bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanoresponsive Networks Controlling Vascular Inflammation
Authors: Bryan Matthew T. , Duckles Hayley , Feng Shuang , Hsiao Sarah T. , Kim Hyejeong R. , Serbanovic-Canic Jovana , Evans Paul C.
Published: June 2014

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of arteries that develops preferentially at branches and bends that are exposed to disturbed blood flow. Vascular function is modified by flow, in part, via the generation of mechanical forces that alter multiple physiological processes in endothelial cells. Shear stress has profound effects on vascular inflammation; high uniform shear stress prevents leukocyte recruitment to the vascular wall by reducing endothelial expression of adhesion molecules and other inflammatory proteins, whereas low oscillatory shear stress has the opposite effects. Here, we review the molecular mechanisms that underpin the effects of shear stress on endothelial inflammatory responses. They include shear stress regulation of inflammatory mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-κB signaling. High shear suppresses these pathways through the induction of several negative regulators of inflammation, whereas low shear promotes inflammatory signaling. Furthermore, we summarize recent studies indicating that inflammatory signaling is highly sensitive to pulse wave frequencies, magnitude, and direction of flow. Finally, the importance of systems biology approaches (including omics studies and functional screening) to identify novel mechanosensitive pathways is discussed.
NADPH Oxidase 4 Is Expressed in Pulmonary Artery Adventitia and Contributes to Hypertensive Vascular Remodeling
Authors: Barman Scott A. , Chen Feng , Su Yunchao , Dimitropoulou Christiana , Wang Yusi , Catravas John D. , Han Weihong , Orfi Laszlo , Szantai-Kis Csaba , Keri Gyorgy , Szabadkai Istvan , Barabutis Nektarios , Rafikova Olga , Rafikov Ruslan , Black Stephen M. , Jonigk Danny , Giannis Athanassios , Asmis Reto , Stepp David W. , Ramesh Ganesan , Fulton David J.R.
Published: June 2014

Objective—

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a progressive disease arising from remodeling and narrowing of pulmonary arteries (PAs) resulting in high pulmonary blood pressure and ultimately right ventricular failure. Elevated production of reactive oxygen species by NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4) is associated with increased pressure in PH. However, the cellular location of Nox4 and its contribution to aberrant vascular remodeling in PH remains poorly understood. Therefore, we sought to identify the vascular cells expressing Nox4 in PAs and determine the functional relevance of Nox4 in PH.

Approach and Results—

Elevated expression of Nox4 was detected in hypertensive PAs from 3 rat PH models and human PH using qualititative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and immunofluorescence. In the vascular wall, Nox4 was detected in both endothelium and adventitia, and perivascular staining was prominently increased in hypertensive lung sections, colocalizing with cells expressing fibroblast and monocyte markers and matching the adventitial location of reactive oxygen species production. Small-molecule inhibitors of Nox4 reduced adventitial reactive oxygen species generation and vascular remodeling as well as ameliorating right ventricular hypertrophy and noninvasive indices of PA stiffness in monocrotaline-treated rats as determined by morphometric analysis and high-resolution digital ultrasound. Nox4 inhibitors improved PH in both prevention and reversal protocols and reduced the expression of fibroblast markers in isolated PAs. In fibroblasts, Nox4 overexpression stimulated migration and proliferation and was necessary for matrix gene expression.

Conclusion—

These findings indicate that Nox4 is prominently expressed in the adventitia and contributes to altered fibroblast behavior, hypertensive vascular remodeling, and development of PH.
ADAM19
and
HTR4
Variants and Pulmonary Function
Authors: London Stephanie J. , Gao Wei , Gharib Sina A. , Hancock Dana B. , Wilk Jemma B. , House John S. , Gibbs Richard A. , Muzny Donna M. , Lumley Thomas , Franceschini Nora , North Kari E. , Psaty Bruce M. , Kovar Christie L. , Coresh Josef , Zhou Yanhua , Heckbert Susan R. , Brody Jennifer A. , Morrison Alanna C. , Dupuis Josée
Published: June 2014

Background—

The pulmonary function measures of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and its ratio to forced vital capacity (FVC) are used in the diagnosis and monitoring of lung diseases and predict cardiovascular mortality in the general population. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified numerous loci associated with FEV1 and FEV1/FVC, but the causal variants remain uncertain. We hypothesized that novel or rare variants poorly tagged by GWASs may explain the significant associations between FEV1/FVC and 2 genes:
ADAM19
and
HTR4
.

Methods and Results—

We sequenced
ADAM19
and its promoter region along with the ≈21-kb portion of
HTR4
harboring GWAS single-nucleotide polymorphisms for pulmonary function and analyzed associations with FEV1/FVC among 3983 participants of European ancestry from Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology (CHARGE) Consortium. Meta-analysis of common variants in each region identified statistically significant associations (316 tests;
P
<1.58×10
−4
) with FEV1/FVC for 14
ADAM19
single-nucleotide polymorphisms and 24
HTR4
single-nucleotide polymorphisms. After conditioning on the sentinel GWASs hit in each gene (
ADAM19
rs1422795, minor allele frequency=0.33 and
HTR4
rs11168048, minor allele frequency=0.40], 1 single-nucleotide polymorphism remained statistically significant (
ADAM19
rs13155908, minor allele frequency=0.12;
P
=1.56×10
−4
). Analysis of rare variants (minor allele frequency <1%) using sequence kernel association test did not identify associations with either region.

