bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hepatic Cholesterol Homeostasis
Authors: Sniderman Allan D. , Qi Yanqin , Ma Cheng-I J. , Wang Rui Hao Leo , Naples Mark , Baker Chris , Zhang Jing , Adeli Khosrow , Kiss Robert S.
Published: August 2013

Objective—

The hypothesis that cholesterol that enters the cell within low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles rapidly equilibrates with the regulatory pool of intracellular cholesterol and maintains cholesterol homeostasis by reducing cholesterol and LDL receptor synthesis was validated in the fibroblast but not in the hepatocyte. Accordingly, the present studies were designed to compare the effects of cholesterol that enters the hepatocyte within an LDL particle with those of cholesterol that enters via other lipoprotein particles.

Approach and Results—

We measured cholesterol synthesis and esterification in hamster hepatocytes treated with LDL and other lipoprotein particles, including chylomicron remnants and VLDL. Endogenous cholesterol synthesis was not significantly reduced by uptake of LDL, but cholesterol esterification (280%) and acyl CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase 2 expression (870%) were increased. In contrast, cholesterol synthesis was significantly reduced (70% decrease) with other lipoprotein particles. Furthermore, more cholesterol that entered the hepatocyte within LDL particles was secreted within VLDL particles (480%) compared with cholesterol from other sources.

Conclusions—

Much of the cholesterol that enters the hepatocyte within LDL particles is shunted through the cell and resecreted within VLDL particles without reaching equilibrium with the regulatory pool.
Sport and the Imperial Bond: The 1911 ‘All-India’ Cricket Tour of Great Britain
Authors: Kidambi Prashant
Published: August 2013

Summary

This article explores the interplay of sport, politics and public diplomacy through a case study of the first ‘Indian’ cricket tour of Great Britain in 1911, an extraordinary venture peopled by an improbable cast of characters. Led by the young Maharaja Bhupindar Singh, the newly enthroned ruler of the princely state of Patiala, the team contained in its ranks cricketers who were drawn from different Indian regions and religious communities. The article examines the politics of this intriguing cricket tour against a wider backdrop of changing Indo-British relations and makes three key points. First, it suggests that the processes of ‘imperial globalization’ that were presided over by the British in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries marked an important epoch in the evolving relationship between sport and diplomacy. In particular, it highlights the role of sporting tours as instruments of public diplomacy in the age of empire. Second, it shows how the organization of the 1911 tour reflected the workings of a trans-national ‘imperial class regime’ that had developed around cricket in colonial India from the late nineteenth century onwards. Finally, the article considers the symbolic significance that came to be attached to the tour, both in imperial Britain and in colonial India.
Cuban Sports Diplomacy in the Post-Cold War Period: International Identity versus Domestic Realities
Authors: Bunck Julie M.
Published: August 2013

Summary

For many years an important segment of Cuba’s public diplomacy has focused on Cuban sports. The Cuban regime politicized sports policies and athletic triumphs and attempted to use them to enhance its international influence. This, in turn, reflected a key dimension of the Cuban revolution: the effort to alter pre-revolutionary culture by creating a ‘new man’. Mass participation in sports and the victories of elite athletes alike showed Cuban socialism in action. During the post-Cold War era, however, replete with difficulties for Marxist regimes, budget cuts, leadership changes, reordered priorities and the reintroduction of capitalism have adversely affected Cuban sports. Cubans today lack the access to first-rate facilities that they once enjoyed. Many athletes have defected, while the skills of trainers and coaches have been sold abroad. These developments have threatened Cuba’s revolutionary sports culture and undermined the effectiveness of its sports diplomacy. The Cuban example suggests that the efficacy of sports diplomacy is related not only to the quality of athletic performances but to the manner in which underlying cultural norms either support or detract from diplomatic endeavours.
Little Wukan, Big China: Lessons to Be Drawn from the Wukan Incident for China’s Political and Economic Development
Authors: Yanbing Zhang , Zhimin Zeng
Published: August 2013

Abstract

This paper argues that the Wukan Incident reflects the common difficulties faced at the state-society level by contemporary China as the country finds itself experiencing both an important strategic chapter in its development, and a period during which social problems are coming to the fore. As such, the task of developing an understanding of the Wukan Incident offers the chance to draw crucial lessons about China’s future political and economic development. Firstly, the modernization development model, according to which economic growth and development take precedence above all else, has already led to a building up of serious social problems. China’s future development efforts must draw on and put into practice the theories of the Scientific Outlook on Development. Secondly, the demands made by the villagers of Wukan could feasibly become political and economic problems common throughout the whole country. This includes issues such as how state-owned assets and land are dealt with; transparency of public finances; and safeguards for the democratic rights and interests of Chinese citizens. The government must face these difficulties and use reforms to tackle each of them. Should it fail to do so, these issues could spark a serious social crisis or even affect the stability of the political order. Thirdly, the current mechanisms by which the Party and the government respond to the public’s interest-related claims require urgent improvement. Finally, there is no magic pill to solve the political and economic problems faced in China today. Elections are certainly not a magic solution.
Top-Level Intervention and the Turning Point at Wukan: An Exploration of Top-Level Government Behavior within Contentious Politics
Authors: Zhihui Tong
Published: August 2013

