bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multidimensional quantitative analysis of mRNA expression within intact vertebrate embryos
Authors: Trivedi Vikas , Choi Harry M. T. , Fraser Scott E. , Pierce Niles A.
Published: January 2018

For decades, in situ hybridization methods have been essential tools for studies of vertebrate development and disease, as they enable qualitative analyses of mRNA expression in an anatomical context. Quantitative mRNA analyses typically sacrifice the anatomy, relying on embryo microdissection, dissociation, cell sorting and/or homogenization. Here, we eliminate the trade-off between quantitation and anatomical context, using quantitative in situ hybridization chain reaction (qHCR) to perform accurate and precise relative quantitation of mRNA expression with subcellular resolution within whole-mount vertebrate embryos. Gene expression can be queried in two directions: read-out from anatomical space to expression space reveals co-expression relationships in selected regions of the specimen; conversely, read-in from multidimensional expression space to anatomical space reveals those anatomical locations in which selected gene co-expression relationships occur. As we demonstrate by examining gene circuits underlying somitogenesis, quantitative read-out and read-in analyses provide the strengths of flow cytometry expression analyses, but by preserving subcellular anatomical context, they enable bi-directional queries that open a new era for in situ hybridization.
Wnt inhibition promotes vascular specification of embryonic cardiac progenitors
Authors: Reichman David E. , Park Laura , Man Limor , Redmond David , Chao Kenny , Harvey Richard P. , Taketo Makoto M. , Rosenwaks Zev , James Daylon
Published: January 2018

Several studies have demonstrated a multiphasic role for Wnt signaling during embryonic cardiogenesis and developed protocols that enrich for cardiac derivatives during in vitro differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). However, few studies have investigated the role of Wnt signaling in the specification of cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) toward downstream fates. Using transgenic mice and hPSCs, we tracked endothelial cells (ECs) that originated from CPCs expressing NKX2.5. Analysis of EC-fated CPCs at discrete phenotypic milestones during hPSC differentiation identified reduced Wnt activity as a hallmark of EC specification, and the enforced activation or inhibition of Wnt reduced or increased, respectively, the degree of vascular commitment within the CPC population during both hPSC differentiation and mouse embryogenesis. Wnt5a, which has been shown to exert an inhibitory influence on Wnt signaling during cardiac development, was dynamically expressed during vascular commitment of hPSC-derived CPCs, and ectopic Wnt5a promoted vascular specification of hPSC-derived and mouse embryonic CPCs.
RDGBα localization and function at membrane contact sites is regulated by FFAT–VAP interactions
Authors: Yadav Shweta , Thakur Rajan , Georgiev Plamen , Deivasigamani Senthilkumar , Krishnan Harini , Ratnaparkhi Girish , Raghu Padinjat
Published: January 2018

Phosphatidylinositol transfer proteins (PITPs) are essential regulators of PLC signalling. The PI transfer domain (PITPd) of multi-domain PITPs is reported to be sufficient for in vivo function, questioning the relevance of other domains in the protein. In Drosophila photoreceptors, loss of RDGBα, a multi-domain PITP localized to membrane contact sites (MCSs), results in multiple defects during PLC signalling. Here, we report that the PITPd of RDGBα does not localize to MCSs and fails to support function during strong PLC stimulation. We show that the MCS localization of RDGBα depends on the interaction of its FFAT motif with dVAP-A. Disruption of the FFAT motif (RDGBFF/AA) or downregulation of dVAP-A, both result in mis-localization of RDGBα and are associated with loss of function. Importantly, the ability of the PITPd in full-length RDGBFF/AA to rescue mutant phenotypes was significantly worse than that of the PITPd alone, indicating that an intact FFAT motif is necessary for PITPd activity in vivo. Thus, the interaction between the FFAT motif and dVAP-A confers not only localization but also intramolecular regulation on lipid transfer by the PITPd of RDGBα.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
META-pipe Authorization service
Authors: Raknes Inge Alexander , Bongo Lars Ailo
Published: January 2018

We describe the design, implementation, and use of the META-pipe Authorization service. META-pipe is a complete workflow for the analysis of marine metagenomics data. We will provide META-pipe as a web based data analysis service for ELIXIR users. We have integrated our Authorization service with the ELIXIR Authorization and Authentication Infrastructure (AAI) that allows single sign-on to services across the ELIXIR infrastructure. We use the Authorization service to authorize access to data on the META-pipe storage system and jobs in the META-pipe job queue. Our Authorization server was among the first services that integrated with ELIXIR AAI. The code is open source at: https://gitlab.com/uit-sfb/AuthService2.
Transplantation of schistosome sporocysts between host snails: A video guide
Authors: Mouahid Gabriel , Rognon Anne , de Carvalho Augusto Ronaldo , Driguez Patrick , Geyer Kathy , Karinshak Shannon , Luviano Nelia , Mann Victoria , Quack Thomas , Rawlinson Kate , Wendt George , Grunau Christoph , Moné Hélène
Published: January 2018

Schistosomiasis is an important parasitic disease, touching roughly 200 million people worldwide. The causative agents are different Schistosoma species. Schistosomes have a complex life cycle, with a freshwater snail as intermediate host. After infection, sporocysts develop inside the snail host and give rise to human dwelling larvae. We present here a detailed step-by-step video instruction in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese that shows how these sporocysts can be manipulated and transferred from one snail to another. This procedure provides a technical basis for different types of ex vivo modifications, such as those used in functional genomics studies.
Dance as treatment therapy in breast cancer patients – a systematic review
Authors: Boing Leonessa , Rafael Aline Dandara , Braga Helena de Oliveira , De Moraes Alan de Jesus Pires , Sperandio Fabiana Flores , Guimarães Adriana Coutinho de Azevedo
Published: January 2018

This systematic review aimed to identify and analyse articles which investigated the influence of dance as adjuvant therapy in breast cancer. The selected databases were PsycInfo, PubMed, The Cochrane Library, ScienceDirect and the Virtual Health Library (VHL). The following descriptors were considered for the selection of articles: [dance therapy] OR [movement therapy] OR [complementary therapies] AND [breast cancer] OR [cancer neoplasms] OR [breast tumor] OR [breast carcinoma] present in the titles or abstracts of the articles. The quality of the data was evaluated by means of the methodological criteria proposed by Downs and Black. Eleven articles were found. The approach followed in methodologies were dance therapy movement, Greek dance, Sacred dance, ballroom dance, classical ballet and jazz. Favorable results were found for self-image, femininity, mood, self-esteem, physical well-being, perceived stress, pain, consciousness, depression, couples trust, anxiety and fear. It was observed better range of motion and strength in upper limp, and also improvement in functional capacity. The authors pointed dance as an effective alternative adjuvant treatment in breast cancer. Dance promotes psychological benefits in women in breast cancer, as well as improvements in upper limbs. Future studies are recommended with best scientific evidence, in order to investigate interventions with dance during other treatment and disease stage and with other forms of dance.
Cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescents with obesity: a 6-month follow-up study
Authors: Brito Daniel , Lofrano-Prado Mara , Sares Antonio , Tenório Thiago , Nardo Jr Nelson , Donato Jr José , Santos Marcos , Calazans Camila , Terra Caio , Prado Wagner
Published: January 2018

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the effects of a multidisciplinary intervention on cardiorespiratory fitness are maintained after 6-month follow-up in adolescents with obesity. One-hundred and seven adolescents with obesity were intentionally allocated in two groups: experimental or control. Adolescents in experimental group underwent a multidisciplinary intervention (supervised aerobic exercise, psychological, nutritional, and clinical counseling). Cardiorespiratory fitness (direct gas analysis), body composition (dual-energy-DXA), anthropometry and blood lipids were measured before intervention (baseline), at the end of the 24-week intervention (post-intervention) and six months after the end of the intervention (follow-up). Cardiorespiratory fitness reduced in control group with no changes in experimental group, and these differences were maintained in the follow-up assessment (control group: 24.2±4.4 ml.kg-1.min-1 to 22.6±4.9 ml.kg-1.min-1; follow-up: 22.6±4.9 ml.kg-1.min-1 vs. experimental group: 28.0±4.0 ml.kg-1.min-1 to 29.7±4.0 ml.kg-1.min-1; follow-up: 28.9±5.7 ml.kg-1.min-1). Reductions in z-score body mass index (BMI) and increases HDL-C after multidisciplinary intervention were maintained after a 6-month follow-up. In conclusion, the benefits of a multidisciplinary intervention on cardiorespiratory fitness, BMI and blood lipids are maintained after a 6-month follow-up. These findings indicate that multidisciplinary interventions produce long-term health consequences. Reinforcing the importance of lifestyle changes as a therapeutic approach for the treatment of obesity in adolescents.
Ambulatory management of pulmonary embolism
Authors: Abusibah Houssam , Abdelaziz Muntasir M , Standen Peter , Bhatia Praveen , Hamad Mahir MA
Published: January 2018

The diagnosis of pulmonary embolism can be very difficult and elusive. It depends greatly on the use of diagnostic tests, which are in turn interpreted according to a pre-test clinical probability. These include non-specific tests such as the chest X-ray and electrocardiograph, which help exclude other conditions such as pneumonia or myocardial infarction. On the other hand, more specific tests such as computed tomography or ventilation/perfusion scanning are used to confirm or exclude the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. The condition is potentially fatal, and in the past patients with suspected pulmonary embolism constituted a significant number of hospital admissions. Despite this, the majority were found not to have pulmonary embolism. More recently, studies have suggested that most patients with suspected pulmonary embolism who are haemodynamically stable can be safely managed on an ambulatory pathway. Therefore, there is a paradigm shift towards investigating and treating pulmonary embolism in the outpatient setting. This article discusses the ambulatory pathway of the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary embolism.
Supraglottic airway devices: current and future uses
Authors: Kwanten Lloyd E , Madhivathanan Pradeep
Published: January 2018

Supraglottic airway devices have increasingly been used in anaesthesia since their invention in 1982. Now over half of general anaesthetic cases in the UK use them, and they have vital roles in difficult airway algorithms, pre-hospital use and emergency medicine. This article presents the current evidence regarding the complications of these devices, and compares these devices and endotracheal intubation. The technology of the newer generation devices has improved the safety profile, and they may be considered a better choice than endotracheal tubes in some cases. There may be a case for using these devices in a wider range of surgical and non-surgical cases.
Making Prophecy: Time in José Lezama Lima's Cultural Thought
Authors: Robert S. Lesman
Published: January 2018

