bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
La production agricole de Damas et de la Ghūṭa au XIVe siècleDiversité, taxation et prix des cultures maraîchères d’après al-Jazarī (m. 739/1338)
Authors: Eychenne Mathieu
Published: December 2013

Résumé

L’histoire économique de Damas et du Bilād al-Shām à l’époque mamelouke demeure un champ de recherche difficile à explorer du fait de la rareté des documents d’archives disponibles et du caractère épars des informations dans les textes historiques. En prenant comme source principale un passage particulièrement détaillé de la chronique de l’historien al-Jazarī (viiie/xivesiècle), cet article entend non seulement mettre en lumière la richesse et la diversité de la production agricole de Damas mais également contribuer à une meilleure connaissance de l’économie et du système fiscal de la ville et de sa campagne, la Ghūṭa, à la fin de la période médiévale.
Influence of Model Biases on Projected Future Changes in Tropical Cyclone Frequency of Occurrence*
Authors: Murakami Hiroyuki , Hsu Pang-Chi , Arakawa Osamu , Li Tim
Published: December 2013

The influence of model biases on projected future changes in the frequency of occurrence of tropical cyclones (FOCs) was investigated using a new empirical statistical method. Assessments were made of present-day (1979–2003) simulations and future (2075–99) projections, using atmospheric general circulation models under the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) A1B scenario and phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) models under the representative concentration pathway (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios. The models project significant decreases in global-total FOCs by approximately 6%–40%; however, model biases introduce an uncertainty of approximately 10% in the total future changes. The influence of biases depends on the model physics rather than model resolutions and emission scenarios. In general, the biases result in overestimates of projected future changes in basin-total FOCs in the north Indian Ocean (by +18%) and South Atlantic Ocean (+143%) and underestimates in the western North Pacific Ocean (−27%), eastern North Pacific Ocean (−29%), and North Atlantic Ocean (−53%). The calibration of model performance using the smaller bias influence appears crucial to deriving meaningful signals in future FOC projections. To obtain more reliable projections, ensemble averages were calculated using the models less influence by model biases. Results indicate marked decreases in projected FOCs in the basins of the Southern Hemisphere, Bay of Bengal, western North Pacific Ocean, eastern North Pacific, and Caribbean Sea and increases in the Arabian Sea and the subtropical central Pacific Ocean.
An Experimental Study of Spatial Variability of Rainfall
Authors: Tokay Ali , Roche Rigoberto J. , Bashor Paul G.
Published: December 2013

Spatial variability of rainfall was studied through a gauge network on the Delmarva Peninsula. The gauge network consists of 11 dual- or triple-tipping-bucket sites ranging from 1- to 150-km separation distances. The time of the tip (0.254 mm) was recorded to a datalogger, and a continuous dataset was available from all sites for over 5 yr (May 2005–July 2010). A three-parameter exponential function was fitted to the paired correlations and the resultant correlation distance was 8–13 km during summer and 51–85 km during winter. The correlation distances showed pronounced year-to-year variability as being 8–43 km and 13–67 km during spring and autumn, respectively. The airmass convection was the main weather system during summer while nor’easters played an important role during winter. The 30-min integration and two-tip rain/no-rain threshold was selected for the base of this study. The correlation distance increased with longer integration periods and was 17 and 32 km for 30 min and 1 h, respectively.
Large-Scale Atmospheric Forcing Influencing the Long-Term Variability of Mediterranean Heat and Freshwater Budgets: Climatic Indices
Authors: Criado-Aldeanueva Francisco , Soto-Navarro F. Javier , García-Lafuente Jesús
Published: December 2013

Interannual to interdecadal precipitation P, evaporation E, freshwater budget (E − P), and air–sea net heat flux Q have been correlated with the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), eastern Atlantic (EA), eastern Atlantic–western Russia (EA-WR), and Mediterranean Oscillation (MO) climatic indices to explore the influence of atmospheric forcing in the Mediterranean freshwater and heat budget variability. The effect of the MO pattern has similarities with that of the NAO, but MO influence is more intense. On an annual basis, the MO index gives the highest correlation with all the variables considered, and during its negative phase, it exerts a stronger influence than the NAO and is associated with higher P and, especially, enhanced evaporative losses in the Levantine subbasin. The EA pattern does not significantly affect P in the Mediterranean, but a high correlation is found for E and Q from 1979. The EA-WR mode plays a significant role in annual net heat flux since variations in its sign have the potential to induce seesaw variations in the heat budgets of the eastern and western subbasins, as previously found by Josey et al., for wintertime.
Multiscale Characteristics and Evolution of Perturbations for Warm Season Convection-Allowing Precipitation Forecasts: Dependence on Background Flow and Method of Perturbation
Authors: Johnson Aaron , Wang Xuguang , Xue Ming , Kong Fanyou , Zhao Gang , Wang Yunheng , Thomas Kevin W. , Brewster Keith A. , Gao Jidong
Published: December 2013

