bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impacts of a weed biocontrol agent on recovery from water stress in a target and a non‐targetHypericumspecies
Authors: Willis Anthony J. , Berentson Peter R. , Ash Julian E.
Published: December 2010

1. Biological control agents that impact on non‐target native species have limited desirability.Aculus hypericiwas introduced into Australia to help control the weed St John's wortHypericum perforatum, despite indications from pre‐release trials that this eriophyid mite could survive and reproduce on a non‐target native species,Hypericum gramineum. We used field experiments to explore the probability ofA. hypericicolonizing eitherH. gramineumorH. perforatumin sympatric populations of the alternative hosts, and to determine the impact ofA. hypericion the growth of field‐grownH. gramineum.

2. We used a glasshouse experiment to compare the impact ofA. hypericion the ability of each host to recover from water stress and to investigate how such recovery affects herbivore populations on the alternative hosts. As Australia is frequently affected by drought, this issue is critical to both the efficacy and safety of biological weed control.

3. The probability ofA. hypericicolonizingH. gramineumwas significantly lower than the probability of it colonizing the target weed. Despite the ability ofA. hypericito infestH. gramineum, the mite had negligible impacts on all measured indices of growth and reproduction.

4. During the water limitation experiment, the non‐target host supported populations ofA. hypericithroughout the experimental period, but population size was consistently low. In comparison, mite populations increased considerably on the target weed and were associated with significant decreases in growth. Water limitation compounded the adverse impacts of mites on the weed, but did not affect impacts on the non‐target native.

5. Despite the detrimental effects of mites on the growth ofH. perforatum, we found little evidence that they impaired the ability of eitherH. perforatumorH. gramineumto recover from water stress.

6. Synthesis and applications.Rigorous host‐specificity testing is necessary to ensure that biological weed control agents do not impact on non‐target species. Potentially, however, these tests may reject beneficial agents unnecessarily, because of low level feeding or reproduction on non‐target species. Although host‐specificity testing might indicate that non‐target native species may host biocontrol agents, our results demonstrate that such non‐target species are not, necessarily, damaged.
Save those molecules! Molecular biodiversity and life*
Authors: Campbell Anthony K.
Published: December 2010

1. Biodiversity involves diversity of species, genetics and habitats. But there is a fourth source of biodiversity – molecular biodiversity – without which evolution cannot occur, either in the origin of a new species, its survival and development, or its eventual extinction.

2. Molecular biodiversity is distinct from genetic diversity, though both ultimately depend on inheritable DNA. It occurs within one individual, between individuals of the same species, between related species, within and between phyla and ecosystems, and throughout evolution. There is also a crucial evolutionary role for ‘hidden’ molecular biodiversity in ‘bad’ genes. These highlight what Darwin and Wallace missed, the origin of a biological process, or a species.

3. Genetic engineering of bioluminescence, coupled with molecular imaging, has given us a wonderful technology for lighting up the molecular biodiversity of individual living cells, and even whole organisms. This has highlighted a major challenge – when is a biological process analogue or digital?

4. Synthesis and applications. The care of our planet, and ecology in the 21st century, depend on a new thinking based on molecular biodiversity. My go‐home message is that ecologists must grasp the opportunities presented by advances in molecular and cellular biology. But, although molecules are at the centre of modern biology and medicine, science begins and ends with a curiosity about the whole – the cell, the organ or the individual organism, within a particular ecosystem.
Current issues with fish and fisheries: editor's overview and introduction
Authors: Ormerod S. J.
Published: December 2010

1. By any measure, fishes are among the world's most important natural resources. Annual exploitation from wild populations exceeds 90 million tonnes, and fish supply over 15% of global protein needs as part of total annual trade exceeding $US 55 billion. Additionally, with over 25 000 known species, the biodiversity and ecological roles of fishes are being increasingly recognised in aquatic conservation, ecosystem management, restoration and aquatic environmental regulation.

2. At the same time, substantial management problems now affect the production, exploitable stocks, global diversity, trophic structure, habitat quality and local composition of fish communities.

3. In marine systems, key issues include the direct effects of exploitation on fish, habitats and other organisms, while habitat or water quality problems arise also from the atmospheric, terrestrial and coastal environments to which marine systems are linked. In freshwaters, flow regulation and obstruction by dams, fragmentation, catchment management, pollution, habitat alterations, exotic fish introductions and nursery‐reared fish are widespread issues.

4. Management responses to the problems of fish and fisheries include aquatic reserves in both marine and freshwater habitats, and their effectiveness is now being evaluated. Policies on marine exploitation increasingly emphasise fishes as integral components of aquatic ecosystems rather than individually exploitable stocks, but the rationalisation of fishing pressures presents many challenges. In Europe, North America and elsewhere, policies on freshwaters encourage habitat protection, integrated watershed management and restoration, but pressures on water resources will cause continued change. All these management approaches require development and evaluation, and will benefit from a perspective of ecological understanding with ecologists fully involved.

