bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Precarious lives: Transnational biographies of migrant oil palm workers
Authors: Pye Oliver , Daud Ramlah , Harmono Yuyun , Tatat
Published: December 2012

Based on ongoing biographical research of Indonesian migrant workers in the oil palm plantations of Malaysia, this paper explores their different strategies of survival in a sector characterised by an ongoing precarity of livelihoods. The life stories of six workers from Sulawesi, Flores, Java and Sumatra are used to illustrate a tentative typology of migration experiences. As the workers set out from their own specific context of ‘surplus population’, they are confronted with a migration labour regime that is based on the social and political precarisation of the workers. However, in order to achieve their development aspirations, the workers find different ways of adapting to or circumventing the precarious labour regime. In particular, flight or absconding (lari) is used to change employers, to find better working conditions and to increase wages. Another key strategy is to increase the permanence of their stay, either by choosing illegality or by negotiating retrospective documentation. These strategies lead to the emergence of long‐term transnational networks that change the social reality of the migration regime in the oil palm industry.
“Practical Divine Influence”: Socioeconomic Status and Belief in the Prosperity Gospel
Authors: Schieman Scott , Jung Jong Hyun
Published: December 2012

The “prosperity gospel” is an understudied feature of the religious landscape of the United States. Little is known about the social patterning of prosperity gospel beliefs. We focus on two core dimensions of socioeconomic status (SES)—education and income—as potential influences. Our analyses of data from the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life's 2006 Survey of Pentecostals produce three findings. First, education and income have negative and mostly independent associations with prosperity gospel beliefs. Second, SES‐based patterns remain after accounting for other attributes of the religious role. Third, while most education‐based differences are contingent upon the attributes of the religious role, these contingencies are not replicated for income‐based differences. These observations reinforce the long‐standing claim that SES plays a pivotal—and complex—role in the social patterning of religious beliefs.
The Limits of Secularization? The Resurgence of Orthodoxy in Post‐Soviet Russia
Authors: Evans Geoffrey , Northmore‐Ball Ksenia
Published: December 2012

The collapse of the Soviet Union ended a long period of state repression of religion, facilitating a possible religious revival in Russia. Despite evidence of increasing levels of Russian Orthodox identification in the 1990s, however, the debate over whether post‐Soviet Russia is an exception to secularization trends elsewhere continues. We address this debate by examining trends in Orthodox identification and church attendance and their impact on conservative moral values, as well as the basis of religiosity in age cohorts, using a seven‐wave national, stratified random sample survey covering 1993–2007. The analysis indicates continued growth in Orthodox self‐identification, increased church attendance, and an increasingly strong association between religiosity and conservative morality over this time period. Moreover, signs of religious revival are most pronounced among the cohort of people who came to maturity after communism ended. The resurgence of Orthodoxy in Russia provides a robust exception to secularization trends in Western Europe.
Blue or Purple? Reflections on the Future of the Labour Party
Authors: Beech Matt , Hickson Kevin
Published: December 2012

The purpose of this article is to examine the future ideological direction of the Labour party by analysing two intellectual offerings that have appeared in the post-New Labour era: ‘Blue Labour’ and The Purple Book. First, the article sets out the strategic context of these ideological conversations: Labour's defeat in the 2010 general election; the formation of the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition; economic austerity resulting from the banking crisis and the global financial crash; and the changing political climate which ostensibly suggests a move from the ‘politics of the state’ to the politics of ‘localism’. Next, the article discusses the main features of ‘Blue’ and ‘Purple’ Labour. Finally, the article provides an explanatory evaluation of the two divergent ‘futures’. The article aids both scholars and students in the ongoing intellectual task of explaining British politics in the post-New Labour era and, more particularly, helps one to understand the ideological future of the Labour party.
Taiwan's 2012 Presidential Election
Authors: Sullivan Jonathan
Published: December 2012

In January 2012 Taiwan concluded elections for the presidency and legislature. Incumbent Ma Ying-jeou was re-elected and his KMT party retained a parliamentary majority, albeit both in reduced form. This article provides a brief account of the presidential election, focusing on how the campaign was fought, addressing the salient issues, and discussing the results and their implications for political competition in Taiwan and in terms of cross-Strait relations.
No Solutions, Only Trade‐Offs? Evidence about Goal Conflict in Street‐Level Bureaucracies
Authors: Resh William G. , Pitts David W.
Published: December 2012

Theories of goal conflict suggest that public organizations confront two possibilities when they face multiple policy goals: (1) organizations attain synergy among lower‐order, instrumental goals in order to achieve higher‐order objectives, or (2) organizations face a zero‐sum trade‐off among goals. Implicit in this debate is the proposition that trade‐off is more likely when performance toward the attainment of multiple goals is measured with substantively exclusive metrics and under varying environments of task difficulty. This research examines which of these theories appears to explain the implementation and interaction of multiple policy goals in the context of Georgia public high schools. The findings demonstrate the highly contingent nature of goal synergy and trade‐off. While goal synergy is possible in the interaction of multiple lower‐order goal attainment, more robust gains can be made toward a higher‐order objective by focusing on one particular lower‐order goal rather than an all‐inclusive approach to goal attainment.
Geographies of capital formation and rescaling: A historical‐geographical approach to the food desert problem
Authors: Bedore Melanie
Published: December 2012