In his many essays on literary and cultural topics, the Cuban writer José Lezama Lima (1910–1976) develops a complex system of ideas about history and time. Lezama objects to simplistic ways of conceptualising temporality and favours a flexible notion of time. His way of thinking on the subject is bound up with his preference for literary or generally artistic expression as opposed to what he sees as the problematic ontological claims of historiography. He privileges the artistic image as a force that can transcend linearities and determinisms. Lezama sees the image as essentially future-oriented, as a force that makes possible an arc of Cuban cultural progress that stretches forward in time.
The Analisis Sentimen Sosial Media Twitter Dengan Algoritma Machine Learning Menggunakan Software R
Authors: Pratama Jaka Aulia , Suprijadi Yadi , Zulhanif Zulhanif
Published: January 2018

Media sosial adalah wadah untuk mengungkapkan opini terhadap suatu topik tertentu. Ketersediaan informasi dan opini dari para pengguna media sosial merupakan kumpulan dokumen data berupa teks yang amat sangat besar dan berguna untuk kepentingan penelitian maupun membuat suatu keputusan bagi pihak – pihak tertentu. Text Mining bisa didefinisikan sebagai proses penggalian informasi di mana pengguna berinteraksi dengan kumpulan dokumen dari waktu ke waktu dengan menggunakan suatu alat analisis. Analisis sentimen atau Opinion Mining adalah salah satu studi di bidang komputasi yang berhubungan dengan kasus publik mengenai opini, penilaian, sikap, dan emosi. Penelitian ini akan menggunakan metode Machine Learning pada analisis sentimen pengguna layanan jejaring sosial Twitter terhadap Donald Trump dan Barack Obama dalam 20000 tweets. Nilai akurasi metode Machine Learning yang diperoleh cukup tinggi yaitu 87.52% untuk Data Training dan 87.4% untuk Data Testing.
Theoretical study of a series of phenol derivatives: molecular properties vs. cytotoxicity
Authors: Michalík Martin , Sádecká Lívia , Lukeš Vladimír
Published: January 2018

The quantum chemical calculations using DFT were performed for 2-alkyl-4X and 2,6-dialkyl-4-X substituted phenols. Based on the optimal geometries the bond dissociation enthalpies (BDEs), proton enthalpies (PAs) and the lipophilicities were computed. Additionally, simple geometry parameter was found correlating well with experimental leukemia cell toxicity of substituted phenols. Next, we have found no linear dependence between PA or BDE values and log1/C values in gas phase or in water despite the radical toxicity mechanism proposed in the literature.
Aflatoxins: biosynthesis, prevention and eradication
Authors: Šimončicová Juliana , Kaliňáková Barbora , Kryštofová Svetlana
Published: January 2018

Filamentous fungi belonging to Aspergilli genera produce many compounds through various biosynthetic pathways. These compounds include a spectrum of products with beneficial medical properties (lovastatin) as well as those that are toxic and/or carcinogenic which are called mycotoxins. Aspergillus flavus, one of the most abundant soil-borne fungi, is a saprobe that is able growing on many organic nutrient sources, such as peanuts, corn and cotton seed. In many countries, food contamination by A. flavus is a huge problem, mainly due to the production of the most toxic and carcinogenic compounds known as aflatoxins. In this paper, we briefly cover current progress in aflatoxin biosynthesis and regulation, pre- and postharvest preventive measures, and decontamination procedures.
Properties of crackers with buckwheat sourdough
Authors: Selimović Amel , Miličević Dijana , Selimović Amra , Žuljević Sanja Oručević , Jašića Amela , Vranac Amila
Published: January 2018

Effects of additions of buckwheat flour and sourdough on the total phenols content, antioxidant activity, and sensory properties of crackers were examined. Different mixtures of wheat flour with addition of buckwheat flour and sourdough were used for the prepartion of crackers. Two types of lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus brevis) were used for the preparation of buckwheat sourdough. Properties of crackers made with addition of buckwheat flour and sourdough were analysed in comparison to control crackers made only with wheat flour. Significant increase of total phenols in comparison to wheat flour dough (0.73 mg gallic acid equivalent (GA)/g of dry basis (d.b.)) was accomplished by adding buckwheat flour (1.12 mg GA/g d.b.) and sourdough (1.77 and 1.79 mg GA/g d.b.) regardless of the type of lactic acid bacteries used. All samples showed the decrease in total phenol content during baking process. Crackers with sourdough had higher antioxidant activity (16.84 and 15.84 mmol Fe3+/g d.b.) compared to crackers made with addition of buckwheat flour (10.42 mmol Fe3+/g d.b.) and control sample (7.76 mmol Fe3+/g d.b.). The result of sensory analysis showed positive influence of sourdough on taste and texture of crackers and insignificant differences in odour and appearance of tested samples. Also, the chewiness of crackers made with the addition of buckwheat flour and sourdough was improved compared to control crackers made from wheat flour.
Description of a Feline Injection-Site Fibrosarcoma with Metastasis in the Cerebellum
Authors: Cora Roxana , Gal Adrian Florin , Taulescu Marian , Tăbăran Flaviu , Vidrighinescu Raluca , Cătoi Cornel
Published: January 2018

