bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Altered pharmacology of native rodent spinal cord TRPV1 after phosphorylation
Authors: Mogg AJ , Mill CEJ , Folly EA , Beattie RE , Blanco MJ , Beck JP , Broad LM
Published: October 2012

Background and Purpose

Evidence suggests that phosphorylation of TRPV1 is an important component underlying its aberrant activation in pathological pain states. To date, the detailed pharmacology of diverse TRPV1 receptor agonists and antagonists has yet to be reported for native TRPV1 under phosphorylating conditions. Our goal was to optimize a relatively high‐throughput methodology to allow pharmacological characterization of the native TRPV1 receptor using a spinal cord neuropeptide release assay under naive and phosphorylating states.

Experimental Approach

Herein, we describe characterization of rodent TRPV1 by measurement of CGRP release from acutely isolated lumbar (L1‐L6) spinal cord using a 96‐well technique that combines use of native, adult tissue with quantitation of CGRP release by elisa.

Key Results

We have studied a diverse panel of TRPV1 agonists and antagonists under basal and phosphorylating conditions. We show that TRPV1‐mediated CGRP release is evoked, in a temperature‐dependent manner, by a PKC activator, phorbol 12,13‐dibutyrate (PDBu); and that treatment with PDBu increases the potency and efficacy of known TRPV1 chemical agonists, in an agonist‐specific manner. We also show that the pharmacological profile of diverse TRPV1 antagonists is dependent on whether the stimulus is PDBu or capsaicin. Of note, HPPB was identified as an antagonist of capsaicin‐evoked, but a potentiator of PDBu‐evoked, CGRP release.

Conclusions and Implications

Our findings indicate that both TRPV1 agonist and antagonist profiles can be differentially altered by PKC activation. These findings may offer new insights for targeting TRPV1 in pain states.
Interleukins in glioblastoma pathophysiology: implications for therapy
Authors: Yeung YT , McDonald KL , Grewal T , Munoz L
Published: October 2012

Despite considerable amount of research, the poor prognosis of patients diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) critically needs new drug development to improve clinical outcomes. The development of an inflammatory microenvironment has long been considered important in the initiation and progression of glioblastoma; however, the success of developing therapeutic approaches to target inflammation for GBM therapy has yet been limited. Here, we summarize the accumulating evidence supporting a role for inflammation in the pathogenesis of glioblastoma, discuss anti‐inflammatory targets that could be relevant for GBM treatment and provide a perspective on the challenges faced in the development of drugs that target GBM inflammation. In particular, we will review the function of IL‐1β, IL‐6 and IL‐8 as well as the potential of kinase inhibitors targeting key players in inflammatory cell signalling cascades such as JAK, JNK and p38 MAPK.
Burden of proof: the evidence clinicians require before implementing an intervention
Authors: Allen Brian , Armstrong Natalie E.
Published: October 2012

Background

Greater implementation of evidence‐based practice for children and adolescents is a current emphasis in the mental health field; however, there is a need to understand how best to disseminate these interventions and convince community clinicians to use them.

Method

A sample of 255 clinicians reported on the likelihood that they would use an intervention given various types of evidence.

Results

Case studies and clinical trials with an active or placebo control group scored as the most preferred types of evidence; however, more positive attitudes toward evidence‐based practice predicted preferences for clinical trials, but were not related to case studies.

Conclusion

Implementation of evidence‐based practice may be improved by greater dissemination of case studies demonstrating the use of these interventions in ‘real world’ settings. In addition, fostering a greater appreciation of research‐derived interventions among clinicians appears necessary.
Phase II study of preoperative chemoradiation with S‐1 plus oxaliplatin in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer
Authors: Lee Eun Mi , Hong Yong Sang , Kim Kyu‐pyo , Lee Jae‐Lyun , Kim Sun Young , Park Young Suk , Choi Doo Ho , Kim Jong Hoon , Lim Seok‐Byung , Yu Chang Sik , Kim Jin Cheon , Lee Ju Hee , Kim Ah Young , Kim Tae Won
Published: October 2012

A phase II study of preoperative chemoradiation (CRT) with S‐1 plus oxaliplatin in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer was conducted. The total radiotherapy dose was 50.4 Gy. Chemotherapy consisted of oxaliplatin 50 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, 22 and 29 and S‐1 80 mg/m2 per day on days 1–14 and 22–35. The tumor apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was measured using diffusion‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW‐MRI) before and after CRT. Total mesorectal excision was performed within 6 ± 2 weeks. The primary end‐point was the pathological complete response (pCR) rate. A total of 38 patients were enrolled. The pCR rate was 22.9% (8/35; 95% CI, 10.9–42.1), and 10 (28.6%) patients showed near‐total tumor regression. There was no grade 4 adverse event, and grade 3 adverse events included leukopenia (5.4%), diarrhea (5.4%), anorexia (2.7%) and nausea (2.7%). The tumor ADC was calculated in 38 patients (including those who participated in the phase I study). The post‐CRT ADC (P = 0.037) and the percentage change in ADC (P = 0.026) were significantly correlated with pathological response. In conclusion, preoperative CRT with S‐1 plus oxaliplatin showed promising results in pathological responses and favorable toxicity profiles. (Cancer Sci 2013; 104: 111–115)
Genetics and molecular pathogenesis of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma
Authors: Galan S. R. , Kann P. H.
Published: October 2012

