bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spinal Excitability Changes after Transspinal and Transcortical Paired Associative Stimulation in Humans
Authors: Knikou Maria
Published: October 2017

Paired associative stimulation (PAS) produces enduring neuroplasticity based on Hebbian associative plasticity. This study established the changes in spinal motoneuronal excitability by pairing transcortical and transspinal stimulation. Transcortical stimulation was delivered after (transspinal-transcortical PAS) or before (transcortical-transspinal PAS) transspinal stimulation. Before and after 40 minutes of each PAS protocol, spinal neural excitability was assessed based on the amplitude of the transspinal-evoked potentials (TEPs) recorded from ankle muscles of both legs at different stimulation intensities (recruitment input-output curve). Changes in TEPs amplitude in response to low-frequency stimulation and paired transspinal stimuli were also established before and after each PAS protocol. TEP recruitment input-output curves revealed a generalized depression of TEPs in most ankle muscles of both legs after both PAS protocols that coincided with an increased gain only after transcortical-transspinal PAS. Transcortical-transspinal PAS increased and transspinal-transcortical PAS decreased the low-frequency-dependent TEP depression, whereas neither PAS protocol affected the TEP depression observed upon paired transspinal stimuli. These findings support the notion that transspinal and transcortical PAS has the ability to alter concomitantly cortical and spinal synaptic activity. Transspinal and transcortical PAS may contribute to the development of rehabilitation strategies in people with bilateral increased motoneuronal excitability due to cortical or spinal lesions.
Cosmic Microwave Background as a Thermal Gas of SU(2) Photons: Implications for the High-z Cosmological Model and the Value of H0
Authors: Hahn Steffen , Hofmann Ralf
Published: October 2017

Presently, we are facing a 3σ tension in the most basic cosmological parameter, the Hubble constant H0. This tension arises when fitting the Lambda-cold-dark-matter model (ΛCDM) to the high-precision temperature-temperature (TT) power spectrum of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) and to local cosmological observations. We propose a resolution of this problem by postulating that the thermal photon gas of the CMB obeys an SU(2) rather than U(1) gauge principle, suggesting a high-z cosmological model which is void of dark-matter. Observationally, we rely on precise low-frequency intensity measurements in the CMB spectrum and on a recent model independent (low-z) extraction of the relation between the comoving sound horizon rs at the end of the baryon drag epoch and H0 (rsH0=const). We point out that the commonly employed condition for baryon-velocity freeze-out is imprecise, judged by a careful inspection of the formal solution to the associated Euler equation. As a consequence, the above-mentioned 3σ tension actually transforms into a 5σ discrepancy. To make contact with successful low-z  ΛCDM cosmology we propose an interpolation based on percolated/depercolated vortices of a Planck-scale axion condensate. For a first consistency test of such an all-z model we compute the angular scale of the sound horizon at photon decoupling.
Segmentation Based Video Steganalysis to Detect Motion Vector Modification
Authors: Wang Peipei , Cao Yun , Zhao Xianfeng
Published: October 2017

This paper presents a steganalytic approach against video steganography which modifies motion vector (MV) in content adaptive manner. Current video steganalytic schemes extract features from fixed-length frames of the whole video and do not take advantage of the content diversity. Consequently, the effectiveness of the steganalytic feature is influenced by video content and the problem of cover source mismatch also affects the steganalytic performance. The goal of this paper is to propose a steganalytic method which can suppress the differences of statistical characteristics caused by video content. The given video is segmented to subsequences according to block’s motion in every frame. The steganalytic features extracted from each category of subsequences with close motion intensity are used to build one classifier. The final steganalytic result can be obtained by fusing the results of weighted classifiers. The experimental results have demonstrated that our method can effectively improve the performance of video steganalysis, especially for videos of low bitrate and low embedding ratio.
Fabrication of a Large-Area Superhydrophobic SiO2 Nanorod Structured Surface Using Glancing Angle Deposition
Authors: Lu Xun , Kim Seok-min , Seo Seong Jun
Published: October 2017

A glancing angle deposition (GLAD) technique was used to generate SiO2 nanorods on a glass substrate to fabricate a low-cost superhydrophobic functional nanostructured surface. GLAD-deposited SiO2 nanorod structures were fabricated using various deposition rates, substrate rotating speeds, oblique angles, and deposition times to analyze the effects of processing conditions on the characteristics of the fabricated functional nanostructures. The wettability of the surface was measured after surface modification with a self-assembled monolayer (SAM). The measured water contact angles were primarily affected by substrate rotation speed and oblique angle because the surface fraction of the GLAD nanostructure was mainly affected by these parameters. A maximum contact angle of 157° was obtained from the GLAD sample fabricated at a rotation speed of 5 rpm and an oblique angle of 87°. Although the deposition thickness (height of the nanorods) was not a dominant factor for determining the wettability, we selected a deposition thickness of 260 nm as the optimum processing condition based on the measured optical transmittance of the samples because optically transparent films can serve as superhydrophobic functional nanostructures for optical applications.
Valeriana officinalis Root Extract Modulates Cortical Excitatory Circuits in Humans
Authors: Mineo Ludovico , Concerto Carmen , Patel Dhaval , Mayorga Tyrone , Paula Michael , Chusid Eileen , Aguglia Eugenio , Battaglia Fortunato
Published: October 2017

Background:Valeriana officinalis extract (VE) is a popular herbal medicine used for the treatment of anxiety and sleep disorders. Although the anxiolytic and sedative effects are mainly attributed to the modulation of GABA-ergic transmission, the mechanism of action has not been fully investigated in humans. Noninvasive brain stimulation protocols can be used to elucidate the mechanisms of action of psychoactive substances at the cortical level in humans. In this study, we investigated the effects of a single dose of VE on cortical excitability as assessed with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Methods: Fifteen healthy volunteers participated in a double-blind, randomized, cross-over, placebo-controlled study. Subjects were required to take either 900 mg of VE (valerenic acid 0.8%) or placebo (an equal dose of vitamin E). Motor cortex excitability was studied by single and paired TMS before and at 1 h and 6 h after the oral administration. Cortical excitability was assessed using different TMS parameters: resting motor threshold, motor-evoked potential amplitude, cortical silent period, short-interval intracortical inhibition, and intracortical facilitation. Furthermore, we assessed sensorimotor integration by short-latency and long-latency afferent inhibition. Results: We found a significant reduction in ICF, without any significant changes in other TMS measures of motor cortex excitability. The amount of ICF returned to baseline value 6 h after the intake of the VE. Conclusion: A single oral dose of VE modulates intracortical facilitatory circuits. Our results in healthy subjects could be predictive markers of treatment response in patients and further support the use of pharmaco-TMS to investigate the neuropsychiatric effects of herbal therapies in humans.
ALS-Related Mutant FUS Protein Is Mislocalized to Cytoplasm and Is Recruited into Stress Granules of Fibroblasts from Asymptomatic FUS P525L Mutation Carriers
Authors: Lo Bello Margherita , Di Fini Francesca , Notaro Antonietta , Spataro Rossella , Conforti Francesca L. , La Bella Vincenzo
Published: October 2017

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) shows a strong genetic basis, with SOD1, FUS, TARDBP, and C9ORF72 being the genes most frequently involved. This has allowed identification of asymptomatic mutation carriers, which may be of help in understanding the molecular changes preceding disease onset. Objectives: We studied the cellular expression of FUS protein and the effect of heat-shock- and dithiothreitol-induced stress in fibroblasts from FUS P525L mutation carriers, healthy controls, and patients with sporadic ALS. Methods: Western blots and immunocytochemistry were performed to study the subcellular localization of FUS protein. Control and stressed cells were double stained with FUS and the stress marker TIA-R. Results: Fibroblasts from healthy controls and sporadic ALS cases showed a prominent nuclear FUS expression. In the 2 FUS P525L mutation carriers, instead, most cells showed a protein localization in both nucleus and cytoplasm, or exclusively in the cytoplasm. Stress prompted the formation of cytoplasmic granules in all subjects and in sporadic ALS FUS mislocalization to the cytoplasm. Cytoplasmic FUS was recruited into stress granules, which showed a time-dependent decrease in all subjects. However, in the FUS P525L fibroblasts, the granules persisted longer, and they were more numerous than those detected in the cells from controls and sporadic ALS patients. Conclusions: We show that in fibroblasts of FUS P525L mutation carriers, FUS mislocalized to the cytoplasm where it redistributed into stress granules with likely a dose effect, i.e. a higher number of cells with granules, which persist longer, than in controls and ALS cases. These data represent an early molecular change occurring before ALS onset, suggesting a transient preaggregative state.
Immunoregulation of Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Formation by Endothelial-Derived p33 (gC1q Receptor)
Authors: Neumann Ariane , Papareddy Praveen , Westman Johannes , Hyldegaard Ole , Snäll Johanna , Norrby-Teglund Anna , Herwald Heiko
Published: October 2017

The formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) is a host defence mechanism, known to facilitate the entrapment and growth inhibition of many bacterial pathogens. It has been implicated that the translocation of myeloperoxidase (MPO) from neutrophilic granules to the nucleus is crucial to this process. Under disease conditions, however, excessive NET formation can trigger self-destructive complications by releasing pathologic levels of danger-associated molecular pattern molecules (DAMPs). To counteract such devastating immune reactions, the host has to rely on precautions that help circumvent these deleterious effects. Though the induction of DAMP responses has been intensively studied, the mechanisms that are used by the host to down-regulate them are still not understood. In this study, we show that p33 is an endothelial-derived protein that has the ability to annul NET formation. We found that the expression of human p33 is up-regulated in endothelial cells upon infections with Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria. Using tissue biopsies from a patient with streptococcal necrotising fasciitis, we monitored co-localisation of p33 with MPO. Further in vitro studies revealed that p33 is able to block the formation of DAMP-induced NET formation by inhibiting the enzymatic activity of MPO. Additionally, mice challenged with S. pyogenes bacteria demonstrated diminished MPO activity when treated with p33. Together, our results demonstrate that host-derived p33 has an important immunomodulating function that helps to counterbalance an overwhelming DAMP response.
MicroRNA-210 Modulates the Cellular Energy Metabolism Shift During H2O2-Induced Oxidative Stress by Repressing ISCU in H9c2 Cardiomyocytes
Authors: Sun Wei , Zhao Lei  , Song Xianjing  , Zhang Jichang  , Xing Yue  , Liu Ning  , Yan Youyou  , Li Zhibo  , Lu Yang  , Wu Junduo  , Li Longbo  , Xiao Yanlong  , Tian Xin  , Li Tianyi  , Guan Yinuo  , Wang Yiran  , Liu Bin 
Published: October 2017

