Self-interest And Public Interest: The Motivations Of Political Actors

Self-Interest and Public Interest in Western Politics showed that the public, politicians, and bureaucrats are often public spirited. But this does not invalidate public-choice theory. Public-choice theory is an ideal type, not a claim that self-interest explains all political behavior. Instead, public-choice theory is useful in creating rules and institutions that guard against the worst case, which would be universal self-interestedness in politics. In contrast, the public-interest hypothesis is neither a comprehensive explanation of political behavior nor a sound basis for institutional design

Autosomal Recessive Cutis Laxa 1C Mutations Disrupt the Structure and Interactions of Latent TGFβ Binding Protein-4

From Frontiers via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: collection 2021, received 2021-05-07, accepted 2021-07-23, epub 2021-09-03Publication status: PublishedLatent TGFβ binding protein-4 (LTBP4) is a multi-domain glycoprotein, essential for regulating the extracellular bioavailability of TGFβ and assembly of elastic fibre proteins, fibrillin-1 and tropoelastin. LTBP4 mutations are linked to autosomal recessive cutis laxa type 1C (ARCL1C), a rare congenital disease characterised by high mortality and severely disrupted connective tissues. Despite the importance of LTBP4, the structure and molecular consequences of disease mutations are unknown. Therefore, we analysed the structural and functional consequences of three ARCL1C causing point mutations which effect highly conserved cysteine residues. Our structural and biophysical data show that the LTBP4 N- and C-terminal regions are monomeric in solution and adopt extended conformations with the mutations resulting in subtle changes to their conformation. Similar to LTBP1, the N-terminal region is relatively inflexible, whereas the C-terminal region is flexible. Interaction studies show that one C-terminal mutation slightly decreases binding to fibrillin-1. We also found that the LTBP4 C-terminal region directly interacts with tropoelastin which is perturbed by both C-terminal ARCL1C mutations, whereas an N-terminal mutation increased binding to fibulin-4 but did not affect the interaction with heparan sulphate. Our results suggest that LTBP4 mutations contribute to ARCL1C by disrupting the structure and interactions of LTBP4 which are essential for elastogenesis in a range of mammalian connective tissues

Uropathic Observations in Mice Expressing a Constitutively Active Point Mutation in the 5-HT_(3A) Receptor Subunit

Mutant mice with a hypersensitive serotonin (5-HT)_(3A) receptor were generated through targeted exon replacement. A valine to serine mutation (V13′S) in the channel-lining M2 domain of the 5-HT_(3A) receptor subunit rendered the 5-HT₃ receptor ∼70-fold more sensitive to serotonin and produced constitutive activity when combined with the 5-HT_(3B) subunit. Mice homozygous for the mutant allele (5-HT_(3A)^(vs/vs)) had decreased levels of 5-HT_(3A) mRNA. Measurements on sympathetic ganglion cells in these mice showed that whole-cell serotonin responses were reduced, and that the remaining 5-HT₃ receptors were hypersensitive. Male 5-HT_(3A)^(vs/vs) mice died at 2-3 months of age, and heterozygous (5-HT_(3A)^(vs/+)) males and homozygous mutant females died at 4-6 months of age from an obstructive uropathy. Both male and female 5-HT_(3A) mutant mice had urinary bladder mucosal and smooth muscle hyperplasia and hypertrophy, whereas male mutant mice had additional prostatic smooth muscle and urethral hyperplasia. 5-HT_(3A) mutant mice had marked voiding dysfunction characterized by a loss of micturition contractions with overflow incontinence. Detrusor strips from 5-HT_(3A)^(vs/vs) mice failed to contract to neurogenic stimulation, despite overall normal responses to a cholinergic agonist, suggestive of altered neuronal signaling in mutant mouse bladders. Consistent with this hypothesis, decreased nerve fiber immunoreactivity was observed in the urinary bladders of 5-HT_(3A)^(vs/vs) compared with 5-HT_(3A) wild-type (5-HT_(3A)^(+/+)) mice. These data suggest that persistent activation of the hypersensitive and constitutively active 5-HT_(3A) receptor in vivo may lead to excitotoxic neuronal cell death and functional changes in the urinary bladder, resulting in bladder hyperdistension, urinary retention, and overflow incontinence

