bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unintended consequences of using alien fish for human benefit in protected areas
Authors: Weyl Olaf L.F. , Ellender Bruce R. , Wasserman Ryan J. , Woodford Darragh J.
Published: July 2015

There is increasing pressure on conservation agencies to allow access to natural resources within protected areas for human benefit. Alien fishes are often seen as a convenient resource because their harvest does not conflict with conservation goals. However, allowing such access may have unintended consequences for managers. This opinion essay is intended to provide some insights into how promoting access to alien fish resources can add to the complexity of conservation interventions, may facilitate additional fish introductions and create dependencies on alien fish that could compromise potential eradication efforts.Conservation implications: Management plans for the utilisation of alien fishes by external stakeholders must include clear exit strategies so that the ability to eradicate when necessary or feasible is not compromised.
Statin-Associated Adverse Events
Authors: Yuet Wei Cheng , Khine Htet , Ahmad Zahid
Published: July 2015

Although statins are well tolerated, their widespread use has raised awareness of rare adverse events. For example, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued product label warnings about statin-associated myopathy, incident diabetes, and cognitive impairment. Additional statin-associated adverse effects include proteinuria, transaminitis, and hemorrhagic stroke. The underlying pathophysiology of these adverse events remains unclear, and thus little guidance exists on addressing these issues at the bedside. Although statin-associated myopathy is common, many patients eventually tolerate a statin – albeit at less than ideal doses. Incident diabetes remains difficult to predict, but high statin potency, increasing age, and preexisting diabetes risk factors may predispose patients. Cognitive impairment – described mostly in case reports – may resolve after discontinuation of the offending statin. Rosuvastatin is linked to dose-dependent proteinuria. Elevated transaminases are reversible and unlikely to cause severe consequences. History of cerebrovascular disease increases the risk of hemorrhagic stroke on statin therapy. Overall, a thorough understanding of statin-associated adverse events will help health care providers manage patients who develop these complications. Here, we review the evidence for several statin-associated adverse effects and the implications for clinical practice.
A Familial Cluster of Human Brucellosis Attributable to Contact with Imported Infected Goats in Shuyang, Jiangsu Province, China, 2013
Authors: Tan Zhongming , Huang Yong , Liu Genyan , Zhou Weizhong , Xu Xilou , Zhang Zibing , Shen Qing , Tang Fenyang , Zhu Yefei
Published: July 2015

Brucellosis remains a serious public health issue in developing countries, including China. On August 8, 2013, four cases of brucellosis from one extended family were reported at Shuyang County, Jiangsu Province, China. Active case finding was performed to identify the source and the risk factors of the infection and to prevent additional cases. Multiple-locus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) was used for molecular subtyping analysis. Six people from two extended families met the case definition for brucellosis infection; four were blood culture positive for Brucella melitensis biotype 3. Four additional family members were found seropositive by using a serological test. Isolates from the four patients were indistinguishable by MLVA profiling, displaying a unique type for Jiangsu Province. Field epidemiological data combined with MLVA genotyping supported a common source of the isolates from the different patients. We recommend stronger reinforcement measures for animal quarantine practices, enhanced cooperation with veterinary service organizations, and implementation of measures that strengthen public education on brucellosis to prevent further human outbreaks in Jiangsu Province.
Genome-Scale Protein Microarray Comparison of Human Antibody Responses in Plasmodium vivax Relapse and Reinfection
Authors: Chuquiyauri Raul , Molina Douglas M. , Moss Eli L. , Wang Ruobing , Gardner Malcolm J. , Brouwer Kimberly C. , Torres Sonia , Gilman Robert H. , Llanos-Cuentas Alejandro , Neafsey Daniel E. , Felgner Philip , Liang Xiaowu , Vinetz Joseph M.
Published: July 2015

Large scale antibody responses in Plasmodium vivax malaria remains unexplored in the endemic setting. Protein microarray analysis of asexual-stage P. vivax was used to identify antigens recognized in sera from residents of hypoendemic Peruvian Amazon. Over 24 months, of 106 participants, 91 had two symptomatic P. vivax malaria episodes, 11 had three episodes, 3 had four episodes, and 1 had five episodes. Plasmodium vivax relapse was distinguished from reinfection by a merozoite surface protein-3α restriction fragment length polymorphism polymerase chain reaction (MSP3α PCR-RFLP) assay. Notably, P. vivax reinfection subjects did not have higher reactivity to the entire set of recognized P. vivax blood-stage antigens than relapse subjects, regardless of the number of malaria episodes. The most highly recognized P. vivax proteins were MSP 4, 7, 8, and 10 (PVX_003775, PVX_082650, PVX_097625, and PVX_114145); sexual-stage antigen s16 (PVX_000930); early transcribed membrane protein (PVX_090230); tryptophan-rich antigen (Pv-fam-a) (PVX_092995); apical merozoite antigen 1 (PVX_092275); and proteins of unknown function (PVX_081830, PVX_117680, PVX_118705, PVX_121935, PVX_097730, PVX_110935, PVX_115450, and PVX_082475). Genes encoding reactive proteins exhibited a significant enrichment of non-synonymous nucleotide variation, an observation suggesting immune selection. These data identify candidates for seroepidemiological tools to support malaria elimination efforts in P. vivax-endemic regions.
JGME-ALiEM Hot Topics in Medical Education Online Journal Club: An Analysis of a Virtual Discussion About Resident Teachers
Authors: Sherbino Jonathan , Joshi Nikita , Lin Michelle
Published: July 2015

Background 

In health professionals' education, senior learners play a key role in the teaching of junior colleagues.

