bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Shark attack!: A cultural approach
Authors: Peace Adrian
Published: October 2015

Many Australians would concur with the view of the novelist Tim Winton that we have an ‘almost supernatural fear and hatred’ of sharks. Especially in the wake of fatal attacks by great white sharks (on average once or twice per year), the extent of fascination and fear within the population at large is undeniable. This paper rejects the frequently encountered explanation that this is because we have an ‘instinctual’, ‘hard wired’ and ‘primal fear’ of wild animals that can kill people. Its focus instead is on the contemporary cultural interpretations of great whites and their behaviour which come to the fore when fatal attacks take place.
Invisible Children fades away: What it means for the future of youth activism
Authors: Cheney Kristen
Published: October 2015

The global reach of Invisible Children's viral video KONY 2012 supposedly established the efficacy of ‘spectacular humanitarianism’: sympathetic spectatorship of suffering others through the mediatization, commodification, and depoliticization of Western humanitarian action. However, their ‘brand’ of activism ultimately proved unsustainable, as Invisible Children announced in late 2014 that it was phasing out operations. Here I consider how Invisible Children, as a quintessential spectacular humanitarian movement, has shaped youth activists' subjectivities in the global North. Drawing on activism, media, and humanitarian studies critiques, as well as interviews with recent Invisible Children interns, I argue that though Invisible Children's approach can attract and launch young people into social activism, it can also hinder growth beyond the problematic confines of a spectacular humanitarian approach which reproduces, rather than transforms, global power relations. However, young activists can and do go on to cultivate a more critical and self‐reflexive approach to global social activism.
Style and self‐making: String bag production in the Papua New Guinea Highlands
Authors: Andersen Barbara
Published: October 2015

The looped netbag or bilum is one the most culturally significant of everyday objects in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Made exclusively by women, bilum are also iconic of female productive and reproductive labour. In this article, I analyze how growing social stratification is expressed through the types of bilums young women produce and wear. I argue that the choices that young women make about what kinds of designs, shapes, colours, and fashions to incorporate into their bilums can tell us a great deal about their desires, experiences, and imaginings. While previous analyses have focused on the bilum as an ambiguously gendered object expressing complex ideas about sexual difference, I argue that bilum style increasingly indexes complex ideas about geography and social location, materializing contemporary Papua New Guinean ‘imaginaries’ of space.
Sun, wind, and the rebirth of extractive economies: renewable energy investment and metanarratives of crisis in Greece
Authors: Argenti Nicolas , Knight Daniel M.
Published: October 2015

In the midst of economic crisis, the Greek state has taken the unprecedented step of opening many of the nation's closed business sectors to international investors. Opportunities for multinational investment have been most prolific in the arena of renewable energy, where foreign prospecting in solar and wind energy is soaring. This article discusses two renewable energy initiatives: photovoltaic parks on agricultural land in Thessaly, central mainland Greece, and a planned wind farm development on the Aegean island of Chios. Among the people of Thessaly and Chios, the renewable energy initiatives are widely seen in terms of conquest and occupation akin to the Ottoman era and the Second World War. Harnessing natural resources is perceived to be a colonial programme of economic extraction associated with the global South as much as a sustainable energy initiative, heralding a return to a time of foreign occupation. This article examines the dialectical relationship emerging between narratives of renewable energy extraction and broader, long‐standing conceptions of Greek identity.
Adolescent presentations with alcohol intoxication to the emergency department at Joondalup Health Campus in 2013
Authors: Lovegrove Michael T
Published: October 2015

Objective

To document the number of adolescents aged 16 years and under presenting to the ED at Joondalup Health Campus (JHC) with problems related primarily to alcohol intoxication, and document information about these presentations.

Method

Presentations of adolescents were sourced from the Emergency Department Information System database at JHC. The patient's notes were interrogated for data on presentation and discharge times, means of arrival to the ED, age, gender, arrival Glasgow Coma Score (GCS), location from where the adolescent was brought and blood alcohol levels (BALs), if done. These were analysed, and descriptive statistics was reported.

Results

Fifty‐six adolescents (61% girls) were brought in to JHC ED with alcohol intoxication in 2013. The majority (76.8%) arrived between 21.00 hours and 05.00 hours, most often by ambulance or police (58.9%). Most adolescents had BALs performed (80.4%) and of those, nearly seven in eight (86.7%) had a BAL >0.1 g/L, with a mean of 0.161 g/L (SD 0.066). Girls had a lower mean BAL, but 26.5% presented with a GCS <14. Most 16 year olds were brought from organised parties, whereas other age groups were more likely drinking at a friend's house or with friends. Few (12.5%) were drinking at home.

Conclusion

Adolescents requiring review in an ED for alcohol intoxication are most often brought in by ambulance or police in the late evening or early morning. They are most likely to have high BALs and a significant proportion will have a GCS <14.
Effects of alternating hands during in‐hospital one‐handed chest compression: A randomised cross‐over manikin trial
Authors: Cheong Sin Ae , Oh Je Hyeok , Kim Chan Woong , Kim Sung Eun , Lee Dong Hoon
Published: October 2015

Objective

We evaluated the decrease in chest compression depth during continuous one‐handed chest compression (OHCC) in an in‐hospital paediatric arrest setting, and whether switching hands could delay the decrease in chest compression depth.

