In the future, it should be possible to construct improved diagnostic instruments that objectively incorporate

DILI signatures, data-based estimates of the incidence rates of DILI from each implicated drug, and perhaps genetic variants associated with the risk of DILI. (C) 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel”
“The high mobility group AT-hook (HMGA) proteins, a family of DNA architectural factors, are highly expressed during embryogenesis and play a crucial role in several different biological processes, as well as in tumorigenesis of a wide range of tissues, including pituitary. Indeed, HMGA2 has been found rearranged and amplified in human prolactinomas, and transgenic mice overexpressing either Hmga1 or Hmga2 develop pituitary adenomas secreting prolactin and growth hormone.\n\nHere, we overview HMGA proteins in human tumours, focusing on pituitary adenomas and the mechanisms by which the HMGA proteins Metabolism inhibitor are involved in their onset and development. Different HMGA-dependent potential drives of pituitary oncogenesis are discussed as future research directions in the field. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Steroidogenic

Selleckchem VS-4718 acute regulatory protein (StAR) mediates the rate-limiting step in the synthesis of steroid hormones, essential to fetal development. We have reported that the StAR expression in fetal adrenal is inhibited in a rat model of nicotine-induced intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). Here using primary human fetal adrenal cortex (pHFAC) cells and a human fetal adrenal cell line NCI-H295A, we show that nicotine inhibits StAR expression and cortisol production in a dose- and time-dependent

manner, and prolongs the inhibitory effect on cells proliferating over 5 passages after termination of nicotine treatment. Methylation detection within the StAR promoter region uncovers a single site CpG methylation at nt -377 that is sensitive to nicotine treatment. Nicotine-induced alterations in frequency of this point methylation correlates well with the levels of StAR expression, suggesting an important role of the single CAL-101 nmr site in regulating StAR expression. Further studies using bioinformatics analysis and siRNA approach reveal that the single CpG site is part of the Pax6 binding motif (CGCCTGA) in the StAR promoter. The luciferase activity assays validate that Pax6 increases StAR gene expression by binding to the glucagon G3-like motif (CGCCTGA) and methylation of this site blocks Pax6 binding and thus suppresses StAR expression. These data identify a nicotine-sensitive CpG site at the Pax6 binding motif in the StAR promoter that may play a central role in regulating StAR expression. The results suggest an epigenetic mechanism that may explain how nicotine contributes to onset of adult diseases or disorders such as metabolic syndrome via fetal programming. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The mRNA expression of FSHR, LHR Cx43, DNMT1 and FGFR2 genes was significantly higher after culture of the follicles retrieved mechanically. These results suggest that mechanical isolation is a better method of isolating porcine preantral follicles that will develop into competent oocytes in in vitro culture.”
“Aims Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a degenerative pathology of skeletal muscle, also induces cardiac failure and arrhythmias due to a mutation leading to the lack of the protein dystrophin. In cardiac cells, the subsarcolemmal localization of dystrophin is thought to protect the membrane from mechanical stress. The absence of dystrophin results in an elevated

stress-induced Ca2+ influx due to the inadequate functioning LY3039478 molecular weight of several proteins, such as stretch-activated channels (SACs). Our aim was to investigate whether transient receptor potential vanilloid channels type 2 (TRPV2) form subunits of the dysregulated SACs in cardiac dystrophy. Methods and results We defined the role of TRPV2 channels in the abnormal Ca2+ influx of cardiomyocytes isolated from dystrophic mdx mice, an established

Fer-1 animal model for DMD. In dystrophic cells, western blotting showed that TRPV2 was two-fold over-expressed. While normally localized intracellularly, in myocytes from mdx mice TRPV2 channels were translocated to the sarcolemma and were prominent along GKT137831 cell line the T-tubules, as indicated by immunocytochemistry. Membrane localization was confirmed by biotinylation assays. Furthermore, in mdx myocytes pharmacological modulators suggested an abnormal activity of TRPV2, which has a unique pharmacological profile among TRP