Although most pheochromocytomas (PCCs) and paragangliomas (PGLs) are sporadic, molecular genetic medicine has revealed that a considerable number of patients with apparently sporadic PCC actually have a genetic predisposition to the development of these tumors. After decades of intensive research, several genes are now known to play an important role in the pathogenesis of PCC. At present, these areRETproto‐oncogene, von Hippel–Lindau disease tumor suppressor gene (VHL), neurofibromatosis type 1 tumor suppressor gene (NF1), genes encoding the succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) complex subunitsSDHB,SDHC, andSDHD, but alsoSDHA, the gene encoding the enzyme responsible for the flavination of SDHA (SDHAF2orhSDH5), and the newly describedTMEM127andMAXtumor suppressor genes. In addition to these ten PCC susceptibility genes, two other genes,KIF1BandPHD2, have also been associated with PCC. Studying the pathogenesis and the molecular correlation of these mutations has revealed the existence of two main transcription signatures: a pseudohypoxic cluster (VHLandSDHmutations) and a cluster rich in kinase receptor signaling and their downstream pathways (RET, NF1, TMEM127,andMAXmutations). However, the general mechanism in the pathogenesis of a syndrome does not entirely apply in the particular pathogenesis of PCC as a manifestation of that syndrome. A better understanding of the complexity and high genetic diversity of PCC and PGL may lead to more efficient diagnosis and management of the disease.
Elevated Levels of Interleukin 6 and C‐Reactive Protein Associated With Cognitive Impairment in Heart Failure
Authors: Athilingam Ponrathi , Moynihan Jan , Chen Leway , D’Aoust Rita , Groer Maureen , Kip Kevin
Published: October 2012

©2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

There is abundant evidence on inflammatory mechanisms in heart failure (HF) that are used for prognostication of the disease; however, data are lacking regarding the association between elevated cytokines, C‐reactive protein (CRP), and cognition in HF. A cross‐sectional pilot study of 38 patients with HF, aged 62 years (standard deviation± 9 years), predominantly men (68%) and Caucasian (79%) were screened for cognitive function using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The study aimed to examine cognitive scores on MoCA with cytokines, interleukin 6 [IL‐6] and tumor necrosis factor α [TNF‐α], and CRP as indicators of early cognitive changes in HF. The result showed no direct correlation between cardiac variables and the MoCA score. The MoCA score, however, was inversely associated with IL‐6 (r=−0.53, P=.001) and CRP (r=−0.34, P=.04), with no association to TNF‐α. Regression analysis on the MoCA score and log‐transformed IL‐6 accounted for an additional 11% variation and remained statistically significant (P=.008) after controlling for covariates of education, living arrangements, and loneliness. The large effect size (R2=0.87) found in this pilot study provides rationale for a larger exploratory study to examine associations between cognitive function, cytokines, and CRP levels and help design future intervention studies.
Peri‐implant tissue reactions to immediate nonocclusal loaded implants with different collar design: an experimental study in dogs
Authors: Negri Bruno , Calvo Guirado José L. , Maté Sánchez de Val José E. , Delgado Ruíz Rafael A. , Ramírez Fernández María P. , Barona Dorado Cristina
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate bone remodelling and soft tissue reactions around immediate nonocclusal loaded implants with different collar configuration in beagle dogs.

Material and methods

The mandibular bilateral second, third and fourth premolars of six beagle dogs were extracted. After 3 months of healing, four implants were placed in the mandibles of each dog. Randomly, two implants with a 1.5 mm polished surface collar (TSA, control group) and two implants with a 0.7 mm polished surface collar and 2.5 mm microthreaded area (TSAA, test group) were inserted. Both groups were treated with a minimal mucoperiosteal flap elevation approach. Impressions were taken and two single screw‐retained restorations were inserted in each hemi‐mandible 2 days after the implant placement. The animals were sacrificed at 1, 2 and 3 months (two specimens each), and biopsies were obtained. Samples were processed for ground sectioning. Histomorphometric analysis was carried out to compare buccal and lingual bone height loss and soft tissue behaviour between the two groups.

Results

Crestal bone resorption was significantly higher in the control group (P > 0.05). The establishment of the biological width showed similar outcomes for both groups. Only the distance from the top of the peri‐implant mucosa to the apical portion of the barrier epithelium at lingual aspect was significantly more pronounced in the control group (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

The alterations that occurred in the peri‐implant tissues were related to the adaptation that occurred after the loading conditions in both groups. The microthread design might have an effect in maintaining the marginal bone loss against loading.
Osteoblastic and cytokine gene expression of implant‐adherent cells in humans
Authors: Bryington Matthew , Mendonça Gustavo , Nares Salvador , Cooper Lyndon F.
Published: October 2012

Objectives

Implant surface topography is a key determinant affecting osteoblastic differentiation and cell–cell signaling of implant‐adherent cells.