Multiscale convection-allowing precipitation forecast perturbations are examined for two forecasts and systematically over 34 forecasts out to 30-h lead time using Haar Wavelet decomposition. Two small-scale initial condition (IC) perturbation methods are compared to the larger-scale IC and physics perturbations in an experimental convection-allowing ensemble. For a precipitation forecast driven primarily by a synoptic-scale baroclinic disturbance, small-scale IC perturbations resulted in little precipitation forecast perturbation energy on medium and large scales, compared to larger-scale IC and physics (LGPH) perturbations after the first few forecast hours. However, for a case where forecast convection at the initial time grew upscale into a mesoscale convective system (MCS), small-scale IC and LGPH perturbations resulted in similar forecast perturbation energy on all scales after about 12 h. Small-scale IC perturbations added to LGPH increased total forecast perturbation energy for this case. Averaged over 34 forecasts, the small-scale IC perturbations had little impact on large forecast scales while LGPH accounted for about half of the error energy on such scales. The impact of small-scale IC perturbations was also less than, but comparable to, the impact of LGPH perturbations on medium scales. On small scales, the impact of small-scale IC perturbations was at least as large as the LGPH perturbations. The spatial structure of small-scale IC perturbations affected the evolution of forecast perturbations, especially at medium scales. There was little systematic impact of the small-scale IC perturbations when added to LGPH. These results motivate further studies on properly sampling multiscale IC errors.
Excellence or quality? Impact of the current competition regime on science and scientific publishing in Latin America and its implications for development
Authors: Vessuri Hebe , Guédon Jean-Claude , Cetto Ana María
Published: December 2013

The current competition regime that characterizes international science is often presented as a quest for excellence. It diversely affects research in Latin America and research in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. This article asks how this competition regime may orient the direction of research in Latin America, and to whose advantage. It is argued that, by relating excellence to quality differently, a research policy that seeks to improve the level of science in Latin America while preserving the possibility of solving problems relevant to the region can be designed. Competition, it is also argued, certainly has its place in science, but not as a general management tool, especially if the goal is to improve overall quality of science in Latin America. Scientific competition is largely managed through journals and their reputation. Therefore, designing a science policy for Latin America (and for any ‘peripheral’ region of the world) requires paying special attention to the mechanisms underpinning the production, circulation and consumption of scientific journals. So-called ‘international’ or ‘core’ journals are of particular interest as local, national, or even regional journals must struggle to find their place in this peculiar publishing eco-system.
Social Ties and Adolescent Sleep Disruption
Authors: Maume David J.
Published: December 2013

Teens tend go to bed later, get less sleep, and report more daytime sleepiness. Medical research emphasizes biological determinants of teens’ disrupted sleep (i.e., the timing of puberty and resultant drops in melatonin), rarely or inadequately considering youths’ social ties as a determinant of sleep behaviors. Sociologists recognize how social ties affect health behaviors but have generally neglected sleep, especially among teens. Drawing on a sample of 974 teens from the Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development, this study controls for developmental and social relational factors to predict changes in youths’ sleep patterns between 12 and 15 years of age. In general, social relational factors outperform developmental factors in determining youths’ sleep patterns, particularly pointing to the importance of parental, peer, and school ties in promoting healthy sleep behaviors. The implications of these findings for further research are briefly discussed.
Depression and the Sense of Control
Authors: Mirowsky John
Published: December 2013

Adulthood trajectories of outcomes such as depression and the sense of control measure aspects of the human condition that Americans may view as objects of change. Social science should provide information on that progress, or its absence. Whether these trajectories change their shape, and how and why if they do, is important theoretically too. A range of birth cohorts coexist in time, place, and social relationship. Each cohort, as it goes through adulthood, follows in aggregate a path left by older ones, reshaping that path as it goes. The shapes of the trajectories, and the trends reshaping them, represent two inseparable aspects of the same phenomenon. This report describes methods for mapping aging trajectories and intercohort trends, using linear latent-growth models of relatively brief follow-up data (six years in the examples). The author reviews shared research ideals that led to the model: put theory into modeling, go where the data lead, use what you have, go beyond where you have been, and risk being precisely wrong.
Stigma of a Label
Authors: Shifrer Dara
Published: December 2013

Poorer outcomes for youth labeled with learning disabilities (LDs) are often attributed to the student’s own deficiencies or cumulative disadvantage; but the more troubling possibility is that special education placement limits rather than expands these students’ opportunities. Labeling theory partially attributes the poorer outcomes of labeled persons to stigma related to labels. This study uses data on approximately 11,740 adolescents and their schools from the Education Longitudinal Survey of 2002 to determine if stigma influences teachers’ and parents’ educational expectations for students labeled with LDs and labeled adolescents’ expectations for themselves. Supporting the predictions of labeling theory, teachers and parents are more likely to perceive disabilities in, and hold lower educational expectations for labeled adolescents than for similarly achieving and behaving adolescents not labeled with disabilities. The negative effect of being labeled with LDs on adolescents’ educational expectations is partially mechanized through parents’ and particularly teachers’ lower expectations.
(Un)Healthy Immigrant Citizens
Authors: Gubernskaya Zoya , Bean Frank D. , Van Hook Jennifer
Published: December 2013