Background/Aims: The myocardial energy metabolism shift is one of the most important pathological features of ischemic heart disease (IHD). Although several microRNAs (miRs) are involved in the regulation of myocardial energy metabolism, their exact effects and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate whether microRNA(miR-210) regulates the energy metabolism shift during oxidative stress in H9c2 cardiomyocytes. Methods: Cell survival was analyzed via CCK assay. The energy metabolism shift was detected by lactate assay, ATP assay and RT2 profiler glucose metabolism PCR array. Protein and mRNA expression levels were determined by western blot and qPCR. We also used kits to detect the activity of Complex I, Sirt3 and the NAD+/NADH ratio. Results: We determined that miR-210 promoted the energy metabolism shift. The iron-sulfur cluster assembly protein (ISCU) was a target of miR-210. Additionally, we detected the activity of complex I and found that miR-210 inhibits mitochondrial respiration. Interestingly, miR-210 may also indirectly regulate SIRT3 by regulating ISCU. Conclusion: Our results confirm that miR-210 is essential and sufficient for modulating the cellular energy metabolism shift during H2O2-induced oxidative stress in H9c2 cardiomyocytes by targeting ISCU.
Nitric Oxide Mediates Insect Cellular Immunity via Phospholipase A2 Activation
Authors: Sadekuzzaman Md , Stanley David , Kim Yonggyun
Published: October 2017

After infection or invasion is recognized, biochemical mediators act in signaling insect immune functions. These include biogenic amines, insect cytokines, eicosanoids, and nitric oxide (NO). Treating insects or isolated hemocyte populations with different mediators often leads to similar results. Separate treatments with an insect cytokine, 2 biogenic amines, and an eicosanoid lead to a single result, hemocyte spreading, understood in terms of intracellular cross-talk among these signaling systems. This study focuses on the cross-talk between NO and eicosanoid signaling in our model insect, Spodoptera exigua. Bacterial injection increased NO concentrations in the larval hemocytes and fat body, and RNA interference (RNAi) of the S. exigua NO synthase (NOS) gene suppressed NO concentrations. RNAi treatment also led to a significant reduction in hemocyte nodulation following bacterial injection. Similar RNAi treatments led to significantly reduced PLA2 activities in the hemocytes and fat body compared to control larvae. Injection of L-NAME also prevented the induction of PLA2 activity following bacterial challenge. An injected NO donor, S-nitroso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine, increased PLA2 activity in a dose-dependent manner. However, eicosanoids did not influence NO concentrations in immune-challenged larvae. We infer that NO and eicosanoid signaling operate via cross-talk mechanisms in which the elevated NO concentrations activate PLA2 and eicosanoid biosynthesis, which finally mediates various immune responses.
Fora das grandes aldeias: o sítio Vereda III e suas informações complementares sobre sistemas de ocupação de grupos portadores de cerâmica associada à tradição Aratu-Sapucaí
Authors: Rodrigues Igor Morais Mariano , Gardiman Gilberto G.
Published: October 2017

Situado em meio a um maciço calcário, em um local escondido na paisagem, ladeado de paredões rochosos e abrigos, o Sítio Vereda III (Região de Lagoa Santa/Minas Gerais) é fruto de uma pretérita ocupação, até então, inusitada para os dados bibliográficos disponíveis sobre grupos cuja cerâmica é atribuída à tradição Aratu-Sapucaí. O sítio apresentou um contexto arqueológico praticamente intacto, aqui interpretado como um refugo de fato de produção econsumo de objetos e alimentos que, com grandes chances, estavam relacionados a um ou mais festins. Considerando que a tradição ceramista em questão é, na Arqueologia Brasileira, atribuída a grupos indígenas falantes do tronco linguístico Macro-Jê, este trabalho, sucintamente, apresenta uma forma de ocupação distinta daquelas a céu aberto, compreendendo-as como complementares entre si.
A morfologia dos vasos Jê na produção de cauim de milho em Vereda III: uma proposição
Authors: Gardiman Gilberto G. , Rodrigues Igor Morais Mariano , Cascon Leandro M. , Isnards Andrei
Published: October 2017

A análise arqueobotânica focada em grânulos de amido extraídos de vasos cerâmicos e um artefato lítico exumados em Vereda III, MG revelou a presença generalizada do milho (Zea mays sp). Um estudo prévio realizado com os artefatos havia detectado marcas de uso típicas da fermentação em alguns vasos, assim, levantou-se a possibilidade de que mais vasos teriam sido utilizados na produção de cauim de milho. Tratou-se de compreender a produção dessa bebida/alimento nas suas múltiplas possibilidades através de relatos históricos, etnografias, informações tecnológicas e testes com fermentação. Os efeitos tafonômicos das distintas etapas do processo sobre os grânulos de amido de milho foram pesquisados em literatura e através de testes. Faz-se aqui uma proposição quanto à morfologia dos vasos Jê utilizados na elaboração do cauim de milho, pensada a partir do cruzamento de 2 tipos de evidências: o estudo dos microvestígios contidos nos artefatos arqueológicos e as marcas de uso nos vasos.
Safety of Oral Dofetilide Reloading for Treatment of Atrial Arrhythmias
Authors: Cho Jae Hyung , Youn So Jin , Moore JoEllyn C. , Kyriakakis Roxanne , Vekstein Carolyn , Militello Michael , Poe Stacy M. , Wolski Kathy , Tchou Patrick J. , Varma Niraj , Niebauer Mark J. , Bhargava Mandeep , Saliba Walid I. , Wazni Oussama M. , Lindsay Bruce D. , Wilkoff Bruce L. , Chung Mina K.
Published: October 2017

Background:

Although dofetilide labeling states that the drug must be initiated or reinitiated with continuous electrocardiographic monitoring and in the presence of trained personnel, the risks of dofetilide reloading justifying repeat hospitalization have not been investigated.

