bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Actions of oestradiol and progesterone on the prostate in female gerbils: reversal of the histological effects of castration
Authors: Zanatelli Marianna , Silva Diego A. L. , Shinohara Filipe Z. , Góes Rejane M. , Santos Fernanda C. A. , Vilamaior Patricia S. L. , Taboga Sebastião R.
Published: May 2013

The female prostate is a functionally active gland in several mammalian species, including humans and rodents. Investigations of prostate morphophysiology during the phases of the oestrous cycle have shown that the female prostate is influenced by fluctuations in serum concentrations of oestradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of combined prolonged administration of E2 and P4 on the prostate in ovariectomised female gerbils. Ovariectomy caused atrophy and decreased glandular secretory activity. Administration of E2 and P4 (0.1 mg kg–1 diluted in 0.1 mL of mineral oil, every 48 h over 30 days) resulted in a recovery of overall prostate structure, as evidenced by increased epithelial height, mass and prostatic secretory activity, without leading the appearance of significant lesions. Evaluation of androgen receptor (AR) expression revealed increased immunoreactivity in the E2+P4-treated group. Immunostaining for oestrogen receptor (ER) α was decreased in the castrated groups, but increased in the group subjected to hormone treatment. There were no significant differences in ERβ immunoreactivity among the groups. Assessment of cell proliferation revealed greater immunoreactivity in the treated group. Together, the results indicate that the interaction between E2 and P4 may be responsible for maintaining female prostate gland histophysiology.
Ensemble pedotransfer functions to derive hydraulic properties for New Zealand soils
Authors: Cichota Rogerio , Vogeler Iris , Snow Val O. , Webb Trevor H.
Published: May 2013

Modelling water and solute transport through soil requires the characterisation of the soil hydraulic functions; however, determining these functions based on measurements is time-consuming and costly. Pedotransfer functions (PTFs), which make use of easily measurable soil properties to predict the hydraulic functions, have been proposed as an alternative to measurements. The better known and more widely used PTFs were developed in the USA or Europe, where large datasets exist. No specific PTFs have been published for New Zealand soils. To address this gap, we evaluated a range of published PTFs against an available dataset comprising a range of different soils from New Zealand and selected the best PTFs to construct an ensemble PTF (ePTF). Assessment (and adjustment when required) of published PTFs was done by comparing measurements and estimates of soil water content and the hydraulic conductivity at selected matric suction values. For each point, the best two or three PTFs were chosen to compose the ePTF, with correcting constants if needed. The outputs of the ePTF are the hydraulic properties at selected matric suctions, akin to obtaining measurements, thus allowing the fit of different equations as well as combining any available measurements.
Testing of the ePTF showed promising performance, with reasonably accurate estimates of the water retention of an independent dataset. Root mean square error values averaged 0.06 m3 m–3 for various New Zealand soils, which is within the accuracy level of published PTF studies. The largest errors were found for soils with high clay content, for which the ePTF should be used with care. The performance of the ePTF for estimating soil hydraulic conductivity was not as reliable as for water content, exhibiting large scatter. Predictions of saturated hydraulic conductivity were of the same magnitude as the measurements, whereas the unsaturated values were generally under-predicted. The conductivity data available for this study were limited and highly variable. The estimates for hydraulic conductivity should therefore be used with much care, and future research should address measurements and analysis to improve the predictions. The ePTF was also used to parameterise the SWIM soil module for use in Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) simulations. Comparisons of drainage predicted by APSIM against results from lysimeter experiments suggest that the use of the derived ePTF is suited for the estimation of soil parameters for use in modelling. The ePTF is not envisaged as a substitute for measurements but is a useful tool to complement datasets with limited amounts of measured data.
Using native annual plants to restore post-fire habitats in western North America
Authors: Herron Christopher M. , Jonas Jayne L. , Meiman Paul J. , Paschke Mark W.
Published: May 2013

Increasing fire frequencies and uncharacteristic severe fires have created a need for improved restoration methods across rangelands in western North America. Traditional restoration seed mixtures of native perennial mid- to late-seral plant species may not be suitable for intensely burned sites that have been returned to an early-seral condition. Under such conditions, native annual plant species are likely to be more successful at becoming established and competing with exotic annual plant species, such as Bromus tectorum L., for resources. We used a field study in Colorado and Idaho, USA, to test the hypothesis that native annual plant species are better suited to post-fire restoration efforts compared with perennial plant species that are commonly used in traditional seed mixtures. Replicated test plots at three post-fire sites were assigned one of four treatments: (1) native annual seed mixture, (2) standard perennial seed mixture, (3) combination of annual and perennial and (4) an unseeded control. Seeding native annuals with perennials resulted in a slight reduction in exotic plant cover, suggesting that it is potentially beneficial to include native annual plant species in restoration seed mixtures.
STED super-resolution microscopy reveals an array of MINOS clusters along human mitochondria
Authors: Jans Daniel C. , Wurm Christian A. , Riedel Dietmar , Wenzel Dirk , Stagge Franziska , Deckers Markus , Rehling Peter , Jakobs Stefan
Published: May 2013