Revista de Vertebrados de la Estación Biológica de Doñana

Captura de Petromyzon marinus lo en las Marismas del GuadalquivirEstudio sobre la Lagartiia de Valverde Algyroides marchi (Reptilia, Lacertidae)Dimorfismo sexual en Psammodromuus algirus (Reptilia, Lacertidae)Mecanismos de parasitización por Clamator glandarius y defensa por Pica pica.Nidificación de Cyanopica cyana en Doñana.Reproducción de la Urraca (P.pica) en DoñanaNesting relationship between Columba palambus and Milvus migransBiometría y dimorfismo sexual en el Calamón (Polphyrio porphyrio).Sobre sexo, mecanismos y proceso de reproducciónen el Buitre Leonado (Gyps fulvus)Aves anilladas por la Estación Biológica de Doñana. Informe Nº 1. (Años 1964 a 1971)Dimorfismo sexual y diferenciación de edades en Sturnus unicolor Temm.Contribución al estudio de la biología y ecología del Lirón Careto, Eliomys quercinus Linnaeus 1766, en Iberia Central, Parte 1: Crecimiento, Reproducción y Nidificación.Sobre el Lobo (Canis lupus) ibérico:1. Dimorfismo sexual en cráneosMorfología y dimorfismo sexual de la pelvis de Pitymys duodecimcostatusAlgunos aspectos del diformismo sexual en el cráneo de las Ginetas españolas, (Genetta genetta) (L.) 1758Peer reviewe

Diagnostic work-up and loss of tuberculosis suspects in Jogjakarta, Indonesia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Early and accurate diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is critical for successful TB control. To assist in the diagnosis of smear-negative pulmonary TB, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends the use of a diagnostic algorithm. Our study evaluated the implementation of the national tuberculosis programme's diagnostic algorithm in routine health care settings in Jogjakarta, Indonesia. The diagnostic algorithm is based on the WHO TB diagnostic algorithm, which had already been implemented in the health facilities.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We prospectively documented the diagnostic work-up of all new tuberculosis suspects until a diagnosis was reached. We used clinical audit forms to record each step chronologically. Data on the patient's gender, age, symptoms, examinations (types, dates, and results), and final diagnosis were collected.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Information was recorded for 754 TB suspects; 43.5% of whom were lost during the diagnostic work-up in health centres, 0% in lung clinics. Among the TB suspects who completed diagnostic work-ups, 51.1% and 100.0% were diagnosed without following the national TB diagnostic algorithm in health centres and lung clinics, respectively. However, the work-up in the health centres and lung clinics generally conformed to international standards for tuberculosis care (ISTC). Diagnostic delays were significantly longer in health centres compared to lung clinics.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The high rate of patients lost in health centres needs to be addressed through the implementation of TB suspect tracing and better programme supervision. The national TB algorithm needs to be revised and differentiated according to the level of care.</p

SN 2012fr: Ultraviolet, Optical, and Near-infrared Light Curves of a Type Ia Supernova Observed within a Day of Explosion

We present detailed ultraviolet, optical, and near-infrared light curves of the Type Ia supernova (SN) 2012fr, which exploded in the Fornax cluster member NGC 1365. These precise high-cadence light curves provide a dense coverage of the flux evolution from −12 to +140 days with respect to the epoch of B-band maximum (tBmax). Supplementary imaging at the earliest epochs reveals an initial slow and nearly linear rise in luminosity with a duration of ∼2.5 days, followed by a faster rising phase that is well reproduced by an explosion model with a moderate amount of 56Ni mixing in the ejecta. From our analysis of the light curves, we conclude that: (i) the explosion occurred 1800 Å) luminosity was 16.5 ± 0.6 days, (iii) the supernova suffered little or no host-galaxy dust reddening, (iv) the peak luminosity in both the optical and near-infrared was consistent with the bright end of normal Type Ia diversity, and (v) 0.60 ± 0.15 M⊙ of 56Ni was synthesized in the explosion. Despite its normal luminosity, SN 2012fr displayed unusually prevalent high-velocity Ca II and Si II absorption features, and a nearly constant photospheric velocity of the Si II λ6355 line at ∼12,000 km s-1 that began ∼5 days before tBmax. We also highlight some of the other peculiarities in the early phase photometry and the spectral evolution. SN 2012fr also adds to a growing number of Type Ia supernovae that are hosted by galaxies with direct Cepheid distance measurements.Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y GeofísicasInstituto de Astrofísica de La Plat

