bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Understanding Child Prostitution in Thailand in the 1990s
Authors: Montgomery Heather 
Published: April 2015

AbstractChild prostitution in Thailand became visible in the 1990s. Fueled by accounts by media and nongovernmental organizations, the problem was cast as a straightforward moral issue of coercive parents, helpless child victims, and evil perpetrators. Legal interventions that prosecuted parents and clients were put in place to solve the problem. However, these policies failed to consider ethnographic research on how children and families understood prostitution, and the role it played in their kinship systems and moral economies. In this article, I look at how the problem has been conceptualized. I argue that without a fuller understanding of family relationships and the reciprocal obligations between children and parents, and without listening to children themselves, interventions to protect children were bound to fail.
Smoking, alcohol use, socioeconomic background and oral health among young Finnish adults
Authors: Tanner Tarja , Päkkilä Jari , Karjalainen Kaisa , Kämppi Antti , Järvelin Marjo‐Riitta , Patinen Pertti , Tjäderhane Leo , Anttonen Vuokko 
Published: April 2015

AbstractObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of smoking and alcohol use in association with dental caries experience and signs of periodontal disease in a Finnish male group born in the early 1990s. The impacts of health behaviour and socioeconomic factors were included in the analyses.MethodsOral health of 8539 conscripts was screened in a cross‐sectional study (DT, DMFT and CPI). They also answered a questionnaire covering their habits of smoking and alcohol use as well as other behaviours and background factors. The bleeding on probing index (BOP) was available on 6529 conscripts. Cross‐tabulation together with a chi‐squared test and generalized linear mixed models were used in the analyses. A mosaic figure was used to illustrate associations of smoking frequency, use of dental services and toothache.ResultsMajority (80.9%) in the study group consumed alcohol at least once a month, and 39.4% were daily smokers. Smoking was statistically significantly associated with high caries experience and high bleeding values of gums. Consumption of alcohol was not associated with dental caries and periodontal disease. The high BOP value had the strongest association with infrequent tooth brushing and smoking. The participant's own education level was the main protective factor of oral health. The smokers used dental services more frequently compared to the non‐smokers mostly for acute care.ConclusionsYoung men's health behaviour, especially of those with low education, does not promote oral health, which may indicate need for extensive healthcare services in the future. Health promotion should not be neglected.
The anti-inflammatory effect of combined complement and CD14 inhibition is preserved during escalating bacterial load
Authors: Egge Kjetil H , Barratt-Due Andreas , Nymo Stig , Lindstad Julie K , Pharo Anne , Lau Corinna , Espevik Terje , Thorgersen Ebbe B , Mollnes Tom E 
Published: April 2015

Summary
Combined inhibition of complement and CD14 is known to attenuate bacterial-induced inflammation, but the dependency of the bacterial load on this effect is unknown. Thus, we investigated whether the effect of such combined inhibition on Escherichia coli- and Staphylococcus aureus-induced inflammation was preserved during increasing bacterial concentrations. Human whole blood was preincubated with anti-CD14, eculizumab (C5-inhibitor) or compstatin (C3-inhibitor), or combinations thereof. Then heat-inactivated bacteria were added at final concentrations of 5 × 104−1 × 108/ml (E. coli) or 5 × 107−4 × 108/ml (S. aureus). Inflammatory markers were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), multiplex technology and flow cytometry. Combined inhibition of complement and CD14 significantly (P &lt; 0.05) reduced E. coli-induced interleukin (IL)-6 by 40–92% at all bacterial concentrations. IL-1β, IL-8 and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1α were significantly (P &lt; 0.05) inhibited by 53–100%, and the effect was lost only at the highest bacterial concentration. Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and MIP-1β were significantly (P &lt; 0.05) reduced by 80–97% at the lowest bacterial concentration. Monocyte and granulocyte CD11b were significantly (P &lt; 0.05) reduced by 63–91% at all bacterial doses. Lactoferrin was significantly (P &lt; 0.05) attenuated to the level of background activity at the lowest bacterial concentration. Similar effects were observed for S. aureus, but the attenuation was, in general, less pronounced. Compared to E. coli, much higher concentrations of S. aureus were required to induce the same cytokine responses. This study demonstrates generally preserved effects of combined complement and CD14 inhibition on Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial-induced inflammation during escalating bacterial load. The implications of these findings for future therapy of sepsis are discussed.
A MACROECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF ENERGY SUBSIDIES IN A SMALL OPEN ECONOMY
Authors: Glomm Gerhard , Jung Juergen 
Published: April 2015

AbstractWe construct a dynamic model of a small open economy to analyze the effects of large energy subsidies. The model includes domestic energy production and consumption, trade in energy at world market prices, as well as private and public sector production. The model is calibrated to Egypt and used to study reforms such as reductions in energy subsidies with corresponding reductions in various tax instruments or increases in infrastructure investment. We calculate the new steady states, transition paths to the new steady state, and the size of the associated welfare losses or gains. Our main results for a 15% cut in energy subsidies are: (1) Steady state gross domestic product drops in most of our experiments as less energy is used in production. (2) Steady state consumption rises in most of our experiments. (3) Welfare can rise by as much as 0.6% in consumption equivalent terms. (4) The largest gains in terms of output and of welfare can be obtained when savings from energy subsidy cuts are used to fund additional infrastructure investment. (JEL E21, E63, H55, J26, J45)
Contribution of habitat type to residency and dispersal choices by overwintered and summer adult Colorado potato beetles
Authors: Boiteau Gilles , MacKinley Pamela 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThe walking and flight dispersal of marked overwintered and summer Colorado potato beetles (CPB), Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), released in field box‐plots was monitored simultaneously in six habitats over a period of 4 days. The emigration out of plots by walking beetles was calculated from the catch in linear pitfall traps completely surrounding each box‐plot and emigration flight was estimated from the number of beetles missing from the plot or captured by the trap. Overwintered beetles dispersed sooner after release than summer beetles. Overall, the mean number of beetles retained by the habitat was significantly higher in the host habitat (potato) than in any non‐host habitat tested (soybean, pasture, bare ground, water, woodland). Unexpectedly, there was no or little difference in overall beetle retention between non‐host habitats except for higher retention in the water habitat. No difference in the ratio of flight over walking could be detected by the study between overwintered and summer CPB except in the water and woodland habitats. Twenty‐four hours after release, the highest ratios were obtained in the water and woodland habitats and the lowest in the bare‐ground habitat, but ratios were similar for all habitats, except water, after 96 h. As a population, under these experimental conditions, 96 h after release, it seems that CPB displayed a slight preference for flight over walking, with walking as a default mode. A fed and starved pre‐release treatment had no effect on dispersal rates or mode of dispersal. Essentially, our results showed that over a 96‐h period, northeastern North American CPB emigrated at similar rates from the various non‐host habitats encountered, except for water, using walking as much as flight. The host habitat retained CPB significantly longer than non‐host habitats but with a mode of dispersal ratio similar to that in non‐host habitats. The impact on dispersal of the various habitats encountered by CPB in the agro‐ecosystem was less important than expected suggesting that the interaction of environmental parameters is likely to have the most significant impact in determining dispersal rates and dispersal modes.
Win, Lose, or Draw: Effects of Residency, Size, Sex, and Kinship on High‐Stakes Larval Contests in a Moth
Authors: Walsh Justin T. , Iyengar Vikram K. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractMany factors can affect the outcome of a competitive interaction. One such factor is the relatedness between competitors as competitive intensity may decrease between kin. Because adult females lay eggs in clusters, larvae of the moth Utetheisa ornatrix are likely to be found in high densities of their siblings. Larval U. ornatrix actively compete for access into seedpods of their host plant (Crotalaria spp.), and successful competitors will reap numerous reproductive benefits during adulthood. The objective of this study was to determine whether residency, size, sex, and relatedness affect competition over seedpods in U. ornatrix larvae. In one‐on‐one trials for access into artificial seedpods, we monitored occupancy and weight change of larvae varying in residency, size, sex, and relatedness. We found that larger larvae have a competitive advantage over smaller larvae. This finding has consequences for the mating system of U. ornatrix in that females, by selecting males based on pheromone levels that are correlated with body size, can rear larger offspring that will have an advantage in competition over seedpods. These data did not support our hypothesis that males would outcompete females, perhaps because the rewards of acquiring a seedpod are substantial for both sexes. Finally, our data show that resident larvae are more likely to maintain control of seedpods over sibling than non‐siblings intruders, which suggests that relatedness affects competitive interactions.
β‐Estradiol results in a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9‐dependent increase in low‐density lipoprotein receptor levels in human hepatic HuH7 cells
Authors: Starr Amanda E. , Lemieux Valérie , Noad Jenny , Moore Jasmine I. , Dewpura Thilina , Raymond Angela , Chrétien Michel , Figeys Daniel , Mayne Janice 
Published: April 2015

The lower risk of coronary artery disease in premenopausal women than in men and postmenopausal women implicates sex steroids in cardioprotective processes. β‐Estradiol upregulates liver low‐density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), which, in turn, decreases circulating levels of low‐density lipoprotein, which is a risk factor for coronary artery disease. Conversely, LDLR protein is negatively regulated by proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9). Herein, we investigated PCSK9 regulation by β‐estradiol and its impact on LDLR in human hepatocarcinoma HuH7 cells grown in the presence or absence of β‐estradiol. Immunoblot analysis showed upregulation of LDLR at 3 μm β‐estradiol (140%), and the upregulation reached 220% at 10 μm β‐estradiol; only at the latter dose was an increase in LDLR mRNA detected by qPCR, suggesting post‐translational regulation of LDLR. No changes in PCSK9 mRNA or secreted protein levels were detected by qPCR or ELISA, respectively. β‐estradiol‐conditioned medium devoid of PCSK9 failed to upregulate LDLR. Similarly, PCSK9 knockdown cells showed no upregulation of LDLR by β‐estradiol. Together, these results indicate a requirement for PCSK9 in the β‐estradiol‐induced upregulation of LDLR. A radiolabeling assay showed a significant, dose‐dependent decrease in the ratio of secreted phosphoPCSK9 to total secreted PCSK9 with increasing β‐estradiol levels, suggesting a change in the functional state of PCSK9 in the presence of β‐estradiol. Our results indicate that the protein upregulation of LDLR at subtranscriptionally effective doses of β‐estradiol, and its supratranscriptional upregulation at 10 μm β‐estradiol, occur through an extracellular PCSK9‐dependent mechanism.
Using a Corpus in a 300‐Level Spanish Grammar Course
Authors: Benavides Carlos 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThe present study examined the use and effectiveness of a large corpus—the Corpus del Español (Davies, 2002)—in a 300‐level Spanish grammar university course. Students conducted hands‐on corpus searches with the goal of finding concordances containing particular types of collocations (combinations of words that tend to co‐occur) and tokens (any occurrence of a word or sequence of words), then used these examples from authentic texts in order to better understand and use the grammatical concepts under consideration (e.g., preterite vs. imperfect, ser and estar). The study was designed to better inform language educators' understanding of the extent to which access to, and active use of, a large corpus helped students better understand and use particular grammatical concepts and structures. Qualitative and quantitative data obtained from a student survey offer evidence that the corpus was an effective learning tool and represented an innovative use of technology.
Temperature and snowfall trigger alpine vegetation green‐up on the world's roof
Authors: Chen Xiaoqiu , An Shuai , Inouye David W. , Schwartz Mark D. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractRapid temperature increase and its impacts on alpine ecosystems in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, the world's highest and largest plateau, are a matter of global concern. Satellite observations have revealed distinctly different trend changes and contradicting temperature responses of vegetation green‐up dates, leading to broad debate about the Plateau's spring phenology and its climatic attribution. Large uncertainties in remote‐sensing estimates of phenology significantly limit efforts to predict the impacts of climate change on vegetation growth and carbon balance in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, which are further exacerbated by a lack of detailed ground observation calibration. Here, we revealed the spatiotemporal variations and climate drivers of ground‐based herbaceous plant green‐up dates using 72 green‐up datasets for 22 herbaceous plant species at 23 phenological stations, and corresponding daily mean air temperature and daily precipitation data from 19 climate stations across eastern and southern parts of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau from 1981 to 2011. Results show that neither the continuously advancing trend from 1982 to 2011, nor a turning point in the mid to late 1990s as reported by remote‐sensing studies can be verified by most of the green‐up time series, and no robust evidence for a warmer winter‐induced later green‐up dates can be detected. Thus, chilling requirements may not be an important driver influencing green‐up responses to spring warming. Moreover, temperature‐only control of green‐up dates appears mainly at stations with relatively scarce preseason snowfall and lower elevation, while coupled temperature and precipitation controls of green‐up dates occur mostly at stations with relatively abundant preseason snowfall and higher elevation. The diversified interactions between snowfall and temperature during late winter to early spring likely determine the spatiotemporal variations of green‐up dates. Therefore, prediction of vegetation growth and carbon balance responses to global climate change on the world's roof should integrate both temperature and snowfall variations.
Rating Agencies – An Experimental Analysis of Their Remuneration Model
Authors: Bühren Christoph , Pleßner Marco 
Published: April 2015

AbstractDoes it matter who pays for ratings? Yes, but not for the rating agencies’ behavior. These are the findings of our experiment where we analyze the effect of the remuneration model of rating agencies on their assessments as well as on investors’ and issuers’ behavior. First, we find that rating agencies’ assessments are comparable whether the agency is (partially) paid by issuers, investors or solely by the experimenter. Issuers, on the other hand, more often do not return investor’s trust when they or investors pay for ratings. Further, investors more often act according to the agencies’ recommendations when they have to pay for this information.
Assessing subjective quality of life domains after multiple sclerosis diagnosis disclosure
Authors: Mattarozzi Katia , Casini Federica , Baldin Elisa , Baldini Martina , Lugaresi Alessandra , Milani Paola , Pietrolongo Erika , Gajofatto Alberto , Leone Maurizio , Riise Trond , Vignatelli Luca , D'Alessandro Roberto ,   G.E.Ro.N.I.Mu.S. group
Published: April 2015

AbstractBackground and ObjectiveAn investigation of the domains Italian patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) named as constituting their quality of life over time.DesignWe assessed, in 68 patients, QoL domains using the Schedule for the Evaluation of Individual QoL: (a) before MS diagnosis disclosure, (b) thirty days after disclosure, and (c) after one and (d) four years’ follow‐up.ResultsThe life domains most frequently named by patients were as follows: Family, Work and Finance, Hobbies, Health, Relationship with Friends and Job Effectiveness. Only Health and Job Effectiveness domains varied with time. The Health domain became a critical dimension when MS diagnosis was revealed. In addition, patients tended to be more satisfied with their health after disclosure compared to pre‐diagnosis. Job Effectiveness seemed to be an important aspect until 1 year after diagnosis disclosure, but it tended to become less crucial over time. Family seems to be the most important domain over time, and psychological adaptation to MS seems to be characterized by a reconceptualization of aspects that revolve around oneself, such as professional success, rather than relational or affective factors.ConclusionsEvaluating the most relevant life domains for patients and their alteration over time may provide practitioners with an important tool in making health‐related decisions, thus improving health outcomes and QoL.
Impact of the 2013 American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists guideline recommendations for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) testing of invasive breast carcinoma: a focus on tumours assessed as ‘equivocal’ for HER2 gene amplification by fluorescence in‐situ hybridization
Authors: Bethune Gillian C , Veldhuijzen van Zanten Daniel , MacIntosh Rebecca F , Rayson Daniel , Younis Tallal , Thompson Kara , Barnes Penny J 
Published: April 2015

AimsThe updated 2013 American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists (ASCO/CAP) human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) testing guidelines include changes to HER2 in‐situ hybridization (ISH) interpretation criteria. We conducted a retrospective review of a consecutive cohort of primary breast carcinomas to assess the impact of updated guidelines on HER2 classification and laboratory resource utilization, and to characterize the pathobiology of HER2 equivocal tumours.Methods and resultsA total of 904 dual‐probe HER2/chromosome enumeration probe (CEP17) FISH tests on invasive breast carcinomas were studied. Eighty‐five (9.4%) cases had a classification change with the updated guidelines; 66 (7.3%) went from HER2‐negative to ‐equivocal, 15 cases (1.7%) were reclassified as HER2‐positive and four cases from HER2‐equivocal to ‐negative. A subset of primary breast cancers, reported initially as HER2‐negative but ‐equivocal by 2013 guidelines, was identified. Traditional pathological factors of this subset were compared to HER2‐negative and ‐positive control cases. The three HER2 groups demonstrated statistically significant differences with respect to prognostic factors, including tumour size, grade and nodal involvement.ConclusionsThe updated HER2 testing guidelines will result in the reclassification of approximately 9.4% of primary breast cancers with uncertainty regarding the clinical impact of this reclassification in the majority of cases. Resource utilization will increase as a result of the recommendation for retesting.
Adenoma‐like adenocarcinoma: a subtype of colorectal carcinoma with good prognosis, deceptive appearance on biopsy and frequent KRAS mutation
Authors: Gonzalez Raul S , Cates Justin M M , Washington Mary Kay , Beauchamp Robert Daniel , Coffey Robert J , Shi Chanjuan 
Published: April 2015

AimsA subset of colorectal carcinomas (CRCs) architecturally and cytologically resembles adenomatous change, making them difficult to diagnose on biopsy. This subset has not been well characterized to date.Methods and resultsFor 35 carcinomas with adenomatous‐like areas (cytological and surface architectural appearance that would be insufficient to warrant a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma if evaluated on biopsy), we recorded staging information, molecular data, clinical outcome, whether precursor adenoma was present and whether previous biopsy had been diagnosed as malignant. Despite advanced T‐category in 23 (66%) tumours, only seven (20%) had nodal metastases, and only five patients (15%) developed distant metastases. Fifteen cases (43%) had been diagnosed as adenoma on biopsy. Twenty‐one resections (60%) showed no residual associated adenoma, including nine called adenoma on biopsy. Median follow‐up was 44 months. Four patients (12%) died of disease; 22 were alive at last follow‐up. KRAS mutation was seen in 14 of 24 (58%) and four of 17 (24%) were microsatellite‐unstable. Patients had significantly improved survival compared to a cohort of patients with conventional well‐differentiated CRC after controlling for age and stage (P = 0.011).ConclusionsAdenoma‐like adenocarcinoma is an uncommon variant of CRC with a low rate of metastasis and good prognosis. Biopsy diagnosis of this lesion may be challenging.
Reliable Robust Regression Diagnostics
Authors: Salini Silvia , Cerioli Andrea , Laurini Fabrizio , Riani Marco 
Published: April 2015

SummaryMotivated by the requirement of controlling the number of false discoveries that arises in several application fields, we study the behaviour of diagnostic procedures obtained from popular high‐breakdown regression estimators when no outlier is present in the data. We find that the empirical error rates for many of the available techniques are surprisingly far from the prescribed nominal level. Therefore, we propose a simulation‐based approach to correct the liberal diagnostics and reach reliable inferences. We provide evidence that our approach performs well in a wide range of settings of practical interest and for a variety of robust regression techniques, thus showing general appeal. We also evaluate the loss of power that can be expected from our corrections under different contamination schemes and show that this loss is often not dramatic. Finally, we detail some possible extensions that may further enhance the applicability of the method.