Feline injection-site sarcomas were initially described by Hendrick and Goldschmidt (1991). The link between vaccination site and sarcoma occurrence suggested the term of vaccine-associated sarcomas. Our paper describes an unusual feline injection-site fibrosarcoma with cerebellar metastasis. A 7-year-old female domestic short-hair cat was submitted to the Pathology Department (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Cluj- Napoca, Romania) for necropsy. A subcutaneous tumor (relapse) in the interscapular region and multiple metastatic masses in the lungs, kidneys, subcutaneous tissue (scapular and thigh regions) and cerebellum were observed. Cytological, histological and immunohistochemical (for vimentin, desmin, multi-cytokeratin, α-smooth muscle actin, S100 and CD45) analyses from all tumors were performed. Cytological examination identifi ed highly pleomorphic spindle-shaped cells admixed with neoplastic multinucleated giant cells. Histologically, all neoplastic masses were composed of numerous spindle cells arranged into interlacing bundles. Extensive intratumoral areas of necrosis along with a neutrophilic infiltrate were also detected. A fibrillary material was present among neoplastic cells (green stained by Masson’s trichrome method), suggesting a collagenous structure. In all tumors assessed, immunohistochemistry showed an intense reaction only for vimentin in numerous neoplastic cells. Based on the history, gross, cytological, histological and immunohistochemical data, the final diagnosis was recurrent feline injection-site fibrosarcoma, with multiple metastases (including in the cerebellum). Overall, an uncommon case of feline injection-site fibrosarcoma has been reported. This is the first consistent record of an injection site sarcoma in a cat with cerebellar metastasis.
Acute Pancreatitis Associated With Peritoneal Migration of Grass Awn in Two Dogs
Authors: Citi Simonetta , Mannucci Tommaso , Pedala’ Francesca , Vannozzi Iacopo , Vignoli Massimo
Published: January 2018

A 12 year old male Fox Terrier (case 1) and a one year old female Poodle (case 2) were presented with a history of dysorexia and vomiting, and case 2 also with distress associated with eating. Both dogs were diagnosed with acute pancreatitis based on clinical signs, blood analysis and ultrasonography which revealed the presence of a vegetable foreign body in the proximity of the pancreatic right lobe. Laparatomy enabled the gramineae awns to be removed which led to full resolution of clinical signs. We believe that these are the first reported cases of acute pancreatitis due to grass awns.
Monthly variation in the chemical composition and biological activity of Sargassum horridum
Authors: Di Filippo-Herrera Dania Andrea , Hernández-Carmona Gustavo , Muñoz-Ochoa Mauricio , Arvizu-Higuera Dora Luz , Rodríguez-Montesinos Yoloxochitl Elizabeth
Published: January 2018

The proximate chemical composition of Sargassum horridum was determined monthly, including extract yields of alginate, crude fucoidan, and ethanolic extract. In addition, the biological activity (antioxidant and antibacterial) of the ethanolic extract and anticoagulant activity of the fucoidan were examined. Significant monthly variation was found in the chemical composition (moisture, protein, ash, crude lipids, crude fiber, carbohydrates, and gross energy), as well as in the alginate, fucoidan, and ethanolic extract yields. The maximum yield of crude fucoidan (13.5% dry weight) and alginate (21.4% dry weight) occurred in May. Crude fucoidan increased the clotting time at all concentrations tested during all months, based on activated partial thromboplastin and prothrombin time assays. The maximum yield of ethanolic extract occurred in April and August (6% dry weight). The ethanolic extract was evaluated for free radical scavenging activity using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl method, with the highest reduction percentage in April (53%). Only the extracts from March, July and August showed slight antibacterial activity against Vibrio parahaemolyticus, V. alginolyticus, and Staphylococcus aureus. Sargassum horridum thus represents a potential source of carbohydrates, anticoagulant, antioxidants and antibacterial compounds. The best time of year for harvesting the alga is from May to July.
Cyclic carburization-oxidation behavior of Hastelloy-X at 1000°C
Authors: Hayashi Shigenari , Matsukawa Chihiro , Yakuwa Hiroshi , Kishikawa Tadahiko
Published: January 2018

Cyclic corrosion, consisting of carburization in Ar+4% CH4+3% H2 for 1 h and oxidation in air for 1 h, of Ni-base in a wrought alloy, Hastelloy-X, was investigated at 1000°C to understand the significant metal loss occurring in fuel injection nozzles of gas turbine combustor operated using natural gas. The mass gain of cyclic corrosion was relatively low up to about eight cycles of corrosion by formation of a Cr2O3 scale in each oxidation stage, but it increased rapidly due to formation of a Fe- and Ni-rich oxide scale as the number of corrosion cycles increases. The Cr content in the subsurface region rapidly decreased under the cyclic corrosion condition compared with a continuous single oxidation or carburization, which resulted in the formation of non-protective Fe- and Ni-rich oxide scale in a small number of corrosion cycles. The formation of a Cr3C2 scale from the protective Cr2O3 scale in the carburization stage was detrimental for the oxidation resistance of Hastelloy-X and was considered to have a similar effect to spallation of a Cr2O3 scale; therefore, it accelerated Cr consumption from the alloy subsurface region.
An Efficient Algorithm Based on Extrapolation for the Solution of Nonlinear Parabolic Equations
Authors: Ghasemi M.
Published: January 2018