Although the “food desert” concept has captured the public imagination and spurred public policy efforts in many North American cities, the term has been critiqued by academics for being definitionally and methodologically vague, and for providing an incomplete picture of the complexity of food access. Rather than dismiss the study of urban, inner‐city food deserts, however, scholars can study disparities in retail food access through a historical, critical political economy lens to understand underserved retail landscapes as a product of capital formation and rescaling over time. The purpose of this article is to conduct such an analysis, using the case study of a low‐income community in Kingston, Ontario. Using historical research and qualitative interviews, the major finding of this analysis is that the physical accessibility of retail food appears to have declined over time in relation to the capitalization of the retail food sector. An imperfect relationship can be outlined over three phases of Canadian urban economic history to suggest that the food desert problem emerged largely in the transition from a decentralized, small‐scale, and neighbourhood‐embedded retail food industry to the scaled‐up, disembedded industry that now dominates the landscape. This industry‐level rescaling is contributing to a new urban politics of class and consumption through subtle, everyday activities such as food shopping.
Immunohistochemical characterization and functional identification of mammary gland telocytes in the self‐assembly of reconstituted breast cancer tissue in vitro
Authors: Mou Yongchao , Wang Yan , Li Junjie , Lü Shuanghong , Duan Cuimi , Du Zhiyan , Yang Guili , Chen Weizhen , Zhao Siyang , Zhou Jin , Wang Changyong
Published: December 2012

Telocyte (TC) as a special stromal cell exists in mammary gland and might play an important role in the balance of epithelium‐stroma of mammary gland. Considering that different types of breast interstitial cells influence the development and progression of breast cancer, TCs may have its distinct role in this process. We here studied the roles of TCs in the self‐assembly of reconstituted breast cancer tissue. We co‐cultured primary isolated TCs and other breast stromal cells with breast cancer EMT‐6 cells in collagen/Matrigel scaffolds to reconstitute breast cancer tissue in vitro. Using histology methods, we investigated the immunohistochemical characteristics and potential functions of TCs in reconstituted breast cancer tissue. TCs in primary mammary gland stromal cells with long and thin overlapping cytoplasmic processes, expressed c‐kit/CD117, CD34 and vimentin in reconstitute breast cancer tissue. The transmission electron microscopy showed that the telocyte‐like cells closely communicated with breast cancer cells as well as other stromal cells, and might serve as a bridge that directly linked the adjacent cells through membrane‐to‐membrane contact. Compared with cancer tissue sheets of EMT‐6 alone, PCNA proliferation index analysis and TUNEL assay showed that TCs and other breast stromal cells facilitated the formation of typical nest structure, promoted the proliferation of breast cancer cells, and inhibited their apoptosis. In conclusion, we successfully reconstituted breast cancer tissue in vitro, and it seems to be attractive that TCs had potential functions in self‐assembly of EMT‐6/stromal cells reconstituted breast cancer tissue.
Response of macroalgal assemblages from rockpools to climate change: effects of persistent increase in temperature and CO2
Authors: Olabarria Celia , Arenas Francisco , Viejo Rosa M. , Gestoso Ignacio , Vaz‐Pinto Fátima , Incera Mónica , Rubal Marcos , Cacabelos Eva , Veiga Puri , Sobrino Cristina
Published: December 2012

Anthropogenically induced global climate change has important implications for marine ecosystems with unprecedented ecological and economic consequences. Climate change will include the simultaneous increase of temperature and CO2 concentration in oceans. However, experimental manipulations of these factors at the community scale are rare. In this study, we used an experimental approach in mesocosms to analyse the combined effects of elevated CO2 and temperature on macroalgal assemblages from intertidal rock pools. Our model systems were synthetic assemblages of varying diversity and understory component and canopy species identity. We used assemblages invaded by the non‐indigenous canopy forming alga Sargassum muticum and assemblages with the native canopy species Cystoseira tamariscifolia. We examined the effects of both climate change factors on several ecosystem functioning variables (i.e. photosynthetic efficiency, productivity, respiration and biomass) and how these effects could be shaped by the diversity and species identity of assemblages. CO2 alone or in combination with temperature affected the performance of macroalgae at both individual and assemblage level. In particular, high CO2 and high temperature (20°C) drastically reduced the biomass of macroalgal assemblages and affected their productivity and respiration rates. The identity of canopy species also played an important role in shaping assemblage responses, whereas species richness did not seem to affect such responses. Species belonging to the same functional effect group responded differently to the same environmental conditions. Data suggested that assemblages invaded with S. muticum might be more resistant in a future scenario of climate change. Thus, in a future scenario of increasing temperature and CO2 concentration, macroalgal assemblages invaded with canopy‐forming species sharing response traits similar to those of S. muticum could be favoured.
Periurethral Injection of Polyacrylamide Hydrogel for the Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence: The Impact on Female Sexual Function
Authors: Leone Roberti Maggiore Umberto , Alessandri Franco , Medica Mauro , Gabelli Maurizio , Venturini Pier Luigi , Ferrero Simone
Published: December 2012

Introduction

Urinary incontinence can negatively affect sexual function.

