bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Till Death Do Us Part: The Marriage of Debt and Growth
Authors: Ross Andrew
Published: October 2013

Postwar GDP growth has been fueled by debt cycles. This debt-growth system may have reached its limits. Whole populations, in the cities and countryside—in the global South as well as the North—are groaning under unsustainable debt burdens. Drastic climate change can only be averted by degrowth. This essay analyzes the debt-growth system and points in the direction of an economy run on socially productive credit.
The imprinted polycomb group gene Sfmbt2 is required for trophoblast maintenance and placenta development
Authors: Miri Kamelia , Latham Keith , Panning Barbara , Zhong Zhisheng , Andersen Angela , Varmuza Susannah
Published: October 2013

Imprinted genes play important roles in placenta development and function. Parthenogenetic embryos, deficient in paternally expressed imprinted genes, lack extra-embryonic tissues of the trophoblast lineage. Parthenogenetic trophoblast stem cells (TSCs) are extremely difficult to derive, suggesting that an imprinted gene(s) is necessary for TSC establishment or maintenance. In a candidate study, we were able to narrow the list to one known paternally expressed gene, Sfmbt2. We show that mouse embryos inheriting a paternal Sfmbt2 gene trap null allele have severely reduced placentae and die before E12.5 due to reduction of all trophoblast cell types. We infected early embryos with lentivirus vectors expressing anti-Sfmbt2 shRNAs and found that TSC derivation was significantly reduced. Together, these observations support the hypothesis that loss of SFMBT2 results in defects in maintenance of trophoblast cell types necessary for development of the extra-embryonic tissues, the placenta in particular.
Hox11 genes are required for regional patterning and integration of muscle, tendon and bone
Authors: Swinehart Ilea T. , Schlientz Aleesa J. , Quintanilla Christopher A. , Mortlock Douglas P. , Wellik Deneen M.
Published: October 2013

Development of the musculoskeletal system requires precise integration of muscles, tendons and bones. The molecular mechanisms involved in the differentiation of each of these tissues have been the focus of significant research; however, much less is known about how these tissues are integrated into a functional unit appropriate for each body position and role. Previous reports have demonstrated crucial roles for Hox genes in patterning the axial and limb skeleton. Loss of Hox11 paralogous gene function results in dramatic malformation of limb zeugopod skeletal elements, the radius/ulna and tibia/fibula, as well as transformation of the sacral region to a lumbar phenotype. Utilizing a Hoxa11eGFP knock-in allele, we show that Hox11 genes are expressed in the connective tissue fibroblasts of the outer perichondrium, tendons and muscle connective tissue of the zeugopod region throughout all stages of development. Hox11 genes are not expressed in differentiated cartilage or bone, or in vascular or muscle cells in these regions. Loss of Hox11 genes disrupts regional muscle and tendon patterning of the limb in addition to affecting skeletal patterning. The tendon and muscle defects in Hox11 mutants are independent of skeletal patterning events as disruption of tendon and muscle patterning is observed in Hox11 compound mutants that do not have a skeletal phenotype. Thus, Hox genes are not simply regulators of skeletal morphology as previously thought, but are key factors that regulate regional patterning and integration of the musculoskeletal system.
Cxcl12/Cxcr4 signaling controls the migration and process orientation of A9-A10 dopaminergic neurons
Authors: Yang Shanzheng , Edman Linda C. , Sánchez-Alcañiz Juan Antonio , Fritz Nicolas , Bonilla Sonia , Hecht Jonathan , Uhlén Per , Pleasure Samuel J. , Villaescusa J. Carlos , Marín Oscar , Arenas Ernest
Published: October 2013

CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling has been reported to regulate three essential processes for the establishment of neural networks in different neuronal systems: neuronal migration, cell positioning and axon wiring. However, it is not known whether it regulates the development of A9-A10 tyrosine hydroxylase positive (TH+) midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons. We report here that Cxcl12 is expressed in the meninges surrounding the ventral midbrain (VM), whereas CXCR4 is present in NURR1+ mDA precursors and mDA neurons from E10.5 to E14.5. CXCR4 is activated in NURR1+ cells as they migrate towards the meninges. Accordingly, VM meninges and CXCL12 promoted migration and neuritogenesis of TH+ cells in VM explants in a CXCR4-dependent manner. Moreover, in vivo electroporation of Cxcl12 at E12.5 in the basal plate resulted in lateral migration, whereas expression in the midline resulted in retention of TH+ cells in the IZ close to the midline. Analysis of Cxcr4-/- mice revealed the presence of VM TH+ cells with disoriented processes in the intermediate zone (IZ) at E11.5 and marginal zone (MZ) at E14. Consistently, pharmacological blockade of CXCR4 or genetic deletion of Cxcr4 resulted in an accumulation of TH+ cells in the lateral aspect of the IZ at E14, indicating that CXCR4 is required for the radial migration of mDA neurons in vivo. Altogether, our findings demonstrate that CXCL12/CXCR4 regulates the migration and orientation of processes in A9-A10 mDA neurons.
The Ski/Zeb2/Meox2 pathway provides a novel mechanism for regulation of the cardiac myofibroblast phenotype
Authors: Cunnington Ryan H. , Northcott Josette M. , Ghavami Saeid , Bathe Krista L. , Jahan Fahmida , Kavosh Morvarid , Davies Jared , Wigle Jeffrey T. , Dixon Ian M. C.
Published: October 2013

