Global, regional, and national age–sex specifi c all-cause and cause-specifi c mortality for 240 causes of death, 1990–2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013

Background Up-to-date evidence on levels and trends for age-sex-specific all-cause and cause-specific mortality is essential for the formation of global, regional, and national health policies. In the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013 (GBD 2013) we estimated yearly deaths for 188 countries between 1990, and 2013. We used the results to assess whether there is epidemiological convergence across countries. Methods We estimated age-sex-specific all-cause mortality using the GBD 2010 methods with some refinements to improve accuracy applied to an updated database of vital registration, survey, and census data. We generally estimated cause of death as in the GBD 2010. Key improvements included the addition of more recent vital registration data for 72 countries, an updated verbal autopsy literature review, two new and detailed data systems for China, and more detail for Mexico, UK, Turkey, and Russia. We improved statistical models for garbage code redistribution. We used six different modelling strategies across the 240 causes; cause of death ensemble modelling (CODEm) was the dominant strategy for causes with sufficient information. Trends for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias were informed by meta-regression of prevalence studies. For pathogen-specific causes of diarrhoea and lower respiratory infections we used a counterfactual approach. We computed two measures of convergence (inequality) across countries: the average relative difference across all pairs of countries (Gini coefficient) and the average absolute difference across countries. To summarise broad findings, we used multiple decrement life-tables to decompose probabilities of death from birth to exact age 15 years, from exact age 15 years to exact age 50 years, and from exact age 50 years to exact age 75 years, and life expectancy at birth into major causes. For all quantities reported, we computed 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs). We constrained cause-specific fractions within each age-sex-country-year group to sum to all-cause mortality based on draws from the uncertainty distributions. Findings Global life expectancy for both sexes increased from 65·3 years (UI 65·0–65·6) in 1990, to 71·5 years (UI 71·0–71·9) in 2013, while the number of deaths increased from 47·5 million (UI 46·8–48·2) to 54·9 million (UI 53·6–56·3) over the same interval. Global progress masked variation by age and sex: for children, average absolute differences between countries decreased but relative differences increased. For women aged 25–39 years and older than 75 years and for men aged 20–49 years and 65 years and older, both absolute and relative differences increased. Decomposition of global and regional life expectancy showed the prominent role of reductions in age-standardised death rates for cardiovascular diseases and cancers in high-income regions, and reductions in child deaths from diarrhoea, lower respiratory infections, and neonatal causes in low-income regions. HIV/AIDS reduced life expectancy in southern sub-Saharan Africa. For most communicable causes of death both numbers of deaths and age-standardised death rates fell whereas for most non-communicable causes, demographic shifts have increased numbers of deaths but decreased age-standardised death rates. Global deaths from injury increased by 10·7%, from 4·3 million deaths in 1990 to 4·8 million in 2013; but age-standardised rates declined over the same period by 21%. For some causes of more than 100 000 deaths per year in 2013, age-standardised death rates increased between 1990 and 2013, including HIV/AIDS, pancreatic cancer, atrial fibrillation and flutter, drug use disorders, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and sickle-cell anaemias. Diarrhoeal diseases, lower respiratory infections, neonatal causes, and malaria are still in the top five causes of death in children younger than 5 years. The most important pathogens are rotavirus for diarrhoea and pneumococcus for lower respiratory infections. Country-specific probabilities of death over three phases of life were substantially varied between and within regions. Interpretation For most countries, the general pattern of reductions in age-sex specific mortality has been associated with a progressive shift towards a larger share of the remaining deaths caused by non-communicable disease and injuries. Assessing epidemiological convergence across countries depends on whether an absolute or relative measure of inequality is used. Nevertheless, age-standardised death rates for seven substantial causes are increasing, suggesting the potential for reversals in some countries. Important gaps exist in the empirical data for cause of death estimates for some countries; for example, no national data for India are available for the past decade.