Abstract

This paper attempts to look beyond the currently ideologically-charged interpretations of the turning point during the Wukan Incident and instead seeks to trace its real causes. Soon after the top-level authorities stepped in to deal with the Incident, we quickly witnessed the rapid process of turning the Incident around, set in motion by five types of measures/mechanisms. Firstly, their direct involvement, breaking up the immediate standoff between the local government and the villagers. Secondly, determining that the Incident was, by nature, about interests, thus dispelling the political nature of the Incident. Thirdly, positioning themselves on the side of the people, thus easing the contentious nature of the Incident. Fourthly, adopting a combination of both leniency and stringency to dispel confrontational sentiment amongst the organizers. Finally, releasing the detained villagers and returning the body of Xue Jinbo, relieving the blanket of grief that had enveloped the village during the contention. These measures were in keeping with the belief of the organizers that the top-level authorities were both more willing than the local government to solve their problems, and more able. This paper opens a new avenue for beginning to develop our understanding of government behavior during contentious politics. It is also an attempt to make up for the present ‘omission of the state,’ which is one of the weaknesses of existing research on contentious politics in reform-era China
Changes to Snowpack Energy State from Spring Storm Events, Columbia River Headwaters, Montana
Authors: Seligman Zachary M. , Harper Joel T. , Maneta Marco P.
Published: August 2013

The generation and release of meltwater during the spring snowmelt season can be delayed because of spring storm episodes with snow accumulation and/or sustained subfreezing temperatures. The delayed release of snowmelt often extends beyond the particular storm event because of changes to the internal state of energy in the snowpack that prevents transmission of meltwater. Following a storm, two energy deficits internal to the snowpack must be overcome before surface melt can drain and exit the snowpack: 1) cold content created by heat lost during the episode must be removed and 2) dry pore space must be filled with liquid water to residual saturation. This study investigates the role of these two processes in spring snowmelt following past storm episodes in western Montana. The analysis addresses ~10 yr of historical snowpack and air temperature data from 33 stations in the Columbia River headwaters. Results indicate that the addition of pore space has a greater impact on delaying snowmelt than does the addition of cold content, with snow accumulation events responsible for 86% of the collective energy deficit imposed on the snowpack during storm episodes. Nearly all refreezing events occur within one month of peak snowpack, but accumulation events are common up to 50 days later. Under standardized conditions representing clear weather during the spring season, these energy deficits could all be overcome in a matter of hours.
Protective Role of Statins in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome Aged ≥75 Years With Low LDL-C Who Underwent Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Bu Congya , Zhao Yingxin , Ma Hanying , Han Hongya , Yang Shiwei , Shi Dongmei , Liu Yuyang , Fang Zhe , Wang Zhijian , Ma Qian , Hu Bin , Yang Qing , Li Yueping , Liu Ruifang , Nie Bin , Zhou Yujie
Published: August 2013

The effect of statins in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) at advanced age with lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains unknown. We evaluated the effect of statins in 220 Chinese patients with ACS aged ≥75 years with low LDL-C undergoing PCI. Biomarkers were measured before and 6 hours after PCI, and patients were followed up for 1 year. Biomarkers in the statin group at 6 hours post-PCI were lower than controls (creatine kinase-myocardial band 14.2 ± 5.78 vs 47.3 ± 16.4 IU/L, P = .03; cardiac troponin I 0.36 ± 0.12 vs 1.33 ± 0.47 ng/mL, P = .01; and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein 7.6 ± 4.3 vs 13.6 ± 4.5 mg/L, P = .001, respectively). Significant differences were found in major adverse cardiac events at 1 year ( P = .02-.01), while target lesion revascularization alone was less at 3 months between the 2 groups ( P = .03). This study demonstrates that elderly patients with ACS having low LDL-C benefit from statins regardless of type, dosage, and duration of statin administration prior to PCI.
Modeling “Effectiveness” in International Relations
Authors: Renshon Jonathan , Spirling Arthur
Published: August 2013

Are democracies better at winning wars and militarized disputes? Is there an advantage associated with initiating a war or dispute? Noting that pairwise contest data are the norm in applied research, we motivate a straightforward Bradley–Terry statistical model for these problems from first principles, which will allow for a closer integration of theoretical and statistical practice for scholars of international relations. The essence of this approach is that we learn about the latent abilities of states from observing conflict outcomes between them. We demonstrate the novelty and appeal of this setup with reference to previous attempts to capture estimands of interest and show that for many questions of concern—especially regarding “democratic effectiveness” and “initiation effects”—our approach may be preferred on theoretical and statistical grounds. The evidence we find only partially supports the ideas of “democratic triumphalists”: democracy aids effectiveness, but only in certain contexts (while in others it actually impairs fighting ability). We also provide estimates of possible “initiation effects,” and show that moving first seems to carry little advantage in interstate wars, but a substantial one in lower-level disputes.
The transnationalization of trade union action within multinational corporations: A comparative perspective
Authors: Dufour-Poirier Mélanie , Hennebert Marc-Antonin
Published: August 2013

This article is based on two case studies and an empirical body of data that includes more than 100 interviews with union officials in various countries; it examines how collective union action is constructed within cross-border union alliances. Drawing on three lines of analysis, each grounded in a theory of collective action, it shows that, although the parties involved have invested considerable resources, the long-term presence of key players capable of carrying out framing duties can be a decisive factor in the development of collective action. The article also underlines how important it is for the unions involved to define a mobilizing joint project that can help develop a common sense of belonging. The findings in the two cases are uneven, and the article therefore also highlights one of the main weaknesses of cross-border alliances, namely the fact that they are dependent on stable organizational structures in the multinational corporations.
It Takes Two to Imitate
Authors: Pfister Roland , Dignath David , Hommel Bernhard , Kunde Wilfried
Published: August 2013

Imitation is assumed to serve crucial functions in social interaction, such as empathy and learning, yet these functions apply only to the imitating observer. In the two experiments reported here, we revealed a distinct function of imitation for the action model: Anticipation of being imitated facilitates the production of overt motor actions. Specifically, anticipated motor responses of social counterparts serve as mental cues for the model to retrieve corresponding motor commands to orchestrate his or her own actions.
Variable selection in semi-parametric models
Authors: Zhang Hongmei , Maity Arnab , Arshad Hasan , Holloway John , Karmaus Wilfried
Published: August 2013

We propose Bayesian variable selection methods in semi-parametric models in the framework of partially linear Gaussian and problit regressions. Reproducing kernels are utilized to evaluate possibly non-linear joint effect of a set of variables. Indicator variables are introduced into the reproducing kernels for the inclusion or exclusion of a variable. Different scenarios based on posterior probabilities of including a variable are proposed to select important variables. Simulations are used to demonstrate and evaluate the methods. It was found that the proposed methods can efficiently select the correct variables regardless of the feature of the effects, linear or non-linear in an unknown form. The proposed methods are applied to two real data sets to identify cytosine phosphate guanine methylation sites associated with maternal smoking and cytosine phosphate guanine sites associated with cotinine levels with creatinine levels adjusted. The selected methylation sites have the potential to advance our understanding of the underlying mechanism for the impact of smoking exposure on health outcomes, and consequently benefit medical research in disease intervention.
Pulmonary Embolism and Deep Venous Thrombosis Following Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
Authors: Stein Paul D. , Matta Fadi , Sabra Michel J.
Published: August 2013

There is considerable uncertainty related to the thromboembolic risk after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients with pulmonary embolism (PE), deep venous thrombosis (DVT), or venous thromboembolism (VTE) at hospital discharge following laparoscopic cholecystectomy were identified from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. From 1998 through 2009, 4 107 430 laparoscopic cholecystectomies were performed. The in-hospital prevalence of PE was 0.15%, DVT was 0.40%, and VTE was 0.53%. The prevalence of PE increased from 0.04% in patients aged 21 to 30 years to 0.31% in patients aged 71 to 80 years. Deaths due to in-hospital PE were 780 (0.02%) of the 4 107 430 laparoscopic cholecystectomies. The rate of death increased with age. The prevalence of VTE following laparoscopic cholecystectomy is low and fatal PE is rare. The risk of VTE increased with age, as did the risk of death in those who had PE. These data may be useful in assessing the use of thromboprophylaxis in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Psychological therapies for the management of co-morbid depression following a spinal cord injury: A systematic review
Authors: Perkes Sarah J , Bowman Julia , Penkala Stefania
Published: August 2013

The evidence about psychological therapies used to manage co-morbid depression after a spinal cord injury is presented here. A comprehensive search of five electronic databases identified nine studies (participants, n = 591) meeting inclusion criteria. Pooled statistical analyses were conducted in combination with narrative synthesis. Overall, multimodal cognitive behavioural therapy was found to be moderately effective (standardised mean difference = −0.52; 95% confidence interval = −0.85, −0.19). Activity scheduling, psychoeducation, problem solving and cognitive therapy may be particularly beneficial therapies within cognitive behavioural therapy. Further high-quality randomised controlled trials are needed to better substantiate these findings.
Are the Male Body Dissatisfaction and Drive for Muscularity Scales reliable and valid instruments?
Authors: Dakanalis Antonios , Timko Alix , Madeddu Fabio , Volpato Chiara , Clerici Massimo , Riva Giuseppe , Zanetti Assunta M
Published: August 2013

The Drive for Muscularity Scale and Male Body Dissatisfaction Scale were developed for use with men and correspond to measures of drive for thinness and body dissatisfaction in women. The psychometric properties of these measures were evaluated in a sample of 655 Italian men, who completed other 11 measures also. Both scales demonstrated excellent internal consistency and temporal stability as well as criterion-related and concurrent validity. Both measures distinguished between men with high and low levels of disordered eating. Confirmatory factor analysis replicated the unidimensional factor structure of both scales. Directions for future research are discussed.
Complete circumferential rectal ulceration and haemorrhage secondary to the use of a faecal management system
Authors: Shaker Hudhaifah , Maile Edward J. , Telford Karen J.
Published: August 2013

This structured case report is a brief case report describing an episode of complete circumferential rectal ulceration and haemorrhage secondary to the use of a faecal management system. An elderly lady was admitted for elective cardiac surgery. Prior to admission, the patient was taking warfarin in view of her atrial fibrillation. Following surgery, the patient developed faecal incontinence, which was managed with a faecal management system. However, the patient subsequently developed massive rectal haemorrhage from an area of complete circumferential ulceration in the rectum. This ulceration resulted from pressure necrosis secondary to the faecal management system balloon placed in the patient’s rectum. The implication for care is that faecal management systems are an important adjunct in the management of faecal incontinence, but caution must be exercised with prolonged use, particularly in anticoagulated patients.
The Influence of Developmental Stage on the Relationship Between Severity of Late Effects of Anticancer Therapy and Perceived Quality of Life of Childhood Cancer Survivors
Authors: Blatný Marek , Jelínek Martin , Sobotková Veronika , Kepák Tomáš
Published: August 2013

The present study aims to investigate the relationship between severity of late effects and subjective quality of life of childhood cancer survivors in different age brackets. The sample consisted of 147 cancer survivors (70 boys and 77 girls) aged 8 to 18 who were in remission 2 to 5 years. The analyses were carried out separately for younger (8-12 years) and older (13-19 years) age groups. Cancer survivors were asked to complete Minnesota–Minneapolis Quality of Life Instrument (MMQL) as well as other methods of measuring involvement in everyday life activities and parent–child interactions Social And Health Assessment (SAHA) were used. Severity of late effects was assessed on a 4-point scale in accordance with Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v3.0. While severity of late effects correlated positively only with parental warmth in younger age bracket, there were many relationships between severity of late effects and quality of life in older age bracket. The difference between the two age brackets is explained by the fact that adolescents are able to assess the impact of the disease.
Asthma increases pulmonary thromboembolism risk: a nationwide population cohort study
Authors: Chung Wei-Sheng , Lin Cheng-Li , Ho Feng-Ming , Li Ruei-Yuan , Sung Fung-Chang , Kao Chia-Hung , Yeh Jun-Jun
Published: August 2013

Studies on the association between asthma and pulmonary thromboembolism are considerably limited. We investigated whether pulmonary embolism is associated with asthma using a nationwide cohort study.

We identified 31 356 patients with newly diagnosed asthma in 2002–2008 and 125 157 individuals without asthma randomly selected from the general population, frequency matched by age, sex and index year using the National Health Insurance Research Database. Both cohorts were followed-up until the end of 2010 to measure the incidence of pulmonary embolism. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to measure the hazard ratio of pulmonary embolism for the asthmatic cohort, compared with the nonasthmatic cohort.

We followed 186 182 person-years for asthmatic patients and 743 374 person-years for nonasthmatic subjects. The hazard ratio of pulmonary embolism was 3.24 for the asthmatic cohort, compared with the nonasthmatic cohort after adjusting for sex, age, comorbidities and oestrogen supplementation. The risk of developing pulmonary embolism significantly increased with the increased frequency of asthma exacerbation and hospitalisation.

This nationwide cohort study suggests that the risk of developing pulmonary embolism is significantly increased in asthmatic patients compared to the general population. Frequent asthma exacerbation and hospitalisation are significantly associated with pulmonary embolism risk.
Variability of hospital resources for acute care of COPD patients: the European COPD Audit
Authors: López-Campos Jose Luis , Hartl Sylvia , Pozo-Rodriguez Francisco , Roberts C. Michael
Published: August 2013

Studies have suggested that larger hospitals have better resources and provide better care than smaller ones. This study aimed to explore the relationship between hospital size, resources, organisation of care and adherence to guidelines.

The European COPD Audit was designed as a pilot study of clinical care and a survey of resources and organisation of care. Data were entered by clinicians to a multilingual web tool and analysed centrally. Participating hospitals were divided into tertiles on the basis of bed numbers and comparisons made of the resources, organisation of care and adherence to guidelines across the three size groups.

13 national societies provided data on 425 hospitals. The mean number of beds per tertile was 220 (lower), 479 (middle), and 989 (upper). Large hospitals were more likely to have resources and increased numbers of staff; hospital performance measures were related in a minority of indicators only. Adherence to guidelines also varied with hospital size, but the differences were small and inconsistent.