Methods

In total, 30 healthcare providers were randomised into groups A and B. Group A performed test 1 (chest compressors alternated hands every 30 s in 2 min of OHCC), followed by test 2 (chest compressors used one hand for 2 min without switching to the other hand) and group B, vice versa. Participants performed 2 min continuous OHCC on a paediatric manikin on a bed. Mean compression depth (MCD) and mean compression rate (MCR) were analysed at 30 s intervals.

Results

The MCDs in 30 s intervals changed significantly with time passed in tests 1 and 2 (0–30 s: 43.4 ± 7.4 vs 42.8 ± 7.6 mm, 30–60 s: 42.8 ± 8.7 vs 40.3 ± 8.8 mm, 60–90 s: 40.5 ± 8.9 vs 38.2 ± 9.6 mm, 90–120 s: 40.2 ± 10.2 vs 36.9 ± 9.7 mm; P < 0.01). However, with the exception of the first 30 s interval, MCD in test 1 showed significantly higher values than in test 2 (P < 0.05). The MCRs in 30 s intervals did not change significantly with time passed in all tests and were not different between the two tests. All hand‐off times measured during switching hands in test 1 were less than 1 s.

Conclusions

Chest compression depth decreased significantly when continuous OHCC was performed without switching hands. Alternating hands every 30 s can delay the decrease in MCD and maintain deeper MCD for longer.
Energy and nutrient composition of menu items at Australian coffee chains
Authors: Watson Wendy L. , Piazza Sarah , Wellard Lyndal , Hughes Clare , Chapman Kathy
Published: October 2015

Aim

Worldwide, there are concerns about the link between fast food and overall poor dietary quality and weight gain. Beverages and snack foods purchased from coffee chains may contribute excess energy and nutrients to the diet if they are consumed in addition to usual meals. The present study investigated the energy, saturated fat and sugar content of beverages and sweet snacks from major coffee chains and compared the nutrient content to daily intake (DI) reference values for adults.

Methods

Nutrition information per serve was sourced from the Australian websites of five coffee chains with the largest number of outlets in New South Wales and compared to DI reference values for adults for energy, saturated fat and sugars. Energy per serve was compared to 600 kJ, the Australian Dietary Guidelines recommendation for one serve of a discretionary food.

Results

Eighty‐four per cent (n = 238) of sweet snacks and 65% (n = 79) of cold beverages provided more than two equivalent serves (1200 kJ) of a discretionary food. Sixteen (13%) cold beverages and 47 (16%) sweet snacks provided over 50% DI of saturated fat. Sixty‐six (54%) cold beverages and 47 (16%) sweet snacks had more than half the DI of sugars.

Conclusions

Food and beverage items from coffee chains may contribute to excess intake of energy and other nutrients of public health concern if consumed in addition to meals. To assist consumers to make informed and healthier fast food choices, accessible detailed nutrition information should be available along with reductions in portion sizes and reformulation to more nutritious menu items.
High‐throughput genotyping of Anopheles mosquitoes using intact legs by Agena Biosciences iPLEX
Authors: Fabrigar Danica Joy , Hubbart Christina , Miles Alistair , Rockett Kirk
Published: October 2015

Recent developments in genotyping technologies coupled with the growing desire to characterize genome variation in Anopheles populations open the opportunity to develop more effective genotyping strategies for high‐throughput screening. A major bottleneck of this goal is nucleic acid extraction. Here, we examined the feasibility of using intact portions of a mosquito's leg as sources of template DNA for whole‐genome amplification (WGA) by primer‐extension preamplification. We used the Agena Biosciences MassARRAY® platform (formerly Sequenom) to genotype 78 SNPs for 265 WGA leg samples. We performed nucleic acid extraction on 36 mosquito carcasses and compared the genotype call concordance with their corresponding legs and observed full concordance. Using three legs instead of one improved genotyping success rates (96% vs. 89%, respectively), although this difference was not significant. We provide a proof of concept that WGA reactions can be performed directly on mosquito legs, thereby eliminating the need to extract nucleic acid. This approach is straightforward and sensitive and allows both species determination and genotyping of Anopheles mosquitoes to be performed in a high‐throughput manner. Our protocol also leaves the mosquito body intact facilitating other experimental analysis to be undertaken on the same sample. Based on our findings, this method would also be suitable for use with other insect species.
Dendritic cells revisited in human allergic rhinitis and asthma
Authors: Froidure A. , Shen C. , Pilette C.
Published: October 2015

The role of dendritic cells (DCs) in airway allergy has been studied for 15 years; recent data has highlighted the cross talk with airway epithelial cells and environmental factors (allergens, virus) during the inception and exacerbation of allergic asthma. Although murine models have provided key information, it remains uncertain to what extent these basic mechanisms take place in human allergic disease, notably with regard to different clinical phenotypes. In the present review, we discuss new evidence regarding mechanisms of DC regulation in the mouse which could be important in human asthma. Finally, after discussing the effects of current therapies on DC biology, we focus on pathways that could represent targets for future therapies.
Maternal exposure to GOS/inulin mixture prevents food allergies and promotes tolerance in offspring in mice
Authors: Bouchaud G. , Castan L. , Chesné J. , Braza F. , Aubert P. , Neunlist M. , Magnan A. , Bodinier M.
Published: October 2015

Background

Food allergies affect 4–8% of children and are constantly on the rise, thus making allergies a timely issue. Most importantly, prevention strategies are nonexistent, and current therapeutic strategies have limited efficacy and need to be improved. One alternative to prevent or reduce allergies, particularly during infancy, could consist of modulating maternal immunity and microbiota using nondigestible food ingredients, such as prebiotics. For this purpose, we studied the preventive effects of prebiotics in Balb/c mothers during pregnancy and breastfeeding on food allergy development in offspring mice.

Methods

After weaning, the offspring from mothers that were exposed to GOS/inulin mixture or fed a control diet were intraperitoneally sensitized to wheat proteins to induce a systemic allergic response and orally exposed to the same allergen. Immunological, physiological, and microbial parameters were analyzed.

Results

GOS/inulin mixture diet modified the microbiota of mothers and their offspring. Offspring from mothers that received GOS/inulin prebiotics were protected against food allergies and displayed lower clinical scores, specifically of IgE and histamine levels, compared to offspring from mothers fed a control diet. Moreover, GOS/inulin supplementation for the mother resulted in stronger intestinal permeability in the offspring. Enhancement of the regulatory response to allergic inflammation and changes in the Th2/Th1 balance toward a dampened Th2 response were observed in mice from GOS/inulin mixture‐exposed mothers.

Conclusion

The treatment of pregnant and lactating mice with nondigestible GOS/inulin prebiotics promotes a long‐term protective effect against food allergies in the offspring.
A 15‐year retrospective analysis of prognostic factors in childhood bacterial meningitis
Authors: Wee Liang Yi Justin , Tanugroho Raymond Reinaldo , Thoon Koh Cheng , Chong Chia Yin , Choong Chew Thye , Krishnamoorthy Subramania , Maiwald Matthias , Tee Nancy Wen Sim , Tan Natalie Woon Hui
Published: October 2015

Aim

This retrospective chart review aimed to identify factors in childhood bacterial meningitis that predicted disease severity and long‐term outcome.

Methods

The study included 112 episodes of microbiologically confirmed bacterial meningitis in children aged three days to 15 years who were admitted to a Singapore hospital from 1998 to 2013.

Results

The mortality rate was 6%, and 44% required intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Predictive factors associated with ICU admission included pneumococcal meningitis, with an odds ratio (OR) of 5.2 and 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.5–18.2, leukopenia (OR 5.6, 95% CI 1.7–17.9) and a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF):serum glucose ratio <0.25 (OR 4.5, 95% CI 1.4–14.4). An initial CSF white blood cell count >1000/mm3 (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.086–0.76) was negatively associated with ICU admission. Five years after meningitis, 32% had residual sequelae, and the associated prognostic factors were Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) meningitis (OR 29.5, 95% CI 2–429), seizures during their inpatient stay (OR 10.6, 95% CI 1.9–60.2) and septic shock (OR 8.4, 95% CI 1.1–62.1).

Conclusion

As mortality was low in this bacterial meningitis study, ICU admission was used as a marker of disease severity. These findings underscore the importance of the pneumococcal and Hib meningitis vaccines.
Resilience factors play an important role in the mental health of parents when children survive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Authors: Eilertsen Mary‐Elizabeth , Hjemdal Odin , Le Thien Thanh , Diseth Trond H. , Reinfjell Trude
Published: October 2015

Aim

Childhood cancer is a tremendous stressor that requires parents to adapt to new challenges, and research has mainly focused on psychopathology and rarely on a resource‐oriented perspective, such as resilience. This study assessed resilience factors among parents of children surviving acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and parents of healthy children. We also explored the association between parental resilience and mental health.

Methods

The study compared 57 parents of 40 children from eight to 15 years of age in remission from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and 63 parents of 42 healthy children. The Resilience Scale for Adults and the General Health Questionnaire were used to assess parental resilience and mental health.

Results

Parents of children surviving acute lymphoblastic leukaemia showed significantly lower levels of resilience than parents of healthy children, but no significant difference was found for mental health. Certain resilience factors were positively associated with mental health, especially for mothers, such as family cohesion, good perception of self and being able to plan their future.

Conclusion

Resilience factors may help to protect parents' mental health, especially mothers, when their child has survived acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and should be considered in a clinical setting. Further research on resilience factors for fathers is needed.
Medical Researchers' Ancillary Care Obligations: The Relationship‐Based Approach
Authors: Olson Nate W.
Published: October 2015

In this article, I provide a new account of the basis of medical researchers' ancillary care obligations. Ancillary care in medical research, or medical care that research participants need but that is not required for the validity or safety of a study or to redress research injuries, is a topic that has drawn increasing attention in research ethics over the last ten years. My view, the relationship‐based approach, improves on the main existing theory, Richardson and Belsky's ‘partial‐entrustment model’, by avoiding its problematic restriction on the scope of health needs for which researchers could be obligated to provide ancillary care. Instead, it grounds ancillary care obligations in a wide range of morally relevant features of the researcher‐participant relationship, including the level of engagement between researchers and participants, and weighs these factors against each other. I argue that the level of engagement, that is, the duration and intensity of interactions, between researchers and participants matters for ancillary care because of its connection to the meaningfulness of a relationship, and I suggest that other morally relevant features can be grounded in researchers' role obligations.
Late syn‐rift evolution of the Vingleia Fault Complex, Halten Terrace, offshore Mid‐Norway; a test of rift basin tectono‐stratigraphic models
Authors: Elliott Gavin M. , Jackson Christopher A.‐L. , Gawthorpe Robert L. , Wilson Paul , Sharp Ian R. , Michelsen Lisa
Published: October 2015

