficult to see with the naked eye. We present Eulerian Video Magnification, a computational technique for visualizing subtle color and motion variations in ordinary videos by making the variations larger. It is a
microscope for small changes
that are hard or impossible for us to see by ourselves. In addition, these small changes can be quantitatively analyzed and used to recover sounds from vibrations in distant objects, characterize material properties, and remotely measure a person's pulse.
Role of angiotensin-converting enzyme 1 within the median preoptic nucleus following chronic intermittent hypoxia
Authors: Faulk Katelynn , Shell Brent , Nedungadi T. Prashant , Cunningham J. Thomas
Published: December 2016

Sustained hypertension is an important consequence of obstructive sleep apnea. An animal model of the hypoxemia associated with sleep apnea, chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH), produces increased sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) and sustained increases in blood pressure. Many mechanisms have been implicated in the hypertension associated with CIH, including the role of ΔFosB within the median preoptic nucleus (MnPO). Also, the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has been associated with CIH hypertension. We conducted experiments to determine the possible association of FosB/ΔFosB with a RAS component, angiotensin-converting enzyme 1 (ACE1), within the MnPO following 7 days of CIH. Retrograde tract tracing from the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), a downstream region of the MnPO, was used to establish a potential pathway for FosB/ΔFosB activation of MnPO ACE1 neurons. After CIH, ACE1 cells with FosB/ΔFosB expression increased colocalization with a retrograde tracer that was injected unilaterally within the PVN. Also, Western blot examination showed ACE1 protein expression increasing within the MnPO following CIH. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays demonstrated an increase in FosB/ΔFosB association with the ACE1 gene within the MnPO following CIH. FosB/ΔFosB may transcriptionally target ACE1 within the MnPO following CIH to affect the downstream PVN region, which may influence SNA and blood pressure.
Dorsal vs. ventral differences in fast Up-state-associated oscillations in the medial prefrontal cortex of the urethane-anesthetized rat
Authors: Gretenkord Sabine , Rees Adrian , Whittington Miles A. , Gartside Sarah E. , LeBeau Fiona E. N.
Published: December 2016

Cortical slow oscillations (0.1–1 Hz), which may play a role in memory consolidation, are a hallmark of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and also occur under anesthesia. During slow oscillations the neuronal network generates faster oscillations on the active Up-states and these nested oscillations are particularly prominent in the PFC. In rodents the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) consists of several subregions: anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), prelimbic (PrL), infralimbic (IL), and dorsal peduncular cortices (DP). Although each region has a distinct anatomy and function, it is not known whether slow or fast network oscillations differ between subregions in vivo. We have simultaneously recorded slow and fast network oscillations in all four subregions of the rodent mPFC under urethane anesthesia. Slow oscillations were synchronous between the mPFC subregions, and across the hemispheres, with no consistent amplitude difference between subregions. Delta (2–4 Hz) activity showed only small differences between subregions. However, oscillations in the spindle (6–15 Hz)-, beta (20–30 Hz), gamma (30–80 Hz)-, and high-gamma (80–150 Hz)-frequency bands were consistently larger in the dorsal regions (ACC and PrL) compared with ventral regions (IL and DP). In dorsal regions the peak power of spindle, beta, and gamma activity occurred early after onset of the Up-state. In the ventral regions, especially the DP, the oscillatory power in the spindle-, beta-, and gamma-frequency ranges peaked later in the Up-state. These results suggest variations in fast network oscillations within the mPFC that may reflect the different functions and connectivity of these subregions.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY We demonstrate, in the urethane-anesthetized rat, that within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) there are clear subregional differences in the fast network oscillations associated with the slow oscillation Up-state. These differences, particularly between the dorsal and ventral subregions of the mPFC, may reflect the different functions and connectivity of these subregions.
Fractionation of muscle activity in rapid responses to startling cues
Authors: Dean Lauren R. , Baker Stuart N.
Published: December 2016

Movements in response to acoustically startling cues have shorter reaction times than those following less intense sounds; this is known as the StartReact effect. The neural underpinnings for StartReact are unclear. One possibility is that startling cues preferentially invoke the reticulospinal tract to convey motor commands to spinal motoneurons. Reticulospinal outputs are highly divergent, controlling large groups of muscles in synergistic patterns. By contrast the dominant pathway in primate voluntary movement is the corticospinal tract, which can access small groups of muscles selectively. We therefore hypothesized that StartReact responses would be less fractionated than standard voluntary reactions. Electromyogram recordings were made from 15 muscles in 10 healthy human subjects as they carried out 32 varied movements with the right forelimb in response to startling and nonstartling auditory cues. Movements were chosen to elicit a wide range of muscle activations. Multidimensional muscle activity patterns were calculated at delays from 0 to 100 ms after the onset of muscle activity and subjected to principal component analysis to assess fractionation. In all cases, a similar proportion of the total variance could be explained by a reduced number of principal components for the startling and the nonstartling cue. Muscle activity patterns for a given task were very similar in response to startling and nonstartling cues. This suggests that movements produced in the StartReact paradigm rely on similar contributions from different descending pathways as those following voluntary responses to nonstartling cues.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY We demonstrate that the ability to activate muscles selectively is preserved during the very rapid reactions produced following a startling cue. This suggests that the contributions from different descending pathways are comparable between these rapid reactions and more typical voluntary movements.
Expression and Function of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in Physiology and Disease
Authors: Chen Jianchun , Zeng Fenghua , Forrester Steven J. , Eguchi Satoru , Zhang Ming-Zhi , Harris Raymond C.
Published: December 2016