High Prevalence of Tuberculosis and Serious Bloodstream Infections in Ambulatory Individuals Presenting for Antiretroviral Therapy in Malawi

Background Tuberculosis (TB) and serious bloodstream infections (BSI) may contribute to the high early mortality observed among patients qualifying for antiretroviral therapy (ART) with unexplained weight loss, chronic fever or chronic diarrhea. Methods and Findings A prospective cohort study determined the prevalence of undiagnosed TB or BSI among ambulatory HIV-infected adults with unexplained weight loss and/or chronic fever, or diarrhea in two routine program settings in Malawi. Subjects with positive expectorated sputum smears for AFB were excluded. Investigations Bacterial and mycobacterial blood cultures, cryptococcal antigen test (CrAg), induced sputum (IS) for TB microscopy and solid culture, full blood count and CD4 lymphocyte count. Among 469 subjects, 52 (11%) had microbiological evidence of TB; 50 (11%) had a positive (non-TB) blood culture and/or positive CrAg. Sixty-five additional TB cases were diagnosed on clinical and radiological grounds. Nontyphoidal Salmonellae (NTS) were the most common blood culture pathogens (29 cases; 6% of participants and 52% of bloodstream isolates). Multivariate analysis of baseline clinical and hematological characteristics found significant independent associations between oral candidiasis or lymphadenopathy and TB, marked CD4 lymphopenia and NTS infection, and severe anemia and either infection, but low positive likelihood ratios (<2 for all combinations). Conclusions We observed a high prevalence of TB and serious BSI, particularly NTS, in a program cohort of chronically ill HIV-infected outpatients. Baseline clinical and hematological characteristics were inadequate predictors of infection. HIV clinics need better rapid screening tools for TB and BSI. Clinical trials to evaluate empiric TB or NTS treatment are required in similar populations

How Past and Present Influence the Foraging of Clonal Plants?

Clonal plants spreading horizontally and forming a network structure of ramets exhibit complex growth patterns to maximize resource uptake from the environment. They respond to spatial heterogeneity by changing their internode length or branching frequency. Ramets definitively root in the soil but stay interconnected for a varying period of time thus allowing an exchange of spatial and temporal information. We quantified the foraging response of clonal plants depending on the local soil quality sampled by the rooting ramet (i.e. the present information) and the resource variability sampled by the older ramets (i.e. the past information). We demonstrated that two related species, Potentilla reptans and P. anserina, responded similarly to the local quality of their environment by decreasing their internode length in response to nutrient-rich soil. Only P. reptans responded to resource variability by decreasing its internode length. In both species, the experience acquired by older ramets influenced the plastic response of new rooted ramets: the internode length between ramets depended not only on the soil quality locally sampled but also on the soil quality previously sampled by older ramets. We quantified the effect of the information perceived at different time and space on the foraging behavior of clonal plants by showing a non-linear response of the ramet rooting in the soil of a given quality. These data suggest that the decision to grow a stolon or to root a ramet at a given distance from the older ramet results from the integration of the past and present information about the richness and the variability of the environment

Mortality Surveillance Methods to Identify and Characterize Deaths in Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance Network Sites

Despite reductions over the past 2 decades, childhood mortality remains high in low- and middle-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. In these settings, children often die at home, without contact with the health system, and are neither accounted for, nor attributed with a cause of death. In addition, when cause of death determinations occur, they often use nonspecific methods. Consequently, findings from models currently utilized to build national and global estimates of causes of death are associated with substantial uncertainty. Higher-quality data would enable stakeholders to effectively target interventions for the leading causes of childhood mortality, a critical component to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by eliminating preventable perinatal and childhood deaths. The Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) Network tracks the causes of under-5 mortality and stillbirths at sites in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia through comprehensive mortality surveillance, utilizing minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS), postmortem laboratory and pathology testing, verbal autopsy, and clinical and demographic data. CHAMPS sites have established facility- and community-based mortality notification systems, which aim to report potentially eligible deaths, defined as under-5 deaths and stillbirths within a defined catchment area, within 24-36 hours so that MITS can be conducted quickly after death. Where MITS has been conducted, a final cause of death is determined by an expert review panel. Data on cause of death will be provided to local, national, and global stakeholders to inform strategies to reduce perinatal and childhood mortality in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia