bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does active surveillance lead to anxiety and stress?
Authors: Simpson Paula
Published: October 2014

For men with prostate cancer (PC), patient care and treatment recommendations should not focus solely on the disease but should also take into account the views of the patient. The diagnosis and consequences of monitoring or treatment should be fully explained. Recommending Active Surveillance (AS) for the monitoring of a proven low-risk, low-volume prostate cancer should ensure that the psychological impact of AS is taken into account and included in a holistic approach to patient and disease management. This article is a rapid literature search relating to AS, and how the psychological impact of a cancer diagnosis may influence patient choice.
Transitional Justice and Postconflict Reconstruction in Somalia: The Role of the African Union and Pointers Provided by It
Authors: Jeng Abou
Published: October 2014

Postcolonial Somalia is riddled with contradictions. While some of the contradictions relate to the disjuncture between the state and traditional social dispositions, a significant part could be attributed to Somalia's encounters with externalities. The encounters have often produced defining consequences, some of which conjure violence and paradoxes, manifested in various forms with considerable impact on state and society. And so, since its formal state organs “collapsed” in 1991, Somalia has been subject to sequences of episodes with outcomes that have confined it to a state of conflict and conflicting paradigms. It follows, therefore, that an imagination of a future Somalia requires a transcendent approach sufficient to enforce an emancipatory postconflict order. This article argues that for such a vision to be realized, a reconstruction agenda built around an integrated transitional justice framework ought to be set out. But as the article further claims, such a framework must be constituted with caution, especially given that the effects of the Somali condition are so vast that an orthodox transitional justice approach would be inadequate. What ought to be pursued, it is argued, is a transformational framework capable of reaching out and tapping into the strength and heritage of Somali social institutions. In the African Union's evolving transitional justice framework, this article argues, there appears to emerge the formulation of an integrated nonhierarchical model that could offer a valuable template for Somalia.
The Prospects for Transitional Justice in Catalyzing Socioeconomic Justice in Postconflict States: A Critical Assessment in Light of Somalia's Transition
Authors: McAuliffe Padraig
Published: October 2014

There is an increasing belief in transitional justice literature that transitional justice can and should assist the transformation of oppressed societies into fair ones by exposing and remedying the discriminatory practices and violations of economic, social, and cultural rights that led to conflict. This would facilitate a deeper and more substantive justice than the field's traditional concentration on civil and political rights has hitherto allowed for. This demand is based on an assumption that transition to democracy automatically conduces to a dramatic revision of exploitative socioeconomic structures and a more distributive conception of justice, provided that transitional justice mechanisms are designed holistically to achieve these ends. However, this assumption is questionable in ostensibly transitional states where potential spoilers have the means and motivation to retain the gains of conflict, on the one hand, and where there is widespread antipathy to the type of strong state that could make distributive transitional justice a reality, on the other. Somalia offers the paradigmatic example of a precarious transition to a state where (a) the economic interests of various factions may operate to preclude national consensus on addressing the socioeconomic justice that motivated, exacerbated, and flowed from the conflict, and (b) there is significant opposition to the construction of a state strong enough to coordinate equitable development or redistribution.
“The Impure Outsider”: Ritual Exclusion and Integration of Women in Maale, Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Thubauville Sophia
Published: October 2014

Especially in patrilineal and virilocal societies, women have long been considered to be “in between” the paternal and affinal patrilineages. For this reason, women occupy a liminal status and are considered dangerous or impure outsiders in many societies. Moreover, their assumed impurity is the basis of taboos for women and requires certain rituals of incorporation to be carried out for them at certain times during their life cycle. The present article focuses on the supposed impurity of women among the Maale of southern Ethiopia. Trying to find explanations for the impurity attributed to women in this part of the world, it shows the complex connections between ideas of “foreignness,” mobility, and “impurity,” their manifestation in women's taboos, and their overcoming through rituals of integration.
This Could Be the Place: Queer Acceptance in Lars and the Real Girl
Authors: Sisco King Claire , West Isaac
Published: October 2014

In our engagement with Lars and the Real Girl (LRG), we encourage a reading of the film that emphasizes how it playfully and performatively reproduces and, in the process, undoes norms of temporality and collectivity. In particular, LRG queers normative understandings of public culture, identity, and community in three primary ways. First, the film queers typical understandings of time, challenging the presumed distinctions between past, present, and future. Second, LRG forwards a prosthetic understanding of identity, asserting that all identities are relationally contingent and therefore queering the subject-object binary. Finally, the film envisions queer kinship structures that not only critique hegemonic gender norms but also call attention to the performativity of gendered identities. Ultimately, we deploy LRG to respond to those who advocate antirelationality as the properly queer way of moving through space and time.
Current approaches to the management of diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Demidova Tatiana Yul'evna , Trakhtenberg Yulia Alexandrovna
Published: October 2014

This review reflects the current status of the diabetic retinopathy treatment problem and describes the results of the largest trials on epidemiology, screening and the risk factors for complications. In addition, this article describes the current approaches and treatment options for diabetic retinopathy, including a description of fenofibroic acid with its mechanism of action and data from clinical trials. This article also contains information on antiangiogenic agents for intravitreal administration.
On the 80th anniversary of Professor M.I.Balabolkin
Authors: Nedosugova Lyudmila Viktorovna , Petunina Nina Alexandrovna , Trukhina Lyubov' Valentinovna , Tel'nova Milena Eduardovna , Levitskaya Zoya Ivanovna
Published: October 2014