The mitochondrial inner membrane organizing system (MINOS) is a conserved large hetero-oligomeric protein complex in the mitochondrial inner membrane, crucial for the maintenance of cristae morphology. MINOS has been suggested to represent the core of an extended protein network that controls mitochondrial function and structure, and has been linked to several human diseases. The spatial arrangement of MINOS within mitochondria is ill-defined, however. Using super-resolution stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy and immunogold electron microscopy, we determined the distribution of three known human MINOS subunits (mitofilin, MINOS1, and CHCHD3) in mammalian cells. Super-resolution microscopy revealed that all three subunits form similar clusters within mitochondria, and that MINOS is more abundant in mitochondria around the nucleus than in peripheral mitochondria. At the submitochondrial level, mitofilin, a core MINOS subunit, is preferentially localized at cristae junctions. In primary human fibroblasts, mitofilin labeling uncovered a regularly spaced pattern of clusters arranged in parallel to the cell growth surfaces. We suggest that this array of MINOS complexes might explain the observed phenomenon of largely horizontally arranged cristae junctions that connect the inner boundary membrane to lamellar cristae. The super-resolution images demonstrate an unexpectedly high level of regularity in the nanoscale distribution of the MINOS complex in human mitochondria, supporting an integrating role of MINOS in the structural organization of the organelle.
From the Land of the Pure, in Search of the Lost Origin: An Interview with Bahram Beyzaie on Siyavush-Khani (Siyavush Recitation) and its Mythological and Literary Roots
Authors: Amjad Hamid
Published: May 2013

The interview was conducted in 1997 after the publication of Beyzaie's extraordinary engagement with the legend of Siyavush in Siyavush-Khani (Siyavush Recitation). Beyzaie's experiments with Shahnameh legends are not adaptations in the strict sense of the term. This is primarily because their stories are often different from what appears in the Shahnameh, mix the narratives with other mythical sources and place them in contemporary templates with an inter-paradigmatic gaze that reflects on the meaning and the history of the present. The interview is significant in that, as it has been conducted by a leading playwright and scholar of Iranian performing arts, it enables the reader to have firsthand experience of working in Iran as a playwright and reveals some of the methods Beyzaie uses to handle his subjects.
Experimental Examination of Surgical Procedures for Implanting Sonic Transmitters in Juvenile Shortnose Sturgeon and Atlantic Sturgeon
Authors: Crossman James A. , Hammell K. Larry , Litvak Matthew K.
Published: May 2013

Acoustic telemetry has become a leading tool for monitoring the movements of and habitat use by many sturgeon species worldwide; however, procedures for internal tagging of small juvenile sturgeon (<55 cm TL) are lacking. We examined effects of implantation technique on growth, tag retention, and survival of juvenile (<55 cm) Shortnose Sturgeon Acipenser brevirostrum and Atlantic Sturgeon A. oxyrinchus by using dummy acoustic tags. Two implantation techniques were used: (1) anchoring the tag to the wall of the peritoneal cavity and (2) no internal anchoring of the tag. These treatment groups were compared with two control groups: fish that received anesthetic only and fish that received anesthetic and an incision. Retention rate was significantly higher for anchored tags (88%) than for nonanchored tags (25%) in Shortnose Sturgeon juveniles, while Atlantic Sturgeon juveniles retained 100% of tags regardless of treatment. Nonanchored tags that were lost during the second week were expelled through the incision site, whereas later tag expulsions (during weeks 7 and 8) occurred through the anus. There was no significant difference in absolute growth and specific growth rates between the treatment groups throughout the 8-week study for either species. Growth of both species was significantly lower in the first week after surgery but increased and remained constant for the remainder of the experiment. Use of nonanchored tags significantly increased incision healing times for both species; however, Atlantic Sturgeon healed significantly faster (35 d) than Shortnose Sturgeon (42 d). No mortality occurred in any of the treatment groups. Results of this study suggest that juvenile Shortnose Sturgeon and Atlantic Sturgeon can undergo internal tag implantation resulting in long retention times with largely unaffected growth and no mortality.

Received May 21, 2012; accepted March 6, 2013
Linking Fish and Angler Dynamics to Assess Stocking Strategies for Hatchery-Dependent, Open-Access Recreational Fisheries
Authors: Askey Paul J. , Parkinson Eric A. , Post John R.
Published: May 2013

Optimization of stocking practices regarding release size and density requires an understanding of how dynamic ecological and angler effort processes interact. We used experimental data on size and density-dependent fish recruitment processes and combined these with empirical fishery data to model the outcome of different stocking strategies. The model is based on the British Columbia Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss fishery, which is an open-access recreational fishery where fish recruitment is entirely derived from hatchery production. Under this scenario, changes to stocking practices primarily influence angler effort densities, whereas angling quality, defined as a function of catch rate and fish size, remain relatively constant. In light of this, we suggest that the primary performance measure for open-access recreational fisheries management be sustainable angler effort. We modeled the effort response to stocking changes under contrasting biological (lake productivity) and fishery (remoteness, harvest regulations) characteristics. Lake-specific effort is maximized by stocking larger fish into productive lakes that are harvested. However, the strategy to maximize regional effort across multiple lakes was dependent on the ratio of hatchery production to total lake area and the mix of individual lake productivities within the total lake area.

