bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Discontinuation of Hemodialysis in a Patient with Anti-GBM Disease by the Treatment with Corticosteroids and Plasmapheresis despite Several Predictors for Dialysis-Dependence
Authors: Fujigaki Yoshihide , Morimoto Chikayuki , Iino Risa , Taniguchi Kei , Kawamorita Yosuke , Asakawa Shinichiro , Toyoki Daigo , Miyano Shinako , Fujii Wataru , Ota Tatsuru , Shibata Shigeru , Uchida Shunya
Published: October 2017

A 26-year-old man highly suspected of having antiglomerular basement membrane (GBM) disease was treated with corticosteroid pulse therapy 9 days after initial infection-like symptoms with high procalcitonin value. The patient required hemodialysis the next day of the treatment due to oliguria. In addition to corticosteroid therapy, plasmapheresis was introduced and the patient could discontinue hemodialysis 43 days after the treatment. Kidney biopsy after initiation of hemodialysis confirmed anti-GBM disease with 86.3% crescent formation. Physician should keep in mind that active anti-GBM disease shows even high procalcitonin value in the absence of infection. To pursue recovery of renal function, the challenge of the immediate and persistent treatment with high-dose corticosteroids plus plasmapheresis for highly suspected anti-GBM disease is vitally important despite the presence of reported predictors for dialysis-dependence including oliguria and requiring hemodialysis at presentation.
Automatic Detection Technology of Sonar Image Target Based on the Three-Dimensional Imaging
Authors: Kong Wanzeng , Yu Jinshuai , Cheng Ying , Cong Weihua , Xue Huanhuan
Published: October 2017

With 3D imaging of the multisonar beam and serious interference of image noise, detecting objects based only on manual operation is inefficient and also not conducive to data storage and maintenance. In this paper, a set of sonar image automatic detection technologies based on 3D imaging is developed to satisfy the actual requirements in sonar image detection. Firstly, preprocessing was conducted to alleviate the noise and then the approximate position of object was obtained by calculating the signal-to-noise ratio of each target. Secondly, the separation of water bodies and strata is realized by maximum variance between clusters (OTSU) since there exist obvious differences between these two areas. Thus image segmentation can be easily implemented on both. Finally, the feature extraction is carried out, and the multidimensional Bayesian classification model is established to do classification. Experimental results show that the sonar-image-detection technology can effectively detect the target and meet the requirements of practical applications.
ABS-TrustSDN: An Agent-Based Simulator of Trust Strategies in Software-Defined Networks
Authors: García-Magariño Iván , Lacuesta Raquel
Published: October 2017

Software-defined networks (SDNs) have become a mechanism to separate the control plane and the data plane in the communication in networks. SDNs involve several challenges around their security and their confidentiality. Ideally, SDNs should incorporate autonomous and adaptive systems for controlling the routing to be able to isolate network resources that may be malfunctioning or whose security has been compromised with malware. The current work introduces a novel agent-based framework that simulates SDN isolation protocols by means of trust and reputation models. This way, SDN programmers may estimate the repercussions of certain isolation protocols based on trust models before actually deploying the protocol into the network.
Depression in Parkinson’s Disease: The Contribution from Animal Studies
Authors: Fontoura Jéssica Lopes , Baptista Camila , Pedroso Flávia de Brito , Pochapski José Augusto , Miyoshi Edmar , Ferro Marcelo Machado
Published: October 2017

Besides being better known for causing motor impairments, Parkinson’s disease (PD) can also cause many nonmotor symptoms, like depression and anxiety, which can cause significant loss of life quality and may not respond to regular drugs treatment. In this review, we discuss the depression in PD, based on data from studies in humans and rodents. Depression frequency seems higher in PD patients than in general population, despite high variation in data due to diagnosis disparities. Development of depression in PD seems more likely to be caused by the nigrostriatal pathway degeneration than as a consequence of the awareness of disease prognostic, and it seems to be related to dopaminergic, noradrenergic, and serotoninergic synapses deficits. The dopaminergic role could be more significant, since it can modulate the release of the others, and its depletion is progressive, due to the degenerative feature of PD. Highly regarded in major depression, serotonin can be depleted in rats after nigrostriatal damage, but data from human patients are more conflicting. Animal studies can help in understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of depression in PD and the pursuit for more effective drugs for its treatment, but they lack the complexity of the disease progression, especially the nondopaminergic degeneration.
Intensity of 18F-FDG PET Uptake in Culture-Negative and Culture-Positive Cases of Chronic Osteomyelitis
Authors: Lankinen Petteri , Seppänen Marko , Mattila Kimmo , Kallajoki Markku , Knuuti Juhani , Aro Hannu T.
Published: October 2017