Objective 

We describe an online discussion about residents as teachers to highlight the topic and the online journal club medium.

Methods 

In January 2015, the Journal of Graduate Medical Education (JGME) and the Academic Life in Emergency Medicine blog facilitated an open-access, online, weeklong journal club on the JGME article “What Makes a Great Resident Teacher? A Multicenter Survey of Medical Students Attending an Internal Medicine Conference.” Social media platforms used to promote asynchronous discussions included a blog, a video discussion via Google Hangouts on Air, and Twitter. We performed a thematic analysis of the discussion. Web analytics were captured as a measure of impact.

Results 

The blog post garnered 1324 page views from 372 cities in 42 countries. Twitter was used to endorse discussion points, while blog comments provided opinions or responded to an issue. The discussion focused on why resident feedback was devalued by medical students. Proposed explanations included feedback not being labeled as such, the process of giving delivery, the source of feedback, discrepancies with self-assessment, and threats to medical student self-image. The blog post resulted in a crowd-sourced repository of resident teacher resources.

Conclusions 

An online journal club provides a novel discussion forum across multiple social media platforms to engage authors, content experts, and the education community. Crowd-sourced analysis of the resident teacher role suggests that resident feedback to medical students is important, and barriers to student acceptance of feedback can be overcome.
Coexistent Tuberculosis of Spine and Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: Resolving the Diagnostic Dilemma and Management
Authors: Jayaswal Arvind , Yadav Sanjay , Goswami Ankur , Vijayraghavan G
Published: July 2015

Tuberculosis (TB) and association with hematological malignancy is well described in literature. Lymphoid malignancies like non-Hodgkin lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL) are documented but chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is uncommon. The association of TB and malignancy can be sequential, concurrent or masquerading. We encountered a case posing diagnostic challenge between CML and tuberculosis. The objective to report such a clinical situation is to be aware of such rare possibilities, to analyze the diagnostic methods and subsequent management strategies.

Though tuberculosis is usually the first differential diagnosis in endemic areas, it can be overstressed upon and other concurrent pathologies may be missed. Such possibilities should be kept in consideration in cases with poor response or clinical deterioration on antitubercular treatment (ATT). The importance of tissue diagnosis by CT-guided core biopsy as current standard of care is reiterated even in prevalent regions. Multidisciplinary approach is must for optimum outcome.

How to cite this article

Yadav S, Jayaswal A, Vijayraghavan G, Goswami A. Coexistent Tuberculosis of Spine and Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: Resolving the Diagnostic Dilemma and Management. J Postgrad Med Edu Res 2015;49(2):85-87.
Echocardiographic Assessment of Mitral Stenosis: Key Learning Points for Fellows/Residents in Training
Authors: Raj Ravi
Published: July 2015

Mitral stenosis is most commonly due to rheumatic heart disease, even in western countries. Transthoracic echocardiography is the modality of choice for establishing diagnosis, underlying cause, assessment of severity, staging of disease, valve morphology and other associated lesions. Transesophageal echocardiography is recommended in patients considered for percutaneous balloon mitral valvotomy to rule out LA clot, significant MR and to better assess mitral valve morphology. Three-dimensional echocardiography is now increasingly used for estimating mitral valve area and suitability for percutaneous balloon mitral valvotomy. We provide a brief discussion on echocardiographic assessment of mitral stenosis.

How to cite this article

Raj R. Echocardiographic Assessment of Mitral Stenosis: Key Learning Points for Fellows/Residents in Training. J Perioper Echocardiogr 2015;3(1):17-24.
Hypertrophied Papillary Muscle causing Mid Cavity Left Ventricular Obstruction after Cardiac Surgery
Authors: Thingnum Shyam Singh
Published: July 2015

A rare cause of mid cavity left ventricular obstruction can be a hypertrophied and/or a malformed papillary muscle. Hypertrophy of papillary muscle can be atypical presentation of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Most of these patients do not have a resting gradient, but a dynamic gradient can occur in hypovolumia or increased contractile state. We present a case of elderly patient who had a hypertrophied anterolateral papillary muscle and developed mid left ventricular obstruction after weaning the patient from cardiopulmonary bypass.

