bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preliminary Evaluation of Rainbow Trout Diets Containing PepSoyGen, a
Fermented Soybean Meal Product, and Additional Amino Acids
Authors: Barnes Michael E. , Brown Michael L. , Rosentrater Kurt A. , Sewell Jason R.
Published: March 2013

Juvenile rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss diets containing PepSoyGen, a commercially-available fermented
soybean meal product, were supplemented with methionine and other amino acids. A fish meal-based control and four experimental
diets were used in a 36-day feeding trial; two diets contained 40% PepSoyGen and 10% fish meal, and two diets
contained 50% PepSoyGen and no fish meal. Each of these diets was supplemented with either methionine, or methionine
and additional amino acids. One mortality was observed during the trial. Overall weight gain, percent gain, and
feed conversion ratio were significantly greater for the fish meal control than for any of the PepSoyGen diets, although
feed conversion ratios from all of the diets were still below 1. Apparent protein digestibility was significantly less in the
fish receiving the control diet compared to any of the experimental diets, and significantly increased with increasing Pep-
SoyGen concentrations. There was no significant difference in length, weight, condition factor, hepatosomatic index, viscerosomatic
index, or any fish health responses among dietary treatments. Fillet composition, as determined by crude protein,
crude lipid, water, and ash, was also not significantly different among fish reared on any of the diets. The supplementation
of other amino acids in addition to methionine had no noticeable effect. The results from this study indicate that
PepSoyGen with amino acid supplementation can completely replace fish meal in juvenile rainbow trout grower diets
over a relatively short time-frame, albeit with some decrease in rearing performance.
On some open problems involving range of vector measures
Authors: Sofi M.A.
Published: March 2013

The close connection between the geometry of a Banach space and the
properties of vector measures acting into it is now fairly well-understood.
The present paper is devoted to a discussion of some of these developments
and certain problems arising naturally in this circle of ideas which are
either open or have been partially resolved. Emphasis shall be laid mainly on
those aspects of this theory which involve properties of the range of these
vector measures.
On generalized Newton method for solving operator inclusions
Authors: Sahu D.R. , Singh Kumar
Published: March 2013

In this paper, we study the existence and uniqueness theorem for
solving the generalized operator equation of the form F(x) + G(x) + T(x)
? 0, where F is a Fr?chet differentiable operator, G is a maximal monotone
operator and T is a Lipschitzian operator defined on an open convex subset
of a Hilbert space. Our results are improvements upon corresponding results
of Uko [Generalized equations and the generalized Newton method, Math.
Programming 73 (1996) 251-268].
On the solutions of some boundary value problems by using differential transformation method with convolution terms
Authors: Kılıçman Adem , Altun Ömer
Published: March 2013

In this study, we consider some boundary value problems by using the
differential transformation method with convolutions term. Further, we also
propose a new method to solve the differential equations having singularity
by using the convolution. In this new method when the operator has some
singularities then we multiply the partial differential operator with
continuously differential functions by using the convolution in order to
regularize the singularity. Then the differential transform method will be
applied to the new partial differential equations that might also have some
fractional order.
Advanced results on variational inequality formulation in oligopolistic market equilibrium problem
Authors: Barbagallo Annamaria
Published: March 2013

The aim of the paper is to study the regularity of the solution to the
evolutionary variational inequality governing the dynamic oligopolistic
market equilibrium problem in presence of production excesses. More
precisely, we obtain a Lipschitz continuity result with respect to time for
such a solution. Moreover, we introduce a discretization procedure for
computing dynamic equilibrium solutions and we provide a numerical example.
Exponential spline approach for the solution of fourth order obstacle boundary value problems
Authors: Khan Arshad , Bisht Shilpi
Published: March 2013

An exponential quintic spline technique at mid knots is developed for
approximating the solution of system of fourth order boundary value problems
associated with obstacle, unilateral and contact problems. The present
technique gives a class of methods of order two, four and six. Two numerical
examples are considered for the numerical illustration of the proposed
method. It is shown that the method developed in this paper is more efficient
than the other finite difference, collocation and spline methods.
miRNA-93 Inhibits GLUT4 and Is Overexpressed in Adipose Tissue of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Patients and Women With Insulin Resistance
Authors: Chen Yen-Hao , Heneidi Saleh , Lee Jung-Min , Layman Lawrence C. , Stepp David W. , Gamboa Gloria Mabel , Chen Bo-Shiun , Chazenbalk Gregorio , Azziz Ricardo
Published: March 2013