We introduce the audience to the personal and professional life of M.I. Balabolkin ? a prominent Russian endocrinologist, scientist and a proliferous author. We highlight his contribution into the development of national endocrinology services, including the foundation of academic departments of endocrinology in 1977 (first in the nation) and in 1991 (in the Institute of Higher Professional Education, now part of the First Moscow Medical University). We also attempt to summarize professor Balabolkin?s educational and scientific heritage that encompasses studies on pathogenesis and clinical management of major endocrine disorders, as well as instruction of a multitude of successful clinicians and scientists.
Rational and emotional components of attitude to the disease in patients with type 1 diabetes: relationship with psychological well-being
Authors: Motovilin Oleg Gennad'evich , Shishkova Yulia Andreevna , Surkova Elena Viktorovna
Published: October 2014

Aim. To study the relationship between two components of the attitude (rational and emotional) of patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) to the disease among themselves as well as the relationship of each component with psychological well-being of patients. Materials and methods. One hundred twenty-nine T1D patients (43 males, 86 females) were studied. The attitude towards the disease was studied using the Colour Attitude Test (CAT) by A.M. Etkind and the Psychological Diagnosis of the Type of Person?s Attitude to the Disease (TAD) developed at the Bekhterev Psychoneurological Research Institute (St. Petersburg). Psychological well-being was evaluated using the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), the State?Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) by C.D. Spielberger that was adapted by Y.L. Khanin, the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), the self-assessment diagnostic technique by Dembo?Rubinstein and the Purpose in Life Test (PILT) by Crumbaugh Maholick that was adapted by D. Leontyev. Results. There were two groups of patients in the results of cluster analysis of TAD: those with rational adaptive and maladaptive attitudes towards the disease. In the group of patients with the rational adaptive attitude towards the disease, scores were higher on most scales of STAI, CES-D, SF-36 and PILT. In the result of cluster analysis of CAT, there were two groups of patients: those with favourable and unfavourable emotional acceptance of the disease. The group of patients with favourable emotional acceptance of the disease also had higher scores on most scales of STAI, CES-D, SF-36, PILT and the Dembo?Rubinstein technique. The comparative analysis of the relationship of rational and emotional components in attitude to the disease showed their incomplete coincidence among themselves. Conclusions. Both the rational and emotional components of the attitude towards the disease are associated with the psychological well-being of patients. Patients with the adaptive rational attitude towards the disease and a high level of emotional acceptance are characterised by a high level of psychological well-being.
Neutrophil granulocyte functional status and expression of apoptosis markers in children with type 1 diabetes
Authors: Barycheva Lyudmila Yur'evna , Erdni-Goryaeva Natalya Eduardovna , Alexandrovich Galina Alekseevna
Published: October 2014

In recent years, polymorphonuclear leukocytes have been proven to play an important role in the development of diabetes mellitus (DM). Neutrophil dysfunction contributes to pancreatic tissue damage as well as an increased susceptibility to infection in type 1 DM (T1DM) patients. Objective. The objective of this study was to investigate the functional activity of neutrophil granulocytes (NGs) in children with T1DM. Materials and Methods. This study involved 25 children aged 7?15 years. To evaluate programmed cell death, the number of NGs expressing apoptosis markers (CD95, CD95L and BCL2) was determined. The functional activity of NGs was determined in terms of phagocytosis and the levels of myeloperoxidase, lysosomal cationic proteins and active oxygen radicals. Results. A reduction in the bactericidal activity of NGs with deficiencies in phagocytosis, secretion of active oxygen radicals and functional reserve was found. An increase in the apoptotic potential of NGs was demonstrated, which was accompanied by an increase in CD95 expression and a decrease in BCL2 expression. An increase in the cytotoxic potential of neutrophils in the form of enhanced levels of myeloperoxidase and lysosomal cationic proteins was revealed. Conclusions. Therefore, an increase in the apoptotic potential of NGs associated with functional and metabolic changes may reflect the active involvement of NGs in the immunopathogenesis of T1DM.
Arterial stiffness, renal function and renal blood flow in patients with coronary artery disease, arterial hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Oskola Elena Vasilievna , Shubina Anna Timofeevna , Zairova Alsu Rafhatovna , Andreevskaya Marina Vladimirovna , Bogieva Roksana Mirabovna , Pogorelova Olga Alexandrovna , Bolotina Marina Grigorievna , Balahonova Tatiana Valentinovna , Rogoza Anatoliy Nikolaevich , Karpov Yury Alexandrovich
Published: October 2014

Aim. To investigate the relationship between changes in indicators of arterial stiffness of various types of vessels, hemodynamic pulsatility, renal function and renal blood flow in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and arterial hypertension in the presence or absence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Materials and Methods. The study included 96 patients with CAD and arterial hypertension; among them, 54 subjects had T2DM and 42 did not. Сarbohydrate and lipid metabolism, renal function, stiffness of various types of arteries, parameters of hemodynamic pulsatility and renal blood flow were investigated. Results. Arterial stiffness of various types of vessels was increased in the T2DM group: carotid?femoral pulse wave velocity as a marker of aortic stiffness (a vessel of the elastic type) was increased by 16% (p
Behinderung - Geschlecht - Soziale Ungleichheit
Authors: Windisch Monika
Published: October 2014