Aim

To investigate sexual function in female patients treated for urodynamic stress incontinence (USI) by periurethral injections.

Methods

This double-center prospective study included 29 female patients who were treated for USI by periurethral injections of polyacrylamide hydrogel (Bulkamid®; Ethicon Women’s Health and Urology, Contura, Denmark).

Main Outcome Measures

Patients answered the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire short form, the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire, and the Patient Global Improvement Impression. The Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire-12 (PISQ-12) was used to evaluate sexual function at baseline and at 1-year follow-up. Patients were also asked to rate their sexual activity by using a 10-mm visual analog scale at baseline and at 12-month follow-up. Subjective and objective success was examined.

Results

All patients were discharged on the same day of treatment and there was no intraoperative complication. At 1-year follow-up, the subjective success rate was 89.7% and the objective success rate was 79.3%. At 1 year from the first treatment, all the 23 sexually active patients continued to have regular sexual life. Six women reestablished sexual activity after the treatment. The total PISQ-12 scores showed a significant improvement in quality of sexual life of patients who were sexually active before surgery.

Conclusion

Periurethral injections of polyacrylamide hydrogel to treat USI are clinically effective and safe. These surgical procedures cause significant improvements in sexual function and sexual satisfaction of patients.
Oil prices and the real exchange rate in oil‐exporting countries
Authors: Al‐mulali Usama , Che Sab Che Normee Binti
Published: December 2012

This study investigated the impact of oil price shocks on the real exchange rate covering the most recent oil shock from 2000 to 2010 in 12 oil‐exporting countries, namely Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Indonesia, Kuwait, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates and Venezuela. In this study, the panel model was implemented using six variables, namely the real exchange rate as the dependent variable, and oil price, government consumption expenditure, current account, inflation rate and gross domestic product based on the purchasing power parity as independent variables. The results we have arrived at show that the increases in oil prices have caused a real exchange rate appreciation in these countries.
Linear and asymmetric impacts of oil price shocks in an oil‐importing and ‐exporting economy: the case of Nigeria
Authors: Chuku Chuku A.
Published: December 2012

Given its economic structure, high‐energy intensity and its simultaneity as an oil‐importing and ‐exporting economy, Nigeria stands out as a special case to study the oil price–macroeconomy relation. By using a structural vector autoregressive model with 10 theoretically derived structural factorizations, this paper studies the linear and asymmetric impacts of oil price shocks on the Nigerian economy, focusing on the supply side effects, wealth transfer effects, inflation effects and real balance effects of oil price shocks between the period 1970Q1 and 2008Q4. Overall, the results show that oil price shocks have asymmetric impacts in one direction (positive) on the Nigerian economy and are not a major determinant of macroeconomic activity in Nigeria. Using Granger causality analysis, the paper also investigates the short‐run impacts of oil price shocks on the Nigerian economy. The results showed that depending on the measurement of oil price shock used, it only Granger‐caused output and inflation in the short run. This revealed that though Nigeria is a major exporter of crude oil, domestic macroeconomic trends do not significantly influence the dynamics of global oil markets, i.e. oil prices are strictly exogenous to the Nigerian economy. These insights have inspired us to recommend that the common practise of national development planning, premised on forecasts of anticipated oil prices should be de‐emphasized in Nigeria.
Is lower intensity aquaculture a valuable means of producing food? An evaluation of its effects on near‐shore and inland waters
Authors: Diana James S.
Published: December 2012

The effects of aquaculture on the environment have been the subject of much examination, but most of the focus has been on shrimp and salmon. These are not the most common species grown in aquaculture, nor the most common systems used. About 60% of production today uses lower intensity culture to produce organisms in natural systems such as ponds. This paper is an overview of the positive and negative environmental impacts of lower intensity aquaculture. The ranked positive impacts of lower intensity aquaculture include: conservation aquaculture that supplements reproduction in natural populations; improving the quality of natural waters through filtering or consuming wastes by cultured organisms; reducing pressure on wild stocks by providing alternative sources in the market; and replacing damaging employment with more sustainable aquaculture jobs. Negative impacts include: escapement of alien species that become invasive; eutrophication of receiving waters from pond effluents; release of parasites and diseases into natural communities; escapement of unique genotypes resulting in genetic alteration of native stocks; land degradation due to pond construction; release of antibiotics or other drugs into receiving waters; depletion of natural resources such as water; loss of benthic biodiversity from settling of sediments; and reductions in natural populations by collection of larval or juvenile fish. Some impacts, especially the use of fishmeal and the transmission of disease, are much less common in lower intensity aquaculture systems. Aquaculture has an important role in current and future food production, and in many cases lower intensity aquaculture provides a sustainable solution to increased aquaculture production.
Moral distress in end‐of‐life care in the intensive care unit
Authors: St Ledger Una , Begley Ann , Reid Joanne , Prior Lindsay , McAuley Danny , Blackwood Bronagh
Published: December 2012

Aim

To explore moral distress in relatives doctors and nurses, in end‐of‐life care decision‐making, in the adult intensive care unit.