Rift basin tectono‐stratigraphic models indicate that normal fault growth controls the sedimentology and stratigraphic architecture of syn‐rift deposits. However, such models have rarely been tested by observations from natural examples and thus remain largely conceptual. In this study we integrate 3D seismic reflection, and biostratigraphically constrained core and wireline log data from the Vingleia Fault Complex, Halten Terrace, offshore Mid‐Norway to test rift basin tectono‐stratigraphic models. The geometry of the basin‐bounding fault and its hangingwall, and the syn‐rift stratal architecture, vary along strike. The fault is planar along a much of its length, bounding a half‐graben containing a faultward‐thickening syn‐rift wedge. Locally, however, the fault has a ramp‐flat‐ramp geometry, with the hangingwall defined by a fault‐parallel anticline‐syncline pair. Here, an unusual bipartite syn‐rift architecture is observed, comprising a lower faultward‐expanding and an upper faultward‐thinning wedge. Fine‐grained basinfloor deposits dominate the syn‐rift succession, although isolated coarse clastics occur. The spatial and temporal distribution of these coarse clastics is complex due to syn‐depositional movement on the Vingleia Fault Complex. High rates of accommodation generation in the fault hangingwall led to aggradational stacking of fan deltas that rapidly (<5 km) pinch out basinward into offshore mudstone. In the south of the basin, rapid strain localization meant that relay ramps were short‐lived and did not represent major, long‐lived sediment entry points. In contrast, in the north, strain localization occurred later in the rift event, thus progradational shorefaces developed and persisted for a relatively long time in relay ramps developed between unlinked fault segments. The footwall of the Vingleia Fault Complex was characterized by relatively low rates of accommodation generation, with relatively thin, progradational hangingwall shorelines developed downdip of the fault block apex, sometime after the onset of sediment supply to the hangingwall. We show that rift basin tectono‐stratigraphic models need modifying to take into account along‐strike variability in fault structure and basin physiography, and the timing and style of syn‐rift sediment dispersal and facies, in both hangingwall and footwall locations.
Late Pliocene–early Pleistocene deep‐sea basin sedimentation at high‐latitudes: mega‐scale submarine slides of the north‐western Barents Sea margin prior to the shelf‐edge glaciations
Authors: Safronova P. A. , Laberg J. S. , Andreassen K. , Shlykova V. , Vorren T. O. , Chernikov S.
Published: October 2015

At high‐latitude continental margins, large‐scale submarine sliding has been an important process for deep‐sea sediment transfer during glacial and interglacial periods. Little is, however, known about the importance of this process prior to the arrival of the ice sheet on the continental shelf. Based on new two‐dimensional seismic data from the NW Barents Sea continental margin, this study documents the presence of thick and regionally extensive submarine slides formed between 2.7 and 2.1 Ma, before shelf‐edge glaciation. The largest submarine slide, located in the northern part of the Storfjorden Trough Mouth Fan (TMF), left a scar and is characterized by an at least 870‐m‐thick interval of chaotic to reflection‐free seismic facies interpreted as debrites. The full extent of this slide debrite 1 is yet unknown but it has a mapped areal distribution of at least 10.7 × 103 km2 and it involved >4.1 × 103 km3 of sediments. It remobilized a larger sediment volume than one of the largest exposed submarine slides in the world – the Storegga Slide in the Norwegian Sea. In the southern part of the Storfjorden TMF and along the Kveithola TMF, the seismic data reveal at least four large‐scale slide debrites, characterized by seismic facies similar to the slide debrite 1. Each of them is ca. 295‐m thick, covers an area of at least 7.04 × 103 km2 and involved 1.1 × 103 km3 of sediments. These five submarine slide debrites represent approximately one quarter of the total volume of sediments deposited during the time 2.7–1.5 Ma along the NW Barents Sea. The preconditioning factors for submarine sliding in this area probably included deposition at high sedimentation rate, some of which may have occurred in periods of low eustatic sea‐level. Intervals of weak contouritic sediments might also have contributed to the instability of part of the slope succession as these deposits are known from other parts of the Norwegian margin and elsewhere to have the potential to act as weak layers. Triggering was probably caused by seismicity associated with the nearby and active Knipovich spreading ridge and/or the old tectonic lineaments within the Spitsbergen Shear Zone. This seismicity is inferred to be the main influence of the large‐scale sliding in this area as this and previous studies have documented that sliding have occurred independently of climatic variations, i.e. both before and during the period of ice sheets repeatedly covering the continental shelf.
DNA methylation status as a biomarker of anti‐epidermal growth factor receptor treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer
Authors: Ouchi Kota , Takahashi Shin , Yamada Yasuhide , Tsuji Shingo , Tatsuno Kenji , Takahashi Hidekazu , Takahashi Naoki , Takahashi Masanobu , Shimodaira Hideki , Aburatani Hiroyuki , Ishioka Chikashi
Published: October 2015

