bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reducing Unmet Need and Unwanted Childbearing: Evidence from a Panel Survey in Pakistan
Authors: Jain Anrudh K. , Mahmood Arshad , Sathar Zeba A. , Masood Irfan
Published: June 2014

Pakistan's high unmet need for contraception and low contraceptive prevalence remain a challenge, especially in light of the country's expected contribution to the FP2020 goal of expanding family planning services to an additional 120 million women with unmet need. Analysis of panel data from 14 Pakistani districts suggests that efforts to reduce unmet need should also focus on empowering women who are currently practicing contraception to achieve their own reproductive intentions through continuation of contraceptive use of any method. Providing women with better quality of care and encouraging method switching would bridge the gap that exists when women are between methods and thus would reduce unwanted births. This finding is generalizable to other countries that, like Pakistan, are highly dependent on short‐acting modern and traditional methods. The approach of preventing attrition among current contraceptive users would be at least as effective as persuading nonusers to adopt a method for the first time.
Capitalism redefined: Resolving the tension between a prosperous world and a moral one
Authors: Beinhocker Eric , Hanauer Nick
Published: June 2014

Eric Beinhocker and Nick Hanauer describe a Copernican change in our understanding of prosperity that replaces simple measures of GDP growth and market performance with the quantity, quality and accessibility of solutions to society's problems.
Keynes and our grandchildren: Recapturing an alternative vision of economic progress
Authors: Mason Paul
Published: June 2014

Measuring the modern economy against the predictions of John Maynard Keynes' landmark 1930 essay, Paul Mason explores the promises of Keynes' vision and the reasons why reality has fallen short.
Payment for goods: Addressing the social democrat's dilemma
Authors: Holtham Gerald
Published: June 2014

Gerald Holtham argues for a national community fund to help pay for Britain's prized public services and ease the ‘triple‐whammy’ of rising demand, sluggish productivity gains and highly mobile capital that has eroded the social democratic programme.
A new model economy
Authors: Gamble Andrew
Published: June 2014

Just as neoliberalism consigned Keynesianism to the history books in the 1980s and '90s, Andrew Gamble says, the neoliberal order can be unseated today by a combination of bold strategy and the right first steps.
Fragility of epidermis and its consequence in dermatology
Authors: Stalder J.F. , Tennstedt D. , Deleuran M. , Fabbrocini G. , de Lucas R. , Haftek M. , Taieb C. , Coustou D. , Mandeau A. , Fabre B. , Hernandez‐Pigeon H. , Aries M.F. , Galliano M.F. , Duplan H. , Castex‐Rizzi N. , Bessou‐Touya S. , Mengeaud V. , Rouvrais C. , Schmitt A.M. , Bottino R. , Cottin K. , Saint Aroman M.
Published: June 2014

The skin is the largest organ of the body, providing a protective barrier against bacteria, chemicals and physical insults while maintaining homeostasis in the internal environment. Such a barrier function the skin ensures protection against excessive water loss. The skin's immune defence consists of several facets, including immediate, non‐specific mechanisms (innate immunity) and delayed, stimulus‐specific responses (adaptive immunity), which contribute to fending off a wide range of potentially invasive microorganisms. This article is an overview of all known data about ‘fragile skin’. Fragile skin is defined as skin with lower resistance to aggressions. Fragile skin can be classified into four categories up to its origin: physiological fragile skin (age, location), pathological fragile skin (acute and chronic), circumstantial fragile skin (due to environmental extrinsic factors or intrinsic factors such as stress) and iatrogenic fragile skin. This article includes the epidemiologic data, pathologic description of fragile skin with pathophysiological bases (mechanical and immunological role of skin barrier) and clinical description of fragile skin in atopic dermatitis, in acne, in rosacea, in psoriasis, in contact dermatitis and other dermatologic pathologies. This article includes also clinical cases and differential diagnosis of fragile skin (reactive skin) in face in adult population. In conclusion, fragile skin is very frequent worldwide and its prevalence varies between 25% and 52% in Caucasian, African and Asian population.
Disentangling plastic and genetic changes in body mass of Siberian jays
Authors: Gienapp P. , Merilä J.
Published: June 2014

Spatial and temporal phenotypic differentiation in mean body size is of commonplace occurrence, but the underlying causes remain often unclear: both genetic differentiation in response to selection (or drift) and environmentally induced plasticity can create similar phenotypic patterns. Studying changes in body mass in Siberian jays (Perisoreus infaustus) over three decades, we discovered that mean body mass declined drastically (ca. 10%) over the first two decades, but increased markedly thereafter back to almost the initial level. Quantitative genetic analyses revealed that although body mass was heritable (h2 = 0.46), the pronounced temporal decrease in body mass was mainly a product of phenotypic plasticity. However, a concomitant and statistically significant decrease in predicted breeding values suggests a genetic component to this change. The subsequent increase in mean body mass was indicated to be entirely due to plasticity. Selection on body mass was estimated to be too weak to fully account for the observed genetic decline in body mass, but bias in selection differential estimates due to environmental covariance between body mass and fitness is possible. Hence, the observed body mass changes appear to be driven mainly by phenotypic plasticity. Although we were not able to identify the ecological driver of the observed plastic changes, the results highlight the utility of quantitative genetic approaches in disentangling genetic and phenotypic changes in natural populations.
Free amino acids in stimulated and unstimulated whole saliva: advantages or disadvantages
Authors: Masoudi Rad H. , Rabiei M. , Sobhani A. , Sadegh Khanjani M. , Rahbar Taramsar M. , Kazemnezhad Leili E.
Published: June 2014

This study determines the mean concentrations of free amino acids in stimulated and unstimulated whole saliva in healthy young adults. Standardised salivary amino acids as a substitute for their counterpart in blood, searched for the source of free amino acids in saliva, the probable correlation between particular amino acids with caries experience. Stimulated and unstimulated whole saliva were collected by the draining method in 31 dental students. Saliva was purified, and amino acids were separated by high‐performance liquid chromatography. DMFT scores were recorded, and the relation of amino acids to caries experience was explored by generalised linear model. Almost all amino acids had higher concentration in unstimulated whole saliva than in stimulated saliva. The normal range of amino acids (95% CI) and their natural logarithm were defined. There was a significant relationship between caries experience and threonine (P < 0·008), citrulline (P < 0·023) and ornithine (P < 0·001) as a detrimental factor, whereas serin (P < 0·026), glutamine (P < 0·015) and phenylalanine (P < 0·014) had an inhibiting effect on caries. However, in comparison, salivary flow rate (P < 0·013) was a more preventive factor than amino acids. Amino acids in saliva contribute as a marker, instead of their counterpart in blood. Unstimulated saliva had higher concentration of amino acids. Amino acids have different impact on caries and may be one of underlying risk factors for caries experience.
miR‐146a and miR‐155 expression in PBMCs from patients with Sjögren's syndrome
Authors: Shi Huan , Zheng Ling‐yan , Zhang Ping , Yu Chuang‐qi
Published: June 2014

Background

An increasing number of studies have revealed that microRNA (miRNA) contributes to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. The objective of this study is to investigate the miR‐146a and miR‐155 levels in peripheral mononuclear blood cells from patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) who were not receiving medications and to examine the correlations between these miRNA levels and the clinical features of the disease.

Method

Using real‐time polymerase chain reaction analysis of miRNAs, the miR‐146a and miR‐155 expression levels were assessed in peripheral mononuclear blood cells from 27 patients with pSS and 22 healthy controls, and the relationships between these miRNA levels and the visual analog scale (VAS) scores for dry mouth, dry eyes, and parotid gland swelling were investigated.

Results

Compared with the healthy controls, the miR‐146a expression level was significantly increased in the patients with pSS (P = 0.0182) and was positively correlated with the VAS scores for parotid swelling (r = 0.4475, P = 0.0192) and dry eyes (r = 0.4051, P = 0.0361). Although the miR‐155 expression level was significantly decreased in the patients with pSS (P = 0.0131), the miR‐155 expression positively correlated with the VAS score for dry eyes (r = 0.4894, P = 0.0096).

Conclusion

Our results demonstrated miR‐146a overexpression and miR‐155 underexpression in the peripheral mononuclear blood cells of the patients with pSS. Furthermore, the expression levels of these miRNAs correlated with the patients' clinical features. Our data suggest that miR‐146a and miR‐155 might play important roles in the pathogenesis of pSS and that their expression levels may be useful for diagnosing pSS and for predicting disease activity and therapeutic responses.
Dynamic analysis of oral Candida carriage, distribution, and antifungal susceptibility in HIV‐infected patients during the first year of highly active antiretroviral therapy in Guangxi, China
Authors: Jiang Lanlan , Yong Xiangzhi , Li Runying , Peng Yuanyuan , Liu Wei , Qin Qi , Zhang Linlin , Liu Zhenmin , Liang Hao , Tao Renchuan
Published: June 2014

Background

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) as an effective therapy for immune reconstruction among patients with HIV/AIDS might have influence on oral Candida status. We investigated oral Candida carriage, distribution, and antifungal susceptibility dynamically during the first year of HAART among adult HIV‐infected patients in Guangxi, China.

Methods

Forty‐five adult HIV‐infected patients who received their first year HAART in the AIDS clinic of the Guangxi Center for Disease Control (CDC) and 31 healthy individuals were recruited. Clinical information and oral examinations were obtained. Oral rinses taken from patients at baseline, 3, 6, 12 months during HAART, respectively, were cultured, and Candida species were identified following standard microbiological techniques. In vitro antifungal susceptibilities were tested by the broth microdilution method.

Results

The oral Candida load decreased gradually in the 45 patients with HIV/AIDS during the first year of HAART (P < 0.050). Among 176 Candida isolates, Candida albicans (114/176) was the predominant species, and Candida parapsilosis (23/62) was the most common non‐albicans species. We found the frequency of resistance to fluconazole and itraconazole of Candida isolated from our samples increased (P < 0.05) after 12 months of HAART. In addition, the frequency of C. albicans isolates resistant to fluconazole and itraconazole was on the rise (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

The Candida load decreased with increased CD4+ T cell counts, and C. albicans was still the prevailing species. Further, a trend toward more frequent in vitro resistance to fluconazole and itraconazole was observed. Our results provide reference for treatment and prevention of oral candidiasis among this population.
Detection of Candida albicans ADH1 and ADH2 mRNAs in human archival oral biopsy samples
Authors: Bakri M. M. , Cannon R. D. , Holmes A. R. , Rich A. M.
Published: June 2014

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between expression of Candida albicans alcohol dehydrogenases (ADH) genes in archival formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded (FFPE) samples from biopsies of leukoplakia.