Background

Many deaths in intensive care involve decisions about withholding and withdrawing therapy, potentially triggering moral distress. Moral distress occurs when individuals feel constrained from acting in accordance with moral choice, or act against moral judgement, generating painful, unresolved emotions, and problems that continue long after an event. Prior research has focused mainly on nurses; less is known about doctors' experiences and occurrence and impact on relatives is unknown.

Design

A narrative inquiry case study approach, funded by a Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Doctorate Fellowship Award (April 2011).

Methods

In‐depth digitally recorded interviews will be conducted with relatives, doctors, and nurses involved in end‐of‐life cases comprising: (1) withdrawal of therapy, including circulatory death organ donation; (2) non‐escalation of therapy; and (3) brain stem death with a request for organ donation. Relatives will be offered the opportunity to share their experiences on ‘Healthtalkonline’ by copyrighting audio‐visual interviews to the Health Experiences Research Group, Oxford University. Research Ethics Committee approval was obtained (April 2012).

Discussion

This is the first time that moral distress is explored, in a case approach, among relatives, doctors, and nurses intimately involved in end‐of‐life decisions in intensive care. Dissemination of findings will make a large contribution to international knowledge and understanding in this area and alert healthcare professionals and relatives to an otherwise under‐recognized, but potentially detrimental, experience. Findings will inform education, practice, and policy.
Transcriptomics and in vivo tests reveal novel mechanisms underlying endocrine disruption in an ecological sentinel, Nucella lapillus
Authors: Pascoal Sonia , Carvalho Gary , Vasieva Olga , Hughes Roger , Cossins Andrew , Fang Yongxiang , Ashelford Kevin , Olohan Lisa , Barroso Carlos , Mendo Sonia , Creer Simon
Published: December 2012

Anthropogenic endocrine disruptors now contaminate all environments globally, with concomitant deleterious effects across diverse taxa. While most studies on endocrine disruption (ED) have focused on vertebrates, the superimposition of male sexual characteristics in the female dogwhelk, Nucella lapillus (imposex), caused by organotins, provides one of the most clearcut ecological examples of anthropogenically induced ED in aquatic ecosystems. To identify the underpinning mechanisms of imposex for this ‘nonmodel’ species, we combined Roche 454 pyrosequencing with custom oligoarray fabrication inexpensively to both generate gene models and identify those responding to chronic tributyltin (TBT) treatment. The results supported the involvement of steroid, neuroendocrine peptide hormone dysfunction and retinoid mechanisms, but suggested additionally the involvement of putative peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor (PPAR) pathways. Application of rosiglitazone, a well‐known vertebrate PPARγ ligand, to dogwhelks induced imposex in the absence of TBT. Thus, while TBT‐induced imposex is linked to the induction of many genes and has a complex phenotype, it is likely also to be driven by PPAR‐responsive pathways, hitherto not described in invertebrates. Our findings provide further evidence for a common signalling pathway between invertebrate and vertebrate species that has previously been overlooked in the study of endocrine disruption.
Peripheral corticotropin‐releasing factor (CRF) induces stimulation of gastric contractions in freely moving conscious rats: role of CRF receptor types 1 and 2
Authors: Nozu T. , Tsuchiya Y. , Kumei S. , Takakusaki K. , Okumura T.
Published: December 2012

Background  Peripheral corticotrophin‐releasing factor (CRF) plays an important role in stress‐induced alterations of gastrointestinal motility. CRF injected peripherally inhibits gastric emptying, but its effect on gastric contractions has not been clarified in freely moving conscious rats.

Methods  Intraluminal gastric pressure waves were measured in freely moving conscious non‐fasted rats using the perfused manometric method. We assessed the area under the manometric trace as the motor index (MI), and compared this result with those obtained 1 h before and after drug administration.

Key Results  Subcutaneous injection (sc) of CRF (15 μg kg−1) increased the MI significantly. Pretreatment with intravenous astressin (100 μg kg−1), a non‐selective CRF antagonist, blocked the sc CRF (15 μg kg−1)‐induced response, but astressin2‐B (200 μg kg−1, sc), a selective CRF receptor type 2 (CRF2) antagonist, enhanced the CRF‐induced increase in MI significantly. Meanwhile urocortin 2 (15 μg kg−1, sc), a selective CRF2 agonist, did not alter the basal MI, but it inhibited the sc CRF (15 μg kg−1)‐induced stimulation of gastric contractions. The intraperitoneal injection of cortagine (30 μg kg−1), a selective CRF receptor type 1 (CRF1) agonist, mimicked the response induced by sc CRF.

Conclusions & Inferences  Peripheral CRF stimulates gastric contractions through CRF1. CRF2 activation inhibits the response induced by CRF, suggesting that CRF2 may have a modulatory action to CRF1 signaling in gastric motor activity.
IL‐6 regulated stress‐induced Rex‐1 expression in stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth
Authors: Govitvattana N , Osathanon T , Taebunpakul S , Pavasant P
Published: December 2012

Objective

To investigate the effect of mechanical stress on stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED).