channels. Confocal imaging showed that these compounds protected the cells from stress-induced abnormal Ca2+ signals. The involvement of TRPV2 in these signals was confirmed by specific pore-blocking antibodies and by small-interfering RNA ablation of TRPV2. Conclusion Together, these results establish the involvement of TRPV2 in a stretch-activated calcium influx pathway in dystrophic cardiomyopathy, contributing to the defective cellular Ca2+ handling in this disease.”
“A growing amount of evidence has supported an association between elevated triglyceride levels and cardiovascular disease. However, little information regarding co-morbidities, levels of other cholesterol types, or medication use among adults with severe hypertriglyceridemia (SHTG; (500 to 2,000 mg/di) is available. We examined the data from 5,680 subjects, >= 20 years old, who had participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2001 and 2006, to evaluate the epidemiology of adults with SHTG. Approximately 1.7% of the sample had SHTG, equating to roughly 3.4 million Americans. The participants with SHTG tended to be men (75.3%), non-Hispanic whites (70.1%), and aged 40 to 59 years (58.5%).

\n\nAll factors considered were significant for EC and SCC.

EC decreased significantly as milking progressed (from F-1 to F-3) in both healthy and infected glands. EC was not significantly different between healthy and infected glands in F-1 and F-2 fractions, but EC of healthy glands (5.01 mS/cm) was significantly lower than in infected glands (5.03 mS/cm) at F-3.\n\nMastitis detection characteristics of EC did not differ amongst studied fractions. The small significant difference of EC between healthy and infected glands obtained in F-3 fraction did not yield better sensitivity results compared to F-1 and F-2. The best EC mastitis detection characteristics were obtained at 5.20 mS/cm threshold ALK inhibitor (sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 50%). The best SCC mastitis detection characteristics were obtained at 300,000 cells/mL threshold and F-3 fraction (sensitivity of 85%

and specificity of 65%).\n\nIt was concluded that mastitis detection characteristics of EC were similar in the three milking fractions analysed, being slightly better selleck chemicals llc for SCC in F-3 fraction. As shown in previous studies, there are no factors other than the mammary gland health status that affect milk EC and should be considered in the algorithms for mastitis detection to improve the results. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to present the clinicopathological features of a series of patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated head and neck second primary tumors. MethodsPatients with HPV-associated head and neck second primary tumors from

3 centers were identified. HPV infection was evaluated using p16 by immunohistochemistry VX-770 (IHC), high-risk HPV DNA by in situ hybridization (ISH), and HPV genotyping by DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) enzyme immunoassay (EIA). ResultsEleven patients were identified: 5 with synchronous and 6 with metachronous HPV-positive second primary tumors, the latter demonstrating a mean time interval of 5 years. There were 13 second primary tumors: 11 oropharyngeal, 1 nasopharyngeal, and 1 floor of the mouth. Nine of 10 genotyped patients harbored HPV-16, and 1 patient had HPV-33 in 3 synchronous tumors. ConclusionHPV-associated second primary tumors may present as synchronous and/or metachronous lesions and can arise outside the oropharynx after prolonged intervals. Further work is necessary to identify patients at risk and to elucidate the mechanisms of HPV-associated head and neck second primary tumors. (c) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck37: 202-208, 2015″
“Aims: To evaluate the usefulness of partial recA sequences for the identification of Aeromonas strains at the genotype level.\n\nMethods and Results: A partial recA sequence was obtained from 21 type or reference strains and 33 Aeromonas isolates, collected in the South of Switzerland from human, animal and aquatic environments.

\n\nDesign: Retrospective medical record audit. Quantitative study.\n\nSetting: Rural community-based primary health service, South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia.\n\nParticipants: Two hundred and seventy-two de-identified medical records randomly selected from the type 2 diabetes outpatient database.\n\nMain outcome measures: Demographic, biochemical, anthropometric,

pharmacological, co-morbidity and lifestyle data during the first five years post-diabetes diagnosis were retrospectively collected. Univariate analysis was performed to identify variables associated with poor diabetes control (HbA1c >= 7%).\n\nResults: Independent predictors of poor glycaemic control in this rural cohort were elevated fasting glucose at AG-014699 mw diagnosis (odds ratio (OR) 1.97, 95% confidence interval