Conclusions—

Sequencing identified 1 common variant associated with FEV1/FVC independent of the sentinel
ADAM19
GWAS hit and supports the original
HTR4
GWAS findings. Rare variants do not seem to underlie GWAS associations with pulmonary function for common variants in
ADAM19
and
HTR4
.
Association of Levels of Fasting Glucose and Insulin With Rare Variants at the Chromosome 11p11.2-
MADD
Locus
Authors: Cornes Belinda K. , Brody Jennifer A. , Nikpoor Naghmeh , Morrison Alanna C. , Dang Huan Chu Pham , Ahn Byung Soo , Wang Shuai , Dauriz Marco , Barzilay Joshua I. , Dupuis Josée , Florez Jose C. , Coresh Josef , Gibbs Richard A. , Kao W.H. Linda , Liu Ching-Ti , McKnight Barbara , Muzny Donna , Pankow James S. , Reid Jeffrey G. , White Charles C. , Johnson Andrew D. , Wong Tien Y. , Psaty Bruce M. , Boerwinkle Eric , Rotter Jerome I , Siscovick David S. , Sladek Robert , Meigs James B.
Published: June 2014

Background—

Common variation at the 11p11.2 locus, encompassing
MADD
,
ACP2
,
NR1H3
,
MYBPC3
, and
SPI1
, has been associated in genome-wide association studies with fasting glucose and insulin (FI). In the Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology Targeted Sequencing Study, we sequenced 5 gene regions at 11p11.2 to identify rare, potentially functional variants influencing fasting glucose or FI levels.

Methods and Results—

Sequencing (mean depth, 38×) across 16.1 kb in 3566 individuals without diabetes mellitus identified 653 variants, 79.9% of which were rare (minor allele frequency <1%) and novel. We analyzed rare variants in 5 gene regions with FI or fasting glucose using the sequence kernel association test. At
NR1H3
, 53 rare variants were jointly associated with FI (
P
=2.73×10
−3
); of these, 7 were predicted to have regulatory function and showed association with FI (
P
=1.28×10
−3
). Conditioning on 2 previously associated variants at
MADD
(rs7944584, rs10838687) did not attenuate this association, suggesting that there are >2 independent signals at 11p11.2. One predicted regulatory variant, chr11:47227430 (hg18; minor allele frequency=0.00068), contributed 20.6% to the overall sequence kernel association test score at
NR1H3
, lies in intron 2 of
NR1H3
, and is a predicted binding site for forkhead box A1 (
FOXA1
), a transcription factor associated with insulin regulation. In human HepG2 hepatoma cells, the rare chr11:47227430 A allele disrupted FOXA1 binding and reduced FOXA1-dependent transcriptional activity.

Conclusions—

Sequencing at 11p11.2-
NR1H3
identified rare variation associated with FI. One variant, chr11:47227430, seems to be functional, with the rare A allele reducing transcription factor FOXA1 binding and FOXA1-dependent transcriptional activity.
The Right Ventricle in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Ryan John J. , Archer Stephen L.
Published: June 2014

The right ventricle (RV) is the major determinant of functional state and prognosis in pulmonary arterial hypertension. RV hypertrophy (RVH) triggered by pressure overload is initially compensatory but often leads to RV failure. Despite similar RV afterload and mass some patients develop adaptive RVH (concentric with retained RV function), while others develop maladaptive RVH, characterized by dilatation, fibrosis, and RV failure. The differentiation of adaptive versus maladaptive RVH is imprecise, but adaptive RVH is associated with better functional capacity and survival. At the molecular level, maladaptive RVH displays greater impairment of angiogenesis, adrenergic signaling, and metabolism than adaptive RVH, and these derangements often involve the left ventricle. Clinically, maladaptive RVH is characterized by increased N-terminal pro–brain natriuretic peptide levels, troponin release, elevated catecholamine levels, RV dilatation, and late gadolinium enhancement on MRI, increased
18
fluorodeoxyglucose uptake on positron emission tomography, and QTc prolongation on the ECG. In maladaptive RVH there is reduced inotrope responsiveness because of G-protein receptor kinase–mediated downregulation, desensitization, and uncoupling of β-adrenoreceptors. RV ischemia may result from capillary rarefaction or decreased right coronary artery perfusion pressure. Maladaptive RVH shares metabolic abnormalities with cancer including aerobic glycolysis (resulting from a forkhead box protein O1–mediated transcriptional upregulation of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase), and glutaminolysis (reflecting ischemia-induced cMyc activation). Augmentation of glucose oxidation is beneficial in experimental RVH and can be achieved by inhibition of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase, fatty acid oxidation, or glutaminolysis. Therapeutic targets in RV failure include chamber-specific abnormalities of metabolism, angiogenesis, adrenergic signaling, and phosphodiesterase-5 expression. The ability to restore RV function in experimental models challenges the dogma that RV failure is irreversible without regression of pulmonary vascular disease.
The Metabolic Theory of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Paulin Roxane , Michelakis Evangelos D.
Published: June 2014