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is the prototypical member of a family of membrane-associated intrinsic tyrosine kinase receptors, the ErbB family. EGFR is activated by multiple ligands, including EGF, transforming growth factor (TGF)-α, HB-EGF, betacellulin, amphiregulin, epiregulin, and epigen. EGFR is expressed in multiple organs and plays important roles in proliferation, survival, and differentiation in both development and normal physiology, as well as in pathophysiological conditions. In addition, EGFR transactivation underlies some important biologic consequences in response to many G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) agonists. Aberrant EGFR activation is a significant factor in development and progression of multiple cancers, which has led to development of mechanism-based therapies with specific receptor antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors. This review highlights the current knowledge about mechanisms and roles of EGFR in physiology and disease.
Perinatal Risks Associated with Early Vanishing Twin Syndrome following Transfer of Cleavage- or Blastocyst-Stage Embryos
Authors: Pereira Nigel , Pryor Katherine P. , Petrini Allison C. , Lekovich Jovana P. , Stahl Jaclyn , Elias Rony T. , Spandorfer Steven D.
Published: December 2016

Objective. To investigate whether the perinatal risks associated with early vanishing twin (VT) syndrome differ between cleavage- or blastocyst-stage embryo transfers (ET) in fresh in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles.Methods. Retrospective, single-center, cohort study of IVF cycles with fresh cleavage- or blastocyst-stage ETs resulting in a live singleton birth. The incidence of preterm birth (PTB), low birth weight (LBW), and very low birth weight (VLBW) was compared between cleavage- and blastocyst-stage ET cycles complicated by early VT.Results. 7241 patients had live singleton births. Early VT was observed in 709/6134 (11.6%) and 70/1107 (6.32%) patients undergoing cleavage-stage and blastocyst-stage ETs, respectively. Patients in the blastocyst-stage group were younger compared to the cleavage-stage group. The cleavage-stage group had a similar birth weight compared to the blastocyst-stage group. There was no difference in the incidence of PTB (9.87% versus 8.57%), LBW (11.1% versus 11.4%), or VLBW (1.13 versus 1.43%) when comparing the cleavage-stage early VT and blastocyst-stage early VT groups, even after adjustment with logistic regression.Conclusions. Our study highlights that the adverse perinatal risks of PTB, LBW, and VLBW associated with early VT syndrome are similar in patients undergoing cleavage-stage or blastocyst-stage ETs during fresh IVF cycles.
Application of Long-Range Surface Plasmon Resonance for ABO Blood Typing
Authors: Tangkawsakul Wanida , Srikhirin Toemsak , Shinbo Kazunari , Kato Keizo , Kaneko Futao , Baba Akira
Published: December 2016

In this study, we demonstrate a long-range surface plasmon resonance (LR-SPR) biosensor for the detection of whole cell by captured antigens A and B on the surface of red blood cells (RBCs) as a model. The LR-SPR sensor chip consists of high-refractive index glass, a Cytop film layer, and a thin gold (Au) film, which makes the evanescent field intensity and the penetration depth longer than conventional SPR. Therefore, the LR-SPR biosensor has improved capability for detecting large analytes, such as RBCs. The antibodies specific to blood group A and group B (Anti-A and Anti-B) are covalently immobilized on a grafting self-assembled monolayer (SAM)/Au surface on the biosensor. For blood typing, RBC samples can be detected by the LR-SPR biosensor through a change in the refractive index. We determined that the results of blood typing using the LR-SPR biosensor are consistent with the results obtained from the agglutination test. We obtained the lowest detection limits of 1.58 × 105 cells/ml for RBC-A and 3.83 × 105 cells/ml for RBC-B, indicating that the LR-SPR chip has a higher sensitivity than conventional SPR biosensors (3.3 × 108 cells/ml). The surface of the biosensor can be efficiently regenerated using 20 mM NaOH. In summary, as the LR-SPR technique is sensitive and has a simple experimental setup, it can easily be applied for ABO blood group typing.
Dichotomous Binary Differential Evolution for Knapsack Problems
Authors: Peng Hu , Wu Zhijian , Shao Peng , Deng Changshou
Published: December 2016

Differential evolution (DE) is one of the most popular and powerful evolutionary algorithms for the real-parameter global continuous optimization problems. However, how to adapt into combinatorial optimization problems without sacrificing the original evolution mechanism of DE is harder work to the researchers to design an efficient binary differential evolution (BDE). To tackle this problem, this paper presents a novel BDE based on dichotomous mechanism for knapsack problems, called DBDE, in which two new proposed methods (i.e., dichotomous mutation and dichotomous crossover) are employed. DBDE almost has any difference with original DE and no additional module or computation has been introduced. The experimental studies have been conducted on a suite of 0-1 knapsack problems and multidimensional knapsack problems. Experimental results have verified the quality and effectiveness of DBDE. Comparison with three state-of-the-art BDE variants and other two state-of-the-art binary particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithms has proved that DBDE is a new competitive algorithm.
Co-occurring Mutations of Tumor Suppressor Genes, LATS2 and NF2, in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Authors: Tranchant Robin , Quetel Lisa , Tallet Anne , Meiller Clement , Renier Annie , de Koning Leanne , de Reynies Aurelien , Le Pimpec-Barthes Francoise , Zucman-Rossi Jessica , Jaurand Marie-Claude , Jean Didier
Published: December 2016

Purpose: To better define malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) heterogeneity and identify molecular subtypes of MPM, we focus on the tumor suppressor gene LATS2, a member of the Hippo signaling pathway, which plays a key role in mesothelial carcinogenesis.