Genetic, functional, and histopathological evaluation of two C-terminal BRCA1 missense variants

Background: The vast majority of BRCA1 missense sequence variants remain uncharacterised for their possible effect on protein expression and function, and therefore are unclassified in terms of their pathogenicity. BRCA1 plays diverse cellular roles and it is unlikely that any single functional assay will accurately reflect the total cellular implications of missense mutations in this gene. Objective: To elucidate the effect of two BRCA1 variants, 5236G>C (G1706A) and 5242C>A (A1708E) on BRCA1 function, and to survey the relative usefulness of several assays to direct the characterisation of other unclassified variants in BRCA genes. Methods and Results: Data from a range of bioinformatic, genetic, and histopathological analyses, and in vitro functional assays indicated that the 1708E variant was associated with the disruption of different cellular functions of BRCA1. In transient transfection experiments in T47D and 293T cells, the 1708E product was mislocalised to the cytoplasm and induced centrosome amplification in 293T cells. The 1708E variant also failed to transactivate transcription of reporter constructs in mammalian transcriptional transactivation assays. In contrast, the 1706A variant displayed a phenotype comparable to wildtype BRCA1 in these assays. Consistent with functional data, tumours from 1708E carriers showed typical BRCA1 pathology, while tumour material from 1706A carriers displayed few histopathological features associated with BRCA1 related tumours. Conclusions: A comprehensive range of genetic, bioinformatic, and functional analyses have been combined for the characterisation of BRCA1 unclassified sequence variants. Consistent with the functional analyses, the combined odds of causality calculated for the 1706A variant after multifactorial likelihood analysis (1:142) indicates a definitive classification of this variant as "benign". In contrast, functional assays of the 1708E variant indicate that it is pathogenic, possibly through subcellular mislocalisation. However, the combined odds of 262:1 in favour of causality of this variant does not meet the minimal ratio of 1000:1 for classification as pathogenic, and A1708E remains formally designated as unclassified. Our findings highlight the importance of comprehensive genetic information, together with detailed functional analysis for the definitive categorisation of unclassified sequence variants. This combination of analyses may have direct application to the characterisation of other unclassified variants in BRCA1 and BRCA2.

Inverse Correlation between Vitamin D and C-Reactive Protein in Newborns

Some studies suggested that adequate vitamin D might reduce inflammation in adults. However, little is known about this association in early life. We aimed to determine the relationship between cord blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in neonates. Cord blood levels of 25(OH)D and CRP were measured in 1491 neonates in Hefei, China. Potential confounders including maternal sociodemographic characteristics, perinatal health status, lifestyle, and birth outcomes were prospectively collected. The average values of cord blood 25(OH)D and CRP were 39.43 nmol/L (SD = 20.35) and 6.71 mg/L (SD = 3.07), respectively. Stratified by 25(OH)D levels, per 10 nmol/L increase in 25(OH)D, CRP decreased by 1.42 mg/L (95% CI: 0.90, 1.95) among neonates with 25(OH)D <25.0 nmol/L, and decreased by 0.49 mg/L (95% CI: 0.17, 0.80) among neonates with 25(OH)D between 25.0 nmol/L and 49.9 nmol/L, after adjusting for potential confounders. However, no significant association between 25(OH)D and CRP was observed among neonates with 25(OH)D ≥50 nmol/L. Cord blood 25(OH)D and CRP levels showed a significant seasonal trend with lower 25(OH)D and higher CRP during winter-spring than summer-autumn. Stratified by season, a significant linear association of 25(OH)D with CRP was observed in neonates born in winter-spring (adjusted β = −0.11, 95% CI: −0.13, −0.10), but not summer-autumn. Among neonates born in winter-spring, neonates with 25(OH)D <25 nmol/L had higher risk of CRP ≥10 mg/L (adjusted OR = 3.06, 95% CI: 2.00, 4.69), compared to neonates with 25(OH)D ≥25 nmol/L. Neonates with vitamin D deficiency had higher risk of exposure to elevated inflammation at birth.