Two numerical procedures are developed to approximate the solution of one-dimensional parabolic equations using extrapolated collocation method. By defining two different end conditions and forcing cubic spline to satisfy the interpolation conditions along with one of the end conditions, we obtain fourth- (CBS4) and sixth-order (CBS6) approximations to the solution in spatial direction. Also in time direction, a weighted finite-difference discretization is used to approximate the solution at each time level. The convergence analysis of the methods is discussed in detail and some error bounds are obtained theoretically. Finally, some different examples of Burgers’ equations with applications in fluid mechanics as well as convection–diffusion problems with applications in transport problems are solved to show the applicability and good performance of the procedures.
Asymmetric Trade Costs: Agricultural Trade among Developing and Developed Countries
Authors: Eum Jihyun , Sheldon Ian , Thompson Stanley
Published: January 2018

In this article, the reasons why developing countries trade fewer agricultural products than developed countries are analyzed. Based on earlier findings that low trade volume in the agricultural sector is due to high trade costs, the focus is on evaluating the extent to which bilateral trade costs in the agricultural sector differ among trading partners. Using a neo-Ricardian trade model, the results show that systematically, asymmetric bilateral trade costs and variation in the level of agricultural productivity across all countries in the sample, are the main barriers to developing countries’ agricultural exports. In addition, low-income countries face higher trade costs to export than do high-income countries.
Phylogenetic Taxonomy of Artemisia L. Species from Kazakhstan Based on Matk Analyses
Authors: Turuspekov Yerlan , Genievskaya Yuliya , Baibulatova Aida , Zatybekov Alibek , Kotuhov Yuri , Ishmuratova Margarita , Imanbayeva Akzhunis , Abugalieva Saule
Published: January 2018

The genus Artemisia is one of the largest of the Asteraceae family. It is abundant and diverse, with complex taxonomic relations. In order to expand the knowledge about the classification of Kazakhstan species and compare it with classical studies, matK genes of nine local species including endemic were sequenced. The infrageneric rank of one of them (A. kotuchovii) had remained unknown. In this study, we analysed results of sequences using two methods — NJ and MP and compared them with a median-joining haplotype network. As a result, monophyletic origin of the genus and subgenus Dracunculus was confirmed. Closeness of A. kotuchovii to other species of Dracunculus suggests its belonging to this subgenus. Generally, matK was shown as a useful barcode marker for the identification and investigation of Artemisia genus.
Construction of Low-Volume Roads Using Labor-Based Technology: Case Study of Mutare, Zimbabwe
Authors: Mukura T. E. , Shumba S. , Vassileva L. D.
Published: January 2018

There is a huge backlog in the construction and upgrading of roads in Zimbabwe and this situation is very much pronounced in residential areas due to the lack of readily available and relatively cheap road-building materials. In this paper, a project of the design and construction of low-volume roads in Dangamvura Extension, Mutare, is presented and thoroughly analyzed, with concentration on pavement structure and construction technology. Extensive geotechnical and soil investigations of the area, traffic counts and forecasting, as well as studies of suitable design parameters for pavement structure and requirements in applications of labor-based technology combined all aspects of engineering information needed for valuable conclusions and useful advice to residential estate development. Extensive laboratory studies and experiments were done to approximate the actual site conditions, thus including soil samples, California bearing ratio (CBR) at 1.5-m depth, traffic counts in a high-density area of similar coverage, and studies of natural water flows for the purpose of culverts and drains. In addition to the Zimbabwe Standards and Pavement Design Manual, a literature review and pavement structure examples of river sand seals were studied.
Drinking water salinity associated health crisis in coastal Bangladesh
Authors: Nahian Mahin Al , Ahmed Ali , Lázár Attila N. , Hutton Craig W. , Salehin Mashfiqus , Streatfield Peter Kim
Published: January 2018

Salinity intrusion in coastal Bangladesh has serious population health implications, which are yet to be clearly understood. The study was undertaken through the ‘Assessing Health, Livelihoods, Ecosystem Services and Poverty Alleviation in Populous Deltas’ project in coastal Bangladesh. Drinking water salinity and blood pressure measurements were carried out during the household survey campaign. The study explored association among Socio-Ecological Systems (SESs), drinking water salinity and blood pressure.

High blood pressure (prehypertension and hypertension) was found significantly associated with drinking water salinity. People exposed to slightly saline (1000–2000 mg/l) and moderately saline (≥2000 mg/l) concentration drinking water had respectively 17% (p < 0.1) and 42% (p < 0.05) higher chance of being hypertensive than those who consumed fresh water (<1000 mg/l). Women had 31% higher chance of being hypertensive than men. Also, respondents of 35 years and above were about 2.4 times more likely to be hypertensive compared to below 35 years age group. For the 35 years and above age group, both prehypertension and hypertension were found higher than national rural statistics (50.1%) for saline water categories (53.8% for slightly and 62.5% for moderate saline). For moderate salinity exposure, hypertension prevalence was found respectively 21%, 60% and 48% higher than national statistics (23.6%) in consecutive survey rounds among the respondents. Though there was small seasonal variation in drinking water salinity, however blood pressure showed an increasing trend and maximum during the dry season. Mean salinity and associated hypertension prevalence were found higher for deep aquifer (21.6%) compared to shallow aquifer (20.8%).

