bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bilateral and Unilateral Total Extraperitoneal Inguinal Hernia Repair (TEP) have Equivalent Early Outcomes: Analysis of 9395 Cases
Authors: Köckerling F. , Schug‐Pass C. , Adolf D. , Keller T. , Kuthe A.
Published: April 2015

Introduction

To date, no randomized controlled trials have been carried out to compare the perioperative outcome of unilateral and bilateral inguinal hernia repair using an endoscopic technique. In a Swiss registry study comparing unilateral with bilateral inguinal hernias, no further details were given regarding the nature of the intra‐ and postoperative complications. In addition, some authors have raised the issue of prophylactic repair of a clinically healthy other groin side.

Patients and methods

In the Herniamed Registry, in total 9395 patients with a TEP were enrolled. These comprised 6700 patients with unilateral (71.31 %) and 2695 patients (28.69 %) with bilateral inguinal hernia repair. The outcome variables, analyzed in a multivariable model, were the intra‐ and postoperative as well as general complication rates, reoperation rate, duration of operation, and length of hospital stay.

Results

While no significant difference was found in the overall number of intraoperative complications between the unilateral and bilateral group (p = 0.310), a significantly higher number of urinary bladder injuries in the bilateral TEP operation of 0.28 % compared with 0.04 % for unilateral TEP (p = 0,008) were noted. The greater probability of reoperation (0.82 % for unilateral vs. 1.78 % for bilateral TEP; p < 0,001) in the unadjusted analysis was confirmed in the multivariable model [OR 2.35 (1.504; 3.322); p = 0.001].

A significantly higher intraoperative urinary bladder injury rate and reoperation rate because of postoperative surgical complications constitute a difference in the perioperative outcome between unilateral and bilateral TEP which that warrants attention. Based on these results, prophylactic operation of the healthy other groin should not be recommended.
Understanding the genetic basis of potato development using a multi-trait QTL analysis
Authors: Hurtado-Lopez P. X. , Tessema B. B. , Schnabel S. K. , Maliepaard C. , Van der Linden C. G. , Eilers P. H. C. , Jansen J. , van Eeuwijk F. A. , Visser R. G. F.
Published: April 2015

Understanding the genetic basis of plant development in potato requires a proper characterization of plant morphology over time. Parameters related to different aging stages can be used to describe the developmental processes. It is attractive to map these traits simultaneously in a QTL analysis; because the power to detect a QTL will often be improved and it will be easier to identify pleiotropic QTLs. We included complex, agronomic traits together with plant development parameters in a multi-trait QTL analysis. First, the results of our analysis led to coherent insight into the genetic architecture of complex traits in potato. Secondly, QTL for parameters related to plant development were identified. Thirdly, pleiotropic regions for various types of traits were identified. Emergence, number of main stems, number of tubers and yield were explained by 9, 5, 4 and 6 QTL, respectively. These traits were measured once during the growing season. The genetic control of flowering, senescence and plant height, which were measured at regular time intervals, was explained by 9, 10 and 12 QTL, respectively. Genetic relationships between aboveground and belowground traits in potato were observed in 14 pleiotropic QTL. Some of our results suggest the presence of QTL-by-Environment interactions. Therefore, additional studies comparing development under different photoperiods are required to investigate the plasticity of the crop.
Stability and Reproducibility Underscore Utility of RT-QuIC for Diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
Authors: Cramm Maria , Schmitz Matthias , Karch André , Mitrova Eva , Kuhn Franziska , Schroeder Bjoern , Raeber Alex , Varges Daniela , Kim Yong-Sun , Satoh Katsuya , Collins Steven , Zerr Inga
Published: April 2015

Real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) allows the amplification of miniscule amounts of scrapie prion protein (PrPSc). Recent studies applied the RT-QuIC methodology to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for diagnosing human prion diseases. However, to date, there has not been a formal multi-centre assessment of the reproducibility, validity and stability of RT-QuIC in this context, an indispensable step for establishment as a diagnostic test in clinical practice. In the present study, we analysed CSF from 110 prion disease patients and 400 control patients using the RT-QuIC method under various conditions. In addition, “blinded” ring trials between different participating sites were performed to estimate reproducibility. Using the previously established cut-off of 10,000 relative fluorescence units (rfu), we obtained a sensitivity of 85 % and a specificity of 99 %. The multi-centre inter-laboratory reproducibility of RT-QuIC revealed a Fleiss’ kappa value of 0.83 (95 % CI: 0.40–1.00) indicating an almost perfect agreement. Moreover, we investigated the impact of short-term CSF storage at different temperatures, long-term storage, repeated freezing and thawing cycles and the contamination of CSF with blood on the RT-QuIC seeding response. Our data indicated that the PrPSc seed in CSF is stable to any type of storage condition but sensitive to contaminations with blood (>1250 erythrocytes/μL), which results in a false negative RT-QuIC response. Fresh blood-contaminated samples (3 days) can be rescued by removal of erythrocytes. The present study underlines the reproducibility and high stability of RT-QuIC across various CSF storage conditions with a remarkable sensitivity and specificity, suggesting RT-QuIC as an innovative and robust diagnostic method.
Retirement Timing of Women and the Role of Care Responsibilities for Grandchildren
Authors: Lumsdaine Robin L. , Vermeer Stephanie J. C.
Published: April 2015