Materials and methods

To assess the early osteoinductive and cell–cell signaling events in adherent cells, commercially pure titanium implants (2.2 × 5 mm) with nanotopography (HF‐treatedTiO2grit‐blasted) were compared with micron‐scale topographyTiO2grit‐blasted (micron‐scale, control) implantsin vivo. Six implants (n = 3/surface) were placed in 10 systemically healthy subjects and removed by reverse threading at 1, 3, and 7 days. Gene expression profiles of adherent cells were interrogated using low‐densityRT‐PCRarrays.

Results

Osteoinduction was not observed at day 1 on either surface. At 3 days, elevated levels ofBMP6, osteopontin, and osterix (OSX) were observed inRNAof cells adherent to both micron‐scale and nanotopography surfaces. Both surfaces supported osteoinductive gene expression at 7 days; however, modest elevations of most mRNAs and significantly higherOSX mRNAlevels were measured for cells adhered to nanotopography implants. Further, chemokine and cytokine profiles includingCXCL10,CXCL14,IL‐9,IL‐22, andTOLLIPwere upregulated on nanotopographic surfaces as compared with microtopographic surfaces.

Conclusions

Implants with superimposed nanoscale topography generate a greater induction of genes linked to osteogenesis and cell–cell signaling during the early phases of osseointegration.
Triage of patients with acute diverticulitis: are some inpatients candidates for outpatient treatment?
Authors: Abbas M. A. , Cannom R. R. , Chiu V. Y. , Burchette R. J. , Radner G. W. , Haigh P. I. , Etzioni D. A.
Published: October 2012

Aim

Current recommendations regarding the triage of patients with acute diverticulitis for inpatient or outpatient treatment are vague. We hypothesized that a significant number of patients treated as an inpatient could be managed as an outpatient.

Method

A retrospective cohort study was carried out of 639 patients admitted for a first episode of diverticulitis. The diagnosis of acute diverticulitis was confirmed by computed tomography (CT). The endpoints included length of stay, need for surgery, percutaneous drainage and mortality. Patients were considered to have had a minimal hospitalization, defined as survival to discharge without needing a procedure, hospitalization of ≤ 3 days and no readmission for diverticulitis within 30 days after discharge.

Results

Of 639 patients, 368 (57.6%) had a minimal hospitalization. Female gender and CT scan findings of free air/fluid were negatively associated with the likelihood of minimal hospitalization. The presence of an abscess < 3 cm and stranding on CT did not predict the need for a higher level of care. Despite the statistical significance of several patient‐level predictors, the model did not identify patients likely to need only minimal hospitalization.

Conclusion

Most patients admitted with acute diverticulitis are discharged after minimal hospitalization. Free air/liquid in a patient admitted for acute diverticulitis indicates a more severe clinical course.
Adaption of horses to a novel dynamic feeding system: Movement and behavioural responses
Authors: Hampson B. A. , de Laat M. A. , Monot J. , Bailliu D. , Pollitt C. C.
Published: October 2012

Reasons for performing study

Many domestic horses and ponies are sedentary and obese due to confinement to small paddocks and stables and a diet of infrequent, high‐energy rations. Severe health consequences can be associated with this altered lifestyle.

Objectives

The aims of this study were to investigate the ability of horses to learn to use a dynamic feeder system and determine the movement and behavioural responses of horses to the novel system.

Methods

A dynamic feed station was developed to encourage horses to exercise in order to access ad libitum hay. Five pairs of horses (n = 10) were studied using a randomised crossover design with each pair studied in a control paddock containing a standard hay feeder and an experimental paddock containing the novel hay feeder. Horse movement was monitored by a global positioning system (GPS) and horses observed and their ability to learn to use the system and the behavioural responses to its use assessed.

Results

With initial human intervention all horses used the novel feeder within 1 h. Some aggressive behaviour was observed between horses not well matched in dominance behaviour. The median distance walked by the horses was less (P = 0.002) during a 4 h period (117 [57–185] m) in the control paddock than in the experimental paddock (630 [509–719] m).

Conclusions

The use of an automated feeding system promotes increased activity levels in horses housed in small paddocks, compared with a stationary feeder.

Potential relevance

The novel feeder system may have application in the husbandry of horses and ponies kept in small paddocks by encouraging a natural pattern of exercise without human intervention and an ad libitum diet of hay. This may improve the health and welfare of horses.
Characteristics of palatal instability inThoroughbred racehorses and their association with the development of dorsal displacement of the soft palate
Authors: Allen K. , Franklin S.
Published: October 2012

Reason for performing study

Two forms of dynamic upper respiratory tract obstruction affecting racehorses that involve the soft palate have been described: palatal instability (PI) and dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP). Observation ofDDSPis straightforward in that it is an all or nothing event, whereas observation ofPIis subjective and interpretation may vary between clinicians.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to attempt to characterisePIand to investigate endoscopic features that precedeDDSP.