Localized increase in soil and groundwater salinity was predicted over the study area. Shallow aquifer salinity increase was projected based on modelled output of soil salinity. Rather than uniform increase, there were localized extreme values. Deep aquifer salinity was also predicted to exhibit increasing trend over the period. Study findings and recommendations are suggested for immediate and planned intervention.
Auteurism, Machismo-Leninismo, and Other Issues
Authors: Seguí Isabel
Published: January 2018

This article contextualizes and characterizes production practices in political cinema in Bolivia and Peru between the 1960s and 1990s, reading them as a communitarian endeavor that included many more women than official history acknowledges. It also documents the work of two overshadowed filmmakers—the Bolivian Beatriz Palacios and the Peruvian María Barea—mainly in their roles as film producers and managers of small producing companies, but also as directors. In order to effectively incorporate women into Andean cinema history, I advocate for a nonhierarchical historiographical methodology and the academic consideration of personal relationships as one of the driving factors in artisanal political production cultures. A non-auteurist approach to unearthing Andean women filmmakers is central to this revisionist project that aims to shed light on an entire range of women's labor in collaborative film production, not only directorial work.
Television's “Mr. Moms”
Authors: Kies Bridget
Published: January 2018

In the 1980s, domestic sitcoms on television proliferated with examples of men who performed domestic labor. In response to the women's movement, these “Mr. Mom” sitcoms liberated women from the domestic sphere and enabled men to claim it as their own. This article examines the potential impact of these series’ foregrounding of men and masculinities. In particular, it examines how the domestication of Mr. Moms highlighted the tensions between “new man” ideology persisting from the 1970s and 1980s Reagan-era machismo. The increasingly progressive attitudes toward women's work exhibited by Mr. Mom characters, coupled with the ultimate excision of the wife-mother character, resulted in complex, potentially queer, depictions of masculinity that help reveal feminist and antifeminist anxieties about the changing structure of the American family in the 1980s. This article won the Society for Cinema and Media Studies Women's Caucus Graduate Student Writing Prize in 2016.
Dispersion Profiles and Gene Associations of Repetitive DNAs in the Euchromatin of the Beetle Tribolium castaneum
Authors: Brajković Josip , Pezer Željka , Bruvo-Mađarić Branka , Sermek Antonio , Feliciello Isidoro , Ugarković Đurđica
Published: January 2018

Satellite DNAs are tandemly repeated sequences clustered within heterochromatin. However, in some cases, such as the major TCAST1 satellite DNA from the beetle Tribolium castaneum, they are found partially dispersed within euchromatin. Such organization together with transcriptional activity enables TCAST1 to modulate the activity of neighboring genes. In order to explore if other T. castaneum repetitive families have features that could provide them with a possible gene-modulatory role, we compare here the structure, organization, dispersion profiles, and transcription activity of 10 distinct TCAST repetitive families including TCAST1. The genome organization of TCAST families exhibit either satellite-like or transposon-like characteristics. In addition to heterochromatin localization, bioinformatic searches of the assembled genome have revealed dispersion of all families within euchromatin, preferentially in the form of single repeats. Dispersed TCAST repeats are mutually correlated in distribution and are grouped in distinct regions of euchromatin. The repeats are associated with genes, are enriched in introns relative to intergenic regions, and very rarely overlap exons. In spite of the different mechanisms of repeat proliferation, such as transposition and homologous recombination, all TCAST families share a similar frequency of spreading as well as dispersion and gene association profiles. Additionally, TCAST families are transcribed and their transcription is significantly activated by heat stress. A possibility that such common features of TCAST families might be related to their potential gene-modulatory role is discussed.
A corpus-driven analysis of structural types of lexical bundles in court judgments in English and their translation into Lithuanian
Authors: Berūkštienė Donata
Published: January 2018

Formulaicity is one of the characteristic features of legal discourse, which manifests itself not only at the level of wording, “but also in the content, structure and layout” of legal texts (Ruusila & Londroos 2016, 123). Formulaic language, which includes phrasal and prepositional verbs, idioms, collocations, lexico-grammatical associations, lexical bundles, etc., are building blocks of legal discourse shaping legal text meanings. However, up to now, far too little attention has been paid to the nature of frequently occurring “sequences of three or more words that show a statistical tendency to co-occur” (Biber & Conrad 1999, 183), i.e. lexical bundles, in different genres of legal texts. Most studies in the field of lexical bundles in legal texts have only been based on one language (e.g. Jablonkai 2009; Goźdź-Roszkowski 2011; Breeze 2013), whereas translation-oriented contrastive studies on lexical bundles are lacking. In respect of the aforementioned gaps, the aim of this pilot study is to analyse structural types of lexical bundles in court judgments of the Court of Justice of the European Union in English and to examine the way these structures are rendered into Lithuanian. To gain insights into the frequency and structure of lexical bundles, the present study uses the methodological guidelines of corpus linguistics. The classification of lexical bundles into structural types is based on the framework suggested by Biber et al. (1999, 2004). For the purpose of this study, a parallel corpus of court judgments was compiled comprising approximately 1 million words of original court judgments in the English language and about 8 hundred thousand words of court judgments translated into Lithuanian. Lexical bundles in this research were identified using the corpus analysis toolkit AntConc 3.4.4 (Anthony 2015). A concordance program AntPConc 1.2.0 (Anthony 2017) was employed to find Lithuanian equivalents of the most frequent lexical bundles identified in the English court judgments. The evidence from this study suggests that different structural types of lexical bundles have more or less regular equivalents in Lithuanian; however, in most cases, these equivalents tend to be shorter.
Adverbs as evidentials: an English-Spanish contrastive analysis of twelve adverbs in spoken and newspaper discourse
Authors: Carretero Marta , Marín-Arrese Juana I. , Lavid-López Julia
Published: January 2018