Materials and Methods

Archival FFPE samples were obtained from four sample groups: normal oral mucosa, non‐dysplastic leukoplakia, chronic hyperplastic candidosis (CHC), and non‐CHC dysplastic leukoplakia. The presence of C. albicans was determined by periodic acid Schiff staining and by immunocytochemistry. C. albicans ADH1 and ADH2 mRNAs were detected using reverse transcription PCR.

Results

Candida albicans was detected in FFPE samples diagnosed as CHC (the histological diagnoses had been made by specialist oral pathologists, using uniform criteria), but not in any other sample group, including the non‐dysplastic leukoplakias. RT‐PCR confirmed a significant correlation between the expression of CaADH1 mRNA (P = 0.000), but not for CaADH2 mRNA (P = 0.056) in archival FFPE samples (n = 31) from biopsies of leukoplakia.

Conclusions

Candida albicans was the predominant species in the lesions diagnosed as CHC, and the presence of C. albicans in CHC lesions was associated with a high expression of C. albicans ADH1 mRNA. There was no association between the presence of Candida and malignant transformation in the cases examined; however, the number of cases was limited and further studies are needed to further elucidate the role of C. albicans ADH1 in the pathogenesis of oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) resistance by PARP1 regulation on PDT‐induced apoptosis with autophagy in head and neck cancer cells
Authors: Kim Jisun , Lim Wonbong , Kim Sangwoo , Jeon Sangmi , Hui Zheng , ni Kou , Kim Changsu , Im Yeonggwan , Choi Hongran , Kim Okjoon
Published: June 2014

Background

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an anticancer treatment that generates excessive reactive oxygen species after photosensitizer treatments following specific wavelength irradiation. In another reports, PDT was regulated with autophagic cell death and apoptotic cell death. However, the mechanism of PDT resistance in PDT‐stimulated cell death is unclear. In this study, we determined PDT resistance by autophagy and apoptosis in HP‐PDT‐treated oral cancer cells.

Materials & Methods

Cells were treated hematoporphyrin and then irradiation with or without inhibitor. Cell lysates were checked protein expression with specific antibody. PDT resistance cells were generated with PDT repeated treatments.

Results

In HP‐PDT, PDT induced autophagy through mTOR, ATG5, and LC3 in dose‐dependent manners. Also, PDT at high dose induced apoptosis through caspase activation and PARP‐1. Moreover, PARP‐1 inhibitor protected cells against HP‐PDT‐induced cell death, but not by caspase inhibitor. At low dose of HP, autophagy inhibitor partially protected from HP‐PDT‐induced cell death. In autophagy phases, at low doses, HP‐PDT regulated autophagic cell death through the inhibition of LC3II. Although autophagy inhibitor did not alter cell death directly, autophagy has associated with HP‐PDT‐induced apoptotic cell death by PARP‐1 regulation.

Conclusion

Taken together, HP‐PDT induces apoptotic cell death with autophagy in oral cancer cells. PDT resistance is related to autophagy by PARP‐1 regulation in oral cancer cells.
Keratin pearl degradation in oral squamous cell carcinoma: reciprocal roles of neutrophils and macrophages
Authors: Essa Ahmed A. M. , Yamazaki Manabu , Maruyama Satoshi , Abé Tatsuya , Babkair Hamzah , Cheng Jun , Saku Takashi
Published: June 2014

Background

We have reported that neutrophilic infiltration was associated with round‐shaped dyskeratosis foci, a kind of keratin pearl, of oral carcinoma in situ and that those inflammatory cells are recruited from intra‐epithelially entrapped blood vessels. Based on these lines of evidence, we have formulated a hypothesis that keratin pearls are terminally degraded by neutrophils. To confirm this hypothesis, we investigated immunohistochemically stepwise degradation of keratin pearls in oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) to clarify any other type scavenger cells in addition to neutrophils are involved in this particular degradation process.

Methods

Neutrophils (neutrophil elastase) and macrophage subpopulations (CD68, CD163 and CD204) were immunohistochemically localized in 30 cases of oral SCC with typical round‐shaped keratin pearls. SCC cells were revealed by immunohistochemistry for keratin (K) 17, and blood vessels were demonstrated by CD31.

Results

Keratin pearl degradation process was divided into four steps: (i) intact stage: no macrophage infiltration but minimal neutrophils were found in keratin pearls; (ii) neutrophil recruit stage: no macrophage infiltration but focal neutrophilic infiltration within the pearls; (iii) neutrophil predominant stage: dense neutrophil infiltration with minimal macrophages and segregated keratinized cancer cells strongly positive for K17; and (iv) macrophage predominant stage: dense infiltration of CD68‐, CD163 (mononuclear)‐ and CD204 (multinucleated)‐positive macrophages engulfing detached keratinized SCC cells.

Conclusion

Keratin pearl degradation in oral SCC is strictly regulated by two types of scavenger cells: neutrophils, which perform initial tasks, and macrophages, which reciprocally take over from neutrophils the role to finalize the degradation processes.
Retracted: Effects of multiple collections on spermatozoa quality of Persian sturgeon, Acipenser persicus: motility, density and seminal plasma composition
Authors: Aramli M. S. , Kalbassi M. R. , Gharibi M. R.
Published: June 2014

In this study, we investigated the effects of multiple collections of sperm on the endangered Persian sturgeon, Acipenser persicus, in terms of a number of sperm functional parameters (percentage of motile spermatozoa, total time period of motility and sperm concentration) as well as on the ionic composition, protein concentration and osmolality of seminal plasma. Semen samples were collected from 12 induced male fish in three experimental groups that had been injected intramuscularly with LHRH‐A2, at dosages of 5 μg/kg body weight, at a number of time regimes: at 12 h, 17 h and 24 h after spawning induction (1); at 24, 29 and 34 h after spawning induction (2); and at 36, 41 and 46 h after spawning induction (3). The percentage of motile spermatozoa and the period of sperm motility decreased significantly (p < 0.05) after the second and third collections. The concentration of spermatozoa decreased after the third collection, but this decline was not significant. No significant effect of multiple collections on protein concentration and ionic content (with exception of the Cl− ion) of seminal plasma was observed. In all experimental groups, a moderate impact of sequential collection on the osmolality (p < 0.05) of seminal plasma was observed. This study provides new data on the effects of multiple collections on spermatological characteristics in the Persian sturgeon. Our results confirm that sequential stripping after the third collections has a negative effect on a number of functional parameters associated with sperm.
Ribavirin dose reduction during telaprevir/ribavirin/peg‐interferon therapy overcomes the effect of the ITPA gene polymorphism
Authors: Akamatsu S. , Hayes C. N. , Tsuge M. , Murakami E. , Hiraga N. , Abe H. , Miki D. , Imamura M. , Ochi H. , Chayama K. ,   Hiroshima Liver Study Group
Published: June 2014

Treatment success of chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection has improved with the advent of telaprevir plus peg‐interferon/ribavirin triple combination therapy. However, the effect of inosine triphosphatase (ITPA) polymorphism on dose reduction during triple therapy, especially during the postmarketing phase, has not been sufficiently evaluated. We analysed 273 patients with genotype 1 infection who were treated with triple therapy and assessed the effect of the ITPA polymorphism on dose reduction. ITPA and IFNL4 SNP genotypes were determined by the Invader assay. A stepwise multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with outcome of the therapy. The overall sustained viral response (SVR) rate 12 weeks after the end of therapy was 80.2% (219/273). Decline of haemoglobin was significantly faster, and ribavirin was more extensively reduced in patients with ITPA SNP rs1127354 genotype CC than CA/AA. Extensive reduction of ribavirin resulted in mild reduction of telaprevir and peg‐interferon, but no significant increase in viral breakthrough. Although the amount of telaprevir given was slightly higher in CA/AA patients, the total dose of peg‐interferon and the SVR rate did not differ between the two groups. Multivariate analysis showed that IFNL4 but not ITPA SNP genotype, platelet count and peg‐interferon adherence were significantly associated with outcome of therapy. Postmarketing‐phase triple therapy resulted in a high SVR rate in spite of extensive ribavirin dose reduction in a diverse patient population, indicating the importance of treatment continuation and appropriate management of adverse events.
Liver stiffness‐based model for prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis B virus infection: comparison with histological fibrosis
Authors: Shin Seung Hwan , Kim Seung Up , Park Jun Yong , Kim Do Young , Ahn Sang Hoon , Han Kwang‐Hyub , Kim Beom Kyung
Published: June 2014

Background & Aims

Liver stiffness (LS) value using transient elastography is a reliable, non‐invasive tool for assessing liver fibrosis. LS‐based prediction model, LSPS (=LS value × spleen diameter/platelet count) is well correlated with the risk of developing portal hypertension‐related cirrhotic complications. Here, we assessed the prognostic performance of LSPS in predicting the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Methods

Between 2006 and 2010, we recruited 227 patients with CHB who underwent liver biopsy and LS measurement. The major end point was HCC development.

Results

Median age was 45 years and 156 (68.7%) patients were male. During the follow‐up period (median, 61 months), HCC developed in 18 patients. Patient with HCC had a higher LS value, a longer spleen, and lower platelet counts (all P < 0.05) than those without HCC. On multivariate analysis, LSPS was identified as an independent predictor of HCC development [hazard ratio (HR) 1.541, P < 0.001] after adjusting for age, serum albumin level and histological fibrosis stage. When patients were stratified into three groups (LSPS <1.1, 1.1–2.5 and >2.5), the 5‐year cumulative risk of HCC increased significantly in association with a higher LSPS value (4.0, 13.8, 36.2%, respectively, P < 0.001). Patients with LSPS 1.1–2.5 (HR 2.0, P = 0.032) and LSPS > 2.5 (HR 8.7, P = 0.002) had a higher risk of developing HCC than those with LSPS < 1.1.

Conclusions

LS value‐spleen diameter to platelet ratio score is useful for assessing the risk of HCC development and careful surveillance strategies are required in an individual manner.
First assessment of the ecological status of Karaoun reservoir, Lebanon
Authors: Fadel Ali , Lemaire Bruno J. , Atoui Ali , Vinçon‐Leite Brigitte , Amacha Nabil , Slim Kamal , Tassin Bruno
Published: June 2014