Experimental Design: Sixty-one MPM primary cultures established in our laboratory were screened for mutations in LATS2. Gene inactivation was modeled using siRNAs. Gene and protein expressions were analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR, Western blot analysis, and reverse phase protein array. Cell proliferation, viability, apoptosis, mobility, and invasion were determined after siRNA knockdown or YAP (verteporfin), mTOR (rapamycin), and mTOR/PI3K/AKT (PF-04691502) inhibitor treatment.

Results: The LATS2 gene was altered in 11% of MPM by point mutations and large exon deletions. Genetic data coupled with transcriptomic data allowed the identification of a new MPM molecular subgroup, C2LN, characterized by a co-occurring mutation in the LATS2 and NF2 genes in the same MPM. MPM patients of this subgroup presented a poor prognosis. Coinactivation of LATS2 and NF2 leads to loss of cell contact inhibition between MPM cells. Hippo signaling pathway activity, mTOR expression, and phosphorylation were altered in the C2LN MPM subgroup. MPMs of this new subgroup show higher sensitivity to PF-04691502 inhibitor. The MOK gene was identified as a potential biomarker of the C2LN MPM subgroup and PF-04691502 sensitivity.

Conclusions: We identified a new MPM molecular subgroup that shares common genetic and transcriptomic characteristics. Our results made it possible to highlight a greater sensitivity to an anticancer compound for this MPM subgroup and to identify a specific potential biomarker. Clin Cancer Res; 23(12); 3191–202. ©2016 AACR.
H2S Attenuates LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury by Reducing Oxidative/Nitrative Stress and Inflammation
Authors: Zhang Hong-Xia , Liu Shu-Juan , Tang Xiao-Lu , Duan Guo-Li , Ni Xin , Zhu Xiao-Yan , Liu Yu-Jian , Wang Chang-Nan
Published: December 2016

Background: Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), known as the third endogenous gaseous transmitter, has received increasing attention because of its diverse effects, including angiogenesis, vascular relaxation and myocardial protection.We aimed to investigate the role of H2S in oxidative/nitrative stress and inflammation in acute lung injury (ALI) induced by endotoxemia. Methods: Male ICR mice were divided in six groups: (1) Control group; (2) GYY4137treatment group; (3) L-NAME treatment group; (4) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment group; (5) LPS with GYY4137 treatment group; and (6) LPS with L-NAME treatment group. The lungs were analysed by histology, NO production in the mouse lungs determined by modified Griess (Sigma-Aldrich) reaction, cytokine levels utilizing commercialkits, and protein abundance by Western blotting. Results: GYY4137, a slowly-releasing H2S donor, improved the histopathological changes in the lungs of endotoxemic mice. Treatment with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, increased anti-oxidant biomarkers such as thetotal antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and theactivities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) but decreased a marker of peroxynitrite (ONOO-) action and 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) in endotoxemic lung. L-NAME administration also suppressed inflammation in endotoxemic lung, as evidenced by the decreased pulmonary levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) and the increased level of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. GYY4137 treatment reversed endotoxin-induced oxidative/nitrative stress, as evidenced by a decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogenperoxide (H2O2) and 3-NT and an increase in the antioxidant biomarker ratio of reduced/oxidized glutathione(GSH/GSSG ratio) and T-AOC, CAT and SOD activity. GYY4137 also attenuated endotoxin-induced lung inflammation. Moreover, treatment with GYY4137 inhibited inducible NOS (iNOS) expression and nitric oxide (NO) production in the endotoxemia lung. Conclusions: GYY4137 conferred protection against acute endotoxemia-associated lung injury, which may have beendue to the anti-oxidant, anti-nitrative and anti-inflammatory properties of GYY4137. The present findings warrant further exploration of the clinical applicability of H2S in the prevention and treatment of ALI.
Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 Predicts All-Cause Mortality in a Dose-Response Fashion in Pre-Dialysis Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Xue Cheng , Yang Bo , Zhou Chenchen , Dai Bing , Liu Yawei , Mao Zhiguo , Yu Shengqiang , Mei Changlin
Published: December 2016

Background: Quantitative dose-response associations between fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) and risks of mortality, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and renal events in chronic kidney disease (CKD) are not known. This study aimed to summarize and quantify the predictive effects of FGF23 among the pre-dialysis CKD stages 1-5 population. Methods: Data sources included PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science. Prospective cohort studies assessing the associations between FGF23 and all-cause mortality, CVD, and renal events in CKD patients were selected. Summary risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using the random-effects model. The composite higher or the highest level in FGF23 categories of each study was considered the high level. The reference level was regarded as the low level in the overall analysis. The restricted cubic spline model was used to estimate dose-response associations. Results: Fifteen prospective cohort studies centered around 15,355 subjects were analyzed. A high FGF23 level was associated with increased risks of all-cause mortality (RR 1.46, 95% CI 1.38-1.55, p < 0.001), CVD (RR 1.37, 95% CI 1.15-1.63, p < 0.001), and renal events (RR 1.31, 95% CI 1.07-1.59, p = 0.008), respectively. There was a positive, nonlinear, dose-response relationship between FGF23 and all-cause mortality. The reference level in dose-response analysis was defined as 51 RU/mL of c-terminal FGF23. We then calculated RRs for increments of 20 RU/mL, which was associated with increased risks of mortality (RR 1.04, 95% CI 1.00-1.07, p = 0.038), CVD (RR 1.02, p < 0.001), and renal events (RR 1.01, p < 0.001), respectively. Conclusions: There may be positive dose-response predictive effects of FGF23 on all-cause mortality, CVD, and renal events in patients with CKD.
Psoriasiform Diaper Rash Possibly Induced by Oral Propranolol in an 18-Month-Old Girl with Infantile Hemangioma
Authors: Baggio Raphaëlle , Le Treut Claire , Darrieux Laure , Vareliette Amélie , Safa Gilles
Published: December 2016

Propranolol, a nonselective blocker of β-adrenergic receptors, has become the first-line treatment for complicated infantile hemangiomas. Therefore, its use in the pediatric population has expanded in recent years. In adults, β-blockers have been reported to be the most common causative agents for drug-induced psoriasis. In infants treated with propranolol for infantile hemangioma, the onset of psoriasiform diaper rash has not yet been reported. Here, to the best of our knowledge, we report the first case of psoriasiform diaper rash possibly induced by oral propranolol in an 18-month-old girl with no family history of psoriasis.
Crítica de arte no primeiro romantismo alemão e produção de subjetividade
Authors: Calado Alexandre Pieroni
Published: December 2016

Neste texto sustento que certa noção de crítica de arte proposta por Friedrich Schlegel e pelos primeiros românticos alemães merece uma oportuna retomada, tendo em vista o problema da produção de subjetividade. Começo por delinear a concepção de crítica de Schlegel, tal como é discutida por Walter Benjamin em O Conceito de Crítica de Arte no Romantismo Alemão (1920). Neste movimento expositivo destaco três aspectos da referida noção de crítica: o caráter imanente dos critérios de apreciação do trabalho artístico; a dimensão de preparação do núcleo prosaico da obra; e o sentido positivo, criativo e de restituição da obra individual à infinitude da arte do gesto crítico. Concluo procurando articular a noção de crítica com a noção de “simpoesia”, presente na reflexão de Schlegel e de outros primeiros românticos, sustentando que essas noções podem contribuir para um vocabulário e um discurso de resistência no quadro da produção massiva de subjetivação e de dessubjetivação contemporâneas.
Mulheres atrás das câmeras: a presença feminina na direção de fotografia de longas-metragens ficcionais brasileiros
Authors: Tedesco Marina Cavalcanti
Published: December 2016

A direção de fotografia é, dentro do processo de realização fílmica, uma das funções que menos emprega mulheres em muitos lugares do mundo. Através de pesquisa iniciada em 2014, constatamos que, ao menos no longa-metragem de ficção, o cenário brasileiro não difere muito da tendência internacional, embora, como ocorre em outros países, venha se alterando lentamente. É preciso destacar, no entanto, que as dificuldades enfrentadas pelas fotógrafas não podem ser resumidas apenas ao aspecto quantitativo. Se há problemas de acesso, a permanência na profissão também é complicada. Neste texto, apresentaremos dados preliminares de nosso estudo, ainda em etapa inicial, refletindo sobre alguns de seus resultados.
O corpo e a voz no cinema contemporâneo: reflexões sobre o filme Ela (Her, 2013), de Spike Jonze
Authors: Codato Henrique
Published: December 2016

A partir de um diálogo entre as teorias do dispositivo cinematográfico e a psicanálise, propomos pensar as antinomias corpo/voz; visível/invisível; homem/máquina no filme Her (Ela, 2013), de Spike Jonze. Buscaremos investigar a correspondência entre corpo e voz na obra, ao problematizarmos a presença da voz e a ausência do corpo de Samantha no campo filmado. Uma nova dialética entre o visível e o invisível se estabelece em Her, fazendo com que imagem e voz funcionem sob outra economia. Interessa-nos, enfim, considerar a oposição homem/máquina no filme de Jonze, cujas fronteiras se indeterminam e se confundem, uma vez que amar deixa de ser uma capacidade exclusivamente humana.
IMPACTOS DA EXPANSÃO URBANA NA PORÇÃO NORTE DO MUNICÍPIO DE NOVA LIMA (MG) SOBRE O CLIMA
Authors: Machado Lilian Aline , Assis Wellington Lopes
Published: December 2016

O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar as relações entre os componentes urbanos e geoecológicos em interação com a atmosfera na porção norte do município de Nova Lima (MG), que passa por um acelerado processo de expansão urbana e verticalização. Foram realizadas coletas de temperatura, umidade relativa do ar, direção e velocidade dos ventos em dois experimentos de campo. A análise rítmica foi empregada para a avaliação dos sistemas atmosféricos atuantes no período amostral. Os resultados atestaram a influência do processo de urbanização e verticalização sobre a camada laminar da atmosfera local. O atual uso e ocupação do solo potencializou o aquecimento atmosférico em determinados períodos do dia, interferindo na direção e velocidade dos ventos e diminuindo a umidade do ar. Foi observado que a topografia e morfologia locais assumem papel primário na dinâmica dos elementos climáticos, tendo seus efeitos influenciados ou potencializados pelo adensamento urbano.
EXTREMOS DE TEMPERATURA DO AR EM BELO HORIZONTE: VARIABILIDADE NATURAL E INFLUÊNCIA DO CLIMA URBANO
Authors: Jardim Carlos Henrique , Silva Marina Rozendo
Published: December 2016

As alterações no uso e ocupação do solo introduzidas no ambiente (agricultura e urbanização, principalmente) modificam o balanço de energia, interferindo nas variações dos elementos climáticos. Com o objetivo de verificar a dimensão temporal dessas transformações no clima, foram analisados os dados de temperatura máxima e mínima nos municípios de Belo Horizonte e Ibirité (Minas Gerais-Brasil), para o período de 1961-2014. Os procedimentos de análise incluíram técnicas estatísticas descritivas, análise de tendência e correlação e técnicas de análise de microclima e clima urbano. Os resultados indicaram tendência natural de aumento da temperatura máxima e mínima e indícios de influência antrópica na variação temporal desse elemento climático.
A PERCEPÇÃO DO ESPAÇO E O ESPAÇO DA PERCEPÇÃO: O RITMO, O HABITUAL, A INCERTEZA E O EXTREMO NO ENTENDIMENTO DAS SITUAÇÕES ATMOSFÉRICAS DO COTIDIANO E DO NÃO COTIDIANO
Authors: Nunes Lucí Hidalgo
Published: December 2016

Procurei aqui discorrer teoricamente, mas com exemplos, a respeito de alguns componentes muito presentes na produção acadêmica de Monteiro voltada para a climatologia, e como elas influenciam o entendimento geográfico do clima no Brasil. Entre esses elementos estão as noções de habitual (em contraponto com “normal”), extremo, incerteza, dinâmica, articulação de escalas e degradação ambiental, mostrando que essas questões e a discussão desse autor, continuam sendo contemporâneas. Ênfase foi dada para a noção de ritmo e para a importância do nível regional nos estudos do clima em particular, e da geografia em geral.
ONDAS DE FRIO E ENFERMIDADES RESPIRATÓRIAS: ANÁLISE NA PERSPECTIVA DA VULNERABILIDADE CLIMÁTICA
Authors: Fante Karime Pechutti , Armond Núbia Beray
Published: December 2016

As repercussões das dinâmicas dos elementos atmosféricos no território são deflagradas, fundamentalmente, pelas formas através das quais o espaço geográfico é produzido pelos grupos sociais. Nesse contexto, o artigo procurou abordar a relação entre o conceito de eventos extremos e vulnerabilidade a enfermidades respiratórias utilizando-se de estudo exploratório sobre ondas de frio em Piracicaba – São Paulo. Para a sua identificação, foram utilizados cinco índices climáticos diferentes aplicados aos dados de temperaturas mínimas, obtidos pelo INMET. As ondas de frio detectadas em cada um dos índices foram correlacionadas (comparativamente) com os dados de internação por doenças respiratórias obtidos no DataSUS, entre os anos de 1998 e 2014. Os resultados indicam a ocorrência de maior número de ondas de frio nos meses de inverno, ocorridas principalmente no período da normal climatológica (1961-1990) quando comparada ao período recente (1991-2014). Entre as técnicas comparadas, observou-se que a quantidade de ondas identificadas é díspar e varia de 72 (CSDI-OMM) a 329 ondas (IPCC) na mesma série histórica. Na análise da vulnerabilidade, foi identificado que a faixa etária mais afetada por enfermidades respiratórias é de 0 a 9 anos e acima de 80 anos, mais da metade do total de internações entre 1998 a 2014 (21.115 internações). De modo geral, os meses representativos do inverno, que havia apresentado maior ocorrência de ondas de frio, também apresentaram maior número de internações, principalmente o mês de julho, com uma média superior a 200 internações. Por fim, os resultados indicam que não é apenas a temperatura (onda de frio) a principal responsável pela deflagração de enfermidades respiratórias. Concluiu-se a necessidade de se abordar os conceitos de eventos extremos e vulnerabilidade para uma análise socioespacial da produção das doenças respiratórias, onde os elementos climáticos consistem em apenas um fator para a deflagração dessas doenças.
EVENTOS EXTREMOS PLUVIAIS EM JABOATÃO DOS GUARARAPES: CLIMATOLOGIA E ESTUDO DE CASO
Authors: Nobrega Ranyere Silva , Farias Rafhael Fhelipe de Lima
Published: December 2016

O município de Jaboatão dos Guararapes possui um sitio urbano bastante propício para a ocorrência de desastres naturais com áreas de morro bastante adensadas, assim como as planícies fluviais, ambas ocupadas de maneira irregular. O objetivo deste artigo é analisar a variabilidade da precipitação pluviométrica, com foco nos episódios extremos (positivos) e a sua repercussão na sociedade através da ocorrência de enchentes e/ou inundações, em especial no evento de junho de 2005. Foi realizada a climatologia dos eventos extemos pluviais, análise rítmica climatológica, imagens do satélite GOES e informações da Defesa Civil e de veículos de comunicação para fazer a análise do caso de junho de 2005. Nesse sentido, a técnica dos quantis utilizada para a climatologia dos eventos pluviométricos possibilitou categorizar quantitativamente os volumes de chuva mensal e diário classificados como muito chuvosos e extremamente chuvosos. A distribuição sazonal do número de eventos extremos ao longo do ano, para as categorias muito seco e muito chuvoso não apresentam variação significativa. Ao analisar o caso de junho de 2005 ficou evidente que há comportamento quase constante dos elementos climáticos, com exceção da precipitação. A arritmia foi produzida por um DOL organizado que conseguiu enfraquecer a camada de inversão dos alísios.
The Economic History of Manipur: Some Explorations
Authors: Singh K. Gyanendra
Published: December 2016

Manipur, an erstwhile princely state of northeastern India, suffered in the hands of Burmese during 1819-25 and again in the hands of British in 1891. Since 1891, the state had been under the control of the British government of India. With the change in hands of the seat of administration, the economy of the state underwent drastic changes.

Following pure economic history approach, we analyse the salient features of the economy of Manipur during the feudal and colonial era. It was observed that the otherwise self-sufficient food economy of the feudal era was distorted during the colonial period. The colonial policy not only robbed the rice economy but also shunned the paths of industrialisation, thus preventing the natural transition of an economy. The policy of monetisation and commercialisation of agriculture led to export-led-retardation of the people and de-industrialisation of the economy with feeble trends towards tertiarisation of the economy.
Trade Openness, Malnourishment and Income Inequality in South Asia
Authors: Zakaria Muhammad , Junyang Xi , Fida Bashir Ahmed
Published: December 2016

The paper empirically examines the effects of trade liberalization on undernourishment and income inequality in South Asian countries (sacs). For empirical analysis data is collected for the period 1972-2013 for five South Asian countries which include Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Panel fixed effect technique is used to estimate the model. The estimated results reveal that undernourishment has decreased while income inequality has increased in the region after liberalization. Economic development has reduced both undernourishment and income inequality. The results also endorse the role of agriculture factors in reducing undernourishment and the role of education, urban bias, and political democratization in reducing income inequality in sacs. These results are robust to alternative equation specifications and openness measures. The results provide some important policy implications. It is suggested that South Asian countries have to cope with the problem of malnourishment with high agriculture development and economic growth.
The Mandaeans’ Religious System: From Mythos to Logos
Authors: Arabestani Mehrdad
Published: December 2016

Mandaeans, an ethno-religious group mostly living in Iraq and Iran, are bearers of a Gnostic tradition based on the scriptures written in Madaic. As a small minority living under the threat of cultural extinction and ethnocide, Mandaeans have developed highly elaborated purification rites as the source of their group identity. The concern for group integrity is well encoded in these rituals that symbolically and practically maintain the boundaries of group identity. In a mutual relation, the rituals and Mandaean world-view comprise a cultural system characteristic of Mandaean religion. However, political instability and wars have led to the emigration of a substantive number of the Mandaeans and the formation of diasporas in Australia, Europe and North America. The Mandaean dispersion is a turning point of the people’s history. It liquefies the boundaries of group identity and puts the Mandaean identity challenge in an unprecedented paradigm. Simultaneously, it is bringing about further development in their religious system in terms of accommodation, rationalization and exegeses. These changes can be summarized as pluralism and secularization in the community, especially in the diasporas and an incipient move from mythos towards logos in the religious system.
Are Zoroastrians a Nation? Different Identity Formations/Patterns of Iranian and Indian Zoroastrians
Authors: Niechciał Paulina , Kłagisz Mateusz M.
Published: December 2016

The article contributes to the debate on the modern transformations of collective identities and nation-building processes. We compare different identity patterns of Zoroastrians in Iran and India and answer the question whether one can consider them as a nation or as separate ethno-religious communities. The paper is an answer to a suggestion made by Rashna Writer about national ties linking Zoroastrians worldwide. Basing on field research of Zoroastrians in Iran and India, we argue that among them there are no visible traits regarding the construction of a national identity, only certain trends to remember ties with their diasporas. We believe that among the factors shaping rather a sense of belonging to a local ethno-religious community, are the concept of local ethnohistory, the usage of the Zoroastrian Dari language, strong Iranian nationalism based on a common Iranian history and a culture effectively separating Iranian Zoroastrians from their Indian coreligionists.

The focus of the article is collective identity understood as something socially constructed mainly by local community’s leaders. We compare the process of identity construction of Iranian and Indian Zoroastrians, considering it as something rooted in different historical, as well as sociocultural and political contexts.
On the Shi‘a Constituent in the Yezidi Religious Lore
Authors: Asatrian Garnik , Arakelova Victoria
Published: December 2016

Built on the Islamic, primarily Sufi substrate, the religious beliefs of the Yezidis incorporate Gnostic, Christian, local pagan elements, and primitive beliefs. If certain parallels between Yezidism and the heterodox Shi‘ism are mainly part of common shibboleths typical of Near Eastern non-dogmatic milieu, the existence of key Shi‘a figures as objects of veneration and respect in the Yezidi religious lore seems to be a really enigmatic phenomenon. Proper Shi‘a elements in Yezidism have never been particularly discussed.