5. Synthesis and applications. Although making a small contribution to the Journal of Applied Ecology in the past, leading work on aquatic problems and fish‐related themes appear increasingly in this and other mainstream ecology journals. As this special profile of five papers shows, significant contributions arise on diverse issues that here include the benefit of aquatic reserves, river restoration for fish, the accumulation of contaminants, interactions with predators, and the fitness of salmonids from nurseries. This overview outlines the current context in which papers on the applied ecology of fish and fisheries are emerging, and it identifies scope for further contributions.
Semantic analysis of evidential markers in Japanese
Authors: Asano-Cavanagh Yuko
Published: December 2010

This paper investigates the semantics of three Japanese evidential markers — rashii,
yooda and sooda. These three words are often used in similar situations and interpreted in English as ‘it seems’, ‘it appears’, or ‘it looks like’. The expressions are semantically closely related, but sometimes they are not interchangeable. Thus the question arises how to articulate the subtle differences between them. Previous studies have attempted to explicate the differences by using explanatory terms such as ‘direct’ or ‘indirect’ to describe the content of information, and ‘objective’ or ‘subjective’ to describe the attitude towards the information. While these terms are convenient to capture the meaning simplistically, they illustrate only part of the words’ usage, and also the definitions apply equally well to other evidential markers. This study is the first explication of the meanings of these markers using metalanguage and the framework of the Natural Semantic Metalanguage Theory (NSM Theory) proposed and developed by Anna Wierzbicka and colleagues (Goddard & Wierzbicka 1994, 2002; Peeters ed. 2006; Goddard ed. 2008). By analyzing the deficiencies of the previously presented definitions, and examining actual usage examples drawn from modern Japanese literature, the article applies semantic primes to explicate the meanings of rashii, yooda and sooda. The meanings of each expression are illustrated by cognitive scenarios such as ‘I think I can say something like this about X’, or ‘I think this about X at the moment’. The resulting semantic formulae clarify the differences between the three expressions. They also have utility for assisting second language learners in decisions about using the three terms.
Anaphora: Text-based or discourse-dependent?
Authors: Cornish Francis
Published: December 2010

The traditional definition of anaphora in purely co-textual terms as a relation between two co-occurring expressions is in wide currency in theoretical and descriptive studies of the phenomenon. Indeed, it is currently adopted in on-line psycholinguistic experiments on the interpretation of anaphors, and is the basis for all computational approaches to automatic anaphor resolution (see Mitkov 2002). Under this conception, the anaphor, a referentially-dependent expression type, requires “saturation” by an appropriate referentially-autonomous, lexically-based expression — the antecedent — in order to achieve full sense and reference.
However, this definition needs to be re-examined in the light of the ways in which real texts operate and are understood, where the resulting picture is rather different. The article aims to show that the co-textual conception is misconceived, and that anaphora is essentially an integrative, discourse-creating procedure involving a three-way relationship between an “antecedent trigger”, an anaphoric predication, and a salient discourse representation. It is shown that it is only in terms of a dynamic interaction amongst the interdependent dimensions of text and discourse, as well as context, that the true complexity of anaphoric reference may be satisfactorily described. The article is intended as a contribution to the broader debate within the pages of this journal and elsewhere between the formalist and the functionalist accounts of language structure and use.
French inversions in contrast
Authors: Drijkoningen Frank
Published: December 2010

The three inversion types of French are put in a synchronic comparative perspective with respect to Dutch and Italian. One, complex inversion, is unique. Pronominal inversion not only shares the syntactic derivation with Dutch, but also the conditions of use, with one lexical exception, anteposed aussi. Nominal inversion appears to not only share the syntactic derivation with Italian, but also the focus property of some non-interrogative inverted structures. On a more abstract general level, we argue in favour of an hypothesis according to which the actual use of both inversion types in French form proper subsets of their actual uses in Dutch and Italian respectively.
The French and Dutch noun phrase in contrast
Authors: Vanderbauwhede Gudrun , Verleyen Stijn
Published: December 2010

In this paper, we intend to show that grammaticalization can effectively be used as a parameter in language comparison by proposing a corpus-based account of the difference in distribution between demonstratives and definite articles in French and Dutch. Taking cases of literal but non-equivalent translation as a starting point, our study revealed that French demonstratives are very often translated by definite articles in Dutch, indicating a different semantico-grammatical function of demonstratives and definite articles in both languages. We propose to account for this bleaching of the French demonstrative by hypothesizing that Dutch demonstrative determiners have a much stronger ‘defining function’ than their French equivalents, and that the latter are in fact evolving towards definite articles, which would be an instantiation of the cyclical evolution from demonstrative to article, also found in the development from Latin to French.
I blackberried him twice and skyped him a happy Father’s day
Authors: Verroens Filip , De Clerck B. , Willems D.
Published: December 2010

In this article we zoom in on the Verbs of Instrument of Communication (B. Levin 1993) in English and French and address a number of interesting issues. We examine the structural possibilities of the old and new Verbs of Instrument of Communication in comparison with one another and across the two languages. First, despite the creative uses of these verbs, some structural differences between the languages still prevail in the old and new Verbs of Instrument of Communication. For instance, while English allows non-pronominal realisation of object and recipient in the so called double-object construction, this is not the case for French. Secondly, it can be observed that some verbs are more frequent in one construction than in another. For instance, while ‘fax someone something’ does occur with significant frequency in English and French, ‘telephone someone something’ occurs much less frequently. The observed cross-linguistic syntactic differences are explained in terms of a different conceptualisation of the communicative event where the structural possibilities correspond to different semantic frames.
Nutrition in conflict situations
Authors: Egal Florence
Published: December 2010

High prevalence of malnutrition is often linked to conflict situations. Conflicts affect local livelihoods, impair productive activities and limit access to safe foods and basic services. Strategies to protect and promote nutrition of affected households and communities must be based on an understanding of this impact. While nutrition rehabilitation and food aid are clearly essential to preserve lives in the short run, they cannot provide lasting solutions. Impaired nutritional status ultimately reflects livelihood degradation but anthropometric indicators cannot be used to target timely interventions. They should be combined with simple indicators of food consumption which react more quickly to both crisis and relief/rehabilitation interventions. Local institutions should be encouraged to share information and build causality models of malnutrition for the main vulnerable livelihood groups as a basis for an integrated response. A communication component will systematically be needed to allow people to make informed decisions in a context with which they are often not familiar.
Oxidative stress in marathon runners: interest of antioxidant supplementation
Authors: Gomez-Cabrera Mari-Carmen , Martínez Agustín , Santangelo Gustavo , Pallardó Federico V. , Sastre Juan , Viña Jose
Published: December 2010

We have recently reported that xanthine oxidase is involved in the generation of free radicals in exhaustive exercise. Allopurinol, an inhibitor of xanthine oxidase, prevents it. The aim of the present work was to elucidate the role of exercise-derived reactive oxygen species in the cell signalling pathways involved in the adaptation to exercise in man. We have found that exercise causes an increase in the activity of plasma xanthine oxidase and an activation of NF-κB in peripheral blood lymphocytes after marathon running. This activation is dependent on free radical formation in exercise: treatment with allopurinol completely prevents it. In animal models, we previously showed that NF-κB activation induced by exhaustive physical exercise leads to an increase in the expression of superoxide dismutase, an enzyme involved in antioxidant defence. We report evidence in man that reactive oxygen species act as signals in exercise as decreasing their formation prevents activation of important signalling pathways which can cause useful adaptations in cells.
Fibre and colorectal cancer: a controversial question
Authors: Obrador Antoni
Published: December 2010

Since the 1970s it has been postulated that dietary fibre is a protective factor against colorectal cancer. Several epidemiological studies have been performed following different designs (correlation studies, case–control, cohort) and overall they have supported the hypothesis of a benefit of dietary fibre. However, a few intervention trials have not demonstrated the preventive role of dietary fibre on the occurrence of adenomatous colorectal polyps. Nevertheless, there are multiple animal experimental studies that support the role of fibre in the prevention of colorectal cancer. In the present review, the most important contributions to this controversial question are revised. Finally, it is recommended to continue encouraging an increase in the daily consumption of fibre, since it probably plays an important role in the prevention of colorectal cancer, together with other beneficial effects.
Nutrient adequacy in Spanish children and adolescents
Authors: Serra-Majem Lluís , Ribas-Barba Lourdes , Pérez-Rodrigo Carmen , Bartrina Javier Aranceta
Published: December 2010

The nutritional intakes of the Spanish child and adolescent population are presented, as well as the population at risk of inadequate nutrient status. A random sample of 3534 people aged 2–24 years were interviewed between 1998 and 2000. Interviews included two 24 h recalls and a general questionnaire and anthropometric evaluations for the entire sample. After excluding under-reporters (18·7 %), the final sample was 2855 individuals (1348 males and 1507 females). The average intake of energy was 9543 kJ in males and 7804 kJ in females, with important variations seen by age group. Energy intake increased with age in both sexes until 14–17 years, which also applied to almost all of the nutrients studied, with the exception of vitamin C. A decreasing trend in the percentage of energy from carbohydrates was seen in both sexes. At the low socioeconomic level, it was observed that all nutrient intakes were less favourable when compared with higher socioeconomic levels. Nutrients with associated intakes below one-third of the Spanish recommended nutrient intake (RNI) included vitamin D (42 % of the sample) and folate (10 % of females), and the percentages falling below two-thirds of the RNI corresponded to: vitamin D (97 %), vitamin A (60 %), vitamin E (54 %), folate (58 % of females), Fe (23 % of females), vitamin C (8 %), Mg (4·5 %), Ca (5 % of females) and vitamin B6 (5 % of females). Adolescents aged between 14 and 17 years was the group with the highest nutritional risk, especially among girls. Nutritional adequacy in Spanish children was, in general, adequate, although it is necessary to analyse the implications of high inadequate intakes of vitamins D, E and A, which means that the current recommended intakes should be reconsidered. It should be noted that folate levels should be doubled in the near future.
Diet and dietetics in al-Andalus
Authors: Salas-Salvadó Jordi , Huetos-Solano Maria D. , García-Lorda Pilar , Bulló Mònica
Published: December 2010