Background: Cardiac fibrosis is linked to fibroblast to myofibroblast phenoconversion and proliferation; mechanisms underlying this phenoconversion are poorly understood. c-Ski (Ski) is a negative regulator of TGF-β/Smad signaling in myofibroblasts, and may redirect the myofibroblast phenotype back to fibroblasts. Meox2 may alter TGF-β-mediated cellular processes and is repressed by Zeb2. Hypothesis: Ski diminishes the myofibroblast phenotype by de-repressing Meox2 expression and function via repression of Zeb2 expression. Results: Meox1 and Meox2 mRNA expression, Meox2 protein expression are reduced during phenoconversion of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts. Meox2 over-expression shifts the myofibroblasts to fibroblasts, whereas the Meox2 DNA-binding mutant has no effect on myofibroblast phenotype. Ski over-expression partially restores Meox2 mRNA expression levels to those in cardiac fibroblasts. Expression of Zeb2 increased during phenoconversion and Ski over-expression reduces Zeb2 expression in first-passage myofibroblasts. Meox2 expression is decreased in scar following myocardial infarction, whereas Zeb2 protein expression increases in the infarct scar. Thus Ski modulates the cardiac myofibroblast phenotype and function via suppression of Zeb2 by up-regulating Meox2. This cascade may regulate cardiac myofibroblast phenotype and presents therapeutic options for treatment of cardiac fibrosis.
Centenarian lamins: rapamycin targets in longevity
Authors: Lattanzi Giovanna , Ortolani Michela , Columbaro Marta , Prencipe Sabino , Mattioli Elisabetta , Lanzarini Catia , Maraldi Nadir M. , Cenni Vittoria , Garagnani Paolo , Salvioli Stefano , Storci Gianluca , Bonafè Massimiliano , Capanni Cristina , Franceschi Claudio
Published: October 2013

The dynamic organization of the cell nucleus is profoundly modified during growth, development and senescence, due to changes in chromatin arrangement and gene transcription. A plethora of data suggests that the nuclear lamina is a key player in chromatin dynamics and argue in favour of a major involvement of prelamin A in fundamental mechanisms regulating cellular senescence and organism ageing. As the best model to analyse the role of prelamin A in normal ageing, here we used cells from centenarian subjects. We show that prelamin A is accumulated in centenarian fibroblasts due to down-regulation of its specific endoprotease ZMPSTE24, while other nuclear envelope constituents are mostly unaffected and cells do not enter senescence. Prelamin A accumulation in centenarian nuclei elicits loss of heterochromatin, as well as recruitment of the inactive form of 53BP1, associated with rapid response to oxidative stress. These effects, including prelamin A-mediated increase of nuclear 53BP1, can be reproduced by rapamycin treatment of cells from younger individuals. These data identify prelamin A and 53BP1 as new targets of rapamycin associated with human longevity. We propose that the reported mechanisms may safeguard healthy ageing in humans through adaptation of the nuclear environment to stress stimuli.
Actin network disassembly powersListeria monocytogenesdissemination
Authors: Talman Arthur M. , Chong Ryan , Chia Jonathan , Svitkina Tatyana , Agaisse Hervé
Published: October 2013

Several bacterial pathogens hijack the actin assembly machinery and display intracellular motility in the cytosol of infected cells. At the cell cortex, intracellular motility leads to bacterial dissemination through formation of plasma membrane protrusions that resolve into vacuoles in adjacent cells. Here, we uncover a critical role for actin network disassembly in L. monocytogenes dissemination. We found that defects in the disassembly machinery decreased the rate of actin tail turnover, but did not affect the velocity of the bacteria in the cytosol. By contrast, defects in the disassembly machinery had a dramatic impact on bacterial dissemination. Our results suggest a model of L. monocytogenes dissemination in which the disassembly machinery, through local recycling of the actin network in protrusions, fuels continuous actin assembly at the bacterial pole and concurrently exhausts cytoskeleton components from the network distal to the bacterium, which enables membrane apposition and resolution of protrusions into vacuoles.
Genome-wide analysis of poly(A) site selection in Schizosaccharomyces pombe
Authors: Schlackow Margarita , Marguerat Samuel , Proudfoot Nicholas J. , Bähler Jürg , Erban Radek , Gullerova Monika
Published: October 2013

Polyadenylation of pre-mRNAs, a critical step in eukaryotic gene expression, is mediated by cis elements collectively called the polyadenylation signal. Genome-wide analysis of such polyadenylation signals was missing in fission yeast, even though it is an important model organism. We demonstrate that the canonical AATAAA motif is the most frequent and functional polyadenylation signal in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Using analysis of RNA-Seq data sets from cells grown under various physiological conditions, we identify 3′ UTRs for nearly 90% of the yeast genes. Heterogeneity of cleavage sites is common, as is alternative polyadenylation within and between conditions. We validated the computationally identified sequence elements likely to promote polyadenylation by functional assays, including qRT-PCR and 3′RACE analysis. The biological importance of the AATAAA motif is underlined by functional analysis of the genes containing it. Furthermore, it has been shown that convergent genes require trans elements, like cohesin for efficient transcription termination. Here we show that convergent genes lacking cohesin (on chromosome 2) are generally associated with longer overlapping mRNA transcripts. Our bioinformatic and experimental genome-wide results are summarized and can be accessed and customized in a user-friendly database Pomb(A).
Financial Product Differentiation over the State Space in the Mutual Fund Industry
Authors: Li Shujing , Qiu Jiaping
Published: October 2013

By distancing themselves from others in risk factor loadings, mutual funds yield distinct returns and become better-performing funds in different market situations. This enables mutual funds to obtain stochastic market power and charge higher fees than they could otherwise. This strategy fundamentally differs from the conventional market segmentation strategy that targets investors with heterogeneous preferences. We present a model to study this novel form of financial product differentiation over the states of nature. Empirically, we find that the return attributable to risk factor loadings has a significant impact on a fund's market share. Fund fees are related to the positions of their factor loadings in the industry and funds with more extreme risk factor loadings charge higher fees.

This paper was accepted by Wei Jiang, finance.
A Flexible Mouse-On-Mouse Immunohistochemical Staining Technique Adaptable to Biotin-Free Reagents, Immunofluorescence, and Multiple Antibody Staining
Authors: Goodpaster Tracy , Randolph-Habecker Julie
Published: October 2013

Immunohistochemistry on mouse tissue utilizing mouse monoclonal antibodies presents a challenge. Secondary antibodies directed against the mouse monoclonal primary antibody of interest will also detect endogenous mouse immunoglobulin in the tissue. This can lead to significant spurious staining. Therefore, a “mouse-on-mouse” staining strategy is needed to yield credible data. This paper presents a method that is easy to use and highly flexible to accommodate both an avidin-biotin detection system as well as a biotin-free polymer detection system. The mouse primary antibody is first combined with an Fab fragment of an anti-mouse antibody in a tube and allowed sufficient time to form an antibody complex. Any non-complexed secondary antibody is bound up with mouse serum. The mixture is then applied to the tissue. The flexibility of this method is confirmed with the use of different anti-mouse antibodies followed by a variety of detection reagents. These techniques can be used for immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence (IF), as well as staining with multiple primary antibodies. This method has also been adapted to other models, such as using human antibodies on human tissue and using multiple rabbit antibodies in dual immunofluorescence.
Performance of Sidewalk Pavement Containing Waste-Wood Chips
Authors: Choi Jae-Jin , Lee Kwan-Ho
Published: October 2013

Laboratory and field tests were conducted to identify the properties and perform a durability assessment of a sidewalk pavement material containing wood chips. This material can be made by crushing construction waste and the by-products of harvested wood and combining it with polyurethane resin. Urethane-to-wood-chip weight ratios of 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 were used in the laboratory tests. The sidewalk pavement manufactured with wood chips was tested to identify its tensile strength, elasticity, permeability, flammability, and elution. The tensile strength of the pavements containing air-dried wood chips was between 0.2 N/mm2 and 1.1 N/mm2, and smaller amounts of urethane resin increased the pavement’s strength reduction during flooding. The coefficient of permeability was between 0.5 and 0.8 mm/s and satisfied the 0.1 mm/s specification required for the construction of permeable pavements. The golf ball (GB) and steel ball (SB) coefficients tended to increase with an increase in the use of resin. A combustible gas torch experiment indicated no problems associated with flammability, and the measured skid resistance (BPN 72 to 77) of the wood-chip pavement satisfied the requirement for the minimum skid resistance value (BPN > 50) of sidewalk pavement. The field construction of sidewalk pavement using wood chips was also executed, and the results of a follow-up study conducted for 6 months after construction showed deterioration of the wood chips, especially for smaller resin ratios. It was found that the changes in surface height, elasticity, and permeability coefficient of pavements with resin ratios of 0.6 and 0.8 satisfied the reference requirements.
Effect of Peel Side on Optimum Condition for Measuring Flexible Film Peel Strength in T-Peel Adhesion Test
Authors: Dolah Rozzeta , Miyagi Zenichi
Published: October 2013

Standardized methods for conducting a T-peel test have been well established for rigid materials, but are not suitable for flexible film because of variations in peel strength. The purpose of this paper is to provide an experimental procedure for a T-peel adhesion test and determine optimum conditions by considering the effect from alternate peel sides. A new testing apparatus is developed to solve the variation problem of using standardized methods for flexible packaging film. The optimum conditions are achieved using a parameter design method. The dynamic signal-to-noise ratio provides the optimum condition, as it has a minimum variation of peel strength evaluated from the peel side of the aluminum (Al) and cast polypropylene (CPP) layers. An experimental design is employed using an orthogonal array with four control factors consisting of peel angle, peel speed, data region, and spring thickness. The variation caused by the different peel surfaces of each specimen is investigated to observe which peel side gives the best condition for the T-peel test. Three optimum conditions for flexible film are discussed: the aluminum peel side condition, the CPP peel side condition, and the harmonized condition. Based on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) used to evaluate the improved condition in a confirmation test, the CPP peel side has the highest SNR, followed by the aluminum peel side, and then the harmonized condition. The SNR for the CPP peel side condition increased by 22 % from the aluminum peel side condition; thus, it is advised that the CPP peel side condition be used. The SNR of the harmonized condition is lower than the CPP and aluminum conditions, but it provides a convenient design that can be used without regard for peel side.
New Device and Methodology for Evaluating the Shear Behavior of Steel Bridge Deck Pavement Pasted by GFRP Sheets
Authors: Ge Zhesheng , Wang Yangyang , Hang Mingbo
Published: October 2013