Politische und theoretische Auseinandersetzungen mit körperbezogenen Differenzmerkmalen wie Behinderung und Geschlecht werden meist getrennt voneinander geführt. Sie aufeinander zu beziehen, um der Spezifität, Komplexität und Interdependenz sozialer Ungleichheitslagen gerecht zu werden, verspricht eine wechselseitige Erweiterung der Perspektiven und ein vertieftes Verständnis sozialer Exklusions-, Benachteiligungs- und Privilegierungserfahrungen. Vorwiegend anhand von europäischen Antidiskriminierungspolitiken hinterfragt Monika Windisch die Bedingungen, Machtwirkungen und Effekte politischer Strategien, die beides sind: ambivalent und ergebnisoffen.
Politische Kultur in Zeiten des Neoliberalismus
Authors: Maiolino Angelo
Published: October 2014

Was ist politische Kultur und in welchem Zusammenhang steht sie mit dem Neoliberalismus? Aus einer an Antonio Gramscis Theorie orientierten Untersuchungsperspektive zeigt Angelo Maiolino die politische Kultur als eine hegemoniale Konstellation, deren Werte, Deutungsmuster des Politischen und Sozialen sowie Selbst- und Weltverständnisse mittels Konsens und Zwang stabilisiert und reproduziert werden. Dabei spielen die unter dem diffusen Titel des Neoliberalismus stattfindenden Wirtschafts- und Gesellschaftspolitiken eine entscheidende Rolle: Sie verlangen nicht nur neue marktkonforme politische und zivilgesellschaftliche Institutionen, sondern auch entsprechende individuelle Verhaltensweisen, aus denen wiederum kollektiv geteilte Werte und Deutungen entstehen, die in ihrer schieren alltäglichen Präsenz unhinterfragt übernommen werden und so in die politische Kultur sedimentieren. Der Neoliberalismus entpuppt sich so als ein wirtschaftliches und politisches Projekt, das auf eine ihn stützende und reproduzierende politische Kultur angewiesen ist.
Skateboarding
Authors: Schweer Sebastian
Published: October 2014

Subkultur und Profisport? - Die Praxis des Skateboarding ist ausdifferenziert und kontrovers. Wie widerständig sind die flexiblen Skateboarder in der flüchtigen Moderne wirklich? Und wo lassen sich Potenziale politischer Subjektivierung verorten? Sebastian Schweer untersucht die subversiven Komponenten des Skateboarding und kritisiert gleichzeitig dessen unreflektierte Überhöhung als urbane Rebellion. Anhand empirischer Beispiele und entlang aktueller Themen wie die etwaige Olympia-Teilnahme, das Sponsoring großer Konzerne sowie städteplanerische Einbettungsversuche beschreibt er sowohl die Do-it-yourself-Kultur und Raumpraxis der Skateboarding-Kultur als auch den Kampf um öffentlichen Raum.
Politische Landschaften
Authors: Guldin Rainer
Published: October 2014

Benedict Anderson hat im Zusammenhang mit der Entstehung nationaler Gebilde das erfolgreiche Konzept der imagined communities geprägt. Die Schaffung einer nationalen Sprache, einer Ursprungslegende und einer Erinnerungskultur ermöglicht die Konstitution eines Feldes der nationalen Zeit. Diesem zeitlichen Feld entspricht auch ein räumliches. So wurden nationale Formationen im europäischen Raum immer wieder auf bestimmte Landschaftstypologien zurückgeführt. Aufgrund seines diskursiv-medialen Ansatzes geraten bei Anderson landschaftliche Phänomene jedoch erst gar nicht in den Blick. Rainer Guldin schließt diese theoretische Lücke hier exemplarisch für den deutschen Sprachraum. Im Mittelpunkt stehen dabei Prozesse der Metaphorisierung, denen auch Simon Schama in seinem Buch über Landschaft und Gedächtnis nachgegangen ist.
Experimentelles Nichtwissen
Authors: Groß Matthias
Published: October 2014

Resilienz als Indikator für die Robustheit von gesellschaftlichen Prozessen ist allgemein positiv besetzt. Erfolgreiche gesellschaftliche Veränderungen scheinen heute hingegen eher durch Prozesse des Experimentierens unter Bedingungen von Nichtwissen gekennzeichnet zu sein. Matthias Groß untersucht solche Prozesse am Beispiel ökologischer Praxisfelder, in denen zwar Sicherheitserwartungen hoch sind, erkannte Wissenslücken jedoch unüberwindbar scheinen. Er zeigt: Der Erfolg für den Umgang mit diesem für die Gegenwartsgesellschaft typischen Spannungsverhältnis liegt nicht in hoher Resilienz begründet, sondern fußt eher in experimentellen Kulturen, die mit Nichtwissen und unvermeidbaren Unsicherheiten konstruktiv umzugehen gelernt haben.
Sewage-based Epidemiology Requires a Truly Transdisciplinary Approach
Authors: Ort Christoph , Banta-Green Caleb J. , Bijlsma Lubertus , Castiglioni Sara , Emke Erik , Gartner Coral , Kasprzyk-Hordern Barbara , Reid Malcolm J. , Rieckermann Jörg , van Nuijs Alexander L. N.
Published: October 2014

If asked whether you had consumed illicit drugs recently, would you admit it? If yes, could you precisely recall types of drug, times and amounts used? If you were the person commissioned with the task of quantifying drug use, what approach would you use given the social stigma attached
with such behavior? We measure drug residues in sewage, which represents urine of entire populations, to provide an objective estimate of total drug use in a region. In transdisciplinary projects, sewage-based results provide valuable information at unrivaled spatiotemporal resolution complementing
traditional data.
Reflecting on Law and the Quality of the Built Environment. A Transdisciplinary Perspective
Authors: Streiff Oliver
Published: October 2014

There is much societal debate on the quality of the built environment. Although law is a major factor influencing this quality, there has been little research on the interdependence of law and architectural space. By bridging different disciplines and leading to a co-production of knowledge,
the project presented here provides, from a transdisciplinary perspective, insights into lawmaking and its capacity to integrate architectural issues, with one key finding being that judging processes of transformation requires a culturally shaped legal framework of the built environment.
Human Ecology Concepts for a Sustainable Development of Urban Space. Report from the 2014 DGH Symposium Humanökologische Konzepte nachhaltiger Entwicklung urbaner Räume. Bericht vom DGH-Symposium 2014
Authors: Serbser Wolfgang H. , Buron Sarah
Published: October 2014

Die unaufhaltsame weltweite Verstädterung stellt uns vor Herausforderungen, die weit über technologische Lösungsvisionen hinausgehen. Die internationale Konferenz Urbanity & Human Ecology thematisierte humanökologische Analysen und Konzepte und die
Rolle der Humanökologie im aktuellen Wissenschaftsdiskurs.
Environmental Management at Universities. A Joint Project of the Alliance of Sustainable Universities in Austria Umweltmanagement an Universitäten – ein Verbundprojekt der Allianz Nachhaltige Universitäten in Österreich
Authors: Lindenthal Thomas , Weiger Thomas , Luks Fred , Kecht Christoph , Getzinger Günter
Published: October 2014

Mit dem Projekt Umweltmanagementsysteme an Universitäten der Allianz Nachhaltige Universitäten in Österreich soll über eine Laufzeit von fünf Jahren universitätsübergreifend das Umweltmanagementsystem Eco-Management and Audit
Scheme (EMAS) an fünf Universitäten eingeführt respektive weiterentwickelt werden.
Landscape – Increasingly Important for Environmental Decisions Landschaft – immer wichtiger für Umweltentscheidungen
Authors: Kienast Felix
Published: October 2014

Die Landschaft spielt in der modernen Gesellschaft eine zentrale Rolle. Sie erbringt eine Vielzahl von Ökosystemleistungen. Das Zentrum Landschaft WSL stellt seinen integrativen Forschungszugang zur Ressource Landschaft vor – ein Gastbeitrag zu aktueller Schweizer Umweltforschung.
Radical Life Extension: Should It Be an Issue for Ecology?
Authors: Hainz Tobias
Published: October 2014

A hypothetical phenomenon known as “radical life extension” has recently entered the realm of bioethical analysis, but despite its potentially huge impact on global population dynamics, radical life extension has not yet emerged as a topic in ecology. However, since ethicists
need ecological guidance on this issue and since the prospect of radical life extension may require common assumptions of population research to be re-examined, it deserves some attention from ecology.
Weight loss reduces serum monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 concentrations in association with improvements in renal injury in obese men with metabolic syndrome
Authors: Fu Chia-Po , Sheu Wayne H.-H. , Lee I.-Te , Lee Wen-Jane , Wang Jun-Sing , Liang Kae-Woei , Lee Wen-Lieng , Lin Shih-Yi
Published: October 2014

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is involved in obesity-related renal injury. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of weight loss on changes in MCP-1 and markers of renal injury, specifically serum cystatin C (S-CysC) and urinary N-acetyl glucosaminidase (UNAG), in obese people.

In this prospective study, 40 obese men with metabolic syndrome (MetS) participated in a 3-month dietary and exercise intervention. Twenty-eight subjects completed the study with a ≥5% weight loss. Circulating MCP-1, S-CysC and UNAG to creatinine ratio (UNCR) were determined before and after the weight loss program.

Obesity-associated components of MetS demonstrated significant improvements after the weight loss program. In addition, at baseline, circulating MCP-1 concentrations were positively correlated with UNCR and S-CysC levels. After weight loss, blood MCP-1 and UNCR levels were significantly decreased, but S-CysC was not affected. Using multiple linear regression analysis, there was a significant relationship between changes in UNCR and MCP-1 after adjusting for other potential confounding factors.