Keeping clear on costs: Geatches v Anglo Coal (Moranbah North Management Pty Ltd) [2014] QSC 106

In Geatches v Anglo Coal (Moranbah North Management Pty Ltd [2014] QSC 106, a dispute arose in the context of an assessment of costs as to the meaning to be attributed to particular terms of settlement and discharge signed by the parties. The court was required to consider the implications of those documents, and of a subsequent consent order intended to reflect the agreed settlement. Recovery of costs - terms of settlement and discharge exclude recovery of costs against one party and require other party to pay costs of claim against it - whether only subsequent consent order should be construed - implications where costs were common and mixed costs - whether costs should be apportioned

Organometallic chemistry of diphosphazanes. Part IX: Syntheses and spectroscopic studies of molybdenum and tungsten tetracarbonyl complexes of unsymmetrical diphosphazanes

The unsymmetrical diphosphazanes X2PN(Pr(i))PYY'(1a-1h) {X = Ph, YY' = O2 C6H4 (1a) or YY' = O2C12H8 (1b); X = Ph, Y = Ph, Y' = OC6H4Me-4 (1c), OC6H4Br-4 (1d), OC6H3Me2-3,5 (1e), OC5H4N-2 (1f), N2C3HMe2-3,5 (1g) or Cl (1h)} react with [M(CO)4(NHC5H10)2] (M = Mo, W) to yield the cis-chelate complexes [M(CO)4{X2PN(Pr(i)) PYY'}] {M = Mo (2a-2h); M = W (3-f,3-g)}. These complexes have been characterized by H-1, P-31 and C-13 NMR and IR spectroscopic studies.

C:N ratio of Sediments in a sewage fed Urban Lake

C:N ratio of lake sediments provide valuable information about the source and proportions of terrestrial, phytogenic and phycogenic carbon and nitrogen. This study has been carried out in Varthur lake which is receiving sewage since many decades apart from large scale land cover changes. C:N profile of the surficial sediment layer collected in the rainy and the dry seasons revealed higher C:N values[43] due to the accumulation of autochthonous organic material mostly at the deeper portions of the lake. This also highlights N limitation in the sludge either due to uptake by micro and macro-biota or rapid volatilization, denitrification and possible leaching in water. Organic Carbon was lower towards the inlets and higher near the deeper zones. This pattern of Organic C deposition was aided by gusty winds and high flow conditions together with impacts by the land use land cover changes in the watershed. Spatial variability of C:N in surficial sediments is significant compared to its seasonal variability. This communication provides an insight to the pattern in which nutrients are distributed in the sludge/sediment and its variation across seasons and space impacted by the biotic process accompanied by the hydrodynamic changes in the lake.

Advances in the Mathematical Modelling of Hepatitis C Virus Dynamics

Mathematical models have provided key insights into the pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in vivo, suggested predominant mechanism(s) of drug action, explained confounding patterns of viral load changes in HCV infected patients undergoing therapy, and presented a framework for therapy optimization. In this article, I present an overview of the major advances in the mathematical modeling of HCV dynamics.

Fast and accurate quantification using Genetic Algorithm optimized H-1-C-13 refocused constant-time INEPT

Using Genetic Algorithm, a global optimization method inspired by nature's evolutionary process, we have improved the quantitative refocused constant-time INEPT experiment (Q-INEPT-CT) of Makela et al. (JMR 204 (2010) 124-130) with various optimization constraints. The improved `average polarization transfer' and `min-max difference' of new delay sets effectively reduces the experimental time by a factor of two (compared with Q-INEPT-CT, Makela et al.) without compromising on accuracy. We also discuss a quantitative spectral editing technique based on average polarization transfer. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The X-C center dot center dot center dot pi (X = F, Cl, Br, CN) Carbon Bond

High-level ab initio calculations have been used to study the interactions between the CH3 group of CH3X (X = F, Cl, Br, CN) molecules and pi-electrons. These interactions are important because of the abundance of both the CH3 groups and pi-electrons in biological systems. Complexes between C2H4/C2H2 and CH3X molecules have been used as model systems. Various theoretical methods such as atoms in molecules theory, reduced density gradient analysis, and natural bond orbital analysis have been used to discern these interactions. These analyses show that the interaction of the p-electrons with the CH3X molecules leads to the formation of X-C...p carbon bonds. Similar complexes with other tetrel molecules, SiH3X and GeH3X, have also been considered.