This paper presents a contrastive analysis of six English evidential adverbs ending in -ly with their Spanish nearest translation equivalents, in spoken and newspaper discourse. The adverbs may be associated with varying degrees of reliability: high (clearly/claramente, evidently/evidentemente, obviously/obviamente), medium (apparently/al parecer) and low (seemingly/aparentemente, supposedly/supuestamente). The analysis is based on tokens of authentic language extracted from two contemporary corpora, the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA) and the Corpus de Referencia del Español Actual (CREA). The qualitative analysis focuses on the evidential functions of the adverbs and on their pragmatic interactional uses; the quantitative analysis centres on the relative frequency of type of evidential functions and the clausal position of the adverbs. The results uncover a number of differences between the English adverbs and their Spanish correlates and also between the two discourse types. Practically all the adverbs are strongly specialized in expressing either indirect-inferential or indirect-reportative evidentiality. English obviously and Spanish evidentemente show a high frequency of cases of loss of evidential meaning due to pragmaticalization, specifically in spoken discourse. Regarding position, the English adverbs are more frequent in medial clausal position, while some Spanish adverbs are often found in the more prominent parenthetical position.
Bringing home the bacon! A contrastive study of the cognates bring/bringe in English and Norwegian
Authors: Oksefjell Ebeling Signe
Published: January 2018

This paper highlights the value of a bidirectional translation corpus in contrastive studies in an investigation of the cross-linguistic relationship between two cognates in English and Norwegian: bring and bringe. Although monolingual and bilingual dictionaries prove to be excellent sources of information in respect of this relationship, the present study contributes further to our knowledge regarding the cognates’ conditions of use. Drawing on material from the fiction part of the English-Norwegian Parallel Corpus (ENPC), the study reveals that English bring is far more frequent than its Norwegian counterpart. By exploring the close to 500 occurrences of the two words in original and translated texts, it becomes clear that the two verbs have a relatively low Mutual Correspondence. That is, overall, they only correspond to each other in translation in roughly 20% of the cases. This low correspondence rate is surprising, given the fact that we are looking at verbs stemming from the same origin in two closely related languages. The corpus correspondences suggest that there may be at least two main reasons for this. First, Norwegian bringe may be considered more formal than English bring and there is thus a preference for using less formal verbs in Norwegian to express the meaning of bring, notably the multi-word verbs ha med (REFL) ‘have with (REFL)’, ta med (REFL) ‘take with (REFL)’ and komme med ‘come with’. Second, English bring is more versatile than Norwegian bringe, particularly in the sense that it more readily forms part of phrasal verbs and fixed phrases. It is also the case that English bring has come to be used with a wider range of meanings than Norwegian bringe, as attested in the dictionaries consulted. These ‘extra’ meanings include ‘initiate legal action against someone’ and ‘force oneself to do something (unpleasant)’; however, neither of these meanings is particularly salient in the current data. The findings underline the role a parallel corpus such as the ENPC can play in shedding light on contrastive nuances that contribute to a broader understanding of cross-linguistic relationships.
Evidential and epistemic adverbials in Lithuanian: evidence from intra-linguistic and cross-linguistic analysis
Authors: Ruskan Anna , Šolienė Audronė
Published: January 2018

In the recent decade the realisations of evidentiality and epistemic modality in European languages have received a great scholarly interest and resulted in important investigations concerning the relation between evidentiality and epistemic modality, their means of expression and meaning extensions in various types of discourse. The present paper deals with the adverbials akivaizdžiai ‘evidently’, aiškiai ‘clearly’, ryškiai ‘visibly, clearly’, matyt ‘apparently, evidently’ and regis ‘seemingly’, which derive from the source domain of perception, and the epistemic necessity adverbials tikriausiai/veikiausiai/greičiausiai ‘most probably’, būtinai ‘necessarily’ and neabejotinai ‘undoubtedly’. The aim of the paper is to explore the morphosyntactic properties of the adverbials when they are used as evidential or epistemic markers and compare the distribution of their evidential and epistemic functions in Lithuanian fiction, news and academic discourse. The data have been drawn from the Corpus of the Contemporary Lithuanian Language, the Corpus of Academic Lithuanian and the bidirectional translation corpus ParaCorpEN→LT→EN (Šolienė 2012, 2015). The quantitative findings reveal distributional differences of the adverbials under study across different types of discourse. Functional variation of the evidential perception-based adverbials is determined to a great extent by the degree of epistemic commitment, evidenced not only by intra-linguistic but also cross-linguistic data. The non-perception based adverbials tikriausiai/veikiausiai/greičiausiai ‘most probably’, būtinai ‘necessarily’ and neabejotinai ‘undoubtedly’ are the primary adverbial markers of epistemic necessity in Lithuanian, though some of them may have evidential meaning extensions. A parallel and comparable corpus-based analysis has once again proved to be a very efficient tool for diagnosing language-specific features and describing an inventory used to code language-specific evidential and epistemic meanings.
Should Pediatric Euthanasia be Legalized?
Authors: Brouwer Marije , Kaczor Christopher , Battin Margaret P. , Maeckelberghe Els , Lantos John D. , Verhagen Eduard
Published: January 2018