Many reservoirs have been constructed throughout the world during the 20th century, with many also suffering from eutrophication. The resulting increased phytoplankton biomass in reservoirs impairs their use. Except for Lake Kinneret, the environmental status of lakes and reservoirs in the Middle East is poorly documented. Karaoun reservoir, also known as Qaroun, Qaraoun or Qarun, is the largest water body in Lebanon, having been constructed for irrigation and hydropower production. This present study reviews Karaoun reservoir, including its characteristics, uses, water quality and phytoplankton succession, to assess the environmental status of the reservoir on the basis of the few existing previous publications about the reservoir. Since 2004, which is 39 years after its construction, the reservoir is considered to be hypereutrophic, with low phytoplankton biodiversity and regular blooms of toxic cyanobacteria. The nutrient and trace metal concentrations would not prevent use of the reservoir for a drinking water supply for Beirut, as is currently being planned, although not all the micropollutants in the lake were documented. Karaoun reservoir is compared to other monitored lakes and reservoirs around the Mediterranean Sea. They share annual toxic cyanobacteria blooms of Aphanizomenon ovalisporum and of Microcystis aeruginosa. The phytoplankton composition and succession of Karaoun reservoir is more similar to El Gergal reservoir (Spain) than nearby natural lakes such as Lake Kinneret (Israel) and Lake Trichonis (Greece). Phytoplankton diversity in Karaoun reservoir was the lowest, due to higher nutrient concentrations and a larger decrease in water level in the dry season. Karaoun reservoir represents an interesting example of the potential response of the phytoplankton community in other lakes and reservoirs during the drought periods expected to occur as a result of global climate change.
Catch per Unit Effort and yields as indicators of exploited fish communities: application to two West African reservoirs
Authors: Kantoussan Justin , Ecoutin Jean M. , Fontenelle Guy , de Morais Luis Tito , Laë Raymond
Published: June 2014

Two indicators of fish exploitation, catch per unit effort (CPUE) and yield per unit area, were used with surveys of small‐scale fishery landings to compare two African reservoirs that differ in their level of fish exploitation, being high for Selingue Reservoir and low for Manantali Reservoir, both located in West Africa. The heavy exploitation in Selingue Reservoir induced a decline in catches per fishing trip (9.5 kg trip−1), whereas the catch remained high at Manantali Reservoir (17.0 kg trip−1). Moreover, the annual fish yield per unit area was lower for Manantali Reservoir (19 kg ha−1) than for Selingue Reservoir (79 kg ha−1). There was no relationship between the Morphoedaphic Index and catches for the two reservoirs. Rather, only the fishing effort and annual water‐level variations defined the reservoir fish yields. Based on the results of the present study, it appears that CPUE and fish yield per unit area represent simple and robust indicators for describing the impacts of fishing intensity in aquatic ecosystems.
Abundance of native fishes, wild‐introduced salmonids and escaped farmed rainbow trout in a Patagonian reservoir
Authors: Cussac Victor , Becker Leandro , Aigo Juana , Conte‐Grand Cecilia , Blasetti Guillermo , Cordero Pedro , Crichigno Sonia , Nabaes Diego
Published: June 2014

The introduction of salmonids in Patagonia has resulted in significant impacts on its lakes, as well as a major impact on streams, in which native fishes seem to have been displaced almost completely by rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Another perspective is that the introduced salmonid species have resulted in wild fish populations that sustain an economically important sport fishery. The wide distribution and high abundance of escaped farmed rainbow trout, and a clear decrease in the abundance of native and successfully introduced salmonid species in Alicura Reservoir were all observed, based on comparison of recent data and data from 1993 to 1995 corresponding to littoral gillnet captures. Thus, both native fish and introduced salmonid populations seem to have been drastically reduced in the presence of farmed fish escapees. The results of the present study regarding fish escapes deserve major consideration when making decisions about fish cage culture activities for other Patagonian reservoirs.
All models are wrong
Authors: Hickerson Michael J.
Published: June 2014

As the field of phylogeography has continued to move in the model‐based direction, researchers continue struggling to construct useful models for inference. These models must be both simple enough to be tractable yet contain enough of the complexity of the natural world to make meaningful inference. Beyond constructing such models for inference, researchers explore model space and test competing models with the data on hand, with the goal of improving the understanding of the natural world and the processes underlying natural biological communities. Approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) has increased in recent popularity as a tool for evaluating alternative historical demographic models given population genetic samples. As a thorough demonstration, Pelletier & Carstens () use ABC to test 143 phylogeographic submodels given geographically widespread genetic samples from the salamander species Plethodon idahoensis (Carstens et al. ) and, in so doing, demonstrate how the results of the ABC model choice procedure are dependent on the model set one chooses to evaluate.
Cytosolic Calreticulin Inhibits Microwave Radiation‐Induced Microvascular Endothelial Cell Injury Through the Integrin‐Focal Adhesion Kinase Pathway
Authors: Xu Fei‐Fei , Tao Tian‐Qi , Wang Xiao‐Reng , Li Yu‐Zhen , Song Dan‐Dan , Liu Mi , Liu Xiu‐Hua
Published: June 2014

Objective

To determine the effects of cytosolic CRT on MR‐induced MMEC injury, and the underlying mechanism.

Methods

MMECs were randomized into eight groups: control, AdCRT (infected with pAdCMV/V5‐DEST‐CRT adenovirus), stCRT (transfected with rCRT‐siRNAs), Mock (transfected with scrambled siRNAs), MR (exposed to MR for six minutes), AdCRT + MR, stCRT + MR, and Mock + MR. The magnitude of cell injury were assessed by Annexin V‐PI staining, LDH activity in culture medium, MMEC migration ability, ultrastructure and cytoskeletal stability. Subcellular colocalization of CRT and ConA or integrin were evaluated by immunocytochemistry. The mRNA and protein expression levels of target genes were examined by qRT‐PCR and western blotting, respectively.