Numerous molecular abnormalities have been described in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), complicating the translation of candidate therapies to patients because, typically, 1 treatment addresses only 1 abnormality. The realization that in addition to pulmonary artery vascular cells, other tissues and cells are involved in the syndrome of PAH (eg, immune cells, right ventricular cardiomyocytes, skeletal muscle) further complicates the identification of optimal therapeutic targets. Here, we describe a metabolic theory that proposes that many apparently unrelated molecular abnormalities in PAH do have a common denominator; they either cause or promote a mitochondrial suppression (inhibition of glucose oxidation) in pulmonary vascular cells; in turn, the signaling downstream from this mitochondrial suppression can also explain numerous molecular events previously not connected. This integration of signals upstream and downstream of mitochondria has similarities to cancer and can explain many features of the PAH vascular phenotype, including proliferation and apoptosis resistance. This suppression of glucose oxidation (with secondary upregulation of glycolysis) also underlies the abnormalities in extrapulmonary tissues, suggesting a global metabolic disturbance. The metabolic theory places mitochondria at the center stage for our understanding of PAH pathogenesis and for the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Current PAH therapies are each addressing 1 abnormality (eg, upregulation of endothelin-1) and were not developed specifically for PAH but for systemic vascular diseases. Compared with the available therapies, mitochondria-targeting therapies have the advantage of addressing multiple molecular abnormalities simultaneously (thus being potentially more effective) and achieving higher specificity because they address PAH-specific biology.
Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Sharma Kavita , Kass David A.
Published: June 2014

The clinical syndrome comprising heart failure (HF) symptoms but with a left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) that is not diminished, eg, HF with preserved EF, is increasingly the predominant form of HF in the developed world, and soon to reach epidemic proportions. It remains among the most challenging of clinical syndromes for the practicing clinician and scientist alike, with a multitude of proposed mechanisms involving the heart and other organs and complex interplay with common comorbidities. Importantly, its morbidity and mortality are on par with HF with reduced EF, and as the list of failed treatments continues to grow, HF with preserved EF clearly represents a major unmet medical need. The field is greatly in need of a more unified approach to its definition and view of the syndrome that engages integrative and reserve pathophysiology beyond that related to the heart alone. We need to reflect on prior treatment failures and the message this is providing, and redirect our approaches likely with a paradigm shift in how the disease is viewed. Success will require interactions between clinicians, translational researchers, and basic physiologists. Here, we review recent translational and clinical research into HF with preserved EF and give perspectives on its evolving demographics and epidemiology, the role of multiorgan deficiencies, potential mechanisms that involve the heart and other organs, clinical trials, and future directions.
Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Loffredo Francesco S. , Nikolova Andriana P. , Pancoast James R. , Lee Richard T.
Published: June 2014

Age-related diastolic dysfunction is a major factor in the epidemic of heart failure. In patients hospitalized with heart failure, HFpEF is now as common as heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. We now have many successful treatments for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, while specific treatment options for HFpEF patients remain elusive. The lack of treatments for HFpEF reflects our very incomplete understanding of this constellation of diseases. There are many pathophysiological factors in HFpEF, but aging appears to play an important role. Here, we propose that aging of the myocardium is itself a specific pathophysiological process. New insights into the aging heart, including hormonal controls and specific molecular pathways, such as microRNAs, are pointing to myocardial aging as a potentially reversible process. While the overall process of aging remains mysterious, understanding the molecular pathways of myocardial aging has never been more important. Unraveling these pathways could lead to new therapies for the enormous and growing problem of HFpEF.
Current Clinical Management of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Zamanian Roham T. , Kudelko Kristina T. , Sung Yon K. , de Jesus Perez Vinicio , Liu Juliana , Spiekerkoetter Edda
Published: June 2014

During the past 2 decades, there has been a tremendous evolution in the evaluation and care of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The introduction of targeted PAH therapy consisting of prostacyclin and its analogs, endothelin antagonists, phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, and now a soluble guanylate cyclase activator have increased therapeutic options and potentially reduced morbidity and mortality; yet, none of the current therapies have been curative. Current clinical management of PAH has become more complex given the focus on early diagnosis, an increased number of available therapeutics within each mechanistic class, and the emergence of clinically challenging scenarios such as perioperative care. Efforts to standardize the clinical care of patients with PAH have led to the formation of multidisciplinary PAH tertiary care programs that strive to offer medical care based on peer-reviewed evidence-based, and expert consensus guidelines. Furthermore, these tertiary PAH centers often support clinical and basic science research programs to gain novel insights into the pathogenesis of PAH with the goal to improve the clinical management of this devastating disease. In this article, we discuss the clinical approach and management of PAH from the perspective of a single US-based academic institution. We provide an overview of currently available clinical guidelines and offer some insight into how we approach current controversies in clinical management of certain patient subsets. We conclude with an overview of our program structure and a perspective on research and the role of a tertiary PAH center in contributing new knowledge to the field.
High-Resolution Magnetic Resonance Wall Imaging Findings of Moyamoya Disease
Authors: Ryoo Sookyung , Cha Jihoon , Kim Suk Jae , Choi Jin Wook , Ki Chang-Seok , Kim Keon Ha , Jeon Pyoung , Kim Jong-Soo , Hong Seung-Chyul , Bang Oh Young
Published: June 2014

Background and Purpose—

Diagnosis of Moyamoya disease (MMD) is based on the characteristic angiographic findings. However, differentiating MMD from intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) is difficult. We compared vessel wall imaging findings on high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging between MMD and ICAD.