Al-Andalus society (711–1492) based its idea of health on the wisdom of Classical Greece, the Hippocratic–Galenic theories, as well as the Persian and Hindu cultures. The twelfth century in al-Andalus is considered to be the most prolific period for works of a scientific and technical nature. At the time, the main treatises on dietetics were written and this science reached its widest expression with such leading figures as Ibn Wāfīd, Avenzoar, Averroes and Maimonides, whose works revealed the first scientific knowledge on the nutritional processes of the human body. Diet was regarded as being essential for health and the prevention of disease. Dietary guidelines were written for different age groups, different body types and different seasons of the year. The amount of food to be ingested, the number of meals recommended and the order in which the food should be consumed were all issues that were discussed. A variety of foods were thought to have medicinal properties, some of which are known today. The diet in al-Andalus was varied and very probably made a substantial contribution to the origin of the present-day Mediterranean diet, rich in olive oil, wholemeal cereals, fruit and vegetables, fish, lamb, poultry, nuts and spices. We also find that many of the terms in current use in diet and agriculture are a living testimony to the Arabic influence, as are many of the dishes of our varied Mediterranean gastronomy.
Defective anchoring of JNK1 in the cytoplasm by MKK7 in Jurkat cells is associated with resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis
Authors: Wang Jing , Tang Ruihong , Lv Ming , Wang Qingyang , Zhang Xueying , Guo Yuanyuan , Chang Hong , Qiao Chunxia , Xiao He , Li Xinying , Li Yan , Shen Beifen , Zhang Jiyan
Published: December 2010

The c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) plays a context-dependent role in tumorigenesis. Stress-induced redistribution of JNK from the cytoplasm to the nucleus has been demonstrated as essential for stress-induced cell death. However, accumulation of basal JNK activity in the nucleus has frequently been seen in tumor cells. Our previous report revealed aberrant nuclear entry of JNK protein in Jurkat human leukemic T-cells even without JNK hyperactivation. Because inhibition of JNK activity, especially JNK1 activity, in Jurkat cells results in augmented Fas-mediated apoptosis, it is possible that aberrant subcellular localization of JNK, especially the JNK1 isoform, contributes to the resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis. Here we report that MKK7 works as a cytoplasmic anchoring protein for JNK1 in various types of cells, including human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) T-cells, but exhibits aberrant nuclear entry in Jurkat cells. Ectopic expression of a JNK1 mutant defective of nuclear entry or a nuclear JNK inhibitor leads to impaired UV-induced apoptosis in both PBMC T- and Jurkat cells. The same treatment shows no effect on Fas-mediated apoptosis of PBMC T-cells but sensitizes Jurkat cells to Fas-mediated apoptosis. Taken together, our work suggests that aberrant subcellular organization of the JNK pathway might render certain tumor cells resistant to Fas-mediated apoptosis.
The endoplasmic reticulum–associated Hsp40 DNAJB12 and Hsc70 cooperate to facilitate RMA1 E3–dependent degradation of nascent CFTRΔF508
Authors: Grove Diane E. , Fan Chun-Yang , Ren Hong Yu , Cyr Douglas M.
Published: December 2010

Relative contributions of folding kinetics versus protein quality control (QC) activity in the partitioning of non-native proteins between life and death are not clear. Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) biogenesis serves as an excellent model to study this question because folding of nascent CFTR is inefficient and deletion of F508 causes accumulation of CFTRΔF508 in a kinetically trapped, but foldable state. Herein, a novel endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated Hsp40, DNAJB12 (JB12) is demonstrated to play a role in control of CFTR folding efficiency. JB12 cooperates with cytosolic Hsc70 and the ubiquitin ligase RMA1 to target CFTR and CFTRΔF508 for degradation. Modest elevation of JB12 decreased nascent CFTR and CFTRΔF508 accumulation while increasing association of Hsc70 with ER forms of CFTR and the RMA1 E3 complex. Depletion of JB12 increased CFTR folding efficiency up to threefold and permitted a pool of CFTRΔF508 to fold and escape the ER. Introduction of the V510D misfolding suppressor mutation into CFTRΔF508 modestly increased folding efficiency, whereas combined inactivation of JB12 and suppression of intrinsic folding defects permitted CFTRΔF508 to fold at 50% of wild-type efficiency. Therapeutic correction of CFTRΔF508 misfolding in cystic fibrosis patients may require repair of defective folding kinetics and suppression of ER QC factors, such as JB12.
Distinct roles for paxillin and Hic-5 in regulating breast cancer cell morphology, invasion, and metastasis
Authors: Deakin Nicholas O. , Turner Christopher E.
Published: December 2010