Results

MR‐induced cytotoxicity was dose‐dependent. Overexpression of cytosolic CRT suppressed MR injury, shown as decreased cell apoptosis, reduced LDH activity, enhanced cell migration capability, and maintenance of ultrastructure and cytoskeleton integrity. Conversely, CRT deficiency aggravated MR‐induced injury. Exposure of AdCRT MMECs to MR promoted membrane translocation of CRT and the interaction of CRT‐integrin‐α. Correlation analysis revealed that integrin‐α expression or FAK phosphorylation was positively associated with cytosolic CRT expression.

Conclusions

Cytosolic CRT inhibits MR‐induced MMEC injury through activation of the integrin‐FAK pathway.
What can and cannot be willed: how politicians talk about national identity and immigrants
Authors: Jensen Kristian Kriegbaum
Published: June 2014

The ethnic‐civic framework remains widely used in nationalism research. However, in the context of European immigrant integration politics, where almost all ‘nation talk’ is occurring in civic and liberal registers, the framework has a hard time identifying how conceptions of national identity brought forth in political debate differ in their exclusionary potential. This leads some to the conclusion that national identity is losing explanatory power. Building on the insights of Oliver Zimmer, I argue that we may find a different picture if we treat cultural content and logic of boundary construction – two parameters conflated in the ethnic‐civic framework – as two distinct analytical levels. The framework I propose focuses on an individual and collective dimension of logic of boundary construction that together constitute the inclusionary/exclusionary core of national identity. The framework is tested on the political debate on immigrant integration in Denmark and Norway in selected years. Indeed, the framework enables us to move beyond the widespread idea that Danish politicians subscribe to an ethnic conception of the nation, while Norwegian political thought is somewhere in between an ethnic and civic conception. The true difference is that Danish politicians, unlike their Norwegian counterparts, do not acknowledge the collective self‐understanding as an object of political action.
Extended high cut‐off haemodialysis for myeloma cast nephropathy in Auckland, 2008–2012
Authors: Tan Jasmine , Lam‐Po‐Tang Michael , Hutchison Colin A , de Zoysa Janak R
Published: June 2014

Myeloma cast nephropathy contributes to high morbidity and early mortality associated with the development of end‐stage renal disease. Treatment with extended high cut‐off haemodialysis coupled with novel anti‐myeloma therapies enables significant reduction of serum‐free light chains and has been shown to improve renal outcomes. In this case series, medical records of 6 patients who received high cut‐off haemodialysis for biopsy‐proven cast nephropathy were retrospectively reviewed. Patients received a total of 344 hours of high cut‐off haemodialysis and concurrent chemotherapy. Only 50% became dialysis independent following treatment. One patient who achieved sustained remission remained dialysis dependent. The added benefit of high cut‐off haemodialysis in the light of novel anti‐myeloma therapies requires further evaluation.
A new model of the role of psychological and emotional distress in promoting obesity: conceptual review with implications for treatment and prevention
Authors: Hemmingsson E.
Published: June 2014

The lack of significant treatment and prevention progress highlights the need for a more expanded strategy. Given the robust association between socioeconomic factors and obesity, combined with new insights into how socioeconomic disadvantage affects both behaviour and biology, a new causal model is proposed. The model posits that psychological and emotional distress is a fundamental link between socioeconomic disadvantage and weight gain. At particular risk are children growing up in a disharmonious family environment, mainly caused by parental socioeconomic disadvantage, where they are exposed to parental frustrations, relationship discord, a lack of support and cohesion, negative belief systems, unmet emotional needs and general insecurity. Without adequate resilience, such experiences increase the risk of psychological and emotional distress, including low self‐esteem and self‐worth, negative emotions, negative self‐belief, powerlessness, depression, anxiety, insecurity and a heightened sensitivity to stress. These inner disturbances eventually cause a psycho‐emotional overload, triggering a cascade of weight gain‐inducing effects including maladaptive coping strategies such as eating to suppress negative emotions, chronic stress, appetite up‐regulation, low‐grade inflammation and possibly reduced basal metabolism. Over time, this causes obesity, circular causality and further weight gain. Tackling these proposed root causes of weight gain could potentially improve both treatment and prevention outcomes.
Successful lung transplant in a child with cystic fibrosis and persistent Blastobotrys rhaffinosifermentans infection
Authors: Wong J. Y. , Chambers A. L. , Fuller J. , Lacson A. , Mullen J. , Lien D. , Humar A.
Published: June 2014

Fungal respiratory infections in patients with CF are a significant concern both pre‐ and post‐lung transplantation (LTx). Fungal infection is associated with increased mortality post‐LTx, and in the past decade, the prevalence of fungal colonization in Canadian pediatric patients with CF has increased. The emergence of novel fungal pathogens is particularly challenging to the transplant community, as little is known regarding their virulence and optimal management. We present a case of a successful double‐lung transplant in a pediatric patient with CF who was infected pretransplantation with a novel yeast, Blastobotrys rhaffinosifermentans. This patient was treated successfully with aggressive antifungal therapy post‐transplantation, followed by extended fungal prophylaxis. The significance of fungal colonization and infection in children with CF pre‐ and post‐LTx is reviewed.
Immune cell function assay does not identify biopsy‐proven pediatric renal allograft rejection or infection
Authors: Ryan C. M. , Chaudhuri A. , Concepcion W. , Grimm P. C.
Published: June 2014

