bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pregabalin abuse for enhancing sexual performance: case discussion and literature review
Authors: Osman M. , Casey P.
Published: August 2014

Pregabalin is aγ-aminobutyric acid analogue that is primarily prescribed in psychiatry for management of generalized anxiety disorder. The belief in its low potential for abuse has placed it in a superior position to other anxiolytic agents. However, more recent, concerns have been raised about the addictive potential of pregabalin. This problem has not received much attention nor has the mechanism of its development. There is also a lack of understanding of the difference in the experience of abusing pregabalin in contrast to abusing other illicit drugs. We report the case of a 55-year-old patient with a background history of multiple psychoactive substances misuse who elaborated on his own personal experience of pregabalin abuse. He consumed a month’s supply of this medication over 2 days and realized an enhancement in sexual desire and excitement. This effect should be considered when prescribing pregabalin.
INFINITE FAMILIES OF CONGRUENCES MODULO 3 AND 9 FOR BIPARTITIONS WITH 3-CORES
Authors: YAO OLIVIA X. M.
Published: August 2014

Let $A_{3}(n)$ denote the number of bipartitions of $n$ with 3-cores. Recently, Lin [‘Some results on bipartitions with 3-core’, J. Number Theory139 (2014), 44–52] established some congruences modulo 4, 5, 7 and 8 for $A_{3}(n)$. In this paper, we prove several infinite families of congruences modulo 3 and 9 for $A_{3}(n)$ by employing two identities due to Ramanujan.
PENTAVALENT SYMMETRIC GRAPHS OF ORDER
Authors: LING BO , WU CI XUAN , LOU BEN GONG
Published: August 2014

A complete classification is given of pentavalent symmetric graphs of order$30p$, where$p\ge 5$is a prime. It is proved that such a graph${\Gamma }$exists if and only if$p=13$and, up to isomorphism, there is only one such graph. Furthermore,${\Gamma }$is isomorphic to$\mathcal{C}_{390}$, a coset graph of PSL(2, 25) with${\sf Aut}\, {\Gamma }=\mbox{PSL(2, 25)}$, and${\Gamma }$is 2-regular. The classification involves a new 2-regular pentavalent graph construction with square-free order.
Impact of pregnancy on vitamin D status: a longitudinal study
Authors: Zhang Joy Y. , Lucey Alice J. , Horgan Richard , Kenny Louise C. , Kiely Mairead
Published: August 2014

Nutritional requirements for vitamin D during pregnancy have been inadequately described, and there are conflicting data on the impact of gestation on vitamin D status. In the present study, we conducted a longitudinal analysis of total and free (unbound) serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) and albumin concentrations in a random sample of thirty women from the Screening for Pregnancy Endpoints Ireland pregnancy cohort study at 15, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36 and 40 weeks of gestation and at 2 months postpartum. Concentrations of serum 25(OH)D, DBP and albumin were determined, and free 25(OH)D was calculated from the concentrations of total 25(OH)D, DBP and albumin. Serum albumin concentration decreased during pregnancy (P< 0·001), with a nadir at 36 weeks (P< 0·005), during which the concentration was approximately 80 % of the postnatal concentration. Serum DBP concentration increased during pregnancy and at 28 weeks of gestation, which was almost double the postnatal level (P< 0·001). Total and free 25(OH)D concentrations decreased (bothP< 0·005) as pregnancy progressed, and both were lowest at 36 weeks of gestation. At 15 weeks, 10 and 63 % of the women had serum 25(OH)D concentration < 30 and 50 nmol/l, respectively, which increased to 53 and 80 % at 36 weeks of gestation. The time course of decreasing concentrations of 25(OH)D during gestation among women recruited during May–July, who delivered between October and November, and among those recruited in August–September, who delivered between February and March, was similar. The lower percentage of free 25(OH)D during pregnancy is mainly due to increased DBP.
Plasma phospholipid and dietary α-linolenic acid, mortality, CHD and stroke: the Cardiovascular Health Study
Authors: Fretts Amanda M. , Mozaffarian Dariush , Siscovick David S. , Sitlani Colleen , Psaty Bruce M. , Rimm Eric B. , Song Xiaoling , McKnight Barbara , Spiegelman Donna , King Irena B. , Lemaitre Rozenn N.
Published: August 2014