How to cite this article

Dutta V, Raj R, Bahl A, Thingnum SS, Puri GD. Hypertrophied Papillary Muscle causing Mid Cavity Left Ventricular Obstruction after Cardiac Surgery. J Perioper Echocardiogr 2015;3(1):32-34.
Worklife Expectancy of Railroad Workers Based on the Twenty-Fifth Actuarial Valuation Using Both Competing Risks/Multiple Decrement Theory and the Markov Railroad Model
Authors: Skoog Gary R. , Ciecka James E.
Published: July 2015

The U. S. Railroad Retirement Board's Bureau of the Actuary publishes valuations of the retirement plan for railroad workers every three years. The most current report, the Twenty-Fifth Actuarial Valuation, released in August 2012 covers the years 2008-10. We use data on mortality, disability retirements, age retirements, and other final withdrawals contained in the Technical Supplement of this valuation to estimate worklife expectancies (WLE) of railroad workers. There are substantial changes in WLE when compared to WLE based on the Twenty-Third Actuarial Valuation and the Twenty-Fourth Valuation. We identify the sources of these changes. In addition to WLE, we estimate entire probability mass functions and provide summary measures of distributional characteristics of time spent in railroad work. Our main results use a competing risks/multiple decrement model, but we also provide WLE based on the railroad Markov process model and show that the former model is also a Markov model, albeit a different Markov model from the railroad Markov model.
Wage Net Discount Rates: 1981–2012
Authors: Schap David , Baumann Robert , Guest Lauren
Published: July 2015

The study explores time series properties of three wage net discount rate series derived using interest rates based on (alternatively) 1-year, 6-month and 3-month Treasury securities coupled with wage growth rates, initially for the period from 1981:01 to 2012:06, then subsequently through 2012:12. Stationarity tests are run on the full series and various sub-series to identify any portion of the series on which reliable forecasting can be based. Initially no support is found for the total offset hypothesis based on the full-time series (but support is subsequently found for total offset when exploring various data sub-series). Positive findings include that the three trended wage net growth rate series for the entire period under study are stationary, implying that reliable short-term forecasting of wage net discount rates is possible based on each of the trended series. Short-run forecasts based on the trended series are presented for 2012:07–2012:12 and compared to actual data in the period. Finally, the three trended wage net discount rate series are re-examined for 1981:01–2012:12, with short-term forecasting equations presented. Various sub-series of WNDRs are then explored in hopes of finding one or more that may be stationary about a constant term. Additional testing identifies three sub-series all ending 2012:12 with varying start dates that have desirable stationarity properties. The sub-series starting 2007:11 is highly stationary, but peculiar, with an associated constant WNDR that is negative and statistically different from zero; and the two sub-series beginning 1990:12 and 1994:05 have stationary attributes, yet possess constant terms that are slightly positive but not statistically different from zero, thus providing modest support for the total offset method.
Review of the assessment of animal welfare with special emphasis on the "Welfare Quality® animal welfare assessment protocol for growing pigs"
Authors: Czycholl I. , Büttner K. , grosse Beilage E. , Krieter J.
Published: July 2015

Abstract. This paper discusses the arising need for an objective, but feasible, reliable and valid method for assessing animal welfare on farms. Animal welfare has become especially important since the industrialisation of animal housing after the Second World War and as public awareness and concern has increased. Simultaneously, alienation of the public from agriculture has taken place, as the population has moved increasingly from rural areas to towns. This has led to a very emotional discussion concerning the welfare of farmed animals, and thus a need for not only a clear definition but also a way of objectively measuring it has arisen. It is probably best defined as a total of the different conceptions health, natural behaviour and positive affective state. In the last few years, different methods for an objective assessment have been developed; however, all of them still face great challenges in their practical implementation and acceptance. The most promising method is probably the Welfare Quality® (WQ) approach, especially as it concentrates on animal-based parameters. The development of the WQ protocols emphasised not only the different conceptions of animal welfare but also especially the feasibility, reliability and validity of the parameters to be included. One of the main challenges of these protocols remains, however, the final aggregation of the results to a welfare score. Furthermore, a thorough cost–benefit analysis has not been carried out so far. Even more importantly, only a few studies have addressed the general reliability and validity of the complete protocols, and those studies that have addressed these issues have also revealed challenges concerning the interobserver and test–retest reliability of some of the included parameters. As an example, this is discussed in detail for the "Welfare Quality® animal welfare assessment protocol for growing pigs". In conclusion, the WQ approach can be seen as promising, but it has also revealed that there are still a considerable number of challenges that need to be addressed in further studies on the WQ protocols in order to achieve constant improvement. These challenges should be borne in mind in the application of these protocols, which should not be simply referred to as a gold standard.
The origins of ice crystals measured in mixed phase clouds at High-Alpine site Jungfraujoch
Authors: Lloyd G. , Choularton T. W. , Bower K. N. , Gallagher M. W. , Connolly P. J. , Flynn M. , Farrington R. , Crosier J. , Schlenczek O. , Fugal J. , Henneberger J.
Published: July 2015