Microbiologic cultures are not infrequently negative in patients with a histopathologic diagnosis of chronic osteomyelitis. Culture-negative cases may represent low-grade infections with a lower metabolic activity than culture-positive cases. 18F-FDG PET could potentially detect such a difference. We determined whether the level of 18F-FDG PET uptake differs in patients with culture-negative and culture-positive osteomyelitis. We reviewed the clinical charts of 40 consecutive patients, who had diagnostic 18F-FDG PET for a suspected bone infection. Twenty-six patients were eligible with a confirmed diagnosis based on microbiologic cultures and/or histopathologic examination. Sixteen of 26 patients had chronic osteomyelitis. Eight of them had positive cultures, seven had negative cultures, and one patient had no cultures of the biopsy specimen. The patients with histologically and/or microbiologically proven osteomyelitis were correctly interpreted as true positive in the routine clinical reading of 18F-FDG PET images. There was no relationship between the level of 18F-FDG PET uptake and the presence of positive or negative bacterial cultures. The result favors the concept that that culture-negative cases of osteomyelitis are false-negative infections due to nonculturable microbes. 18F-FDG PET may help to confirm the presence of metabolically active infection in these patients and guide their appropriate treatment.
Fluorescein-Guided Surgery for Resection of High-Grade Gliomas: A Multicentric Prospective Phase II Study (FLUOGLIO)
Authors: Acerbi Francesco , Broggi Morgan , Schebesch Karl-Michael , Höhne Julius , Cavallo Claudio , De Laurentis Camilla , Eoli Marica , Anghileri Elena , Servida Maura , Boffano Carlo , Pollo Bianca , Schiariti Marco , Visintini Sergio , Montomoli Cristina , Bosio Lorenzo , La Corte Emanuele , Broggi Giovanni , Brawanski Alexander , Ferroli Paolo
Published: October 2017

Purpose: Sodium fluorescein is a dye that, intravenously injected, selectively accumulates in high-grade glioma (HGG) tissue through a damaged blood–brain barrier. In this article, the final results of a multicentric prospective phase II trial (FLUOGLIO) on fluorescein-guided HGG resection through a dedicated filter on the surgical microscope were reported.

Methods: Patients with suspected HGGs considered suitable for removal were eligible to participate in this trial. Fluorescein was intravenously injected at a dose of 5 to 10 mg/kg. The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients with histologically confirmed HGGs, without contrast-enhancing tumor at the immediate postoperative MRI. Secondary endpoints were PFS, residual tumor on postoperative MRI, overall survival, neurologic deficits, and fluorescein-related toxicity. The sensitivity and specificity of fluorescein in identifying tumor tissue were estimated by fluorescent and nonfluorescent biopsies at the tumor margin. The study was registered on the European Regulatory Authorities website (EudraCT 2011-002527-18).

Results: Fifty-seven patients aged 45 to 75 years were screened for participation, and 46 were considered for primary and secondary endpoints. Mean preoperative tumor volume was 28.75 cm3 (range, 1.3–87.8 cm3). Thirty-eight patients (82.6%) underwent a complete tumor removal. Median follow-up was 11 months. PFS-6 and PFS-12 were 56.6% and 15.2%. Median survival was 12 months. No adverse reaction related to SF administration was recorded. The sensitivity and specificity of fluorescein in identifying tumor tissue were respectively 80.8% and 79.1%.

Conclusions: Fluorescein-guided technique with a dedicated filter on the surgical microscope is safe and enables a high percentage of contrast-enhancing tumor in patients with HGGs. Clin Cancer Res; 24(1); 52–61. ©2017 AACR.
PD-1 Blockade Prevents the Development and Progression of Carcinogen-Induced Oral Premalignant Lesions
Authors: Wang Jin , Xie Tongxin , Wang Bingbing , William William N. , Heymach John V. , El-Naggar Adel K. , Myers Jeffrey N. , Caulin Carlos
Published: October 2017

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is preceded by progressive oral premalignant lesions (OPL). Therefore, therapeutic strategies that prevent malignant progression of OPLs are expected to reduce the incidence of OSCC development. Immune checkpoint inhibitors that target the interaction of programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1) on T cells with the PD-1 ligand PD-L1 on cancer cells have been shown to extend the survival of patients with advanced OSCC. Here, we used the 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4-NQO) mouse model of oral carcinogenesis to test the hypothesis that PD-1 blockade may control the progression of OPLs. Mice were exposed to 4-NQO in their drinking water and then randomly assigned to two treatment groups that received either a blocking antibody for PD-1 or a control IgG. We found that anti–PD-1 treatment significantly reduced the number of oral lesions that developed in these mice and prevented malignant progression. Low-grade dysplastic lesions responded to PD-1 blockade with a significant increase in the recruitment of CD8+ and CD4+ T cells and the accumulation of CTLA-4+ T cells in their microenvironment. Notably, PD-1 inhibition was accompanied by induction of IFNγ, STAT1 activation and the production of the T-cell effector granzyme B in infiltrating cells, and by the induction of apoptosis in the epithelial cells of the oral lesions, suggesting that T-cell activation mediates the immunopreventive effects of anti–PD-1. These results support the potential clinical benefit of PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade to prevent OSCC development and progression and suggest that CTLA-4 inhibitors may enhance the preventive effects of anti–PD-1. Cancer Prev Res; 10(12); 684–93. ©2017 AACR.