This article considers the potential relationship between providing care for grandchildren and retirement, among women nearing retirement age. Using 47,444 person-wave observations from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), we find that the arrival of a new grandchild is associated with more than an 8 % increase in the retirement hazard despite little overall evidence of a care/retirement interaction. We document that although family characteristics seem to be the most important factors driving the care decision, they are also important determinants of retirement. In contrast, although financial incentives such as pensions and retiree health insurance have the largest influence on retirement, the opportunity cost associated with outside income seems to have little effect on whether a grandmother provides care. There is little evidence of substitution between caring for grandchildren versus providing care for elderly parents or engaging in volunteer activities; grandchild care is instead taken on as an additional responsibility. Our findings suggest that policies aimed at prolonging work life may need to consider grandchild care responsibilities as a countervailing factor, while those policies focused on grandchild care may also affect elderly labor force participation.
Pre-Service Teachers' Knowledge, Participation and Perceptions About Environmental Education in Schools
Authors: Gwekwerere Yovita
Published: April 2015

Despite the ever-growing body of knowledge about human impact on the environment and the need to work towards a sustainable future, participation in environmental action initiatives among the general population remains low. There is an increasingly urgent need to develop a culture of participation among young people who in turn may become future leaders. This article describes a study that was undertaken to investigate pre-service teachers’ environmental knowledge, their willingness to participate in environmental initiatives, and their perceptions about environmental education in schools. The study participants were pre-service teachers between the ages of 19 and 22. Data were collected through online surveys, followed by focus group interviews where pre-service teachers were given the opportunity to expand and comment on the survey responses. Findings from this study are consistent with previous research on pre-service teacher literacy, attitudes, perceptions and participation. However, the pre-service teachers’ perceptions about the role of schools and adults in nurturing environmental awareness and active participation among youth provides educators with new insights for the development of a more comprehensive environmental education curriculum that focuses on integration of theory and action.
Distrust in Utopia? Public Perceptions of Corruption and Political Support in Iceland before and after the Financial Crisis of 2008
Authors: Erlingsson Gissur Ó. , Linde Jonas , Öhrvall Richard
Published: April 2015

In the middle of the first decade of the twenty-first century Iceland was ranked as the least corrupt country in the world by Transparency International and enjoyed top positions in most comparative indices of governance and development. In 2008 the banking system collapsed and the country found itself in a serious financial crisis, a crisis which some observers believe was caused by clientelism and other forms of behaviour related to corruption. This article sets out to analyse how the crisis affected general political support and, in particular, the importance of perceptions of corruption in that process. Using survey data we show that political support plummeted after the crisis and that public evaluations of the extent of corruption became the most important determinant of support. The results have implications for how we ought to approach the issue of corruption, even in so-called ‘least corrupt’ settings. The findings also call into question the validity and reliability of frequently used measures of corruption and governance.
Long waves in a straight channel with non-uniform cross-section
Authors: Winckler Patricio , Liu Philip L.-F.
Published: April 2015

A cross-sectionally averaged one-dimensional long-wave model is developed. Three-dimensional equations of motion for inviscid and incompressible fluid are first integrated over a channel cross-section. To express the resulting one-dimensional equations in terms of the cross-sectional-averaged longitudinal velocity and spanwise-averaged free-surface elevation, the characteristic depth and width of the channel cross-section are assumed to be smaller than the typical wavelength, resulting in Boussinesq-type equations. Viscous effects are also considered. The new model is, therefore, adequate for describing weakly nonlinear and weakly dispersive wave propagation along a non-uniform channel with arbitrary cross-section. More specifically, the new model has the following new properties: (i) the arbitrary channel cross-section can be asymmetric with respect to the direction of wave propagation, (ii) the channel cross-section can change appreciably within a wavelength, (iii) the effects of viscosity inside the bottom boundary layer can be considered, and (iv) the three-dimensional flow features can be recovered from the perturbation solutions. Analytical and numerical examples for uniform channels, channels where the cross-sectional geometry changes slowly and channels where the depth and width variation is appreciable within the wavelength scale are discussed to illustrate the validity and capability of the present model. With the consideration of viscous boundary layer effects, the present theory agrees reasonably well with experimental results presented by Chang et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 95, 1979, pp. 401–414) for converging/diverging channels and those of Liu et al. (Coast. Engng, vol. 53, 2006, pp. 181–190) for a uniform channel with a sloping beach. The numerical results for a solitary wave propagating in a channel where the width variation is appreciable within a wavelength are discussed.
The Half Million Quasars (HMQ) Catalogue
Authors: Flesch Eric W.
Published: April 2015