The pasting of glass-fiber-reinforced-plastic (GFRP) sheets is a relatively new technique that can improve the stiffness of a steel bridge deck pavement structure. Using a new innovative preloading and shear loading testing method with an in-house testing device coupled with a servo-hydraulic testing machine, shear tests of cuboid composite pavement (CCP) samples were conducted to derive individual dissipated energy values for each sample for indexing the testing results and determining the best operational conditions for a steel bridge deck pavement. Unlike prior studies, the new device and methodology used a preloading process and a symmetrical shear test to study the interlaminar shear behavior between the CCP samples. An orthogonal experimental design was followed to determine the impact of each influence factor on the interlaminar shear behavior, such as the roughness of the GFRP sheet contact surface, the testing temperature of the samples, the bonding material between each different interfacing material, and the positive shear test pressure applied during the tests. The results indicate that a steel bridge deck composite pavement structure can reach its optimal performance when the interface between the asphalt mixtures and a GFRP sheet uses a spreading of 2.36–4.75-mm fine aggregate with a 0.5 kg/m2 epoxy asphalt bonding material, and when the GFRP sheet and the steel bridge deck interface uses an epoxy bonding.
Androgen receptor co-regulatory networks in castration-resistant prostate cancer
Authors: Sung Ying Ying , Cheung Edwin
Published: October 2013

Androgen and the androgen receptor (AR) are critical effectors of prostate cancer. Consequently, androgen deprivation therapy is typically employed as a first-line treatment for prostate cancer patients. While initial responses are generally positive, prostate tumors frequently recur and progress to a lethal form known as castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Recently, considerable effort has been directed toward elucidating the molecular mechanisms of CRPC. Results from both preclinical and clinical studies suggest that AR-mediated signaling persists and remains functionally important in CRPC despite the elimination of androgens. Understanding the role of this pathway in the development of resistance will therefore be critical to identify alternative diagnostic markers as well as more effective therapies for the treatment of CRPC. Using next-generation sequencing and other high-throughput approaches, numerous groups are beginning to identify the key differences in the transcriptional regulatory and gene expression programs between androgen-dependent and CRPC. A number of mechanisms have been proposed for the differences and these mostly involve alterations to components of the AR co-regulatory network. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on co-regulators of the AR and discuss their potential roles in CRPC. It is anticipated that a deeper understanding of these factors will undercover new targets that can assist in the diagnosis and treatment of CRPC.
Follicle development, endocrine profiles and ovulation rate in adult Merino ewes: effects of early nutrition (pre- and post-natal) and supplementation with lupin grain
Authors: Viñoles C , Paganoni B L , McNatty K P , Heath D A , Thompson A N , Glover K M M , Milton J T B , Martin G B
Published: October 2013

In adult ewes, we tested whether ovarian function, including the response to short-term supplementation, was affected by the nutrition of their mothers during the pre-/post-natal period. A 2×2 factorial design was used with nutrition in early life (low or high) and a 6-day supplement (with or without) as factors. All ewes received three prostaglandin (PG) injections 7 days apart, and the supplement (lupin grain) was fed for 6 days from 2 days after the second until the third PG injection. We measured reproductive and metabolic hormones, studied follicle dynamics (ultrasonography), and evaluated granulosa cell numbers, aromatase activity and oestradiol (E2) concentrations in follicular fluid in healthy follicles at days 3 and 7 of supplementation. Ovulation rate was increased by 25% by exposure to high pre-/post-natal nutrition (1.5 vs 1.2; P<0.05), in association with a small decrease in FSH concentrations (P=0.06) and a small increase in insulin concentrations (P=0.07). The number of healthy antral follicles was not affected. Acute supplementation increased the number of granulosa cells (3.7±0.2 vs 3.0±0.2 million; P<0.05) in the largest follicle, and the circulating concentrations of E2 (4.6±0.3 vs 3.9±0.3 pmol/l; P<0.05) and glucose (3.4±0.03 vs 3.3±0.03 mmol/l; P<0.01). Both early life nutrition and acute supplementation appear to affect ovulation rate through changes in glucose–insulin homoeostasis that alter follicular responsiveness to FSH and therefore E2–FSH balance.
New Insights Into the Propagation of Emulsified Acids in Vuggy Dolomitic Rocks
Authors: Zakaria A.S.. S. , Sayed M.A.. A. , Nasr-El-Din H.A.. A.
Published: October 2013

Carbonate formations are very complex in their pore structure and exhibit a wide variety of pore classes, such as interparticle porosity, moldic porosity, vuggy porosity, intercrystalline porosity, and microporosity. Understanding the role of pore class in the performance of emulsified-acid treatments and characterizing the physics of the flow in the acid propagation are the objectives of our study.