Previous studies have suggested that long-chainn-3 fatty acids derived from seafood are associated with a lower risk of mortality, CHD and stroke. Whether α-linolenic acid (ALA, 18 : 3n-3), a plant-derived long-chain essentialn-3 fatty acid, is associated with a lower risk of these outcomes is unclear. The aim of the present study was to examine the associations of plasma phospholipid and dietary ALA with the risk of mortality, CHD and stroke among older adults who participated in the Cardiovascular Health Study, a cohort study of adults aged ≥ 65 years. A total of 2709 participants were included in the plasma phospholipid ALA analysis and 2583 participants were included in the dietary ALA analysis. Cox regression was used to assess the associations of plasma phospholipid and dietary ALA with the risk of mortality, incident CHD and stroke. In minimally and multivariable-adjusted models, plasma phospholipid ALA was found to be not associated with the risk of mortality, incident CHD or stroke. After adjustment for age, sex, race, enrolment site, education, smoking status, diabetes, BMI, alcohol consumption, treated hypertension and total energy intake, higher dietary ALA intake was found to be associated with a lower risk of total and non-cardiovascular mortality; on comparing the highest quintiles of dietary ALA with the lowest quintiles, the HR for total mortality and non-cardiovascular mortality were found to be 0·73 (95 % CI 0·61, 0·88) and 0·64 (95 % CI 0·52, 0·80), respectively. Dietary ALA was found to be not associated with the risk of cardiovascular mortality, incident CHD or stroke. In conclusion, the results of the present suggest study that dietary ALA, but not plasma phospholipid ALA, is associated with a lower risk of total and non-cardiovascular mortality in older adults.
Probiotics in human milk and probiotic supplementation in infant nutrition: a workshop report
Authors: Bergmann Henrike , Rodríguez Juan Miguel , Salminen Seppo , Szajewska Hania
Published: August 2014

Probiotics in human milk are a very recent field of research, as the existence of the human milk microbiome was discovered only about a decade ago. Current research is focusing on bacterial diversity and the influence of the maternal environment as well as the mode of delivery on human milk microbiota, the pathways of bacterial transfer to milk ducts, possible benefits of specific bacterial strains for the treatment of mastitis in mothers, and disease prevention in children. Recent advances in the assessment of early host–microbe interactions suggest that early colonisation may have an impact on later health. This review article summarises a scientific workshop on probiotics in human milk and their implications for infant health as well as future perspectives for infant feeding.
A high-protein diet is anti-steatotic and has no pro-inflammatory side effects in dyslipidaemic APOE2 knock-in mice
Authors: Garcia Caraballo Sonia C. , Comhair Tine M. , Dejong Cornelis H. C. , Lamers Wouter H. , Köhler S. Eleonore
Published: August 2014

High-protein (HP) diets are effective anti-steatotic treatment options for patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, but whether these diets also decrease steatosis in hyperlipidaemic conditions is not known. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of a HP diet on hepatic steatosis and inflammation in hyperlipidaemic mice. Hyperlipidaemic male and female APOE2 knock-in (APOE2ki) mice were fed a semi-synthetic low-protein (LP) or HP diet in combination with a low-fat diet or a high-fat diet for 3 weeks. The HP diets reduced hepatic fat and cholesterol concentrations to 40–55 % of those induced by the corresponding LP diets and attenuated hepatic inflammation mildly. The VLDL-associated plasma cholesterol concentrations decreased to 60–80 %, but those of TAG increased 3–4-fold. APOE2-mediated restriction of fat import into the liver did not modify the effects of a HP diet previously observed in wild-type mice. Female APOE2ki mice exhibited a higher expression of lipogenic, cholesterol-synthesising, inflammatory and cell-stress genes than wild-type female or male APOE2ki mice, but a similar response to HP diets. Low Apob expression and unchanged plasma APOB100 concentrations suggest that HP diets increase the plasma concentrations of TAG by slowing their clearance. The decrease in plasma leptin and hepatic fat and glycogen concentrations and the increase in fatty acid-oxidising gene and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 protein expression suggest a HP diet-mediated increase in mitochondrial metabolism. In conclusion, a HP diet reduces hepatic lipid content in dyslipidaemic mice and lowers the activation status of inflammatory cells in the liver.
The Federalization of Immigration and Integration in Canada
Authors: Paquet Mireille
Published: August 2014

Between 1990 and 2010, a gradual process of institutional change has affected Canada's immigration and integration governance regime. The central characteristic of this process is the emergence of a new legitimate institutional group of actors: Canadian provinces. This change corresponds to a federalization of Canada's immigration and integration governance regime. It is a break from the previous pattern of federal dominance and provincial avoidance. It is not the result of diminished federal intervention in immigration and cannot be explained by exogenous shocks. Current explanations of this evolution focus on federal decisions and have trouble explaining provincial mobilization. Using a mechanistic approach to the analysis of social processes and insights on gradual institutional changes, this article demonstrates that provinces have been the central agents bringing about the federalization of Canada's immigration and integration governance regime between 1990 and 2010. Via a mechanism of province building centred on immigration, provinces have triggered and maintained in movement a decentralizing mechanism. The interactions of these two mechanisms, over time, gave rise to the federalization of immigration and integration in Canada.
The Application of Sequential Analysis to Mortality Data for Assured Lives
Authors: Leigh T. S.
Published: August 2014

1. It is some years since the application of sequential analysis to actuarial work was discussed in theJournaland the following paragraphs illustrate how the techniques may be used to help solve a current problem.