Management of pediatric renal transplant patients involves multifactorial monitoring modalities to ensure allograft survival and prevent opportunistic infection secondary to immunosuppression. An ICFA, which utilizes CD4 T‐cell production of ATP to assess immune system status, has been used to monitor transplant recipients and predict susceptibility of patients to rejection or infection. However, the validity of this assay to reflect immune status remains unanswered. In a two‐yr retrospective study that included 31 pediatric renal transplant recipients, 42 patient blood samples were analyzed for immune cell function levels, creatinine, WBC (white blood cell) count, immunosuppressive drug levels, and viremia, concurrent with renal biopsy. T‐cell ATP production as assessed by ICFA levels did not correlate with allograft rejection or with the presence or absence of viremia. ICFA levels did not correlate with serum creatinine or immunosuppressive drug levels, but did correlate with WBC count. The ICFA is unreliable in its ability to reflect immune system status in pediatric renal transplantation. Further investigation is necessary to develop methods that will accurately predict susceptibility of pediatric renal transplant recipients to allograft rejection and infection.
Novel protocol including liver biopsy to identify and treat CD8+ T‐cell predominant acute hepatitis and liver failure
Authors: McKenzie Rebecca B. , Berquist William E. , Nadeau Kari C. , Louie Christine Y. , Chen Sharon F. , Sibley Richard K. , Glader Bertil E. , Wong Wendy B. , Hofmann Lawrence V. , Esquivel Carlos O. , Cox Kenneth L.
Published: June 2014

In the majority of children with ALF, the etiology is unknown and liver transplantation is often needed for survival. A patient case prompted us to consider that immune dysregulation may be the cause of indeterminate acute hepatitis and liver failure in children. Our study includes nine pediatric patients treated under a multidisciplinary clinical protocol to identify and treat immune‐mediated acute liver injury. Patients with evidence of inflammation and no active infection on biopsy received treatment with intravenous immune globulin and methylprednisolone. Seven patients had at least one positive immune marker before or after treatment. All patients had a CD8+ T‐cell predominant liver injury that completely or partially responded to immune therapy. Five of the nine patients recovered liver function and did not require liver transplantation. Three of these patients subsequently developed bone marrow failure and were treated with either immunosuppression or stem cell transplant. This series highlights the importance of this tissue‐based approach to diagnosis and treatment that may improve transplant‐free survival. Further research is necessary to better characterize the immune injury and to predict the subset of patients at risk for bone marrow failure who may benefit from earlier and stronger immunosuppressive therapy.
Immune cell function assay in pediatric heart transplant recipients
Authors: Wong Man‐Shun , Boucek Robert , Kemna Mariska , Rutledge Joe , Law Yuk
Published: June 2014

The ImmuKnow® ICFA reports ex vivo CD4 lymphocyte activation to quantify immunosuppression. Limited organ and age‐specific data exist for pediatric heart transplant recipients. We sought to examine their normative values and ICFA's association with rejection/infection. A total of 380 ICFAs from 58 heart transplant recipients (6.5/recipient) were studied retrospectively. The median age at the time of their first ICFA was 5.3 yr (IQR 2.4–12.1 yr). ICFA levels during immunologic stability (n = 311) were a median of 305 (IQR: 172–483) and mean of 353 (s.d. ± 224) ng ATP/mL. ICFA levels trended lower with advancing age. ICFA levels during immunologic stability increased over time from transplant after the first six months but were not correlated with calcineurin inhibitor levels or the type used. There is no association between ICFA values during stability and rejection (median 368 ATP ng/mL; IQR 153–527) or infection (median 293 ATP ng/mL; IQR 198–432). In contrast to the manufacturer's suggested ranges, the immunologic stable ranges in pediatric cardiac recipients were very different. ICFA values during immunologic stability are related to time from transplant in pediatric heart recipients. ICFA's ability to discriminate rejection or infection from immunologic stability was not demonstrated.
Pediatric transplantation and tolerance: Past, present, and future
Authors: Kamran Hejazi Kenari Seyed , Mirzakhani Hooman , Saidi Reza F.
Published: June 2014

Solid organ transplantation is the treatment of choice in children with end‐stage organ failure. With improving methods of transplant surgery and post‐transplant care, transplantation is more frequently performed worldwide. However, lifelong and non‐specific suppression of the recipient's immune system is a cause of significant morbidity in children, including infection, diabetes, and cancer. There is a great need to develop IS minimization/withdrawal and tolerance induction approaches.
Eosinophilic esophagitis in children following cardiac transplantation: Association with post‐transplant lymphoproliferative disorder and other transplant outcomes
Authors: Kindel Steven J. , Joy Brian F. , Pahl Elfriede , Wald Eric L.
Published: June 2014

Although cardiac transplantation is life‐saving, morbidities from immunosuppression are significant. EoE is a complication of calcineurin inhibitors following liver transplant causing feeding intolerance, weight loss, vomiting, and dysphagia. There are limited reports of EoE following heart transplantation. We performed a retrospective single‐center review of pediatric cardiac transplant patients from 2000 to 2010. A case–control analysis of patients with and without EoE was performed evaluating heart transplantation outcomes such as rates of rejection, CAV, PTLD, and graft loss. Eighty‐six transplants were performed in 84 patients; 34 (40%) underwent diagnostic endoscopy, and 10 (12%) had EoE. Median time to diagnosis of EoE was 3.7 yr (IQR: 2.0–5.2). There were no differences in demographics or use of induction medications between patients with or without EoE. Patients with EoE had fewer episodes of treated rejection (1.0 vs. 2.5; p = 0.04). Four of 10 (40%) EoE patients had PTLD compared with only 2/24 (8%) of those without EoE (p = 0.048; OR 7.33 [95% CI: 1.1–50.2]). There were no differences in CAV or graft loss between groups. EoE should be considered as a cause of GI symptoms in children after cardiac transplantation and may be associated with fewer rejection episodes and increased rates of PTLD, thus representing a marker of over‐immunosuppression.
Automatic reconstruction of regular buildings using a shape‐based balloon snake model
Authors: Yari Diako , Mokhtarzade Mehdi , Ebadi Hamid , Ahmadi Salman
Published: June 2014

Buildings are regarded as the most prominent man‐made objects: hence, their automatic extraction from aerial and satellite images has attracted the interest of photogrammetric research communities. In this paper, a balloon snake, a well‐known active contour model, was developed for the precise extraction of building boundaries. Traditional active contours are highly sensitive to image data and are problematic when building boundaries are weakened, usually due to occlusions. To improve the efficiency of the traditional balloon snake model, a shape‐based balloon snake model was introduced where knowledge about the expected geometrical shape of buildings was modelled and applied to the traditional snake representation. Implementation of the proposed algorithm confirmed its efficiency in the precise extraction of building boundaries. Experimental results and the qualitative and quantitative evaluations demonstrate the potential of the proposed shape‐based balloon snake model and its superiority over traditional models.
Labour Markets, Care Regimes and Foreign Care Worker Policies in East Asia
Authors: Song Jiyeoun
Published: June 2014

This article analyzes the politics of foreign care worker policies in Japan, Korea and Taiwan. In the face of socio‐demographic challenges, these countries have responded differently to the increasing demand for hiring foreign care workers, creating distinct policies with respect to the origins of the foreign care workforce, the size of the foreign care workforce in the labour market, and job specifications. In this article, I argue that the interaction of female employment patterns, the public provision (or lack) of social care, and labour market policies in the care service sector determines the diverging political pathways of foreign care worker policies in these three countries over the past two decades.
New fossil Progonocimicidae (Hemiptera: Coleorrhyncha: Progonocimicoidea) from the Upper Mesozoic of northeastern China, with a phylogeny of Coleorrhyncha
Authors: DONG QIUPING , YAO YUNZHI , REN DONG
Published: June 2014

A new Progonocimicidae species, Cicadocoris anisomeridis sp.n., with asymmetrical tegmina is described from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation in northeastern China. This is the fifth report of Coleorrhyncha from China. A cladistic analysis based on a combination of fossil and extant taxa clarifies the phylogenetic status of the new fossils and allows the reconstruction of inter‐subfamily relationships within the suborder Coleorrhyncha. Coleorrhyncha is monophyletic and divided into two main clades. Progonocimicidae comprises a monophyletic lineage, to which the new fossils belong. The broadly conceived Progonocimicinae and Cicadocorinae, as recognized by earlier authors, are not supported. The monophyly of the family Karabasiidae is also not supported, and its two constituent subfamilies Hoploridiinae and Karabasiinae are raised to family rank. Hoploridiidae is found to be sister group to all extant moss bugs, and Karabasiidae is found to be the monophyletic sister group to Hoploridiidae + all extant moss bugs.

This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:30BC0498‐3B8A‐4650‐BC9D‐02A0C8D870B2.
Preservation of Re‐Os isotope signatures in pyrite throughout low‐T, high‐P eclogite facies metamorphism
Authors: van Acken David , Su Wen , Gao Jun , Creaser Robert A.
Published: June 2014

Pyrite in LT–HP eclogites from the western Tianshan orogenic belt yields a Re‐Os age of 378.1 ± 8.9 Ma, which is 30–70 Ma older than ages previously obtained for the same rocks using the Rb–Sr, Sm–Nd, Ar–Ar, U–Pb, and Lu–Hf isotope systems. The Tianshan LT–HP eclogite experienced temperatures of up to ~570 °C combined with pressures of up to 2.1 GPa during metamorphism. These conditions are below the transition of pyrite to pyrrhotite, which defines both pyrite stability and possibly its closure temperature for Re‐Os. Pyrite can preserve Re‐Os signatures through eclogite facies peak metamorphic conditions, and thus allow determination of the formation age of pyrite in the protolith.
Modularity of nearly ordinary 2-adic residually dihedral Galois representations
Authors: Allen Patrick B.
Published: June 2014

We prove modularity of some two-dimensional,$\def \xmlpi #1{}\def \mathsfbi #1{\boldsymbol {\mathsf {#1}}}\let \le =\leqslant \let \leq =\leqslant \let \ge =\geqslant \let \geq =\geqslant \def \Pr {\mathit {Pr}}\def \Fr {\mathit {Fr}}\def \Rey {\mathit {Re}}2$-adic Galois representations over a totally real field that are nearly ordinary at all places above$2$and that are residually dihedral. We do this by employing the strategy of Skinner and Wiles, using Hida families, together with the$2$-adic patching method of Khare and Wintenberger. As an application we deduce modularity of some elliptic curves over totally real fields that have good ordinary or multiplicative reduction at places above $2$.