Weight loss may improve renal tubular injury by ameliorating obesity-related inflammation in obese men with MetS.
Mixed-mode fracture toughness of bond lines of PRF and PUR adhesives in European beech wood
Authors: Ammann Samuel , Niemz Peter
Published: October 2014

The fracture behavior of bond lines in hardwood has been studied. The joints of a phenol resorcinol formaldehyde (PRF) resin and a one-component polyurethane (PUR) adhesive with European beech wood (Fagus sylvatica L.) adherends were examined for their fracture toughness (K
c). The initial crack tip was placed directly in the adhesive as a thin silicon film. Thereby, the examination of the bond line, and not the solid wood, can be assured. Five different load angles were applied, from fracture mode 1 (M1) to mode 2 (M2), with an Arcan test mount. Additionally, three sample series conditioned at the relative humidities (RH) of 50%, 65%, and 95% of the surrounding air were tested. The results clearly show an increasing K
c of both adhesives with increasing shear stresses. This observation is valid for all RHs, but the differences decrease with increasing RH. The moisture dependency is more pronounced in PUR than in PRF glue joints. PUR generally shows a lower K
c than PRF, with the only exceptions being K
I,c and K
II,c in dry climate. The subsequent crack propagation in the PRF samples mainly takes place in the wood adherend, whereas, in the PUR samples, the cracks remain within the bond line (adhesive failure). Nevertheless, the performance of PUR glue joints is not worse than that of the solid wood, which can be attributed to the ductile behavior of the adhesive.
A Typology of Mass Political Violence
Authors: van der Maat Eelco
Published: October 2014

Traditional distinctions of mass political violence (i.e., interstate war, civil war, and genocide) seem to insufficiently capture underlying causal mechanisms. In order to better capture these mechanisms, this paper provides an innovative typology of mass political violence. By introducing mass violence as a product of between-group as opposed to within-group competition, this paper arrives at four observably distinct types of political violence. The paper demonstrates that episodes of mass political violence that at first glance seem to be similar are actually very different and should be treated as such.
Application of the VIM to thermal buckling of composite beams on an elastic foundation
Authors: Ekhlaspour Mahsa , Eslami Mohammad Reza
Published: October 2014

In this paper, thermal buckling analysis of composite laminated beams resting on a two-parameter elastic foundation is carried out by means of the variational iteration method (VIM). The solution procedure is based on the first-order shear deformation beam theory of Timoshenko combined with the von Karman type of geometrical non-linearity. Both edges of the beam are assumed to be axially restrained while may possess various out-of-plane boundary conditions. The elastic foundation is modelled via the two-parameter Pasternak medium which takes into account the vertical interaction of the elements. The governing equilibrium equations are obtained by means of the virtual displacement principle. Stability equations are then obtained by means of the adjacent equilibrium criterion. These equations are uncoupled to extract individual equations in terms of lateral displacement. The resulted differential equations are solved via the VIM. The study examines the VIM in obtaining the closed-form analytical solutions for thermal buckling of composite laminated beams. Furthermore, it is shown that for some special materials with negative thermal expansion coefficient, buckling may occur under cooling rather than heating or it may not occur at all.
Comparison of the Microstructure of Stimuli Responsive Zwitterionic PNIPAM-co-Sulfobetaine Microgels with PNIPAM Microgels and Classical Hard-Sphere Systems
Authors: Schmid Andreas Josef , Riest Jonas , Eckert Thomas , Lindner Peter , Naegele Gerhard , Richtering Walter
Published: October 2014

In this study, we compare the experimental static structure factors of
concentrated solutions of amphoteric poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)
(PNIPAM) microgels with those of the polydisperse hard-sphere
model. We use zwitterionic microgels as model systems for amphoteric
microgels with an equal amount of positive and negative charges
located in a defined distance. Using small angle neutron scattering
(SANS), we measure the static structure factors, S
M(q),
of a series of zwitterionic microgels with increasing amount of
zwitterion, including a reference sample of pure PNIPAM. The
experimental S
M(q) is compared with predictions based on
the Percus-Yevick approximation for hard spheres. We also compare with
the PNIPAM reference sample measured for zwitterionic microgels. We
find no significant influence of the zwitterionic comonomer on the
effective pair potential. The PNIPAM and the zwitterionic microgels
can be described by the hard-sphere model for smaller volume fractions
ϕ

T
 ≲ 0.4 only.
Regulation of endothelial permeability in the primate corpora lutea: implications for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome
Authors: Herr Daniel , Bekes Inga , Wulff Christine
Published: October 2014

In a developing human corpus luteum, a closely regulated cellular communication system exists between the luteal steroidogenic cells and endothelial cells. This system guaranties the vascularization process during luteal formation. The process is combined with rapid release of large amounts of progesterone into the bloodstream. The regulation of endothelial proliferation and permeability by LH and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is integral to this process. On the cellular level, endothelial permeability is regulated by intercellular junctions, such as adherens junctions (AJ) and tight junctions (TJ), which act as zipper-like structures between interacting endothelial cells. Several cell junctional proteins are localized to the corpus luteum, including Occludin, Nectin 2, Claudin 1, and Claudin 5, as well as, vascular endothelial (VE)-Cadherin. It has been assumed that regulation of AJ- and TJ-proteins is of particular importance for permeability, and accordingly, for the functionality of the corpus luteum in early pregnancy, because treatment with hCG induces downregulation of juntional proteins in the luteal vessels. The effect of hCG on the adhesive molecules is mediated by VE growth factor (VEGF). On a functional level, the hCG-dependent and VEGF-mediated decrease in junctional proteins causes a decrease in the density of cell–cell closure and, accordingly, an increase in endothelial permeability. In doing so, the different junctional proteins are not only directly influenced by VEGF but also interact among themselves and influence each other reciprocally. Disturbances in this strictly, regulated interactions may explain the development of pathologies with increased vascular permeability, such as the ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.
An RNAi-Based Suppressor Screen Identifies Interactors of the Myt1 Ortholog ofCaenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Allen Anna K , Nesmith Jessica E , Golden Andy
Published: October 2014