2. The data relate to the experience of one large office during the calendar years 1970–73. It corresponds to the returns made to the Continuous Mortality Investigation relating as it does to full premium business for assured lives at duration 2 and over. All the lives have been accepted at normal rates of premium and for convenience the two forms of acceptance (Medical and Non-Medical) have been combined.
Practical P.H.I..
Authors: Sansom R. J.
Published: August 2014

Permanent Health Insurance is essentially a practical subject because, more so than in any other line of long-term business, an office is virtually in the hands of the policyholder once they have issued the contract. Of course a life assurance policyholder can always precipitate a claim, but this is rather a drastic move! How much easier merely to stay off work. And as Dr Peter Taylor wrote in 1974, “The time has come to admit quite openly that medical certificates are now, for all practical purposes, issued on demand.” (1) If we ever see in the United Kingdom the developments in medical malpractice suits current in the United States it is difficult to visualize any doctor being prepared to contradict a patient when the latter says he feels unfit to work.
The Active Role of the Pension Scheme Trustee.
Authors: Lawrey R. A. C.
Published: August 2014

Most pension schemes, today, provide benefits linked to a member's final pay, partly as a result of the recognition of the effects of growing inflation in the 1960's and early 1970's on career average and grade table schemes. Since 1970, earnings inflation has averaged around 14% per annum, and at this rate earnings double every five years. Over the same period the overall return on U.K. ordinary shares has been of the order of 15% per annum.

The growth of pension funds, partly from the effects of earnings inflation on contributions and partly from the effects of higher investment returns, has been phenomenal; to such an extent that the assets of the larger pension funds are now often comparable with the total stock market capitalisation of their sponsors.
Analysis of a London Market Reinsurance Office's Accounts.
Authors: Craighead D. H.
Published: August 2014

The paper by Messrs Abbott, Clarke and Treen on “Some Financial Aspects of a General Insurance Company”, submitted recently at a meeting of the Institute, dealt at some length with the accounts of an insurance office and the analysis thereof.

A reinsurance office operating in the London reinsurance market differs in so many ways and tends to be so specialized that many different aspects of analysis arise and a somewhat altered approach is essential. Lest it be thought that the area of operations under consideration is too small to warrant much attention by actuaries, let it be pointed out that recent figures completed by the B.I.A. and by Lloyd's would seem to indicate that the reinsurance offices, once Lloyd's itself and the Home–Foreign departments of the large direct-writing insurance office are included, in all of which administration is carried out in the United Kingdom, involves an annual premium income very roughly equal to that of all direct general insurance business written in the U.K. and each is roughly equal to the U.K. premium income of the life offices.
Unit Pricing.
Authors: Parry T. W.
Published: August 2014

Unit-linked business has been with us for about 20 years. The original concept consisted of a life assurance policy under which the benefits were linked to the performance of a Unit Trust and the definition of unit pricing was therefore of no direct concern to the Insurance Company.

Subsequently, contracts were issued where the benefits were linked to the performance of an internal Unit Fund and the definition of unit pricing then became the direct concern of the Actuary.

This paper adopts a simplified approach to unit pricing and reviews some of the issues to be considered when calculating unit prices for an internal fund.

The paper does not consider the question of Unit Trust pricing nor have I attempted to provide a summary of historic and current practices or to provide any hard and fast rules, the aim being to concentrate on the principles involved.
Time Series Analysis of the Sex Composition of the Unemployed.
Authors: Haberman S.
Published: August 2014

This paper describes the use of time series analysis in the solution of a problem arising in social insurance. As part of a model which estimates the future cost of unemployment benefit the Government Actuary's Department (GAD) is required to forecast the proportion of the unemployed in future calendar quarters, who are male. The format of the paper is to describe forecasting in general terms in §1 and the particular problem under consideration in §2. In subsequent sections, the data available (§ 3), the existing forecasting model (§ 4) and alternative time series models (§§ 5–8) are described.

The everyday job of the actuary involves the estimation of a future series of events. Examples include the estimation of future streams of liability outgo and asset income in life assurance, the run-off of outstanding claims in nonlife insurance, and the future numbers of persons in a subgroup of the total population. This estimation can be qualitative or quantitative, short-term or long-term, deterministic or stochastic and will involve the establishment of a mathematical-statistical model, and the determination of the relevant parameters by an analysis of the data available.
Small Self-Administered Schemes in Practice.
Authors: Kipling M. R.
Published: August 2014

In the last four years, the number of small self-administered pension schemes has increased from a few dozen to a figure that, if it has not already done so, must shortly pass the 10,000 mark and few major Life Offices, Consulting Actuaries or Pensions Consultants are now without such a weapon in their armoury.

Considerable practical experience in the administration of these arrangements has been gained, often somewhat traumatically, over this period by actuaries and other practitioners and, with many schemes having recently had, or just coming up to, their first triennial actuarial report, it seemed a sensible time to consolidate this experience and to highlight some of the more contentious areas for discussion.

Certain statements in the paper are based on my understanding of current Inland Revenue practice which is not necessarily consistent either with time or between different examiners.