This paper focuses on the analysis of Shi‘a characters in the Yezidi religious folklore.
Is there an Ethno-religious Aspect in Balochi Identity?
Authors: Boyajian Vahe S.
Published: December 2016

The paper deals with certain aspects of the complex phenomenon of Balochi identity in their traditional habitat, including the Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchistan, the Pakistani province of Balochistan, as well as the areas of Afghanistan where the Baloches live compactly. Considering quite different socio-political and cultural situations in the mentioned environments, it is argued that the identity perceptions among the Baloches themselves and among the others towards the Baloches (Persian-speaking Shi‘a population in Iranian province, as well as mostly Sunni diverse ethnic groups in the Pakistani province and in Afghanistan) are not fixed ideas bound by ethnicity and/or religion, but, rather, flexible constructs dependent particularly upon the peripeteia of the state policies. The multiple aspects of the Balochi identity could constantly be negotiated, as well as manipulated by engaged parties. The main argument of this paper rests upon the speculation that the already existing and bona fide aspects of Balochi identity, such as ethnicity and religion, could be paralleled into the aggregate of ethno-religiousness depending on the socio-political and cultural landscape.
Lectotypification of Pseudoglochidion anamalayanum Gamble and its taxonomic position under the genus Phyllanthus (Phyllanthaceae)
Authors: PAGARE RAVIKIRAN S. , NAIK SIDHESH S. , KRISHNAN SELLAPPAN , JANARTHANAM MALAPATI K.
Published: December 2016

Pseudoglochidion anamalayanum Gamble (Phyllanthaceae), the only species of the genus is presently treated under Phyllanthus L. It is a narrow endemic of Western Ghats, India and is known from very few collections from Anamalais, Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu. It has been assigned the threat status ‘Critically Endangered’ (CR) by World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1998). In the present study, its taxonomic position has been evaluated using molecular sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and chloroplast matK genes with a matrix of ITS and matK sequences of Phyllanthus. The results obtained from MEGA and Bayesian analyses have shown that Pseudoglochidion is nesting among the Phyllanthus species of subgenus Isocladus, which itself is polyphyletic. The morphological characters also support the taxonomic position of the species in Phyllanthus. A detailed description is provided and lectotype for the name Pseudoglochidion anamalayanum (≡ Phyllanthus anamalayanus) is designated here.
Oxalis dreyerae (Oxalidaceae), a new species from South Africa
Authors: ROETS FRANCOIS , OBERLANDER KENNETH C.
Published: December 2016

Oxalis dreyerae, a new species from the arid Richtersveld region of South Africa, is described. It is most similar to O. inconspicua from which it differs, among others, by having a larger plant body, larger and showier flowers with a broadly trumpet-shaped tube, much larger leaflets, petioles that are thicker than the peduncles, much larger lanceolate sepals and short, stubby teeth on the longer filaments. Its placement within the O. flava clade is supported by nrDNA ITS sequence evidence, which is also consistent with a close relationship to O. inconspicua. Oxalis dreyerae represents the eighth described species of Oxalis endemic to the arid Richtersveld of the Northern Cape, thus supporting the importance of the floristically diverse Gariep Centre of Endemism, of which the region forms a part.
Impatiens kanchigandhiana, a new name for Impatiens nasuta H.Perrier (Balsaminaceae)
Authors: RASINGAM LADAN , KARTHIGEYAN K. , GOGOI RAJIB
Published: December 2016

The genus Impatiens Linnaeus (1753: 937) is distributed mostly in the tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World as well as in the northern temperate regions with more than 1,000 species (Janssens et al. 2006, Jyosna & Janarthanam 2011). During the taxonomic study of the genus Impatiens in India (Gogoi & Borah 2015, Gogoi & Arisdason 2016, Gogoi et al. 2016), we find that the name Impatiens nasuta Perrier de la Bâthie (1949: 14), a species native to Tsaratanana hills of Madagascar, is a later homonym of Impatiens nasuta Hooker (1908: 263) from China. Impatiens nasuta H.Perrier differs from I. nasuta Hook.f. in its smaller, suberect, less than 30 cm tall habit, leaves elliptic, smaller, coriaceous and flowers without an annular spur. According to the Arts. 6.11, 53.1 of the ICN (McNeill et al. 2012), a new name is proposed here for the later homonym Impatiens nasuta H.Perrier.
Cobitis nalbanti, a new species of spined loach from South Korea, and redescription of Cobitis lutheri (Teleostei: Cobitidae)
Authors: VASIL’EVA EKATERINA D. , KIM DAEMIN , VASIL’EV VICTOR P. , KO MYEONG-HUN , WON YONG-JIN
Published: December 2016

Cobitis nalbanti, new species, is described from the South Korean Han and Geum Rivers, draining to the Yellow Sea. It differs from its congeners by having a wide, ovoid lamina circularis; rounded scales with a large, slightly-displaced focal zone; a relatively long, protruded snout; the suborbital spine not reaching the center of the eye; the mandibular barbel not reaching the anterior edge of the eye; usually 12–14 dark brown blotches in the fourth Gambetta’s zone; a single elongated black spot on the upper part of the caudal-fin base; the only streak on the head running from the tip of the snout to the nape, across the eye; 2n=48–51 and NF=66. Cobitis nalbanti was previously identified as C. lutheri. Morphological analysis of C. lutheri shows that it is distinct in having a short obtuse snout, the suborbital spine reaching the center of the eye, the mandibular barbel reaching the anterior edge of the eye, usually less than 12 dark brown blotches in the fourth Gambetta’s zone, two spots at the caudal-fin base, several dark streaks on the head, and 2n=50, NF=70. A lectotype is selected for C. lutheri. Cobitis lutheri has a wide distribution in the Amur River basin, several rivers flowing into the Sea of Japan (East Sea), and in the northern part of Sakhalin Island.
A New Look to the Generalized CAPE
Authors: Steinacker Reinhold
Published: December 2016