Oocyte maturation in all species is controlled by a protein complex termed the maturation promoting factor (MPF). MPF comprises a cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) and its partner cyclin, and it is regulated by dueling regulatory phosphorylation events on the CDK. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the Wee1/Myt1 ortholog WEE-1.3 provides the inhibitory phosphorylations on CDK-1 that keep MPF inactive and halt meiosis. Prior work has shown that depletion of WEE-1.3 in C. elegans results in precocious oocyte maturation in vivo and a highly penetrant infertility phenotype. This study sought to further define the precocious maturation phenotype and to identify novel interactors with WEE-1.3. We found that WEE-1.3 is expressed throughout the germline and in developing embryos in a perinuclear pattern, and demonstrated that oocytes in WEE-1.3–depleted germlines have begun to transcribe embryonic genes and exhibit inappropriate expression of proteins normally restricted to fertilized eggs. In addition, we performed an RNAi suppressor screen of the infertile phenotype to identify novel factors that, when co-depleted with WEE-1.3, restore fertility to these animals. We screened ∼1900 essential genes by RNAi feeding and identified 44 (∼2% of the tested genes) that are suppressors of the WEE-1.3 depletion phenotype. The suppressors include many previously unidentified players in the meiotic cell cycle and represent a pool of potential WEE-1.3 interacting proteins that function during C. elegans oocyte maturation and zygotic development.
Fast and EfficientDrosophila melanogasterGene Knock-Ins Using MiMIC Transposons
Authors: Vilain Sven , Vanhauwaert Roeland , Maes Ine , Schoovaerts Nils , Zhou Lujia , Soukup Sandra , da Cunha Raquel , Lauwers Elsa , Fiers Mark , Verstreken Patrik
Published: October 2014

Modern molecular genetics studies necessitate the manipulation of genes in their endogenous locus, but most of the current methodologies require an inefficient donor-dependent homologous recombination step to locally modify the genome. Here we describe a methodology to efficiently generate Drosophila knock-in alleles by capitalizing on the availability of numerous genomic MiMIC transposon insertions carrying recombinogenic attP sites. Our methodology entails the efficient PhiC31-mediated integration of a recombination cassette flanked by unique I-SceI and/or I-CreI restriction enzyme sites into an attP-site. These restriction enzyme sites allow for double-strand break−mediated removal of unwanted flanking transposon sequences, while leaving the desired genomic modifications or recombination cassettes. As a proof-of-principle, we mutated LRRK, tau, and sky by using different MiMIC elements. We replaced 6 kb of genomic DNA encompassing the tau locus and 35 kb encompassing the sky locus with a recombination cassette that permits easy integration of DNA at these loci and we also generated a functional LRRKHA knock in allele. Given that ~92% of the Drosophila genes are located within the vicinity (<35 kb) of a MiMIC element, our methodology enables the efficient manipulation of nearly every locus in the fruit fly genome without the need for inefficient donor-dependent homologous recombination events.
Strength assessment during shallow penetration of a sphere in clay
Authors: Morton J. P. , O'Loughlin C. D. , White D. J.
Published: October 2014

Strength interpretation from the measured penetration resistance of full-flow penetrometers, such as the T-bar and ball, is generally based on a constant bearing capacity factor associated with a deep flow-round mechanism. This approach may underestimate the strength of near-surface sediments, which is becoming increasingly important for the design of offshore infrastructure such as pipelines, steel catenary risers and mudmats. This paper describes a series of centrifuge experiments designed to capture the change in the capacity factor of a ball penetrometer during shallow penetration. A rigorous consideration of soil buoyancy is provided. This is an important consideration in soils with a higher strength to self-weight ratio because a cavity is formed by the passage of the ball and remains open to greater depths. The depth at which a full-flow mechanism develops is related to the dimensionless strength ratio, expressed as the ratio of the undrained shear strength to the effective unit weight and penetrometer diameter. This observation forms the basis for proposed formulations that describe the evolution of the bearing capacity factor with depth for different dimensionless strength ratios. These formulations can be used to determine more accurately the undrained shear strength of near-surface soil over the range of dimensionless strength ratios that is of interest to offshore applications.
The importance of spatial models for estimating the strength of density dependence
Authors: Thorson James T. , Skaug Hans J. , Kristensen Kasper , Shelton Andrew O. , Ward Eric J. , Harms John H. , Benante James A.
Published: October 2014

Identifying the existence and magnitude of density dependence is one of the oldest concerns in ecology. Ecologists have aimed to estimate density dependence in population and community data by fitting a simple autoregressive (Gompertz) model for density dependence to time series of abundance for an entire population. However, it is increasingly recognized that spatial heterogeneity in population densities has implications for population and community dynamics. We therefore adapt the Gompertz model to approximate local densities over continuous space instead of population‐wide abundance, and allow productivity to vary spatially using Gaussian random fields. We then show that the conventional (nonspatial) Gompertz model can result in biased estimates of density dependence (e.g., identifying oscillatory dynamics when not present) if densities vary spatially. By contrast, the spatial Gompertz model provides accurate and precise estimates of density dependence for a variety of simulation scenarios and data availabilities. These results are corroborated when comparing spatial and nonspatial models for data from 10 years and ~100 sampling stations for three long‐lived rockfishes (Sebastesspp.) off the California, USA coast. In this case, the nonspatial model estimates implausible oscillatory dynamics on an annual time scale, while the spatial model estimates strong autocorrelation and is supported by model selection tools. We conclude by discussing the importance of improved data archiving techniques, so that spatial models can be used to reexamine classic questions regarding the existence and magnitude of density dependence in wild populations.
Regional Variations in Self-Protection in Canada
Authors: Pare Paul-Philippe , Korosec Lauren
Published: October 2014