Methods and Results:

Patients admitted for dofetilide reloading for atrial arrhythmias were retrospectively reviewed. The need for dose adjustment and the incidence of torsades de pointes (TdP) were identified. The incidence of TdP in dofetilide reloading was compared with patients admitted for dofetilide initial loading. Of 138 patients admitted for dofetilide reloading for atrial arrhythmias, 102 were reloaded at a previously tolerated dose, 30 with a higher dose from a previously tolerated dose and 2 at a lower dose; prior dosage was unknown in 4 patients. Dose adjustment or discontinuation was required in 44 patients (31.9%). No TdP occurred in the same dose reloading group, but TdP occurred in 2 patients admitted to increase dofetilide dosage (0% versus 6.7%;
P
=0.050). Dofetilide dose adjustment or discontinuation was required in 30 of 102 patients (29.4%) reloaded at a previously tolerated dose and in 11 of 30 patients (36.7%) admitted for an increase in dose.

Conclusions:

Although no TdP occurred in patients admitted to reload dofetilide at the same dose as previously tolerated, dosage adjustments or discontinuation was frequent and support the need for hospitalization for dofetilide reloading. Patients admitted for reloading with a higher dose tended to be at higher risk for TdP than patients reloaded at a prior tolerated dose.
Validating Teacher Effects on Students’ Attitudes and Behaviors: Evidence from Random Assignment of Teachers to Students
Authors: Blazar David
Published: October 2017

There is growing interest among researchers, policy makers, and practitioners in identifying teachers who are skilled at improving student outcomes beyond test scores. However, questions remain about the validity of these teacher effect estimates. Leveraging the random assignment of teachers to classes, I find that teachers have causal effects on their students’ self-reported behavior in class, self-efficacy in math, and happiness in class that are similar in magnitude to effects on math test scores. Weak correlations between teacher effects on different student outcomes indicate that these measures capture unique skills that teachers bring to the classroom. Teacher effects calculated in nonexperimental data are related to these same outcomes following random assignment, revealing that they contain important information content on teachers. However, for some nonexperimental teacher effect estimates, large and potentially important degrees of bias remain. These results suggest that researchers and policy makers should proceed with caution when using these measures. They likely are more appropriate for low-stakes decisions—such as matching teachers to professional development—than for high-stakes personnel decisions and accountability.
The Khalwatiyya Sheikhs in Dagestan (16th-17th Centuries)
Authors: Khapizov Shakhban , Shekhmagomedov Magomed , Abdulmazhidov Ramazan
Published: October 2017

It has always been assumed that the active penetration of the Khalwatiyya ṭariqa to Dagestan should be dated back to the 19th century, the period of the Russian expansion to the Northern Caucasus, the Sufi teaching having allegedly been an ideological platform for the resistance against the Russian Empire. However, the materials presented in this paper clearly indicate that already in the 16th century, the Khalwatiyya sheikhs effectively preached in the Avar and Tsakhur communities of Dagestan.
Phylogenetic, cytological and morphological comparisons of Oxalis subsect. Oxalis (Oxalidaceae) in East Asia
Authors: AOKI SATOSHI , OHI-TOMA TETSUO , LI PAN , FU CHENGXIN , MURATA JIN
Published: October 2017

To assess the classification of East Asian taxa in Oxalis subsect. Oxalis, samples from a wide geographical area were examined using molecular phylogenetic, cytological and morphological analyses. The phylogenetic analysis showed the early branching of O. leucolepis and O. obtriangulata in East Asia, followed by that of O. acetosella and O. oregana in North America. The remaining Eurasian samples were divided into four clades: taxa from Mainland China and Taiwan (Clade A); O. acetosella from Eurasia including Japan (Clade B); O. griffithii from Japan (Clade C); and O. griffithii plus some O. acetosella from Japan (Clade D). Therefore, O. acetosella and O. griffithii are not monophyletic species. In the flow cytometric analysis, three diploid groups with different relative genome sizes were distinguished, and were placed in each of Clades A, B, and C plus D; tetraploids were found in Clades C and D. Morphologically, most pairs of samples had distinguishing characters that were informative for delimitation. However, the characters of O. griffithii in Clades A and C (including tetraploids) were not informative, and diploids and tetraploids in Clade C did not morphologically differ. These results demonstrate the necessity for a taxonomic revision of this subsection.
Eriocaulon idukkianum, a new tuberous species of Eriocaulaceae from southern Western Ghats, India
Authors: MANUDEV K.M. , ROBI A.J. , NAMPY S.
Published: October 2017