Methods

Cells were stimulated with mechanical stress ranging from 0 to 2.5 g cm−2 for 2 h in serum‐free condition. The expression of stem cell markers was examined by polymerase chain reaction and immunocytochemistry. The molecular mechanisms of these effects were investigated by means of inhibitors and siRNA.

Results

Mechanical stress induced Rex‐1 expression in a force‐dependent manner. The upregulation of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) was also observed. Application of neutralizing antibody against IL‐6 and IL‐6 siRNA could attenuate the mechanical stress‐induced Rex‐1 expression. In addition, the increase in mRNA levels of Rex‐1 was observed after treating SHED with an exogenous IL‐6. This inductive effect was attenuated by JAK inhibitor, suggesting the involvement of JAK signaling pathway.

Conclusion

These results suggest the role of mechanical stress in the regulation of stemness via IL‐6–Rex‐1 interaction.
Inhibition of connexin 43 in cardiac muscle during intense physical exercise
Authors: Tiscornia G. C. , Moretta R. , Argenziano M. A. , Amorena C. E. , Garcia Gras E. A.
Published: December 2012

Endurance training is accompanied by important adaptations in both cardiovascular and autonomic nervous systems. Previous works have shown that the main component of gap junctions in the ventricular myocardium (connexin 43 (Cx43) can be regulated by adrenergic stimulus. On the other hand, training raises vagal and decreases sympathetic tone, while augmenting myocardial sensitivity to sympathetic stimulation during exercise. We therefore evaluated the regulation of Cx43 expression by sympathetic tone during exercise in trained and sedentary mice. Training induced an increase in the protein level of Cx43 by 45–70% under resting conditions. The expression of Cx43 was inhibited in trained but not in untrained mice in response to a 60 min exercise bout. Normal basal expression was restored after 60 min of resting. Cx43 reached a minimum that was not different from basal expression in untrained mice. In accordance, electrocardiography and action potential analysis did not reveal major electrophysiological implications for the drop in Cx43 abundance in trained‐exercise mice. We prevented Cx43 inhibition using propranolol, and observed increased basal mRNA levels of β‐adrenergic receptors without significant changes in the ratio β1 to β2. In conclusion, we showed that Cx43 expression is transiently inhibited by β‐adrenergic stimulus in trained mice during acute exercise.
Smoking and operative treatment of rotator cuff tear
Authors: Kukkonen J. , Kauko T. , Virolainen P. , Äärimaa V.
Published: December 2012

This registry study was set up to evaluate the effect of smoking on the pre‐operative status, intraoperative findings, and post‐operative status after rotator cuff reconstruction. Five hundred seventy‐six consecutive shoulders with primarily arthroscopically repaired penetrating rotator cuff tear were followed up. Tobacco consumption was recorded as pack‐years. Age‐adjusted Constant score was used as an outcome measure. Five hundred sixty‐four patients were available for 1‐year follow‐up (dropout rate 2%). One hundred fourteen (20%) and 450 (80%) patients were pre‐operatively recorded to be smokers and non‐smokers, respectively. The gender distribution did not differ between the groups (P = 0.286). The mean age of all patients was 55 years in smokers (SD 9.1) and 61 years in non‐smokers (SD 9.4) (P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in pre‐operative Constant score (P = 0.075) or mean size of intraoperatively measured tendon tear (P = 0.290) between the groups. At final follow‐up, there was a statistically significant difference in Constant scores between smokers [71 (SE 1.4)] and non‐smokers [75 (SE 0.7)] (P = 0.017). The pack‐years of smoking correlated with neither the Constant score (P = 0.815) nor the size of the tear (P = 0.786). We conclude that operatively treated rotator cuff tear patients who smoked were significantly younger than non‐smokers, and that smoking was associated with lower post‐operative Constant score.
Resourcing Children in a Changing Rural Context: Fathering and Farm Succession in Two Generations of Farmers
Authors: Brandth Berit , Overrein Grete
Published: December 2012

Despite an abundant amount of international literature on fatherhood and fathering, there has been limited research on men's fathering practices in a rural/agricultural context. This article deals with two generations of farmers in Norway and their practices as fathers of young children, and shows how fathering practices have changed from the 1960s until today. While the older generation fathered in accordance with the expectation that their children would take over the farm and become farmers in the future, the younger generation of fathers practiced childcare more in terms of the contemporary norms of ‘intensive’ parenting. Contemporary farming fathers see it as important to equip children with skills and competences that are generally demanded in late modern society, with changes in the agricultural labour process being identified as influencing this change. Combined with the norms of modern childhood, the ‘new parenting culture’ strongly impacts on fathering practices for farming fathers. The study contributes knowledge to the ways in which family relations play an important role in succession processes in farming
Assessing the Cost-Benefit Effect of a Plasmodium falciparum Drug Resistance Mutation on Parasite Growth
In Vitro
Authors: Fröberg Gabrielle , Ferreira Pedro Eduardo , Mårtensson Andreas , Ali Abdullah , Björkman Anders , Gil José Pedro
Published: December 2012