Individual metastatic tumor cells exhibit two interconvertible modes of cell motility during tissue invasion that are classified as either mesenchymal or amoeboid. The molecular mechanisms by which invasive breast cancer cells regulate this migratory plasticity have yet to be fully elucidated. Herein we show that the focal adhesion adaptor protein, paxillin, and the closely related Hic-5 have distinct and unique roles in the regulation of breast cancer cell lung metastasis by modulating cell morphology and cell invasion through three-dimensional extracellular matrices (3D ECMs). Cells depleted of paxillin by RNA interference displayed a highly elongated mesenchymal morphology, whereas Hic-5 knockdown induced an amoeboid phenotype with both cell populations exhibiting reduced plasticity, migration persistence, and velocity through 3D ECM environments. In evaluating associated signaling pathways, we determined that Rac1 activity was increased in cells devoid of paxillin whereas Hic-5 silencing resulted in elevated RhoA activity and associated Rho kinase–induced nonmuscle myosin II activity. Hic-5 was essential for adhesion formation in 3D ECMs, and analysis of adhesion dynamics and lifetime identified paxillin as a key regulator of 3D adhesion assembly, stabilization, and disassembly.
Hemin and Magnesium-Protoporphyrin IX Induce Global Changes in Gene Expression inChlamydomonas reinhardtii
Authors: Voß Björn , Meinecke Linda , Kurz Thorsten , Al-Babili Salim , Beck Christoph F. , Hess Wolfgang R.
Published: December 2010

Retrograde signaling is a pathway of communication from mitochondria and plastids to the nucleus in the context of cell differentiation, development, and stress response. In Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, the tetrapyrroles magnesium-protoporphyrin IX and heme are only synthesized within the chloroplast, and they have been implicated in the retrograde control of nuclear gene expression in this unicellular green alga. Feeding the two tetrapyrroles to Chlamydomonas cultures was previously shown to transiently induce five nuclear genes, three of which encode the heat shock proteins HSP70A, HSP70B, and HSP70E. In contrast, controversial results exist on the possible role of magnesium-protoporphyrin IX in the repression of genes for light-harvesting proteins in higher plants, raising the question of how important this mode of regulation is. Here, we used genome-wide transcriptional profiling to measure the global impact of these tetrapyrroles on gene regulation and the scope of the response. We identified almost 1,000 genes whose expression level changed transiently but significantly. Among them were only a few genes for photosynthetic proteins but several encoding enzymes of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, heme-binding proteins, stress-response proteins, as well as proteins involved in protein folding and degradation. More than 50% of the latter class of genes was also regulated by heat shock. The observed drastic fold changes at the RNA level did not correlate with similar changes in protein concentrations under the tested experimental conditions. Phylogenetic profiling revealed that genes of putative endosymbiontic origin are not overrepresented among the responding genes. This and the transient nature of changes in gene expression suggest a signaling role of both tetrapyrroles as secondary messengers for adaptive responses affecting the entire cell and not only organellar proteins.
Recombinant monoclonal human immunoglobulin E to investigate the allergenic activity of major grass pollen allergen Phl p 5
Authors: Madritsch C. , Flicker S. , Scheiblhofer S. , Zafred D. , Pavkov‐Keller T. , Thalhamer J. , Keller W. , Valenta R.
Published: December 2010

Cite this as: C. Madritsch, S. Flicker,S. Scheiblhofer, D. Zafred, T. Pavkov‐Keller, J. Thalhamer, W. Keller and R. Valenta, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2011 (41) 270–280.

Background
Allergen recognition by IgE antibodies is a key event in allergic inflammation.

Objective
To construct a plasmid for the expression of human monoclonal IgE antibodies of any desired specificity and to express IgE specific for the major timothy grass pollen allergen Phl p 5.

Methods
In a first step, the DNA sequence coding for the IgG1 heavy chain was excised and replaced by the sequence coding for the human ɛ constant region gene in plasmid pLNOH2 expressing a human Phl p 5‐specific IgG1 heavy chain. Then, this construct together with a second plasmid expressing the corresponding Phl p 5‐specific light chain was co‐expressed in COS‐7 cells. The Phl p 5‐specific IgE (rhuMabEP5) was analysed for allergen‐specificity and isotype by ELISA. Cross‐reactivity of rhuMabEP5 was investigated by immunoblotting using pollen extracts from various grass species. The allergenic activity of Phl p 5 was studied by exposing rat basophil leukaemia (RBL) cells expressing human‐FcɛRI to rhuMabEP5 and Phl p 5.

Results
We report the construction of vector pLNOH2‐P5IgE, for the expression of human IgE and exemplify its usefulness by the production of a complete and functional human monoclonal IgE (rhuMabEP5). rhuMabEP5 is specific for the grass pollen allergen Phl p 5 and cross‐reacts with group 5 allergens in natural grass pollen extracts. RBL‐release assays with rhuMabEP5 demonstrated that oligomerization does not contribute to the high allergenic activity of Phl p 5.