Abstract. During the winter of 2013 and 2014 measurements of cloud microphysical properties over a five week period at the high Alpine site Jungfraujoch, Switzerland were carried out as part of the Cloud Aerosol Characterisation Experiments (CLACE) and the Ice Nucleation Process Investigation and Quantification project (INUPIAQ) Measurements of aerosol properties at a second, lower site, Schilthorn, Switzerland, were used as input for a primary ice nucleation scheme to predict ice nuclei concentrations at Jungfraujoch Frequent, rapid transitions in the ice and liquid properties of the clouds at Jungfraujoch were identified that led to large fluctuations in ice mass fractions over temporal scales of seconds to hours. During the measurement period we observed high concentrations of ice particles that exceeded 1000 L−1 at temperatures around −15 °C, verified by multiple instruments These concentrations could not be explained using the usual primary ice nucleation schemes, which predicted ice nucleus concentrations several orders of magnitude smaller than the peak ice crystal number concentrations. Secondary ice production through the Hallet–Mossop process as a possible explanation was ruled out, as the cloud was rarely within the active temperature range for this process It is shown that other mechanisms of secondary ice particle production cannot explain the highest ice particle concentrations. We describe 4 possible mechanisms that could lead to high cloud ice concentrations generated from the snow covered surfaces surrounding the measurement site. Of these we show that hoar frost crystals generated at the cloud enveloped snow surface could be the most important source of cloud ice concentrations Blowing snow was also observed to make significant contributions at higher wind speeds when ice crystal concentrations were < 100 L−1.
The diurnal cycle of rainfall over New Guinea in convection-permitting WRF simulations
Authors: Hassim M. E. E. , Lane T. P. , Grabowski W. W.
Published: July 2015

Abstract. In this study, we examine the diurnal cycle of rainfall over New Guinea using a series of convection-permitting numerical simulations with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. We focus our simulations on a period of suppressed regional-scale conditions (February 2010) during which local diurnal forcings are maximised. Additionally, we focus our study on the occurrence and dynamics of offshore propagating convective systems that contribute to the observed early-morning rainfall maximum north-east of New Guinea. In general, modelled diurnal precipitation shows good agreement with satellite-observed rainfall, albeit with some timing and intensity differences. The simulations also reproduce the occurrence and variability of overnight convection that propagate offshore as organised squall lines north-east of New Guinea. The occurrence of these offshore systems is largely controlled by background conditions. Days with offshore propagating convection have more middle tropospheric moisture, larger CAPE and greater low-level moisture convergence. Convection has similar characteristics over the terrain on days with and without offshore propagation. The offshore propagating convection manifests via a multi-stage evolutionary process. First, scattered convection over land, which is remnant of the daytime maximum, moves towards the coast and becomes re-organised near the region of coastal convergence associated with the land breeze. The convection then moves offshore in the form of a squall line at ~5 m s−1. In addition, cool anomalies associated with gravity waves generated by precipitating land convection propagate offshore at a dry hydrostatic gravity wave speed (of ~15 m s−1), and act to destabilise the coastal/offshore environment prior to the arrival of the squall line. Although the gravity wave does not appear to initiate the convection or control its propagation, it should contribute to its longevity and maintenance. The results highlight the importance of terrain and coastal effects along with gravity waves in contributing to the diurnal cycle over the Maritime Continent, especially the offshore precipitation maxima adjacent to quasi-linear coastlines.
Investigating the usefulness of satellite-derived fluorescence data in inferring gross primary productivity within the carbon cycle data assimilation system
Authors: Koffi E. N. , Rayner P. J. , Norton A. J. , Frankenberg C. , Scholze M.
Published: July 2015

Abstract. Simulations of carbon fluxes with terrestrial biosphere models still exhibit significant uncertainties, in part due to the uncertainty in model parameter values. With the advent of satellite measurements of solar induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF), there exists a novel pathway for constraining simulated carbon fluxes and parameter values. We investigate the utility of SIF in constraining gross primary productivity (GPP). As a first test we assess whether SIF simulations are sensitive to important parameters in a biosphere model. SIF measurements at the wavelength of 755 nm are simulated by the Carbon-Cycle Data Assimilation System (CCDAS) which has been augmented by the fluorescence component of the Soil Canopy Observation, Photochemistry and Energy fluxes (SCOPE) model. Idealized sensitivity tests of the SCOPE model stand-alone indicate strong sensitivity of GPP to the carboxylation capacity (Vcmax) and of SIF to the chlorophyll AB content (Cab) and incoming short wave radiation. Low sensitivity is found for SIF to Vcmax, however the relationship is subtle, with increased sensitivity under high radiation conditions and lower Vcmax ranges. CCDAS simulates well the patterns of satellite-measured SIF suggesting the combined model is capable of ingesting the data. CCDAS supports the idealized sensitivity tests of SCOPE, with SIF exhibiting sensitivity to Cab and incoming radiation, both of which are treated as perfectly known in previous CCDAS versions. These results demonstrate the need for careful consideration of Cab and incoming radiation when interpreting SIF and the limitations of utilizing SIF to constrain Vcmax in the present set-up in the CCDAS system.
Evidence for non-Gaussian distribution of rock weathering rates
Authors: Emmanuel S.
Published: July 2015

Abstract. The weathering of rocks influences the geochemistry of the oceans, the erosion of landscapes and manmade structures, and even the global climate. Although a high degree of variance is often observed in rate measurements, little is understood about the statistical characteristics of weathering rate distributions. This preliminary study demonstrates that the weathering rates of limestone, determined from measurements of an ancient eroded limestone edifice, can exhibit highly non-Gaussian behavior. While a Gaussian model produced a poor fit with the data, an alternative model – the generalized extreme value (GEV) framework – was capable of capturing the asymmetric long tailed distribution, in good agreement with the measured curve. Furthermore, the non-Gaussian distribution of these field rates was found to have similar characteristics to the distribution of rates measured over much smaller microscopic regions of limestone surfaces in laboratory experiments. Such similar behavior could be indicative of analogous chemical and mechanical weathering processes acting over a range of different spatial and temporal scales. Moreover, highly asymmetric rate distributions with high variance could be characteristic of rates not only in carbonate rocks, but in other rock types too, suggesting that the use of a small number of measurements to determine field weathering rates may be insufficient to fully characterize the range of rates in natural systems.
System for Automated Geoscientific Analyses (SAGA) v. 2.1.4
Authors: Conrad O. , Bechtel B. , Bock M. , Dietrich H. , Fischer E. , Gerlitz L. , Wehberg J. , Wichmann V. , Böhner J.
Published: July 2015

Abstract. The System for Automated Geoscientific Analyses (SAGA) is an open source geographic information system (GIS), mainly licensed under the GNU General Public License. Since its first release in 2004, SAGA has rapidly developed from a specialized tool for digital terrain analysis to a comprehensive and globally established GIS platform for scientific analysis and modeling. SAGA is coded in C++ in an object oriented design and runs under several operating systems including Windows and Linux. Key functional features of the modular software architecture comprise an application programming interface for the development and implementation of new geoscientific methods, a user friendly graphical user interface with many visualization options, a command line interpreter, and interfaces to interpreted languages like R and Python. The current version 2.1.4 offers more than 600 tools, which are implemented in dynamically loadable libraries or shared objects and represent the broad scopes of SAGA in numerous fields of geoscientific endeavor and beyond. In this paper, we inform about the system's architecture, functionality, and its current state of development and implementation. Furthermore, we highlight the wide spectrum of scientific applications of SAGA in a review of published studies, with special emphasis on the core application areas digital terrain analysis, geomorphology, soil science, climatology and meteorology, as well as remote sensing.
Adaptive wavelet simulation of global ocean dynamics
Authors: Kevlahan N. K.-R. , Dubos T. , Aechtner M.
Published: July 2015

Abstract. In order to easily enforce solid-wall boundary conditions in the presence of complex coastlines, we propose a new mass and energy conserving Brinkman penalization for the rotating shallow water equations. This penalization does not lead to higher wave speeds in the solid region. The error estimates for the penalization are derived analytically and verified numerically for linearized one dimensional equations. The penalization is implemented in a conservative dynamically adaptive wavelet method for the rotating shallow water equations on the sphere with bathymetry and coastline data from NOAA's ETOPO1 database. This code could form the dynamical core for a future global ocean model. The potential of the dynamically adaptive ocean model is illustrated by using it to simulate the 2004 Indonesian tsunami and wind-driven gyres.
Use of historical information in extreme-surge frequency estimation: the case of marine flooding on the La Rochelle site in France
Authors: Hamdi Y. , Bardet L. , Duluc C.-M. , Rebour V.
Published: July 2015

Abstract. Nuclear power plants located in the French Atlantic coast are designed to be protected against extreme environmental conditions. The French authorities remain cautious by adopting a strict policy of nuclear-plants flood prevention. Although coastal nuclear facilities in France are designed to very low probabilities of failure (e.g., 1000-year surge), exceptional surges (outliers induced by exceptional climatic events) have shown that the extreme sea levels estimated with the current statistical approaches could be underestimated. The estimation of extreme surges then requires the use of a statistical analysis approach having a more solid theoretical motivation. This paper deals with extreme-surge frequency estimation using historical information (HI) about events occurred before the systematic record period. It also contributes to addressing the problem of the presence of outliers in data sets. The frequency models presented in the present paper have been quite successful in the field of hydrometeorology and river flooding but they have not been applied to sea level data sets to prevent marine flooding. In this work, we suggest two methods of incorporating the HI: the peaks-over-threshold method with HI (POTH) and the block maxima method with HI (BMH). Two kinds of historical data can be used in the POTH method: classical historical maxima (HMax) data, and over-a-threshold supplementary (OTS) data. In both cases, the data are structured in historical periods and can be used only as complement to the main systematic data. On the other hand, in the BMH method, the basic hypothesis in statistical modeling of HI is that at least one threshold of perception exists for the whole period (historical and systematic) and that during a giving historical period preceding the period of tide gauging, only information about surges above this threshold have been recorded or archived. The two frequency models were applied to a case study from France, at the La Rochelle site where the storm Xynthia induced an outlier, to illustrate their potentials, to compare their performances and especially to analyze the impact of the use of HI on the extreme-surge frequency estimation.
La regularización de las emisiones de televisión autonómica fuera de la comunidad de origen: el caso de Cataluña (2004-2014)
Authors: Guimerà I Orts Josep Àngel , Blasco Gil José Joaquín
Published: July 2015