See related editorial by Gutkind et al., p. 681
Controle estrutural da borda sudeste da Bacia do Parnaíba, Nordeste do Brasil: relação com eventos geodinâmicos no Gondwana
Authors: Lima Francisco Gabriel Ferreira de , Sá Emanuel Ferraz Jardim de
Published: October 2017

O limite sudeste da Bacia do Parnaíba (BPar), região fronteiriça aos Estados do Piauí, da Bahia e de Pernambuco (Nordeste do Brasil), é cartografado como uma não conformidade entre o Grupo Serra Grande (GSG, Siluriano) e o embasamento pré-cambriano. Todavia, essa borda é caracterizada por uma expressiva orientação NE, paralela ao Lineamento Transbrasiliano,bem como pelo estreitamento das faixas aflorantes das formações siluro-devonianas, em comparação ao observado mais ao norte, na borda leste. Um enxame de fotolineamentos NE, interpretados a partir de imagens de sensores remotos, ocorrem tanto ao longo do limite da bacia com o embasamento cristalino, como nas unidades sedimentares eopaleozoicas. Com o suporte de dados de campo, três padrões estruturais foram reconhecidos e correlacionados a eventos deformacionais distintos. A Deformação Dn, de idade ediacarana-cambriana, é reconhecida apenas no embasamento cristalino pré-cambriano, sendo relacionada a uma etapa tardia, retrometamórfica e de caráter plástico-frágil das zonas miloníticas brasilianas. A assinatura desse evento inclui zonas de cisalhamentos transcorrentes destrais orientadas NE-SW e veios de quartzo preenchendo juntas de distensão E-W. A Deformação Dn+1 corresponde a uma nova etapa de movimentação transcorrente destral nas estruturas NE-SW, acompanhada por falhas normais e juntas de distensão com orientação WNW a E-W, neste caso também afetando as unidades siluro-devonianas. A Deformação Dn+2 é caracterizada por falhas normais, diques básicos correlacionados à Suíte Sardinha, eocretácea), veios silicosos e cristas de arenitos silicificados, todos com orientação NE-SW. Essa última fase resulta de uma distensão com orientação NW-SE, análoga àquela reconhecida mais ao leste, nas Bacias Interiores do Nordeste do Brasil, associada ao rifteamento do Atlântico Sul.
α-Galactosidase A Genotype N215S Induces a Specific Cardiac Variant of Fabry Disease
Authors: Oder Daniel , Liu Dan , Hu Kai , Üçeyler Nurcan , Salinger Tim , Müntze Jonas , Lorenz Kristina , Kandolf Reinhard , Gröne Hermann-Josef , Sommer Claudia , Ertl Georg , Wanner Christoph , Nordbeck Peter
Published: October 2017

Background—

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common type of cardiomyopathy, but many patients lack sarcomeric/myofilament mutations. We studied whether cardio-specific α-galactosidase A gene variants are misinterpreted as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy because of the lack of extracardiac organ involvement.

Methods and Results—

All subjects who tested positive for the N215S genotype (n=26, 13 females, mean age 49±17 [range, 14–74] years) were characterized in this prospective monocentric longitudinal cohort study to determine genotype-specific clinical characteristics of the N215S (c.644A>G [p.Asn215Ser]) α-galactosidase A gene variant. All subjects were initially referred with suspicion of genetically determined hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Cardiac hypertrophy (interventricular septum, 12±4 [7–23] mm; left ventricular posterior wall, 11±4 [7–21] mm; left ventricular mass, 86±41 [46–195] g/m
2
) was progressive, systolic function mainly preserved (cardiac index 2.8±0.6 [1.9–3.9] L/min per m
2
), and diastolic function mildly abnormal. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging revealed replacement fibrosis in
loco typico
(18/26, 69%), particularly in subjects >50 years. Elderly subjects had advanced heart failure, and 6 (23%) were suggested for implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy. Leukocyte α-galactosidase A enzyme activity was mildly reduced in 19 subjects and lyso-globotriaosylceramide slightly elevated (median, 4.9; interquartile range, 1.3–9.1 ng/mL). Neurological and renal impairments (serum creatinine, 0.87±0.20; median, 0.80; interquartile range, 0.70–1.01 mg/dL; glomerular filtration rate, 102±23; median, 106; interquartile range, 84–113 mL/min) were discreet. Only 2 subjects developed clinically relevant proteinuria.

Conclusions—

α-Galactosidase A genotype N215S does not lead to the development of a classical Fabry phenotype but induces a specific cardiac variant of Fabry disease mimicking nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The lack of prominent noncardiac impairment leads to a significant delay in diagnosis and Fabry-specific therapy.
Population-Based Study on Patterns of Cardiac Stress Testing After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Bagai Akshay , Eberg Maria , Koh Maria , Cheema Asim N. , Yan Andrew T. , Dhoot Arti , Bhavnani Sanjeev P. , Wijeysundera Harindra C. , Bhatia R. Sacha , Kaul Padma , Goodman Shaun G. , Ko Dennis T.
Published: October 2017

Background—

The appropriate use criteria considers cardiac stress testing within 2 years after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to be rarely appropriate, unless prompted by symptoms or change in clinical status. Little is known about the patterns of cardiac stress testing after PCI in the single-payer Canadian healthcare system, where mechanisms for reimbursement are different from the United States.