Eriocaulon idukkianum, a new species of Eriocaulaceae from the southern Western Ghats, India, is described and illustrated. The new species is remarkable by the presence of a rootstock with a terminal tuber and seeds without appendages. The closest relative of this species is probably E. tuberiferum, a taxon known from Kolhapur, Nashik and Satara districts of Maharashtra.
Lysimachia gesnerioides, a new synonym of Lysimachia baviensis (Primulaceae)
Authors: TONG YIHUA , XIA NIANHE , HOANG VAN SAM , HU CHI MING
Published: October 2017

In 2006, Zhang et al. described Lysimachia gesnerioides Y.M. Shui & M.D. Zhang in Zhang et al. (2006: 317), on the basis of several collections from Southeast Yunnan, China and North Vietnam, with Y.M. Shui et al. 40906 (KUN) being designated as the holotype. In the protologue, they stated that this species is morphologically close to L. physaloides C.Y. Wu & C. Chen in Chen & Hu (1979: 28), L. grandifolia Hemsl. in Brown (1895: 107) and L. chapaensis Merrill (1939: 350) in the non-odiferous dry plants, alternate or slightly crowded leaves in the upper parts of stems, short filaments, and sagittate or ovate anthers. From their key to aid in the identification of the four species, L. gesnerioides can be differentiated from those species by glabrous and oblong or ovate-elliptic leaves, corymbose inflorescences, yellow flowers with pedicels 1.7‒2.4 cm long, calyx lobes ca. 10 mm long, and ovate anthers opening by apical pores.
Roles of Intraseasonal Disturbances and Diabatic Heating in the East Asian Jet Stream Variabilities Associated with the East Asian Winter Monsoon
Authors: Hirota Nagio , Ohta Mai , Yamashita Yousuke , Takahashi Masaaki
Published: October 2017

This study evaluates the relative importance of diabatic heating and intraseasonal disturbances with regard to the variabilities of the East Asian jet stream (EAJS) associated with the East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM). First, strong and weak monsoon years are selected based on the EAWM index of Jhun and Lee, which is highly correlated with the monsoon northerlies between the Eurasian continent and the Pacific. The EAJS is stronger and narrower in strong monsoon years and weaker and wider in weak monsoon years. Model experiments were performed to investigate the atmospheric response to the diabatic heating and the eddy–mean flow feedback from the intraseasonal disturbances. The diabatic heating is closely related to the convective activities. The intraseasonal disturbances include high-frequency components with periods of 3–10 days and low-frequency components with periods of 10–90 days. The model results indicate that the diabatic heating plays a major role maintaining the stronger and weaker EAJS in the strong and weak monsoon years, respectively, whereas the impacts of the eddy feedback are relatively small.
Multiple Time Scale Variability of the Sea Surface Salinity Dipole Mode in the Tropical Indian Ocean
Authors: Zhang Yuhong , Du Yan , Feng Ming
Published: October 2017

In this study, multiple time scale variability of the salinity dipole mode in the tropical Indian Ocean (S-IOD) is revealed based on the 57-yr Ocean Reanalysis System 4 (ORAS4) sea surface salinity (SSS) reanalysis product and associated observations. On the interannual time scale, S-IOD is highly correlated with strong Indian Ocean dipole (IOD) and ENSO variability, with ocean advection forced by wind anomalies along the equator and precipitation anomalies in the southeastern tropical Indian Ocean (IO) dominating the SSS variations in the northern and southern poles of the S-IOD, respectively. S-IOD variability is also associated with the decadal modulation of the Indo-Pacific Walker circulation, with a stronger signature at its southern pole. Decadal variations of the equatorial IO winds and precipitations in the central IO force zonal ocean advection anomalies that contribute to the SSS variability in the northern pole of S-IOD on the decadal time scale. Meanwhile, oceanic dynamics dominates the SSS variability in the southern pole of S-IOD off Western Australia. Anomalous ocean advection transports the fresher water from low latitudes to the region off Western Australia, with additional contributions from the Indonesian Throughflow. Furthermore, the southern pole of S-IOD is associated with the thermocline variability originated from the tropical northwestern Pacific through the waveguide in the Indonesian Seas, forced by decadal Pacific climate variability. A deepening (shoaling) thermocline strengthens (weakens) the southward advection of surface freshwater into the southern pole of S-IOD and contributes to the high (low) SSS signatures off Western Australia.
Impacts of the Soil Water Transfer Parameterization on the Simulation of Evapotranspiration over a 14-Year Mediterranean Crop Succession
Authors: Garrigues S. , Boone A. , Decharme B. , Olioso A. , Albergel C. , Calvet J.-C. , Moulin S. , Buis S. , Martin E.
Published: October 2017