El artículo tiene por objetivo describir, analizar e interpretar los acuerdos que Cataluña ha firmado con las administraciones de territorios vecinos —tanto comunidades autónomas como estados independien­tes— para legalizar las emisiones de la televisión autonómica TVC en esas zonas, sin cobertura legal des­de su nacimiento en los años ochenta. También se consideran aquellos casos en los que han existido negociaciones pero no se ha llegado a acuerdos. El artículo descansa sobre los resultados obtenidos en una investigación de corte cualitativo basada en el uso combinado de análisis documental y entrevistas en profundidad. Así mismo, recoge los resultados de investigaciones previas llevadas a cabo por los au­tores. La investigación ha tenido un fuerte carácter exploratorio de un objeto de estudio —las emisiones supra-autonómicas— poco estudiado científicamente, con la voluntad de generar conocimiento original. El texto muestra cómo los acuerdos son fruto de la voluntad catalana de regular las emisiones de TVC en todos los territorios donde se habla catalán. Así mismo, pone de manifiesto cómo estos acuerdos hacen explícitos los conflictos políticos y culturales existentes entre comunidades autónomas con un acervo cultural común. Más allá de la descripción, el artículo aporta elementos interpretativos que permiten en­tender tanto el origen y naturaleza de estos acuerdos como de los conflictos a que han dado lugar algunas de las negociaciones.
Diagnosis and clinical features of organic acidemias: A hospital-based study in a single center in Damascus, Syria
Authors: Shennar Hala Khalil , Al-Asmar Diana , Kaddoura Ahmad , Al-Fahoum Sahar
Published: July 2015

Background: Organic acidemias (OA) are a group of heterogeneous metabolic inherited disorders characterized by the accumulation of organic acids in body fluids and tissues. These are rare disorders and infrequently reported worldwide. In Syria, there is a lack of information regarding these disorders. Objective: Our hospital-based study aimed to describe the pattern of clinical and demographic presenting features of organic acidemias among Syrian children and to shed light on the diagnostic experience of organic acidemias in the Children's Hospital of Damascus through a five year period. Material and methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study by reviewing the medical records of OA patients in the Children's Hospital of Damascus between 2008 and 2012. All cases were investigated by metabolic work up, including the acylcarnitine profile performed by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and quantitative urine organic acid analysis performed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results: A total of 70 OA confirmed cases were included in the study. There were 46 males and 31 females. Twenty-seven cases were diagnosed after the first year of life. Methylmalonic acidemia was the most frequent disorder (57.1%). There were relatively high rates of family history of unexplained death and OA confirmed cases (50%), consanguinity (74.2%) and mortality (21.4%). The most frequent symptoms were apnea or respiratory distress (65.7%) and vomiting (40%). Conclusion: The lack of specific confirmatory diagnostic tests being performed and the high mortality and consanguinity rates among OA patients suggests high incidence of OA in Syria. Further studies are needed to determine the actual incidence of OA and the cost-effectiveness of applying a governmental mandatory newborn screening program.
Calidad Sanitaria de las Aguas Superficiales y Subterráneas, de la Subcuenca del Río Viejo
Authors: Chacón Carmen
Published: July 2015

Se estudió la calidad sanitaria, de las aguas superficiales y subterráneas de la Subcuenca del Río Viejo, durante la época seca (Marzo 2010) y la época lluviosa (Enero 2011). El estudio, se basó en el análisis de organismos Coliformes termotolerantes, Escherichia coli, Estreptococos fecales y Enterococos. De los dieciséis sitios de muestreo examinados, en el Río Viejo y sus tributarios, solamente dos, Lago Apanás y Abra Vieja se encontraron aptos para el uso recreacional. Los Coliformes termotolerantes y Escherichia coli, fueron consistentemente detectadas en ambas épocas de estudio. De los siete manantiales estudiados, solamente La Pacaya, para la época seca y El Pavón, para la época de lluvias, se encontraron aptos para el consumo. En cuanto a los pozos perforados (10 en total), Santa Rosa y Tatascame, para época seca y Namanji, Los Arados y Santa Bárbara, para la época de lluvias, pueden ser utilizados con fines de consumo. Los demás, excedieron los criterios de la W.H.O, 2011, para que éstos puedan ser usados con fines de consumo. Las concentraciones bacterianas, detectadas en los pozos excavados (3 en total) indican que éstos se encuentran expuestos a contaminación por residuos orgánicos de origen humano y animal, resultando ser no aptos para consumo. Los resultados obtenidos evidencian que las aguas superficiales y subterráneas, están siendo influenciadas por actividades de origen antrópicas y que existe una contaminación de origen fecal, que representa un riesgo potencial a la salud de la población.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/uyc.v6i9.1951 Revista Universidad y Ciencia. Año 2012 Vol. 6  No. 9. Julio – Diciembre; 13-19
Actitudes y prácticas empleadas por los adolescentes de la ciudad de Somoto en relación al uso de los métodos anticonceptivos y al embarazo
Authors: Planck Anna
Published: July 2015

El presente estudio sobre los Conocimientos actitudes y Prácticas (CAP) de la población adolescente somoteña ante el uso de anticonceptivos y el embarazo, es de carácter cuantitativo. El objetivo primordial fue analizar este comportamiento y su incidencia en el aumento de embarazo de mujeres menores de 20 años. Se estudiaron las características socio demográficas del grupo, sus conocimientos respecto al embarazo y la prevención del mismo durante la adolescencia, las actitudes que influyen en la reducción o en el aumento de embarazos y las prácticas de protección o riesgo que mantienen los y las adolescentes respecto al embarazo. Se realizó el CAP debido a la elevada incidencia de embarazos adolescentes en el municipio, además no existen otras investigaciones sobre la temática. La muestra fue de 66 adolescentes, (50% de cada sexo). Los principales resultados del estudio mostraron que el 50% de los adolescentes presenta un nivel satisfactorio de conocimientos sobre la temática. De los varones el 60% y 39% de las mujeres ya son activos sexualmente. Existe confusión sobre el uso del anticonceptivo de emergencia “Píldora del día Siguiente” y desconocimiento del doble efecto en el uso del preservativo. La falta de poner en práctica el uso de Métodos Anticonceptivos (MAC) y la confusión del uso adecuado de anticonceptivos expone al grupo objeto de estudio, al aumento de embarazos durante la adolescencia y arriesga su salud sexual y calidad de vida.Revista Universidad y Ciencia. Año 2013 Vol. 7 No. 10. Enero-Junio pp.2-9 DOI: http://dx/doi.org/10.5377/uyc.v7i10.1961
Cameratoezicht in het publieke domein: may little brother watch you?
Authors: Kranenborg H.
Published: July 2015

Het Hof van Justitie oordeelt dat het private gebruik van een beveiligingscamera die is bevestigd aan het woonhuis en uitziet op de voordeur, een gedeelte van de openbare weg en de voordeur van de overburen, binnen de reikwijdte van de Richtlijn gegevensbescherming valt. Het doel van het gebruik van een dergelijke camera, namelijk de bescherming van de eigendom, de gezondheid en het leven van de eigenaars van het huis, zou de gegevensverwerking eventueel kunnen rechtvaardigen.

HvJ 11 december 2014, zaak C-212/13, František Ryneš, ECLI:EU:C:2014:2428
Ontogenetic and static allometry in the human face: Contrasting Khoisan and Inuit
Authors: Freidline Sarah E. , Gunz Philipp , Hublin Jean‐Jacques
Published: July 2015

Objectives

Regional differences in modern human facial features are present at birth, and ontogenetic allometry contributes to variation in adults. However, details regarding differential rates of growth and timing among regional groups are lacking. We explore ontogenetic and static allometry in a cross‐sectional sample spanning Africa, Europe and North America, and evaluate tempo and mode in two regional groups with very different adult facial morphology, the Khoisan and Inuit.

Materials and Methods

Semilandmark geometric morphometric methods, multivariate statistics and growth simulations were used to quantify and compare patterns of facial growth and development.

Results

Regional‐specific facial morphology develops early in ontogeny. The Inuit has the most distinct morphology and exhibits heterochronic differences in development compared to other regional groups. Allometric patterns differ during early postnatal development, when significant increases in size are coupled with large amounts of shape changes. All regional groups share a common adult static allometric trajectory, which can be attributed to sexual dimorphism, and the corresponding allometric shape changes resemble developmental patterns during later ontogeny.

Discussion

The amount and pattern of growth and development may not be shared between regional groups, indicating that a certain degree of flexibility is allowed for in order to achieve adult size. In early postnatal development the face is less constrained compared to other parts of the cranium allowing for greater evolvability. The early development of region‐specific facial features combined with heterochronic differences in timing or rate of growth, reflected in differences in facial size, suggest different patterns of postnatal growth. Am J Phys Anthropol 158:116–131, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A systematic review of literature on psychosocial aspects of gynecomastia in adolescents and young men
Authors: Rew Lynn , Young Cara , Harrison Tracie , Caridi Robert
Published: July 2015

Gynecomastia represents a serious psychosocial challenge for many adolescent and young adult males, but short of surgery, little attention has been given to this concern. The purpose of this paper is to report findings from a systematic review of the literature about psychosocial correlates, psychosocial interventions, and quality of research evidence about young males with gynecomastia. From an initial 233 published papers, 10 studies were identified and reviewed. Five were descriptive case studies and included no statistical analyses. The other studies were all conducted with small samples. Despite the limited evidence, findings suggest that many young men suffer emotional distress concerning gynecomastia, but this distress has received few interventions beyond surgical removal of the breast tissue. Future studies are needed to address this problem more fully so that more aggressive measures such as frequent assessments of the physical and psychosocial aspects of the condition can be done by healthcare professionals.
The human ATF1 rs11169571 polymorphism increases essential hypertension risk through modifying miRNA binding
Authors: Yang Sibao , Gao Yongjian , Liu Guohui , Li Jiayu , Shi Kaiyao , Du Beibei , Si Daoyuan , Yang Ping
Published: July 2015