Methods and Results—

Frequency and timing of cardiac stress testing within 2 years of PCI performed between April 2004 and March 2013 in Ontario, Canada, was determined from linked provincial databases. Subsequent rates of coronary angiography and revascularization after stress testing were ascertained. Of the 112 691 patients with PCI, 67 442 (59.8%) underwent at least 1 stress test, with 38 267 (34.0%) undergoing repeat stress testing (ie, >1 stress test) within 2 years. Patients who underwent stress testing were younger, had less medical comorbidities, were more likely to reside in urban areas, and had higher incomes. Spikes in incidence of repeat stress testing were observed at 3 to 4 months, 6 to 7 months, and 12 to 13 months after the prior stress test. Of those tested, only 5.9% underwent subsequent coronary angiography, and only 3.1% underwent repeat revascularization within 60 days of stress testing.

Conclusions—

More than half of all patients undergo cardiac stress testing within 2 years of PCI, with one third undergoing repeat stress tests. Only 1 of 30 tested patients underwent repeat revascularization. These findings reinforce the appropriate use criteria recommendations against routine stress testing after PCI. Further work is needed to aid with the selection of patients most likely to benefit from stress testing after PCI.
Distinct Cellular Basis for Early Cardiac Arrhythmias, the Cardinal Manifestation of Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy, and the Skin Phenotype of Cardiocutaneous Syndromes
Authors: Karmouch Jennifer , Zhou Qiong Q. , Miyake Christina Y. , Lombardi Raffaella , Kretzschmar Kai , Bannier-Hélaouët Marie , Clevers Hans , Wehrens Xander H.T. , Willerson James T. , Marian Ali J.
Published: October 2017

Rationale:

Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy is caused primarily by mutations in genes encoding desmosome proteins. Ventricular arrhythmias are the cardinal and typically early manifestations, whereas myocardial fibroadiposis is the pathological hallmark. Homozygous
DSP
(desmoplakin) and
JUP
(junction protein plakoglobin) mutations are responsible for a subset of patients with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy who exhibit cardiac arrhythmias and dysfunction, palmoplanter keratosis, and hair abnormalities (cardiocutaneous syndromes).

Objective:

To determine phenotypic consequences of deletion of
Dsp
in a subset of cells common to the heart and skin.

Methods and Results:

Expression of CSPG4 (chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4) was detected in epidermal keratinocytes and the cardiac conduction system. CSPG4
pos
cells constituted ≈5.6±3.3% of the nonmyocyte cells in the mouse heart. Inducible postnatal deletion of
Dsp
under the transcriptional control of the
Cspg4
locus led to ventricular arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, atrioventricular conduction defects, and death by 4 months of age. Cardiac arrhythmias occurred early and in the absence of cardiac dysfunction and excess cardiac fibroadipocytes, as in human arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. The mice exhibited palmoplantar keratosis and progressive alopecia, leading to alopecia totalis, associated with accelerated proliferation and impaired terminal differentiation of keratinocytes. The phenotype is similar to human cardiocutaneous syndromes caused by homozygous mutations in
DSP
.

Conclusions:

Deletion of
Dsp
under the transcriptional regulation of the CSPG4 locus led to lethal cardiac arrhythmias in the absence of cardiac dysfunction or fibroadiposis, palmoplantar keratosis, and alopecia, resembling the human cardiocutaneous syndromes. The findings offer a cellular basis for early cardiac arrhythmias in patients with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy and cardiocutaneous syndromes.
Trials and Tribulations of CETP Inhibitors
Authors: Tall Alan R. , Rader Daniel J.
Published: October 2017

The development of CETP (cholesteryl ester transfer protein) inhibitors has had a long and difficult course with 3 compounds failing in phase III clinical trials. Finally, the REVEAL (Randomized Evaluation of the Effects of Anacetrapib through Lipid modification) trial has shown that the CETP inhibitor anacetrapib decreased coronary heart disease when added to statin therapy. Although the result is different to earlier studies, this is likely related to the size and duration of the trial. The benefit of anacetrapib seems to be largely explained by lowering of non-HDL-C (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol), rather than increases in HDL-C. Although the magnitude of benefit for coronary heart disease appeared to be moderate, in part this may have reflected aspects of the trial design. Anacetrapib treatment was associated with a small increase in blood pressure, but was devoid of major side effects and was also associated with a small reduction in diabetes mellitus. Treatment with CETP inhibitors, either alone or in combination with statins, could provide another option for patients with coronary disease who require further reduction in LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and non-HDL-C.
Peptidyl‐Prolyl Isomerase 1 Regulates Ca
2+
Handling by Modulating Sarco(Endo)Plasmic Reticulum Calcium ATPase and Na
2+
/Ca
2+
Exchanger 1 Protein Levels and Function
Authors: Sacchi Veronica , Wang Bingyan J. , Kubli Dieter , Martinez Alexander S. , Jin Jung‐Kang , Alvarez Roberto , Hariharan Nirmala , Glembotski Christopher , Uchida Takafumi , Malter James S. , Yang Yijun , Gross Polina , Zhang Chen , Houser Steven , Rota Marcello , Sussman Mark A.
Published: October 2017

Background

Aberrant Ca
2+
handling is a prominent feature of heart failure. Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms responsible for aberrant Ca
2+
handling is essential for the development of strategies to blunt pathological changes in calcium dynamics. The peptidyl‐prolyl
cis
‐
trans
isomerase peptidyl‐prolyl isomerase 1 (Pin1) is a critical mediator of myocardial hypertrophy development and cardiac progenitor cell cycle. However, the influence of Pin1 on calcium cycling regulation has not been explored. On the basis of these findings, the aim of this study is to define Pin1 as a novel modulator of Ca
2+
handling, with implications for improving myocardial contractility and potential for ameliorating development of heart failure.