This paper presents a comparison of two water transfer schemes implemented in land surface models: a three-layer bulk reservoir model based on the force–restore scheme (FR) and a multilayer soil diffusion scheme (DIF) relying on explicit mass-diffusive equations and a root profile. The performances of each model at simulating evapotranspiration (ET) over a 14-yr Mediterranean crop succession are compared when the standard pedotransfer estimates versus the in situ values of the soil parameters are used. The Interactions between Soil, Biosphere, and Atmosphere (ISBA) generic land surface model is employed. When the pedotransfer estimates of the soil parameters are used, the best performance scores are obtained with DIF. DIF provides more accurate simulations of soil evaporation and gravitational drainage. It is less sensitive to errors in the soil parameters compared to FR, which is strongly driven by the soil moisture at field capacity. When the in situ soil parameters are used, the performance of the FR simulations surpasses those of DIF. The use of the proper maximum available water content for the plant removes the bias in ET and soil moisture over the crop cycle with FR, while soil water stress is simulated too early and the transpiration is underestimated with DIF. Increasing the values of the root extinction coefficient and the proportion of homogeneous root distribution slightly improves the DIF performance scores. Spatiotemporal uncertainties in the soil parameters generate smaller uncertainties in ET simulated with DIF compared to FR, which highlights the robustness of DIF for large-scale applications.
Impact of Lateral Boundary Errors on the Simulation of Clouds with a Nonhydrostatic Regional Climate Model
Authors: Uchida Junya , Mori Masato , Hara Masayuki , Satoh Masaki , Goto Daisuke , Kataoka Takahito , Suzuki Kentaroh , Nakajima Teruyuki
Published: October 2017

A nonhydrostatic, regional climate limited-area model (LAM) was used to analyze lateral boundary condition (LBC) errors and their influence on the uncertainties of regional models. Simulations using the fully compressible nonhydrostatic LAM (D-NICAM) were compared against the corresponding global quasi-uniform-grid Nonhydrostatic Icosahedral Atmospheric Model (NICAM) and a stretched-grid counterpart (S-NICAM). By this approach of sharing the same dynamical core and physical schemes, possible causes of model bias and LBC errors are isolated. The simulations were performed for a 395-day period from March 2011 through March 2012 with horizontal grid intervals of 14, 28, and 56 km in the region of interest. The resulting temporal mean statistics of the temperatures at 500 hPa were generally well correlated between the global and regional simulations, indicating that LBC errors had a minor impact on the large-scale flows. However, the time-varying statistics of the surface precipitation showed that the LBC errors lead to the unpredictability of convective precipitation, which affected the mean statistics of the precipitation distributions but induced only minor influences on the large-scale systems. Specifically, extratropical cyclones and orographic precipitation are not severely affected. It was concluded that the errors of the precipitation distribution are not due to the difference of the model configurations but rather to the uncertainty of the system itself. This study suggests that applications of ensemble runs, internal nudging, or simulations with longer time scales are needed to obtain more statistically significant results of the precipitation distribution in regional climate models.
China’s Nationalist Discourse and Taiwan
Authors: Karmazin Aleš
Published: October 2017

This article focuses on the role and position of Chinese nationalism in the China–Taiwan relationship. Through discourse analysis, it aims to contend with the frequently presented picture in the literature on Chinese nationalism, that is, that nationalism in China is (almost) omnipresent and omnipotent. In the article, nationalism is presented as a broad but nuanced phenomenon. By its very nature, nationalism is a multi-edged sword whose ‘edges’ have the potential to be positive and constructive in certain situations, as shown in China’s approach to Taiwan in which nationalism plays an enabling role in a relatively important way. However, the article reveals a hierarchy in the concepts upon which China’s official discourse is based. In doing so, it disentangles and separates the role of two key concepts—nationalism and sovereignty—which are generally seen as almost interchangeable. Ethics, morality and kinship in Chinese nationalism - as presented by China’s official discourse in the relation to Taiwan - are subordinated to the politics of sovereignty.
Family History Collection Practices: National Survey of Pediatric Primary Care Providers
Authors: Tarini Beth A. , Gornick Michele C. , Zikmund-Fisher Brian J. , Saal Howard M. , Edmondson Laurie , Uhlmann Wendy R.
Published: October 2017

While family history (FH) collection is a core responsibility of pediatric primary care providers (PCPs), few details about this practice are known. We surveyed a random national sample of 1200 pediatricians and family medicine physicians about FH collection practices. A total of 86% of respondents (n = 289 pediatricians; n = 152 family medicine physicians) indicated that they collect a FH “always” or “most of the time” with 77% reporting collection at the first visit, regardless of whether it is a health maintenance or problem-focused visit. Less than half ask about relatives other than parents, siblings, or grandparents (36.3%). Among respondents, 42% routinely update the FH at every health maintenance visit while 6% updated FH at every visit. Pediatric PCPs use a variety of methods to collect a FH that is limited in scope and variably updated. Our results suggest that interventions are needed to help pediatric PCPs collect a systematic, efficient, and updated FH.
Understanding Barriers to Literacy Promotion Among New Jersey General Pediatricians
Authors: Mayne Julia , Pai Shilpa , Morrow Lesley , Lima Daniel , Jimenez Manuel E.
Published: October 2017

Low literacy is associated with poor health. We sought to examine pediatricians’ attitudes and practices regarding literacy promotion in early childhood. We distributed a self-administered 23-item survey to a random sample of 500 board certified or eligible New Jersey primary care pediatricians. 134 surveys were returned, 25 of which were excluded. In all, 91% of pediatricians in our sample agreed that literacy promotion was an essential aspect of practice, and two-thirds agreed that they conduct activities to promote literacy. A total of 77% of pediatricians who completed their training ≤20 years ago agreed that they were adequately trained to promote literacy compared with 58% who completed their training >20 years ago ( P = .04). Physicians reported several barriers including time constraints and insufficient funding. While most pediatricians in our sample support literacy promotion, less conducted activities in practice. Further study is needed to understand how to facilitate implementation of literacy promotion guidelines.
Educational Initiative to Standardize Concussion Management in Pediatric Primary Care
Authors: Taylor Alex M. , Nigrovic Lise E. , Saillant Meredith L. , Trudell Emily K. , Modest Jonathan R. , Kuhn Madeleine , Vernacchio Louis
Published: October 2017