Methods—

High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging was performed on 32 patients with angiographically proven MMD and 16 patients with acute infarcts because of ICAD. Bilateral internal carotid arteries and steno-occlusive middle cerebral artery were analyzed for wall enhancement and remodeling.

Results—

Enhancement patterns and distribution were different. Most patients with MMD (90.6%) showed concentric enhancement on distal internal carotid arteries and middle cerebral arteries, whereas focal eccentric enhancement was observed on the symptomatic segment in ICAD. MMD was characterized by middle cerebral artery shrinkage; the remodeling index and wall area were lower in MMD than in ICAD (remodeling index, 0.19±0.11 versus 1.00±0.43; wall area, 0.32±0.22 versus 6.00±2.72;
P
<0.001).

Conclusions—

MMD was characterized by concentric enhancement on bilateral distal internal carotid arteries and shrinkage of middle cerebral artery, regardless of symptoms.
Incidence of Symptomatic Hemorrhage in Patients With Lobar Microbleeds
Authors: van Etten Ellis S. , Auriel Eitan , Haley Kellen E. , Ayres Alison M. , Vashkevich Anastasia , Schwab Kristin M. , Rosand Jonathan , Viswanathan Anand , Greenberg Steven M. , Gurol M. Edip
Published: June 2014

Background and Purpose—

Lobar microbleeds suggestive of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) are often identified on MRI in the absence of lobar intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We compared the baseline characteristics and risk of subsequent ICH among such patients to those presenting with CAA-related lobar ICH.

Methods—

Clinical data (demographics, risk factors), apolipoprotein E genotype, neuroimaging markers of CAA severity (microbleed counts, leukoaraiosis volume), and clinical outcomes (incidence rates of ICH and death during a mean follow-up of 5.3±3.8 years) were compared between 63 patients enrolled because of incidentally found microbleeds and 316 with CAA-related ICH, in our prospectively enrolled cohort. Predictors of incident ICH were explored in the microbleed-only patients using multivariable Cox regression models.

Results—

Microbleed-only patients shared similar demographic, apolipoprotein E, and vascular risk profiles with lobar ICH patients, but had more lobar microbleeds (median, 10 versus 2;
P
<0.001) and higher leukoaraiosis volumes (median, 31 versus 23 mL;
P
=0.02). Microbleed-only patients had a nontrivial incidence rate of ICH, not different from patients presenting with ICH (5 versus 8.9 per 100 person-years; adjusted hazard ratio, 0.58; 95% confidence interval, 0.31–1.06;
P
=0.08). Microbleed-only patients had a higher mortality rate (hazard ratio, 1.67; 95% confidence interval, 1.1–2.6) compared with ICH survivors. Warfarin use and increasing age were independent predictors of future ICH among microbleed-only patients after correction for other covariates.

Conclusions—

Patients presenting with isolated lobar microbleeds on MRI have a genetic, neuroimaging, and hemorrhagic risk profile suggestive of severe CAA pathology. They have a substantial risk of incident ICH, potentially affecting decisions regarding anticoagulation in clinical situations.
Predictors of Early Mortality in Young Adults After Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Authors: Koivunen Riku-Jaakko , Satopää Jarno , Haapaniemi Elena , Strbian Daniel , Meretoja Atte , Mustanoja Satu , Silvennoinen Heli , Salonen Oili , Niemelä Mika , Tatlisumak Turgut , Putaala Jukka
Published: June 2014

Background and Purpose—

Patient and radiological characteristics of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), surgical treatment, and outcome after ICH are interrelated. Our purpose was to define whether these characteristics or surgical treatment correlate with mortality among young adults.

Methods—

We retrospectively reviewed clinical and imaging data of all first-ever nontraumatic patients with ICH between 16 and 49 years of age treated in our hospital between January 2000 and March 2010 and linked these data with national causes of death registry. A logistic regression analysis of factors associated with 3-month mortality and a propensity score comparison between patients treated conservatively and operatively was performed.

Results—

Among the 325 eligible patients (59.4% men), factors associated with 3-month mortality included higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, infratentorial location, hydrocephalus, herniation, and multiple hemorrhages. Adjusted for these factors, as well as demographics, ICH volume, and the underlying cause, surgical evacuation was associated with lower 3-month mortality (odds ratio, 0.06; 95% confidence interval, 0.02–0.21). In propensity score–matched analysis, 3-month case fatality rates were 3-fold in those treated conservatively (27.5% versus 7.8%;
P
<0.001).