Approximately 70% of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have intrinsic insulin resistance (IR) above and beyond that associated with body mass, including dysfunctional glucose metabolism in adipose tissue (AT). In AT, analysis of the IRS/PI3-K/AKT pathway signaling components identified only GLUT4 expression to be significantly lower in PCOS patients and in control subjects with IR. We examined the role of miRNAs, particularly in the regulation of GLUT4, the insulin-sensitive glucose transporter, in the AT of PCOS and matched control subjects. PCOS AT was determined to have a differentially expressed miRNA profile, including upregulated miR-93, -133, and -223. GLUT4 is a highly predicted target for miR-93, while miR-133 and miR-223 have been demonstrated to regulate GLUT4 expression in cardiomyocytes. Expression of miR-93 revealed a strong correlation between the homeostasis model assessment of IR in vivo values and GLUT4 and miR-93 but not miR-133 and -223 expression in human AT. Overexpression of miR-93 resulted in downregulation of GLUT4 gene expression in adipocytes through direct targeting of the GLUT4 3′UTR, while inhibition of miR-93 activity led to increased GLUT4 expression. These results point to a novel mechanism for regulating insulin-stimulated glucose uptake via miR-93 and demonstrate upregulated miR-93 expression in all PCOS, and in non-PCOS women with IR, possibly accounting for the IR of the syndrome. In contrast, miR-133 and miR-223 may have a different, although yet to be defined, role in the IR of PCOS.
Influence of Small Ruminant Lentivirus Infection on Reproductive Traits in Ewes
Authors: Lipecka Czesława , Junkuszew Andrej , Kuźmak Jacek , Gruszeck Tomasz M. , Kozaczyńska Bożena , Olech Monika , Bojar Wiktor , Osiński Zbigniew
Published: March 2013

The study included a sheep flock comprising five genetic groups. The ELISA was applied to perform constant monitoring (every six months) for the infection of ewes with small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV). The research results demonstrated a negative effect of SRLVs infection on lamb rearing that, depending on the genetic group, proved to be lower 1.3%-1.4% compared to the seronegative mothers. At relatively equal fertility (94%-100%) and more differentiated prolificacy (179%-198%) in all the examined groups (except the Suffolk breed), a rearing index was higher in the seronegative animals 6.8%-24.1% compared to the seropositive mothers. The Suffolk breed proved to be the genetic group most susceptible to SRLV infection. A prolificacy of infected ewes was 10% lower, a lamb rearing rate was 13% lower , and a general reproductive performance was 18% lower in comparison to healthy ewes.
Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification as a Simple Molecular Method for the Detection of Derzsy’s Disease Virus
Authors: Tarasiuk Karolina , Woźniakowski Grzegorz , Samorek-Salamonowicz Elżbieta
Published: March 2013

The objective of the study was to develop a simple and rapid molecular method for the detection of GPV. Twenty seven goose parvovirus (GPV) isolates collected from geese flocks in Poland were examined. Three pairs of specific primers: two outer primers (F3 and B3), two inner primers (FIP and BIP), and two loop primers (FL and BL) were used to accelerate the reaction. The optimum temperature and time of the reaction were 60°C and 30 min. The sensitivity of the method was 10-times higher than PCR. The method proved to be a sensitive, rapid, and specific assay for detecting GPV.
Insurance Dynamics – A Data Mining Approach for Customer Retention in Health Care Insurance Industry
Authors: Sree Hari Rao V. , Jonnalagedda Murthy V.
Published: March 2013

Extraction of customer behavioral patterns is a complex task and widely studied for various industrial applications under different heading viz., customer retention management, business intelligence and data mining. In this paper, authors experimented to extract the behavioral patterns for customer retention in Health care insurance. Initially, the customers are classified into three general categories - stable, unstable and oscillatory. To extract the patterns the concept of Novel index tree (a variant of K-d tree) clubbed with K-Nearest Neighbor algorithm is proposed for efficient classification of data, as well as outliers and the concept of insurance dynamics is proposed for analyzing customer behavioral patterns
Uncertainties in dissolved organic carbon load estimation in a small stream
Authors: Büttner Olaf , Tittel Jörg
Published: March 2013

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) transported by rivers represents an important link between carbon pools of terrestrial and oceanic ecosystems. However, it is unclear how frequent DOC must be sampled to obtain reasonable load estimates. Here, we used continuous records of the specific UV absorption coefficient (SAC) and discharge from a headwater stream at the Ore Mountains (Germany) to calculate load errors depending on DOC sampling frequency. SAC was used as a proxy for DOC. The results show that the load was underestimated by 13-19% with monthly, 10-13% with bi-weekly and 7-9% with weekly DOC samplings, respectively. We conclude that collecting additional data from high discharge events decrease the error significantly.
Temperature influences water sorptivity of soil aggregates
Authors: Czachor Henryk , Lichner Ľubomír
Published: March 2013

The aim of this study was to determine the potential development of water sorptivity of soil aggregates by heating. Soil aggregates were sampled from arable layer of 5 Polish soils: Haplic Luvisol 1 from Czesławice, Haplic Luvisol 2 from Wierzchucinek, Haplic Cambisol from Felin, Gleyic Mollic Cambisol from Chylice, and Haplic Phaeozem from Grabiec. Three aggregates of each soil type with minimum diameter between 4 and 10 mm were heated in the oven for at least 3 hours at temperatures 20, 100, 200, 250, and 360ºC. After each temperature treatment the soil aggregates were conditioned at the room temperature for 16 hours. Laboratory measurements of water sorptivity of soil aggregates were performed under a negative tension h0 = -2 cm using tension infiltrometer. It was found that the exposure to temperatures between 100 and 200°C tends to decrease water sorptivity of aggregates from all the studied soils but one (Haplic Luvisol 1), followed by about two- to four-fold increase in water sorptivity for exposure to temperatures of 250°C (in Haplic Luvisol 1, Haplic Luvisol 2, and Haplic Phaeozem) or 360°C (in Haplic Cambisol and Gleyic Mollic Cambisol).
Galleria mellonella infected with Bacillus thuringiensis involves Hsp90
Authors: Wojda Iwona , Kowalski Patryk
Published: March 2013