Letras, 2000-2001, nº 42-43 (número completo)

Contenido: Garcilaso de la Vega: 1501?-2001 -- El concepto de "transformación" y sus aplicaciones al análisis de la poesía de Garcilaso / Sofía M. Carrizo Rueda – Algunas observaciones, a principios de un nuevo milenio, en torno a las comedias de Calderón de la Barca / Lilia E. Ferrario de Orduna – Palomeque, don Quijote, Cervantes: tres lectores de Cirongilio de Tracia de Bernardo de Vargas / Javier Roberto González – Cervantes: riesgo del vivir, azar y Providencia. Una lectura en clave bíblica y patrística / Teresa Herráiz de Tresca –La justicia divina o el orlo Amoris en el Amadis de Gaula / Silivia C. Lastra Paz -- Catálogo descriptivo de libros de caballerías castellanos, XIV. Otro Palmerín de Olivia recuperado: Sevilla, Jácome Cromberger, 1547 (Con algunas reflexiones sobre el arte de editar textos impresos) / José Manuel Lucía Megías – La defensa de la poesía en el Perú colonial: El Discurso en Loor de la Poesía / Graciela Maturo – Sobre la evolución de -nn-, -nw- y -w- interiores intervocálicos en la onomástica geográfica del Amadís de Gaula / Aquilino Suárez Pallasá – Reforma y Contrarreforma en las artes plásticas / Carmen Balzer – Tomás Moro y el Humanismo cristiano / Inés de Cassagne – Algunos poetas latinos del Humanismo / Raúl Lavalle – Reseñas bibliográficas

Determinación del ciclo biológico de Sitotroga cerealella olivier hospedero facticio de Trichogramma pretiosum Riley, en la cría comercial del Centro de Investigación y Reproducción de Controladores Biológicos de la UNAN-León

En el Centro de Investigación y Reproducción de Controladores Biológicos (CIRCB) de la UNAN, León, se determinó el ciclo biológico de Sitotroga cerealella Olivier , con el objetivo de validar el protocolo de producción de Sitotroga en las nuevas condiciones de laboratorio. La producción masiva de Trichogramma comprende dos fases generales: obtención de huevos de Sitotroga cerealella Olivier, hospedero utilizado para la reproducción masiva; y, la parasitación de esos huevos por Trichogramma . Se han realizado estudios sobre la biología de Sitotroga para mejorar la producción y optimizar la cría de Trichogramma . Se colocaron huevos blancos recién ovipositados y granos de trigo (como sustrato), provenientes de la cría masiva. Estos fueron pu estos en 25 platos petri, a razón de 3:6 (granos: huevos) por plato, diariamente se observaron y anotaron todos los cambios desde huevo hasta pupa. Cuando los adultos emergieron se aislaron en parejas para determinar la postura de huevos, hasta su muerte. A una temperatura y humedad promedio de 29 ºC y 76%, respectivamente, el ciclo biológico de Sitotroga se cumplió en 35.34 días en promedio. La fase de huevo duró 6.2 ± 0.46, larva 16.06 ± 2.62, pupa 5.78 ± 1.29 y adulto 7.3 ± 3.42 días en promedio. La larva pasó por 4 instares larvales: el primero duró 3.57 ± 0.72 días, el segundo 3.43 ± 0.86 días, el tercero 3.28 ± 1.17días y, el cuarto instar y la prepupa duró 5.78 ± 1.57 días. Paralelamente se montó otro ensayo utilizando un marco de incubación de la cría masiva de Sitotroga. Se colocó un termómetro en su interior para medir el comportamiento de la temperatura interna en relación con la temperatura y humedad de la Sala de Incubación donde fue ubicado, manteniendo una relación directamente proporcional durante el ensayo. A los 22 días se traslado al interior de un gabinete de producción para extraer diariamente la producción de huevos y adultos de Sitotroga. Se extrajo un total de 24.22 g de huevos con un promedio de 0.64 g por día; se recolectaron 211g de adultos y 5.7g por día durante 38 días, el 80% de la producción de huevos se obtuvo en los primeros 22 días. Los adultos extraídos pasaron a marcos de oviposición para seguir recolectando huevos hasta su muerte. La temperatura y humedad de las salas de producción del insecto (Sala de Incubación, Sala de Emergencia de adultos y Sala de Oviposición) influyen sobre su desarrollo biológico, manteniendo una óptima producción en un rango entre 70 - 80% y 26 - 30ºC de humedad y temperatura respectivamente.

El arconte de Sicilia y el arconte bosporánico : estados dinásticos helenos a comienzos del siglo V a.C.

Resumen: En un contexto comparativo se van a analizar los motivos que dieron inicio a la aparición de estados monárquicos de gran territorialidad a finales del período arcaico en la periferia de la ecumene, Sicilia y bósporo cimérico. Sobre estas apariciones se va a tratar de presentar algunos argumentos que expliquen, por lo menos en parte, qué condujo a que estas polis se sometan en forma aparentemente voluntaria a un estado monárquico. Como hipótesis se plantea que los cimientos para este desarrollo van a manifestarse a fines del período arcaico como reacción contra procesos externos y/o de tensión social interna. En ese marco, se van a presentar en este trabajo el contexto y los motivos, que puedan arrojar luz sobre las razones que dieron origen y llevaron a la estabilización de estas construcciones políticas.

Biomasa y nutrientes de mantillo en diferentes sistemas de producción de café (Coffea arabica L.) en el municipio de Masatepe, departamento de Masaya, Nicaragua

En el municipio de Masatepe, Departamento de Masaya, Nicaragua, se determinó el aporte de la materia vegetal depositada sobre el suelo en diferentes sistemas de producción de café (Coffea arabica L.) y su contenido de N, P, K, Ca y Mg. Se evaluaron dos factores: A) Combinación de especies de árboles de sombra leguminosas y maderables (Inga laurina, Simarouba glauca, Enterolobium cyclocarpum, Tabebuia rosea) y una parcela a pleno sol; B) Niveles de insumo (Moderado y Alto convencional, Intensivo y Extensivo orgánico). El muestreo de campo se realizó en los meses de Mayo y Julio del año 2004, en el que se utilizó el método de marco cuadrado de 50 por 50 cm. Se seleccionaron seis puntos al azar en la parcela útil, en cada punto se ubicó el marco en la calle y otro paralelo en la hilera del cultivo. Se recolectó el material vegetal que estaba dentro del marco, separándose por componentes y especies encontrados (hojas y ramas); luego se procedió a pesar. Las muestras se secaron en un horno eléctrico a una temperatura de 65o C por un periodo de 72 horas para obtener el peso seco, y las mismas fueron enviadas al laboratorio de suelos en donde se determinaron los contenidos de nutrientes arriba mencionados. Los resultados obtenidos mostraron que el nivel de sombra IlSg (I. laurina-S. glauca) que es la combinación de una especie leguminosa con una maderable, presentaron el mayor aporte de materia vegetal al mantillo con 10,007kg ha-1, representando las mayores contenidos de nutrientes con 148.59 kg ha-1de N, 8.06 kg ha-1 de P, 73.29 kg ha-1 de K, 129.93 kg ha-1 deCa y 30.76 kg ha-1 de Mg, siendo también este nivel de sombra el que obtuvo un menor porcentaje de suelo desnudo (6.14 %) en comparación con los otros tratamientos. El nivel de insumo MO (intensivo orgánico) proporcionó la mayor cantidad de materia vegetal al mantillo con 8,509 kg ha-1 presentando los mayores contenidos de nutrientes de reserva con 131.43 kg ha-1 de N, 6.93 kg ha-1 de P, 63.77 kg ha-1K, 116.47 kg ha-1 Ca y 26.73 kg ha-1 de Mg. El nivel de insumo BO (extensivo orgánico) presentó el menor porcentaje de suelo desnudo (4.22 %).