Conclusions—

The predictors of short-term case fatality are alike in young and elderly patients with ICH. However, initial hematoma evacuation was associated with lower 3-month case fatality in our young patients with ICH.
New Evidence from Dalma and Kura-Araxes Culture at Tapeh Qal‘e-ye-Sarsakhti
Authors: Abedi Akbar , Eskandari Nasir , Shahidi Hamid Khatib , Sharahi Ismail , Shirzadeh Gholam
Published: June 2014

Tapeh Qal‘eh-ye-Sarsakhti is located between the Central Iranian Plateau and the Zagros Mountains, specifically in the entrance threshold to the Central Iranian Plateau from the eastern part of Central Zagros. It is a rich site including several periods: late Neolithic, Middle and Late Chalcolithic, Early and Middle Bronze Age, Parthian and eventually the Seljuk era. According to surveys conducted in the Central Zagros and in the Central Iranian Plateau, Tapeh Qal‘eh-ye-Sarsakhti appears to be one of the southeastern-most extensions of the Kura-Araxes and the eastern sphere of Dalma Culture influence in the Central Iranian Plateau and East Central Zagros. Here, we trace the nature of the arrival of these cultures to the East Central Zagros and Central Iranian Plateau, as well as the role this area played in transferring of these cultures from east to west, north to south and vice versa.
A Reinterpretation of the Sasanian Relief at Salmās
Authors: Shavarebi Ehsan
Published: June 2014

A Sasanian relief is located at Salmās in north-western Iran. This relief depicts Ardashīr I
and his successor Shāpūr, who give rings to two standing men who are not exactly recognised.
In this article the relief of Salmās will be examined from iconographic, geographical,
and historical points of view, and I will try to diagnose the standing men’s identity.
Responsibility to Protect
Authors: Holmes John
Published: June 2014

Where does the humanitarian community sit in relation to continuing debates about the Responsibility to Protect (R2P)? The third pillar of R2P is often seen as the practical manifestation of an older idea of humanitarian intervention, given much attention after the Rwandan genocide and Srebrenica. Many humanitarians have long been reticent about the idea of so-called humanitarian intervention and, thus, of R2P. This article examines the logic behind this reticence and explores the practical relationship between R2P and humanitarian action. In particular, it focuses on three major crises during Holmes’s time as Emergency Relief Coordination – Darfur, Sri Lanka and Myanmar – and goes on to consider briefly how and why R2P has been invoked, or not, in the more recent crises of Libya and Syria. It concludes with reflections about the implications for the future.
The Metrics and Ethics of Protecting Civilians
Authors: Reichhold Urban , Binder Andrea
Published: June 2014

This article asks how success is defined and measured for humanitarian action and military interventions aimed at protecting civilians from violence and harm in situations of armed conflict. It starts by illustrating how humanitarian and military protection actors differ in their ability or willingness to mobilize coercive force to achieve their common goal of protecting civilians. As a second step, it classifies different types of protection activities implemented by these actors. A distinction is made between actions designed to mitigate protection threats and actions that aim at eliminating the underlying causes of violence against civilians. This classification is important for two reasons. First, it serves to narrow down the problem of complementarity and contradiction between military and humanitarian approaches to protection. Second, it helps to highlight methodological, ethical and epistemological barriers to demonstrating success for specific types of protection interventions. The article concludes by exploring how normative considerations may guide protection policy and practice in the absence of conclusive empirical evidence on what works in protecting civilians.
India, R2P and Humanitarian Assistance
Authors: Aneja Urvashi
Published: June 2014

This article examines how India understands and negotiates norms for the provision of humanitarian assistance and R2P in political emergencies. Looking at these two related but distinct spheres of action together helps illuminate India’s understanding of international order, and the nature and scope of domestic and international responsibility in protecting populations from harm and deprivation. The article argues that while R2P and humanitarian assistance have both pluralist and solidarist underpinnings, India attempts to contain the meaning and practice of these spheres of action in a manner that is consistent with a pluralist view of international order.
Rediscovery of two species of Microlicia (Melastomataceae) in Minas Gerais, Brazil
Authors: Romero Rosana , Woodgyer Elizabeth M.
Published: June 2014

Studies carried out in Minas Gerais state have led to the rediscovery of Microlicia maximowicziana and M. riedeliana, known previously only by the type collections made 190 years ago by LudwigRiedel. We present descriptions, commentson theaffinities among closelyrelatedspeciesandconservationassessments, as well as illustrations. Lectotypes for both species are designated and the varieties of M. maximowicziana are synonymised.
Notes on Early Land Plants Today. 56. Validation of Asterella sect. Wallichianae (Aytoniaceae, Marchantiophyta)
Authors: Long David G. , Söderström Lars , Hagborg Anders , Von Konrat Matt
Published: June 2014

Long (2005) presented an infrageneric classification of the genus Asterella Palisot de Beauvois (1805: 257) where five subgenera and four sections were recognized. Two of the sections were placed under subgen. Wallichianae Long (2001: 43), sect. Californicae Long (2005: 257) and sect. Wallichianae Long (2005: 257). However, since the latter section was not automatically defined as an autonym directly under the genus Asterella, it needed a Latin description which was missing. In order to be able to use the name in the forthcoming world checklist of Hornworts and Liverworts (Söderström et al., in prep.), the section is validated here. Note that a Latin description is no longer needed under the current ICN (McNeill et al. 2012).
A contribution to the centipede fauna of Venezuela (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha)
Authors: SCHILEYKO ARKADY A.
Published: June 2014