Conclusion and Clinical Relevance
Plasmid pLNOH2‐P5IgE allowed the production of a fully functional human monoclonal IgE antibody specific for Phl p 5. Recombinant human IgE antibodies of defined specificity represent useful tools to investigate mechanisms underlying IgE‐mediated allergies.
Success in controlling a major outbreak of malaria because of Plasmodium falciparum in Jamaica
Authors: Webster‐Kerr Karen , Peter Figueroa J. , Weir Pauline L. , Lewis‐Bell Karen , Baker Everton , Horner‐Bryce Jeannette , Lewis‐Fuller Eva , Bullock DuCasse Marion , Carter Keith H. , Campbell‐Forrester Sheila
Published: December 2010

In 2006, after 44 years of eradication of malaria, Jamaica had an outbreak of Plasmodium falciparum: 406 confirmed cases between September 2006 and December 2009 with a peak of the epidemic in December 2006. In response to the outbreak, the Ministry of Health launched an emergency response through early detection and prompt treatment of cases, vector control, public education and intersectoral collaboration. Ninety percent (361) of cases were residents of Kingston, and 63.6% were identified through house to house surveillance visits. For 56% of the confirmed cases, treatment with chloroquine was initiated within a week of onset of symptoms. Only one (0.3%) of 358 cases who had a post‐treatment smear on day 7 had a persistent asexual parasitaemia, while none of the 149 persons who had a follow‐up smear on day 28 was positive. The outbreak highlighted the need for increased institutional capacity for surveillance, confirmation and treatment of malaria as well as effective prevention and control of outbreaks which can occur after elimination. Jamaica appears to have successfully eliminated malaria after its reintroduction.
Prognostic value of depressive symptoms on mortality, morbidity and nursing home admission in older people
Authors: Miu Doris KY , Chan Carol KM
Published: December 2010

Aim:  Depression is frequently encountered in hospitalized elderly persons. Studies have found an independent association between depressive symptoms, mortality and functional decline. Only a few studies look specifically at other potential effects of depressive symptoms, such as subsequent hospital readmission or nursing home admission. In this study, we aim to investigate the association between the presence of depressive symptoms and nursing home placement, hospital admission and mortality in a group of geriatric outpatients receiving rehabilitation.

Methods:  All community dwelling elderly patients with no history of depression or cognitive impairment who were new attendances of a geriatric day hospital of a regional hospital in Hong Kong were recruited. Baseline demographic data, medical comorbidities, functional status and presence of depressive symptoms defined as a Geriatric Depression Scale score of more than 8 were recorded. Outcome variables were mortality, nursing home admission and unplanned hospital admission rate at 1 year.

Results:  Two hundred and nine subjects were included with a mean age of 77.4 years (standard deviation, 7.6). There was no statistically significant difference on mortality at 1 year and nursing home admission. However, depressed subjects were found to have increased risk of hospital admission (odds ratio = 2.67, 95% confidence interval = 1.31, 5.32) and have more episodes of unplanned hospital admission (odds ratio = 1.52, 95% confidence interval = 1.1, 2.12).

Conclusion:  Elderly patients with depressive symptoms are associated with increased risk of hospital admission and greater inpatient service utilization, independent of their functional status. These results emphasize the need to improve the management of depressive symptoms and heighten the recognition and treatment of depression in the elderly population. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2011; 11: 174–179.
The fictionalist paradigm
Authors: Paley John
Published: December 2010

The fictionalist paradigm is introduced, and differentiated from other paradigms, using the Lincoln & Guba template. Following an initial overview, the axioms of fictionalism are delineated by reference to standard metaphysical categories: the nature of reality, the relationship between knower and known, the possibility of generalization, the possibility of causal linkages, and the role of values in inquiry. Although a paradigm's ‘basic beliefs’ are arbitrary and can be assumed for any reason, in this paper the fictionalist axioms are supported with philosophical considerations, and the key differences between fictionalism, positivism, and constructivism are briefly explained. Paradigm characteristics are then derived, focusing particularly on the methodological consequences. Towards the end of the paper, various objections and misunderstandings are discussed.
Experiences of exclusion when living on a ventilator: reflections based on the application of Julia Kristeva's philosophy to caring science
Authors: Lindahl Berit
Published: December 2010

The research presented in this work represents reflections in the light of Julia Kristeva's philosophy concerning empirical data drawn from research describing the everyday life of people dependent on ventilators. It also presents a qualitative and narrative methodological approach from a person‐centred perspective. Most research on home ventilator treatment is biomedical. There are a few published studies describing the situation of people living at home on a ventilator but no previous publications have used the thoughts in Kristeva's philosophy applied to this topic from a caring science perspective. The paper also addresses what a life at home on a ventilator may be like and will hopefully add some new aspects to the discussion of philosophical issues in nursing and the very essence of care. Kristeva's philosophy embraces phenomena such as language, abjection, body, and love, allowing her writings to make a fruitful contribution to nursing philosophy in that they strengthen, expand, and deepen a caring perspective. Moreover, her writings about revolt having the power to create hope add an interesting aspect to the work of earlier philosophers and nursing theorists.
The Evolution of Entrepreneurial Competencies: A Longitudinal Study of University Spin‐Off Venture Emergence
Authors: Rasmussen Einar , Mosey Simon , Wright Mike
Published: December 2010

abstract

This paper aims to better understand the development of entrepreneurial competencies to create new ventures within the non‐commercial academic environment. We build upon the evolutionary perspective considering where resources come from to help define these competencies and explain their paths of development. The study follows the creation and early growth of four university spin‐offs within the UK and Norway. We identified three competencies of opportunity refinement, leveraging, and championing that appeared crucial for the ventures to gain credibility. Although selected competencies were inherent within the academic founders, the specific competencies for venture creation had to be developed or acquired. This was achieved iteratively through entrepreneurial experience and accessing competencies from disparate actors such as industry partners and equity investors. Propositions are offered to guide future empirical research based upon our framework.
TALKING LESS AND MOVING THE MARKET MORE: EVIDENCE FROM THE ECB AND THE FED
Authors: Rosa Carlo
Published: December 2010