Insects are good models for studying the innate immune response. We report that Galleria mellonella larvae infected with entomopathogenic bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki show changes in the level of Hsp90. Our experimental approach was to pre-treat larvae with the Hsp90-binding compound, 17-DMAG, before infection with B. thuringiensis. We show that pre-treated animals display a higher level of immune response. This was mainly manifested by enhanced action of their hemolymph directed toward living bacteria as well as lysozyme activity digesting bacterial peptidoglycan. The observed phenomenon was due to the higher activity of antimicrobial peptides which, in contrast to healthy animals, was detected in the hemolymph of the immunestimulated larvae. Finally, the physiological significance of our observation was highlighted by the fact that G. mellonella pre-treated with 17-DMAG showed a prolonged survival rate after infection with B. thuringiensis than the control animals. Our report points to a role for Hsp90 in the immune response of G. mellonella after infection with B. thuringiensis at the optimal growth temperature.
The composition and antibacterial activity of essential oils in three Ocimum species growing in Romania
Authors: Stefan Marius , Zamfirache Maria , Padurariu Claudia , Trută Elena , Gostin Irina
Published: March 2013

In this study the glandular hair morphology, chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils from three Ocimum species have been investigated (Ocimum basilicum L. var. Genovese, O. gratissimum and O. tenuiflorum). The indumentum shows little variation among the investigated species with both glandular and non-glandular hairs presents. Glandular hairs on the three species are peltate and capitate (with various cell numbers in the stalk and gland). The samples of essential oils obtained from the plant aerial organs by hydrodistillation have been analyzed by GC-MS. Linalool (65.38%, 74.22%, 38.60%), eugenol (5.26%, 3.47%, 10.20%) and tau-cadinol (8.18%, 3.47%, 10.20%) appear as the main components in Ocimum basilicum L. var. Genovese, O. gratissimum and O. tenuiflorum. The oils also contain lower levels of α-bergamotene, 1,8-cineole, germacrene D, β-ocimene, α-caryophyllene, camphor, and α-guaiene. All essential oils showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli depending on their concentration. Ocimum basilicum L. var. Genovese oil produced the strongest antibacterial effect on S. aureus and E. coli.
Fallout 137Cs and natural 40K as tracers of topsoil development during slope processes — a case study from the Daugai environs, Southern Lithuania
Authors: Bauziene Ieva , Mazeika Jonas , Skuratovic Zana
Published: March 2013

Investigations of soil erosion by 137Cs method brings uncertainties of different nature. The estimation of the 137Cs local inventory is associated with problems of data comparison and instrumental errors. In order to avoid systematic errors, the rate of soil erosion determined by the 137Cs method is compared with the values obtained for other radioactive elements. Soil parameters must be regarded too. The aim of the work was to test the character of 137Cs and 40K distribution in the topsoil vertical section for determination erosion-accumulation type and ratio in different time spans. The topsoil thickened by different types of erosion-accumulation processes was sampled at a 2–3 cm interval. Soil samples were analysed by means of scintillation gamma spectrometry. The relationship between 137Cs and 40K inventories was weakest in the topsoil formed by mixing of soil material during the installation of artificial drains. Based on climatic characteristics, variations of theoretical soil accumulation rate in the last 50 years were calculated for the topsoil accumulated predominantly by water erosion. 40K and 137Cs correlation in the bottom of vertical section of topsoil or arable horizon are closest and this section may be used as a complementary parameter determining the local inventory value.
A coarse Bayesian approach to evaluate luminescence ages
Authors: Zink Antoine
Published: March 2013

This paper develops a simplified Bayesian approach to evaluate a luminescence age. We limit our purpose to the cause-effect relationship between the age and the accumulated dose. The accumulated dose is given as a function of the age and several others parameters: internal radionuclides contents, gamma dose rate, cosmic dose rate, alpha efficiency, wetness, conversion factors, wetness coefficients, fading rate and storage time. The age is the quantity we are looking for. Bayes’ theorem expresses the changes on the probability distribution of age due to the luminescence study. The information before study (prior) comprises what is previously known about the age and the archaeological model (cultural period, stratigraphic relations, type, etc.) as well as the parameters of the physical model. The accumulated dose consists in the data describing the measurement. The various stages of Bayesian approach were implemented using the software WinBugs. Simulated data sets were used in various models. We present various small models representing typical examples encountered in luminescence dating.
Natural contamination by As and heavy metals in soil, their bio-accumulation and potential sources: the case of a travertine limestone quarry, Greece
Authors: Kampouroglou Evdokia , Economou-Eliopoulos Maria
Published: March 2013

The first mineralogical and geochemical investigation of the travertine limestone, soil and corresponding plants associated with the Neogene basin of Varnavas, NE Attica, revealed a significant enrichment in the metalloid As. The total concentrations of As ranged from 61 to 210 ppm in limestone and 33 to 430 ppm in the associated soil demonstrating a wide variation of values. Calcite is a common authigenic mineral within travertine limestone, forming fine uniform micritic aggregates, having As and Mg concentrations lower than detection limits of EDS analysis. Clastic dominated minerals are quartz (both fine- and coarse-grained), muscovite, clinochlore, illite, pyrite, galena, arsenides, rutile, sphene, zircon, REE-minerals and albite. Goethite and Fe-Mn-oxides occur between calcite grains. The presence of fossilized micro organisms, resembling foraminifera, in travertine limestone combined with hydrous Fe-Mn-oxides, suggests a possible marine transgression during the evolution of the basin.