This research argues that immigrants’ political, social, and economic incorporation experiences, which are embedded in individual life course trajectories and heavily influenced by governmental policies, play an important role in producing diverse health outcomes among older U.S. foreign-born persons. Using data from the 2008–2010 American Community Survey and 1998–2010 Integrated Health Interview Series, we demonstrate how naturalization, a key indicator of social and political inclusion, is related to functional health in midlife and older age. Consistent with the theoretical framework, we find that among those foreign-born who immigrated as children and young adults, naturalized citizens show better health at older ages compared with noncitizens, although this relationship is partly mediated by education. But among those older foreign-born who immigrated at middle and older ages, naturalized citizens report worse health compared with noncitizens. Moreover, this negative health selection into naturalization becomes stronger for those naturalizing after the 1996 Welfare Reform Act.
Structural contingencies and untimely coincidences in the making of neoliberal India
Authors: Neveling Patrick
Published: December 2013

This article introduces the concepts of untimely coincidences of modes of production and structural contingencies in global capitalism to the study of neoliberalism in India and beyond. I argue that these concepts are crucial to revive a historical anthropology, which shows that neoliberalism is one of several possible manifestations of capitalism, past and present. The analytical gain of such a revised view on neoliberalism is then exemplified by a historical–anthropological account of the development of India’s first special economic zone, the Kandla Foreign Trade Zone, from 1965 to the late 1980s. Based on these findings, I conclude my plea for conceptual changes in anthropology’s approach to periodising national and global histories of neoliberalism.
Calibration verification of a low-cost method for MEMS accelerometers
Authors: Parsi B , Bahrami M , Esfahani A Monemian , Sany B Seyedzadeh
Published: December 2013

This paper presents a new low-cost method for calibration of microelectromechanical system accelerometers. A guide way with low friction that can provide a one-directional linear transversal motion is used. For collecting data sets, the accelerometer is moved manually from one reference point to another, and this movement is measured. A function is developed that relates this movement to acceleration. To verify the proposed calibration method, a three-axis table is used to collect data sets and a least-squares algorithm is applied to find the appropriate function. With this low-cost method, the scale factor matrix, the sensitivity matrix, the non-linear scale factor matrix and bias vector are found.
Effect of coronary artery bypass surgery on left ventricular function as assessed by strain and strain rate imaging
Authors: Durmaz T , Bayram H , Bayram NA , Sari C , Keles T , Bastug S , Bozkurt E
Published: December 2013

Introduction:

This study examined the effect of coronary artery revascularization on left ventricular function and the results of strain imaging for the detection of ischemia before and after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

Material and Methods:

Sixty-eight patients with a history of coronary artery disease (CAD) were included, prospectively. Conventional echocardiography and color tissue Doppler-derived strain-strain rate echocardiographic imaging were performed 24 hours before and 3 months after CABG surgery.

Results:

While strain rate values of the basal septum, middle segment of the lateral wall, middle segment of the inferior wall, and middle and basal segments of the anterior wall were significantly increased, other segments did not change after the operation. The mean systolic strain rate value was significantly increased after the operation. Left ventricle strain values in the middle segment of the septum, middle and basal segments of the inferior wall, and middle and basal segments of the anterior wall were significantly increased after the operation. No significant difference was noted in the basal septum or the middle and basal segments of the lateral wall after the operation. The mean systolic strain value was significantly increased after the operation.

Conclusion:

The results of this study suggest that strain and strain rate echocardiography can provide an accurate evaluation of regional contractile function after CABG, even in the segments that are apparently normal.
Duration of activity and mode of action of modafinil: Studies on sleep and wakefulness in humans
Authors: Turner C , Belyavin AJ , Nicholson AN
Published: December 2013

The duration of activity of modafinil was investigated in healthy male volunteers in two double-blind crossover studies. Mode of action was explored using a statistical model concerned with the relationship between total sleep duration and that of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Nocturnal sleep (23:00–07:00) followed by next-day performance (09:00–17:00) was studied in 12 subjects administered 100, 200, 300 mg modafinil and placebo, 0.5 h before bedtime. Performance overnight (19:00–08:45) followed by sleep (09:15–15:15) was studied in nine subjects administered 100, 200, 300, 400 mg modafinil, 300 mg caffeine and placebo at 22:15. Modafinil dose-dependently reduced sleep duration (nocturnal: 200 mg, p<0.05; 300 mg, p<0.001; morning: 300 and 400 mg, p<0.05) and REM sleep (nocturnal: 300 mg; morning: 400 mg; p<0.05). The statistical model revealed that reduced REM sleep was due to alerting activity, with no evidence of direct suppression of REM sleep, suggesting dopaminergic activity. Enhanced performance with modafinil during overnight work varied with dose (200 mg>100 mg; 300, 400 mg>200, 100 mg, caffeine). However, in the study of next-day performance, the enhancement was attenuated at the highest dose (300 mg) by the greater disturbance of prior sleep. These findings indicate that modafinil has a long duration of action, with alerting properties arising predominantly from dopaminergic activity.
Alcohol disrupts the effects of priming on the perception of ambiguous figures
Authors: O’Brien Claire , Higgs Suzanne , Harris Mike
Published: December 2013

Inhibitory mechanisms are thought to underpin the well-documented impairing effects of alcohol on attention. Here, we use a novel priming paradigm to investigate the effects of alcohol on inhibitory mechanisms in attention. Participants were assigned to an alcohol ( N=15), or placebo ( N=15) group. The dose of alcohol was 0.8 g/kg for males and 0.75 g/kg for females. Participants were asked to report figure reversals during presentation of the face–vase ambiguous figure. Prior to this, they were shown a prime that was either semantically relevant to the face–vase stimulus or was neutral. Semantic priming decreased the number of figure reversals in the first half of the test session in the placebo group but not in the alcohol group. The placebo group was also more likely than the alcohol group to report the first interpretation of the figure to be the same as the semantic prime. Prior presentation of a semantic prime had a stabilising effect on reversal rate, suggesting that the primed interpretation inhibited the alternate interpretation. The absence of an effect in the alcohol group is consistent with an alcohol-related impairment of this inhibition.
The Interpersonal Worlds of Bullies
Authors: Keelan Colleen M. , Schenk Allison M. , McNally Matthew R. , Fremouw William J.
Published: December 2013

Research has yet to examine the social influences of parents, peers, and partners on bullying. This study explored the impact of social relationships on bullies, victims, bully/victims, and uninvolved participants. A sample of 370 college-age participants was asked about bullying, family environment, friends’ illegal behavior, and conflict resolution tactics in romantic relationships. Results indicated controls came from more secure and engaged families. Bully/victims reported friends engaging in more illegal behaviors than victims and uninvolved participants. Bullies and bully/victims reported more psychological coercion from their romantic partner. A logistic regression revealed peer illegal behaviors, psychological aggression, physical assault, and sexual coercion in romantic relationships best predicted bullies from non-bullies (67.3%). Based on these results, the interpersonal world of those involved with bullying significantly impacts behaviors.
Breastfeeding during Pregnancy
Authors: Cetin Irene , Assandro Paola , Massari Maddalena , Sagone Antonella , Gennaretti Raffaella , Donzelli Gianpaolo , Knowles Alessandra , Monasta Lorenzo , Davanzo Riccardo ,   on behalf of the Working Group on Breastfeeding, Italian Society of Perinatal Medicine and Task Force on Breastfeeding, Ministry of Health, Italy
Published: December 2013

As more women breastfeed for longer, it is increasingly likely that women may be still breastfeeding when they become pregnant again. The Italian Society of Perinatal Medicine (SIMP) Working Group on Breastfeeding has reviewed the literature to determine the medical compatibility of pregnancy and breastfeeding. We found no evidence indicating that healthy women are at higher risk of miscarriage or preterm delivery if they breastfeed while pregnant. No evidence indicates that the pregnancy–breastfeeding overlap might cause intrauterine growth restriction, particularly in women from developed countries. Little information is available on the composition of human milk of pregnant women, and we found no data on the growth of infants nursed by a pregnant woman. However, both the composition of postpartum breast milk and the growth of the subsequent newborn appear to be partly affected, at least in developing countries. SIMP supports breastfeeding during pregnancy in the first 2 trimesters, and we believe it to be sustainable in the third trimester. Based on the hypothetical risk, caution may be warranted for women at risk of premature delivery, although no evidence exists that breastfeeding could trigger labor inducing uterine contractions. In conclusion, currently available data do not support routine discouragement of breastfeeding during pregnancy. Further studies are certainly needed to explore the consequences of breastfeeding during pregnancy on maternal health, on the breastfed infant, on the embryo/fetus, and, subsequently, on the growth of the newborn.
Humor in the “Twilight Zone”
Authors: Raviv Amnon
Published: December 2013

Medical clowning has been primarily identified with working with children in pediatrics wards in hospitals. Over the past decade, more and more medical clowns have been working with adults and with patients with dementia as part of holistic care. Along with traditional medical care by hospital staff, the medical clown treats the patient’s emotional side. Furthermore, medical clowning has unique advantages in working with patients with dementia. Several studies have shown that humor assists in improving the quality of life of patients with dementia. The clown, as the ultimate comic figure, creates interactions with patients based on humor, which empowers, calms, and strengthens the patient while reinforcing the patient’s connection with the surroundings. Medical clowning is an interdisciplinary therapeutic art, and the medical clown has a “kit” of multiple skills (including humor, drama, music, and dance), all of which have a beneficial, therapeutic impact on patients. The current article presents and analyzes case studies from my work as a medical clown with patients with dementia.
Assessment of detached podocytes in the Bowman's space as a marker of disease activity in lupus nephritis
Authors: Moustafa FE , Soliman NA , Bakr AMA , Shwaf IM El
Published: December 2013

Podocyte damage is an important pathogenic component of glomerular disease progression. This study is a trial to clarify the value of counting and scoring the number of shed Bowman's space podocytes as an activity parameter of lupus nephritis, a trial that has not been conducted before.

This study was performed on 42 female patients with the clinical diagnosis of lupus nephritis. Beside the routine stains tissue sections were stained by colloidal iron and anti podocalyxin for sialomucin. Podocytes in the Bowman's space were counted and scored. Thorough statistical work was carried out to correlate the podocyte scores with the morphological lesions of lupus nephritis. This study revealed significant association and correlation of shed Bowman's space podocytes with histopathological parameters of activity in different classes of lupus nephritis. We concluded that counting and scoring shed Bowman's space podocytes is statistically significant as a marker of disease activity in lupus nephritis. It can be one of the parameters of activity index but not of chronicity index.
Book Review: The Unfinished Memoirs
Authors: Thakur Atul K.
Published: December 2013

Rahman, Sheikh Mujibur, The Unfinished Memoirs (New Delhi: Penguin Viking, 2012). Pp. 323. Price: ₹699.
Book Review: What Future for Human Rights in a Non-Western World?
Authors: Battula Spandana
Published: December 2013

Bennett, Simon and Éadaoin O’Brien (Eds), What Future for Human Rights in a Non-Western World? (London: Human Rights Consortium, University of London, 2012). Pp. 181. Price £25.
The prospects of cosmopolitanism and the possibility of global justice
Authors: Delanty Gerard
Published: December 2013

The article explores the considerations that are at stake in assessing the prospects of cosmopolitanism today. It is argued that there is scope for fruitful dialogue between sociology and political science around the question of how a normative idea, such as global justice, becomes an empirical phenomenon. The idea of global justice should be placed in the context of the broader framework of cosmopolitanism. Rather than focus only on the normative project, attention needs to be given to the process by which cosmopolitanism emerges. Cosmopolitanism, in this view, involves socio-cognitive shifts for critical publics in ways in seeing the world. It is such changes in cognitive capacities and in individual and societal learning that often make possible the articulation of new normative principles or their application in domains where they previously did not apply.
Student views of peer assessment at the International School of Lausanne
Authors: Foley Simon
Published: December 2013

This article explores student attitudes and perceptions relating to peer assessment, as observed at the International School of Lausanne, where the case study was restricted to students in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Economics course of the programme. Informed by a review of literature on the relative merits of peer assessment, this article highlights its specific strengths and weaknesses as assessment for learning and highlights specific gaps in the literature, before investigating students’ perceptions of its value and social dynamics within small student groups. The article concludes by considering the clear preference expressed by the majority of students participating in the study for anonymity in the peer assessment process. It is clear that this adds a more complex and not yet thoroughly explored set of consideration to the debate about the merits of peer assessment. Students’ preference for anonymity concurs with Falchikov’s findings that such concern was more likely to be found in relatively small, well-established groups, exactly like the one that is the focus of this study.
International schools as gateways to the intercultural development of North-American teachers
Authors: Savva Maria
Published: December 2013

This study uses a chronological lens to examine North-American teacher experiences in international schools abroad. Using semi-structured interviews, teachers compare their experiences in the United States or Canada with their experiences in international schools abroad. Findings suggest that struggles associated with being the ‘other’ in a foreign country often transformed a superficial intercultural awareness into a deeper intercultural understanding among teachers. Despite this broader understanding, not all teachers made explicit connections to their professional practice.
Assessing health literacy in rural settings: a pilot study in rural areas of Cluj County, Romania
Authors: Pop Oana M. , Brînzaniuc Alexandra , Şirlincan Emanuela O. , Baba Cătălin O. , Cherecheş Răzvan M.
Published: December 2013

Health literacy improves knowledge and builds skills to help individuals make appropriate decisions regarding their health. Over the past 20 years, several studies have described associations between health literacy and health outcomes. With respect to Romania, evidence is scarce on the level of health literacy, as well as on its determinants. Thus, the objectives of this study were to briefly screen functional health literacy levels in a sample of rural inhabitants, to assess the relationship between health literacy and reported health status, as well as to explore health literacy determinants within this population. Data were collected between September–November 2010, in four villages in Cluj County, Romania, using a cross-sectional survey. The mean age of respondents in the sample was 56 years, with roughly half of respondents being retired. The brief screening of health literacy suggested inadequate to marginal levels within the sample. Significant associations were observed between health literacy score and education, and self-perceived health status, whereas the relationship between health literacy and gender, and the presence of a chronic disease was not statistically significant. Limited health literacy has been shown to be common in people who rated their health as poor, those who attended only middle school, and individuals lacking basic information about their body. In order to minimize the adverse effects of low health literacy on health and health outcomes, efforts should be invested in identifying and addressing the health needs of adults with low and marginal health literacy, especially in underserved areas such as rural and remote settings, where access to health-related information is limited.
L’efficacité de l’aide en santé en Afrique de l’Ouest : maintenant plus que jamais
Authors: Paul Elisabeth , Eclou Dieudonné , Sossouhounto Nadine , Nakoulma Firmin , Berthé Issa
Published: December 2013

La préoccupation d’améliorer l’efficacité de l’aide au développement dans le secteur de la santé est plus que jamais d’actualité. L’approche sectorielle permet d’obtenir des améliorations importantes à ce niveau et connaît un renouveau à travers le Partenariat International pour la Santé et initiatives liées (IHP+). Dans ce commentaire, nous montrons comment l’IHP+ a été mis en œuvre dans trois pays ouest-africains francophones : le Bénin, le Burkina Faso et le Mali. La dynamique existant dans le secteur de la santé dans chacun des pays a influencé la façon dont l’IHP+ s’y est traduit. Au-delà de ces dynamiques différentes, l’IHP+ a permis de renforcer la place des plans et dispositifs nationaux de coordination comme plateforme de suivi-évaluation et de redevabilité du secteur santé. Toutefois, certaines pratiques contraires aux principes de l’efficacité de l’aide perdurent encore, en particulier le manque d’alignement sur les systèmes de gestion nationaux et le manque de prévisibilité de l’aide.
Safety of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Modified Live Virus (MLV) vaccine strains in a young pig infection model
Authors: Martínez-Lobo Francisco Javier , de Lome Laura Carrascosa , Díez-Fuertes Francisco , Segalés Joaquim , García-Artiga Carlos , Simarro Isabel , Castro José María , Prieto Cinta
Published: December 2013

The objective of this study was to compare the safety of all modified live virus vaccines commercially available in Europe against Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) under the same experimental conditions. For this purpose, one hundred and twenty three-week-old piglets, divided into five groups, were used. On day 0 of the experiment, nine pigs per group were removed and the remaining fifteen were vaccinated with the commercial vaccines Ingelvac PRRS MLV, Amervac PRRS, Pyrsvac-183 and Porcilis PRRS by the IM route or were mock vaccinated and used as controls. On day 3, the nine unvaccinated pigs were re-introduced into their respective groups and served as sentinel pigs. Clinical signs were recorded daily and lung lesions were determined on days 7, 14 and 21, when 5 vaccinated pigs per group were euthanized. Blood samples and swabs were taken every three days and different organs were collected at necropsy to determine the presence of PRRSV. None of the vaccines studied caused detectable clinical signs in vaccinated pigs although lung lesions were found. Altogether, these results indicate that all vaccines can be considered clinically safe. However, some differences were found in virological parameters. Thus, neither Pyrsvac-183 nor Porcilis PRRS could be detected in porcine alveolar macrophage (PAM) cultures or in lung sections used to determine PRRSV by immunohistochemistry, indicating that these viruses might have lost their ability to replicate in PAM. This inability to replicate in PAM might be related to the lower transmission rate and the delay in the onset of viremia observed in these groups
Detection limit of intragenic deletions with targeted array comparative genomic hybridization
Authors: Askree S Hussain , Chin Ephrem LH , Bean Lora H , Coffee Bradford , Tanner Alice , Hegde Madhuri
Published: December 2013

Background

Pathogenic mutations range from single nucleotide changes to deletions or duplications that encompass a single exon to several genes. The use of gene-centric high-density array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) has revolutionized the detection of intragenic copy number variations. We implemented an exon-centric design of high-resolution aCGH to detect single- and multi-exon deletions and duplications in a large set of genes using the OGT 60 K and 180 K arrays. Here we describe the molecular characterization and breakpoint mapping of deletions at the smaller end of the detectable range in several genes using aCGH.

Results

The method initially implemented to detect single to multiple exon deletions, was able to detect deletions much smaller than anticipated. The selected deletions we describe vary in size, ranging from over 2 kb to as small as 12 base pairs. The smallest of these deletions are only detectable after careful manual review during data analysis. Suspected deletions smaller than the detection size for which the method was optimized, were rigorously followed up and confirmed with PCR-based investigations to uncover the true detection size limit of intragenic deletions with this technology. False-positive deletion calls often demonstrated single nucleotide changes or an insertion causing lower hybridization of probes demonstrating the sensitivity of aCGH.

Conclusions

With optimizing aCGH design and careful review process, aCGH can uncover intragenic deletions as small as dozen bases. These data provide insight that will help optimize probe coverage in array design and illustrate the true assay sensitivity. Mapping of the breakpoints confirms smaller deletions and contributes to the understanding of the mechanism behind these events. Our knowledge of the mutation spectra of several genes can be expected to change as previously unrecognized intragenic deletions are uncovered.
Kinotypes: stable species- and individual-specific profiles of cellular kinase activity
Authors: Trost Brett , Kindrachuk Jason , Scruten Erin , Griebel Philip , Kusalik Anthony , Napper Scott
Published: December 2013

Background

Recently, questions have been raised regarding the ability of animal models to recapitulate human disease at the molecular level. It has also been demonstrated that cellular kinases, individually or as a collective unit (the kinome), play critical roles in regulating complex biology. Despite the intimate relationship between kinases and health, little is known about the variability, consistency and stability of kinome profiles across species and individuals.

Results

As a preliminary investigation of the existence of species- and individual-specific kinotypes (kinome signatures), peptide arrays were employed for the analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells collected weekly from human and porcine subjects (n = 6) over a one month period. The data revealed strong evidence for species-specific signalling profiles. Both humans and pigs also exhibited evidence for individual-specific kinome profiles that were independent of natural changes in blood cell populations.

Conclusions

Species-specific kinotypes could have applications in disease research by facilitating the selection of appropriate animal models or by revealing a baseline kinomic signature to which treatment-induced profiles could be compared. Similarly, individual-specific kinotypes could have implications in personalized medicine, where the identification of molecular patterns or signatures within the kinome may depend on both the levels of kinome diversity and temporal stability across individuals.
Improving care after hip fracture: the fracture? Think osteoporosis (FTOP) program
Authors: Dore Naomi , Kennedy Courtney , Fisher Pauline , Dolovich Lisa , Farrauto Leonardo , Papaioannou Alexandra
Published: December 2013

Background

Hip fractures are a common and serious consequence of osteoporosis, and hip fracture patients are at high risk for recurrence. Appropriate pharmacotherapy reduces this risk and is associated with reduced mortality after hip fracture, but a care gap exists for fracture prevention in these patients. This evaluation determined rates of osteoporosis treatment and bone mineral density (BMD) testing in hip fracture patients following discharge from a rehabilitation unit.

Methods

A prospective cohort study of hip fracture patients aged ≥ 50 on an inpatient rehabilitation unit in 2008 and 2011. Patients were seen by a nurse specialist, and encouraged to see their family physician for further assessment and treatment. Physicians were sent a letter indicating the need to follow up with their patient. Patients were contacted following discharge from hospital to determine treatment rates.

Results

Of 310 eligible hip fracture patients admitted to the rehabilitation unit in the years studied, 207 patients were reached post-discharge and provided data. Of patients who were not previously taking osteoporosis medication, 59% of patients from the 2008 cohort, and 42% of patients from the 2011 cohort had osteoporosis treatment initiated by six months following discharge. By 2 months following discharge, 46% of patients in the 2008 cohort had a new BMD performed or scheduled, while this was true for 14% of patients from the 2011 cohort. 35% of patients in 2011 had not seen their family physician by 2 months following discharge.

Conclusions

Rates for osteoporosis treatment and BMD testing were higher than those reported in the literature for patients not enrolled in case manager programs. BMD testing declined from 2008 to 2011. Lower treatment rates may be due to concerns regarding reports of possible association between bisphosphonate use and atypical fractures. Improving rates of patient follow-up with family physicians will be important for increasing hip fracture treatment rates after discharge.
A compound heterozygous mutation in HADHB gene causes an axonal Charcot-Marie-tooth disease
Authors: Hong Young Bin , Lee Ja Hyun , Park Jin-Mo , Choi Yu-Ri , Hyun Young Se , Yoon Bo Ram , Yoo Jeong Hyun , Koo Heasoo , Jung Sung-Chul , Chung Ki Wha , Choi Byung-Ok
Published: December 2013

Background

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is a heterogeneous disorder of the peripheral nervous system. So far, mutations in hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase/3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase/enoyl-CoA hydratase (trifunctional protein), beta subunit (HADHB) gene exhibit three distinctive phenotypes: severe neonatal presentation with cardiomyopathy, hepatic form with recurrent hypoketotic hypoglycemia, and later-onset axonal sensory neuropathy with episodic myoglobinuria.

Methods

To identify the causative and characterize clinical features of a Korean family with motor and sensory neuropathies, whole exome study (WES), histopathologic study of distal sural nerve, and lower limb MRIs were performed.

Results

WES revealed that a compound heterozygous mutation in HADHB is the causative of the present patients. The patients exhibited an early-onset axonal sensorimotor neuropathy without episodic myoglobinuria, and showed typical clinical and electrophysiological features of CMT including predominant distal muscle weakness and atrophy. Histopathologic findings of sural nerve were compatible with an axonal CMT neuropathy. Furthermore, they didn’t exhibit any other symptoms of the previously reported HADHB patients.

Conclusions

These data implicate that mutation in HADHB gene can also cause early-onset axonal CMT instead of typical manifestations in mitochondrial trifunctional protein (MTP) deficiency. Therefore, this study is the first report of a new subtype of autosomal recessive axonal CMT by a compound heterozygous mutation in HADHB, and will expand the clinical and genetic spectrum of HADHB.
Clinical and genetic features of Huntington disease in Sri Lanka
Authors: Sumathipala Dulika S , Jayasekara Rohan W , Dissanayake Vajira HW
Published: December 2013

Background

Huntington disease was one of the first neurological hereditary diseases for which genetic testing was made possible as early as 1993. The study describes the clinical and genetic characteristics of patients with Huntington disease in Sri Lanka.

Methods

Data of 35 consecutive patients tested from 2007 to 2012 at the Human Genetics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo was analyzed retrospectively. Clinical data and genetic diagnostic results were reviewed. Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive statistics.