Plasmodium falciparum
mutations associated with antimalarial resistance may be beneficial for parasites under drug pressure, although they may also cause a fitness cost. We herein present an
in vitro
model showing how this combined effect on parasite growth varies with the drug concentration and suggest a calculated drug-specific cost-benefit index, indicating the possible advantage for mutated parasites. We specifically studied the D-to-Y change at position 1246 encoded by the
pfmdr1
gene (
pfmdr1
D1246Y) in relation to amodiaquine resistance. Susceptibilities to amodiaquine, desethylamodiaquine, and chloroquine, as well as relative fitness, were determined for two modified isogenic
P. falciparum
clones differing only in the
pfmdr1
1246 position. Data were used to create a new comparative graph of relative growth in relation to the drug concentration and to calculate the ratio between the benefit of resistance and the fitness cost. Results were related to an
in vivo
allele selection analysis after amodiaquine or artesunate-amodiaquine treatment.
pfmdr1
1246Y was associated with decreased susceptibility to amodiaquine and desethylamodiaquine but at a growth fitness cost of 11%. Mutated parasites grew less in low drug concentrations due to a predominating fitness cost, but beyond a breakpoint concentration they grew more due to a predominating benefit of increased resistance. The cost-benefit indexes indicated that
pfmdr1
1246Y was most advantageous for amodiaquine-exposed parasites.
In vivo
, a first drug selection of mutant parasites followed by a fitness selection of wild-type parasites supported the
in vitro
data. This cost-benefit model may predict the risk for selection of drug resistance mutations in different malaria transmission settings.
Impaired Early Cytokine Responses at the Site of Infection in a Murine Model of Type 2 Diabetes and Melioidosis Comorbidity
Authors: Hodgson Kelly A. , Govan Brenda L. , Walduck Anna K. , Ketheesan Natkunam , Morris Jodie L.
Published: December 2012

Bacterial infections are a common and serious complication of type 2 diabetes (T2D). The prevalence of melioidosis, an emerging tropical infection caused by the Gram-negative bacteriumBurkholderia pseudomallei, is increased in people with T2D. This is the first study to compare murine models of T2D and melioidosis. Susceptibility and disease progression following infection withB. pseudomalleiwere compared in our diet-induced polygenic mouse model and a leptin receptor-deficient monogenic model of T2D. The metabolic profile of mice with diet-induced diabetes, including body weight, blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin resistance, and baseline levels of inflammation, closely resembled that of clinical T2D. Following subcutaneous infection withB. pseudomallei, bacterial loads at 24 and 72 h postinfection in the blood, spleen, liver, lungs, and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) at the site of infection were compared in parallel with the expression of inflammatory cytokines and tissue histology. As early as 24 h postinfection, the expression of inflammatory (interleukin-1β [IL-1β], tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α], and IL-6) and TH1 (IL-12 and gamma interferon [IFN-γ]) cytokines was impaired in diabetic mice compared to nondiabetic littermates. Early differences in cytokine expression were associated with excessive infiltration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) in diabetic mice compared to nondiabetic littermates. This was accompanied by bacteremia, hematogenous dissemination of bacteria to the lungs, and uncontrolled bacterial growth in the spleens of diabetic mice by 72 h postinfection. The findings from our novel model of T2D and melioidosis comorbidity support the role of impaired early immune pathways in the increased susceptibility of individuals with T2D to bacterial infections.
Paeoniflorin protects myocardial cell from doxorubicin-induced apoptosis through inhibition of NADPH oxidase
Authors: Li Jian-Zhe , Yu Shu-Yi , Wu Jian-Hua , Shao Qing-Rui , Dong Xiao-Min
Published: December 2012

Increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in doxorubicin (DOX)-induced myocardial cell apoptosis, and paeoniflorin (PEF) has been shown to exert an antioxidant effect. The aim of the present study was to explore the protective effect of PEF on DOX-induced myocardial cell apoptosis and the underlying mechanisms. In cultured H9c2 cells, different concentrations (1, 10, or 100 μmol/L) of PEF was added for 2 h prior to exposure to DOX (5 μmol/L) for 24 h. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by hoechst 33342 staining, and caspase-3 expression and activity. The mRNA and protein expression of NADPH oxidase (NOX) 2 and NOX4 was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively. Intracellular ROS and NOX activity were measured by assay kit. The results showed that DOX significantly increased myocardial cell apoptosis, increased caspase-3 expression and activity concomitantly with enhanced ROS production, and increased NOX2, NOX4 mRNA and protein expression, and NOX activity. These effects were remarkably inhibited by pretreatment of PEF. Our results suggested that PEF has a protective effect against DOX-induced myocardial cell apoptosis through a mechanism involving a decrease in ROS production by inhibition of NOX2, NOX4 expression, and NOX activity.
NEUTRON–PROTON PAIRING EFFECT ON ONE-PROTON AND TWO-PROTON SEPARATION ENERGIES IN RARE-EARTH PROTON-RICH NUCLEI
Authors: HAMMACHE F. , ALLAL N. H. , FELLAH M.
Published: December 2012