The As content in plants ranges from 1.1 to 28 ppm As in shoots, and 0.8 to 114 ppm As in roots. The translocation factor, which is defined as the ratio of metal concentration in the shoots to the roots, is relatively low (average 0.33%) suggesting that the internal transport of metals from the roots to shoots was restricted. The bioaccumulation factor, which is defined as the ratio of metal concentration in the plants to that in soil, exhibits a wide range from relatively low (5.2–9.0% for As, Fe, Cr, Ni and Pb), much higher (56–67% for Cu and Zn) and exceptionally high (160% for Mo). A significant correlation between the translocation factors for Fe and As may confirm that Fe-Mn oxides/hydroxides represent the major sorbing agents for As in soils. The presented data, due to As contamination in travertine limestone, soil and plants, suggest a potential environmental risk not only for that part of Greece but in general for similar depositional environments.
Vitamin D in Cardiovascular and Renal Disease Prevention / Vitamin D u Prevenciji Kardiovaskularne i Bubrežne Bolesti
Authors: Pavlović Draško , Josipović Josipa , Pavlović Nikola
Published: March 2013

Cardiovascular disease is a well-known public health problem. In the last ten years nephrologists have recognized chronic kidney disease not only as a public health problem but also as one of the major cardiovascular risk factors. There are observational data that support the concept that vitamin D is involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular and renal disease or that at least vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for these diseases. In this brief review epidemiological data will be presented and the biological mechanism of the vitamin D effect on cardiovascular and renal disease will be discussed.
The Cost of Information in Dependence on the Investor Relation to the Risk
Authors: Hašková Simona
Published: March 2013

The contribution sets simple mathematic models describing and explaining the way of behavior of various types of investors (the private and institutionalized ones). The models come from the cardinal utility theory which is used for explaining the connection between the subjective relationship towards risk and some pathologic phenomenon of finance theory (for example the moral hazard question of institutionalized investors) and takes into account the decision making of both ordinary people and professional investors. A reliable estimate of the economic surroundings where the investment should run contributes significantly to a quality of the particular investment decisions. The article contributes to a quality of the investment decision by the original and primary approach to pricing information that lowers the uncertainty in occurrences of the relevant scenarios of the project’s development. At the conclusion there is shown how the shift of the decision breaking point shapes the amount of the acceptable price of the information.
The Impact of Polish-German Trade Flows on CO2 Emissions
Authors: Mizgajski Jan T.
Published: March 2013

This study analyses the embodied carbon in the trade flows between Poland and Germany. The calculations are based on data from Eurostat and OECD for 2008. The study uses input-output analysis, which allows the assignment of responsibility to individual flows for generating specific amounts of emissions in the economy. It demonstrates that Polish exports to Germany contain significantly more embodied carbon than do imports from Germany, despite the fact that the value of imports is higher. Moreover, it is found that Polish-German trade flows were responsible for more CO2 emissions that Lithuania and Latvia emitted together in 2008.
Impact of Eu Ets on Sustainable Development of its Participants in Latvia
Authors: Prūse Ilze
Published: March 2013

Latvia is covered by the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and therein 80 participants from Latvia have participated. The goal of the paper is to analyse the impact of the EU ETS on the sustainable development of its participants in Latvia. The concept of sustainable development is explored with respect to both macro and micro scale and in the context of sustainable development the EU ETS is described. The impact of the EU ETS on its participants in Latvia is considered by means of methods of quantitative and qualitative analysis. It has been established that in past the participants of the EU ETS from Latvia had generally beneficial positions in the EU ETS; hence although the EU ETS did not directly promote greenhouse gas emission reductions, it provided opportunities to gain additional profits and many of the EU ETS participants in Latvia made use of them. In addition, certain interrelationships have been identified between the data on the EU ETS participants performing EUA trading and the data on the EU ETS participants not performing EUA trading. It has been concluded that the EU ETS might have contributed towards the sustainable development of its participants in Latvia within its certain dimensions.
Autologous conditioned plasma in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with hamstrings – short term clinical results
Authors: Russu O.M. , Gergely I. , Zazgyva Ancuța , Moldovan I. , Pop T.S.
Published: March 2013

Evaluating the early clinical results of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using hamstrings autograft, with interference screw on the tibial side (biocomposite interference screw, ConMed-Linvatec) and continuous closed loop fixation on the femoral side (XO-Button, ConMed-Linvatec), with and without intra-articular injection of autologous conditioned plasma (ACP). Our study included 21 patients with chronic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures for whom we performed ACL reconstruction with a hamstrings autograft. The mean age was 34 years (range, 25 to 42), 16 patients were men and 5 were women. In 10 cases we performed an intraarticular infiltration of ACP at the end of the surgical intervention. Final evaluation was performed at the end of the 6th postoperative month using the Lysholm scoring system, Tegner activity scale and objective assessment with the RolimeterTM 50A. The Lysholm score was excellent in all cases at 6 months postoperatively, with a mean Lysholm score of 90 for patients without ACP and 91.09 for patients that received ACP; the mean Tegner activity score was also similar pre- and postoperatively for the two groups (from 3.5 and 3.63 for the group without ACP and the group with ACP to 5.6 and 5.72 respectively). Joint laxity measurement was similar for both groups. We found no graft ruptures. We found similar results after ACL reconstruction with and without intra-articular injection of PRP, but further studies are necessary to determine the exact role of these substances in speeding up the recovery process in these cases.
Promoting Liberty through Universal Benevolence in Elizabeth Hamilton’s Translation of the Letters of a Hindoo Rajah
Authors: Straight Julie
Published: March 2013

In Translation of the Letters of a Hindoo Rajah (1796), Elizabeth Hamilton champions attention to family and immediate neighbours, yet she also advocates universal benevolence, which she aligns with local affections against selfishness. Her praise for the British in India suggests the difficulties of this alliance, for her love for her deceased brother, an East India Company employee, apparently distorts the understanding of the East that it inspires her to seek. She implicitly warns her readers of her own weakness, however, by showing her rajah progress from loyal naïveté to disillusionment, and she asks her readers to follow him in recognizing British faults. Satirizing British cruelty in the Western Hemisphere, in the East, and at home, she contrasts this cruelty with the universal benevolence that the British owe to all people, and she seeks to inspire such benevolence by engaging readers’ sympathy for characters unlike themselves. Defining people of all nations as brethren and neighbours, Hamilton especially warns her women readers against too narrow a devotion to their immediate families, encouraging them instead to expand their service into the public realm.
Spontaneous and therapeutic prognostic factors in adult hemispheric World Health Organization Grade II gliomas: a series of 1097 cases
Authors: Capelle Laurent , Fontaine Denys , Mandonnet Emmanuel , Taillandier Luc , Golmard Jean Louis , Bauchet Luc , Pallud Johan , Peruzzi Philippe , Baron Marie Hélène , Kujas Michèle , Guyotat Jacques , Guillevin Remi , Frenay Marc , Taillibert Sophie , Colin Philippe , Rigau Valérie , Vandenbos Fanny , Pinelli Catherine , Duffau Hugues , _ _
Published: March 2013

Object

The spontaneous prognostic factors and optimal therapeutic strategy for WHO Grade II gliomas (GIIGs) have yet to be unanimously defined. Specifically, the role of resection is still debated, most notably because the actual amount of resection has seldom been assessed.

Methods

Cases of GIIGs treated before December 2007 were extracted from a multicenter database retrospectively collected since January 1985 and prospectively collected since 1996. Inclusion criteria were a patient age ≥ 18 years at diagnosis, histological diagnosis of WHO GIIG, and MRI evaluation of tumor volume at diagnosis and after initial surgery. One thousand ninety-seven lesions were included in the analysis. The mean follow-up was 7.4 years since radiological diagnosis. Factors significant in a univariate analysis (with a p value ≤ 0.1) were included in the multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression model analysis.

Results

At the time of radiological diagnosis, independent spontaneous factors of a poor prognosis were an age ≥ 55 years, an impaired functional status, a tumor location in a nonfrontal area, and, most of all, a larger tumor size. When the study starting point was set at the time of first treatment, independent favorable prognostic factors were limited to a smaller tumor size, an epileptic symptomatology, and a greater extent of resection.

Conclusions

This large series with its volumetric assessment refines the prognostic value of previously stressed clinical and radiological parameters and highlights the importance of tumor size and location. The results support additional arguments in favor of the predominant role of resection, in accordance with recently reported experiences.
Ecological Status Interactions for Assessing Bird Diversity in Relation to a Heterogeneous Landscape Structure
Authors: Bensizerara Djamel , Chenchouni Haroun , Bachir Abdelkrim Si , Houhamdi Moussa
Published: March 2013

Avian diversity is used to assess the functionality of diverse types of habitats around Salt Lake Djendli, Northeast Algeria. The landscape is stratified into five habitat types in a gradient from wetland to forested mountains. Bird species found in these habitats can be classified into four ecological groups with decreasing degrees of aquatic specialisation and increasing forest specialisation. For each surveyed species, five ecological status were assigned. Overall, there was lower species richness in urban areas compared to other “natural” habitats. Birds have a biogeographical affinity to the western Palaearctic according to the dominant faunal types. Interactions of ecological status with phenological traits reveal that water birds are different from non-aquatic species because most of them are migrants. Moreover, overall, there is no worrying conservation status for surveyed birds. Bird diet is dependent on the ecological status that differentiate bird groups from each other due to differences in the food resources of the habitats they frequent. Phenological categories tend to link together birds of urban and open-lands. These two groups are affected by seasonal human activities. Our findings emphasise the importance of using combinations within the birds’ ecological status, which would give information on the actual state of avifauna. This approach is relevant for future programmes and conservation actions.
What is lacking in current decision aids on cancer screening?
Authors: Jimbo Masahito , Rana Gurpreet K. , Hawley Sarah , Holmes‐Rovner Margaret , Kelly‐Blake Karen , Nease Donald E. , Ruffin Mack T.
Published: March 2013