Finally, although the subject matter of the paper applies equally to fully self-administered schemes and to Life Office 'hybrid' schemes, I wish to apologize for any unintentional bias towards the latter that may have crept in. Better the devil you know, I suppose!
Developments in Life Reinsurance.
Authors: Howe R. W. A. , Douglas R. W.
Published: August 2014

In order to portray the changing role of life reinsurance it is necessary to describe many of the traditional areas of activity for the industry, so that an understanding can be gained of how current developments have usually emerged in a natural way from previous undertakings. Therefore, this paper, particularly in its early sections, summarizes techniques and procedures which have been covered in greater detail in previous papers related to the subject of life reinsurance. Current developments, which are naturally associated with some existing activity, are described under the appropriate heading. In this way we hope that those who have little experience of reinsurance will quickly grasp the main principles, whilst anyone fortunate enough to have been involved in the fascinating world of reinsurance will still find items of interest scattered throughout the paper.
Conscientious Objection to Abortion and Accommodating Women's Reproductive Health Rights: Reflections on a Decision of the Constitutional Court of Colombia from an African Regional Human Rights Perspective
Authors: Ngwena Charles G
Published: August 2014

If applied in isolation from the fundamental rights of women seeking abortion services, the right to conscientious objection can render any given rights to abortion illusory, including the rights to health, life, equality and dignity that are attendant to abortion. A transformative understanding of human rights requires that the right to conscientious objection to abortion be construed in a manner that is subject to the correlative duties which are imposed on the conscientious objector, as well as the state, in order to accommodate women's reproductive health rights. In recent years, the Colombian Constitutional Court has been giving a judicial lead on the development of a right to conscientious objection that accommodates women's fundamental rights. This article reflects on one of the court's decisions and draws lessons for the African region.
Four dense assemblages of the bulb-tentacle sea anemoneEntacmaea quadricolorand associated clownfish in Hong Kong
Authors: Lee Ka-Man , Xie James Y. , Sun Yanan , Kei Keith , Qiu Jian-Wen
Published: August 2014

Clownfish and their associated sea anemones are icons of tropical and subtropical coastal ecosystems, but bleaching and collecting for the aquarium trade has reduced their population densities in several Indo-Pacific locations. We surveyed fourEntacmaea quadricolorpopulations and their associated clownfishAmphiprion clarkiiin Hong Kong. These assemblages represented a combination of exposed and sheltered, flat bottomed and sloped conditions. Different from tropical areas, whereE. quadricoloris usually found in sheltered shallow waters, the four populations in Hong Kong were distributed in 4–10 m depths, being densest on a 40 × 80 m slope of volcanic rocks (34.2–76.6% substrate cover and 48.7–102.1 ind  m−2) at an exposed site. This distribution pattern could be explained by the high turbidities associated with river discharge and sedimentation rates in local waters, which discourage the establishment of E. quadricolor populations in sheltered bays; shallow habitats might not be suitable forE. quadricolorin Hong Kong due to strong wave actions generated by typhoons.Amphiprion clarkiiwas present at low densities (0.07–0.26 fish m−2) across the sites. Our data provide a baseline for monitoring the changes of these conspicuous members of shallow water communities in Hong Kong.
Distribution, hatch-date, growth, and mortality of larval
Benthosema pterotum (Pisces: Myctophidae) in the shelf
region of the East China Sea
Authors: Sassa Chiyuki , Takahashi Motomitsu , Tsukamoto Youichi
Published: August 2014

We examined the distribution, hatch-date, growth, and mortality of larval
Benthosema pterotum, a dominant pseudoceanic myctophid
in the shelf region of the East China Sea, during early autumn when the main
spawning has been predicted. This species is a key species in the food web
of this area. Larvae were abundant in the area south of Cheju Island
(60–80 m depth), corresponding with the adult habitat. Occurrence of the
larvae was restricted to the onshore side of the shelf-break salinity front,
indicating that this front acted as a barrier restricting the offshore
dispersion of the larvae. In the area where the larvae occurred, a cyclonic
eddy is formed, which is considered to limit the dispersal of the larvae,
enabling them to recruit into the area of adult habitat. Modes of hatch-date
appeared from late August to early September and from mid to late September,
suggesting that large-scale spawning events occurred at least twice during
the spawning season. Since the modes coincided with the new moon period,
B. pterotum is suggested to spawn periodically once a
month around the new moon, resulting in efficient mating and fertilization.
Mean absolute growth rate (0.26 mm d−1) and weight-specific
growth rate (18.8% of dry body weight d−1) were higher than
previously reported values of other subtropical–tropical myctophids, which
would be related to the high food availability in the study area. Daily
instantaneous mortality coefficient during the first two weeks after
hatching was estimated to be 0.28 d−1 (equivalent to 24.7%
mortality d−1).
Monkish Politics in Southeast Asia: Religious disenfranchisement in comparative and theoretical perspective
Authors: LARSSON TOMAS
Published: August 2014

