bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Drug-Using Female Sex Workers and HIV Risk: A Systematic Review of the Global Literature
Authors: Yu Yeon Jung , Li Xiaoming
Published: March 2018

This review examines the global literature concerning HIV risk among drug-using female sex workers (DU-FSWs). In the context of HIV prevention, the possible synergetic effects of sexual risk and drug-related risk merit a systematic review to get a better understanding of such effects among this highly vulnerable population. In particular, we look at research on the association between drug use and HIV risk among female sex workers (FSWs) in terms of multiple indicators such as HIV infection, needle sharing, and unprotected sex.The current review, through synthesizing the findings from 41 studies conducted in multiple nations, reveals a complex picture of HIV risk for DU-FSWs across diverse societies. Research findings are mixed but tend to show that drug-related and sex-related risk behaviors accelerated the risk of HIV/STI among DU-FSWs, underscoring considerable vulnerabilities. However, findings about the level of the association and significance, as well as the mechanisms of HIV transmission, are inconsistent among various empirical studies. The variations in findings may be attributed to the specificities of diverse social contexts, various characteristics of the study samples, and different measurements in different studies. The mixed findings point to the need for more empirical studies targeting DU-FSWs to understand how drug use and sexual risk interactively affect this population differently in different social contexts. Future research should focus on multiple-level risk/preventive factors, assess the overlap between drug-using networks and sexual networks, and identify the synergetic dynamics between drug use and sex work. Development of conceptual frameworks and methodological innovations are also needed.
Comic Books: A Learning Tool for Meaningful Acquisition of Written Sign Language
Authors: Guimarães Cayley , Machado Milton , Fernandes Sueli
Published: March 2018

Deaf people use Sign Language (SL) for intellectual development, communications and other human activities that are mediated by language—such as the expression of complex and abstract thoughts and feelings; and for literature, culture and knowledge. The Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) is a complete linguistic system of visual-spatial manner, which requires an adequate writing system. The specificities of Libras pose a challenge for alphabetisation/literacy in the educational process of the Deaf, which allows for meaning attribution by the Deaf learner only when the SL is the central pedagogical tool. This process vastly differs from the pedagogical strategies used to teach the written form of the oral languages. The alphabetisation relies heavily on the phoneme-grapheme relations—therefore, not accessible to the Deaf learner. SignWriting is a writing system deemed to be adequate represent Libras, and has been used in literacy processes of Deaf learners. This article presents a visual pedagogical tool, a narrative in the genre of a comic book, to be used for meaningful learning and acquisition of SignWriting. The methodological approach of this research involved the creation of a comic book tool to provide the context and communicational situation where the enunciation in Libras occurs, thus presenting an opportunity to introduce SignWriting. The utterances are then presented in the form of writing activities. Results show that the use of the proposed Visual Narrative approach is an adequate educational strategy to inform the design of pedagogical practices for teaching the writing system of SL.
Marine benthic communities and anthropogenic activities in Sept-Îles (Canada): a peaceful coexistence?
Authors: Dreujou Elliot , Archambault Philippe , McKindsey Christopher W
Published: March 2018

With the development of coastal human activities comes the growing need to develop methods to describe their cumulative impacts on marine benthic communities at local geographic scales. Local assessments facilitate dialogue between multiple users of the ecosystem (industries, individuals) and allow to better understand variation among benthic communities in a given region. In this project, we aim to develop indicators of cumulative impacts to assess the environmental health of benthic ecosystems within industrialized regions in the Gulf of St. Lawrence at a small spatial scale (0.01 km2).

We selected coastal regions around Sept-Îles, where numerous human activities are present at different intensities (such as international shipping, fisheries or domestic and industrial wastes). Subtidal ecosystems were sampled in 2016-2017 to characterize macro-endobenthic diversity and abiotic parameters of the sediment. We calculated impact scores for each human activity based on the distance from the source and the magnitude of its impact. We thus identified hotspots of cumulative impact and changes in the biotic and abiotic compartments along impact gradients. These results will be used for the development of indicators of cumulative stress and to understand resilience and stability of bay-scale benthic communities.
Biogenic structures in the Arctic: an ecosystem functioning hotspot?
Authors: Pierrejean Marie , Archambault Philippe , Neves Barbara , Edinger Evan , Nozais Christian
Published: March 2018

In deep-sea environments, resources availability and habitat complexity drive the distribution of benthic organisms. Biogenic structures such as cold-water corals and sponges create a three-dimensional habitat that facilitate sediment and resources accumulation and therefore show a high abundance of the associated species compared to bare sediments. However, the functions of these biodiversity hotspots in the ecosystem functioning are still poorly known. In this study, we addressed three main questions: 1) do benthic fluxes vary according to their position within patches and bare sediment? 2) are infaunal communities similar in biogenic structure and bare sediment patches? and finally, 3) which variables explain benthic fluxes in these patches? Infaunal communities and benthic fluxes were examined in Arctic regions presenting two types of biogenic structures: corals (Keratoisis sp.) and arborescent sponges. To compare ecosystem functioning between the biogenic structure versus bare sediment patches, sediment cores were collected to quantify benthic fluxes (nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, phosphate and silicate) and the diversity, abundance and composition of infauna. Multivariate analyses suggested that biogenic structure and bare sediment patches exhibited different infaunal assemblage and a spatial pattern for the benthic fluxes even with a distance of 100 m between the type of patches.
SAS macros for longitudinal IRT models
Authors: Olsbjerg Maja , Christensen Karl Bang ,   European Rasch Teaching Group (ERTG)
Published: March 2018

IRT models are often applied when observed items are used to measure a unidimensional latent variable. Originally used in educational research, IRT models are now widely used when focus is on physical functioning or psychological well-being. Modern applications often need more general models, typically models for multidimensional latent variables or longitudinal models for repeated measurements. This paper describes a collection of SAS macros that can be used for fitting data to, simulating from, and visualizing longitudinal IRT models. The macros encompass dichotomous as well as polytomous item response formats and are sufficiently flexible to accommodate changes in item parameters across time points and local dependence between responses at different time points.
Packaging data analytical work reproducibly using R (and friends)
Authors: Marwick Ben , Boettiger Carl , Mullen Lincoln
Published: March 2018

Computers are a central tool in the research process, enabling complex and large scale data analysis. As computer-based research has increased in complexity, so have the challenges of ensuring that this research is reproducible. To address this challenge, we review the concept of the research compendium as a solution for providing a standard and easily recognisable way for organising the digital materials of a research project to enable other researchers to inspect, reproduce, and extend the research. We investigate how the structure and tooling of software packages of the R programming language are being used to produce research compendia in a variety of disciplines. We also describe how software engineering tools and services are being used by researchers to streamline working with research compendia. Using real-world examples, we show how researchers can improve the reproducibility of their work using research compendia based on R packages and related tools.
Laminin signals initiate the reciprocal loop that informs breast-specific gene expression and homeostasis by activating NO, p53 and microRNAs
Authors: Furuta Saori , Ren Gang , Mao Jian-Hua , Bissell Mina J
Published: March 2018

How mammalian tissues maintain their architecture and tissue-specificity is poorly understood. Previously, we documented both the indispensable role of the extracellular matrix (ECM) protein, laminin-111 (LN1), in the formation of normal breast acini, and the phenotypic reversion of cancer cells to acini-like structures in 3-dimensional (3D) gels with inhibitors of oncogenic pathways. Here, we asked how laminin (LN) proteins integrate the signaling pathways necessary for morphogenesis. We report a surprising reciprocal circuitry comprising positive players: laminin-5 (LN5), nitric oxide (NO), p53, HOXD10 and three microRNAs (miRNAs) — that are involved in the formation of mammary acini in 3D. Significantly, cancer cells on either 2-dimensional (2D) or 3D and non-malignant cells on 2D plastic do not produce NO and upregulate negative players: NFκB, EIF5A2, SCA1 and MMP-9 — that disrupt the network. Introducing exogenous NO, LN5 or individual miRNAs to cancer cells reintegrates these pathways and induces phenotypic reversion in 3D. These findings uncover the essential elements of breast epithelial architecture, where the balance between positive- and negative-players leads to homeostasis.
Single-cell transcriptomics reveals a new dynamical function of transcription factors during embryonic hematopoiesis
Authors: Bergiers Isabelle , Andrews Tallulah , Vargel Bölükbaşı Özge , Buness Andreas , Janosz Ewa , Lopez-Anguita Natalia , Ganter Kerstin , Kosim Kinga , Celen Cemre , Itır Perçin Gülce , Collier Paul , Baying Bianka , Benes Vladimir , Hemberg Martin , Lancrin Christophe
Published: March 2018

Recent advances in single-cell transcriptomics techniques have opened the door to the study of gene regulatory networks (GRNs) at the single-cell level. Here, we studied the GRNs controlling the emergence of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from mouse embryonic endothelium using a combination of single-cell transcriptome assays. We found that a heptad of transcription factors (Runx1, Gata2, Tal1, Fli1, Lyl1, Erg and Lmo2) is specifically co-expressed in an intermediate population expressing both endothelial and hematopoietic markers. Within the heptad, we identified two sets of factors of opposing functions: one (Erg/Fli1) promoting the endothelial cell fate, the other (Runx1/Gata2) promoting the hematopoietic fate. Surprisingly, our data suggest that even though Fli1 initially supports the endothelial cell fate, it acquires a pro-hematopoietic role when co-expressed with Runx1. This work demonstrates the power of single-cell RNA-sequencing for characterizing complex transcription factor dynamics.
Neurogliaform cortical interneurons derive from cells in the preoptic area
Authors: Niquille Mathieu , Limoni Greta , Markopoulos Foivos , Cadilhac Christelle , Prados Julien , Holtmaat Anthony , Dayer Alexandre
Published: March 2018

Delineating the basic cellular components of cortical inhibitory circuits remains a fundamental issue in order to understand their specific contributions to microcircuit function. It is still unclear how current classifications of cortical interneuron subtypes relate to biological processes such as their developmental specification. Here we identified the developmental trajectory of neurogliaform cells (NGCs), the main effectors of a powerful inhibitory motif recruited by long-range connections. Using in vivo genetic lineage-tracing in mice, we report that NGCs originate from a specific pool of 5-HT3AR-expressing Hmx3+ cells located in the preoptic area (POA). Hmx3-derived 5-HT3AR+ cortical interneurons (INs) expressed the transcription factors PROX1, NR2F2, the marker reelin but not VIP and exhibited the molecular, morphological and electrophysiological profile of NGCs. Overall, these results indicate that NGCs are a distinct class of INs with a unique developmental trajectory and open the possibility to study their specific functional contribution to cortical inhibitory microcircuit motifs.
Non-invasive detection of urothelial cancer through the analysis of driver gene mutations and aneuploidy
Authors: Springer Simeon U , Chen Chung-Hsin , Rodriguez Pena Maria Del Carmen , Li Lu , Douville Christopher , Wang Yuxuan , Cohen Joshua David , Taheri Diana , Silliman Natalie , Schaefer Joy , Ptak Janine , Dobbyn Lisa , Papoli Maria , Kinde Isaac , Afsari Bahman , Tregnago Aline C , Bezerra Stephania M , VandenBussche Christopher , Fujita Kazutoshi , Ertoy Dilek , Cunha Isabela W , Yu Lijia , Bivalacqua Trinity J , Grollman Arthur P , Diaz Luis A , Karchin Rachel , Danilova Ludmila , Huang Chao-Yuan , Shun Chia-Tung , Turesky Robert J , Yun Byeong Hwa , Rosenquist Thomas A , Pu Yeong-Shiau , Hruban Ralph H , Tomasetti Cristian , Papadopoulos Nickolas , Kinzler Ken W , Vogelstein Bert , Dickman Kathleen G , Netto George J
Published: March 2018

Current non-invasive approaches for detection of urothelial cancers are suboptimal. We developed a test to detect urothelial neoplasms using DNA recovered from cells shed into urine. UroSEEK incorporates massive parallel sequencing assays for mutations in 11 genes and copy number changes on 39 chromosome arms. In 570 patients at risk for bladder cancer (BC), UroSEEK was positive in 83% of those who developed BC. Combined with cytology, UroSEEK detected 95% of patients who developed BC. Of 56 patients with upper tract urothelial cancer, 75% tested positive by UroSEEK, including 79% of those with non-invasive tumors. UroSEEK detected genetic abnormalities in 68% of urines obtained from BC patients under surveillance who demonstrated clinical evidence of recurrence. The advantages of UroSEEK over cytology were evident in low-grade BCs; UroSEEK detected 67% of cases whereas cytology detected none. These results establish the foundation for a new non-invasive approach for detection of urothelial cancer.
The periaqueductal gray and Bayesian integration in placebo analgesia
Authors: Grahl Arvina , Onat Selim , Büchel Christian
Published: March 2018

In placebo hypoalgesia research, the strength of treatment expectations and experiences are key components. However, the reliability or precision of expectations had been mostly ignored although being a likely source for interindividual differences. In the present study, we adopted a Bayesian framework, naturally combining expectation magnitudes and precisions. This postulates that expectations (prior) are integrated with incoming nociceptive information (likelihood) and both are weighted by their relative precision to form the pain percept and placebo effect. Sixty-two healthy subjects received heat pain during fMRI. Placebo effects were more pronounced in subjects with more precise treatment expectations and correlated positively with the relative precision of the prior expectation. Neural correlates of this precision were observed in the periaqueductal gray and the rostral ventromedial medulla, indicating that already at the level of the brainstem the precision of an expectation can influence pain perception presenting strong evidence for Bayesian integration in placebo hypoalgesia.
A polymorphism in the tumor suppressor p53 affects aging and longevity in mouse models
Authors: Zhao Yuhan , Wu Lihua , Yue Xuetian , Zhang Cen , Wang Jianming , Li Jun , Sun Xiaohui , Zhu Yiming , Feng Zhaohui , Hu Wenwei
Published: March 2018

Tumor suppressor p53 prevents early death due to cancer development. However, the role of p53 in aging process and longevity has not been well-established. In humans, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) with either arginine (R72) or proline (P72) at codon 72 influences p53 activity; the P72 allele has a weaker p53 activity and function in tumor suppression. Here, employing a mouse model with knock-in of human TP53 gene carrying codon 72 SNP, we found that despite increased cancer risk, P72 mice that escape tumor development display a longer lifespan than R72 mice. Further, P72 mice have a delayed development of aging-associated phenotypes compared with R72 mice. Mechanistically, P72 mice can better retain the self-renewal function of stem/progenitor cells compared with R72 mice during aging. This study provides direct genetic evidence demonstrating that p53 codon 72 SNP directly impacts aging and longevity, which supports a role of p53 in regulation of longevity.
Tobacco rattle virus-inducedPHYTOENE DESATURASE(PDS)andMg-chelatase H subunit(ChlH) gene silencing inSolanum pseudocapsicumL.
Authors: Xu Hua , Xu Leifeng , Yang Panpan , Cao Yuwei , Tang Yuchao , He Guoren , Yuan Suxia , Ming Jun
Published: March 2018

Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) is an attractive tool for determining gene function in plants. The present study constitutes the first application of VIGS inS. pseudocapsicum, which has great ornamental and pharmaceutical value, usingtobacco rattle virus(TRV) vectors. Two marker genes,PHYTOENE DESATURASE(PDS) andMg-chelatase H subunit(ChlH), were used to test the VIGS system inS. pseudocapsicum. The photobleaching and yellow-leaf phenotypes of the silenced plants were shown to significantly correlate with the down-regulation of endogenousSpPDSandSpChlH, respectively (P ≤ 0.05). Moreover, the parameters potentially affecting the efficiency of VIGS inS. pseudocapsicum, including the Agrobacterium strain and the inoculation method (leaf syringe-infiltration, sprout vacuum-infiltration and seed vacuum-infiltration), were compared. The optimized VIGS parameters were the leaf syringe-infiltration method, the Agrobacterium strain GV3101 and the growth of agro-inoculated plants at 25°. With these parameters, the silencing efficiency ofSpPDSandSpChlHcould reach approximately 50% inS. pseudocapsicum. Additionally, the suitability of various reference genes was screened by RT-qPCR using three candidate genes, and the results demonstrated that glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) can serve as a suitable reference for assessing the gene expression levels of VIGS systems inS. pseudocapsicum. The proven application of VIGS inS. pseudocapsicumand the characterization of a suitable reference gene in the present work will expedite the functional characterization of novel genes inS. pseudocapsicum.
Antecedents of Conspicuous Consumption in Decision-Making Process Using AHP
Authors: Sarathy Sanjay
Published: March 2018

The purpose of this research is to determine the antecedents that influence conspicuous consumption in the decision-making process of low-income consumers. The research methods used include a literature review, in-depth interviews, and focus groups. Four interdisciplinary antecedents that influence conspicuous consumption were identified: socio-psychological (societal hierarchy, situational occurrence); brand features (management-controlled, external factor); consumer behavior (product uniqueness, bandwagon); and marketing associates (high involvement, opinion leader). The research techniques were an analytic hierarchy process and an interview questionnaire. Opinions from 200 respondents were collected and analyzed in Mumbai, India. Marketing associates were found to be the most important antecedent, followed by socio-psychological antecedents. Based on these results, it is recommended that researchers, policy makers, and marketing directors share these insights with academic and marketing researchers. Opinion leaders also play a vital role in influencing the decision-makers in conspicuous consumption among low-income consumers.

Keywords: Conspicuous Consumption, AHP, Mumbai

To cite this document: Sanjaya Sarathy P, "Antecedents of Conspicuous Consumption in Decision-Making Process Using AHP", Contemporary Management Research, Vol.13, No.3, pp. 177-192, 2017.

Permanent link to this document:
http://dx.doi.org/10.7903/cmr.17937
Is Concussion a Risk Factor for Epilepsy?
Authors: Wennberg Richard , Hiploylee Carmen , Tai Peter , Tator Charles H.
Published: March 2018

Background:Epidemiologic studies have suggested that concussion, or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), is associated with a twofold or greater increase in relative risk for the development of post-traumatic epilepsy. To assess the clinical validity of these findings, we analyzed the incidence of epilepsy in a large cohort of post-concussion patients in whom concussion was strictly defined according to international guidelines.Methods:A retrospective cohort study of 330 consecutive post-concussion patients followed by a single concussion specialist. Exclusion criteria: abnormal brain CT/MRI, Glasgow Coma Scale<13 more than 1-hour post-injury, hospitalization >48 hours. Independent variable: concussion. Outcome measure: epilepsy incidence (dependent variable).Results:The mean number of concussions/patient was 3.3 (±2.5), mean age at first clinic visit 28 years (±14.7), and mean follow-up after first concussion 7.6 years (±10.8). Eight patients were identified whose medical records included mention of seizures or convulsions or epilepsy. Upon review by an epileptologist none met criteria for a definite diagnosis of epilepsy: four had episodic symptoms incompatible with epileptic seizures (e.g., multifocal paraesthesiae, multimodality hallucinations, classic migraine) and normal EEG/MRI investigations; four had syncopal (n=2) or concussive (n=2) convulsions. Compared with annual incidence (0.5/1000 individuals) in the general population, there was no difference in this post-concussion cohort (p=0.49).Conclusion:In this large cohort of post-concussion patients we found no increased incidence of epilepsy. For at least the first 5-10 years post-injury, concussion/mTBI should not be considered a significant risk factor for epilepsy. In patients with epilepsy and a past history of concussion, the epilepsy should not be presumed to be post-traumatic.
Mapping the linguistic landscapes of the Marshall Islands
Authors: Buchstaller Isabelle , Alvanides Seraphim
Published: March 2018

This paper examines code choices in the written linguistic landscape of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). Due to a history of language imposition, the Marshall Islanders have long been denied the opportunity to express their linguistic identity in the public domain. A recently proposed bilingual language policy, which requires all public signs to be Marshallese-English bilingual, aims to change this status quo. We map language choices in the linguistic landscape of the RMI at the cusp of this policy with an eye on the stakeholders, production processes, and audiences involved in the creation and reception of the linguistic landscape. State-of-the-art geographical and regression analyses model the factors that govern code choices in the linguistic landscape of the RMI. Our findings allow us to pinpoint niches—both geographical as well as social—where the Marshallese assert their linguistic identity in the public realm.
Source Finding in the Era of the SKA (Precursors): Aegean 2.0
Authors: Hancock Paul J. , Trott Cathryn M. , Hurley-Walker Natasha
Published: March 2018

In the era of the SKA precursors, telescopes are producing deeper, larger images of the sky on increasingly small time-scales. The greater size and volume of images place an increased demand on the software that we use to create catalogues, and so our source finding algorithms need to evolve accordingly. In this paper, we discuss some of the logistical and technical challenges that result from the increased size and volume of images that are to be analysed, and demonstrate how the Aegean source finding package has evolved to address these challenges. In particular, we address the issues of source finding on spatially correlated data, and on images in which the background, noise, and point spread function vary across the sky. We also introduce the concept of forced or prioritised fitting.
Autistic traits in a sample of adult patients with schizophrenia: prevalence and correlates
Authors: Barlati S. , Deste G. , Gregorelli M. , Vita A.
Published: March 2018

Background

Schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are currently conceptualized as distinct disorders. However, the relationship between these two disorders has been revisited in recent years due to evidence that they share phenotypic and genotypic expressions. This study aimed to identify ASD traits in patients with schizophrenia, and to define their demographic, psychopathological, cognitive and functional correlates.

Method

Seventy-five schizophrenia patients (20 females, mean age 42 ± 12) were evaluated with the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R). Participants were also assessed with clinical, neuropsychological, and psychosocial functioning measures.

Results

Of the 75 patients, 47 were negative to all the autism scales administered (ADOS-TOT-NEG), 21 patients were positive to the ADOS Language sub-domain (ADOS-L-POS), 21 patients were positive to the ADOS Reciprocal Social Interaction (RSI) sub-domain (ADOS-RSI-POS), 14 patients were positive to the ADOS Total scale (ADOS-TOT-POS), and nine patients were positive to the ADI-R scale (ADI-R-POS). Demographic (duration of illness), psychopathological (negative symptoms and general psychopathology), and cognitive (working memory and processing speed) differences emerged between schizophrenic patients with and without ASD traits, while no differences in psychosocial functioning were detected. Results of this study indicate the existence, in a sample of patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, of a distinct group of subjects with ASD features, characterized by specific symptomatological and cognitive profile.

Conclusions

These findings may contribute to better characterize patients with schizophrenia in order to develop new procedures and therapeutic tools in a more personalized perspective.
Donaueschingen 2017
Authors: Erwin Max
Published: March 2018

Donaueschingen is three (and a half) days of nearly constant concerts; this review is around 3000 words. I have divided it into two sections. The first details the concerts that either I or the Donaueschingen audience considered to be of particular note, one way or another. The second deals with approaches to musical practice and issues raised by certain talks and performances. The date of composition for all of the pieces mentioned below is 2017 unless otherwise stated.
Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival 2017
Authors: Chase Stephen
Published: March 2018

My hcmf 2017 started with Montreal's Quatuor Bozzini and pianist Philip Thomas performing three pieces by one of the festival's featured composers, Linda Catlin Smith. Smith's profile has been significantly raised in this country since the release of a portrait CD on Another Timbre, and she featured at Glasgow's Tectonics in May. Her compositional voice is distinct, one that avoids the grand statement in favour of half-familiar nooks and crannies, shading from folkish keening to an elusive chromatic space where Chopin meets Boulez and Feldman. Though each of the pieces, a Piano Quintet and two string quartets, Folkestone and Gondola, shared several aspects in their harmony and gesture, the larger picture as the music unfurled was quite different from piece to piece: the Piano Quintet explored quasi-independence between the bowed and keyed strings, while Folkestone proceeded in short fragments continually beginning again.
Is Welfare Retrenchment Inevitable? Scope and Drivers of Healthcare Reforms in Five Spanish Regions During the Crisis
Authors: DEL PINO ELOÍSA , RAMOS JUAN A.
Published: March 2018

To what extent, in the context of severe economic crisis, do governments of the right and the left have room for manoeuvre to choose their fiscal consolidation paths? To what degree might this margin be broader in multilevel systems? The severity of the crisis suffered by Spain since 2007, combined with the significant scope of the powers and related expenditure capacities of the Autonomous Communities, make the Spanish regions a highly suitable case for controlled comparisons of fiscal adjustment policies and welfare reforms. Specifically examining healthcare retrenchment in the regions, we find that although the regional governments were all subjected to considerable budget constraints and were forced to cut social policies, they were also able to ensure a certain degree of leeway in selecting their individual healthcare retrenchment policies, in part by strategically utilising the multilevel institutions provided by the Spanish Autonomic State.
Updating the epidemiological transition model
Authors: Mercer A. J.
Published: March 2018

The main feature of the epidemiological transition is a shift in the recorded causes of death from infectious diseases to other morbid conditions. This paper outlines modifications made to Omran's original model and stages of transition, and suggests that without a focus on aetiology and morbidity, these have been basically descriptive rather than explanatory, and potentially misleading because infections have been confirmed as causes of various chronic diseases. Common infections and related immune responses or inflammatory processes contribute to the multifactorial aetiology of morbid conditions that together make a substantial contribution to overall mortality, and infectious causation is suspected for many others because of strong evidence of association. Investigation into possible infectious causes of conditions frequently recorded as the underlying cause of death can be integrated into a framework for comparative research on patterns of disease and mortality in support of public health and prevention. A theory of epidemiological transition aimed at understanding changes in disease patterns can encompass the role in different conditions and chronic diseases of infections contracted over the life course, and their contribution to disability, morbidity and mortality relative to other causes and determinants.
Alaska Spotlights Its Health Risks from Climate Change
Authors: Poppick Laura
Published: March 2018

No state in the United States has experienced the domino effects of climate change quite as rapidly as Alaska has.
Stepwise evolution of Au micro/nanocrystals from an octahedron into a truncated ditetragonal prism
Authors: Qin Yazhou , Pan Wufan , Yu Dongdong , Lu Yuxiang , Wu Wanghua , Zhou Jianguang
Published: March 2018

Stepwise evolution of Au crystals from a micro-level octahedron to a nano-level truncated ditetragonal prism was achieved by a one pot synthesis method.
Regulating structural dimensionality and emission colors by organic conjugation between SmIII at a fixed distance
Authors: Xu Hai-Bing , Wang Jie , Chen Xue-Li , Xu Peng , Xiong Kang-Tai , Guan Dao-Bin , Deng Jian-Guo , Deng Zhi-Hua , Kurmoo Mohamedally , Zeng Ming-Hua
Published: March 2018

Linking by similar lengths but different conjugated diphosphine dioxides, various topological structures and emission colors of samarium(iii) complexes was achieved.
Low temperature synthesis route and structural characterization of (Bi0.5A0.5)(Sc0.5Nb0.5)O3 (A = K+ and Na+) perovskites
Authors: Surta T. Wesley , Manjón-Sanz Alicia , Qian Eric , Tran T. Thao , Dolgos Michelle R.
Published: March 2018

First report of the phase pure synthesis and crystal structure determination for Bi0.5A0.5(Sc0.5Ta0.5)O3 (A = K+, Na+).
Photoredox-catalyzed direct aminoalkylation of isatins: diastereoselective access to 3-hydroxy-3-aminoalkylindolin-2-ones analogues
Authors: Wang Chao-Ming , Song Dan , Xia Peng-Ju , Ye Zhi-Peng , Xiao Jun-An , Xiang Hao-Yue , Chen Xiao-Qing , Yang Hua
Published: March 2018

A practical protocol for the direct aminoalkylation of isatins with tetrahydroisoquinolines and other aminesviaa photoredox catalyzed radical–radical cross-coupling process is described.
Hand geometry based user identification using minimal edge connected hand image graph
Authors: Angadi Shanmukhappa , Hatture Sanjeevakumar
Published: March 2018

In a previously reported work, the user's hand is represented as a weighted undirected complete connected graph and spectral properties of the graph are extracted and used as feature vectors. To reduce the complexity in representing the hand image as a complete connected graph and to achieve the higher identification rate, the hand image is sought to be represented as minimal edge connected graph. The experiments are conducted separately for 16 topologies of minimal edge connected graph selected empirically to investigate the performance of the hand‐geometry system. The prominent edges of hand image graph are identified experimentally by computing the identification rate. In this study, an innovative peg‐free hand‐geometry‐based user identification system using spectral properties of a minimal edge connected graph representation of hand image is proposed. The multiclass support vector machine is employed for identification of the claimed user. The geometrical information embedded in the prominent edges will contribute to achieve better identification rate. The experimentation is carried on two databases, namely GPDS150 hand database and hand images of VTU‐BEC‐DB multimodal database. The minimal edge connected graph with 30 prominent edges of hand image graph achieves better identification with a faster rate.
Application of generalised cross‐entropy method in probabilistic power flow
Authors: Kazemdehdashti Abolfazl , Mohammadi Mohammad , Seifi Ali Reza
Published: March 2018

This study presents a new powerful method for probability density function (PDF) estimation of the probabilistic power flow problem results. The proposed method works on a prior density function to improve its potential PDF estimation. The generalised cross‐entropy method is used to refine the initial dataset. Most of the existing methods for PDF estimation do not provide a sparse result and rely on approximation and simplification. Compared to the other conventional methods, the proposed method has some remarkable features in density estimation. Low computational burden or high‐speed response and high‐precision results are the most prominent features of the proposed method. The method can deal with a correlated problem which is considered the correlation between uncertain parameters. It is tested on IEEE 14‐bus and IEEE 118‐bus systems, considering the non‐stationary loads, some renewable energy resources and their correlations. The results of the proposed method are compared against more accurate results obtained from Monte Carlo simulation and some other conventional methods in density estimation. Comparisons confirm the high accuracy level and speed of the proposed density estimator against the other methods.
Genetic Regulation of Plasma Levels of Vitamin K-dependent Proteins Involved in Hemostasis
Authors: Almasy Laura , Blangero John , Stone William , Borrell Montse , Urrutia Teresa , Mateo José , Fontcuberta Jordi , Souto Juan Carlos
Published: March 2018

Vitamin K-dependent proteins play a critical role in hemostasis. We have analysed the genetic and environmental correlations between measures of several vitamin K-dependent proteins in 21 Spanish extended families, including 397 individuals. Plasma functional levels of factors II, VII, IX, X, protein C and functional protein S were assayed in an automated coagulometer. Antigenic levels of total and free protein S were measured using an ELISA method. A maximum likelihood-based covariance decomposition analysis was used to assess the heritability of each trait and the genetic and environmental correlations between all possible pairs. All of the plasma levels had a significant genetic component (heritability) ranging from 22% to 52% of the phenotypic variance. Among the 28 possible pairs of genetic correlations, 18 were significant at a level of p <0.05 and six exhibited a p-value between 0.05 and 0.10. Positive environmental correlation was observed for 25 of the pairs (p <0.05). We conclude that genetic effects account for a large proportion of the observed phenotypic variation in vitamin K-dependent proteins. Some of the genes appear to pleiotropically influence all of these traits, since most pairs of phenotypes exhibit significant genetic correlation. However, since these phenotypes show a high degree of environmental correlation, it is also likely that the same environmental factors influence them co-jointly.
Exogenous Factors from Animal Sources that Induce Platelet Aggregation
Authors: Chow Geraldine , Kini R. Manjunatha
Published: March 2018

Platelets clump together by two different processes: agglutination and aggregation. Agglutination is a passive process, independent of the metabolic status of the platelets. It is a physical phenomenon of binding of a protein or glycoprotein, which has two or more binding domains. In contrast, platelet aggregation is a metabolically active, transmembrane process that requires “live” platelets. It involves activation, shape change, secretion and adhesion. Following the change in light transmission in turbidometric aggregometers, one can monitor both the processes. Only agglutination can be induced in formaldehyde-fixed platelets, but not aggregation. PGE1 inhibits aggregation, but not agglutination. Metabolic inhibitors, such as antimycin A and 2-deoxy-D-glucose, are also used to distinguish aggregation and agglutination. Some exogenous factors isolated from animal sources induce platelet agglutination, whereas others induce aggregation. In this inventory, when possible, we will distinguish between these effects. Some of these factors exhibit phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and proteinase activities, whereas others lack enzymatic activity. Aggregation inducers are divided into three main groups: factors that directly act on platelets (Group I); factors that require a plasma component (Group II); and heterogeneous and partially characterized factors with unknown mechanisms (Group III).
The Mechanism of Action of Angiostatin: Can You Teach an Old Dog New Tricks?
Authors: Stack M. , Wahl Miriam , Pizzo Salvatore , Moser Tammy
Published: March 2018

What is angiostatin? In 1994, Folkman and colleagues published a landmark paper describing anti-tumor effects in mice with a purified fragment of plasminogen they named angiostatin (1). Although many papers have been published describing activities of cryptic polypeptides derived from plasminogen fragments, this was the first report which associated plasminogen kringles 1–4 as a suppressor of metastasis development. This review will describe what is known about the mechanism of action of angiostatin from the current literature.
Procoagulant Activity of T Lymphoblastoid Cells due to Exposure of Negatively Charged Phospholipid
Authors: Fábregas P. , Jardi M. , Cancelas J. , Rabaneda M. , Felez J. , Barrowcliffe T.W.
Published: March 2018

We have characterised the Procoagulant activity (PCA) of six well-established cell lines by assays of tissue factor (TF), thrombin and FXa generation, flow cytometry using Annexin V, and by binding studies with Factors VIII and IXa.

The monocytic (THP-1 & U937) and promyelocytic (NB4) cells expressed high concentrations of TF antigen and activity, whereas TF in the lymphocytic cells (Molt 4, Jurkat & Nalm 6) was very low or absent. However the T-lymphoblastoid cells (Molt 4 & Jurkat) promoted the generation of large amounts of thrombin despite their low TF content, and these cells were also the most active in supporting Factor Xa generation. Molt 4 cells bound Factors VIII and IXa with high capacity and their activity was inhibited by Annexin V. These results indicate that the PCA of T-lymphoblastoid lines is due to expression of negatively charged phospholipids. Flow cytometry studies showed Annexin V binding to the major population of nonapoptotic Molt 4 cells and the PCA of Molt 4 was not increased when apoptosis was induced by staurosporine, indicating that PCA is independent of apoptotic status.
Proline-rich Tyrosine Kinase 2 and Focal Adhesion Kinase Are Involved in Different Phases of Platelet Activation by vWF
Authors: Canobbio Ilaria , Lova Paolo , Sinigaglia Fabiola , Balduini Cesare , Torti Mauro
Published: March 2018

Stimulation of human platelets with von Willebrand factor (vWF) induces the rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins, but very little is known on the tyrosine kinases involved in this process. In the present work, we investigated and compared the activation of two related tyrosine kinases expressed in platelets: the proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (Pyk2) and the focal adhesion kinase (FAK). Both kinases were tyrosine phosphorylated upon vWF interaction with glycoprotein Ib-IX-V complex, but with different mechanisms. Tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK was totally dependent on thromboxane A2 production, and was inhibited by the integrin αIIbβ3 antagonist RGDS peptide. Moreover, chelation of intracellular calcium or inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) totally blocked vWF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK, indicating that this event is downstream phospholipase A2 and phospholipase C activation. By contrast, tyrosine phosphorylation of Pyk2 was only partially reduced by aspirin and RGDS, and was not affected by either calcium chelation or PKC inhibition, suggesting that activation of this kinase does not require phospholipase-mediated signalling. Both FAK and Pyk2 translocated to the cytoskeleton upon vWF stimulation of human platelets by a mechanism depending on agonist-induced actin polymerisation. Prevention of cytoskeletal relocation of Pyk2 and FAK by cytochalasin D totally blocked vWFinduced tyrosine phosphorylation of both kinases. Finally, phosphorylation of Pyk2 induced by vWF, but not by thrombin, was inhibited by piceatannol, suggesting that this kinase lies downstream Syk. These results demonstrate that both Pyk2 and FAK are involved in platelet stimulation by vWF, but indicate that only Pyk2 may play a role in the early signal transduction events activated by ligand binding to glycoprotein Ib-IX-V.
Purification and Characterization of a Novel Metalloproteinase, Acurhagin, from
Agkistrodon acutus
Venom
Authors: Wang Wen-Jeng , Huang Tur-Fu
Published: March 2018

Acurhagin, a high-molecular mass hemorrhagic metalloproteinase, was purified from the crude venom of Agkistrodon acutus using anionexchange and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Acurhagin is a monomer with a molecular mass of 51.4 kDa under non-reducing conditions on SDS-PAGE and 48,133 Da by mass spectrometry. Partial amino acid sequence of its metalloproteinase domain is homologous to other high-molecular mass metalloproteinases from snake venoms. It preferentially cleaved Aα. chain of fibrinogen, followed by Bβ chain, while γ chains was minimally affected. Monitored by RP-HPLC, it extensively degraded fibrinogen into various peptide fragments. In aqueous solution, acurhagin autoproteolyzed to a 30 kDa fragment at 37° C. The N-terminal sequence of the 30 kDa fragment of acurhagin showed a high homology to those proteins consisting of disintegrinlike and cysteine-rich domains. Caseinolytic assay showed that the proteinase activity of acurhagin was slightly enhanced by Ca2+ and Mg2+, but completely inhibited by Zn2+. When treated with metal chelators, acurhagin was completely inactivated. Furthermore, acurhagin exerts an inhibitory effect on ADP-induced platelet aggregation of plateletrich plasma in an incubation-time dependent manner. It also impairs collagen- and ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation by cleaving collagen and vWF, respectively.
Elimination of a Human T-cell Region in Staphylokinase by T-cell Screening and Computer Modeling
Authors: Plaisance Stéphane , Vanderlick Kristel , Vandervoort Petra , Brepoels Kathleen , Collen Désiré , De Maeyer Marc , Warmerdam Petra
Published: March 2018

Staphylokinase is a potent highly fibrin-selective thrombolytic agent, but it induces a humoral immune response in most treated patients. Staphylokinase-specific T-lymphocytes can be found in normal healthy individuals, from whom a large panel of staphylokinasespecific T-cells were cloned. The staphylokinase amino acid sequence 71-87 was widely recognized, as it induced proliferation of T-cell clones isolated from 90% of the donors. Computer modeling of this area, threaded as 11-mer peptides within the peptide-binding groove of the major HLA-DR alleles, indicated two putative partially overlapping binding sequences. The region-(71-87)-specific T-cell clones recognized either one or the other minimal peptide, confirming that both sequences could be functional T-cell epitopes. Furthermore, to guide the mutagenesis to eliminate T-cell reactivity, the contribution of each residue to the HLA-DR-anchoring and T-cell receptor exposure was evaluated for both binding motifs. Computer calculations combined with functional assays resulted in the design of staphylokinasevariants, including 2 to 4 amino acid substitutions in the region 71-87. These variants were no longer recognized by the region-(71-87)specific T-cell clones, and importantly no new staphylokinase-variantspecific cellular immune response could be measured.
Reduced High Shear Platelet Adhesion to the Vascular Media: Defective von Willebrand Factor Binding to the Interstitial Collagen
Authors: Komorowicz Erzsebet , McBane Robert , Charlesworth Jon , Fass David
Published: March 2018

Fibrillar collagen serves as a thrombogenic surface for platelet adhesion mediated by von Willebrand factor (vWf) at high shear. Although abundant throughout the arterial wall, vWf-dependent platelet deposition to artery cross-sections from perfused citrated blood is localized to the adventitia of the vessel wall. Here we describe a similarly skewed distribution of vWf-binding sites in artery cross-sections. Binding of vWf-coated fluorescent beads, as well as detection of plasma vWf bound to artery cross-section at 3350 s−1 shear rate with indirect particle-immunofluorescence or immunoelectron microscopy demonstrate vWf binding sites in the adventitia, but not in the media. A monoclonal anti-vWf antibody that interferes with vWf-binding to collagen in a microplate ELISA inhibits vWf-binding to both the adventitia and sections of collagen fibrils. Our data suggest that the media, despite its fibrillar collagen content, evidenced by electron microscopy, is defective for vWf-binding, which may explain its thromboresistant nature at high shear rates.