Recent guidelines on cancer screening have provided not only more screening options but also conflicting recommendations. Thus, patients, with their clinicians' support, must decide whether to get screened, which modality to use, and how often to undergo screening. Decision aids could potentially lead to better shared decision‐making regarding screening between the patient and the clinician. A total of 73 decision aids concerning screening for breast, cervical, colorectal, and prostate cancers were reviewed. The goal of this review was to assess the effectiveness of such decision aids, examine areas in need of more research, and determine how the decision aids can be currently applied in the real‐world setting. Most studies used sound study designs. Significant variation existed in the setting, theoretical framework, and measured outcomes. Just over one‐third of the decision aids included an explicit values clarification. Other than knowledge, little consistency was noted with regard to which patient attributes were measured as outcomes. Few studies actually measured shared decision‐making. Little information was available regarding the feasibility and outcomes of integrating decision aids into practice. In this review, the implications for future research, as well as what clinicians can do now to incorporate decision aids into their practice, are discussed. CA Cancer J Clin 2013. © 2013 American Cancer Society.
HE4 (WFDC2) Promotes Tumor Growth in Endometrial Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Li Jinping , Chen Haibin , Mariani Andrea , Chen Dong , Klatt Edward , Podratz Karl , Drapkin Ronny , Broaddus Russell , Dowdy Sean , Jiang Shi-Wen
Published: March 2013

HE4, also known as WFDC2, is a useful biomarker for ovarian cancer when either used alone or in combination with CA125. HE4 is also overexpressed in endometrial cancer (EC), but its function in cancer cells is not clear. In this study, we investigate the role of HE4 in EC progression. An HE4-overexpression system was established by cloning the HE4 prototypic mRNA variant (HE4-V0) into a eukaryotic expression vector. Following transfection, stable clones in two EC cell lines were selected. The effects of HE4 overexpression on cell growth and function were measured with the use of cell proliferation assay, matrigel invasion, and soft agar gel colony formation assays. HE4-induced cancer cell proliferation in vivo was examined in a mouse xenograft model. HE4 overexpression significantly enhanced EC cell proliferation, matrigel invasion, and colony formation in soft agar. Moreover, HE4 overexpression promoted tumor growth in the mouse xenograft model. HE4 overexpression enhanced several malignant phenotypes in cell culture and in a mouse model. These results are consistent with our previous observation that high levels of serum HE4 closely correlate with the stage, myometrial invasion and tumor size in patients with EC. This study provides evidence that HE4 overexpression directly impacts tumor progression in endometrial cancer.
Early Exercise Protects against Cerebral Ischemic Injury through Inhibiting Neuron Apoptosis in Cortex in Rats
Authors: Zhang Pengyue , Zhang Yuling , Zhang Jie , Wu Yi , Jia Jie , Wu Junfa , Hu Yongshan
Published: March 2013

Early exercise is an effective strategy for stroke treatment, but the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. Apoptosis plays a critical role after stroke. However, it is unclear whether early exercise inhibits apoptosis after stroke. The present study investigated the effect of early exercise on apoptosis induced by ischemia. Adult SD rats were subjected to transient focal cerebral ischemia by middle cerebral artery occlusion model (MCAO) and were randomly divided into early exercise group, non-exercise group and sham group. Early exercise group received forced treadmill training initiated at 24 h after operation. Fourteen days later, the cell apoptosis were detected by TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) and Fluoro-Jade-B staining (F-J-B). Caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3 and Bcl-2 were determined by western blotting. Cerebral infarct volume and motor function were evaluated by cresyl violet staining and foot fault test respectively. The results showed that early exercise decreased the number of apoptotic cells (118.74 ± 6.15 vs. 169.65 ± 8.47, p < 0.05, n = 5), inhibited the expression of caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-3 (p < 0.05, n = 5), and increased the expression of Bcl-2 (p < 0.05, n = 5). These data were consistent with reduced infarct volume and improved motor function. These results suggested that early exercise could provide neuroprotection through inhibiting neuron apoptosis.
Genomic and Epigenomic Insights into Nutrition and Brain Disorders
Authors: Dauncey Margaret
Published: March 2013

Considerable evidence links many neuropsychiatric, neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders with multiple complex interactions between genetics and environmental factors such as nutrition. Mental health problems, autism, eating disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease and brain tumours are related to individual variability in numerous protein-coding and non-coding regions of the genome. However, genotype does not necessarily determine neurological phenotype because the epigenome modulates gene expression in response to endogenous and exogenous regulators, throughout the life-cycle. Studies using both genome-wide analysis of multiple genes and comprehensive analysis of specific genes are providing new insights into genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying nutrition and neuroscience. This review provides a critical evaluation of the following related areas: (1) recent advances in genomic and epigenomic technologies, and their relevance to brain disorders; (2) the emerging role of non-coding RNAs as key regulators of transcription, epigenetic processes and gene silencing; (3) novel approaches to nutrition, epigenetics and neuroscience; (4) gene-environment interactions, especially in the serotonergic system, as a paradigm of the multiple signalling pathways affected in neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders. Current and future advances in these four areas should contribute significantly to the prevention, amelioration and treatment of multiple devastating brain disorders.
Clinical efficacy of autogenous cancellous bone and fibroblast growth factor 2 combined with frozen allografts in femoral nonunion fractures
Authors: Ochi H. , Kannno N. , Iwata M. , Ichinohe T. , Harada Y. , Nezu Y. , Yogo T. , Tagawa M. , Hara Y. , Akagi H.
Published: March 2013

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of cortical allograft and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2)-impregnated autogenous cancellous bone in nonunion fracture repair in dogs.