The study was performed by use of vuggy-dolomite cores that represent mainly the vuggy-porosity-dominated structure, whereas the homogeneous cores used represent the intercrystalline pore structure. Coreflood experiments were conducted on 6 × 1.5-in. cores by use of emulsified acid formulated at 1 vol% emulsifier and 0.7 acid volume fraction. The objective of this set of experiments is to determine the acid pore volume (PV) to breakthrough for each carbonate pore class at different injection flow rates.

In this paper, we examine whether the heterogeneities observable at the thin-section scale have a significant influence on the results of the emulsified-acid coreflood experiments. The heterogeneities were characterized by use of thin-section observations, tracer experiments, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and resistivity measurements. Thin-section observations provide means to study the size of vugs and their distribution and connectivity, and to explain the contribution of the pore class in the acid propagation. Also, the rotating-disk experiments of emulsified acid with dolomite were related to our coreflood experimental results.

The acid PV to breakthrough for vuggy-porosity-dominated rocks, ranging from 0.1 to 0.3, was observed to be low when compared with homogeneous carbonates (intercrystalline pore structure) with PVbt ranging from 2.5 to 3.5. Also, the wormhole dissolution pattern was found to be significantly different in vuggy rocks than that in homogeneous ones. Thin-section observations, tracer results, and the coreflood experiments indicate that the vugs are distributed in a manner that creates a preferential flow path, which can cause a rapid acid breakthrough and effective wormholing rather than those with a uniform pore structure. The rotating-disk results also showed that the reaction kinetics played a role in determining the wormhole pattern.
A New Approach to Load Balance for Parallel/Compositional Simulation Based on Reservoir-Model Overdecomposition
Authors: Wang Yuhe , Killough John E.
Published: October 2013

The quest for efficient and scalable parallel reservoir simulators has been evolving with the advancement of high-performance computing architectures. Among the various challenges of efficiency and scalability, load imbalance is a major obstacle that has not been fully addressed and solved. The causes of load imbalance in parallel reservoir simulation are both static and dynamic. Robust graph-partitioning algorithms are capable of handling static load imbalance by decomposing the underlying reservoir geometry to distribute a roughly equal load to each processor. However, these loads that are determined by a static load balancer seldom remain unchanged as the simulation proceeds in time. This so-called dynamic imbalance can be exacerbated further in parallel compositional simulations. The flash calculations for equations of state (EOSs) in complex compositional simulations not only can consume more than half of the total execution time but also are difficult to balance merely by a static load balancer. The computational cost of flash calculations in each gridblock heavily depends on the dynamic data such as pressure, temperature, and hydrocarbon composition. Thus, any static assignment of gridblocks may lead to dynamic load imbalance in unpredictable manners. A dynamic load balancer can often provide solutions for this difficulty. However, traditional techniques are inflexible and tedious to implement in legacy reservoir simulators. In this paper, we present a new approach to address dynamic load imbalance in parallel compositional simulation. It overdecomposes the reservoir model to assign each processor a bundle of subdomains. Processors treat these bundles of subdomains as virtual processes or user-level migratable threads that can be dynamically migrated across processors in the run-time system. This technique is shown to be capable of achieving better overlap between computation and communication for cache efficiency. We use this approach in a legacy reservoir simulator and demonstrate a reduction in the execution time of parallel compositional simulations while requiring minimal changes to the source code. Finally, it is shown that domain overdecomposition, together with a load balancer, can improve speedup from 29.27 to 62.38 on 64 physical processors for a realistic simulation problem.
Vocation, Friendship and Resilience: A Study Exploring Nursing Student
and Staff Views on Retention and Attrition
Authors: Williamson Graham R. , Health Val , Proctor-Childs Tracey
Published: October 2013

Introduction:

There is international concern about retention of student nurses on undergraduate programmes. United Kingdom Higher Education Institutions are monitored on their attrition statistics and can be penalised financially, so they have an incentive to help students remain on their programmes beyond their moral duty to ensure students receive the best possible educational experience.

Aims:

to understand students’ and staff concerns about programmes and placements as part of developing our retention strategies.

Design:

This study reports qualitative data on retention and attrition collected as part of an action research study.

Setting:

One University School of Nursing and Midwifery in the South West of England.

Participants:

Staff, current third year and ex-student nurses from the adult field.

Methods:

Data were collected in focus groups, both face-to face and virtual, and individual telephone interviews. These were transcribed and subjected to qualitative content analysis.

Results:

Four themes emerged: Academic support, Placements and mentors, Stresses and the reality of nursing life, and Dreams for a better programme.

Conclusions:

The themes Academic support, Placements and mentors and Stresses and the reality of nursing life, resonate with international literature. Dreams for a better programme included smaller group learning. Vocation, friendship and resilience seem instrumental in retaining students, and Higher Education Institutions should work to facilitate these. ‘Vocation’ has been overlooked in the retention discussions, and working more actively to foster vocation and belongingness could be important.
Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance Coverage Continues to Decline in a New Decade
Authors: Gould Elise
Published: October 2013

Most Americans, particularly those under age 65, rely on health insurance offered through the workplace. Given continuing high unemployment, it comes as no surprise that the share of Americans under age 65 covered by employer-sponsored health insurance (ESI) eroded for the 11th year in a row in 2011, falling from 58.6 percent in 2010 to 58.3 percent. The situation started deteriorating long before the Great Recession: the share of Americans under age 65 covered by ESI eroded every year from 2000 to 2011, decreasing by a total of 10.9 percentage points. As many as 29 million more people under age 65 would have had ESI in 2011 if the coverage rate had remained at the 2000 level. The decline in ESI coverage has been accompanied by an overall decline in health insurance coverage. The number of uninsured non-elderly Americans was 47.9 million in 2011–11.7 million higher than in 2000. Increasing public insurance coverage, particularly among children, is the only reason the uninsured rate did not rise one-for-one with losses in ESI. In addition, key components in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act took effect in 2010, shielding young adults from further coverage losses.
Africanizing the Social Determinants of Health: Embedded Structural Inequalities and Current Health Outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Ichoku Hyacinth Eme , Mooney Gavin , Ataguba John Ele-Ojo
Published: October 2013

There is a growing interest in health policy in the social determinants of health. This has increased the demand for a paradigm shift within the discipline of health economics from health care economics to health economics. While the former involves what is essentially a medical model that emphasizes the maximization of individual health outcomes and considers the social organization of the health system as merely instrumental, the latter emphasizes that health and its distribution result from political, social, economic, and cultural structures. The discipline of health economics needs to refocus its energy on the social determinants of health but, in doing so, must dig deeper into the reasons for structurally embedded inequalities that give rise to inequalities in health outcomes. Especially is this the case in Africa and other low- and middle-income regions. This article seeks to provide empirical evidence from sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana and Nigeria, on why such inequalities exist, arguing that these are in large part a product of hangovers from historically entrenched institutions. It argues that there is a need for research in health economics to embrace the social determinants of health, especially inequality, and to move away from its current mono-cultural focus.
The Ethics of Medical Tourism: From the United Kingdom to India Seeking Medical Care
Authors: Meghani Zahra
Published: October 2013

Is the practice of UK patients traveling to India as medical tourists morally justified? This article addresses that question by examining three ethically relevant issues. First, the key factor motivating citizens of the United Kingdom to seek medical treatment in India is identified and analyzed. Second, the life prospects of the majority of the citizens of the two nations are compared to determine whether the United Kingdom is morally warranted in relying on India to meet the medical needs of its citizens. Third, as neoliberal reforms are justified on the grounds that they will help the indigent populations affected by them, the impact of medical tourism—a neoliberal initiative—on India's socially and economically marginalized groups is scrutinized.
Histopathological Assessment and hematotoxicity of Dietary acrylamide on Wistar rats
Authors: Hammad Almoeiz Y , Osman Maha E , Abdelgadir Warda S
Published: October 2013

Acrylamide is a toxic, cancer-causing, industrial chemical used primarily in the preparation of polyacrylamide, which is used principally in water and wastewater treatment and in pulp and paper processing. A significant source of dietary acrylamide is foods cooked at high temperature. Till recently, only known human health effect is neurotoxicity at relatively high doses occurring through occupational exposures. Numerous gaps in knowledge concerning the formation, dietary exposure, and potential for adverse health risks of acrylamide were identified, and the resulting recommendations called for additional research on these topics. Hence the objective of this study was to assess the effects of dietary acrylamide at different doses on tissues and blood of Wistar rats. The results showed no evidence of carcinogenic effect of acrylamide on any of the vital organs, but the main features were growth depression and pathological changes on the liver, kidneys and intestines sufficient to impose significant haematological changes. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijls.v7i1.8018 International Journal of Life Sciences 7(1): 2013; 21-25
Value of Bone marrow Examination in Pyrexia of unknown origin
Authors: Jha A , Sarda R
Published: October 2013

Background: Pyrexia of unknown origin is a common diagnostic dilemma. Series of diagnostic modalities are required to arrive at diagnosis. Bone marrow examination is one of the common tests implicated in the diagnosis in combination with other diagnostic modalities. Present study has attempted to explore the causes of pyrexia of unknown origin based on bone marrow morphological study. Materials and Methods: In a one year prospective study conducted at Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal; bone marrow aspiration and biopsy was performed and evaluated morphologically, in 57 patients fulfilling the criteria of classic pyrexia of unknown origin. Results: In 42% cases; specific diagnosis could be made and hematological neoplasm was the most common finding followed by megaloblastic anemia, hypoplastic anemia and one case each of hemophagocytosis, malaria and tuberculosis. Acute leukemia was the most frequently encountered hematological malignancy followed by multiple myeloma, chronic myeloid leukemia, essential thrombocythemia and myelodysplastic syndrome. Conclusion: Morphological examination of bone marrow has important role in diagnosis of pyrexia of unknown origin. However, yield of diagnosis can be increased if it is combined with other diagnostic modalities including radiological, microbiological and serological tests. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jpn.v3i6.8991 Journal of Pathology of Nepal (2013) Vol. 3, 447-451
Clinico-histopathological correlation of skin biopsies in leprosy
Authors: Manandhar U , Adhikari RC , Sayami G
Published: October 2013

Background: In leprosy, there is a range of varied clinicopathologic manifestations and the diagnosis is made from adequate clinical information combined with bacilloscopy and histopathology which helps in diagnosing different types of leprosy and separating it from other granulomatous lesions. Aim of the study was to classify leprosy according to Ridley Jopling classification and perform the clinicopathological correlation. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional comparative study of skin biopsies of newly diagnosed leprosy recieved over a period of 18 months from January 2009 to June 2010 and clinicopathologic correlation was done along with special stain. Results: This study included 75 patients diagnosed clinically as leprosy. Skin biopsy revealed evidence of leprosy in 72 cases. Maximum number of patient clinically belonged to tuberculoid leprosy which constituted 25 (33%) cases followed by borderline tuberculoid 19 (25.33%). On the contrary, histologically borderline tuberculoid was the most common type (40%, n=30) cases and tuberculoid leprosy constituted (13.33%, n=10) cases. Three cases of clinically diagnosed tuberculoid leprosy showed no features of leprosy histologically. Clinical and histopathological correlation was seen in 34 cases (45.33%). The correlation was highest in borderline tuberculoid (63.15%) followed by borderline lepromatous and lepromatous leprosy. Slit skin smear was positive in 31 cases (43.05%). Fite Farraco stain was positive in 18 cases (25%). Conclusion: The classification of leprosy requires attention to the histopathological criteria and correlation with clinicalinformationand bacteriological examination so as to facilitate accurate therapy to prevent undesirable complication. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jpn.v3i6.8992   Journal of Pathology of Nepal (2013) Vol. 3, 452-458
Study of microbial flora in indwelling catheter, drains, CIVP lines and endotracheal tubes
Authors: Pradhan SB , Dhakhwa R , Shrestha CD
Published: October 2013

Background: The use of indwelling devices like Urinary catheter, Drain tubes, Central intravascular catheter, endotracheal tubes has become routine practice in the medical field. Localized or systematic infection are frequent complications associated with extensive use of these devices, requiring its removal or may even be associated with life threatening consequences. Materials and Methods: Microbiological study was carried out among all the indwelling device samples received from 20th April 2011 to 19th April 2012 at Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital. Results: Out of total 205 samples (125 Foley’s catheters, 31 drain tubes, 29 central intravascular catheter lines and 20 endotracheal tubes) received during this study period, 38.4% urinary catheters, 23.33% drain tubes, 6.9% central intravascular catheter lines and 40.0% endotracheal tubes were found to have significant growth. Escherichia coli and Klebsiella were found to be the commonest organisms. Conclusion: The infection rates of indwelling devices used for various reasons are found to be very high. These infections have increased the morbidity and mortality of the hospitalized patients and also increased the duration of hospital stay. Thus aseptic measurements during insertion of these devices periodic change of these devices may help to overcome these complications. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jpn.v3i6.8995   Journal of Pathology of Nepal (2013) Vol. 3, 469-471
Study of megakaryocytes in bone marrow aspiration smears in patients with thrombocytopenia
Authors: Choudhary PK , Sing SK , Basnet RB
Published: October 2013

Background: Dysplastic changes in megakaryocyte are well-recognized features of myelodysplastic syndrome. However, several studies have shown it’s occurrence in various other disorders. This study was done to understand the various megakaryocytic alterations including the dysplastic forms in hematological disorders presenting with thrombocytopenia other than in myelodysplastic syndrome. Materials and Methods: All cases of thrombocytopenia in the study period of May 2010 to April 2012 were included. Bone marrow aspiration study was done in each case of thrombocytopenia. Megakaryocytes were examined in bone marrow aspiration smears in terms of their number and morphology. Dysplasia was considered significant if ≥ 10% of megakaryocyte examined show dysplastic morphology. Results: Dysplastic megakaryocytes were observed in 52.3%, 50% and 21.2% of the cases of megaloblastic anemia, acute leukemia and immune thrombocytopenic purpura respectively. Most common dysplastic feature observed were multiple separate nuclei (25.2%) and micromegakaryocyte (17.3%). Hypogranular form was the least observed dysplastic feature (1.4%; 2/139 cases). Conclusion: Dysplasia in megakaryocyte is a quiet common occurrence in various non-myelodysplastic syndroms related thrombocytopenia. The mere presence of dysplastic megakaryocyte should not prompt an interpretation of myelodysplastic syndroms and should always be correlated with patient’s clinical and other hematological parameters. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jpn.v3i6.8997   Journal of Pathology of Nepal (2013) Vol. 3, 476-481
Comparison of the diagnostic accuracy of cell block with cytology smear in serous effusions
Authors: Bista P
Published: October 2013

Background: Differentiation between benign and malignant serous effusions always poses a great diagnostic dilemma. Differentiation often requires clinical findings, morphological evaluation and sometimes immunocytochemistry. Diagnostic possibility is enhanced if cell blocks are made along with the conventional cytology smears. This will help the clinicians in both treating the patient and determining the outcome of the disease process. Materials and methods: This hospital-based cross sectional analytical study was carried out in Department of Pathology in National Academy of Medical Sciences, Bir Hospital for one year. The objective of this study was to compare the smears cytology with cell blocks sections in serous effusions. Results: The four criteria scored for each technique were volume of background blood, amount of diagnostic cellular material, degree of cellular degeneration and trauma and architectural preservation. Background blood, amount of diagnostic material present and retention of architecture was more in cell block sections compared with smears cytology; whereas cellular degeneration and trauma was less appreciated in cell block sections which scored more than the smears cytology. Conclusion: Cell block preparation is simple, rapid and inexpensive technique for serous fluids in which malignant cells can be reliably detected thus avoiding unnecessary invasive procedure in patient management. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jpn.v3i6.8998 Journal of Pathology of Nepal (2013) Vol. 3, 482-486
Lymphoid associated antigen expression in new cases of Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Jha R , Grover G , Bose P
Published: October 2013

Background: Occurrence of aberrant phenotype has been reported in acute leukemias with varying frequency though its prognostic importance remains controversial. In acute myeloid leukemias, aberrant phenotype, as high as 88 %, has been reported. To evaluate the occurrence of aberrant lymphoid phenotypes and to correlate their presence with various French American British classification, 100 cases of fresh acute myeloid leukemias were analyzed for lymphoid markers CD 4,7,8,10 and 19. Materials and Methods: Whole blood or bone marrow aspirate collected in EDTA were processed by standard method and subjected to immunophenotyping for B Cells marker CD 19 and 10 and T cell marker CD 4, 7 and 8. Results: Aberrant lymphoid markers were seen in 35(35%) cases. All FAB subtypes except M7 showed aberrancy for the markers studied. However it was the most common in M0 (100%), followed by M2 (51.9%). T cell aberrancy was the most common, comprising 62.8% (22/35) of total aberrancy. CD 7 was the most common aberrantly expressed marker, seen in 20% AML, followed by CD 4(14%) and CD 19 (8%). Conclusion: Occurrence of lymphoid phenotypes is frequent in pediatric as well adult AML. Though T cell markers are more common, only B cell as well as both B and T cell markers may be co expressed. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jpn.v3i6.8999   Journal of Pathology of Nepal (2013) Vol. 3, 487-490
Redefining Cirrhosis – a brief review
Authors: Pradhan SV
Published: October 2013

The liver damage is associated with variable amount of fibrosis. The presence of fibrosis with nodule formation is pathognomic of cirrhosis. It is accompanied by vascular remodeling and regeneration with important functional and hemodynamic consequences that include development of portal hypertension and eventually decompensation and death. However fibrosis can regress following successful treatment of the underlying disease. The classification system followed till date does not analyze this aspect. In this brief review the histological features of fibrosis and the newer models for reclassifying cirrhosis is discussed. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jpn.v3i6.9000 Journal of Pathology of Nepal (2013) Vol. 3, 491-496
Aspergillus endocarditis presenting as acute right lower limb pain
Authors: Ghosh P , Saha K
Published: October 2013

Corrigendum: On 31/10/2013 the name of the author K. Shah was corrected to read K. Saha.Aspergillus endocarditis is an 2nd most common cause of endocarditis having poor prognosis. We report a rare case of fungal endocarditis following cardiac valve replacement presenting as acute pain in the right lower limb. Embolism and endocarditis were primarily detected by CT angiography and echocardiography respectively. Diagnosis was established by histopathology and culture of the emboli and was confirmed later by isolation of the Aspergillus species from the resected valve tissue. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jpn.v3i6.9002   Journal of Pathology of Nepal (2013) Vol. 3, 502-504
Antioxidant Constituents of Cotoneaster melanocarpus Lodd.
Authors: Holzer Veronika , Lower-Nedza Agnieszka , Nandintsetseg Myagmar , Batkhuu Javzan , Brantner Adelheid
Published: October 2013

The aim of this study was the evaluation of the antioxidant capacity of Cotoneaster melanocarpus Lodd. and the identification of antioxidant active constituents of this plant. C. melanocarpus Lodd. is a shrub indigenous to Mongolia and used in Traditional Mongolian Medicine as a styptic. Before extraction, the plant material was separated into three parts: young sterile shoots, older stems and leaves. All these parts were extracted with water, methanol, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane and hexane, successively. The methanolic extract of the sterile shoots showed the highest antioxidant activity in the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging assay (IC50 30.91 ± 2.97 µg/mL). This active extract was further analyzed with chromatographic methods. TLC fingerprinting and HPLC indicated the presence of the flavonol glycosides quercetin-3-O-rutinoside (rutin), quercetin-3-O-galactoside (hyperoside) and quercetin-3-O-glucoside (isoquercetin), ursolic acid as well as chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid and cryptochlorogenic acid. The findings were substantiated with LC-MS. All identified compounds have antioxidant properties and therefore contribute to the radical scavenging activity of the whole plant.