The descriptions of twelve Venezuelan Scolopendromorpha, a list of species, identification key and detailed list of localities are presented. Cryptops (C.) venezuelae Chamberlin, 1939, known only from the holotype has been re-described and Scolopendra conjungens Muralewicz, 1913 reduced to a junior synonym of Scolopendra angulata Newport, 1844 syn. nov.
A new species of the genus Genusa (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Ennominae) from China
Authors: CUI LE , XUE DAYONG , ZHANG CHUNTIAN , HAN HONGXIANG
Published: June 2014

Genusa Walker, 1855, a genus currently included in the Hypochrosini, was originally established in the Lymantriidae, and transferred to the Geometridae by Hampson (1895), who designated G. bigutta Walker, 1855 as the type species, and listed G. destituta Walker, 1865, originally described from Cambodia, as a synonym of G. bigutta, though without any explanation. The only literature which compared destituta with bigutta is Swinhoe (1900), where he stated that destituta is hardly separable from G. bigutta.
The Influence of an SST Front on a Heavy Rainfall Event over Coastal Taiwan during TiMREX
Authors: Toy Michael D. , Johnson Richard H.
Published: June 2014

A long-lived heavy precipitation area was observed along the southwest coast of Taiwan from 13 to 18 June 2008 during the Terrain-Influenced Monsoon Rainfall Experiment (TiMREX). Rainfall amounts exceeded 500 mm along portions of the coast, and the coastal plains experienced severe flooding. The precipitation systems were influenced by blocking effects, as the southerly moist monsoon flow impinged on the island. A relatively strong gradient in the sea surface temperature (SST) off the southwest coast of Taiwan existed during the rainfall event. Mesoscale SST fronts are known to influence the planetary boundary layer (PBL) such that low-level convergence and precipitation are enhanced under certain circumstances. In this study, the authors investigate the role of the SST front in enhancing the 13–18 June 2008 precipitation event over Taiwan using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model. In control simulations with the observed SST, there is a transition from a well-mixed to a stable PBL across the front, causing the low-level flow to decelerate, resulting in an enhancement of horizontal convergence. Such a transition in the PBL and the associated convergence is greatly reduced in smoothed SST gradient model simulations, which produce over 20% less precipitation over southwest Taiwan. Sensitivity tests show that, qualitatively, the results are independent of the existence of the island of Taiwan. These findings indicate that the SST gradient over the northern South China Sea during the early summer monsoon can have a significant impact on the intensity of rainfall over Taiwan.
Where the Least Rainfall Occurs in the Sahara Desert, the TRMM Radar Reveals a Different Pattern of Rainfall Each Season
Authors: Kelley Owen A.
Published: June 2014

Some previous studies were unable to detect seasonal organization to the rainfall in the Sahara Desert, while others reported seasonal patterns only in the less-arid periphery of the Sahara. In contrast, the precipitation radar on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite detects four rainy seasons in the part of the Sahara where the TRMM radar saw the least rainfall during a 15-yr period (1998–2012). According to the TRMM radar, approximately 20°–27°N, 22°–32°E is the portion of the Sahara that has the lowest average annual rain accumulation (1–5 mm yr−1). Winter (January and February) has light rain throughout this region but more rain to the north over the Mediterranean Sea. Spring (April and May) has heavier rain and has lightning observed by the TRMM Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS). Summer rain and lightning (July and August) occur primarily south of 23°N. At a maximum over the Red Sea, autumn rain and lightning (October and November) can be heavy in the northeastern portion of the study area, but these storms are unreliable: that is, the TRMM radar detects such storms in only 6 of the 15 years. These four rainy seasons are each separated by a comparatively drier month in the monthly rainfall climatology. The few rain gauges in this arid region broadly agree with the TRMM radar on the seasonal organization of rainfall. This seasonality is reason to reevaluate the idea that Saharan rainfall is highly irregular and unpredictable.
Using Microwave Backhaul Links to Optimize the Performance of Algorithms for Rainfall Estimation and Attenuation Correction
Authors: Trömel Silke , Ziegert Michael , Ryzhkov Alexander V. , Chwala Christian , Simmer Clemens
Published: June 2014

The variability in raindrop size distributions and attenuation effects are the two major sources of uncertainty in radar-based quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE) even when dual-polarization radars are used. New methods are introduced to exploit the measurements by commercial microwave radio links to reduce the uncertainties in both attenuation correction and rainfall estimation. The ratio α of specific attenuation A and specific differential phase KDP is the key parameter used in attenuation correction schemes and the recently introduced R(A) algorithm. It is demonstrated that the factor α can be optimized using microwave links at Ku band oriented along radar radials with an accuracy of about 20%–30%. The microwave links with arbitrary orientation can be utilized to optimize the intercepts in the R(KDP) and R(A) relations with an accuracy of about 25%. The performance of the suggested methods is tested using the polarimetric C-band radar operated by the German Weather Service on Mount Hohenpeissenberg in southern Germany and two radially oriented Ku-band microwave links from Ericsson GmbH.
Hajek Revisited
Authors: Young Nwanmegha , Abdelmessih Mikhail Wadie , Sasaki Clarence
Published: June 2014

Objective:

The predictability of laryngeal cancer spread is due in part to connective tissue membranes. These membranes function as barriers to cancer and divide the larynx into subunits. The field of laryngeal conservation surgery is based on these concepts. The quadrangular membrane plays an important role, hindering the lateral spread of cancer in the larynx. The composition of this membrane has not been well described in the literature. In this study, we examine basic characteristics of the quadrangular membrane using histological techniques.