Received July 10, 2012; accepted March 10, 2013
‘It was like something that you have at home which becomes so familiar that you don't even pay attention to it’: memories of Mussolini and Fascism in Predappio, 1922–2010
Authors: Serenelli Sofia
Published: May 2013

Despite the increasing scholarly attention dedicated to the study of reception and memory of Fascism, these issues have not yet been widely addressed from the standpoint of collective memories in specific local contexts. Through a combined use of oral history and micro-history, this study explores the identity and collective memory of Predappio, Mussolini's hometown. Predappio is an emblematic place on account of its ‘public’ role within the Italian nation as the town of the Duce and, since 1957, the site of neofascist pilgrimages. By looking at memories of people born under the regime from different political orientations, ranging from the right to the left, it concentrates on the local collective memory of Fascism, of Mussolini and of the ongoing post-war cult of the Duce. The article aims to demonstrate both the relevance of local mythologies and the increasing spread of a reconciliatory narrative of Fascism based on traditional values such as family and kinship.
Capabilities and Childbearing Intentions in Europe
Authors: Fahlén Susanne
Published: May 2013

This article investigates the association between economic uncertainties, work–family reconciliation policies and women's short-term childbearing intentions in 10 European countries. I introduce the capability approach to this issue and argue that short-term childbearing intentions are an indicator of women's capabilities to start a family or to have additional children. Using data from the European Social Survey, the analysis reveals that the association between economic uncertainties and short-term childbearing intentions varies by the number of children already born, education and institutional contexts. In some countries, having a job have a positive impact on childless women's short-term intentions, while in other countries, low educated childless women out of the labour market are those most likely to intend to have a child in the near future. Other aspects of economic uncertainties, namely perceived job and income insecurity, have a negative impact on short-term childbearing intentions, regardless of motherhood status. The analysis also shows that the combination of weaker institutional support for work–family reconciliation, perceived job and income insecurity and low educational skills are associated with lower childbearing intentions, and the pattern across the 10 countries is slightly stronger for childless women. This study underscores the importance of embedding individual decision processes in a broader societal context.
A Confrontation of Convergent Realism
Authors: Vickers Peter
Published: May 2013

For many years—and with some energy since Laudan’s “Confutation of Convergent Realism” (1981)—the scientific realist has sought to accommodate examples of false-yet-successful theories in the history of science. One of the most prominent strategies is to identify ‘success fueling’ components of false theories that themselves are at least approximately true (judging by our current understanding). In this article I develop both sides of the debate, introducing new challenges from the history of science as well as suggesting adjustments to the divide et impera realist strategy. A new ‘recipe’ for the prospective identification of (at least some) working/idle posits is considered.
Probability, Regularity, and Cardinality
Authors: Pruss Alexander R.
Published: May 2013

Regularity is the thesis that all contingent propositions should be assigned probabilities strictly between zero and one. I will prove on cardinality grounds that if the domain is large enough, a regular probability assignment is impossible, even if we expand the range of values that probabilities can take, including, for instance, hyperreal values, and significantly weaken the axioms of probability.
Applying the Causal Theory of Reference to Intentional Concepts
Authors: Michael John , MacLeod Miles
Published: May 2013

We argue that many recent philosophical discussions about the reference of everyday concepts of intentional states have implicitly been predicated on descriptive theories of reference. To rectify this, we attempt to demonstrate how a causal theory can be applied to intentional concepts. Specifically, we argue that some phenomena in early social development (e.g., mimicry, gaze following, and emotional contagion) can serve as reference fixers that enable children to track others’ intentional states and, thus, to refer to those states. This allows intentional concepts to be anchored to their referents, even if folk psychological descriptions turn out to be false.
Acute Hepatitis B Outbreaks in 2 Skilled Nursing Facilities and Possible Sources of Transmission: North Carolina, 2009–2010
Authors: Seña Arlene C. , Moorman Anne , Njord Levi , Williams Roxanne E. , Colborn James , Khudyakov Yury , Drobenuic Jan , Xia Guo-Liang , Wood Hattie , Moore Zack
Published: May 2013

Objective.

Acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections have been reported in long-term care facilities (LTCFs), primarily associated with infection control breaks during assisted blood glucose monitoring. We investigated HBV outbreaks that occurred in separate skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) to determine factors associated with transmission.

Design.

Outbreak investigation with case-control studies.

Setting.

Two SNFs (facilities A and B) in Durham, North Carolina, during 2009–2010.

Patients.

Residents with acute HBV infection and controls randomly selected from HBV-susceptible residents during the outbreak period.

Methods.

After initial cases were identified, screening was offered to all residents, with repeat testing 3 months later for HBV-susceptible residents. Molecular testing was performed to assess viral relatedness. Infection control practices were observed. Case-control studies were conducted to evaluate associations between exposures and acute HBV infection in each facility.

Results.