Methods

A retrospective study on the endoscopic observations ofThoroughbred racehorses referred for high‐speed treadmill endoscopy was performed. Endoscopic observations were reviewed during the last 10 s of the exercise test or the last 10 s prior toDDSP. The degree of axial deviation of the aryepiglottic folds (ADAF), the conformation of the epiglottis, the conformation of the soft palate and the amount of obstruction of therima glottidisby the soft palate (i.e. soft palate stability) were assessed.

Results

A total of 72 horses were included in this study, of which 7 showed no evidence ofPI. Of the 65 horses withPI, 30 (46%) developedDDSP. There were significant associations between the stability of the soft palate, epiglottic conformation andADAF. Furthermore, development ofDDSPwas associated with increased severity ofPIandADAFand with changes in epiglottic conformation.

Conclusions

This study has characterised the endoscopic features associated withPIand identified certain characteristics that precedeDDSP.

Potential relevance

These observations may assist veterinary surgeons in recognisingPIand the prodromal signs ofDDSP.
Detection of Clarithromycin‐Resistant Helicobacter pylori by Stool PCR in Children: A Comprehensive Review of Literature
Authors: Xiong Li jing , Tong Yu , Wang Zhiling , Mao Meng
Published: October 2012

Background

Helicobacter pylori infection is acquired mainly during childhood. To eradicate H. pylori, clarithromycin‐based triple therapy has been recommended in children and adults by the latest Maastricht Consensus. However, the prevalence of clarithromycin‐resistant H. pylori was higher in children than that in adults. Therefore, rapid, reliable and noninvasive methods for detecting clarithromycin‐resistant H. pylori strains should be developed for children.

Materials and Methods

Studies on evaluating stool PCR in detecting clarithromycin‐resistant H. pylori and epidemiological surveys of the prevalence of clarithromycin‐resistant H. pylori in children were searched in PubMed (from 1966 to December, 2011) for reviewing.

Results

The average rates of primary clarithromycin‐resistant H. pylori ranged from less than 10% to more than 40% in different regions. The rates of secondary resistance to clarithromycin were higher than primary resistance in the same population. In H. pylori isolated from children, the frequent point mutations that are responsible for the clarithromycin resistance included A2143G, A2142G, A2142C and A2144G, and they varied geographically. Comparing with culture‐based susceptibility tests, stool PCR performed excellently for their rapidity, independence of bacterial growth, reproducibility and easy standardization. However, stool PCR showed lower sensitivity but perfect specificity in detection of clarithromycin‐resistant H. pylori in children. Methodology and mixed infections of resistant H. pylori strains might contribute to the considerable discrepancies of stool PCR results.

Conclusion

Detection of clarithromycin‐resistant H. pylori by stool PCR for children are reliable, rapid, noninvasive methods that are worthy of further clinical promotion. However, more evaluations of stool PCR in detection of clarithromycin‐resistant H. pylori in children need to be conducted.
Fallopian tube precursors of ovarian low‐ and high‐grade serous neoplasms
Authors: Vang Russell , Shih Ie‐Ming , Kurman Robert J
Published: October 2012

Traditionally, it was thought that ovarian high‐grade serous carcinoma arises from the ovarian surface epithelium and epithelial inclusion glands and that the pathogenesis is de novo; nonetheless, a convincing precursor in the ovary or peritoneum has not been identified to date. During the last few years, however, there has been a dramatic shift in thinking, and a candidate precursor is now recognized in the fallopian tube, especially within the fimbriated end – serous tubal intra‐epithelial carcinoma (STIC). Accordingly, STIC is probably the earliest histologically recognizable lesion in the pathogenesis of high‐grade serous carcinoma, but steps in this pathway which precede STIC have also been proposed. With subsequent progression, STIC implants onto the ovary and then develops into an invasive high‐grade serous carcinoma with rapid tumour growth. For invasive low‐grade serous carcinoma, it is well‐established that its pathogenesis begins with serous cystadenoma/adenofibroma, which develops sequentially into atypical proliferative serous tumour (typical serous borderline tumour), non‐invasive micropapillary (low‐grade) serous carcinoma (micropapillary serous borderline tumour) and then invasive low‐grade serous carcinoma in a relatively slow stepwise process. It is presumed that cystadenoma/adenofibroma arises from epithelial inclusion glands in the ovary, but recent evidence suggests that epithelial inclusion glands originate in the fallopian tube. Alternatively, it has been proposed that the other early precursors in the low‐grade pathway, including serous borderline tumours, non‐invasive implants and endosalpingiosis, may also arise directly from tubal mucosa. Therefore, the precursor of most ovarian high‐grade serous carcinomas originates in the fallopian tube, and that for low‐grade serous tumours may also be derived from the tube. This review paper provides an overview of the fallopian tube's potential role in the pathogenesis of both types of serous neoplasms of the ovary.
The effect of intravenous lidocaine on laryngeal and respiratory reflex responses in anaesthetised children*
Authors: Erb T. O. , von Ungern‐Sternberg B. S. , Keller K. , Frei F. J.
Published: October 2012