There is a wide variation in the size, resources and organisation of care across Europe for hospitals providing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease care. While larger hospitals have more resources, this does not always equate to better accessibility or quality of care for patients.
Detection and severity grading of COPD exacerbations using the exacerbations of chronic pulmonary disease tool (EXACT)
Authors: Mackay Alex J. , Donaldson Gavin C. , Patel Anant R.C. , Singh Richa , Kowlessar Beverly , Wedzicha Jadwiga A.
Published: August 2013

Uncertainty exists over the ability of the exacerbations of chronic pulmonary disease tool (EXACT) patient-reported outcome diary to quantify exacerbation severity and frequency. To clarify this, we investigated the ability of the EXACT to assess severity of exacerbations and examined the relationship between exacerbations diagnosed using London chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) cohort diary cards, physician review and symptom-defined events using the EXACT.

58 patients enrolled in the London Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) cohort prospectively completed the EXACT during 128 cohort diary card-defined exacerbations between January 2010 and April 2012.

Mean±sdEXACT scores increased from 42.6±8.6 at baseline to 48.0±8.6 at exacerbation onset (p<0.001), and rose further to a maximum score of 54.1±8.9. Maximum EXACT scores were significantly higher in treated than untreated events. Time taken for EXACT scores to return to baseline was significantly related to symptom recovery time as judged by London COPD cohort diary cards, and to peak expiratory flow rate recovery. ∼50% of both diary card-defined and healthcare utilisation exacerbations crossed the EXACT event threshold. However, only 27.9% of diary card-defined and 34.6% of healthcare utilisation exacerbations fully met the criteria for an EXACT event. Patients exhibited smaller rises in the EXACT score at exacerbation as baseline disease severity increased.

The EXACT is an effective method of evaluating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation severity. However, concerns remain about the ability of the EXACT to accurately detect exacerbations.
Neighbourhood air quality and snoring in school-aged children
Authors: Kheirandish-Gozal Leila , Ghalebandi Mirfarhad , Salehi Mansour , Salarifar Mohammad Hosein , Gozal David
Published: August 2013

The prevalence of habitual snoring has been extensively explored in paediatric populations. Although exposure to cigarette smoke increases the risk of habitual snoring in a dose-dependent fashion, the potential contribution of air quality to habitual snoring remains unclear.

6000 questionnaires were distributed to 6- to 12-year-old children attending public schools in five distinct neighbourhoods within the city of Tehran, Iran, that were preselected based on air quality measures. Habitual snoring was defined as loud snoring ≥3 nights per week. Information regarding clinical and family-related habitual snoring risk factors was also obtained. Descriptive statistics followed by adjusted risk assessments were conducted.

Among the 4322 (72%) completed datasets, the prevalence of habitual snoring was 11.6%. Partition of habitual snoring rates according to neighbourhood air quality characteristics revealed significantly higher habitual snoring frequencies among children residing in neighbourhoods with greatest pollution (24.5% and 12.1% in South and Central neighbourhoodsversus7.0% and 7.7% in North and East neighbourhoods, respectively). The regional variance in habitual snoring was primarily accounted for by an integrated measure of air quality, even after controlling for other risk factors.

Environmental air quality emerges as a significant and potentially modifiable contributor to the risk for developing habitual snoring during childhood.
Potential antimicrobial agents for the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis
Authors: Alsaad Noor , Wilffert Bob , van Altena Richard , de Lange Wiel C.M. , van der Werf Tjip S. , Kosterink Jos G.W. , Alffenaar Jan-Willem C.
Published: August 2013

Treatment of multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB) is challenging because of the high toxicity of second-line drugs and the longer treatment duration than for drug-susceptible TB patients. In order to speed up novel treatment for MDR-TB, we suggest considering expanding the indications of already available drugs. Six drugs with antimicrobial activity (phenothiazine, metronidazole, doxycycline, disulfiram, tigecycline and co-trimoxazole) are not listed in the World Health Organization guidelines on MDR-TB treatment but could be potential candidates for evaluation againstMycobacterium tuberculosis.

A systematic review was conducted to evaluate antituberculous activity of these drugs againstM. tuberculosis. We searched PubMed, Google Scholar and Embase for English articles published up to December 31, 2012.

We reviewedin vitro,in vivoand clinical antituberculous activity of these drugs in addition to pharmacokinetics and side-effects. Of the drugs effective against actively replicatingM. tuberculosis, co-trimoxazole seems to be the most promising, because of its consistent pharmacokinetic profile, easy penetration into tissue and safety profile. For the dormant state of TB, thioridazine may play a potential role as an adjuvant for treatment of MDR-TB. A strategy consisting of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic studies, dose finding and phase III studies is needed to explore the role of these drugs in MDR-TB treatment.
Relationship between total homocysteine, total cholesterol and creatinine levels in overt hypothyroid patients
Authors: Bamashmoos Saleh A , Al-Nuzaily Mohammed AK , Al-Meeri Ali M , Ali Faisal HH
Published: August 2013