Anti‐epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) treatment is an effective option for metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment. However, there are few reliable biomarkers to predict the clinical response to anti‐EGFR treatment. We investigated the genome‐wide DNA methylation status in metastatic colorectal cancer to identify associations between the methylation status and clinical response to anti‐EGFR antibody. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 97 patients (45 patients for the first cohort and 52 patients for the second cohort) who received anti‐EGFR treatment for KRAS wild‐type metastatic CRC. Then we analyzed the associations between genome‐wide DNA methylation status and clinical response to anti‐EGFR treatment, and evaluated the predictive power and value of the methylation status statistically. As a result, each cohort was classified into highly methylated CRC and low methylated CRC subgroups by unsupervised clustering analyses. In the first cohort, clinical outcomes were significantly better in the low methylated CRC subgroup than in the highly methylated CRC subgroup (response rate, 35.7% vs 6.3%, P = 0.03; disease control rate, 75% vs 31.3%, P = 0.005; hazard ratio for progression‐free survival, 0.27; 95% confidence interval, 0.13–0.57, P < 0.001; overall survival, 0.19; 95% confidence interval, 0.06–0.54, P < 0.001). These results were reproducible in the second cohort. The genome‐wide methylation status was a predictive factor of progression‐free survival and overall survival independently of RAS mutation status. In conclusion, we found that the genome‐wide DNA methylation status is a powerful epigenetic predictor of anti‐EGFR treatment in patients with KRAS wild‐type metastatic colorectal cancer (UMIN000005490).
Ternary Dinuclear Copper(II) Complexes of a Reduced Schiff Base Ligand with Diimine Coligands: DNA Binding, Cytotoxic Cell Apoptosis, and Apoptotic Mechanism
Authors: Yu Hao , Yang Yong , Li Qiaoyu , Ma Tieliang , Xu Jun , Zhu Taofeng , Xie Jing , Zhu Wenjiao , Cao Zhihong , Dong Kun , Huang Jiancui , Jia Lei
Published: October 2015

A serial of mixed‐ligand Cu(II) complexes of the type [Cu(phens)(H2PDILeu)]H2O (1‐4) containing phens as 2,2′‐bipyridyl (bpy, 1), 1,10‐phenanthroline (phen, 2), dipyrido[3,2‐d:2′,3′‐f]quinoxaline (dpq, 3), and dipyrido[3,2‐a:2′,3′‐c]phenazine (dppz, 4) have been isolated and characterized. The interaction of the complexes with calf‐thymus DNA has been explored by physical methods to propose modes of DNA binding of the complexes, which indicate that 4 interacts with DNA more strongly than all of the other complexes through intercalation interaction. Furthermore, cell apoptosis was detected by AnnexinV/PI flow cytometry and TUNEL assay and by Western blotting to detect the protein expression of p53, Bax, and Bcl‐2. All the three copper complexes can effectively induce apoptosis of the three human tumor cells, which was accompanied with upregulation of the expression of p53 and Bax, while Bcl‐2 decreased.
Putting Everything in Context
Authors: Lebois Lauren A. M. , Wilson‐Mendenhall Christine D. , Barsalou Lawrence W.
Published: October 2015

In response to Casasanto, Brookshire, and Ivry (2015), we address four points: First, we engaged in conceptual replications of Brookshire, Casasanto, and Ivry (2010), not direct replications. Second, we did not question the validity of Brookshire et al.'s (2010) results, nor the similar findings of other researchers, but instead explained divergent findings within an integrated theoretical framework. Third, challenges to the construct of automaticity, including ours, were widespread, long before Brookshire et al.'s (2010) article. Fourth, the planned comparisons that we reported tested our theoretical claims and offered strong evidence for them.
The Irish living kidney donor program – why potential donors do not proceed to live kidney donation?
Authors: Connaughton Dervla M. , Harmon Grainne , Cooney Anne , Williams Yvonne , O'Regan John , O'Neill Derek , Cunningham Phyllis , Counihan Aileen , O'Kelly Patrick , McHale Siobhan , Denton Mark , O'Seaghdha Conall M. , Magee Colm , Conlon Peter , Little Dilly , Keogan Mary , de Freitas Declan G.
Published: October 2015

Background

Living donation is not only a method to increase access to kidney transplantation but can also offer superior outcomes. We report the experience of the living donor (LD) program in the Republic of Ireland and explore reasons why potential donors do not proceed to live donation.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study of all potential donors from January 2000 to March 2014 who presented wishing to undergo donor work‐up and their subsequent outcomes.

Results

A total of 956 donors for 496 recipients contacted the live kidney donation program of which 883 potential donors proceeded to the initial stage of assessment. The donor dropout rate at this stage was 64.2% (614/956 potential donors did not proceed to further evaluation). Thereafter, 269 (28.1%) donors underwent further assessment by the multidisciplinary team. In total, 93 (9.7%) donors were declined following this assessment with 176 (18.4%) donors ultimately proceeding to live kidney donation. The major reason for declining a donor was a medical contraindication (n = 63, 67.7%). In term of recipients, 54.2% (n = 269/496) had a potential donor proceed for further assessment of which 65.4% (n = 176/269) ultimately proceeding to live donation.

Conclusion

Further evaluation of the declined donor group is warranted to allow for expansion of the LD program.
Following the money: Mapping the sources and funding flows of alcohol and other drug treatment in Australia
Authors: Chalmers Jenny , Ritter Alison , Berends Lynda , Lancaster Kari
Published: October 2015

Introduction and Aims

The structures of health systems impact on patient outcomes. We present and analyse the first detailed mapping of who funds alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment and the channels and intermediaries through which funding flows from the funding sources to treatment providers.