This paper examines and compares the communication strategies of the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank, and their effectiveness. First, we find that the surprise components of both monetary policy actions and statements have important but differing effects on asset prices, with unexpected communication having a much greater impact on longer‐term interest rates. Second, both the ECB and the Fed have proven to be equally successful in moving their domestic asset prices using either monetary policy or news shocks. However, the response of the American yield curve to the surprise component of Fed's statements is larger than the reaction of the European term structure to ECB's announcements. This result is intimately related to the amplitude of the policy rate cycle that is much larger in the US than in the euro area combined with the bounded support of the news shock. Third, we analyze the cross‐effects and show that the Fed has been more able to move the European interest rates of all maturities than the ECB to move American rates. This finding is tied to the predominance of dollar fixed income assets rather than to an attempt of the ECB to mimic the Fed.
THE OPTIMALITY AND CONTROLLABILITY OF MONETARY POLICY THROUGH DELEGATION WITH CONSISTENT TARGETS
Authors: Yuan Huiping , Miller Stephen M. , Chen Langnan
Published: December 2010

This paper uses two game‐theory models, where monetary policy is first ineffective and then effective, to illustrate a delegation scheme that makes consistent policy optimal and controllable. The delegation scheme produces the minimization of both the social and the central bank loss functions. Minimizing the social loss function generates optimality conditions. Minimizing the central bank loss function produces controllability conditions. Optimality conditions depend on specific models, and controllability conditions do not. We propose a concept of consistent targets, which refer to the targets that satisfy both optimality and controllability conditions. Consistent policy proves optimal and controllable in both example models when the government delegates consistent targets to the central bank.
Lymphocyte apoptosis is resistant to erythropoietin in porcine endotoxemia
Authors: SØLLING CHRISTOFFER , NYGAARD UFFE , CHRISTENSEN ANTON T. , WOGENSEN LISE , KROG JAN , TØNNESEN ELSE K.
Published: December 2010

Sølling C, Nygaard U, Christensen AT, Wogensen L, Krog J, Tønnesen EK. Lymphocyte apoptosis is resistant to erythropoietin in porcine endotoxemia. APMIS 2010; 119: 143–54.

Sepsis‐induced lymphocyte apoptosis plays an important role in the development of immune suppression in septic patients. Erythropoietin (EPO) is a multifunctional cytokine with antiapoptotic properties. We hypothesized that EPO could mitigate mononuclear cell (MNC) apoptosis and modify the dynamic changes of MNCs during endotoxemia. Twenty‐six pigs were randomized into three groups: (i) lipopolysaccharides (LPS), (ii) EPO (epoetin‐α, 5000 IU/kg) administered 60 min prior to LPS, and (iii) sham. At 120 min of endotoxemia, the animals were fluid resuscitated and the LPS infusion was reduced. MNCs were isolated at 0, 60, 240, and 540 min of endotoxemia, and apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry. Apoptosis in splenic biopsies was quantified by immunohistochemistry. Endotoxemia increased the number of apoptotic MNCs in the blood (p ≤ 0.01) and the spleen (p = 0.03), and EPO did not modify this increase. The number of T‐helper and cytotoxic T cells declined during endotoxemia. The dynamic changes of the MNC subsets were not modified by treatment with EPO. In conclusion, EPO did not modify the LPS‐induced changes of MNC subsets or mitigate the levels of apoptosis of MNCs in the blood or in the spleen. This study does not support that EPO confers protection against lymphocyte apoptosis.
Alzheimer's Disease‐Associated Ubiquilin‐1 Regulates Presenilin‐1 Accumulation and Aggresome Formation
Authors: Viswanathan Jayashree , Haapasalo Annakaisa , Böttcher Claudia , Miettinen Riitta , Kurkinen Kaisa M. A. , Lu Alice , Thomas Anne , Maynard Christa J. , Romano Donna , Hyman Bradley T. , Berezovska Oksana , Bertram Lars , Soininen Hilkka , Dantuma Nico P. , Tanzi Rudolph E. , Hiltunen Mikko
Published: December 2010