Hypothyroidism is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, which can not be fully explained by the atherogenic lipid profile, particularly total cholesterol and LDL-C, and other pathogenic factors may be involved. Plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and accelerated atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the serum total homocysteine (tHcy) levels and its relation to total cholesterol, creatinine and thyroid hormones fT3, fT4 and TSH levels in overt hypothyroid patients compared to control subjects. In this study thirty recently diagnosed, non-treated overt hypothyroid patients (f=27, m=3) and twenty normal volunteers control (f=18, m=2) were included and subjected to determination of serum tHcy by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) technique, fT3, fT4 and TSH by Elecsys cobas e 601 analyzer, total cholesterol by enzymatic method and creatinine by kinetic method. The data was statistically analysed by SPSS-10 and p values less than 0.05 were considered significant.Our results showed that there were a significant increase of tHcy, TSH, T.cholesterol and creatinine levels by 113%, 12-folds, 58% and 54%, respectively, and a significant decrease of fT4 and fT3 levels by 49.6% and 56.4% , respectively, in hypothyroid patients than in control group. For tHcy (Mean±SD, 24.45±5.50 μmol/l vs 11.48±3.03 μmol/l, respectively; P < 0.001). tHcy was significantly positively correlated with TSH, creatinine and age and negatively correlated with free thyroxine (fT4) and no significant correlations with fT3 and T.cholesterol. In conclusion, our study confirmed the observation of elevated serum tHcy, T.cholesterol and creatinine in overt hypothyroidism and the presence of an inverse relation between tHcy with fT4 and a positive relation with TSH.
Requirement of TPO/c-mpl for IL-17A-induced granulopoiesis and megakaryopoiesis
Authors: Tan Weihong , Liu Bainan , Barsoum Adel , Huang Weitao , Kolls Jay K , Schwarzenberger Paul
Published: August 2013

IL-17A is a critical, proinflammatory cytokine essential to host defense and is induced in response to microbial invasion. It stimulates granulopoiesis, leading to neutrophilia, neutrophil activation, and mobilization. TPO synergizes with other cytokines in stimulating and expanding hematopoietic progenitors, also leading to granulopoiesis and megakryopoiesis, and is required for thrombocytopoiesis. We investigated the effects of in vivo expression of IL-17A on granulopoiesis and megakaryopoisis in TPO receptor c-mpl−/− mice. IL-17A expression expanded megakaryocytes by 2.5-fold in normal mice but had no such effect in c-mpl−/− mice. The megakaryocyte expansion did not result in increased peripheral platelet counts. IL-17A expression did not impact bone marrow precursors in c-mpl−/− mice; however, it expanded splenic precursors, although to a lesser extent compared with normal controls (CFU-HPP). No peripheral neutrophil expansion was observed in c-mpl−/− mice. Moreover, in c-mpl−/− mice, release of IL-17A downstream cytokines was reduced significantly (KC, MIP-2, GM-CSF). The data suggest that IL-17A requires the presence of functional TPO/c-mpl to exert its effects on granulopoiesis and megakaryopoiesis. Furthermore, IL-17A and its downstream cytokines are important regulators and synergistic factors for the physiologic function of TPO/c-mpl on hematopoiesis.
Hard-Core Thinnings of Germ‒Grain Models with Power-Law Grain Sizes
Authors: Kuronen Mikko , Leskelä Lasse
Published: August 2013

Random sets with long-range dependence can be generated using a Boolean model with power-law grain sizes. We study thinnings of such Boolean models which have the hard-core property that no grains overlap in the resulting germ‒grain model. A fundamental question is whether long-range dependence is preserved under such thinnings. To answer this question, we study four natural thinnings of a Poisson germ‒grain model where the grains are spheres with a regularly varying size distribution. We show that a thinning which favors large grains preserves the slow correlation decay of the original model, whereas a thinning which favors small grains does not. Our most interesting finding concerns the case where only disjoint grains are retained, which corresponds to the well-known Matérn type-I thinning. In the resulting germ‒grain model, typical grains have exponentially small sizes, but rather surprisingly, the long-range dependence property is still present. As a byproduct, we obtain new mechanisms for generating homogeneous and isotropic random point configurations having a power-law correlation decay.
Heavy-Traffic Limits for a Many-Server Queueing Network with Switchover
Authors: Pang Guodong , Yao David D.
Published: August 2013

We study a multiclass Markovian queueing network with switchover across a set of many-server stations. New arrivals to each station follow a nonstationary Poisson process. Each job waiting in queue may, after some exponentially distributed patience time, switch over to another station or leave the network following a probabilistic and state-dependent mechanism. We analyze the performance of such networks under the many-server heavy-traffic limiting regimes, including the critically loaded quality-and-efficiency-driven (QED) regime, and the overloaded efficiency-driven (ED) regime. We also study the limits corresponding to mixing the underloaded quality-driven (QD) regime with the QED and ED regimes. We establish fluid and diffusion limits of the queue-length processes in all regimes. The fluid limits are characterized by ordinary differential equations. The diffusion limits are characterized by stochastic differential equations, with a piecewise-linear drift term and a constant (QED) or time-varying (ED) covariance matrix. We investigate the load balancing effect of switchover in the mixed regimes, demonstrating the migration of workload from overloaded stations to underloaded stations and quantifying the load balancing impact of switchover probabilities.
A Host-Parasite Model for a Two-Type Cell Population
Authors: Alsmeyer Gerold , Gröttrup Sören
Published: August 2013