Six acute HBV cases were identified in each SNF. Viral phylogenetic analysis revealed a high degree of HBV relatedness within, but not between, facilities. No evaluated exposures were significantly associated with acute HBV infection in facility A; those associated with infection in facility B (all odds ratios >20) included injections, hospital or emergency room visits, and daily blood glucose monitoring. Observations revealed absence of trained infection control staff at facility A and suboptimal hand hygiene practices during blood glucose monitoring and insulin injections at facility B.

Conclusions.

These outbreaks underscore the vulnerability of LTCF residents to acute HBV infection, the importance of surveillance and prompt investigation of incident cases, and the need for improved infection control education to prevent transmission.
Codazzi tensors with two eigenvalue functions
Authors: Merton Gabe
Published: May 2013

This paper addresses a gap in the classification of Codazzi tensors with exactly two eigenfunctions on a Riemannian manifold of dimension three or higher. Derdzinski proved that if the trace of such a tensor is constant and the dimension of one of the eigenspaces is

n
−
1

n-1

, then the metric is a warped product where the base is an open interval, a conclusion we will show to be true under a milder trace condition. Furthermore, we construct examples of Codazzi tensors having two eigenvalue functions, one of which has eigenspace dimension

n
−
1

n-1

, where the metric is not a warped product with interval base, refuting a claim by A. L. Besse that the warped product conclusion holds without any restriction on the trace.
On Willmore surfaces in 𝑆ⁿ of flat normal bundle
Authors: Wang Peng
Published: May 2013

We discuss several kinds of Willmore surfaces of flat normal bundle in this paper. First we show that every S-Willmore surface with flat normal bundle in

S
n

S^n

must be located in some

S
3

⊂

S
n

S^3\subset S^n

, from which we characterize the Clifford torus as the only non-equatorial homogeneous minimal surface in

S
n

S^n

with flat normal bundle, which improves a result of K. Yang. Then we derive that every Willmore two sphere with flat normal bundle in

S
n

S^n

is conformal to a minimal surface with embedded planer ends in

R

3

\mathbb {R}^3

. We also point out that for a class of Willmore tori, they have a flat normal bundle if and only if they are located in some

S
3

S^3

. In the end, we show that a Willmore surface with flat normal bundle must locate in some

S
6

S^6

.
On contractible orbifolds
Authors: Lytchak Alexander
Published: May 2013

We prove that a contractible orbifold is a manifold.
Protein import and oxidative folding in the mitochondrial intermembrane space of intact mammalian cells
Authors: Fischer Manuel , Horn Sebastian , Belkacemi Anouar , Kojer Kerstin , Petrungaro Carmelina , Habich Markus , Ali Muna , Küttner Victoria , Bien Melanie , Kauff Frank , Dengjel Jörn , Herrmann Johannes M. , Riemer Jan
Published: May 2013

Oxidation of cysteine residues to disulfides drives import of many proteins into the intermembrane space of mitochondria. Recent studies in yeast unraveled the basic principles of mitochondrial protein oxidation, but the kinetics under physiological conditions is unknown. We developed assays to follow protein oxidation in living mammalian cells, which reveal that import and oxidative folding of proteins are kinetically and functionally coupled and depend on the oxidoreductase Mia40, the sulfhydryl oxidase augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR), and the intracellular glutathione pool. Kinetics of substrate oxidation depends on the amount of Mia40 and requires tightly balanced amounts of ALR. Mia40-dependent import of Cox19 in human cells depends on the inner membrane potential. Our observations reveal considerable differences in the velocities of mitochondrial import pathways: whereas preproteins with bipartite targeting sequences are imported within seconds, substrates of Mia40 remain in the cytosol for several minutes and apparently escape premature degradation and oxidation.
SCD6 induces ribonucleoprotein granule formation in trypanosomes in a translation-independent manner, regulated by its Lsm and RGG domains
Authors: Krüger Timothy , Hofweber Mario , Kramer Susanne
Published: May 2013

Ribonucleoprotein (RNP) granules are cytoplasmic, microscopically visible structures composed of RNA and protein with proposed functions in mRNA decay and storage. Trypanosomes have several types of RNP granules, but lack most of the granule core components identified in yeast and humans. The exception is SCD6/Rap55, which is essential for processing body (P-body) formation. In this study, we analyzed the role of trypanosome SCD6 in RNP granule formation. Upon overexpression, the majority of SCD6 aggregates to multiple granules enriched at the nuclear periphery that recruit both P-body and stress granule proteins, as well as mRNAs. Granule protein composition depends on granule distance to the nucleus. In contrast to findings in yeast and humans, granule formation does not correlate with translational repression and can also take place in the nucleus after nuclear targeting of SCD6. While the SCD6 Lsm domain alone is both necessary and sufficient for granule induction, the RGG motif determines granule type and number: the absence of an intact RGG motif results in the formation of fewer granules that resemble P-bodies. The differences in granule number remain after nuclear targeting, indicating translation-independent functions of the RGG domain. We propose that, in trypanosomes, a local increase in SCD6 concentration may be sufficient to induce granules by recruiting mRNA. Proteins that bind selectively to the RGG and/or Lsm domain of SCD6 could be responsible for regulating granule type and number.
Updating RNA-Seq analyses after re-annotation
Authors: Roberts Adam , Schaeffer Lorian , Pachter Lior
Published: May 2013