Voluntary active euthanasia for adults at their explicit request has been legal in Belgium and the Netherlands since 2002. In those countries, acceptance of the practice for adults has been followed by acceptance of the practice for children. Opponents of euthanasia see this as a dangerous slippery slope. Proponents argue that euthanasia is sometimes ethically appropriate for minors and that, with proper safeguards, it should be legally available in appropriate circumstances for patients at any age. In this Ethics Rounds, we asked philosophers from the United States and the Netherlands, and a Dutch pediatrician, to discuss the ethics of legalizing euthanasia for children.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in Athletes
Authors: Malhotra Aneil ,   Cardiology Clinical and Academic Group, St. George’s University of London, London, UK, Sharma Sanjay ,   Cardiology Clinical and Academic Group, St. George’s University of London, London, UK
Published: January 2018

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) in a young person is a rare but tragic occurrence. The impact is widespread, particularly in the modern era of media coverage and visibility of social media. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is reported historically as the most common cause of SCD in athletes younger than 35 years of age. A diagnosis of HCM may be challenging in athletes as pathological hypertrophy of the left ventricle may also mimic physiological left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in response to exercise. Differentiation of physiological LVH from HCM requires an array of clinical tools that rely on detecting subtle features of disease in a supposedly healthy person who represents the segment of society with the highest functional capacity. Most studies are based on comparisons of clinical tests between healthy unaffected athletes and sedentary individuals with HCM. However, data are emerging that report the clinical features of athletes with HCM. This article focuses on studies that help shed further light to aid the clinical differentiation of physiological LVH from HCM. This distinction is particularly important in a young person: a diagnosis of HCM has significant ramifications on participation in competitive sport, yet an erroneous diagnosis of physiological adaptation in a young athlete with HCM may subject them to an increased risk of SCD.
Transcatheter Treatment of Functional Tricuspid Regurgitation Using the Trialign Device
Authors: Besler Christian ,   Department of Cardiology, University of Leipzig - Heart Center, Leipzig, Germany, Meduri Christopher U ,   Marcus Heart Valve Center, Piedmont Heart Institute, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, Lurz Philipp ,   Department of Cardiology, University of Leipzig - Heart Center, Leipzig, Germany
Published: January 2018

Functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR) represents an important unmet need in clinical cardiology given its prevalence, adverse prognostic impact and symptom burden associated with progressive right heart failure. Several transcatheter techniques are currently in early clinical testing to provide alternative treatment options for patients deemed unsuitable for tricuspid valve surgery. Amongst them, the TrialignTM device (Mitralign, Inc.) represents a novel percutaneous tricuspid valve annuloplasty technique, which aims to reduce tricuspid annular dilatation in functional TR by delivering and cinching two pledgeted sutures to the posterior portion of the tricuspid annulus via transjugular access. Early clinical data suggest the Trialign technique is safe and feasible, and associated with an improvement in quality-of-life measures. However, further studies are needed to confirm these data in larger cohorts of patients with longer follow up. In addition, future trials need to address the question whether TR reduction with the Trialign and other devices leads to an improvement in the patient`s functional status and prognosis, over and above medical treatment alone.
Enfoque Espacial y Visiones Territoriales del Desarrollo Regional en el Ecuador (1952-1982). Estudios, programas y planes.
Authors: Nufrio Anna Vincenza
Published: January 2018

Los cambios de escala de los procesos políticos-económicos impuestos por la globalización orientan cada vez más, en Europa, Asia y América Latina, las prácticas de la planificación territorial hacia la implementación de estrategias de desarrollo regional y sub-regional. La “regionalización” es un tema pendiente en la agenda política del Ecuador, y no obstante la actual Constitución establece que el país se organiza territorialmente en regiones, provincias, cantones y parroquias rurales, el desarrollo equitativo, la autonomía y la descentralización de los distintos niveles de gobierno siguen siendo objetivos a alcanzar. Este artículo respalda este debate indagando sobre el enfoque espacial y las visiones territoriales que entre 1952 y 1982 orientaron las propuestas de regionalización en el Ecuador. A tal propósito se analizan valiosos documentos inéditos  (estudios, planes y proyectos) realizados por la JUNAPLA y el CREA: únicos ensayos de Planificación Regional realizados en el país, de manera particular en la Región Centro-Sur.