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• We compared multilevel coastal flood risk reduction governance and public finance in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and Australia. • We evaluated alignment of multilevel governance arrangements to spillovers from coastal risk reduction based on fiscal federalism. • We find diverse coastal flood risk governance arrangements ranging from highly centralised to full decentralisation. • We find that multilevel coastal flood risk governance arrangements are reflective of the distribution of the benefits across different levels of government. • We find that major fiscal redistributions may be put under pressure by rising costs under SLR and coastal development. Coastal flood risk reduction (CFRR) presents a significant public funding challenge, due to its high upfront costs and long-term benefits, and this challenge will increase with future sea-level rise. The funding challenge necessarily involves multiple levels of government, due to the regional nature of CFRR public goods involved. Yet there has been little research comparing such multilevel arrangements across countries, and in particular exploring the performance of public funding arrangements for providing coastal flood risk reduction. We address this gap, applying fiscal federalism to develop a multilevel governance analysis of public decision-making and fiscal authorities for CFRR in the Netherlands, Germany, the UK and Australia. For each country, we locate key decision-making and fiscal authorities in multilevel governance arrangements, and analyse their alignment with the benefits of CFRR measures (spillovers). We find diverse coastal flood risk governance arrangements ranging from highly centralised (NL), mixed arrangements, involving regional centralisation (Germany) or partial devolvement (UK), to full decentralisation (AUS). Further, we find that in accordance with fiscal federalism, multilevel coastal flood risk governance arrangements are generally reflective of the distribution of the benefits across different levels of government, with some exceptions (Germany and UK). Finally, exploring the outlook of current arrangements under sea-level rise, we find that major fiscal redistributions may be put under pressure by rising costs likely under SLR and future coastal development. This is particularly the case for those systems which operate under hazard-based, as opposed to risk-based, coastal protection policies. Further, we find that both fully and moderately decentralised arrangements may require greater central support for alternative measures, such as retreat, in light of growing financial burdens on local governments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé Une famille revenue d'un voyage au Salvador a présenté des troubles digestifs (douleurs abdominales, diarrhées). L'examen parasitologique des selles a révélé la présence d'oocystes de Cyclospora cayetanensis , qui ont disparu sous triméthoprime-sulfaméthoxazole. Ce parasiter est un protozoaire, de l'ordre des coccidies, connu chez l'homme depuis 1877. Il est cosmopolite mais plus fréquent en zone tropicale, avec une prévalence de 2 à 11% selon les pays. L'infestation, due à l'ingestion des parasites avec l'eau et les crudités contaminées, provoque des troubles digestifs variés, plus importants chez le sujet immunodéprimé (amaigrissement, deshydratation). Le diagnostic est basé sur l'examen parasitologique des selles. Le traitement par triméthoprime--sulfaméthoxazole est efficace. La prophylaxie nécessite le respect des règles de l'hygiène alimentaire. A family, returning from a trip to El Salvador, complained of digestive disorders (abdominal pain, diarrhea). Stool examinations highlighted oocysts of Cyclospora cayetanensis which have disappeared under treatment by trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. This parasite is a protozoan, of the order of coccidia, known in humans since 1877. It is cosmopolitan, but more common in tropical areas, with a prevalence of 2 to 11%, depending on the countries. Infection, due to ingestion of water or contamined food, causes various digestive disorders, which are more severe in immunocompromised patients with weight loss and dehydration. The diagnosis is based on parasitologic stool examination, identifying the oocysts of Cyclospora cayetanensis. Trimethoprim-sulfametoxazole treatment is effective. Prevention requires compliance with the rules of food hygiene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé La balantidiose, zoonose parasitaire due à un protozoaire cilié, est cosmopolite, mais se rencontre surtout dans les pays tropicaux et subtropicaux. Elle se transmet à l’homme par ingestion d’eau ou d’aliments souillés contenant des kystes provenant des excréments des porcs. Comme les animaux, le sujet infesté reste le plus souvent porteur asymptomatique. Dans le cas contraire, les troubles cliniques peuvent prêter à confusion avec une amoebose intestinale. Les complications graves sont rares mais parfois mortelles. Le diagnostic biologique est facile par l’examen parasitologique des selles. Le traitement, à base de tétracyclines ou de nitro-imidazolés, est très efficace. Summary Balantidiosis, parasitic zoonosis due to a ciliated protozoon, covers a broad spectrum, but mostly in tropical areas. Human is infested by fecal-oral route, with contaminated drinking water and food which are contaminated by cysts shed in feces of pigs. Humans remain mostly asymptomatic as does the