Methods and Results

Pin1 gene deletion or pharmacological inhibition delays cytosolic Ca
2+
decay in isolated cardiomyocytes. Paradoxically, reduced Pin1 activity correlates with increased sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum calcium
ATP
ase (
SERCA
2a) and Na
2+
/Ca
2+
exchanger 1 protein levels. However,
SERCA
2a
ATP
ase activity and calcium reuptake were reduced in sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes isolated from Pin1‐deficient hearts, suggesting that Pin1 influences
SERCA
2a function.
SERCA
2a and Na
2+
/Ca
2+
exchanger 1 associated with Pin1, as revealed by proximity ligation assay in myocardial tissue sections, indicating that regulation of Ca
2+
handling within cardiomyocytes is likely influenced through Pin1 interaction with
SERCA
2a and Na
2+
/Ca
2+
exchanger 1 proteins.

Conclusions

Pin1 serves as a modulator of
SERCA
2a and Na
2+
/Ca
2+
exchanger 1 Ca
2+
handling proteins, with loss of function resulting in impaired cardiomyocyte relaxation, setting the stage for subsequent investigations to assess Pin1 dysregulation and modulation in the progression of heart failure.
Incidence and Outcomes of Myocardial Infarction in Patients Admitted With Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Alqahtani Fahad , Aljohani Sami , Tarabishy Abdul , Busu Tatiana , Adcock Amelia , Alkhouli Mohamad
Published: October 2017

Background and Purpose—

Data on the incidence and outcomes of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicating acute ischemic stroke (AIS) are limited. We aim to evaluate the incidence, treatment patterns, and outcomes of AMI in patients with AIS using a nationwide database.

Methods—

The National Inpatient Sample was used to identify patient with AIS between 2003 and 2014. Trends of incidence of AMI and its associated in-hospital mortality were evaluated. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to evaluate predictors of AMI. The impact of AMI on in-hospital outcomes was assessed in a comparative analysis of propensity-matched groups of patients with and without AMI.

Results—

Patients with AIS (n=864 043) were identified in the national inpatient sample, of whom 13 573 patients (1.6%) had an AMI (79.5% non–ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction and 20.5% ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction). In-hospital mortality was 21.4% and 7.1% in propensity-matched cohorts of patients with and without AMI,
P
<0.001. In-hospital length of stay and cost of care were 50% higher in the AMI group. In a multivariate logistical regression analysis, the strongest predictors of having AMI after AIS were older age, history of coronary artery disease, chronic renal insufficiency, undergoing mechanical thrombectomy, and rhythm and conduction abnormalities. In the AMI group, undergoing coronary angiography and undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention both strongly correlated with lower in-hospital mortality (odds ratio, 0.34 [confidence interval, 0.23–0.51] and 0.26 [confidence interval, 0.20–0.34], respectively,
P
<0.001). However, these were only performed in 7.5% and 2% of patients, respectively.

Conclusions—

AMI complicating stroke carries a substantial in-hospital mortality and cost of care. Patients who underwent coronary angiography with or without intervention may have improved survival although it was only utilized in a minority of patients. Further studies needed to discern the ideal approach in AMI in patients with AIS.
Vocalizations associated with predator-type do not elicit predator-specific escape responses in grey squirrels
Authors: McRae Thaddeus R. , Green Steven M.
Published: October 2017

Eastern gray squirrels produce moans for aerial predators and quaas for terrestrial threats. One commonly-supported hypothesis for such predator-associated signals is that they elicit predator-specific escape responses in conspecifics. With simulated aerial predators, squirrels ran to the far side of tree trunks. In response to simulated terrestrial predators, squirrels frequently ran to where they could see the predator but could quickly flee to the far side of the tree trunk. Playbacks of quaas and moans elicited flight behaviour, but without association between escape location and alarm call type. Locations elicited by alarm calls differed from those elicited by simulated predators, with squirrels pausing on the side facing the call’s source. While grey squirrel alarms and escape strategies differ by predator type, the vocalizations do not function to elicit divergent escape strategies in conspecifics. This result stands in contrast to observed functions in other species with calls differing by predator type.
A time-based method for defining associations using photo-identification
Authors: Johnston D.R. , Rayment W. , Slooten E. , Dawson S.M.
Published: October 2017

Photo-identification is an invaluable method for documenting associations. Based on the assumption that individuals photographed close together in time are physically close in space, the metadata associated with digital photography offers an opportunity to base association analyses on time between images. This was tested via analysis of associations within a population of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Doubtful Sound, New Zealand. We compared the widely used group-membership method and an alternative time-based method. Overall social structures between methods were similar; high degrees of association among all individuals and little support for sub-groups. Results also indicated an increase in the precision of pairwise indices for the time-based method. This study validated the approach of using time as a basis for analyses of associations. Importantly, this method can be retrospectively applied to any photo-ID data set in which images of uniquely identifiable individuals are time-stamped by the camera.
Description of Ruehmaphelenchus quercophilus n. sp. (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae) from dying oak, Quercus robur, in Poland
Authors: Maria Munawar , Gu Jianfeng , Tomalak Marek , Fang Yiwu , Li Hongmei
Published: October 2017