Activating transcription factor 1 (ATF1) may be involved in essential hypertension (EH) by induction of NADPH oxidase 1 (NOX1) and radical oxygen species (ROSs) production. Abnormal expression of ATF1 was found in EH in previous microarray analysis. Here we tested whether a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) located in the 3′‐untranslated region (3′UTR) of ATF1 was associated with EH susceptibility by affecting microRNA (miRNA) binding. In silico analysis indicated that rs11169571 (T >
C) was a candidate SNP to modulate miRNA: ATF1 mRNA complex, with the greatest changed energy for hsa‐miR‐1283, and the luciferase reporter analysis showed that miR‐1283 inhibited the activity of the reporter vector carrying –T allele, but not the –C allele. In addition, inhibition of miR‐1283 in HA‐VSMCs enhanced the expression of ATF1 mRNA as well as the ROS levels. Further case‐control study showed that rs11169571 was significantly associated with increased risk of EH. Finally, we observed an increased ATF1 protein level in peripheral blood of EH patients with CC carriers compared to TT carriers of rs11169571, with an intermediate ATF1 level in TC carriers. These results suggested that rs11169571 of ATF1 gene may be associated with EH, and the SNP‐modified posttranscriptional gene regulation by miRNAs could be a potentially pathogenetic mechanism of EH.
An electrogenic nitric oxide reductase
Authors: Al-Attar Sinan , de Vries Simon
Published: July 2015

Nitric oxide reductases (Nors) are members of the heme‐copper oxidase superfamily that reduce nitric oxide (NO) to nitrous oxide (N2O). In contrast to the proton‐pumping cytochrome oxidases, Nors studied so far have neither been implicated in proton pumping nor have they been experimentally established as electrogenic. The copper‐A‐dependent Nor from Bacillus azotoformans uses cytochrome c
551 as electron donor but lacks menaquinol activity, in contrast to our earlier report (Suharti et al., 2001). Employing reduced phenazine ethosulfate (PESH) as electron donor, the main NO reduction pathway catalyzed by CuANor reconstituted in liposomes involves transmembrane cycling of the PES radical. We show that CuANor reconstituted in liposomes generates a proton electrochemical gradient across the membrane similar in magnitude to cytochrome aa
3, highlighting that bacilli using CuANor can exploit NO reduction for increased cellular ATP production compared to organisms using cNor.
Residues in the acetyl CoA binding site of pyruvate carboxylase involved in allosteric regulation
Authors: Choosangtong Kamonman , Sirithanakorn Chaiyos , Adina-Zada Abdul , Wallace John C. , Jitrapakdee Sarawut , Attwood Paul V.
Published: July 2015

We have examined the roles of Asp1018, Glu1027, Arg469 and Asp471 in the allosteric domain of Rhizobium etli pyruvate carboxylase. Arg469 and Asp471 interact directly with the allosteric activator acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl CoA) and the R469S and R469K mutants showed increased enzymic activity in the presence and absence of acetyl CoA, whilst the D471A mutant exhibited no acetyl CoA‐activation. E1027A, E1027R and D1018A mutants had increased activity in the absence of acetyl CoA, but not in its presence. These results suggest that most of these residues impose restrictions on the structure and/or dynamics of the enzyme to affect activity.
ILT4 drives B7‐H3 expression via PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling and ILT4/B7‐H3 co‐expression correlates with poor prognosis in non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Zhang Pei , Yu Shuwen , Li Hongyu , Liu Chuanyong , Li Juan , Lin Wenli , Gao Aiqin , Wang Linlin , Gao Wei , Sun Yuping
Published: July 2015

Immunoglobulin‐like transcript (ILT) 4 is critical for the inhibitory function of certain immune cells. We previously demonstrated that ILT4 is over‐expressed in human non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and is involved in tumour evasion via an unknown mechanism. In this report, we demonstrate that ILT4 increases the expression of the co‐inhibitory molecule B7‐H3 through PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling. In primary human NSCLC tissues, a significant positive relationship is observed between ILT4 and B7‐H3 expression. ILT4/B7‐H3 co‐expression is significantly associated with a reduction in T infiltrating lymphoid cells and lower overall survival. In summary, ILT4 increases B7‐H3 expression and ILT4/B7‐H3 co‐expression may be involved in NSCLC progression.
Cross‐sensitization between testosterone and cocaine in adolescent and adult rats
Authors: Engi Sheila A. , Cruz Fabio C. , Crestani Carlos C. , Planeta Cleopatra S.
Published: July 2015

Cocaine and anabolic–androgenic steroids are substances commonly co‐abused. The use of anabolic steroids and cocaine has increased among adolescents. However, few studies investigated the consequences of the interaction between anabolic–androgenic steroids in animals' model of adolescence. We examined the effects of acute and repeated testosterone administration on cocaine‐induced locomotor activity in adult and adolescent rats. Rats received ten once‐daily subcutaneous (s.c.) injections of testosterone (10 mg/kg) or vehicle. Three days after the last testosterone or vehicle injections rats received an intraperitoneal (i.p.) challenge injection of either saline or cocaine (10 mg/kg). A different subset of rats was treated with a single injection of testosterone (10 mg/kg) or vehicle and three days later was challenged with cocaine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline. Immediately after cocaine or saline injections the locomotor activity was recorded during forty minutes. Our results demonstrated that repeated testosterone induced locomotor sensitization to cocaine in adolescent but not adult rats.