The one-proton and two-proton separation energies are studied for "ordinary" and rare-earth proton-rich nuclei by including the isovector neutron–proton (np) pairing correlations using the BCS approximation. Even–even as well as odd nuclei are considered. In the latter case, the wave function is defined using the blocked-level technique. The single-particle energies used are those of a deformed Woods–Saxon mean field. It is shown that the np isovector pairing effects on the one-proton and two-proton separation energies are non-negligible. However, the only isovector BCS approximation seems to be inadequate for a good description of these quantities when including the np pairing effects: either a particle-number projection or the inclusion of the isoscalar pairing effect seems to be necessary. Another possible improvement would be a more realistic choice of the pairing strengths.
IDENTIFICATION OF KNEE FRONTAL PLANE KINEMATIC PATTERNS IN NORMAL GAIT BY PRINCIPAL COMPONENT ANALYSIS
Authors: MEZGHANI NEILA , FUENTES ALEXANDRE , GAUDREAULT NATHALY , MITICHE AMAR , AISSAOUI RACHID , HAGMEISTER NICOLA , DE GUISE JACQUES A.
Published: December 2012

The purpose of this study was to identify meaningful gait patterns in knee frontal plane kinematics from a large population of asymptomatic individuals. The proposed method used principal component analysis (PCA). It first reduced the data dimensionality, without loss of relevant information, by projecting the original kinematic data onto a subspace of significant principal components (PCs). This was followed by a discriminant model to separate the individuals' gait into homogeneous groups. Four descriptive gait patterns were identified and validated by clustering silhouette width and statistical hypothesis testing. The first pattern was close to neutral during the stance phase and in adduction during the swing phase (Cluster 1). The second pattern was in abduction during the stance phase and tends into adduction during the swing phase (Cluster 2). The third pattern was close to neutral during the stance phase and in abduction during the swing phase (Cluster 3) and the fourth was in abduction during both the stance and the swing phase (Cluster 4).
Atrial Fibrillation-Induced Cardiac Shock: First Manifestation of a Congenitally Corrected Transposition of the Great Arteries in a 45-Year-Old Man
Authors: Graf M. , Zaczkiewicz M. , Torzewski J. , Zimmermann O.
Published: December 2012

Background.The congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (L-TGA) is a very rare congenital heart defect, which often remains undetected for several decades of life.Case Presentation.We report on a 45-year-old man without prior history of heart disease, presenting with cardiac shock related to a first episode of tachycardic atrial fibrillation. The diagnostic work-up identified a L-TGA as the underlying cause for acute heart failure.Discussion.L-TGA is a very rare congenital heart defect, which is characterized by an atrioventricular as well as a ventriculoarterial discordance. By this means, the physiological sequence of pulmonary and systemic circulation is still maintained. On the basis of an ongoing strain of the right ventricle, which has to carry the burden of the systemic blood pressure, after more than four decades without symptoms, acute heart failure was triggered by a tachycardic atrial fibrillation.
Health-Related Quality of Life Is Low in Secondary School Children in Fiji
Authors: Petersen Solveig , Mavoa Helen , Swinburn Boyd , Waqa Gade , Goundar Ramneek , Moodie Marjory
Published: December 2012

The health and wellbeing of children in lower-income countries is the focus of much international effort, yet there has been very little direct measurement of this.Objective.The current objective was to study the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a general population of secondary school children in Fiji, a low middle-income country in the Pacific.Methods. Self-reported HRQoL was measured by the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 in 8947 school children (aged 12–18 years) from 18 secondary schools on Viti Levu, the main island of Fiji. HRQoL in Fiji was compared to that of school-aged children in 13 high- and upper middle-income countries.Results. The school children in Fiji had lower HRQoL than the children in the 13 comparison countries, with consistently lower physical, emotional, social, and school functioning and wellbeing. HRQoL was particularly low amongst girls and Indigenous Fijians.Conclusions. These findings raise concerns about the general functioning and wellbeing of school children in Fiji. The consistently low HRQoL across all core domains suggests pervasive underlying determinants. Investigation of the potential determinants in Fiji and validation of the current results in Fiji and other lower-income countries are important avenues for future research.
Corporate-Feed Multilayer Bow-Tie Antenna Array Design Using a Simple Transmission Line Model
Authors: Didouh S. , Abri M. , Bendimerad F. T.
Published: December 2012

A transmission line model is used to design corporate-fed multilayered bow-tie antennas arrays; the simulated antennas arrays are designed to resonate at the frequencies 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 8 GHz corresponding to RFID, WIFI, and radars applications. The contribution of this paper consists of modeling multilayer bow-tie antenna array fed through an aperture using transmission line model. The transmission line model is simple and precise and allows taking into account the whole geometrical, electrical, and technological characteristics of the antennas arrays. The proposed transmission line model showed its interest in the design of different multilayered bow-tie antennas and predicted the correct resonance frequency for different applications in telecommunications. To validate the proposed transmission line model, the simulation results obtained are compared with those obtained by the method of moments. The results of simulations are presented and discussed. Using this transmission line approach, the resonant frequency, input impedance, and return loss can be determined simultaneously. The paper reports several simulation results that confirm the validity of the developed model. The obtained results are then presented and discussed.
Reversible Data Hiding Using Two Marked Images Based on Adaptive Coefficient-Shifting Algorithm
Authors: Yang Ching-Yu
Published: December 2012