A quasar catalogue is presented with a total of 510 764 objects including 424 748 type 1 QSOs and 26 623 type 1 AGN complete from the literature to 2015 January 25. Also included are 25015 high-confidence SDSS-based photometric quasars with radio/X-ray associations, 1595 BL Lac objects, and 32783 type 2 objects. Each object is displayed with arcsecond-accurate astrometry, red and blue photometry, redshift, citations, and radio and X-ray associations where present. Also, 114 new spectroscopically confirmed quasars are presented.
Diet quality in older age: the influence of childhood and adult socio-economic circumstances
Authors: Atkins Janice L. , Ramsay Sheena E. , Whincup Peter H. , Morris Richard W. , Lennon Lucy T. , Wannamethee S. Goya
Published: April 2015

Socio-economic gradients in diet quality are well established. However, the influence of material socio-economic conditions particularly in childhood, and the use of multiple disaggregated socio-economic measures on diet quality have been little studied in the elderly. In the present study, we examined childhood and adult socio-economic measures, and social relationships, as determinants of diet quality cross-sectionally in 4252 older British men (aged 60–79 years). A FFQ provided data on daily fruit and vegetable consumption and the Elderly Dietary Index (EDI), with higher scores indicating better diet quality. Adult and childhood socio-economic measures included occupation/father's occupation, education and household amenities, which combined to create composite scores. Social relationships included social contact, living arrangements and marital status. Both childhood and adult socio-economic factors were independently associated with diet quality. Compared with non-manual social class, men of childhood manual social class were less likely to consume fruit and vegetables daily (OR 0·80, 95 % CI 0·66, 0·97), as were men of adult manual social class (OR 0·65, 95 % CI 0·54, 0·79), and less likely to be in the top EDI quartile (OR 0·73, 95 % CI 0·61, 0·88), similar to men of adult manual social class (OR 0·66, 95 % CI 0·55, 0·79). Diet quality decreased with increasing adverse adult socio-economic scores; however, the association with adverse childhood socio-economic scores diminished with adult social class adjustment. A combined adverse childhood and adulthood socio-economic score was associated with poor diet quality. Diet quality was most favourable in married men and those not living alone, but was not associated with social contact. Diet quality in older men is influenced by childhood and adulthood socio-economic factors, marital status and living arrangements.
Spry2regulates signalling dynamics and terminal bud branching behaviour during lung development
Authors: ZHAO YINGYING , O'BRIEN TIMOTHY P.
Published: April 2015

Development of mammalian lung involves reiterative outgrowth and branching of an epithelial tube into the surrounding mesenchymal bed. Each coordinated growth and branching cycle is driven by reciprocal signalling between epithelial and adjacent mesenchymal cells. This signalling network includes FGF, SHH, BMP4 and other pathways. We have characterized lung defects in 36Pubmice carrying a deletion that removes an antagonist of FGF signalling,Spry2. Spry2deficient mice show an enlarged cystic structure located in the terminus of each lobes. Our study shows thatSpry2deficient lungs have reduced lung branching and the cystic structure forms in the early lung development stage. Furthermore, mice carrying a targeted disruption of Spry2 fail to complement the lung phenotype characterized in 36Pubmice. ASpry2-BAC transgene rescues the defect. Interestingly, cystic structure growth is accompanied by the reduced and spatially disorganized expression ofFgf10and elevated expression ofShhandBmp4. Altered signalling balance due to the loss ofSpry2causes a delayed branch cycle and cystic growth. Our data underscores the importance of restricting cellular responsiveness to signalling and highlights the interplay between morphogenesis events and spatial localization of gene expression.
EVOLVING INTERPRETATION OF MULTILATERAL TREATIES: ’ACTS CONTRARY TO THE PURPOSES AND PRINCIPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS’ IN THE REFUGEE CONVENTION
Authors: McKeever David
Published: April 2015

The 1951 Refugee Convention does not apply to a person with respect to whom there are serious reasons for considering that ‘he has been guilty of acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations’ (Article 1(F)(c)). To date, this exclusion clause has generally been interpreted by courts, commentators and UNHCR in a static manner which fails to take into account developments in international law and practice. This paper considers the ‘evolutive approach’ to treaty interpretation, generally, and applies this approach, alongside standard rules of treaty interpretation, to Article 1(F)(c). This paper challenges a number of assertions commonly made regarding this clause, and concludes that it should be interpreted to the effect that conduct amounting to serious or sustained human rights violations, such that would constitute ‘persecution’ for the purposes of Article 1(A)(2) of the Convention, meets the standard for exclusion under Article 1(F)(c).
Great Powers, Hierarchy, and Endogenous Regimes: Rethinking the Domestic Causes of Peace
Authors: McDonald Patrick J.
Published: April 2015