Results

Thirty patients had fully penetrant (FP) CAG repeat mutations and 5 had reduced penetrant (RP) CAG repeat mutations. In the FP group mean ages of onset and diagnosis were 37.5 and 40.4 years, while in the RP group it was 63.0 and 64.8 years respectively. The age of diagnosis ranged from 15 to 72 years, with 2 patients with Juvenile onset (<20 years) and 3 with late onset (>60 years) Huntington disease. The symptoms at diagnosis were predominantly motor (32/35 -91%). Three patients had psychiatric and behavioral disorders. The age difference between onset and genetic diagnosis showed significant delay in females compared to males (p < 0.05). Twenty two (62.8%) had a positive family history, with 13/22 (59.1%) showing a paternal inheritance of the disease. In both groups, those with a family history had a significantly lower age of presentation (p < 0.05). The mean CAG repeat length in patients with FP alleles was 44.6 ± 5 and RP alleles was 37.2 ± 1.1. Age of onset and CAG repeat length of the HTT gene showed significant inverse correlation (p < 0.0005, R2 = 0.727).

Conclusions

The clinical and genetic features seen in patients with Huntington disease in the Sri Lankan study population were similar to that previously reported in literature.
Targeting cell migration and the endoplasmic reticulum stress response with calmodulin antagonists: a clinically tested small molecule phenocopy of SEC62 gene silencing in human tumor cells
Authors: Linxweiler Maximilian , Schorr Stefan , Schäuble Nico , Jung Martin , Linxweiler Johannes , Langer Frank , Schäfers Hans-Joachim , Cavalié Adolfo , Zimmermann Richard , Greiner Markus
Published: December 2013

Background

Tumor cells benefit from their ability to avoid apoptosis and invade other tissues. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane protein Sec62 is a key player in these processes. Sec62 is essential for cell migration and protects tumor cells against thapsigargin-induced ER stress, which are both linked to cytosolic Ca2+.SEC62silencing leads to elevated cytosolic Ca2+and increased ER Ca2+leakage after thapsigargin treatment. Sec62 protein levels are significantly increased in different tumors, including prostate, lung and thyroid cancer.

Methods

In lung cancer, the influence of Sec62 protein levels on patient survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. To elucidate the underlying pathophysiological functions of Sec62, Ca2+imaging techniques, real-time cell analysis and cell migration assays were performed. The effects of treatment with the calmodulin antagonists, trifluoperazine (TFP) and ophiobolin A, on cellular Ca2+homeostasis, cell growth and cell migration were compared with the effects of siRNA-mediated Sec62 depletion or the expression of a mutatedSEC62variantin vitro. Using Biacore analysis we examined the Ca2+-sensitive interaction of Sec62 with the Sec61 complex.

Results

Sec62 overproduction significantly correlated with reduced patient survival. Therefore, Sec62 is not only a predictive marker for this type of tumor, but also an interesting therapeutic target. The present study suggests a regulatory function for Sec62 in the major Ca2+leakage channel in the ER, Sec61, by a direct and Ca2+-sensitive interaction. A Ca2+-binding motif in Sec62 is essential for its molecular function. Treatment of cells with calmodulin antagonists mimicked Sec62 depletion by inhibiting cell migration and rendering the cells sensitive to thapsigargin treatment.

Conclusions

Targeting tumors that overproduce Sec62 with calmodulin antagonists in combination with targeted thapsigargin analogues may offer novel personalized therapeutic options.
The influence of the treatment response on the impact of resection margin status after preoperative chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer
Authors: Lee Joo Ho , Chie Eui Kyu , Kim Kyubo , Jeong Seung-Yong , Park Kyu Joo , Park Jae-Gahb , Kang Gyeong Hoon , Han Sae-Won , Oh Do-Youn , Im Seock-Ah , Kim Tae-You , Bang Yung-Jue , Ha Sung W
Published: December 2013

Background

Circumferential resection margin (CRM) and distal resection margin (DRM) have different impact on clinical outcomes after preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by surgery. Effect and adequate length of resection margin as well as impact of treatment response after preoperative CRT was evaluated.

Methods

Total of 403 patients with rectal cancer underwent preoperative CRT followed by total mesorectal excision between January 2004 and December 2010. After applying the criterion of margin less than 0.5 cm for CRM or less than 1 cm for DRM, 151 cases with locally advanced rectal cancer were included as a study cohort. All patients underwent conventionally fractionated radiation with radiation dose over 50 Gy and concurrent chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil or capecitabine. Postoperative chemotherapy was administered to 142 patients (94.0%). Median follow-up duration was 43.1 months.

Results

The 5-year overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) rates, and locoregional control rates (LRC) were 84.5%, 72.8%, 74.2%, and 86.3%, respectively. CRM of 1.5 mm and DRM of 7 mm were cutting points showing maximal difference in a maximally selected rank method. In univariate analysis, CRM of 1.5 mm was significantly related with worse clinical outcomes, whereas DRM of 7 mm was not. In multivariate analysis, CRM of 1.5 mm, and ypN were prognosticators for all studied endpoints. However, CRM was not a significant prognostic factor for good responders, defined as patients with near total regression or T down-staging, which was found in 16.5% and 40.5% among studied patients, respectively. In contrast, poor responders demonstrated a significant difference according to the CRM status for all studied end-points.

Conclusions

Close CRM, defined as 1.5 mm, was a significant prognosticator, but the impact was only prominent for poor responders in subgroup analysis. Postoperative treatment strategy may be individualized based on this finding. However, findings from this study need to be validated with larger cohort.