The Alzheimer's disease (AD)‐associated ubiquilin‐1 regulates proteasomal degradation of proteins, including presenilin (PS). PS‐dependent γ‐secretase generates β‐amyloid (Aβ) peptides, which excessively accumulate in AD brain. Here, we have characterized the effects of naturally occurring ubiquilin‐1 transcript variants (TVs) on the levels and subcellular localization of PS1 and other γ‐secretase complex components and subsequent γ‐secretase function in human embryonic kidney 293, human neuroblastoma SH‐SY5Y and mouse primary cortical cells. Full‐length ubiquilin‐1 TV1 and TV3 that lacks the proteasome‐interaction domain increased full‐length PS1 levels as well as induced accumulation of high‐molecular‐weight PS1 and aggresome formation. Accumulated PS1 colocalized with TV1 or TV3 in the aggresomes. Electron microscopy indicated that aggresomes containing TV1 or TV3 were targeted to autophagosomes. TV1‐ and TV3‐expressing cells did not accumulate other unrelated proteasome substrates, suggesting that the increase in PS1 levels was not because of a general impairment of the ubiquitin‐proteasome system. Furthermore, PS1 accumulation and aggresome formation coincided with alterations in Aβ levels, particularly in cells overexpressing TV3. These effects were not related to altered γ‐secretase activity or PS1 binding to TV3. Collectively, our results indicate that specific ubiquilin‐1 TVs can cause PS1 accumulation and aggresome formation, which may impact AD pathogenesis or susceptibility.
Unintended Pregnancy: Worldwide Levels, Trends, and Outcomes
Authors: Singh Susheela , Sedgh Gilda , Hussain Rubina
Published: December 2010

Unintended pregnancy can carry serious consequences for women and their families. We estimate the incidence of pregnancy by intention status and outcome at worldwide, regional, and subregional levels for 2008, and we assess recent trends since 1995. Numbers of births are based on United Nations estimates. Induced abortions are estimated by projecting from recent trends. A model‐based approach is used to estimate miscarriages. The planning status of births is estimated using nationally representative and small‐scale surveys of 80 countries. Of the 208 million pregnancies that occurred in 2008, we estimate that 41 percent were unintended. The unintended pregnancy rate fell by 29 percent in developed regions and by 20 percent in developing regions. The highest unintended pregnancy rates were found for Eastern and Middle Africa and the lowest for Southern and Western Europe and Eastern Asia. North America is the only region in which overall and unintended pregnancy rates have not declined. We conclude with a brief discussion of global and regional program and policy implications.
The Quality of Family Relationships and Use of Maternal Health‐care Services in India
Authors: Allendorf Keera
Published: December 2010

Marital quality is well established as a determinant of health in Western contexts, yet the importance of relationship quality to health in non‐Western contexts is largely limited to a focus on domestic violence. Using the Women's Reproductive Histories Survey, this study examines whether women with higher‐quality family relationships are more likely than others to use maternal health‐care services in Madhya Pradesh, India. Results show that among nuclear families, women with better marital relationships are more likely than others to use antenatal care services and to deliver in a health‐care facility. Among joint families, women who have better relationships with their in‐laws are more likely to use antenatal care services. The results further suggest that women's agency mediates some, but not all, of the effect of relationship quality on use of maternal health‐care services.
Implementation of the Technical Assistance Principles of the WIPO Development Agenda
Authors: Deere Birkbeck Carolyn , Marchant Ron
Published: December 2010

The challenges of improving the development orientation of the World Intellectual Property Organization's (WIPO) capacity building and technical assistance (TA) have been a major subject of discussion since the proposal to establish a WIPO Development Agenda was put forward in 2004. While the scope of the Development Agenda is broad, as reflected in 45 recommendations adopted by WIPO member states in 2007, this article focuses specifically on recommendations that address TA. Importantly debates on TA are closely linked to overarching tensions within and between many developing and developed countries, and among WIPO's stakeholders, about what are—and should be—the organization's mandate and priorities, and, more fundamentally, the role of intellectual property in development. This article sets out the history, scope, financing and scale of WIPO's TA and the core elements of the critique of this assistance. It presents a sampling of the WIPO secretariat's efforts thus far to respond to WIPO Development Agenda recommendations in the area of TA and reviews the lessons learned for WIPO member states regarding what development‐oriented TA means. Drawing on these lessons, the article concludes with proposals for concrete measures and options that WIPO members and the secretariat could pursue.
Impact of Type 1 Diabetes and Body Weight Status on Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Adolescent Children
Authors: Krishnan Sowmya , Copeland Kenneth C. , Bright Brianna C. , Gardner Andrew W. , Blackett Piers R. , Fields David A.
Published: December 2010

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, it is unclear whether increased body weight amplifies that risk in T1D patients. This is a cross‐sectional study examining the presence of cardiovascular risk factors in normal and overweight children, both with and without T1D. Sixty‐six children (aged 16±2.2 years) were included in one of the following groups: (T1D and normal weight, T1D and overweight, healthy and normal weight, and healthy and overweight). A fasting blood sample was analyzed for lipid profile (triglyceride, cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol), apolipoprotein B (apoB), and apolipoprotein C‐III (apoC‐III) levels. Body composition was determined by dual energy x‐ray absorptiometry and vascular elasticity by HDI/Pulsewave CR‐2000 (Hypertension Diagnostics, Eagan, MN). Statistical analyses examined the effect of T1D and body weight status and their interactions on cardiovascular risk parameters. In this study, the authors were unable to demonstrate an additive effect of body weight status and T1D on cardiovascular risk profile. However, subgroup analysis of patients with T1D revealed higher apoC‐III levels in overweight patients with T1D (P=.0453) compared with normal‐weight diabetic children. Most notably, there was a direct relationship of small artery elasticity to body weight status. This seemingly paradoxical observation supports recent data and warrants further investigation.

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2011;13:351–356. ©2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.