Design and Methods

The study involved a literature review of AOD treatment financing and existing diagrammatic representations of the structure of the Australian health system. We interviewed 190 key informants to particularise the AOD treatment sector, and undertook two case examples of government funded non‐government organisations providing AOD treatment.

Results

Funding sources include the Australian and state and territory governments, philanthropy, fund‐raising and clients themselves. While funding sources align with the health sector generally and the broader social services sector, the complexity of flows from source to treatment service and the number of intermediaries are noteworthy. So too are the many sources of funding drawn on by some treatment providers. Diversification is both beneficial and disadvantageous for non‐government treatment providers, adding to administrative workloads, but smoothing the risk of funding shortfalls. Government funders benefit from sharing risk.

Discussion and Conclusions

Circuitous funding flows multiply the funding sources drawn on by services and put distance between the funding source and the service provider. This leads to concerns over lack of transparency about what is being purchased and challenges for the multiply funded service provider in maintaining programs and service models amid multiple and sometimes competing funding and accountability frameworks. [Chalmers J, Ritter A, Berends L, Lancaster K. Following the money: Mapping the sources and funding flows of alcohol and other drug treatment in Australia. Drug Alcohol Rev 2016;35:255–262]
The alcohol policy environment, enforcement and consumption in the United States
Authors: Erickson Darin J. , Lenk Kathleen M. , Toomey Traci L. , Nelson Toben F. , Jones‐Webb Rhonda
Published: October 2015

Introduction and Aims

Many studies of alcohol policies examine the presence or absence of a single policy without considering policy strength or enforcement. We developed measures for the strength of 18 policies (from Alcohol Policy Information System) and levels of enforcement of those policies for the 50 US states, and examined their associations with alcohol consumption.

Design and Methods

We grouped policies into four domains (underage alcohol use, provision of alcohol to underage, alcohol serving, general availability) and used latent class analysis to assign states to one of four classes based on the configuration of policies—weak except serving policies (6 states), average (29 states), strong for underage use (11 states) and strong policies overall (4 states). We surveyed 1082 local enforcement agencies regarding alcohol enforcement across five domains. We used multilevel latent class analysis to assign states to classes in each domain and assigned each state to an overall low (15 states), moderate (19 states) or high (16 states) enforcement group. Consumption outcomes (past month, binge and heavy) came from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

Results

Regression models show inverse associations between alcohol consumption and policy class, with past month alcohol consumption at 54% in the weakest policy class and 34% in the strongest. In adjusted models, the strong underage use policy class was consistently associated with lower consumption. Enforcement group did not affect the policy class and consumption associations.

Discussion and Conclusions

Results suggest strong alcohol policies, particularly underage use policies, may help to reduce alcohol consumption and related consequences. [Erickson DJ, Lenk KM, Toomey TL, Nelson TF, Jones‐Webb R. The alcohol policy environment, enforcement, and consumption in the United States. Drug Alcohol Rev 2015;●●:●●–●●]
Testing spatial measures of alcohol outlet density with self‐rated health in the Australian context: Implications for policy and practice
Authors: Badland Hannah , Mavoa Suzanne , Livingston Michael , David Stephanie , Giles‐Corti Billie
Published: October 2015

Introduction and Aims

Reducing access to alcohol is an important and cost‐effective strategy for decreasing alcohol consumption and associated harm. Yet this is a less common approach to alcohol control in Australia. The aim of this research was to ascertain which alcohol outlet density spatial measures were related to long‐term health outcomes, and the extent to which this differs for those living in more or less disadvantaged neighbourhoods.

Design and Methods

Existing Australian state‐level spatial alcohol policies were reviewed. No appropriate spatial policies were identified; therefore, the literature was used to identify potential alcohol‐related spatial measures. Spatial measures of alcohol outlet density were generated in a geographical information system and linked with health survey data drawn from 3141 adults living in metropolitan Melbourne. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine associations between alcohol outlet density measures, self‐rated health and area‐level disadvantage.

Results

Twelve spatial measures of alcohol outlet density were generated. Alcohol outlet density and self‐rated health associations varied by area‐level disadvantage. For those living in more disadvantaged areas, not having off‐licenses available within 800 m, or on‐licenses available within 400 m were protective of self‐rated health.

Discussion and Conclusions

Local alcohol outlet density may have a more detrimental effect on self‐rated health for those living in more disadvantaged neighbourhoods, compared with those living in more advantaged areas. There is a need for spatial alcohol policies to help reduce alcohol‐related harm. This research proposes a set of spatial measures to generate a more consistent understanding of alcohol availability in Australia. [Badland H, Mavoa S, Livingston M, David S, Giles‐Corti B. Testing spatial measures of alcohol outlet density with self‐rated health in the Australian context: Implications for policy and practice. Drug Alcohol Rev 2016;35:298–306]
Co‐ingestion of energy drinks with alcohol and other substances among a sample of people who regularly use ecstasy
Authors: Peacock Amy , Sindicich Natasha , Dunn Matthew , Whittaker Elizabeth , Sutherland Rachel , Entwistle Gavin , Burns Lucinda , Bruno Raimondo
Published: October 2015

Introduction and Aims

Despite the potential harms of mixing unregulated drugs with energy drinks (ED), research to date has primarily been focused on EDs co‐ingested with alcohol. Consequently, the aim of the present study was to explore the rate of use, harms and correlates of EDs co‐ingested with alcohol and other drugs among a sample of people who regularly use illicit stimulant drugs.

Design and Methods

In 2010, 693 Australians who regularly used ecstasy completed a 1‐h interview about their past six‐month ED and drug use.

Results

Three‐quarters of the sample (77%) had recently consumed EDs with other substances, primarily alcohol (70%) and ecstasy (57%). People who consumed ED with alcohol versus those who had consumed ED with ecstasy and with alcohol (only 8% reported only consuming ED with ecstasy) had similar profiles in regards to demographics, drug use, mental health and drug‐related problems. Primary motives for consuming ED with alcohol included increased alertness (59%), the taste (25%), to party for longer (23%) and to combat fatigue (16%). One‐half (52%) and one‐quarter (27%) of participants who consumed EDs with alcohol and with ecstasy respectively had recently experienced adverse outcomes post‐consumption, primarily headaches (24% and 11%) and heart palpitations (21% and 14%).

Discussion and Conclusions

Co‐ingestion of EDs with licit and illicit drugs is common among people who regularly use ecstasy and related drugs. Adverse outcomes of co‐ingestion suggest that targeted education regarding negative interactive drug effects is crucial for harm reduction. [Peacock A, Sindicich N, Dunn M, Whittaker E, Sutherland R, Entwistle G, Burns L, Bruno R. Co‐Ingestion of Energy Drinks with Alcohol and Other Substances among a Sample of People Who Regularly Use Ecstasy. Drug Alcohol Rev 2016;35:352–358]
Non‐invasive assessment of liver fibrosis in chronic viral hepatitis
Authors: Orasan Olga H. , Iancu Mihaela , Sava Madalina , Saplontai‐Pop Aniela , Cozma Angela , Sarlea Simina Tarmure , Lungoci Corneliu , Ungureanu Marius‐Ionut , Negrean Vasile , Sampelean Dorel , Dumitrascu Dan Lucian
Published: October 2015

Background

Hyaluronic acid (HA), ASAT to Platelet Ratio Index (APRI), ASAT/ALAT ratio, Fibrosis 4 score (FIB4) and FibroScan were studied as non‐invasive markers of liver fibrosis (F) in chronic viral hepatitis B (CHB) and C (CHC), in an attempt to avoid the complications of liver puncture biopsy, considered the gold standard in the evaluation of F. The aim of our research was to study whether HA, APRI, ASAT/ALAT ratio, FIB4 and FibroScan are useful non‐invasive markers in predicting severe F in Romanian patients.

Patients and Methods

This was a prospective multicenter transversal and observational study, which included 76 patients with CHB/CHC. The independent effect of studied markers was tested using multiple binary logistic regression.

Results

In patients with CHB and CHC, the APRI cut‐off value for F4 was 0·70 ng/mL (Se = 77%, Sp = 78%), the FIB4 cut‐off value was 2·01 (Se = 77%, Sp = 69%), and the FibroScan cut‐off value was 13·15 (Se = 92%, Sp = 88%). For patients with CHB/CHC, there was a significant linear positive correlation between F and HA (r = 0·42, P = 0·001), FibroScan (r = 0·67, P < 0·001), APRI (r = 0·46, P < 0·001) and FIB4 (r = 0·51, P < 0·001). Considering age, sex and body mass index as possible confounding factors or covariates in multivariable logistic modelling, FibroScan was the unique test that able to significantly highlight the presence of F4 score in CHB/CHC patients (P = 0·009) while FIB4 test seems to have a tendency to statistical significance.

Conclusion

FibroScan, APRI and FIB4 are useful non‐invasive tests for the evaluation of F4 in patients with CHB and CHC.
Multi‐element stable isotopic dilution and multi‐surface modelling to assess the speciation and reactivity of cadmium and copper in soil
Authors: Ren Z. L. , Sivry Y. , Dai J. , Tharaud M. , Cordier L. , Benedetti M. F.
Published: October 2015

Chemical extraction, multi‐element stable isotopic dilution (ID) and multi‐surface modelling were used to investigate the lability of cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) in nine types of soil with different properties and contaminated or not with Cd and Cu. The chemical extraction and ID analyses both showed that Cd was more labile than Cu in all the soil types studied. From the ID results, 32.8–93.3% of total Cd and 14.7–71.8% of total Cu were isotopically exchangeable after 3 days of equilibration. A single extraction in 0.43 m HNO3 gave similar results to the 3‐day ID assay for Cu in most of the soils and for Cd in the non‐calcareous soils. However, an eight‐step selective sequential extraction (SSE) procedure gave different results from the ID assay for both metals. Predictions of the multi‐surface model for the amounts of Cd and Cu adsorbed, based on measured metal ion activities in the soil solution and the concentrations of reactive surfaces in the soil, agreed with the ID results. The model predicted that soil organic matter was the predominant sorbent for Cd and Cu in the soils and that manganese oxide was the least important sorbent. The contributions of iron oxides to sorption were predicted to be small except in soil with a high pH and little organic matter. The predicted sorption on different soil components did not match SSE measurements.
Water availability predicts forest canopy height at the global scale
Authors: Klein Tamir , Randin Christophe , Körner Christian
Published: October 2015

The tendency of trees to grow taller with increasing water availability is common knowledge. Yet a robust, universal relationship between the spatial distribution of water availability and forest canopy height (H) is lacking. Here, we created a global water availability map by calculating an annual budget as the difference between precipitation (P) and potential evapotranspiration (PET) at a 1‐km spatial resolution, and in turn correlated it with a global H map of the same resolution. Across forested areas over the globe, Hmeanincreased with P‐PET, roughly: Hmean(m) = 19.3 + 0.077*(P‐PET). Maximum forest canopy height also increased gradually from ~ 5 to ~ 50 m, saturating at ~ 45 m for P‐PET> 500 mm. Forests were far from their maximum height potential in cold, boreal regions and in disturbed areas. The strong association between forest height and P‐PETprovides a useful tool when studying future forest dynamics under climate change, and in quantifying anthropogenic forest disturbance.
Cooperation among Norway Rats: The Importance of Visual Cues for Reciprocal Cooperation, and the Role of Coercion
Authors: Dolivo Vassilissa , Taborsky Michael
Published: October 2015

Some animals reciprocate help, but the underlying proximate mechanisms are largely unclear. Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) have been shown to cooperate in a variant of the iterated prisoner's dilemma paradigm, yet it is unknown which sensory modalities they use. Visual information is often implicitly assumed to play a major role in social interactions, but primarily nocturnal species such as Norway rats may rely on different cues when deciding to reciprocate received help. We used an instrumental cooperative task to compare the test rats' propensity to reciprocate received help between two experimental conditions, with and without visual information exchange between social partners. Our results show that visual information is not required for reciprocal cooperation among social partners because even when it was lacking, test rats provided food significantly earlier to partners that had helped them to obtain food before than to those that had not done so. The mean decision speed did not differ between the two experimental conditions, with or without visual information. Social partners sometimes showed aggressive behaviour towards focal test individuals. When including this in the analyses to assess the possible role of aggression as a trigger of cooperation, aggression received from cooperators apparently reduced the cooperation propensity, whereas aggression received from defectors increased it. Hence, in addition to reciprocity, coercion seems to provide additional means to generate altruistic help in Norway rats.
Nesting Success in Crimson Finches: Chance or Choice?
Authors: Young Catherine M. , Cain Kristal E. , Svedin Nina , Backwell Patricia R. Y. , Pryke Sarah R.
Published: October 2015

In avian systems, nest predation is one of the most significant influences on reproductive success. Selection for mechanisms and behaviours to minimise predation rates should be favoured. To avoid predation, breeding birds can often deter predators through active nest defence or by modifying behaviours around the nest (e.g. reducing feeding rates and vocalisations). Birds might also benefit from concealing nests or placing them in inaccessible locations. The relative importance of these strategies (behaviour vs. site selection) can be difficult to disentangle and may differ according to life history. Tropical birds are thought to experience higher rates of predation than temperate birds and invest less energy in nest defence. We monitored a population of crimson finches (Neochmia phaeton), in the Australian tropics, over two breeding seasons. We found no relationship between adult nest defence behaviour (towards a model reptile predator) and the likelihood of nest success. However, nest success was strongly related to the visibility of the nest and the structure of the vegetation. We found no evidence that adult nest building decisions were influenced by predation risk; individuals that re‐nested after a predation event did not build their nest in a more concealed location. Therefore, predator avoidance, and hence nest success, appears to be largely due to chance rather than due to the behaviour of the birds or their choice of nesting sites. To escape high predation pressures, multiple nesting attempts both within and between seasons may be necessary to increase reproductive success. Alternatively, birds may be limited in their nest‐site options; that is, high‐quality individuals dominate quality nest sites.
Triptolide enhances the tumoricidal activity of TRAIL against renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Brincks Erik L. , Kucaba Tamara A. , James Britnie R. , Murphy Katherine A. , Schwertfeger Kathryn L. , Sangwan Veena , Banerjee Sulagna , Saluja Ashok K. , Griffith Thomas S.
Published: October 2015

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is resistant to traditional cancer therapies, and metastatic RCC (mRCC) is incurable. The shortcomings in current therapeutic options for patients with mRCC provide the rationale for the development of novel treatment protocols. Tumor necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL) has proven to be a potent inducer of tumor cell death in vitro and in vivo, and a number of TRAIL death receptor agonists (recombinant TRAIL or TRAIL death receptor‐specific mAb) have been developed and tested clinically. Unfortunately the clinical efficacy of TRAIL has been underwhelming and is likely due to a number of possible mechanisms that render tumors resistant to TRAIL, prompting the search for drugs that increase tumor cell susceptibility to TRAIL. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of combining the diterpene triepoxide triptolide, or its water‐soluble prodrug, Minnelide, with TRAIL receptor agonists against RCC in vitro or in vivo, respectively. TRAIL‐induced apoptotic death of human RCC cells was increased in the presence of triptolide. The triptolide‐induced sensitization was accompanied by increased TRAIL‐R2 (DR5) and decreased heat shock protein 70 expression. In vivo treatment of mice bearing orthotopic RCC (Renca) tumors showed the combination of Minnelide and agonistic anti‐DR5 mAb significantly decreased tumor burden and increased animal survival compared to either therapy alone. Our data suggest triptolide/Minnelide sensitizes RCC cells to TRAIL‐induced apoptosis through altered TRAIL death receptor and heat shock protein expression.