Methods:

Whole organ sections of the larynx were used. These sections were examined under a microscope with stains specific for collagen and elastin.

Results:

Examination of the sections revealed that the quadrangular membrane is made up of closely woven undulating collagen and elastic fibers.

Conclusion:

The quadrangular membrane is a fibroelastic structure providing a barrier to cancer spread.
Finnish Rehabilitation Counselors Assessing Their Interaction With Clients and Their Clients’ Interaction With Other Professionals and the Family
Authors: Notko Tiina S. T. , Silén Marianne
Published: June 2014

The empowerment process of rehabilitation clients is mediated through empowering and disempowering experiences in the social interactions of various areas of life. We examine the perceptions of Finnish rehabilitation counselors (RC) of the position of their clients interacting with (a) the rehabilitation counselors themselves, (b) other professionals in social and health care services, and (c) their family members. The data were collected using the Webropol 1.0 survey tool from 148 RCs employed in Finnish Central Health Districts. Most of the respondents perceived their clients to be well supported in all three relationships. However, unequal power relations were reported to exist in interaction with social and health care service professionals and disempowering acts were found in family environments. More information on disempowering acts and mistreatment is needed. Reducing disempowering acts is possible only if they are noticed and admitted by professionals in social and health care services.
Does Biliteracy + Mathematical Discourse = Binumerate Development? Language Use in a Middle School Dual-Language Mathematics Classroom
Authors: Rubinstein-Ávila Eliane , Sox Amanda A. , Kaplan Suzanne , McGraw Rebecca
Published: June 2014

Few studies on the role of bilingualism in mathematics classrooms explore the intersection of biliteracy, language use, mathematical discourse, and numeracy—especially at the middle school level. Drawing from biliteracy development theory and reform mathematics education literature, this qualitative case study of a dual-language mathematics classroom shows how English language learners (ELLs)/bilinguals use their first (L1) and second language (L2) as resources to access advanced mathematical curriculum. The article provides glimpses of instructional strategies that encourage mathematics discourse and biliteracy development. Encouraging secondary bilingual students to solve non-routine mathematical problems collaboratively may not only promote student engagement but also promote binumerate development.
Simple tracking controller for unicycle-type mobile robots with velocity and torque constraints
Authors: Chen Xiaohan , Jia Yingmin
Published: June 2014

This paper studies the tracking control of unicycle-type mobile robots with bounded velocities and torques. A simple tracking controller, incorporating amplitude and rate-bounded feedback signals generated from two first-order filters, is proposed. A set of four linear inequality constraints on the control design parameters is derived from the bound estimations of velocities and torques to guarantee the compliance with velocity and torque constraints. The introduction of filters facilitates the bound estimations of velocities and torques as well as the computation of control design parameters. Simulation and experimental results are provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed tracking controller.
The Dark Side of Trading
Authors: Dichev Ilia D. , Huang Kelly , Zhou Dexin
Published: June 2014

This study investigates the effect of high trading volume on observed stock volatility controlling for fundamental information. We investigate a number of settings, including two natural experiments (exchange-traded funds [ETFs] and dual-class shares), the aggregate time-series of U.S. stocks since 1926, and the cross-section of U.S. stocks during the last 20 years. Our main finding is that there is an economically substantial positive relation between trading volume and stock volatility, especially when trading volume is high. The conclusion is that stock trading can inject volatility above and beyond that based on fundamentals.
Neuroanatomy-based Matrix-guided Trimming Protocol for the Rat Brain
Authors: Defazio Rossella , Criado Ana , Zantedeschi Valentina , Scanziani Eugenio
Published: June 2014

Brain trimming through defined neuroanatomical landmarks is recommended to obtain consistent sections in rat toxicity studies. In this article, we describe a matrix-guided trimming protocol that uses channels to reproduce coronal levels of anatomical landmarks. Both setup phase and validation study were performed on Han Wistar male rats (Crl:WI(Han)), 10-week-old, with bodyweight of 298 ± 29 ( SD) g, using a matrix (ASI-Instruments®, Houston, TX) fitted for brains of rats with 200 to 400 g bodyweight. In the setup phase, we identified eight channels, that is, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 19, and 21, matching the recommended landmarks midway to the optic chiasm, frontal pole, optic chiasm, infundibulum, mamillary bodies, midbrain, middle cerebellum, and posterior cerebellum, respectively. In the validation study, we trimmed the immersion-fixed brains of 60 rats using the selected channels to determine how consistently the channels reproduced anatomical landmarks. Percentage of success (i.e., presence of expected targets for each level) ranged from 89 to 100%. Where 100% success was not achieved, it was noted that the shift in brain trimming was toward the caudal pole. In conclusion, we developed and validated a trimming protocol for the rat brain that allow comparable extensiveness, homology, and relevance of coronal sections as the landmark-guided trimming with the advantage of being quickly learned by technicians.
Methodological Challenges of Validating a Clinical Decision-Making Tool in the Practice Environment
Authors: Brennan Caitlin W. , Daly Barbara J.
Published: June 2014