The estimation of isoform abundances from RNA-Seq data requires a time-intensive step of mapping reads to either an assembled or previously annotated transcriptome, followed by an optimization procedure for deconvolution of multi-mapping reads. These procedures are essential for downstream analysis such as differential expression. In cases where it is desirable to adjust the underlying annotation, for example, on the discovery of novel isoforms or errors in existing annotations, current pipelines must be rerun from scratch. This makes it difficult to update abundance estimates after re-annotation, or to explore the effect of changes in the transcriptome on analyses. We present a novel efficient algorithm for updating abundance estimates from RNA-Seq experiments on re-annotation that does not require re-analysis of the entire dataset. Our approach is based on a fast partitioning algorithm for identifying transcripts whose abundances may depend on the added or deleted isoforms, and on a fast follow-up approach to re-estimating abundances for all transcripts. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our methods by showing how to synchronize RNA-Seq abundance estimates with the daily RefSeq incremental updates. Thus, we provide a practical approach to maintaining relevant databases of RNA-Seq derived abundance estimates even as annotations are being constantly revised.

Availability and implementation: Our methods are implemented in software called ReXpress and are freely available, together with source code, at http://bio.math.berkeley.edu/ReXpress/.

Contact:  lpachter@math.berkeley.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
ReviSTER: an automated pipeline to revise misaligned reads to simple tandem repeats
Authors: Tae Hongseok , McMahon Kevin W. , Settlage Robert E. , Bavarva Jasmin H. , Garner Harold R.
Published: May 2013

Motivation: Simple tandem repeats are highly variable genetic elements and widespread in genomes of many organisms. Next-generation sequencing technologies have enabled a robust comparison of large numbers of simple tandem repeat loci; however, analysis of their variation using traditional sequence analysis approaches still remains limiting and problematic due to variants occurring in repeat sequences confusing alignment programs into mapping sequence reads to incorrect loci when the sequence reads are significantly different from the reference sequence.

Results: We have developed a program, ReviSTER, which is an automated pipeline using a ‘local mapping reference reconstruction method’ to revise mismapped or partially misaligned reads at simple tandem repeat loci. RevisSTER estimates alleles of repeat loci using a local alignment method and creates temporary local mapping reference sequences, and finally remaps reads to the local mapping references. Using this approach, ReviSTER was able to successfully revise reads misaligned to repeat loci from both simulated data and real data.

Availability: ReviSTER is open-source software available at http://revister.sourceforge.net.

Contact:  garner@vbi.vt.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Teleseismic correlations of ambient seismic noise for deep global imaging of the Earth
Authors: Boué P. , Poli P. , Campillo M. , Pedersen H. , Briand X. , Roux P.
Published: May 2013

We present here a global analysis showing that wave paths probing the deepest part of the Earth can be obtained from ambient noise records. Correlations of seismic noise recorded at sensors located various distances apart provide new virtual seismograms for paths that are not present in earthquake data. The main arrivals already known for earthquake data are also present in teleseismic correlations sections, including waves that have propagated through the Earth's core. We present examples of applications of such teleseismic correlations to lithospheric imaging, study of the core mantle boundary or of the anisotropy of the inner core.
Characterization of full-length hepatitis C virus sequences for subtypes 1e, 1h and 1l, and a novel variant revealed Cameroon as an area in origin for genotype 1
Authors: Li Chunhua , Njouom Richard , Pépin Jacques , Nakano Tatsunori , Bennett Phil , Pybus Oliver G. , Lu Ling
Published: May 2013

In this study, we characterized the full-length genome sequences of seven hepatitis C virus (HCV) isolates belonging to genotype 1. These represent the first complete genomes for HCV subtypes 1e, 1h, 1l, plus one novel variant that qualifies for a new but unassigned subtype. The genomes were characterized using 19–22 overlapping fragments. Each was 9400–9439 nt long and contained a single ORF encoding 3019–3020 amino acids. All viruses were isolated in the sera of seven patients residing in, or originating from, Cameroon. Predicted amino acid sequences were inspected and unique patterns of variation were noted. Phylogenetic analysis using full-length sequences provided evidence for nine genotype 1 subtypes, four of which are described for the first time here. Subsequent phylogenetic analysis of 141 partial NS5B sequences further differentiated 13 subtypes (1a–1m) and six additional unclassified lineages within genotype 1. As a result of this study, there are now seven HCV genotype 1 subtypes (1a–1c, 1e, 1g, 1h, 1l) and two unclassified genotype 1 lineages with full-length genomes characterized. Further analysis of 228 genotype 1 sequences from the HCV database with known countries is consistent with an African origin for genotype 1, and with the hypothesis of subsequent dissemination of some subtypes to Asia, Europe and the Americas.
Lytic infection of Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus induces DNA double-strand breaks and impairs non-homologous end joining
Authors: Xiao Yi , Chen Jungang , Liao Qingjiao , Wu Yang , Peng Can , Chen Xulin
Published: May 2013

Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) has been associated with the development of Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS), primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), and multicentric Castleman’s disease. Cytogenetic studies have revealed chromosome abnormalities in KS tissues, including recurring copy number changes in chromosomes and the loss of chromosomes. Unfaithful DNA repair may contribute to the genomic instability that is one of the most common hallmarks of tumours. We found that lytic infection of KSHV can cause severe DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and impair non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) in host cells. Processivity factor 8 (PF-8) of KSHV was identified as interacting with Ku70 and Ku86, and the interaction was dependent on DSBs and DNA. Overexpression of PF-8 in HeLa cells impaired NHEJ by blocking the interaction between the Ku complex and the DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit. These results suggest that KSHV lytic replication may contribute to tumorigenesis by causing DNA DSBs and interfering with the repair of DSBs.
Naming the problem: a membership categorization analysis study of family therapy
Authors: O'Neill Katherine , LeCouteur Amanda
Published: May 2013

Discursive research has examined family therapy as a process of collaboratively negotiating a preferable account of the problem. The present study uses membership categorization analysis to examine how this process occurs in a sequence of family therapy sessions with the family of a 15‐year‐old boy diagnosed with high‐functioning autism and experiencing conflict with his school. The analysis focuses on the deployment of the membership categorization device ‘disability’ in the construction of the problem and the use of the devices ‘family’ and ‘stages‐of‐life’ to construct a new, problem‐dissolving account. Conclusions are drawn about the potential usefulness of recategorization via naturally occurring membership categorization devices in constructing solutions in family therapy.

Practitioner points

Therapy is the collaborative negotiation of an account of the family situation in which the problem does not exist.

Naturally occurring groups of categories (MCDs) supply resources for such renegotiation.

Where a problem has been constructed in the MCD ‘disability’ it can be ‘dis‐solved’ using the MCDs ‘family’ and ‘stages‐of‐life’.

More generally, the use of higher order and highly naturalized MCDs may be effective in displacing problem‐generating constructions.
Protective vigilance: a parental strategy in caring for a child diagnosed with ADHD
Authors: Goodwillie Gill
Published: May 2013

This article describes a key finding that emerged from a small‐scale qualitative study that explored parental views of the impact of having a child diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) on family relationships. The term, protective vigilance, describes a strategy used by parents to manage the risk that children can present to themselves and to others with whom they might come in contact, such as their siblings or peers. The term draws attention to the challenges parents face in supervising their children in a manner that others might describe as overprotective or over‐controlling. In this article the parents' voice is heard describing their dilemmas and the article invites professionals working with families, with a child diagnosed with ADHD to consider protective vigilance as an inevitable aspect of the parental role and incorporate this idea into their clinical practice.

Practitioner points

Explore with parents how concerns for their child's safety might impact on their parenting style

Recognize that a child's behaviour shapes and influences parental style in a recursive manner

Note that early intervention with a relational focus may improve future outcomes for the child diagnosed with ADHD

Adopt a systemic approach based on a ‘both and’ stance to free the practitioner from the polarized discourses that surround the diagnosis of ADHD and help to avoid the dialectics of blame

Note that parental aspirations and hopes for a child diagnosed with ADHD may be affected by negative cultural views about the diagnosis

Explore practitioners' own prejudices about the diagnosis before they set about helping parents.
The Uneven Path of UK Devolution: Top-Down vs. Bottom-Up Regionalism in England – Cornwall and the North-East Compared
Authors: Willett Joanie , Giovannini Arianna
Published: May 2013

Within the context of the devolution process in England, Cornwall and the North-East stand out in contrasting comparison. The North-East was given the opportunity to vote for a regional assembly, which it rejected in 2004, while the strong popular movement for an assembly in Cornwall was ignored by central government. This is reflected in the literature on the English question and regionalism in the UK, which focuses on the example of the North-East, and largely overlooks the grassroots support in Cornwall and the opportunities for understanding regionalism that this could provide. In this article, we explore why this might be the case, developing a comparison between the two areas in the context of the campaigns for setting up directly elected assemblies. We look at the territorial status of the two areas, how the respective campaigns were organised, the types of group involved, the motives that were driving activists, and each region's political significance to Labour. We find central control of the political agenda to be a key issue behind the failure of English regionalism.
The Calculus of Ethnic Minority Voting in Britain
Authors: Sanders David , Heath Anthony , Fisher Stephen , Sobolewska Maria
Published: May 2013

Using data from the 2010 UK general election, the article shows that there is a distinctive calculus of party choice among Britain's overwhelmingly Labour-supporting ethnic minorities. Ethnic minority (EM) voters are similar to whites in the importance they accord to partisanship and valence considerations in deciding which party they vote for. However, EM voters place less emphasis on ideological spatial calculations. Additionally, across all ethnic minority groups, there is an important – and differentiated – role for perceptions of discrimination. In 2010, personal experience of (egocentric) discrimination tended to damage Labour as the incumbent governing party. In contrast, perceptions of (sociotropic) discrimination against fellow EM citizens interacted with participation in British cultural practices to increase support for Labour. These findings reflect the history of Labour and Conservative governments in the UK. Labour is the only party that, in power, has legislated actively to promote ethnic minority rights and interests.
Implementation of the INTERGROWTH‐21st Project in the UK
Authors: Roseman F , Knight HE , Giuliani F , Lloyd S , Di Nicola P , Laister A , Roseman S , Kennedy K , Burnham O , Patel B , Puglia F , Blakey I , Cheikh Ismail L ,   for the International Fetal and Newborn Growth Consortium for the 21 Century (INTERGROWTH‐21)
Published: May 2013