Pediatric primary care providers report limited training and tools to manage concussion. We developed a learning community intervention for a large independent pediatric practice association affiliated with a university hospital to standardize concussion management and improve the use of consensus-based guidelines. The learning community included in-person and online didactics, followed by a web-based reinforcement platform to educate and train clinicians on our treatment algorithm and decision support tools. Chart reviews before and after the intervention demonstrated significant increases in the use of standardized symptom rating scales (19.6% to 69.3%; P < .001), balance assessment (2.3% to 37.6%; P < .001), and scheduled follow-up (41.8% to 61.2%; P < .001), with an increase in delivery of our entire best practice bundle from 3.5% to 28.1% ( P < .001). A multimodal educational intervention can effect change among pediatric primary care providers and help align their management practices with consensus-based guidelines.
Foreign Direct Investment and Intra-industry Trade in India’s Manufacturing Sector
Authors: Burange L.G. , Thakur Pooja , Kelkar Hemangi K.
Published: October 2017

The post-liberalization era has witnessed a significant increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows and intra-industry trade (IIT) of India. Considering this fact, the article attempts to investigate a causal relationship between FDI and IIT in the manufacturing sector of India for the period 1992–2013. Causality across various industries of the manufacturing sector has also been analyzed. For the manufacturing sector, causality tests depict unidirectional causality from IIT to FDI. The results at industry level vary across different industries. For majority of the industries, it is found that FDI inflows have led to an increase in IIT for the manufacturing sector of India.
Choosing Whom to Target: Horizontal Inequality and the Risk of Civil and Communal Violence
Authors: Hillesund Solveig
Published: October 2017

Do different types of inequality spur violence with different targets? This article explores whom violent movements choose to target when they take to arms, by comparing civil conflicts, which target the state, to communal conflicts, which target other ethnic groups. Different types of ethnic group disadvantage relate to conflict through different mechanisms. Political exclusion is expected to promote the choice to target the central government rather than other ethnic groups, while economic disadvantages should increase the risk of both civil and communal conflicts. The different expectations stem from two important differences between political and economic horizontal inequalities: only the government has the authority to change the political distribution, while there can be many avenues to economic redistribution; and blame is more straightforwardly assigned to the government for political than for economic disadvantages. Statistical analysis of 155 politically relevant ethnic groups in Africa (1991–2009) provides support for both propositions.
Scottish Criminal Case Review Commission v Swire
Authors: Shiels Robert S
Published: October 2017

The disaster over Lockerbie, a small town in Scotland, in 1988 was an atrocious event that resulted in the deaths of 259 crew and passengers, as well as 11 residents all of whom were killed when the disintegrating aircraft fell to the ground. Twenty-seven years after the event the criminal case law continues to accumulate.
The Vetting Epidemic in England and Wales
Authors: Baldwin Chris
Published: October 2017

This article charts the rise of criminal vetting by employers and voluntary organisations in England and Wales. It examines the historical roots of vetting and its progress from being initially a marginal concern for specialised groups to its position as an integral part of the recruitment process for over 3,000,000 people per annum by 2007. Critical exploration of this shift is provided—key events such as the conservative government consultation of the early 1990s and the incremental implementation of its recommendations are re-evaluated. This article identifies and examines the correlation between the media reporting of, and subsequent public reaction to, a series of high-profile child murders and the response of the legislature and the judiciary to these which lead ultimately to the development of a vetting epidemic in England and Wales by 2007. The role played in this development by vested interests, such as voluntary groups and employers, will be traced and critiqued, along with the missed opportunities for reform which might have prevented the epidemic’s spread.
Novel Zirconia Materials in Dentistry
Authors: Zhang Y. , Lawn B.R.
Published: October 2017

Zirconias, the strongest of the dental ceramics, are increasingly being fabricated in monolithic form for a range of clinical applications. Y-TZP (yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal) is the most widely used variant. However, current Y-TZP ceramics on the market lack the aesthetics of competitive glass-ceramics and are therefore somewhat restricted in the anterior region. This article reviews the progressive development of currently available and next-generation zirconias, representing a concerted drive toward greater translucency while preserving adequate strength and toughness. Limitations of efforts directed toward this end are examined, such as reducing the content of light-scattering alumina sintering aid or incorporating a component of optically isotropic cubic phase into the tetragonal structure. The latest fabrication routes based on refined starting powders and dopants, with innovative sintering protocols and associated surface treatments, are described. The need to understand the several, often complex, mechanisms of long-term failure in relation to routine laboratory test data is presented as a vital step in bridging the gaps among material scientist, dental manufacturer, and clinical provider.
Contesting and Differentially Constructing Uncertainty: Negotiations of Contraceptive Use in the Clinical Encounter
Authors: Littlejohn Krystale E. , Kimport Katrina
Published: October 2017