Validating a measurement tool intended for use in the practice environment poses challenges that may not be present when validating a tool intended solely for research purposes. The aim of this article is to describe the methodological challenges of validating a clinical decision-making tool, the Oncology Acuity Tool, which nurses use to make nurse assignment and staffing decisions prospectively each shift. Data were derived from a larger validation study, during which several methodological challenges arose. Revisions to the tool, including conducting iterative feedback cycles with end users, were necessary before the validation study was initiated. The “true” value of patient acuity is unknown, and thus, two approaches to inter-rater reliability assessment were used. Discordant perspectives existed between experts and end users. Balancing psychometric rigor with clinical relevance may be achieved through establishing research–practice partnerships, seeking active and continuous feedback with end users, and weighing traditional statistical rules of thumb with practical considerations.
Preferred Thinking Style, Symptom Recognition, and Response by Nursing Students During Simulation
Authors: Burbach Beth E. , Barnason Susan , Hertzog Melody
Published: June 2014

A better understanding of the relationships between symptom recognition, nursing response, and preferred thinking style is needed to improve nursing education practices. Final semester nursing students ( N = 29) completed a high fidelity patient simulation (HFPS) scenario; recognized symptoms (i.e., dyspnea) and responses (i.e., apply oxygen) were recorded, and compared with students’ preferred thinking style using the Rational-Experiential Inventory–40. Relationships between concepts were explored. Significant relationships were noted between preference for Rational thinking styles and symptom recognition ( p < .05). Preferred thinking style was not related to numbers of therapeutic responses. Thirty percent of students delayed application of oxygen until directed to do so by members of the health care team. Students having a stronger preference for rational thinking demonstrate greater accuracy in cue recognition. More nursing research is needed to explore the cognitive processing during simulation .
Reimplantation of left coronary artery from pulmonary artery in a 65-year-old
Authors: Mitchell Julia , Lemaire Anaïs , Henaine Roland , Metton Olivier , Ninet Jean
Published: June 2014

Anomalous left coronary artery to the pulmonary artery is a rare pathology with a mortality rate of 90% in the first year of life, directly related to left ventricular function and coronary perfusion, although several adult cases have been reported. Surgical correction consists of ligation of the anomalous left coronary artery associated with coronary artery bypass grafting. We describe the exceptional case of a 65-year-old woman who underwent reimplantation of the left coronary artery in the anatomical position without bridging.
An examination of rater performance on a local oral English proficiency test: A mixed-methods approach
Authors: Yan Xun
Published: June 2014

This paper reports on a mixed-methods approach to evaluate rater performance on a local oral English proficiency test. Three types of reliability estimates were reported to examine rater performance from different perspectives. Quantitative results were also triangulated with qualitative rater comments to arrive at a more representative picture of rater performance and to inform rater training. Specifically, both quantitative (6338 valid rating scores) and qualitative data (506 sets of rater comments) were analyzed with respect to rater consistency, rater consensus, rater severity, rater interaction, and raters’ use of rating scale. While raters achieved overall satisfactory inter-rater reliability ( r = .73), they differed in severity and achieved relatively low exact score agreement. Disagreement of rating scores was largely explained by two significant main effects: (1) examinees’ oral English proficiency level, that is, raters tend to agree more on higher score levels than on lower score levels; (2) raters’ differential severity due to raters’ varied perceptions of speech intelligibility toward Indian and low-proficient Chinese examinees. However, effect sizes of raters’ differential severity effect on overall rater agreement were rather small, suggesting that varied perceptions among trained raters of second language (L2) intelligibility, though possible, are not likely to have a large impact on the overall evaluation of oral English proficiency. In contrast, at the lower score levels, examinees’ varied language proficiency profiles generated difficulty for rater alignment. Rater disagreement at these levels accounted for most of the overall rater disagreement and thus should be focused on during rater training. Implication of this study is that interpretation of rater performance should not just focus on identifying interactions between raters’ and examinees’ linguistic background but also examine the impact of rater interactions across examinees’ language proficiency levels. Findings of this study also indicate effectiveness of triangulating different sources of data on rater performance using a mixed-methods approach, especially in local testing contexts.
Family Strategies and Transregional Mobility: The de Piro in Eighteenth-Century Malta and Sicily
Authors: Galizia Anton Caruana
Published: June 2014

This article analyses the formation of transregional families through a case study on the attempts by a Maltese nobleman, Giovanni Pio de Piro, to establish his household in the Kingdom of Sicily in the eighteenth century and what the consequences were for his heirs. Drawing on recent perspectives on transregional and transnational families, this paper considers the evolution of inheritance and marriage strategies directed towards migration in the broader context of eighteenth-century Malta and Sicily. In doing so it discusses how those features of kinship most commonly associated with the ‘rootedness’ of noble households were also adapted towards transregional mobility.