Ruehmaphelenchus quercophilus n. sp., isolated from a dying oak, Quercus robur, in the State Forests, Łopuchówko District, Poland, is described and figured. It is characterised by three lateral lines, relatively stout body, excretory pore posterior to nerve ring, five caudal papillae, spicules relatively small (12-14 μm) with weakly developed condylus and rostrum, bursa absent, vulva positioned at ca 78% of body length, vulval flap absent, post-uterine branch extending for slightly over half of vulva to anus distance, and conoid tail with a bend at the distal end forming a terminal projection 10-14 μm long. The new species is very similar to four other described species, namely R. formosanus, R. juliae, R. thailandae, and R. sirisus. Detailed phylogenetic analysis based on 18S, 28S D2-D3 and ITS sequences has confirmed the status of this nematode as a new species.
Interfaith Dialogue in Christian Norway: Enactment of Inclusive Religiosity as Civilized Behavior
Authors: Liebmann Louise Lund
Published: October 2017

Despite sparse scholarly attention from non-activists, Scandinavian interfaith fora are gaining momentum as a response to societal transformations of increased migration, world conflicts, and politically motivated violence. Combining theories of interaction, ritual performance, and civilizing processes, the article conducts a case study of public interfaith meetings held by a local interfaith forum in Kristiansand in Norway. Analyzing the meetings as organized cultural encounters, the study explores the transformative aspects of the events and it points to how the enactment of civilized forms of cross-cultural religiosity created within and by these public interfaith meetings is interlinked with formations of citizenship.
New species and new records of ground spiders (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) from Cyprus
Authors: CHATZAKI MARIA , RUSSELL-SMITH ANTHONY
Published: October 2017

New taxonomic data on the ground spiders of the family Gnaphosidae from the island of Cyprus are presented. Three species are proposed as new to science (Drassyllus cyprius sp. n., Setaphis mccowani sp. n., Zelotes limnatis sp. n.). The male of Synaphosus shirin Ovtsharenko, Levy & Platnick, 1994 and the female of Zelotes zekharya Levy, 2009 are described for the first time. The transfer of Zelotes helvolus (O.P. Cambridge, 1872) and Z. helvoloides Levy, 1998 (the latter not recorded in Cyprus) to Cryptodrassus is proposed. The mismatching of male and female of C. helvoloides is discussed, and the female originally described as C. helvoloides is transferred to C. helvolus. Micaria pallipes (Lucas, 1846) is here recorded and the synonymy with Castanilla marchesii Caporiacco, 1936 is rejected, while the paralectotype of Castanilla marchesii is here assigned to Leptodrassex algericus Dalmas, 1919. Finally a male Poecilochroa still not attributed to a known or new species is described.
Simulation of Mesoscale Cellular Convection in Marine Stratocumulus. Part I: Drizzling Conditions
Authors: Zhou Xiaoli , Ackerman Andrew S. , Fridlind Ann M. , Kollias Pavlos
Published: October 2017

This study uses eddy-permitting simulations to investigate the mechanisms that promote mesoscale variability of moisture in drizzling stratocumulus-topped marine boundary layers. Simulations show that precipitation tends to increase horizontal scales. Analysis of terms in the prognostic equation for total water mixing ratio variance indicates that moisture stratification plays a leading role in setting horizontal scales. This result is supported by simulations in which horizontal mean thermodynamic profiles are strongly nudged to their initial well-mixed state, which limits cloud scales. It is found that the spatial variability of subcloud moist cold pools surprisingly tends to respond to, rather than determine, the mesoscale variability, which may distinguish them from dry cold pools associated with deeper convection. Simulations also indicate that moisture stratification increases cloud scales specifically by increasing latent heating within updrafts, which increases updraft buoyancy and favors greater horizontal scales.
An Efficient Scheme for Onboard Reduction of Moored χpod Data
Authors: Becherer Johannes , Moum James N.
Published: October 2017

A scheme for significantly reducing data sampled on turbulence devices (χpods) deployed on remote oceanographic moorings is proposed. Each χpod is equipped with a pitot-static tube, two fast-response thermistors, a three-axis linear accelerometer, and a compass. In preprocessing, voltage means, variances, and amplitude of the subrange (inertial-convective subrange of the turbulence) of the voltage spectrum representing the temperature gradient are computed. Postprocessing converts voltages to engineering units, in particular mean flow speed (and velocity), temperature, temperature gradient, and the rate of destruction of the temperature variance χ from which other turbulence quantities, such as heat flux, are derived. On 10-min averages, this scheme reduces the data by a factor of roughly 24 000 with a small (5%) low bias compared to complete estimates using inertial-convective subrange scaling of calibrated temperature gradient spectra.
The Use of Online Crime Markets by Cybercriminal Networks: A View From Within
Authors: Leukfeldt Rutger , Kleemans Edward , Stol Wouter
Published: October 2017