This paper proposes a novel form of reversible data hiding using two marked images by employing the adaptive coefficient-shifting (ACS) algorithm. The proposed ACS algorithm consists of three parts: the minimum-preserved scheme, the minimum-preserved with squeezing scheme, and the base-value embedding scheme. More specifically, each input block of a host image can be encoded to two stego-blocks according to three predetermined rules by the above three schemes. Simulations validate that the proposed method not only completely recovers the host medium but also losslessly extracts the hidden message. The proposed method can handle various kinds of images without any occurrence of overflow/underflow. Moreover, the payload and peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) performance of the proposed method is superior to that of the conventional invertible data hiding schemes. Furthermore, the number of shadows required by the proposed method is less than that required by the approaches which are based upon secret image sharing with reversible steganography.
A Comparison between Atlantic Canadian and National Correction Equations to Improve the Accuracy of Self-Reported Obesity Estimates in Atlantic Canada
Authors: Murray Cynthia L. , Walsh Gordon W. , Connor Gorber Sarah
Published: December 2012

Objectives. To determine whether obesity correction equations for the Canadian general population, which are dependent on the prevalence of obesity, are appropriate for use in Atlantic Canada, which has the highest obesity rates in the country. Also, to compare the accuracy of the national equations to equations developed specifically for the Atlantic Canadian population.Methods. The dataset consisted of Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) 2007-2008 data collected on 17,126 Atlantic Canadians and a subsample of adults, who provided measured height and weight (MHW) data. Atlantic correction equations were developed in the MHW subsample. Using separate multiple regression models for men and women, self-reported body mass index (BMI) was corrected by multiplying the self-reported estimate by its corresponding model coefficient and adding the model intercept. Pairedt-tests were used to determine whether corrected mean BMI values were significantly more accurate (i.e., closer to measured data) than the equivalent means based on self-reported data. The analyses were repeated using the national equations.Results. Both the Atlantic and the national equations yielded corrected obesity estimates that were significantly more accurate than those based on self-report.Conclusion. The results provide some evidence of the generalizability of the national equations to atypical regions of Canada.
Experimental Study on Chaotic Mixing Created by a New Type of Mixer with Rotational Blades
Authors: Rahim Mashaei Payam , Hosseinalipour Seyed Mostafa , Nouri Norouz Mohammad , Muslmani Mohammad el Jawad
Published: December 2012

The aim of this paper is an experimental investigation of laminar mixing in a new type of chaotic mixer, which has been proposed by Hwu (2008), by means of material line deformation. The mixer is a circular cavity with two rotational blades which move along a semicircular path and drive the fluid motion. The flow visualization is carried out by marking of the free surface of the flow with a tracer in working fluid. In the present study the effects of length and rotational speed of blades on mixing efficiency are evaluated by measuring of the area covered by the tracer. As a result, it is demonstrated that the goodness of mixing increases as rotational speed of blades increases. Also, it is detected that the mixing efficiency strongly depends on the lengths of rotating blades.
Snaps to Connect Coaxial and Microstrip Lines in Wearable Systems
Authors: Kellomäki Tiiti
Published: December 2012

Commercial snaps (clothing fasteners) can be used to connect a coaxial cable to a microstrip line. This is useful in the context of wearable antennas, especially in consumer applications and disposable connections. The measuredS-parameters of the transition are presented, and an equivalent circuit and approximate equations are derived for system design purposes. The proposed connection is usable up to 1.5 GHz (10 dB return loss condition), and the frequency range can be extended to 2 GHz if a thinner, more flexible coaxial cable is used.
Serum Lipid Profile of Newly Diagnosed Hypertensive Patients in Nnewi, South-East Nigeria
Authors: Osuji Charles U. , Omejua Emeka G. , Onwubuya Emmanuel I. , Ahaneku Gladys I.
Published: December 2012

Abnormalities in serum lipid and lipoprotein levels are recognized major modifiable cardiovascular disease and essential hypertension risk factors. The objective of this study was to examine the serum lipid patterns of newly diagnosed hypertensive patients attending a tertiary healthcare centre in South East Nigeria.Methods. Two hundred and fifty newly diagnosed adult hypertensive patients and an equal number of age- and sex-matched controls without hypertension were consecutively recruited from the Medical and General Outpatient Clinics of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi.Result. 126 males and 124 females were in each of the two groups. Mean age was comparable in both groups. Hypertensives had significantly higher mean systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, and fasting blood sugar than the controls. The mean TC, TG, and LDL-C were significantly higher among the hypertensives. The mean HDL-C was comparable;P=0.8. Among the hypertensive subjects, there was statistically significant positive correlation between BMI and TC; LDL-C and TG; WC and TG; FBS and TC; LDL-C and TG. HDL-C showed a statistically significant inverse correlation with WHR in hypertensives.Conclusion. This study showed that lipid abnormalities are highly prevalent among newly diagnosed hypertensives in South-East Nigeria.