pig. In other cases, the patients may develop dysentery similar to intestinal amoebiasis. Complications are seldom and death is infrequent. Laboratory diagnosis is made by stools examination, Tetracyclines and metronidazole are treatments of choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: ErbB2 over-expression is detected in approximately 25% of invasive breast cancers and is strongly associated with poor patient survival. We have previously demonstrated that p130Cas adaptor is a crucial mediator of ErbB2 transformation. Here, we analysed the molecular mechanisms through which p130Cas controls ErbB2-dependent invasion in three-dimensional cultures of mammary epithelial cells. Concomitant p130Cas over-expression and ErbB2 activation enhance PI3K/Akt and Erk1/2 MAPK signalling pathways and promote invasion of mammary acini. By using pharmacological inhibitors, we demonstrate that both signalling cascades are required for the invasive behaviour of p130Cas over-expressing and ErbB2 activated acini. Erk1/2 MAPK and PI3K/Akt signalling triggers invasion through distinct downstream effectors involving mTOR/p70S6K and Rac1 activation, respectively. Moreover, in silico analyses indicate that p130Cas expression in ErbB2 positive human breast cancers significantly correlates with higher risk to develop distant metastasis, thus underlying the value of the p130Cas/ErbB2 synergism in regulating breast cancer invasion. In conclusion, high levels of p130Cas favour progression of ErbB2-transformed cells towards an invasive phenotype. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In many cases in which climate change affects natural resources, impacts are uncertain and adaptation to climate change often involves collective action problems at the local level, which are embedded in multilevel governance regimes. Adaptive management (AM) is an emerging approach to deal with such uncertainty and complexity by promoting multilevel institutions that are robust to change and able to learn. Much of the literature evaluating AM in multilevel governance regimes, however, focuses only on the adherence to certain structural features said to make AM successful, leaving aside the question whether AM actually produces desired outcomes. This paper evaluates AM in multilevel regimes also in terms of the outcomes they produce. To this end, we first apply the Management and Transition Framework (MTF) in order to describe three multilevel regimes in Lesotho. For each regime we then observe whether it adheres to the structure features of AM. Finally, we evaluate the extent to which the outcomes, natural resource management projects, are conducive to ‘design principles’ for sustainable common-pool resource management. We find that, though no ideal ‘adaptive regime’ is found in Lesotho, the results confirm the AM hypotheses that decentralised decision-making, open information sources, and plurality of user interests lead to improved outcomes. Conversely, elements of the climate regime are found not to be adaptive. Our findings also confirm the appropriateness of AM as a governance approach to climate adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: It is well-established that plants use cytoplasmic, post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) as a defense against RNA viruses and DNA virus transcripts. More recently, it has become clear that small RNA-directed methylation leading to transcriptional gene silencing (TGS) is also used as a defense against DNA virus chromatin. Here we use the DNA-containing geminiviruses as models to discuss what is currently known about both types of antiviral silencing, and viral suppression of PTGS and TGS as a counterdefense. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Desymmetrization of prochiral di- and trialkenyl phosphine oxides by cross-metathesis with various olefinic partners allowed direct access to novel racemic P-stereogenic products featuring two or three different alkenyl groups. The excellent control of product selectivity and E/Z selectivity allowed the preparation of desymmetrized products in good yields from readily available precursors. These are the first examples of desymmetrization of prochiral substrates by direct cross-metathesis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Fire is a common phenomenon in grasslands but there is little experimental evidence of the mechanism involved in the rapid recovery of the plant growth. We tested under controlled conditions the hypothesis that after fire Spartina argentinensis leaves that restart growing have high photosynthetic rates. Photosynthetic rates and emergence of leaves and culms were registered. Initial photosynthetic rates were higher among plants which restarted growth after fire or clipping than in control ones, without effect of different water availability. High photosynthetic rate values remained during two months after fire or clipping treatments though then affected by water availability, and thereafter started declining towards the end of season. From January onwards no differences among treatments were detected except that control plants under water stress conditions had lower photosynthetic rates than all others. Leaf and culm emergence were promoted by both fire and clipping treatments. Though affect-ed by water availability, burned and clipped plants had the highest percentages of living tissues at the end of the experiment. Considering photosynthetic and growth responses after fire it can be concluded that burning is a regular component of the subtropical-temperate S. argentinensis habitat, among the South American grasslands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Immune reconstitution after initiation of antiretroviral therapy may unmask a latent infection. We report a case of disseminated Histoplasma capsulatum capsulatum infection associated with a hemophagocytic syndrome in an HIV-infected patient, three weeks after initiation of antiretroviral therapy. The immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome might be a risk factor for hemophagocytosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Substituted vinyl and allyl phosphine oxides have been prepared by olefin cross-metathesis providing exclusive E olefin stereochemistry. The methodology has been successfully extended to the preparation of various bis-phosphine oxides. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives To describe walking measurement in children with spina bifida and to identify patterns in the use of walking measures in this population. Data Sources Seven medical databases–Medline, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and AMED–were searched from the earliest known record until March 11, 2014. Search terms encompassed 3 themes: (1) children; (2) spina bifida; and (3) walking. Study Selection Articles were included if participants were children with spina bifida aged 1 to 17 years and if walking was measured. Articles were excluded if the assessment was restricted to kinematic, kinetic, or electromyographic analysis of walking. A total of 1751 abstracts were screened by 2 authors independently, and 109 articles were included in this review. Data Extraction Data were extracted using standardized forms. Extracted data included study and participant characteristics and details about the walking measures used, including psychometric properties. Two authors evaluated the methodological quality of articles using a previously published framework that considers sampling method, study design, and psychometric properties of the measures used. Data Synthesis Nineteen walking measures were identified. Ordinal-level rating scales (eg, Hoffer Functional Ambulation Scale) were most commonly used (57% of articles), followed by ratio-level, spatiotemporal measures, such as walking speed (18% of articles). Walking was measured for various reasons relevant to multiple health care disciplines. A machine learning analysis was used to identify patterns in the use of walking measures. The learned classifier predicted whether a spatiotemporal measure was used with 77.1% accuracy. A trend to use spatiotemporal measures in older children and those with lumbar and sacral spinal lesions was identified. Most articles were prospective studies that used samples of convenience and unblinded assessors. Few articles evaluated or considered the psychometric properties of the walking measures used. Conclusions Despite a demonstrated need to measure walking in children with spina bifida, few valid, reliable, and responsive measures have been established for this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how we are adapting to climate change in coastal areas is an essential issue in the long-term coastal planning. While most of existing studies focus on mapping the current state of adaptation plans, there is a significant lack of studies on the current implementation of adaptation strategies. This study addresses this challenge by assessing how coastal adaptation is being financed and implemented in Spain. In the absence of a detailed roadmap for implementing the Spanish Strategy for Coastal Adaptation to Climate Change, we have analysed how adaptation has been and is currently being funded; which the rationale for investments along the territory is; how adaptation investments compare to regular coastal protection costs; and assessed when implemented measures are really adaptation ones. Our results show that the financing source clearly conditions the type of measures implemented, with those funded under the Environment Promotion Plan for Climate Change Adaptation (PIMA Adapta initiative) being dominated by classical coastal engineering actions, whereas ecosystem-related actions are mostly funded under the LIFE programme. In territorial terms, the Mediterranean coastal regions present the most important problems under current conditions and attract most of the funding. Most of the funded actions have been designed to solve current coastal problems, and although they indirectly contribute to adaptation by improving the coastal base status, they are not specifically designed for climate change. This misuse of the concept of adaptation measure will tend to the society to be overconfident about adopted actions whereas we are not progressing to real adaptation. To overcome this risk, it is necessary to have a clear roadmap for implementing adaptation measures together a proper financing structure. Unlabelled Image • Early-stage implementation of adaptation measures to climate change along the Spanish coast is analysed. • Adaptation funded through an ad-hoc National plan (PIMA Adapta) and the LIFE EU Programme. • Current adaptation investments mostly tackling coastal protection problems under present conditions. • Actions not properly taken at early stages could imply higher costs in the future. • Tracking how adaptation is taking place facilitate to assess progress of adaptation efforts over time and space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]