In the Theravāda Buddhist polities on the mainland of Southeast Asia, abiding concerns about the proper structuring of the relationship between the ‘two wheels ofdhamma’ (i.e. the realm of religion and the realm of politics) have had a profound influence on processes of state formation and political legitimation. This article explores one such religious ‘effect’ on the constitutions and electoral laws of modern Burma/Myanmar, Siam/Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos, namely the official disenfranchisement of Buddhist monks (and, in some instances, Buddhist ‘nuns’ as well as non-Buddhist clergy). The article traces the historical evolution of this Buddhist exception to the democratic principle of equal and universal suffrage, and assesses the extent to which dominant theoretical approaches in the social sciences help us to understand the politics of religious disenfranchisement in Southeast Asia. It finds that neither secularization theory nor the religious-economy approach can explain observed patterns. Instead, the article offers an account of the politics of religious disenfranchisement that emphasizes the role of ideas and historical context.
Mitochondrial respiration and genomic analysis provide insight into the influence of the symbiotic bacterium on host trypanosomatid oxygen consumption
Authors: AZEVEDO-MARTINS A. C. , MACHADO A. C. L. , KLEIN C. C. , CIAPINA L. , GONZAGA L. , VASCONCELOS A. T. R. , SAGOT M. F. , DE SOUZA W. , EINICKER-LAMAS M. , GALINA A. , MOTTA M. C. M.
Published: August 2014

Certain trypanosomatids co-evolve with an endosymbiotic bacterium in a mutualistic relationship that is characterized by intense metabolic exchanges. Symbionts were able to respire for up to 4 h after isolation fromAngomonas deanei. FCCP (carbonyl cyanide-4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenylhydrazone) similarly increased respiration in wild-type and aposymbiotic protozoa, though a higher maximal O2consumption capacity was observed in the symbiont-containing cells. Rotenone, a complex I inhibitor, did not affectA. deaneirespiration, whereas TTFA (thenoyltrifluoroacetone), a complex II activity inhibitor, completely blocked respiration in both strains. Antimycin A and cyanide, inhibitors of complexes III and IV, respectively, abolished O2consumption, but the aposymbiotic protozoa were more sensitive to both compounds. Oligomycin did not affect cell respiration, whereas carboxyatractyloside (CAT), an inhibitor of the ADP-ATP translocator, slightly reduced O2consumption. In theA. deaneigenome, sequences encoding most proteins of the respiratory chain are present. The symbiont genome lost part of the electron transport system (ETS), but complex I, a cytochrome d oxidase, and FoF1-ATP synthase remain. In conclusion, this work suggests that the symbiont influences the mitochondrial respiration of the host protozoan.
Peripheral BDNF: a candidate biomarker of healthy neural activity during learning is disrupted in schizophrenia
Authors: Skilleter A. J. , Weickert C. S. , Vercammen A. , Lenroot R. , Weickert T. W.
Published: August 2014

Background.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an important regulator of synaptogenesis and synaptic plasticity underlying learning. However, a relationship between circulating BDNF levels and brain activity during learning has not been demonstrated in humans. Reduced brain BDNF levels are found in schizophrenia and functional neuroimaging studies of probabilistic association learning in schizophrenia have demonstrated reduced activity in a neural network that includes the prefrontal and parietal cortices and the caudate nucleus. We predicted that brain activity would correlate positively with peripheral BDNF levels during probabilistic association learning in healthy adults and that this relationship would be altered in schizophrenia.

Method.

Twenty-five healthy adults and 17 people with schizophrenia or schizo-affective disorder performed a probabilistic association learning test during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Plasma BDNF levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results.

We found a positive correlation between circulating plasma BDNF levels and brain activity in the parietal cortex in healthy adults. There was no relationship between plasma BDNF levels and task-related activity in the prefrontal, parietal or caudate regions in schizophrenia. A direct comparison of these relationships between groups revealed a significant diagnostic difference.

Conclusions.

This is the first study to show a relationship between peripheral BDNF levels and cortical activity during learning, suggesting that plasma BDNF levels may reflect learning-related brain activity in healthy humans. The lack of relationship between plasma BDNF and task-related brain activity in patients suggests that circulating blood BDNF may not be indicative of learning-dependent brain activity in schizophrenia.
Why can't we all just get along? Integration needs more than stories
Authors: Burghardt Gordon M. , Stuart Gregory L. , Shorey Ryan C.
Published: August 2014

As astutely noted by the authors of this provocative article, it is time for evolutionary psychology (EP) to be incorporated into clinical and educational interventions. However, two issues from this article are raised in the current commentary: some historical misconceptions of the evolutionary label and a lack of clear and specific guidelines for developing or improving interventions based on EP.
The rich detail of cultural symbol systems
Authors: Read Dwight W.
Published: August 2014

The goal of forming a science of intentional behavior requires a more richly detailed account of symbolic systems than is assumed by the authors. Cultural systems are not simply the equivalent in the ideational domain of culture of the purported Baldwin Effect in the genetic domain.
Let the social sciences evolve
Authors: Smaldino Paul E. , Waring Timothy M.
Published: August 2014

We agree that evolutionary perspectives may help us organize many divergent realms of the science of human behavior. Nevertheless, an imperative to unite all social science under an evolutionary framework risks turning off researchers who have their own theoretical perspectives that can be informed by evolutionary theory without being exclusively defined by it. We propose a few considerations for scholars interested in joining the evolutionary and social sciences.
The over-determination of selflessness in villains and heroes
Authors: Beit-Hallahmi Benjamin
Published: August 2014

The suicidality hypothesis could be applied to other situations, such as cases in regular military organizations or in “terrorist” groups, where individuals put themselves in circumstances that are directly suicidal. Self-selection in these cases may be motivated by depression or short-term hopelessness. Both violent and charitable acts are over-determined, and a multiplicity of motives should be considered in explaining them.
Can self-destructive killers be classified so easily?
Authors: Egan Vincent
Published: August 2014

Lankford makes many useful points regarding the myths and shibboleths underlying our understanding of self-destructive killers and suicide bombers. He has collated an impressive data set on such offenders. However, his classification scheme is not built on sufficient evidence to support his proposed discrete categories of conventional, coerced, escapist, and indirect suicide terrorists. It would be straightforward to analyse the data, but it is unlikely that the resulting model would reflect that anticipated.
Cognitive simplicity and self-deception are crucial in martyrdom and suicide terrorism
Authors: Fink Bernhard , Trivers Robert
Published: August 2014

Suicide attacks and terrorism are characterized by cognitive simplicity, which is related to self-deception. In justifying violence in pursuit of ideologically and/or politically driven commitment, people with high religious commitment may be particularly prone to mechanisms of self-deception. Related megalomania and glorious self-perception are typical of self-deception, and are thus crucial in the emergence and expression of (suicide) terrorism.
The morality of martyrdom and the stigma of suicide
Authors: Rottman Joshua , Kelemen Deborah
Published: August 2014

While primarily identifying similarities between suicide terrorists and other suicidal individuals, Lankford also notes differences in how their actions are morally evaluated. Specifically, “conventional” suicide is stigmatized in a way that suicide terrorism is not. We identify the root of this condemnation, showing that suicide is intuitively considered impure and disgusting, and discuss implications of this purity-based stigma.
Collaborating on evolving the future
Authors: Wilson David Sloan , Hayes Steven C. , Biglan Anthony , Embry Dennis D.
Published: August 2014

We thank the commentators for an extraordinarily diverse and constructive set of comments. Nearly all applaud our goal of sketching a unified science of change, even while raising substantive points that we look forward to addressing in our reply, which we group into the following categories: (1) What counts as evolutionary; (2) Ethical considerations; (3) Complexity; (4) Symbotypes, culture, and the future; (5) What intentional cultural change might look like; (6) An evolving science of cultural change; and (7) Who decides?
Exploring the health and wellbeing benefits of gardening for older adults
Authors: SCOTT THERESA L. , MASSER BARBARA M. , PACHANA NANCY A.
Published: August 2014

Research shows that contact with nature plays a vital role in our psychological wellbeing. Domestic gardening is common among older adults who spend more leisure hours gardening than any other age group. Despite this, few studies have systematically explored the significance of domestic gardens in relation to older adults' health and wellbeing. This study examined the perceived therapeutic benefits of gardening, and the effect of ageing in relation to older gardeners' continued participation in gardening, using quantitative and qualitative data from a survey of Australian older adult gardeners (N=331). The quantitative data, which included frequencies, were analysed using the PASW Statistics 18.0 package. The qualitative data, which included participants' responses to open questions, were analysed by deriving themes via Leximancer, an innovative text analytics software that uses word association information to elicit concepts, extracting the most important and grouping these according to themes. In relation to the reasons for gardening, several themes were identified including valuing the aesthetics of gardens, connecting with nature, achievement, and physical and mental activity. The benefits of gardening, and the variety of ways that respondents had adapted or modified their gardening activities in order to continue, are also reported. Gardening was more than a casual leisure pursuit for these participants, who saw it as critical to their physical and psychological wellbeing.
Growing old as a gay man: how life has changed for the gay liberation generation
Authors: LYONS ANTHONY , CROY SAMANTHA , BARRETT CATHERINE , WHYTE CAROLYN
Published: August 2014

Men in the gay liberation generation are approaching or entering older age. Being at the forefront of gay rights movements since the 1970s and 1980s, this generation has experienced dramatic changes in gay life. The present study aimed to provide a greater understanding of this generation by examining some of the ways these men perceive their changing lives. Participants included 439 Australian gay-identified men aged 50 years and older who completed an online survey of their health and wellbeing. These men gave unrestricted open-ended responses to a question on how life had changed for them as a gay man since being aged in their twenties. Responses were analysed qualitatively using a thematic analysis approach to identify main themes. Participants expressed many positive changes to their lives, including greater public- and self-acceptance of their sexuality, greater confidence and self-esteem, and more freedom for same-sex relationships. However, some men expressed a loss of gay community compared to their younger years and a perception that the younger generation under-appreciated the struggles they had endured. Age- and HIV-related stigma from within the gay community, as well as a loss of sexual attractiveness, also emerged as concerns for some participants. These findings may assist researchers, health professionals and aged care services to further understand the needs and experiences of this older generation of gay men.
Association of social isolation and health across different racial and ethnic groups of older Americans
Authors: MIYAWAKI CHRISTINA E.
Published: August 2014

Social isolation is a social and public health problem that affects people of all ages, especially elders. Previous studies have found that social isolation across numerous industrialised countries is associated with negative health outcomes. However, it is unknown whether and how this association differs by race/ethnicity and age. To begin to address this gap, this study examines the association of social isolation and physical and mental health among Black, White and Hispanic elders in the United States of America. Building on Cornwell and Waite's perceived isolation and social disconnectedness dimension model of social isolation, the author used multi-stage survey data from a nationally representative sample of 3,005 community-residing adults aged 57–85 from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project. Tests for association were conducted on health by age, gender, marital status, education and race/ethnicity separately. Multivariate logistic regressions were used to test the association of social isolation and health exclusively and separately among these three groups. Results showed that social isolation is strongly associated with physical and mental health. Both perceived isolation and social disconnectedness had a significant negative association with physical and mental health among White elders. For Blacks, social disconnectedness is negatively associated with their physical health while perceived isolation had a negative association with mental health. Among Hispanic elders, there seemed to be no association between social isolation and physical health, but a significant negative association was found with their mental health. Despite various associated patterns, however, social isolation overall was associated with health outcomes that were similar across three elder groups. By identifying factors influencing social isolation and health among minority older Americans, this study has relevance to the development of culturally sensitive health-care practice and services, which may be applicable to minority elders in different countries.
Talker familiarity and spoken word recognition in school-age children
Authors: LEVI SUSANNAH V.
Published: August 2014

Research with adults has shown that spoken language processing is improved when listeners are familiar with talkers' voices, known as the familiar talker advantage. The current study explored whether this ability extends to school-age children, who are still acquiring language. Children were familiarized with the voices of three German–English bilingual talkers and were tested on the speech of six bilinguals, three of whom were familiar. Results revealed that children do show improved spoken language processing when they are familiar with the talkers, but this improvement was limited to highly familiar lexical items. This restriction of the familiar talker advantage is attributed to differences in the representation of highly familiar and less familiar lexical items. In addition, children did not exhibit accent-general learning; despite having been exposed to German-accented talkers during training, there was no improvement for novel German-accented talkers.
Controlling Corruption in the Party: China's Central Discipline Inspection Commission
Authors: Guo Xuezhi
Published: August 2014

This article investigates a prominent but little discussed CCP central organ, the Central Discipline Inspection Commission (CDIC), and its local discipline inspection commissions (DICs) in the post-Mao era. It analyses how the CCP exerts its control over the disciplinary organizations and argues that the disciplinary agencies' lack of autonomy hinders their efforts to crack down on corruption. This article investigates the important role played by the CDIC in CCP politics by examining its organizational structure, modes of operation and criteria for imposing disciplinary sanctions, and evaluates the measures and approaches employed by the Party's disciplinary organizations to combat corruption. The study concludes that structural, institutional and cultural factors hinder the effectiveness of the CCP's disciplinary agencies in their efforts to control Party members, officials and corruption.
The use of analytics in the design of sociotechnical products
Authors: Van Horn David , Lewis Kemper
Published: August 2014

The use of analytics has been emerging as a way to better understand the complex dynamics and resulting trends that occur when social and technical systems intersect. For instance, web analytics studies the intersection between society and the Internet to better understand use patterns and preferences. Business analytics studies the interfaces between human capital and technical systems in the context of corporate management and industrial production. Engineering design is ripe with such sociotechnical systems where consumers and engineered systems intersect producing a complex sociotechnical system marked by difficult to predict behavior and trends. In this paper, the paradigm of design analytics is further developed and used to study a diverse sociotechnical product. The product is a refrigerator that is hypothetically equipped with sensors and feedback mechanisms, and a simulator models the interactions of a population of 1000 users. Analyzing this sociotechnical product using design analytics demonstrates the ability to extract valuable insights at the juncture of people and technology. Insights into the leading behaviors of different populations are presented, and it is shown that design analytics and the associated tools can provide a platform for designers to develop better performing products that meet both explicit and implicit customer needs.
Foetal therapy: what works? Closed interatrial septum
Authors: Herberg Ulrike , Berg Christoph , Geipel Annegret , Gembruch Ulrich , Breuer Johannes
Published: August 2014

Hypoplastic left-heart syndrome and critical aortic stenosis with severely restricted or intact foramen ovale are associated with high neonatal mortality and poor long-term outcome. Despite accurate foetal diagnosis and successful postnatal catheter-based and surgical intervention, the 1-month survival rate is about 33%. Changes in pulmonary vascular architecture resulting in pulmonary hypertension result in important long-term morbidity. Prenatal relief of left atrial and pulmonary hypertension may promote normal pulmonary vascular and parenchymal development and improve short- and long-term outcomes. Foetal atrial balloon septostomy, laser perforation, and stenting of the foetal interatrial septum are the current options for foetal therapy. This paper provides an overview of foetal diagnosis, selection of patients for foetal intervention, and interventional techniques, and also reviews the current status of foetal and postnatal outcomes after intrauterine intervention.
Partial anomalous left pulmonary artery: report of two cases and review of literature
Authors: Sen Supratim , Winlaw David S. , Sholler Gary F.
Published: August 2014

We describe two cases of anomalous origin of the left lower-lobe pulmonary artery from the right pulmonary artery. The primary diagnosis was mitral atresia, hypoplastic left ventricle, aortic arch hypoplasia in the first child, and tetralogy of Fallot in the second. In both cases, the pulmonary trunk gave rise to a left pulmonary artery in the normal position. In addition, a second branch of the left pulmonary artery arose from the right pulmonary artery, and passed posterior and inferior to the left main or upper-lobe bronchus to supply the left lower lobe. In this review, we compare our findings with previously reported examples of this extremely rare cardiac malformation, and discuss possible embryological explanations for the lesion.
Intravenous paracetamol with a lower dose is also effective for the treatment of patent ductus arteriosus in pre-term infants
Authors: Tekgündüz Kadir Şerafettin , Ceviz Naci , Caner İbrahim , Olgun Haşim , Demirelli Yaşar , Yolcu Canan , Şahin İrfan Oğuz , Kara Mustafa
Published: August 2014

Introduction: Haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in pre-term infants. This retrospective study was conducted to investigate the usefulness of lower-dose paracetamol for the treatment of patent ductus arteriosus in pre-term infants. Materials and Methods: A total of 13 pre-term infants who received intravenous paracetamol because of contrindications or side effects to oral ibuprofen were retrospectively enrolled. In the first patient, the dose regimen was 15 mg/kg/dose, every 6 hours. As the patient developed significant elevation in transaminase levels, the dose was decreased to 10 mg/kg/dose, every 8 hours in the following 12 patients. Echocardiographic examination was conducted daily. In case of closure, it was repeated after 2 days and when needed thereafter in terms of reopening. Results: A total of 13 patients received intravenous paracetamol. Median gestational age was 29 weeks ranging from 24 to 31 weeks and birth weight was 950 g ranging from 470 to 1390 g. The median postnatal age at the first intravenous paracetamol dose was 3 days ranging from 2 to 9 days. In 10 of the 13 patients (76.9%), patent ductus arteriosus was closed at the median 2nd day of intravenous paracetamol ranging from 1 to 4 days. When the patient who developed hepatotoxicity was eliminated, the closure rate was found to be 83.3% (10/12). Conclusion: Intravenous paracetamol may be a useful treatment option for the treatment of patent ductus arteriosus in pre-term infants with contrindication to ibuprofen. In our experience, lower-dose paracetamol is effective in closing the patent ductus arteriosus in 83.3% of the cases.
Beverage consumption in Brazil: results from the first National Dietary Survey
Authors: Pereira Rosangela A , Souza Amanda M , Duffey Kiyah J , Sichieri Rosely , Popkin Barry M
Published: August 2014

Objective

To provide an overview of beverage consumption patterns using the first nationally representative survey of dietary intake in Brazil.

Design

Beverage consumption data were obtained by 1 d food records in an individual dietary survey.

Setting

Nationwide cross-sectional survey, 2008–2009.

Subjects

Nationally representative sample of individuals aged ≥10 years (n 34 003).

Results

Beverages contributed 17·1 % of total energy consumption. Caloric coffee beverages provided the greatest level of energy overall (464 kJ (111 kcal)/d). Individuals aged 10–18 years (243 kJ (58 kcal)/d) and 19–39 years (230 kJ (55 kcal)/d) consumed a higher proportion of energy from sugar-sweetened soft drinks than individuals over this age (142 kJ (34 kcal)/d for those aged 40–59 years and 79 kJ (19 kcal)/d for those aged ≥60 years).

Conclusions

Overall, the contribution of beverages, particularly sugary beverages, to total energy consumption in Brazil represents an important public health challenge and is comparable with those from other countries.
Quantitative Assessment of P-Glycoprotein Expression and Function Using Confocal Image Analysis
Authors: Hamrang Zahra , Arthanari Yamini , Clarke David , Pluen Alain
Published: August 2014

P-glycoprotein is implicated in clinical drug resistance; thus, rapid quantitative analysis of its expression and activity is of paramout importance to the design and success of novel therapeutics. The scope for the application of quantitative imaging and image analysis tools in this field is reported here at “proof of concept” level. P-glycoprotein expression was utilized as a model for quantitative immunofluorescence and subsequent spatial intensity distribution analysis (SpIDA). Following expression studies, p-glycoprotein inhibition as a function of verapamil concentration was assessed in two cell lines using live cell imaging of intracellular Calcein retention and a routine monolayer fluorescence assay. Intercellular and sub-cellular distributions in the expression of the p-glycoprotein transporter between parent and MDR1-transfected Madin–Derby Canine Kidney cell lines were examined. We have demonstrated that quantitative imaging can provide dose–response parameters while permitting direct microscopic analysis of intracellular fluorophore distributions in live and fixed samples. Analysis with SpIDA offers the ability to detect heterogeniety in the distribution of labeled species, and in conjunction with live cell imaging and immunofluorescence staining may be applied to the determination of pharmacological parameters or analysis of biopsies providing a rapid prognostic tool.