A determination of the generalized CAPE (GCAPE) is suggested where instead of an adiabatic reversible vertical redistribution of air in a conditionally unstable atmosphere, irreversible processes with regard to the water cycle are taken into account. Irreversible processes like entrainment or atmospheric dissipation due to precipitation generally reduce the generation of kinetic energy. Irreversible pseudoadiabatic processes, in contrast, increase the availability of convective potential energy considerably. It is further increased significantly when an irreversible redistribution of water in the atmosphere due to precipitation and its corresponding evaporation is considered. Finally, the contributions of the ice phase in clouds and solid precipitation evaporation to GCAPE are investigated. The second aim of this paper is to compare CAPE and GCAPE in an unstable atmosphere. As an important result, it is shown that CAPE and GCAPE are inequivalent metrics of stability. It is even possible that an atmospheric profile with a considerable GCAPE shows a zero CAPE value. With the aid of different models with increasing complexity of thermodynamic processes, comparisons of numerical values of CAPE and GCAPE for an idealized and a real atmospheric profile are carried out. Although the mechanism and fraction of realization of convective available potential energy may be very different in individual weather systems, the pseudoadiabatic GCAPE arguably seems to be the better quantity than CAPE to compare or calibrate energy conversions in the atmosphere during organized deep convection with precipitation, because convection requires GCAPE but not necessarily CAPE. Evaluations have shown that on all days with thunderstorms in Vienna during a 9-yr period, GCAPE was positive, while a considerable fraction of these days showed zero CAPE.
Twenty-First-Century Changes in U.S. Regional Heavy Precipitation Frequency Based on Resolved Atmospheric Patterns
Authors: Gao Xiang , Schlosser C. Adam , O’Gorman Paul A. , Monier Erwan , Entekhabi Dara
Published: December 2016

Precipitation-gauge observations and atmospheric reanalysis are combined to develop an analogue method for detecting heavy precipitation events based on prevailing large-scale atmospheric conditions. Combinations of atmospheric variables for circulation (geopotential height and wind vector) and moisture (surface specific humidity, column and up to 500-hPa precipitable water) are examined to construct analogue schemes for the winter [December–February (DJF)] of the “Pacific Coast California” (PCCA) region and the summer [June–August (JJA)] of the Midwestern United States (MWST). The detection diagnostics of analogue schemes are calibrated with 1979–2005 and validated with 2006–14 NASA Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA). All analogue schemes are found to significantly improve upon MERRA precipitation in characterizing the occurrence and interannual variations of observed heavy precipitation events in the MWST. When evaluated with the late twentieth-century climate model simulations from phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5), all analogue schemes produce model medians of heavy precipitation frequency that are more consistent with observations and have smaller intermodel discrepancies than model-based precipitation. Under the representative concentration pathways (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios, the CMIP5-based analogue schemes produce trends in heavy precipitation occurrence through the twenty-first century that are consistent with model-based precipitation, but with smaller intermodel disparity. The median trends in heavy precipitation frequency are positive for DJF over PCCA but are slightly negative for JJA over MWST. Overall, the analyses highlight the potential of the analogue as a powerful diagnostic tool for model deficiencies and its complementarity to an evaluation of heavy precipitation frequency based on model precipitation alone.
Quantifying the Snowfall Detection Performance of the GPM Microwave Imager Channels over Land
Authors: You Yalei , Wang Nai-Yu , Ferraro Ralph , Rudlosky Scott
Published: December 2016

This study uses Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Microwave Imager (GMI) and Ka-precipitation radar observations to quantify the snowfall detection performance for different channel (frequency) combinations. Results showed that the low-frequency-channel set contains limited snow detection information with a 0.34 probability of detection (POD). Much better performance is evident using the high-frequency channels (i.e., POD = 0.74). In addition, if only one high-frequency channel is allowed to be added to the low-frequency-channel set, adding the 183 ± 3 GHz channel presents the largest POD improvement (from 0.34 to 0.50). However, this does not imply that the water vapor is the key information for snowfall detection. Only using the high-frequency water vapor channels showed poor snowfall detection with POD at 0.13. Further analysis of all 8191 possible GMI channel combinations showed that the 166-GHz channels are indispensable for any channel combination with POD greater than 0.70. This suggests that the scattering signature, not the water vapor effect, is essential for snowfall detection. Data analysis and model simulation support this explanation. Finally, the GPM constellation radiometers are grouped into six categories based on the channel availability and their snowfall detection capability is estimated, using channels available on GMI. It is found that type-4 radiometer (all channels) has the best snowfall detection performance with a POD of 0.77. The POD values are only slightly smaller for the type-3 radiometer (high-frequency channels) and type-5 radiometer (all channels except 183 channels).
EBI2 overexpression in mice leads to B1 B-cell expansion and chronic lymphocytic leukemia–like B-cell malignancies
Authors: Niss Arfelt Kristine , Barington Line , Benned-Jensen Tau , Kubale Valentina , Kovalchuk Alexander L. , Daugvilaite Viktorija , Christensen Jan Pravsgaard , Thomsen Allan Randrup , Egerod Kristoffer L. , Bassi Maria R. , Spiess Katja , Schwartz Thue W. , Wang Hongsheng , Morse Herbert C. , Holst Peter J. , Rosenkilde Mette M.
Published: December 2016

Key Points

hEBI2 (GPR183) expression in mice leads to an abnormally expanded CD5+ B1a B-cell subset. Mice expressing hEBI2 develop late-onset lymphomas similar to CLL.