Please cite this paper as: Roseman F, Knight H, Giuliani F, Lloyd S, Di Nicola P, Laister A, Roseman S, Kennedy K, Burnham O, Patel B, Puglia F, Blakey I, Cheikh Ismail L, for the International Fetal and Newborn Growth Consortium for the 21st Century (INTERGROWTH‐21st). Implementation of the INTERGROWTH‐21st Project in the UK. BJOG 2013; 120 (Suppl. 2): 117–122.

There are approximately 10 000 births per year in the county of Oxfordshire in the UK, which is one of the two European sites for the International Fetal and Newborn Growth Consortium for the 21st Century (INTERGROWTH‐21st) Project. The samples for both components of the project – the Fetal Growth Longitudinal Study (FGLS) and Newborn Cross‐Sectional Study (NCSS) – were drawn from the John Radcliffe Hospital, a major university hospital with a large regional role that covers more than 75% of deliveries in the county. Special activities to encourage participation in this population included the formation of a research coalition to streamline recruitment in the Maternity Unit and the distribution of study information leaflets to women using the hospital’s antenatal care service. This was a demanding project and several challenges were overcome to reach recruitment targets and to maintain high standards of data quality. Amongst the major challenges for FGLS at this study site was the level of ineligibility because of maternal age, smoking and body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30. The major challenge for the NCSS field teams was to ensure that all anthropometric data were collected before the early discharge of uncomplicated deliveries, often within 6 hours of birth. It is evident from our experience in implementing this project that, when large‐scale clinical studies are meticulously planned and avoid major disruption to routine clinical care, they are well received by hospital staff and can contribute to the improvement of the overall standard of clinical care.
Prevalence and predictors of alanine aminotransferase elevation among normal weight, overweight and obese youth in Mexico
Authors: Purcell Maura , Flores Yvonne N , Zhang Zuo‐Feng , Denova‐Gutiérrez Edgar , Salmeron Jorge
Published: May 2013

Objective

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of and risk factors associated with elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels among a sample of normal weight, overweight and obese youth from two urban populations in Central Mexico.

Methods

Baseline data from 1262 youth aged 8–19 years who participated in the Mexican Health Worker Cohort Study from March 2004 to April 2006 were reviewed, including 680 girls and 582 boys, with a total of 83 participants with elevated ALT level (>40 U/L). Information was obtained from self‐administered questionnaires, anthropometric results and clinical measurements. Associations of interest were examined using multivariate logistic regression models.

Results

A total of 3.8% of girls and 9.8% of boys had elevated ALT levels. Elevated ALT was observed in 28.9% of the obese and 14.2% of the overweight participants. Metabolic syndrome (MS) occurred in 6.1% of the study population and those with MS had a high percentage of elevated ALT (14.5% of girls and 40.0% of boys, respectively). Abdominal obesity and insulin resistance were also associated with a greater risk of elevated ALT.

Conclusions

Obesity and certain metabolic risk factors are important predictors for elevated ALT. Screening for ALT levels in obese youth could help to identify those at risk and reduce the possibility of future liver diseases.
Perceived pubertal timing and recent substance use among adolescents: a longitudinal perspective
Authors: Cance Jessica Duncan , Ennett Susan T. , Morgan‐Lopez Antonio A. , Foshee Vangie A. , Talley Anna E.
Published: May 2013

Aims

To determine the longitudinal associations between perceived pubertal timing and recent substance use between the ages of 11 and 17 years.

Design, setting and participants

A school‐based cohort sequential study of adolescents in rural North Carolina, USA (n = 6892, 50% female) in the 6–8th grades at baseline and interviewed across five consecutive semesters.

Measurements

Self‐administered questionnaires in a group setting measured perceived pubertal development using the Pubertal Development Scale and adolescents reported past 3‐month use of cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana. Latent class growth analysis determined the longitudinal relationships between perceived pubertal timing (early, on‐time and late) and use of the three substances.

Findings

A negative quadratic model was the best‐fitting model for all three substances. Higher proportions of early developers had used cigarettes and marijuana within the past 3 months at age 11 compared with on‐time (P < 0.001 and P = 0.013) and late developers (P = 0.010 and P = 0.014) and a higher proportion of early developers had recently used alcohol at age 11 compared with on‐time adolescents (P < 0.001). However, the proportion of recent cigarette and marijuana users increased more across adolescence for on‐time adolescents compared with early developers (P = 0.020 and P = 0.037). Desistance in the proportion of substance users was similar for all adolescents (all P > 0.050).

Conclusions

Adolescents who believe they are more advanced in puberty than their peers are more likely to have used cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana recently compared with adolescents who believe they are on‐time or late developing; these findings are mainly due to differences in use at age 11.
Pregnancy outcomes in a cohort of women with a preconception body mass index >50 kg/m2
Authors: Bonnesen Barbara , Secher Niels J. , Møller Lars K. , Rasmussen Steen , Andreasen Kirsten R. , Renault Kristina
Published: May 2013

We describe characteristics and risk factors regarding pregnancy outcome in women with a preconception body mass index (BMI) >50 kg/m2 compared with women with BMI ≤50 kg/m2 in a retrospective population cohort study in singleton pregnancies from the Danish Medical Birth Registry. Results were analyzed as relative risks by a two‐proportion z‐test. Women with preconception BMI >50 kg/m2 smoked, developed gestational diabetes and pre‐eclampsia, and needed induction of labor more frequently than mothers with BMI ≤50 kg/m2. Examination of the case records showed that many attempted vaginal delivery without epidural analgesia, 21% needed an emergency cesarean section (compared with 12% among women with BMI ≤50 kg/m2), and 25% underwent general anesthesia in this context. Many neonates were macrosomic and 34% needed neonatal intensive care and early feeding compared with 6% of neonates from women with BMI ≤50 kg/m2. Women with an extremely high preconception BMI develop more pregnancy complications and their neonates appear affected by this as well.
Long‐term follow‐up of children exposed intrauterine to maternal thiopurine therapy during pregnancy in females with inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: de Meij T. G. J. , Jharap B. , Kneepkens C. M. F. , van Bodegraven A. A. , de Boer N. K. H. ,   The Dutch Initiative on Crohn and Colitis
Published: May 2013

Background

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects a substantial number of female patients in their reproductive years. Therefore, many physicians face the dilemma whether thiopurines, prescribed to maintain remission, can be taken safely during pregnancy. Data on long‐term development outcome of children exposed to maternal thiopurine therapy are very limited.

Aim

To assess the long‐term effects of in utero exposure to thiopurines during pregnancy on infant health status.

Methods

A prospective multicentre follow‐up study was performed in children exposed intrauterine to maternal thiopurine therapy. Physical, cognitive and social aspects of infant health status were assessed with the 43‐item TNO‐AZL Preschool Children Quality of Life Questionnaire (TAPQOL). Furthermore, information on visits to general practitioner and medical specialists, and physician's advice regarding lactation was evaluated. Data were compared with normative data from a control group consisting of 340 children.

Results

Thirty children were included in this study [median 3.8 years (IQR 2.9–4.7)]. No differences on global medical and psychosocial health status were found between children exposed to intrauterine thiopurines and the reference group. Exposure to intrauterine thiopurines was not associated with increased susceptibility to infection or immunodeficiency in childhood. Twenty‐one of 30 children were exclusively formula‐fed based on a negative advice of medical specialists directed at thiopurine use during lactation.

Conclusions

Thiopurine use during pregnancy did not affect long‐term development or immune function of children up to 6 years of age. Our results underscore the present notion that mothers, even those using thiopurines, should be encouraged to breastfeed their infants.
Phase I study of highly selective inhibitor of VEGFR tyrosine kinase, tivozanib, in Japanese patients with solid tumors
Authors: Niwakawa Masashi , Yamaguchi Raizo , Onozawa Yusuke , Yasui Hirofumi , Taku Keisei , Naito Tateaki , Akinaga Shiro , Boku Narikazu , Yamamoto Nobuyuki
Published: May 2013

Tivozanib is a potent and selective inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) tyrosine kinases. A previous clinical trial in the EU and USA indicated that tivozanib at the maximum tolerated dose of 1.5 mg/day showed an antitumor activity in patients with renal cell carcinoma. This Japanese phase I study was designed to determine the recommended phase II dose of tivozanib for Japanese patients; secondary objectives included pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic profiles and preliminary efficacy. Daily treatment with tivozanib in a 3‐weeks‐on/1‐week‐off cycle was examined in nine Japanese patients with advanced solid tumors in the 3 + 3 design (Level 1, 1.0 mg; Level 2, 1.5 mg). No dose‐limiting toxicity was observed throughout the study, and the maximum tolerated dose was not reached. The most commonly observed drug‐related adverse events were diarrhea, dysphonia, rash, thyroid stimulating hormone increase, and with severity grade ≥3, hand‐foot skin reaction, hypertension, and proteinuria. Those adverse events were generally well‐manageable and mostly resolved within the tolerability evaluation period. Serum exposure to tivozanib resulted in t1/2 of more than >60 h. Increase of plasma VEGF and decrease of plasma VEGFR‐1 and VEGFR‐2 were observed 1–3 weeks after tivozanib treatment. Although no complete or partial response was observed, long‐term stable disease continuing more than 170 days was observed in three renal cell carcinoma patients who had failed prior VEGFR inhibitors. In conclusion, 1.5 mg/day of tivozanib in a 3‐weeks‐on/1‐week‐off setting was tolerable in Japanese patients, and was recommended for further clinical trials in the Japanese population. Clinical trial Registration No: JapicCTI‐090854.