This paper blends recent research on hierarchy and democratization to examine the theoretical and empirical costs of treating regime type exogenously in the literature most identified with studying its impact on international politics. It argues that the apparent peace among democratic states that emerges in the aftermath of World War I is not caused by domestic institutional attributes normally associated with democracy. Instead, this peace is an artifact of historically specific great power settlements. These settlements shape subsequent aggregate patterns of military conflict by altering the organizational configuration of the system in three critical ways—by creating new states, by altering hierarchical orders, and by influencing regime type in states. These claims are defended with a series of tests that show first how the statistical relationship between democracy and peace has exhibited substantial variation across great power orders; second, that this statistical relationship breaks down with theoretically motivated research design changes; and third, that great powers foster peace and similar regime types within their hierarchical orders. In short, the relationship between democracy and peace is spurious. The international political order is still built and managed by great powers.
Cylindrical liner Z-pinch experiments for fusion research and high-energy-density physics
Authors: Burdiak G. C. , Lebedev S. V. , Suzuki-Vidal F. , Swadling G. F. , Bland S. N. , Niasse N. , Suttle L. , Bennet M. , Hare J. , Weinwurm M. , Rodriguez R. , Gil J. , Espinosa G.
Published: April 2015

A gas-filled cylindrical liner z-pinch configuration has been used to drive convergent radiative shock waves into different gases at velocities of 20–50 km s−1. On application of the 1.4 MA, 240 ns rise-time current pulse produced by the Magpie generator at Imperial College London, a series of cylindrically convergent shock waves are sequentially launched into the gas-fill from the inner wall of the liner. This occurs without any bulk motion of the liner wall itself. The timing and trajectories of the shocks are used as a diagnostic tool for understanding the response of the liner z-pinch wall to a large pulsed current. This analysis provides useful data on the liner resistivity, and a means to test equation of state (EOS) and material strength models within MHD simulation codes. In addition to providing information on liner response, the convergent shocks are interesting to study in their own right. The shocks are strong enough for radiation transport to influence the shock wave structure. In particular, we see evidence for both radiative preheating of material ahead of the shockwaves and radiative cooling instabilities in the shocked gas. Some preliminary results from initial gas-filled liner experiments with an applied axial magnetic field are also discussed.
Cold atmospheric plasma activity on microorganisms. A study on the influence of the treatment time and surface
Authors: Xaplanteris C. L. , Filippaki E. D. , Christodoulakis J. K. , Kazantzaki M. A. , Tsakalos E. P. , Xaplanteris L. C.
Published: April 2015

The second half of the 20th century can be characterized and named as the ‘plasma era’, as the plasma gathered scientific interest because of its special physical behaviour. Thus, it was considered as the fourth material state and the plasma physics began to form consequently. In addition to this, many important applications of plasma were discovered and put to use. Especially, in last few decades, there has been an increased interest in the use of cold atmospheric plasma in bio-chemical applications. Until now, thermal plasma has been commonly used in many bio-medical and other applications; however, more recent efforts have shown that plasma can also be produced at lower temperature (close to the environment temperature) by using ambient air in an open space (in atmospheric pressure). However, two aspects remain neglected: firstly, low-temperature plasma production with a large area, and secondly, acquiring the necessary knowledge and understanding the relevant interaction mechanisms of plasma species with microorganisms. These aspects are currently being investigated at the ‘Demokritos’ Plasma Laboratory in Athens, Greece with radio frequency (27.12 MHz and it integer harmonics)-driven sub-atmospheric pressure plasma (100 Pa). The first aspect was achieved with atmospheric plasma being produced at a low temperature (close to the environment temperature) and in a large closed space systems. Regarding the plasma effect on living microorganisms, preliminary experiments and findings have already been carried out and many more have been planned for the near future.
Why isn't faith a work? An examination of Protestant answers
Authors: Wahlberg Mats
Published: April 2015

Protestant critique of the Catholic idea of inherent righteousness has, since the time of the Reformation, given rise to counter-questions about the status of faith in Protestant theology. Is faith a human condition for justification (that is, a human act or inherent property which is necessary for justification), and why should not faith in that case be counted as a kind of work? Many Protestant theologians, however, view it as very important to dissociate faith from works. This article examines a number of Protestant attempts to explain why faith is not a work. The examined explanations rely on a number of ideas, for example, that faith is not a work because faith is a gift of God, or because faith is non-voluntary, or because faith is not a condition of justification, or because faith does not merit justification, or because faith is union with Christ. The problem with many of these Protestant answers to the question of why faith is not a work is that they can equally well be used to explain why the supernatural virtue of love is not a work. The Reformers, however, strongly associated love with ‘works of the law’, and wanted to keep love out of the doctrine of justification. For Protestants who share this view of love, the present article poses a challenge. Is it possible to dissociate faith from works without at the same time dissociating love from works, thereby legitimising the Tridentine understanding of justification? The author concludes that this is indeed possible, but only if an important identity marker for much Protestant theology is given up, namely the purely forensic understanding of the doctrine of justification.
The Gospel according to Mormon
Authors: Reynolds Noel B.
Published: April 2015

Although scholarly investigation of the Book of Mormon has increased significantly over the last three decades, only a tiny portion of that effort has been focused on the theological or doctrinal content of this central volume of Latter-day Saints (LDS) scripture. This article identifies three inclusios which promise definitions of the doctrine or gospel of Jesus Christ and proposes a cumulative methodology to explain how these definitions work. This approach reveals a consistently presented, six-part formula defining ‘the way’ by which mankind can qualify for eternal life. In this way the article provides a starting point for scholarly examinations of the theological content of this increasingly influential religious text.