Methods: From January 2000 to August 2010, seven dogs underwent cortical allograft and FGF-2-impregnated autogenous cancellous bone implantation for treatment of a femoral nonunion following fracture. Radiographic images were used to assess healing.

Results: The average length of the implanted cortical allograft was 29.1 ± 4.4 mm. A significant improvement in the postoperative percentage of femoral shortening was observed with the experimental treatment, from 85.2 ± 8.2% to 95.0 ± 4.8%. Using radiographic scoring, we analysed the process of bone remodelling. At three months post-surgery, the proximal and distal fracture lines had begun to disappear, and a complete absence was observed after six months. Bacterial infection was detected in two of the seven cases.

Clinical significance: The findings of our study suggest that the combination of cortical allografts with FGF-2 impregnated cancellous autograft may be useful in cases of diaphyseal fracture non-union. The disappearance of the fracture line in dogs with nonunion was recognized at the same phase as the report in which healing process of allograft was evaluated in the experimental ostectomy model using the normal dog.
Osteonecrosis of the Jaw and Nonmalignant Disease: Is There an Association with Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Authors: Lescaille Géraldine , Coudert Amélie E. , Baaroun Vanessa , Javelot Marie-José , Cohen-Solal Martine , Berdal Ariane , Goudot Patrick , Azérad Jean , Ruhin Blandine , Descroix Vianney
Published: March 2013

Objective.

To review cases of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) occurring in association with benign disease and to describe and compare the clinical course and outcome for patients with BRONJ and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or osteoporosis.

Methods.

We retrospectively reviewed observations of all patients referred for treatment and followup for BRONJ from January 2007 to December 2011. Only patients with malignant disease were excluded. Demographic data, medical history, maxillofacial findings, BRONJ treatment, and followup were reviewed for each case.

Results.

Over a 5-year period, we diagnosed 112 patients with BRONJ. Among these patients, 15 received bisphosphonate (BP) treatment for nonmalignant disease (mean age 65.7 ± 19.8 yrs, 80% women). Patients received BP for a variety of reasons: 8 (53%) to prevent osteoporosis in association with underlying RA; 6 (40%) to prevent idiopathic osteoporosis; and 1 (7%) to treat ankle algodystrophy. The mean oral BP exposure period was 48.4 months (median 36 mo). In 13 cases (86.6%), BRONJ was diagnosed following dental extraction. Of the 8 patients with RA, 5 (62.5%) were taking prednisone at the time of the discovery of BRONJ. Major surgery, sequestrectomy, or alveolectomy was performed in 9 patients (60%), all of whom healed within 3 to 36 months (mean 11.5 mo). Comparative analysis of all the variables showed no statistically significant differences between patients with RA and others.

Conclusion.

ONJ is a rare adverse effect of BP therapy, especially when administered orally. Within the limits of our study, we were unable to demonstrate a difference in BRONJ disease spectrum, clinical course, or outcome between patients with and those without RA.
Application and Modifications of Minimal Disease Activity Measures for Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis Treated with Adalimumab: Subanalyses of ADEPT
Authors: Mease Philip J. , Heckaman Michele , Kary Sonja , Kupper Hartmut
Published: March 2013

Objective.

This posthoc analysis evaluated the percentage of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who achieved minimal disease activity (MDA) and compared the results with a modified MDA substituting the physician global assessment (PGA) for the Psoriasis Activity and Severity Index (PASI) using data from the ADalimumab Effectiveness in Psoriatic Arthritis Trial (ADEPT; NCT00646386).

Methods.

Patients with active PsA were randomized to receive adalimumab 40 mg or placebo every other week for 24 weeks. MDA was defined as achieving ≥ 5 of the following criteria: tender joint count ≤ 1; swollen joint count ≤ 1; PASI ≤ 1 or body surface area ≤ 3%; patient pain score ≤ 15 [1–100 mm visual analog scale (VAS)]; patient global assessment (PGA) of disease activity ≤ 20 (1–100 mm VAS); Health Assessment Questionnaire ≤ 0.5; and tender entheseal points ≤ 1 (only heels assessed). For modification of the MDA, PASI ≤ 1 was substituted with PGA “Clear” as MDAPGA1 and PGA “Clear” or “Almost clear” as MDAPGA2.

Results.

Sixty-seven patients were treated with adalimumab and 69 with placebo. At Week 24, MDA, MDAPGA1, and MDAPGA2 were achieved by 39%, 37%, and 39%, respectively, of patients treated with adalimumab versus 7%, 5%, and 8% of patients on placebo (p < 0.001). Kappa coefficients indicated good agreement between PASI and PGA at Week 24.

Conclusion.

ADEPT results indicated that significantly more patients treated with adalimumab achieved MDA by Week 24 compared with placebo. Modification of the MDA by replacing PASI ≤ 1 with PGA assessments did not alter the results, which may improve feasibility of practical use of the index.
Un revenu pour tous, mais à quel montant ? Comment le financer ?
Authors: de Basquiat Marc
Published: March 2013

Face à l’inéquité du système actuel, l’auteur de l’article présente un système redistributif lisible, réduisant à la fois la pauvreté et les inégalités. Grace à l’adaptation de l’outil de microsimulation développé par Landais, Piketty et Saez 1 plusieurs scénarios de mise en place de l’allocation universelle sont présentés avec grande précision 2 et nous permettent ainsi de voir les gagnants et les perdants d’une telle politique de redistribution.
« Un emploi, sinon un revenu garanti et décent »
Authors: Cottin-Marx Simon , Bourdeau Vincent
Published: March 2013

Dans le cadre du dossier sur le revenu d’existence, nous avons voulu questionner le Mouvement national des chômeurs et précaires (MNCP) sur sa position originale vis-à-vis de cet outil, son adaptation à la situation des chômeurs et des précaires. L’appropriation par le MNCP du « revenu d’existence » manifeste une fois de plus la malléabilité et la multiplicité des usages du revenu d’existence.
Le revenu universel : outil de lutte féministe ?
Authors: Ouardi Samira
Published: March 2013

D’un point de vue féministe, et plus spécifiquement d’un point de vue féministe matérialiste, la revendication d’un revenu garanti, dissocié de l’emploi, qu’il s’agisse d’un « revenu universel », d’un « revenu d’existence » ou d’un « revenu de citoyenneté », pose autant de problèmes qu’elle ouvre de perspectives. Le travail tient une place aussi centrale que complexe dans l’histoire de la lutte des femmes pour leur émancipation.
Reconnaître le travail étudiant par le salaire ?
Authors: Porte Emmanuel
Published: March 2013

« L’étudiant est un jeune travailleur intellectuel ». Cette affirmation, formulée par certains militants de l’UNEF dans l’immédiate après-guerre, questionne le statut des études au regard du salariat et invite à appréhender le droit au salaire autrement que comme la contrepartie d’un travail subordonné. Elle pose autant la question de la reconnaissance de la productivité - actuelle et à venir - de l’étudiant que celle de son rôle social dans l’élévation du niveau de connaissance et de qualification globale de la société. Éclairant les débats contemporains sur le dépassement du rapport actuel à l’emploi, le retour sur la revendication de l’allocation d’étude de cette époque, nous permet de questionner les frontières du salariat et les conditions sociales et politiques de son évolution.
Quels droits pour un plein accès à la citoyenneté ?
Authors: Cottin-Marx Simon , Mylondo Baptiste
Published: March 2013

La controverse est portée à gauche : face à la dégradation des régulations du travail, la montée de la précarité, le revenu universel est-il une solution ? Le sociologue présente le « travail » comme le terrain des conquêtes sociales passées et à venir, mais aussi comme un élément central et nécessaire pour la réalisation de la dignité des individus. Sceptique face à la proposition de garantir l’autonomie des individus en déconnectant le revenu de l’emploi, Robert Castel propose une stratégie qu’il souhaite réaliste et collective, sur le terrain du travail, de conquête de nouveaux droits pour garantir un accès entier à la citoyenneté.
Activation de la protection sociale : un droit à revenu universel de type nouveau ?
Authors: Nicole-Drancourt Chantal
Published: March 2013

La peur du paupérisme réactualise la question de la mise en place d’un revenu universel et alimente une critique sévère des dispositifs dits « activés » de la protection sociale. Ces dispositifs sont pourtant très innovants car ils permettent d’articuler emploi et protection sociale. Quelle est la place du revenu universel dans le paysage de ces dispositifs de protection ? Comment relier ce projet aux défis de reconnaissance des autres activités sociales ?
L'État de facto du Haut-Karabagh arménien
Authors: Petithomme Mathieu
Published: March 2013

Cet article se focalise sur les ambivalences du processus de démocratisation mis en avant par les élites de la République du Haut-Karabagh (RHK) afin de renforcer leur légitimité face au déficit de reconnaissance internationale du territoire. Il montre aussi comment les élites locales modifient les conditions de sortie du conflit en promouvant une politique de citoyenneté exclusive qui « ethnicise » l’enclave et empêche un éventuel droit au retour des déplacés azéris. Malgré une réalité en trompe-l’œil, tant la démocratisation de façade que la politique de citoyenneté ont pour but stratégique de défendre la souveraineté interne de l’entité. L’ambivalence de ces processus s’explique par la nécessité de créer une entité dotée d’une identité propre, tout en maintenant une ambiguïté entre indépendantisme et volonté de rattachement avec l’Arménie.
Lacan et l'oubli du rire de Marx
Authors: Morel Geneviève
Published: March 2013

Il s’agit de traiter trois propositions qui s’articulent étroitement : premièrement, le côté spirituel de Lacan, justement inimitable sauf à sombrer dans le ridicule, et son intérêt pour le Witz sont au cœur de ce qu’on a appelé le « retour à Freud » de Lacan dans les années 1950. Deuxièmement, son abord de la parole et du langage par le mot d’esprit définit une position matérialiste dans l’approche du symptôme analytique, dans un sens que je tente de préciser ici. Troisièmement, un levier essentiel de cette approche est l’appui pris, dès les années 1950, sur la lecture de Marx, qu’on oublie souvent parce que Lacan l’a lui-même mise entre parenthèses jusqu’à la presque fin des années 1960. Or, cette lecture recèle des oublis répétés de Marx qui témoignent d’un vertige de Lacan quant à la cause du célèbre rire du capitaliste dans Le capital de Marx.