We studied the effect of intravenous lidocaine on laryngeal and respiratory reflex responses in children anaesthetised with sevoflurane. We tested the hypothesis that the incidence of laryngospasm evoked by laryngeal stimulation is temporarily diminished after the administration of lidocaine. Forty children, aged between 25 and 84 months, were anaesthetised with sevoflurane and breathed spontaneously through a laryngeal mask airway. Respiratory reflex responses were elicited by spraying distilled water onto the laryngeal mucosa at three time intervals: (i) before lidocaine was administered (baseline); (ii) at 2 min and (iii) at 10 min following the intravenous administration of a bolus of lidocaine 2 mg.kg−1. A blinded reviewer assessed the evoked responses. The incidence of laryngospasm was reduced from 38% at baseline to 15% 2 min after lidocaine administration (p < 0.02) and 18% 10 min after lidocaine administration (p = 0.10). We conclude that intravenous lidocaine significantly reduced the incidence of laryngospasm but that the effect was short‐lived.
Long‐term effects of warming and nutrients on microbes and other plankton in mesocosms
Authors: ÖZEN ARDA , ŠORF MICHAL , TROCHINE CAROLINA , LIBORIUSSEN LONE , BEKLIOGLU MERYEM , SØNDERGAARD MARTIN , LAURIDSEN TORBEN L. , JOHANSSON LISELOTTE S. , JEPPESEN ERIK
Published: October 2012

1. We followed microbial and other planktonic communities during a 4‐month period (February–May) in 12 outdoor flow‐through mesocosms designed to elucidate the effect of global warming and nutrient enrichment. The mesocosms were established in 2003.

2. Warming had a smaller effect than nutrients on the biomass of the microbial and planktonic communities, and warming and nutrients together exhibited complex interactions.

3. We did not find direct effects of warming on the biomass of bacterioplankton or ciliates; however, warming significantly added to the positive effect of nutrients on these organisms and on heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF). No warming effects on any of the other planktonic groups analysed were detected.

4. The zooplankton: phytoplankton biomass ratio was lowest, and the HNF: bacteria and rotifer: bacteria biomass ratios highest in the heated, nutrient‐rich mesocosms. We attribute this to higher fish predation on large‐bodied zooplankton, releasing the predation on HNF and competition for rotifers.

5. The proportion of phytoplankton to the total plankton biomass increased with nutrients, but decreased with warming. The opposite pattern was observed for the proportion of phytoplankton to the total microbial biomass.

6. As climate warming may lead to eutrophication, major changes may occur in the pelagic food web and the microbial community due to changes in trophic state and in combination with warming.
Temperature distributions of electron beam‐irradiated samples by scanning electron microscopy
Authors: TOKUNAGA T. , NARUSHIMA T. , YONEZAWA T. , SUDO T. , OKUBO S. , KOMATSUBARA S. , SASAKI K. , YAMAMOTO TAKAHISA
Published: October 2012

An electron beam (EB) generated by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to irradiate two samples having different thermal conductivities, and the resulting temperatures of the EB‐irradiated areas as well as the temperature distributions within the samples were then measured using a thermal camera. These measurements showed overall increases in sample temperatures, as well as revealed temperature rises at the EB‐irradiated areas that had little difference with one of the theoretical predictions. Differences between the actual and the predicted temperature measurements were analysed in terms of the accuracy with which parameters could be estimated. The temperature distributions of the samples were measured and, On the basis of the results, it was hypothesized that the temperature differential over an irradiated sample will be inversely correlated with its thermal conductivity.
Second harmonic generation imaging of the deep shade plant Selaginella erythropus using multifunctional two‐photon laser scanning microscopy
Authors: RESHAK A.H. , SHEUE C.‐R.
Published: October 2012

Background: Multifunctional two‐photon laser scanning microscopy provides attractive advantages over conventional two‐photon laser scanning microscopy. For the first time, simultaneous measurement of the second harmonic generation (SHG) signals in the forward and backward directions and two photon excitation fluorescence were achieved from the deep shade plant Selaginella erythropus.

Results: These measurements show that the S. erythropus leaves produce high SHG signals in both directions and the SHG signals strongly depend on the laser's status of polarization and the orientation of the dipole moment in the molecules that interact with the laser light. The novelty of this work is (1) uncovering the unusual structure of S. erythropus leaves, including diverse chloroplasts, various cell types and micromophology, which are consistent with observations from general electron microscopy; and (2) using the multifunctional two‐photon laser scanning microscopy by combining three platforms of laser scanning microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, harmonic generation microscopy and polarizing microscopy for detecting the SHG signals in the forward and backward directions, as well as two photon excitation fluorescence.

Conclusions: With the multifunctional two‐photon laser scanning microscopy, one can use noninvasive SHG imaging to reveal the true architecture of the sample, without photodamage or photobleaching, by utilizing the fact that the SHG is known to leave no energy deposition on the interacting matter because of the SHG virtual energy conservation characteristic.
What paths do advantageous alleles take during short‐term evolutionary change?
Authors: Burke Molly K. , Long Anthony D.
Published: October 2012

Combining experimental evolution with whole‐genome resequencing is a promising new strategy for investigating the dynamics of evolutionary change. Published studies that have resequenced laboratory‐selected populations of sexual organisms have typically focused on populations sampled at the end of an evolution experiment. These studies have attempted to associate particular alleles with phenotypic change and attempted to distinguish between different theoretical models of adaptation. However, neither the population used to initiate the experiment nor multiple time points sampled during the evolutionary trajectory are generally available for examination. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Orozco‐terWengel et al. (2012) take a significant step forward by estimating genome‐wide allele frequencies at the start, 15 generations into and at the end of a 37‐generation Drosophila experimental evolution study. The authors identify regions of the genome that have responded to laboratory selection and describe the temporal dynamics of allele frequency change. They identify two common trajectories for putatively adaptive alleles: alleles either gradually increase in frequency throughout the entire 37 generations or alleles plateau at a new frequency by generation 15. The identification of complex trajectories of alleles under selection contributes to a growing body of literature suggesting that simple models of adaptation, whereby beneficial alleles arise and increase in frequency unimpeded until they become fixed, may not adequately describe short‐term response to selection.
Benign lymphoepithelial tumor of the pituitary
Authors: Cho Hwa Jin , Kyung Myung Jae , Kim Yong Hwy , Choi Seung Hong , Park Sung‐Hye
Published: October 2012

Here, we report a case of lymphoepithelial tumor that developed in the sellar and suprasellar regions in a 56‐year‐old woman. The lesion was composed of abundant but benign squamous cell nests (Erdheim's nests) and heavy lymphoid tissue with well‐developed lymphoid follicles. Therefore, it mimicked tonsil or adenoid tissue, but was disorganized. We report this case to define the pathogenesis and proper diagnostic terminology of this unusual sellar and suprasellar lesion, and we assume that its origin is the infundibulum.
Asset Accumulation: An Alternative Approach to Achieving the Millennium Development Goals
Authors: Stein Alfredo , Horn Philipp
Published: October 2012

The United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are unlikely to be achieved by 2015, owing to conceptual flaws in their design as well as the structural and political constraints faced during implementation at the country level. While criticism of the MDGs is widespread, innovative ideas on addressing these operational challenges are still scanty. By reviewing a number of experiences, including those of the Foundation for the Promotion of Local Development (PRODEL) in Nicaragua and the Ministry of Cities in Brazil, this article highlights the importance of incorporating an asset‐accumulation perspective into MDG‐related policies and programmes as a way of generating an enabling environment that opens up new opportunities for poverty reduction in the cities of low‐ and middle‐low‐income countries.
Make Schools, Not War? Donors' Rewriting of the Social Contract in the DRC
Authors: De Herdt Tom , Titeca Kristof , Wagemakers Inge
Published: October 2012

The school being one of the most important ‘faces’ of the state at the local level in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, investment in education can play an important role in reconstructing the social contract between the population and the state after violent conflict. However, this is particularly difficult since the state has largely retreated from the education sector since the 1980s, and education is now organised through public‐private partnerships with religious networks. Moreover, schools have been turned into tax units, in response to the retreat of the state and the declining wages of school administrators. This has had a clear effect on donor interventions, which, instead of changing the current system, have become part of existing configurations and led to an expansion of the current system.
The Revival of Non‐Traditional State Actors' Interests in Africa: Does it Matter for Policy Autonomy?
Authors: Kragelund Peter
Published: October 2012

Africa's external relations are currently undergoing major changes. Non‐traditional state actors like China and India are reviving their ties with African economies and thereby affecting power relations between African states and traditional partners. Meanwhile, high commodity prices and improved credit ratings make external finance available for African governments. This article examines how non‐traditional state actors affect the possibility of African governments setting and funding their own development priorities. It argues that while the current situation may increase the policy autonomy for African economies this is largely a consequence of the increased availability of external finance – and not just from non‐traditional state actors.
Is food addiction a valid and useful concept?
Authors: Ziauddeen H. , Fletcher P. C.
Published: October 2012

In this paper, we consider the concept of food addiction from a clinical and neuroscientific perspective. Food addiction has an established and growing currency in the context of models of overeating and obesity, and its acceptance shapes debate and research. However, we argue that the evidence for its existence in humans is actually rather limited and, in addition, there are fundamental theoretical difficulties that require consideration.

We therefore review food addiction as a phenotypic description, one that is based on overlap between certain eating behaviours and substance dependence. To begin, we consider limitations in the general application of this concept to obesity. We share the widely held view that such a broad perspective is not sustainable and consider a more focused view: that it underlies particular eating patterns, notably binge eating. However, even with this more specific focus, there are still problems. Validation of food addiction at the neurobiological level is absolutely critical, but there are inconsistencies in the evidence from humans suggesting that caution should be exercised in accepting food addiction as a valid concept. We argue the current evidence is preliminary and suggest directions for future work that may provide more useful tests of the concept.
Inequality, the Crash and the Ongoing Crisis
Authors: LANSLEY STEWART
Published: October 2012

The rise in inequality across many rich nations, but especially in the United Kingdom and the United States, was meant to lead to a bigger economic pie from which all would benefit. In fact, the increased concentration of income over the last three decades has led to more fragile and unstable economies making it a key cause of the 2008 Crash and today's lack of recovery. The evidence of the last 100 years is that models of capitalism that fail to share the proceeds of growth more evenly will eventually self‐destruct. More equal societies have softer business cycles. In contrast, more unequal economies are associated with more extreme cycles—they have exaggerated booms, deeper falls and extended troughs. The scale of inequality is not just an issue about fairness and proportionality, it is therefore integral to economic health.
Markov Chain Monte Carlo for Exact Inference for Diffusions
Authors: SERMAIDIS GIORGOS , PAPASPILIOPOULOS OMIROS , ROBERTS GARETH O. , BESKOS ALEXANDROS , FEARNHEAD PAUL
Published: October 2012

ABSTRACT.  We develop exact Markov chain Monte Carlo methods for discretely sampled, directly and indirectly observed diffusions. The qualification ‘exact’ refers to the fact that the invariant and limiting distribution of the Markov chains is the posterior distribution of the parameters free of any discretization error. The class of processes to which our methods directly apply are those which can be simulated using the most general to date exact simulation algorithm. The article introduces various methods to boost the performance of the basic scheme, including reparametrizations and auxiliary Poisson sampling. We contrast both theoretically and empirically how this new approach compares to irreducible high frequency imputation, which is the state‐of‐the‐art alternative for the class of processes we consider, and we uncover intriguing connections. All methods discussed in the article are tested on typical examples.
European‐American and African‐American Mothers' Emotion Socialization Practices Relate Differently to Their Children's Academic and Social‐emotional Competence
Authors: Nelson Jackie A. , Leerkes Esther M. , Perry Nicole B. , O'Brien Marion , Calkins Susan D. , Marcovitch Stuart
Published: October 2012

The current study examines whether the relation between mothers' responses to their children's negative emotions and teachers' reports of children's academic performance and social‐emotional competence are similar or different for European‐American and African‐American families. Two hundred mothers (137 European‐American, 63 African‐American) reported on their responses to their five‐year‐old children's negative emotions and 150 kindergarten teachers reported on these children's current academic standing and skillfulness with peers. Problem‐focused responses to children's negative emotions, which have traditionally been considered a supportive response, were positively associated with children's school competence for European‐American children, but expressive encouragement, another response considered supportive, was negatively associated with children's competence for African‐American children. The findings highlight the need to examine parental socialization practices from a culturally specific lens.
The Irish Economy Today: Albatross or Phoenix?
Authors: FitzGerald John
Published: October 2012

Within EMU, the state of the balance of payments is a crucial signal of possible dangers in an economy. In the case of Ireland, this signal was ignored, and a failure of banking regulation together with wholly inappropriate fiscal policy allowed the current crisis to happen. In the aftermath of the recession, domestic costs have been cut, producing a substantial increase in tradable sector output. This output response will play a crucial role in eventually returning the economy to growth. Tackling the huge government deficit will be necessarily painful and, until completed, will weigh heavily on domestic demand, delaying a full recovery. It will be important that the fiscal adjustment is undertaken in an ‘employment‐friendly’ manner.
ON JOHN RAWLS'S A BRIEF INQUIRY INTO THE MEANING OF SIN AND FAITH
Authors: Weithman Paul
Published: October 2012

This essay challenges the view that John Rawls's recently published undergraduate thesis A Brief Inquiry into the Meaning of Sin and Faith provides little help in understanding his mature work. Two crucial strands of Rawls's Theory of Justice are its critique of teleology and its claims about our moral nature and its expression. These strands are brought together in a set of arguments late in Theory which are important but have attracted little sustained attention. I argue that the target of Rawls's undergraduate thesis is a form of Christianity which rests on assumptions Rawls later came to think were fundamental to teleological views, and that the thesis defends an alternative form of religiosity that anticipates what Rawls says in Theory about the expression of our nature. Those sections of Theory also provide resources Rawls could have used to respond to a number of prominent and recurrent criticisms of his account of moral motivation. Seeing the continuities between Brief Inquiry and Theory of Justice shows how long Rawls wrestled with problems he took up in the neglected sections of Theory and thereby shows their importance to Rawls's thought.
BETWEEN MT. MORIAH AND MT. GOLGOTHA: How Is Christian Ethics Possible?
Authors: Ahn Ilsup
Published: October 2012

In this paper, I explore a new way of understanding Christian ethics by critically interconnecting the theological meanings of the Aqedah (“binding”) narrative of Mt. Moriah and the Passion story of Mt. Golgotha. Through an in‐depth critical‐theological investigation of the relation between these two biblical events, I argue that Christian ethics is possible not so much as a moralization or as a literalistic divine command theory, but rather as a “covenantal‐existential” response to God's will in the impossible love on Mt. Moriah as well as in the Son's willing embrace of God's will on Mt. Golgotha.
ON HELPING ONE'S NEIGHBOR
Authors: Ranganathan Bharat
Published: October 2012

Few people doubt that severe poverty is a pressing moral issue. But what sorts of obligations, if any, do affluent people have toward the severely poor? If one accepts the idea that one has some obligations to the severely poor there still remains disagreement about the magnitude of this obligation and when it obtains. I consider Peter Singer's influential “shallow pond” argument, which holds that affluent people have greater obligations toward the severely poor than ordinary moral judgments suggest. Critics hold that Singer's view is excessively demanding and therefore untenable. I thus turn to the parable of the Good Samaritan and Christian accounts of neighbor‐love to help attenuate this criticism. Drawing from Christian conversations on neighbor‐love, I attempt to demonstrate that accepting an obligation to assist does not necessarily result in one abandoning one's special relations, abnegating self‐regard, or no longer pursuing other non‐moral strivings.
NON‐VIOLENCE AND NONHUMANS: Foundations for Animal Welfare in the Thought of Mohandas Gandhi and Albert Schweitzer
Authors: McLaughlin Ryan P.
Published: October 2012

This essay explores how the principles of ahimsa and reverence for life provide a foundation for animal welfare in the thought of Mohandas Gandhi and Albert Schweitzer, respectively. This exploration unfolds through a consideration of the contextual background of both thinkers, the scope of life to which they apply their respective principles, and both the ethical ramifications and limitations of this application. Within this common framework, the author delineates the striking commonalities and the significant disparities between Gandhi and Schweitzer. This comparison opens a common space within which ecologically‐minded Hindus and Christians can dialogue, augmenting each other's positions by drawing on respected thinkers in their traditions. It also provides an opportunity, within the tensions highlighted at the intersection of Gandhi and Schweitzer's thought, to further construct a foundation for animal welfare in contemporary discussions.
The Australian Catholic Church and the Public Sphere: World Youth Day 2008*
Authors: Halter Nicholas
Published: October 2012

World Youth Day 2008 was the largest public religious gathering in Australian history, which proudly celebrated Catholicism in the streets of Sydney. This article argues that the organization and outcomes of World Youth Day 2008 were significantly shaped by the perceptions of Catholic Church leaders and officials who were determined to present the Catholic Church as a powerful opponent of the trend toward secularization. The organizers of World Youth Day 2008 achieved significant success in overcoming the legacy of sectarianism, the fears of secularization, the problems of internal division and scandal, and distrust and suspicion in the media prior to the event. The event showed that the Catholic Church was very capable of negotiating the Australian public sphere, and successfully marketed an energized and inclusive brand of Catholicism to the broader public.
SMC2: An Efficient Algorithm for Sequential Analysis of State Space Models
Authors: Chopin N. , Jacob P. E. , Papaspiliopoulos O.
Published: October 2012

We consider the generic problem of performing sequential Bayesian inference in a state space model with observation process y, state process x and fixed parameter θ. An idealized approach would be to apply the iterated batch importance sampling algorithm of Chopin. This is a sequential Monte Carlo algorithm in the θ-dimension, that samples values of θ, reweights iteratively these values by using the likelihood increments pyt∣y1:t−1,θ and rejuvenates the θ-particles through a resampling step and a Markov chain Monte Carlo update step. In state space models these likelihood increments are intractable in most cases, but they may be unbiasedly estimated by a particle filter in the x-dimension, for any fixed θ. This motivates the SMC2 algorithm that is proposed in the paper: a sequential Monte Carlo algorithm, defined in the θ-dimension, which propagates and resamples many particle filters in the x-dimension. The filters in the x-dimension are an example of the random weight particle filter. In contrast, the particle Markov chain Monte Carlo framework that has been developed by Andrieu and colleagues allows us to design appropriate Markov chain Monte Carlo rejuvenation steps. Thus, the θ-particles target the correct posterior distribution at each iteration t, despite the intractability of the likelihood increments. We explore the applicability of our algorithm in both sequential and non-sequential applications and consider various degrees of freedom, as for example increasing dynamically the number of x-particles. We contrast our approach with various competing methods, both conceptually and empirically through a detailed simulation study, and based on particularly challenging examples.
Productivity, R&D Spillovers and Educational Attainment*
Authors: Sena Vania , Higon Dolores Anon
Published: October 2012

Economists have long agreed that the local availability of a more qualified workforce generates significant spillovers. This study suggests that these externalities may arise because plants by having access to a more qualified workforce at a regional level, can benefit more from R&D spillovers than those located in areas with less qualified workforce. This hypothesis is tested on a sample of British establishments drawn from the Annual Business Inquiry over the period 1997–2002. The main results are consistent with our expectations that the regional differences in the industry‐level educational attainment of the workforce available to a plant will condition its capability of absorbing R&D spillovers.
Get Out The Vote: How Encouraging Voting Changes Political Outcomes
Authors: Valasek Justin Mattias
Published: October 2012

How do measures to increase turnout affect election outcomes? I use a novel approach to analyze how these measures influence both voter turnout and the candidates' political positions. In general, lowering the net expense of voting reduces political polarization. If the net expense of voting is made very low, then candidates no longer have an incentive to take partisan positions to motivate turnout and will converge at the median voter's ideal point. For small changes in the net expense of voting, however, decreasing the cost of voting and penalties for not voting (two common measures) can result in drastically different political outcomes. Counter intuitively, measures that make voting cheaper might not increase turnout: since these measures decrease the difference between the candidates' political positions, they also decrease the benefit of voting.