While the names of the six elements featured in Mormon's gospel will sound familiar to students of the New Testament, the meanings he assigns to these may differ substantially from traditional Christian discourse in ways which make Mormon's characterisation of the gospel or doctrine of Christ unique. (1) Faith is understood primarily as action displaying complete trust or reliance on Christ and the power of his atonement. (2) Repentance requires turning away from one's own way and humbly submitting – by covenant – to the way of the Lord. (3) Water baptism is then the prescribed sign of that covenant a repentant person gives in witnessing both to God and to the world that she has repented and undertaken to follow Christ in all things. (4) The baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost brings the remission of sins in a spiritual rebirth to the repentant individual at such time as God judges her repentance to be true. It also provides converts with a direct witness of the Father and of the Son and of the promises of salvation for those who follow this gospel – as they may be led by the continuing guidance of the Holy Ghost. (5) But only those who endure to the end in this way will (6) receive salvation in the kingdom of God.

The overall pattern suggested is a dialogue between man and God, who initially invites all people to trust in Christ and repent. Those who respond by repenting and seeking baptism will be visited by fire and by the Holy Ghost, which initiates a lifelong interaction, leading the convert day by day in preparation for the judgement, at which she may finally be invited to enter the kingdom of God.
China's Skewed Sex Ratio and the One-Child Policy
Authors: Loh Charis , Remick Elizabeth J.
Published: April 2015

The media and generalist scholarly work have created a conventional wisdom that China's one-child policy is the driver of the country's skewed sex ratio and so should be relaxed in order to ameliorate the imbalance. However, we show through historical, domestic and international comparisons that son preference, which we treat as an observable and measurable variable made up of labour, ritual, inheritance and old-age security practices and policies, is crucial to explaining the imbalanced sex ratio at birth. China's sex ratio cannot fully normalize without addressing son preference.
The Origins of Indirect Rule in India: Hyderabad and the British Imperial Order
Authors: Datla Kavita Saraswathi
Published: April 2015

The main problem with the orthodox account of modern world politics is that it describes only one of these patterns of international order: the one that was dedicated to the pursuit of peaceful coexistence between equal and mutually independent sovereigns, which developed within the Westphalian system and the European society of states....Orthodox theorists have paid far too little attention to the other pattern of international order, which evolved during roughly the same period of time, but beyond rather than within Europe; not through relations between Europeans, but through relations between Europeans and non-Europeans. Instead of being based on a states-system, this pattern of order was based on colonial and imperial systems, and its characteristic practice was not the reciprocal recognition of sovereign independence between states, but rather the division of sovereignty across territorial borders and the enforcement of individuals' rights to their persons and property.

The American Revolution and the “revolution” in Bengal posed new political questions for domestic British politics and inaugurated a new era for the British empire. As the British committed themselves to the administration of a vast population of non-Europeans in the Indian province of Bengal, and estimations of financial windfalls were presented to stockholders and politicians, the center of the British Empire came slowly to shift toward the East. The evolution of a system of indirect rule in India as it related to larger political questions being posed in Britain, partly because of its protracted and diverse nature, has not received the same attention. Attention to Indian states, in the scholarship on eighteenth century South Asia, has closely followed the expanding colonial frontier, focusing on those states that most engaged British military attention: Bengal, Mysore, and the Marathas. And yet, the eighteenth century should also command our attention as a crucial moment of transition from an earlier Indian Ocean world trading system, in which European powers inserted themselves as one sovereign authority among many, to that of being supreme political authorities of territories that they did not govern directly. India's native states, or “country powers,” as the British referred to them in the eighteenth century, underwrote the expansion of the East India Company in the East. The tribute paid by these states became an important financial resource at the company's disposal, as it attempted to balance its books in the late eighteenth century. Additionally, the troops maintained to protect these states were significant in Britain's late eighteenth century military calculations. These states, in other words, were absolutely central to the forging of the British imperial order, and generative of the very practices that came to characterize colonial expansion and governance.
Theme Park Britten: Staging the English Village at the Aldeburgh Festival
Authors: Ward-Griffin Danielle
Published: April 2015

Journalists and scholars have long observed how Aldeburgh seems to function as a larger stage for Benjamin Britten’s village-themed operas. Not only is it the explicit setting forPeter Grimes, but it also serves as the site for the annual Aldeburgh Festival of Music and the Arts, founded by Britten in 1948. This article examines how the Festival served as a parallel construction of the village life seen in Britten’s early operas, particularlyAlbert Herring(1947) andLittle Sweep(1949). Analysing materials from the initial years of the Festival – including programme books and accounts of exhibitions and performances – I trace how Festival organisers drew upon the rhetoric and modes of behaviour of contemporary tourism in promoting a particular vision of the local community. By blurring the line between the fictional worlds of Britten’s village-themed operas and the site of Aldeburgh, the Festival encouraged the visitors to fabricate the very kind of community that organisers claimed could already be found at Aldeburgh.
Household food insecurity and dietary intake in Korea: results from the 2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Authors: Kim Hyun Ja , Oh Kyungwon
Published: April 2015

Objective

To examine the prevalence of household food insecurity and compare dietary intake by food security status in a representative Korean population.

Design

Cross-sectional. Food security status of households was classified using an eighteen-item food security questionnaire. The nutrition survey comprised questions on dietary habits, a 24 h dietary recall and a semi-quantitative FFQ.

Setting

The 2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Subjects

A total of 3007 households completed the food security questionnaire. Family members within each household aged ≥1 year (n 7118) participated in the nutrition survey.

Results

Results from the 2012 survey indicated that 88·7 % of Korean households showed food security. The remaining 11·3 % (9·3 % for food insecurity without hunger and 2·0 % for food insecurity with hunger) were in food-insecure households. The prevalence of household food insecurity was 13·2 % in households with children and 10·3 % in households without children. Mean daily intakes of energy, fat and carbohydrates were not significantly different between food-secure and food-insecure adults. In contrast, mean daily intakes of protein, crude fibre, vitamins and minerals as well as weekly consumption frequencies of vegetables, seaweeds, fruits, fruit juice, nuts, and milk and milk products were significantly lower in food-insecure adults compared with food-secure adults.

Conclusions

The study demonstrated that food insecurity is associated with reduced intakes of healthy foods and nutrients essential for health and growth in a representative Korean population.
Experiences of overweight/obese adolescents in navigating their home food environment
Authors: Watts Allison W , Lovato Chris Y , Barr Susan I , Hanning Rhona M , Mâsse Louise C
Published: April 2015

Objective

To explore perceived factors that impede or facilitate healthful eating within the home environment among overweight/obese adolescents.

Design

In the present qualitative photovoice study, participants were instructed to take photographs of things that made it easier or harder to make healthful food choices at home. Digital photographs were reviewed and semi-structured interviews were conducted to promote discussion of the photographs. Data were analysed using constant comparative analysis.

Setting

Vancouver, Canada, in 2012–2013.

Subjects

Twenty-two overweight/obese adolescents who completed a family-based lifestyle modification intervention.

Results

The mean age of participants was 14 (sd1·9) years, 77 % were female and their mean BMIZ-score was 2·4 (sd0·6). Adolescents talked about six aspects of the home environment that influenced their eating habits (in order of frequency): home cooking, availability and accessibility of foods/beverages, parenting practices, family modelling, celebrations and screen use/studying. In general, homes with availability of less healthful foods, where family members also liked to eat less healthful foods and where healthier foods were less abundant or inaccessible were described as barriers to healthful eating. Special occasions and time spent studying or in front of the screen were also conducive to less healthful food choices. Home cooked meals supported adolescents in making healthier food choices, while specific parenting strategies such as encouragement and restriction were helpful for some adolescents.

Conclusions

Adolescents struggled to make healthful choices in their home environment, but highlighted parenting strategies that were supportive. Targeting the home food environment is important to enable healthier food choices among overweight/obese adolescents.
Relative validity and reproducibility of an FFQ to determine nutrient intakes of New Zealand toddlers aged 12–24 months
Authors: Watson Emily O , Heath Anne-Louise M , Taylor Rachael W , Mills Virginia C , Barris Ashleigh C , Skidmore Paula ML
Published: April 2015

Objective

The study objective was to determine the relative validity and reproducibility of a modified FFQ for ranking the nutrient intakes of New Zealand toddlers aged 12–24 months.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Dunedin, New Zealand.

Subjects

One hundred and fifty-two participants completed a ninety-five-item FFQ twice, and five days of weighed diet recording (WDR), over one month. Validity and reproducibility were assessed for crude data and for data that were weighted for total fruit and vegetable intake (FV-adjusted).

Results

De-attenuated correlations between FV-adjusted FFQ data and WDR data ranged from 0·45 (Zn) to 0·77 (Ca). The percentage classified to the correct WDR quartile by the FV-adjusted FFQ data ranged from 34·6 % (total fat, Zn) to 50·3 % (Fe). Average gross misclassification was 3 %. Bland–Altman statistics showed crude data had a range of 128–178 % agreement with the WDR and mean FV-adjusted intakes had 112–160 % agreement. FV-adjusted intra-class correlations, assessing reproducibility, ranged from 0·65 (vitamin C) to 0·75 (Ca).

Conclusions

The Eating Assessment in Toddlers (EAT) FFQ showed acceptable to good relative validity, and good reproducibility, for ranking participants’ nutrient intake and is able to identify toddlers at extremes of the nutrient intake distribution. It will be a useful tool for investigating toddlers’ nutrient intakes in studies that require a method of dietary assessment with low respondent burden.
MINIMAL HYPERSURFACES ASYMPTOTIC TO SIMONS CONES
Authors: Mazet Laurent
Published: April 2015

In this paper, we prove that, up to similarity, there are only two minimal hypersurfaces in $\mathbb{R}^{n+2}$ that are asymptotic to a Simons cone, i.e., the minimal cone over the minimal hypersurface $\sqrt{\frac{p}{n}}\mathbb{S}^{p}\times \sqrt{\frac{n-p}{n}}\mathbb{S}^{n-p}$ of $\mathbb{S}^{n+1}$.
Political and Spiritual Migration: The Adaptive Formation of Religious and Partisan Attachments among Latino Immigrants in the United States
Authors: Weaver Christopher L.
Published: April 2015

Immigrants to the United States often fail to develop partisan identities, which can be a political impediment. While the development of partisanship has received substantial attention in the existing literature, further research is needed to understand the origins of partisanship for new immigrants who lack the socialized psychological attachments that drive partisanship for many Americans. I theorize that preceding changes in salient social identities may facilitate the formation of partisan attachments as an adaptive response to a new environment. Specifically, I contend that religious conversion, an adaptive change in one's religious identity, increases the probability of political adaptation among Latino immigrants, the largest immigrant group in the United States. Using data from a 2006 Pew survey of Latino religious life, I show that conversion among Latino immigrants is associated with a greater partisan identification, which suggests religious conversion may function as an intervening adaptation in the evolution of partisanship.
Social Identity and Voting in Afghanistan: Evidence from a Survey Experiment
Authors: Jochem Torsten , Murtazashvili Ilia , Murtazashvili Jennifer
Published: April 2015

The basis of social identity in Afghanistan is the concept of qawm. As qawm refers to an individual’s solidarity group, such as village, tribe, subtribe, or even ethnic group, it captures broad in-group/out-group distinctions. We analyze a survey experiment to explore how qawm affiliation affects individual perceptions of politicians running for a fictitious local election. Contrary to expectations derived from the literatures on Afghanistan and on identity politics, we find qawm affiliation does not influence voter choice or perceived importance that a fellow qawm member should be elected. Moreover, qawm affiliation actually undermines individual perceptions a candidate will work on behalf of voters if elected. We explore two general mechanisms that may explain these findings, including weakening social ties and salience of the qawm.
It's a Mad, Mad World: Using Emotion Inductions in a Survey
Authors: Searles Kathleen , Mattes Kyle
Published: April 2015

Recent research has uncovered a dynamic role for emotion in political decision-making. Anger in particular has increased in importance as scholars uncover its role in motivating participation and partisanship. One method for examining these effects is to use an induction to invoke an emotion, though such techniques are often limited to the laboratory. We discuss pertinent psychological research on induction, test several methods, and make practical recommendations for political science survey research. Using a unique research design which varies the way anger is invoked, we first find significant effects using a scenario induction. We replicate these findings with an adult sample and extend the results to political inductions. We are able to offer practical advice to scholars interested in replicating the effects of angry campaign ads or better understanding the effects of anger arousal on political behavior.
Radar Shows Where Water and Ice Occur in Large Storms
Authors: Palus Shannon
Published: April 2015

Storms over the Indian Ocean show that precipitation type depends on oceanic airflow.
Host Langerin (CD207) is a receptor for Yersinia pestis phagocytosis and promotes dissemination
Authors: Yang Kun , Park Chae G , Cheong Cheolho , Bulgheresi Silvia , Zhang Shusheng , Zhang Pei , He Yingxia , Jiang Lingyu , Huang Hongping , Ding Honghui , Wu Yiping , Wang Shaogang , Zhang Lin , Li Anyi , Xia Lianxu , Bartra Sara S , Plano Gregory V , Skurnik Mikael , Klena John D , Chen Tie
Published: April 2015

Yersinia pestis is a Gram‐negative bacterium that causes plague. After Y. pestis overcomes the skin barrier, it encounters antigen‐presenting cells (APCs), such as Langerhans and dendritic cells. They transport the bacteria from the skin to the lymph nodes. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in bacterial transmission are unclear. Langerhans cells (LCs) express Langerin (CD207), a calcium‐dependent (C‐type) lectin. Furthermore, Y. pestis possesses exposed core oligosaccharides. In this study, we show that Y. pestis invades LCs and Langerin‐expressing transfectants. However, when the bacterial core oligosaccharides are shielded or truncated, Y. pestis propensity to invade Langerhans and Langerin‐expressing cells decreases. Moreover, the interaction of Y. pestis with Langerin‐expressing transfectants is inhibited by purified Langerin, a DC‐SIGN (DC‐specific intercellular adhesion molecule 3 grabbing nonintegrin)‐like molecule, an anti‐CD207 antibody, purified core oligosaccharides and several oligosaccharides. Furthermore, covering core oligosaccharides reduces the mortality associated with murine infection by adversely affecting the transmission of Y. pestis to lymph nodes. These results demonstrate that direct interaction of core oligosaccharides with Langerin facilitates the invasion of LCs by Y. pestis. Therefore, Langerin‐mediated binding of Y. pestis to APCs may promote its dissemination and infection.
Imaging the Cannabinoid CB1 Receptor in Humans with [11C] OMAR: Assessment of Kinetic Analysis Methods, Test–Retest Reproducibility, and Gender Differences
Authors: Normandin Marc D , Zheng Ming-Qiang , Lin Kuo-Shyan , Mason N Scott , Lin Shu-Fei , Ropchan Jim , Labaree David , Henry Shannan , Williams Wendol A , Carson Richard E , Neumeister Alexander , Huang Yiyun
Published: April 2015

The Radiotracer [11C]OMAR was developed for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of cannabinoid type-1 receptors (CB1R). The objectives of the present study were to evaluate kinetic analysis methods, determine test–retest reliability, and assess gender differences in receptor availability. Dynamic PET data were acquired in 10 human subjects, and analyzed with one-tissue (1T) and two-tissue (2T) compartment models and by the Logan and multilinear analysis (MA1) methods to estimate regional volume of distribution ( VT). The 2T model inclusive of a vascular component (2TV) and MA1 were the preferred techniques. Test–retest reliability of VT was good (mean absolute deviation ~ 9%; intraclass correlation coefficient ~ 0.7). Tracer parent fraction in plasma was lower in women ( P < 0.0001). Cerebral uptake normalized by body weight and injected dose was higher in men by 17% ( P < 0.0001), but VT was significantly greater in women by 23% ( P < 0.0001). These findings show that [11C]OMAR binding can be reliably quantified by the 2T model or MA1 method and demonstrate the utility of this tracer for in vivo imaging of CB1R. In addition, results from the present study indicate that gender difference in receptor binding should be taken into consideration when [11C]OMAR is used to quantify CB1R availability in neuropsychiatric disorders.
Optical Measurement of Mouse Strain Differences in Cerebral Blood Flow Using Indocyanine Green
Authors: Kang Hye-Min , Sohn Inkyung , Kim Seunggyu , Kim Daehwan , Jung Junyang , Jeong Joo-Won , Park Chan
Published: April 2015

C57BL/6 mice have more cerebral arterial branches and collaterals than BALB/c mice. We measured and compared blood flow dynamics of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in these two strains, using noninvasive optical imaging with indocyanine green (ICG). Relative maximum fluorescence intensity ( Imax) and the time needed for ICG to reach Imax in the MCA of C57BL/c were lower than that in BALB/c mice. Moreover, the mean transit time was significantly lower in C57BL/6 than in BALB/c mice. These data suggest that the higher number of arterial branches and collaterals in C57BL/6 mice yields a lower blood flow per cerebral artery.
Brain metastatic cancer cells release microRNA-181c-containing extracellular vesicles capable of destructing blood–brain barrier
Authors: Tominaga Naoomi , Kosaka Nobuyoshi , Ono Makiko , Katsuda Takeshi , Yoshioka Yusuke , Tamura Kenji , Lötvall Jan , Nakagama Hitoshi , Ochiya Takahiro
Published: April 2015

Brain metastasis is an important cause of mortality in breast cancer patients. A key event during brain metastasis is the migration of cancer cells through blood–brain barrier (BBB). However, the molecular mechanism behind the passage through this natural barrier remains unclear. Here we show that cancer-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs), mediators of cell–cell communication via delivery of proteins and microRNAs (miRNAs), trigger the breakdown of BBB. Importantly, miR-181c promotes the destruction of BBB through the abnormal localization of actin via the downregulation of its target gene,PDPK1. PDPK1 degradation by miR-181c leads to the downregulation of phosphorylated cofilin and the resultant activated cofilin-induced modulation of actin dynamics. Furthermore, we demonstrate that systemic injection of brain metastatic cancer cell-derived EVs promoted brain metastasis of breast cancer cell lines and are preferentially incorporated into the brainin vivo. Taken together, these results indicate a novel mechanism of brain metastasis mediated by EVs that triggers the destruction of BBB.
Involvement of GluR2 up-regulation in neuroprotection by electroacupuncture pretreatment via cannabinoid CB1 receptor in mice
Authors: Liu Zhaoyu , Chen Xiyao , Gao Yang , Sun Sisi , Yang Lei , Yang Qianzi , Bai Fuhai , Xiong Lize , Wang Qiang
Published: April 2015

We investigated whether glutamate receptor subunit 2 (GluR2) is involved in EA pretreatment-induced neuroprotection via cannabinoid CB1 receptors (CB1R) after global cerebral ischemia in mice. Two hours after electric acupuncture (EA) pretreatment, global cerebral ischemia (GCI) was induced by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) for 20 min. The GluR2 expression was examined in the hippocampus after reperfusion. Cell survival, neuronal apoptosis, the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and neurological scores were evaluated at 24 h after BCCAO in the presence or absence of the GluR2 inhibitor. Furthermore, the GluR2 was determined in the presence and absence of CB1R inhibitor. Our results showed EA pretreatment enhanced expression of GluR2 in the hippocampus 2 h after reperfusion. Moreover, EA pretreatment improved neurological outcome, promoted cell survival, inhibited neuronal apoptosis and decreased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio after reperfusion. GluR2 knockdown by GluR2 siRNA effectively reversed the beneficial effects of EA pretreatment. Furthermore, CB1R siRNA and two CB1R antagonists blocked the elevation of GluR2 expression by EA pretreatment, whereas the two CB1R agonists up-regulated GluR2 expression as EA pretreatment. In conclusion, GluR2 up-regulation is involved in neuroprotection of EA pretreatment against GCI through CB1R, suggesting that GluR2 may be a novel target for stroke intervention.