Most women of reproductive age have access to highly effective contraception, and all available methods are associated with side effects. Whether a woman will experience side effects is uncertain, however, which can pose challenges for clinicians who discuss the methods with patients. In this study, we analyze 102 contraceptive counseling visits to understand how clinicians discursively construct knowledge in the context of uncertainty. We find that while some present the uncertainty of side effects in a straightforward, patient-accessible way, others negotiate their predictions by (1) differentially constructing uncertainty, suggesting that positive side effects are likely and negative side effects are unlikely, and (2) contesting uncertainty, presenting the risk of serious side effects as controllable. In the end, these strategies deemphasize consideration of negative side effects in women’s contraceptive decision making. Our results demonstrate the importance of elucidating the translation, instantiation, and construction of medical uncertainty both in theory and in practice.
Malpractice in paediatric minimally invasive surgery – a current concept: Results of an international survey
Authors: Esposito Ciro , Escolino Maria , Bailez Marcela , Rothenberg Steve , Davenport Mark , Saxena Amulya , Caldamone Anthony , Szavay Philipp , Philippe Paul , Till Holger , Montupet Philippe , Holcomb 3rd George W.
Published: October 2017

This study aimed to assess malpractice in paediatric minimally invasive surgery (MIS), and attitudes, prevention strategies and mechanisms to support surgeons while they are under investigation. An observational, multicentric, questionnaire-based study was conducted. The survey questionnaire was sent via mail, and it comprised four sections. Twenty-four paediatric surgeons (average age 54.6 years), from 13 different countries, participated in this study. The majority had >15 years of experience in MIS. Three (12.5%) surgeons reported a total of five malpractice claims regarding their MIS activity. The reasons for the claims were a postoperative complication in 3/5 (60%) cases, a delayed/failed diagnosis in 1/5 (20%) cases and the death of the patient in 1/5 (20%) cases. The claims concluded with the absolution of the surgeon in all cases, and monetary compensation to the claimant in two (40%) cases. Eleven (45.8%) surgeons were invited as expert counsels in medico-legal actions. Medico-legal aspects have a minimal impact on the MIS activity of paediatric surgeons. In this series, claims concluded with the absolution of the surgeon in all cases, but they had a negative effect on the surgeon’s reputation and finances. A key element in supporting surgeons while they are under investigation is always to choose a surgeon who is an expert in paediatric MIS as legal counsel. A constant update on innovations in paediatric MIS and appropriate professional liability insurance may also play a key role in reducing medico-legal consequences.
Preparation and properties of wool fabrics dyed with spent coffee ground extract
Authors: Koh Eunmi , Hong Kyung Hwa
Published: October 2017

Spent coffee grounds (SCGs) are solid residues generated from coffee brewing and are mostly discarded as waste. However, SCGs are drawing much attention because they have many health-promoting compounds that exhibit anti-tumor, anti-allergic, antioxidant, and other activities. Therefore, we tried to use SCGs for fabric dyeing to apply functional and coloring effects to the fabrics. SCGs were extracted by a conventional solid–liquid method, and the extract was applied to wool fabrics through a laboratory infrared dyeing machine. It was found that the extract contained a significant number of bioactive components, such as tannins (ca. 0.61 mg/mL); caffeine (ca. 0.38 mg/mL); and phenolic compounds, including chlorogenic acid (ca. 0.21 mg/mL). The wool fabrics dyed with the SCG extract exhibited promising coloring effects, displaying deep-brown hues. In addition, the colorfastness to washing and light were superior to that of fabrics dyed with other natural pigments. In particular, the wool fabrics dyed with the SCG extract showed excellent antioxidant ability (≤86%) and high levels of ultraviolet blocking (≥98%).
The conversation between public theology and missiology: A response to Sebastian Kim
Authors: Fensham Charles J.
Published: October 2017

This paper responds, from a North American perspective, to Sebastian Kim’s plenary address at the 2016 annual meeting of the American Society for Missiology on the relationship between public theology and missiology. The paper reviews the contribution of North American missiologists to the reflection on the public witness of the church, highlights the published contributions of Hunsberger, Leffel, Pieterse, Hunt, Okesson and Fensham, while recognizing the contribution of practitioners such as Kenney and Simpson. The paper proposes that missiologists can contribute to the conversation with public theologians on the themes of theologies of culture, the missionary dimension of all theology, the clarification of the meaning of “church”, “world” and “publics,” the theme of repentance, and offering an inspiring transformative vision for a flourishing creation.
The Effectiveness of a Cognitive Skills Training Program for Adult Offenders
Authors: Verweij Suzan , Wartna Bouke S. J. , Tollenaar Nikolaj , Beerthuizen Marinus G. C. J.
Published: October 2017

This article provides an evaluation of the effectiveness of the “CoVa” cognitive skills training program. A quasi-experimental design was used to compare the known reoffending behavior of 2,229 CoVa participants with that of two control groups of offenders: (1) one formed using the inclusion criteria of the program, and (2) one formed using propensity score matching (PSM). Outcome measures included the prevalence, frequency, and impact of new, adjudicated crimes, with the impact defined as the combined severity of the offenses. Results indicated that the participants in the CoVa group were reconvicted less frequently than those in Control Group 1. Moreover, the impact of their recidivism was lower than the impact of those of Control Group 2. However, the effect sizes were very small, and no significant differences were found regarding reconviction prevalence. Explanations for the absence of (large) effects are discussed.