We use the Canadian General Social Surveys of 1999 and 2004 on victimization to examine regional variations in self-protection. Analyses based on 49,624 respondents reveal that residents of Western Canada—the Prairies and British Columbia—are more likely to own guns for protection, controlling for different measures of victimization, insecurity, and urbanization. Residents from British Columbia are also more likely to practice martial arts. Respondents from Eastern Canada—Quebec and the Atlantic region—are less likely to engage in self-protection in general. We observe strong evidence that measures of victimization and insecurity are related to self-protection. Our results suggest that regional variations in self-protection reflect a combination of adversary effects, urbanization effects, and possibly cultural differences.
Predictors of Perpetration of Men’s Same-Sex Partner Violence
Authors: Kelley Michelle L. , Milletich Robert J. , Lewis Robin J. , Winstead Barbara A. , Barraco Cathy L. , Padilla Miguel A. , Lynn Courtney
Published: October 2014

This study examined alcohol consumption, internalized homophobia, and outness as related to men’s (N = 107) reports of the perpetration of violence against a same-sex partner. Higher typical weekly alcohol consumption, higher levels of internalized homophobia, and less outness (e.g., lower levels of disclosure of one’s sexual orientation) predicted the perpetration of partner violence. In contrast to what we expected, the interaction between higher alcohol consumption and higher levels of outness about one’s sexual orientation (i.e., being open to friends, family members, work colleagues) increased the likelihood of participants’ reports of perpetrating physical violence. These results suggest the importance of both alcohol consumption and sexual minority stressors and their interactions in understanding men’s perpetration of same-sex partner violence.
Genotypic Differences among Argentinean Maize Hybrids in Yield Response to Stand Density
Authors: Hernández Fernando , Amelong Agustina , Borrás Lucas
Published: October 2014

Maize (Zea mays L.) stand density selection is an important management practice because yield is maximized at a particular optimum value. Optimum stand density (OSD) varies across environments, and many have argued that current commercial genotypes differ in their optimum stand density for a similar environment. We tested this concept by planting 11 Argentinean commercial genotypes from four seed companies at a range of stand densities (1, 8, and 16 plants m−2) in two environments. Genotypes differed in their yield response to changes in stand density, and their OSD varied from 7.3 to 11.9 plants m−2. Yield of tested genotypes was similar at the lowest stand density but different at the highest density, indicating no differences in potential yield per plant but significant differences in crowding tolerance. When using a crop growth and biomass partitioning framework for understanding kernel set differences among genotypes in their response to stand density, hybrids differed in most measured traits, showing differential strategies for coping with stress tolerance. Under high stand density conditions, genotypic strategies for avoiding barrenness were key for hybrid tolerance to crowding stress. We conclude that stand density management needs to take into account not only the environment but also the specific genotype, especially under high density management systems.
Crop Water Productivity of Sugarbeet as Affected by Tillage
Authors: Jabro Jalal D. , Stevens William B. , Iverson William M. , Evans Robert G. , Allen Brett L.
Published: October 2014

One of today's greatest challenges of irrigated agriculture is to produce more food and fiber with less water, which can be accomplished by maximizing crop water productivity (CWP). A study was conducted to evaluate and compare the effect of conventional tillage (CT) and strip tillage (ST) on crop water use (CWU) and CWP of sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) on clay loam soil in the northern Great Plains (NGP). Seasonal CWU and CWP for sugarbeet root and sucrose yields were determined for the 2006, 2007, and 2008 growing seasons according to the water balance and CWP equations under CT and ST practices. No significant differences due to tillage were found for CWU of sugarbeet. In 2006, CWP for root yield was significantly greater in ST relative to CT due to wind damage early in the spring which reduced sugarbeet plant population in the CT. The mean CWP for root yield across three growing seasons was10% greater for ST than for CT due to the protected soil–plant environment under the ST. The ST greatly reduces wind erosion and the related plant damage. The ST system used 0.0093 m3 and 0.061 m3 of irrigation water less than CT system to produce 1 kg of sugarbeet root and 1 kg of sucrose yield, respectively, throughout the growing season. We concluded that ST can be used to produce sugarbeet root yield and CWP comparable to CT or even in some instances greater than CT in areas that are prone to wind damage to sugarbeet seedlings.
Evaluation of a Landscape‐Scale Approach to Cotton Modeling
Authors: Booker J. D. , Lascano Robert J. , Evett Steven R. , Zartman Richard E.
Published: October 2014

The Texas Southern High Plains is a semiarid region for cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production that uses irrigation water from the Ogallala Aquifer, where depletion exceeds recharge, prompting limits to pump water. Thus, there is a need for management strategies to optimize the diminishing water, and these could be modeled provided the spatiotemporal variability associated with irrigated cotton production is captured. The Precision Agricultural‐Landscape Modeling System (PALMS) is a grid‐based model that accounts for variability across complex landscapes but lacked a cotton model. Our objective was to integrate the Cotton2K model with PALMS to produce PALMScot and to compare calculated values of soil water storage obtained with PALMScot to field‐measured values for 2 yr and two irrigation treatments at two locations with contrasting soils, a fine sandy loam near Lamesa, TX, and a clay loam near Bushland, TX. Two statistics, mean absolute difference (MAD) and modified coefficient of efficiency (E1) were used to compare differences between measured and calculated values of soil water content. In both years, MAD was <5% in the Amarillo and <10% in the Pullman soils and E1 was 0.2 in the Amarillo and 0.4 in the Pullman soils, supporting the accuracy of the calculated values. Within the 1.4‐m profile of both soils, however, the model overestimated root water uptake in the surface horizon and underestimated it in deeper ones. Our evaluation implied that PALMScot is a tool that can be used to track spatial and temporal variability of soil water storage across a complex landscape.
Transcranial Brain Stimulation Techniques For Major Depression: Should We Extend TMS Lessons to tDCS?
Authors: Dell’Osso Bernardo , Altamura A. Carlo
Published: October 2014

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) are non-invasive brain stimulation techniques that, by means of magnetic fields and low intensity electrical current, respectively, aim to interefere with and modulate cortical excitability, at the level of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, in patients with major depression and poor response to standard antidepressants. While the clinical efficacy of TMS in major depression has been extensively investigated over the last 10 years, tDCS has attracted research interest only in the last years, with fewer randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in the field. Nevertheless, in spite of the different rationale and mechanism of action of the two techniques, tDCS recent acquisitions, in relation to the treatment of major depression, seem to parallel those previously obtained with TMS, in terms of treatment duration to achieve optimal benefit and patient's history of drug-resistance. After briefly introducing the two techniques, the article examines possible common pathways of clinical use for TMS and tDCS, emerging from recent RCTs and likely orienting future investigation with non invasive brain stimulation for the treatment of major depression.
Emerging Animal Parasitic Diseases: A Global Overview and Appropriate Strategies for their Monitoring and Surveillance in Nigeria
Authors: Atehmengo Ngongeh L , Nnagbo Chiejina S
Published: October 2014

Emerging animal parasitic diseases are reviewed and appropriate strategies for efficient monitoring and surveillance in Nigeria are outlined. Animal and human parasitic infections are distinguished. Emerging diseases have been described as those diseases that are being recognised for the first time or diseases that are already recorded but their frequency and/or geographic range is being increased tremendously. Emergence of new diseases may be due to a number of factors such as the spread of a new infectious agent, recognition of an infection that has been in existence but undiagnosed, or when it is realised that an established disease has an infectious origin. The terms could also be used to describe the resurgence of a known infection after its incidence had been known to have declined. Emerging infections are compounding the control of infectious diseases and huge resources are being channeled to alleviate the rising challenge. The diseases are numerous and include helminth, protozoal / rickettsial and entomological. A list of parasitic emerging diseases in Nigeria is included. Globally occurring emerging parasitic diseases are also outlined. Emerging and re-emerging infections can be brought about by many factors including climate change and global warming, changes in biodiversity, population mobility, movement of animals, globalisation of commerce/trade and food supply, social and cultural factors such as food eating habits, religious beliefs, farming practices, trade of infected healthy animals, reduction in the available land for animals, immune-suppressed host and host density and misuse or over use of some drugs leading to drug resistance.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Associated Nephropathy (HIVAN) in Indian Children
Authors: Senguttuvan Prabha , S Gowtham , P Soundararajan
Published: October 2014

Human immunodeficiency virus-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) in children has not been reported in India. In a single centre study, we analyzed 8 children diagnosed with HIVAN from 2007 to 2010. There were 6 boys and 2 girls with a male to female ratio of 3:1. Their ages ranged between 5 yrs to 11 yrs with a peak age of 8 years. The routes of HIV transmission were vertical in 5, blood transfusion in 2 and unknown in one. The presentation included generalized edema 100%, hypertension 2/8 (25%) and macroscopic hematuria 1/8 (12.5%). On evaluation by urine dipstick, all children had proteinuria and urine PCR showed nephrotic proteinuria (>3). 5/8 (62.5%) had extra renal involvement: 2 children had hepatosplenomegaly and 3/8 (37.5%) children had pulmonary tuberculosis and were on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and antituberculous treatment (ATT). Renal disease was the presenting problem in 4/8 (50%) and the remaining 4 (50%) were referred from the HIV clinic. The duration of HIV infection to the development of HIVAN was unknown in 4/8 (50%) nephrotic patients but in those referred from HIV clinic, it ranged between 5 months to 2 yrs. CD4 count ranged from 700 to 2465/mm3. All the children had enlarged kidneys bilaterally, except for one child who had normal sized kidneys with increased echogenicity and loss of corticomedullary distinction. He was not biopsied and he progressed to renal failure. Renal biopsy in other 7 children showed FSGS in 4 (57%) and collapsing FSGS in 2 (28.5%), and early segmental sclerosis with IgA deposits in one child (14.2%). 7/8 who had nephrotic proteinuria were initiated on steroids.