We consider a host-parasite model for a population of cells that can be of two types, A or B, and exhibits unilateral reproduction: while a B-cell always splits into two cells of the same type, the two daughter cells of an A-cell can be of any type. The random mechanism that describes how parasites within a cell multiply and are then shared into the daughter cells is allowed to depend on the hosting mother cell as well as its daughter cells. Focusing on the subpopulation of A-cells and its parasites, our model differs from the single-type model recently studied by Bansaye (2008) in that the sharing mechanism may be biased towards one of the two types. Our main results are concerned with the nonextinctive case and provide information on the behavior, as n → ∞, of the number of A-parasites in generation n and the relative proportion of A- and B-cells in this generation which host a given number of parasites. As in Bansaye (2008), proofs will make use of a so-called random cell line which, when conditioned to be of type A, behaves like a branching process in a random environment.
Stochastic Models for a Chemostat and Long-Time Behavior
Authors: Collet Pierre , Martínez Servet , Méléard Sylvie , San Martín Jaime
Published: August 2013

We introduce two stochastic chemostat models consisting of a coupled population-nutrient process reflecting the interaction between the nutrient and the bacteria in the chemostat with finite volume. The nutrient concentration evolves continuously but depends on the population size, while the population size is a birth-and-death process with coefficients depending on time through the nutrient concentration. The nutrient is shared by the bacteria and creates a regulation of the bacterial population size. The latter and the fluctuations due to the random births and deaths of individuals make the population go almost surely to extinction. Therefore, we are interested in the long-time behavior of the bacterial population conditioned to nonextinction. We prove the global existence of the process and its almost-sure extinction. The existence of quasistationary distributions is obtained based on a general fixed-point argument. Moreover, we prove the absolute continuity of the nutrient distribution when conditioned to a fixed number of individuals and the smoothness of the corresponding densities.
Hitting Times, Occupation Times, Trivariate Laws and the Forward Kolmogorov Equation for a One-Dimensional Diffusion with Memory
Authors: Forde Martin , Pogudin Andrey , Zhang Hongzhong
Published: August 2013

We extend many of the classical results for standard one-dimensional diffusions to a diffusion process with memory of the form d Xt=σ(Xt,Xt)dWt, where Xt= m ∧ inf0 ≤s≤tXs. In particular, we compute the expected time for X to leave an interval, classify the boundary behavior at 0, and derive a new occupation time formula for X. We also show that (Xt,Xt) admits a joint density, which can be characterized in terms of two independent tied-down Brownian meanders (or, equivalently, two independent Bessel-3 bridges). Finally, we show that the joint density satisfies a generalized forward Kolmogorov equation in a weak sense, and we derive a new forward equation for down-and-out call options.
‘It’s hard not to be a teacher sometimes’: Citizen ethnography in school
Authors: McDougall Julian
Published: August 2013

This article reflects on a European Union-funded research project – Social Documentary as a Pedagogic Tool – and its local implementation in Citizenship pedagogy in three non-selective English secondary schools in mixed and ‘disadvantaged’ communities in the West Midlands. An ethnographic methodology (for pedagogy) enabled Citizenship students to produce documentary films representing their communities’ perceptions of local identities in relation to Europe and its future. In working ethnographically, students making the documentary films were at the same time the ‘subjects’ (agents) and ‘objects’ (the data) of the learning and the research. Data was captured for discourse analysis in three forms – the documentary films produced by students, uploaded to the project’s website and screened at two international film festivals; individual interviews with teachers and group interviews with participating students. The article reviews the discursive data and discusses the potential of this pedagogic intervention for reflexive learning in Citizenship to successfully work in the ‘interplay between contexts for action, relationships within and across contexts, and the dispositions that young people bring to such contexts and relationships’.
Game-based learning to develop civic literacy and twenty-first century skills: Making judgments and decisions
Authors: Sardone Nancy B. , Devlin-Scherer Roberta
Published: August 2013

In the United States, providing students with the education needed to develop the knowledge, skills and values that will enable them to become effective citizens is in question due to weak curricular requirements, inadequate state standards, inappropriate assessment measures, and poor teacher preparation. The role teacher education could play in filling these voids is critical. This article examines the effects of a digital game on the knowledge of civics concepts of students and the development of specific twenty-first-century skills, making judgments and decisions. A comparison of pre and post results reveal participants (n=58) learned civics concepts using this interactive and content-rich instructional resource.
The United States of Africa: Afrofuturistic pasts and Afropolitan futures
Authors: Janis Michael
Published: August 2013