In this article, we study the various functions of online cybercriminal meeting places from a unique perspective: We do not take the criminal meeting place as a starting point, but the users—the criminal networks. This allows not only for a view of what is happening on online meeting places, but it also places online meeting places into perspective. Our data consisted of detailed case descriptions of 40 cybercriminal networks active in the Netherlands (18), Germany (3), the United Kingdom (9), and the United States (10). Reconstructions were made based on analysis of police files and/or interviews with case officers and public prosecutors. Online meeting places play a role in the majority of our cases: to meet co-offenders, to buy tools, or to sell data. However, from a crime script perspective, the role of forums is much more modest. Forums, for example, can be used to find suitable co-offenders, but in the majority of our cases the core members did not meet at forums. Offline meeting places still play an important role in cybercriminal networks. Furthermore, forums can be viewed as online versions of offline offender convergence settings—physical locations such as a bar—where criminals can meet, and ensure continuity and structure. However, forums might be more accessible than physical criminal meeting places. For a curious newbie, it is, for example, easier to visit all sorts of forums than it is to visit all sorts of criminal bars. Finally, our cases show that the learning function of forums should not be underestimated.
Resistance: Active and Creative Political Protest Strategies
Authors: Boone Gloria M. , Secci Jane , Gallant Linda M.
Published: October 2017

Resistance to U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies on gender equality, health care, race relations, the environment, and immigration has been large, widespread, and persistent. Following President Trump’s election, millions of people across the United States protested, creatively using slogans, signs, costumes, chants, and songs. Others engaged in resistance with online videos, songs, memes, and hashtags. By employing the communicative informatics model, we examine the relationship between online communication and the creative and active audience involved in U.S. political resistance in 2017.
The Chronic Care Model to Improve Management of Childhood Obesity
Authors: Cygan Heide , Reed Monique , Lui Karen , Mullen Mary
Published: October 2017

One-third of children in the United States are overweight or obese. Comorbidities continue into adulthood if a healthy weight is not established. While expert guidelines for management of this condition are recognized, provider adherence to guidelines is lacking. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate the effectiveness of the chronic care model (CCM) on improving primary care provider identification, prevention, and management of childhood overweight and obesity. A pre- and postintervention chart audit was completed to evaluate documentation of 20 assessment measures included in expert guidelines. A chi-square analysis was conducted to assess differences. Statistically significant improvements were found in documentation of parental obesity, family medical history, sleep assessment, endocrine assessment, and weight classification as a diagnosis. Use of the CCM had a positive impact on provider adherence to expert guidelines. Furthermore, not all aspects of the CCM must be used to see statistically significant improvements.
The Religious Characteristics of States
Authors: Brown Davis , James Patrick
Published: October 2017

For rigorous empirical study of religion to move forward, improved data on religious demographics of states’ populations, with more extensive and consistent coverage, become essential. The Religious Characteristics of States (RCS) data set project provides annual data on religious demographics for ninety-seven denominations, from 2010 back to as early as 1800 (approximately 6.7 million data points). Unlike existing data sets, RCS matches the temporal coverage of the Correlates of War and Polity data sets and is structured for easy merger with them. Illustrations of RCS’s capabilities include measurements of religions’ associations with regime type, wealth, and conflict. Religious characteristics emerge as significant state-level variables and rival other factors conventionally thought to influence political processes and outcomes. The results encourage further research using RCS on a wide range of problems within international relations and comparative politics.
The Fiction of the Criminalisation of Corporate Killing
Authors: Menis Susanna
Published: October 2017

Since the 1970s, high-profile corporate killings forced the need to assess the criminal responsibility of corporations which have caused human or environmental fatalities. This enterprise proved difficult, and the task was not necessarily made easier by the 2007 Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act (c.19). The question to be asked is whether the Act serves any real public interest or merely pays lip service to the ‘war on crime’ agenda.
Understanding Variation in Processes of Institutional Formation
Authors: Lowndes Vivien , Lemprière Maximilian
Published: October 2017

The article asks why institutional reforms work in one place and not another and why old ways of doing things can prove so resilient. It argues in favour of a concept of institutional formation, which is different from ‘institutional design’ as a time-limited event or ‘institutional change’ as an open-ended historical trajectory. Institutional formation is conceptualised as an animated, nested and embedded process. A multi-level framework is developed that specifies the links between institutional actors, institutional rules and institutional contexts. The model is elaborated with reference to a case study of local government reform in England, specifically the devolution of responsibilities from central government to voluntary collaborations of elected local authorities (‘combined authorities’). The model is used to explain variation in the process of institutional formation in two different city-regions, focusing on the role of leaders, legacies and localities.
A Case Study of Classroom Discourse Analysis of Teacher’s Fronted Reading Comprehension Lessons for Vocabulary Learning Opportunities
Authors: Ong Justina
Published: October 2017

This study examined classroom routine and interactional patterns of Grade 5 English Language reading comprehension lessons through delineating the speech act functions of instructional discourse that was based on Malcolm’s sociolinguistic model (Malcolm, 1979a; Malcolm, 1979b; Malcolm, 1982; Malcolm, 1986). It also evaluated the classroom interaction patterns with reference to four proposed levels of vocabulary learning opportunities that could be afforded through the discourse. Using a qualitative single case study methodology, four video-recorded and transcribed lessons, together with a semi-structured interview with the teacher, classroom observations, and lesson plans formed the data for the present study. The classroom routine showed teacher’s informing, teacher’s elicitation, children’s bidding, teacher’s nomination, children’s replying, teacher’s acknowledgement, teacher’s informing and teacher’s directing and a predominant Initiation-Response-Follow-up pattern. The teacher’s discourse had focussed the learners’ attention on target vocabulary and was effective in eliciting the meanings of those words from the learners. However, most of the successful elicitations took few and short turns. A closer examination further revealed that the most prevalent teacher’s elicitation acts were checking elicitation and multiple elicitation; and that the most prevalent teacher’s acknowledgement acts were unqualified accepting or relaying, and evaluating. The types of teacher’s elicitations and acknowledgements resulted in an interaction that was devoid of dynamic negotiation of the meanings between the learners, teacher, and text.
The Use of Personal Pronouns in the Writing of Argumentative Essays by EFL Writers
Authors: MacIntyre Robert
Published: October 2017

In many academic writing textbooks and style guides the use of personal pronouns is not encouraged. This is particularly problematic for non-native speakers of English trying to express themselves in a second language as, although personal pronouns are a clear signal of the writers’ identity and presence in a text, they are usually advised not to use them. Therefore, in order to understand more about the use of personal pronouns by non-native speakers, this study examined a corpus of argumentative essays written by first-year Japanese university students. Whilst the use of personal pronouns has been well documented, there has been less written about how we, as educators, can help our learners understand how to use them to shape their identities as academic writers. Therefore, this article attempts to address this by suggesting a possible pedagogical approach to teaching the use of personal pronouns in academic writing.
Power Law Distributions and the Size Distribution of Strikes
Authors: Campolieti Michele
Published: October 2017

Using Canadian data from 1976 to 2014, I study the size distribution of strikes with three alternative measures of strike size: the number of workers on strike, strike duration in calendar days, and the number of person calendar days lost to a strike. I use a maximum likelihood framework that provides a way to estimate distributions, evaluate model fit, and also test against alternative distributions. I consider a few theories that can create power law distributions in strike size, such as the joint costs model that posits strike size is inversely proportional to dispute costs. I find that the power law distribution fits the data for the number of lost person calendar days relatively well and is also more appropriate than the lognormal distribution. I also discuss the implications of my findings from a methodological, research, and policy perspective.
The changing role of mothers’ verbal and nonverbal behavior in children’s language acquisition
Authors: Poulain Tanja , Brauer Jens
Published: October 2017

This study explores the developmental change of mother–child interactions in order to investigate which aspects of maternal behavior affect children’s speech production. To this end, the interactions between 79 German-speaking mothers and their two- or five-year-old children were observed at two time points (12 months apart) and in two interactive settings (joint picture book reading and joint play with toy blocks). Measures were obtained for the speech (mean length of utterance) of mothers and children and the pointing behavior and prosody of mothers. The results suggest that mothers adapt their behavior to the advancing abilities of their children. Moreover, mothers’ speech input was a significant predictor of children’s speech production later in life. Interestingly, speech production of younger children was explained by the relatively simpler speech of mothers during joint play, whereas speech production of older children was explained by the relatively more complex speech of mothers during joint picture book reading. Mothers’ nonverbal behavior, in contrast, did not predict children’s speech production. Taken together, this study provides compelling evidence for the changing role of mothers’ interactive behavior in supporting children’s language production during development.
Friends With Performance Benefits: A Meta-Analysis on the Relationship Between Friendship and Group Performance
Authors: Chung Seunghoo , Lount Robert B. , Park Hee Man , Park Ernest S.
Published: October 2017

The current article examines if, and under which conditions, there exists a positive relationship between working with friends and group performance. To do so, using data from 1,016 groups obtained from 26 studies, we meta-analyzed comparisons of the performance of friendship groups versus acquaintance groups. Results show that friendship has a significant positive effect on group task performance (Cohen’s d = 0.31). Furthermore, this relationship was moderated by group size (i.e., the positive effect of friendship on performance increased with group size) and task focus (i.e., friendship groups performed better than acquaintance groups on tasks requiring a high quantity of output, whereas there was no performance benefit on tasks requiring a single or high-quality output). These results help to reconcile mixed findings and illustrate when friendship groups are more likely to perform better than acquaintance groups.
The European public sectors in the age of managerialism
Authors: Esposito Giovanni , Ferlie Ewan , Gaeta Giuseppe Lucio
Published: October 2017

During the past 50 years, European public sectors have undergone a profound process of organizational change, where managerial tools and principles from the private sector have permeated through governments and administrations of many countries. A substantial amount of academic literature has now been devoted to public management reforms. Many scholars have associated them with the diffusion of a managerialist ideology. However, the relationship between public management reforms, political ideology, and public expressions of support for these reforms by political parties has been a relatively under-explored topic within the literature and is the gap we address in this article. Using a longitudinal framework of study, our analysis shows how issues surrounding managerialist reforms have evolved across the electoral manifestos of European parties during the past 50 years. Our findings reveal that these reforms have enjoyed a growing political profile over time in many countries within Western and Eastern Europe. Furthermore, we also examine and discuss the differences and similarities of these reforms across countries.