Extending the 1990s movement of Afrofuturism in new directions, recent African writers and film-makers have made important satirical contributions to the idea of a future United States of Africa (USAF) to which westerners scramble to gain admittance. Launched by Ghanaian director John Akomfrah’s classic film The Last Angel of History (1995), Afrofuturism looks back to modernist roots, but looks forward to the ramifications of postcoloniality and postmodernity. At the All African Peoples’ Congress, Kwame Nkrumah declares the century of Africa and proclaims a future USAF – a project still under consideration by the African Union (AU). A decade later, Guyanese writer Bertène Juminer publishes La Revanche du Bozambo (1968)/Bozambo’s Revenge (1976), which transfers the plight of Africans struggling against European colonialism to Europeans struggling against African colonialism. In the Juminerian tradition, Djiboutian writer Abdourahman Waberi’s novel Aux États-Unis d’Afrique (2006)/In the United States of Africa (2009b) and Beninese director Sylvestre Amoussou’s film Africa Paradis (2006) criticize globalization and the North–South divide, and offer to postcolonial cosmopolitanism the speculative engagement with the sociology of African technology and with the future possibilities of what Achille Mbembé terms ‘Afropolitanism’.
Primary Gingival Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Case Report of the Clinical Presentation and Management
Authors: Meister David J. , Caldwell Gregory R. , Masters Lisa M. , Sterio Thomas W. , Mills Michael P.
Published: August 2013

Introduction: Oral squamous cell carcinoma is the eighth most common cancer in the world. In the United States, it is estimated that 41,380 people will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer in 2013, with 7,890 deaths expected. Potentially malignant (premalignant/precancerous) oral lesions commonly present as areas of leukoplakia (white patch), erythroplakia (red patch), or a mixture of both. Early diagnosis is critical to the successful management of the lesion.

Case Presentation: This case report documents the detection and management of a gingival squamous cell carcinoma in a 69‐year‐old white male who recently completed comprehensive periodontal and restorative therapy. Early detection and diagnosis were paramount in limiting the potential invasiveness and extent of the surgical resection for this patient.

Conclusion: This case report illustrates the importance of maintaining vigilance and thoroughly evaluating the patient throughout all phases of therapy.
Breeding Potential of Exotic Maize Populations to Improve an Elite Chinese Hybrid
Authors: Yong Hongjun , Li Mingshun , Li Xin , Zhang Xiaocong , Tie Shuanggui , Meng Zhaodong , Zhang Degui , Weng Jianfeng , Hao Zhuanfang , Ci Xiaoke , Li Xinhai , Zhang Shihuang
Published: August 2013

Introgression of favorable alleles from exotic maize (Zea mays L.) germplasm can broaden the narrow genetic base of available temperate germplasm. Development of maize hybrids for the Yellow and Huai river valleys in the Corn Belt of China has always been hampered by the lack of favorable alleles for improving maize yield and quality. Twenty exotic populations from CIMMYT and the United States were evaluated to identify alleles for improving a widely cultivated hybrid, Zheng 58 × Chang 7‐2, which represents the predominant heterotic group, PA × Sipingtou. Sixty‐three genotypes, comprising 20 populations, two inbred lines (Zheng 58 and Chang 7‐2), a single‐cross hybrid (Zheng 58 × Chang 7‐2), and 40 inbred × population crosses between the parental inbreds and the CIMMYT and U.S. populations were evaluated for grain yield, test weight, and ear height. Several populations from CIMMYT and the United States were identified as potential sources of favorable alleles for traits lacking in the elite hybrid, Zheng 58 × Chang 7‐2, for each trait evaluated. Two exotic populations, Pop 49 and Stay green‐yellow, were the most outstanding because they possessed favorable alleles for several traits that were not present in the target hybrid evaluated. These results demonstrate that the exotic populations evaluated in this study represent sources of useful genetic variability with good potential for improving Chinese elite germplasm.
Perception of Tourists Regarding the Smoke-Free Policy at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Bangkok, Thailand
Authors: Sirichotiratana Nithat , Yogi Subash , Prutipinyo Chardsumon
Published: August 2013

This study was conducted during February-March 2012 to determine the perception and support regarding smoke-free policy among tourists at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Bangkok, Thailand. In this cross-sectional study, 200 tourists (n = 200) were enrolled by convenience sampling and interviewed by structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, chi-square, and multinomial logistic regression were adopted in the study. Results revealed that half (50%) of the tourists were current smokers and 55% had visited Thailand twice or more. Three quarter (76%) of tourists indicated that they would visit Thailand again even if it had a 100% smoke-free regulation. Almost all (99%) of the tourists had supported for the smoke-free policy (partial ban and total ban), and current smokers had higher percentage of support than non-smokers. Two factors, current smoking status and knowledge level, were significantly associated with perception level. After analysis with Multinomial Logistic Regression, it was found that perception, country group, and presence of designated smoking room (DSR) were associated with smoke-free policy. Recommendation is that, at institution level effective monitoring system is needed at the airport. At policy level, the recommendation is that effective comprehensive policy needed to be emphasized to ensure smoke-free airport environment.