(CI) 1.31-2.97, P < 0.001), weight gain during the initial 2.5 years of diabetes (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.11-1.59, P < 0.01), excessive body weight at diagnosis (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.03-1.12, P < 0.001) and younger age at diagnosis (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.88-1.00, P < 0.05). These variables combined explained 48% of the variation in HbA1c. Gender, body mass CP456773 index, waist circumference and lifestyle factors at diagnosis were not significant predictors of diabetes control.\n\nConclusions: Young-middle-aged adults (<= 58 years) with elevated fasting glucose (>= 9.0 mmol L(-1)) and excessive body weight (>= 93.1 kg) at type 2 diabetes diagnosis and those unable to lose weight early in the course of the disease are more likely to experience a rapid deterioration in glucose control. Rural clinicians should target these individuals for aggressive diabetes management from the time of diagnosis.”
“Plants

are notoriously variable in gender, ranging in sex allocation from purely male through hermaphrodite to purely female. This variation can have both a genetic and an adaptive plastic component. In gynodioecious species, where females co-occur with hermaphrodites, hermaphrodites tend to shift their allocation towards greater maleness when growing under low-resource conditions, either as a result of hermaphrodites this website shifting away from an expensive female function, or because of enhanced siring advantages in the presence of females. Similarly, in the androdioecious plant Mercurialis annua, where hermaphrodites co-exist with males, hermaphrodites also tend to enhance their relative male allocation under low-resource conditions. Here, we ask whether this response differs between hermaphrodites that have been evolving in the presence of males, in a situation analogous to that supposed for gynodioecious populations, vs. those that have been evolving in their absence. We grew hermaphrodites of M.

(C) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.”
“This study presents a novel green method using starch for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). In this method, the SRT1720 solubility dmso fungal supernatant was added to a mixture of starch and silver nitrate solutions. The characteristics of AgNPs synthesized by three independent processes a modified polysaccharide method, a microbial method, and our novel method were compared. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis

revealed that the average sizes of AgNPs synthesized by the microbial method, the modified polysaccharide method, and our novel method were 84, 20, and 15 nm, respectively. The most stable AgNPs were generated by our novel method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectrum of the products from the novel method showed that these AgNPs have high crystallinity. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra demonstrated that the functional groups present in the products

prepared by the novel method are a combination of the functional groups present in the AgNPs synthesized by the other two methods. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“COZA, A., B. M. NIGG, and J. F. DUNN. Effects of Vibrations Apoptosis inhibitor on Gastrocnemius Medialis Tissue Oxygenation. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 43, No. 3, pp. 509-515, 2011. Purpose: Whole-body vibrations are known to affect muscle activity and tissue oxygenation, but some energetic aspects are still poorly understood. This study investigates the effects of whole-body vibration on gastrocnemius muscle oxygen utilization rate and tissue oxygenation dynamics during exercise. Methods: The effects of vibration on gastrocnemius medialis muscle oxygenation were investigated during a dynamic exercise on a sample of 16 active male subjects (age = 26.3 +/- 5.1 yr, mass = 71.2 +/- 4.8 kg (mean +/- SD)). Both arterially occluded (AO) selleck chemicals llc and nonoccluded (N/O) conditions were investigated. Tissue oxygenation was monitored with a near-infrared spectrometer. Oxygen

utilization rate and tissue oxygenation recovery were computed as the slopes of the regression line of the oxygenation decay and recovery, respectively. A fast Fourier transform (FFT) was used to determine the frequency spectrum of the oxygen saturation data. EMG activity was monitored using bipolar EMG electrodes. A windowed root mean square analysis was used to monitor the amplitude of the EMG signal. Results: A statistically significant increase of 15% (P < 0.05) in oxygen utilization rate was found for the vibration condition in the AO leg but not in the N/O leg. The oxygenation recovery rate for the vibration condition was 34% higher (P < 0.05) than that for the control condition. A low-frequency periodic oscillation (T approximate to 10 s) in the tissue oxygenation data was determined from the FFT spectrum. A statistically significant decrease in the oscillation frequency was noticed for the vibration condition compared with the control.

5, 95% CI: 318.5; P < 0.001) and maximum T-wave shape index < 0.007 (odds ratio: 180.0,

95% CI: 10.2-3167.0; P < 0.0001).\n\nConclusion T-wave shape index LDN-193189 price is rate dependent and discriminates between PES- and PES+ patients. We propose patients with inducible arrhythmias have rate-dependent heterogeneity of repolarization which could be a tool for risk stratification.”
“Objective To investigate procedural success rates and long-term clinical outcome of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusions (CTO) in elderly patients. Background Little is known about procedural success and long-term clinical outcome of PCI for CTO in the elderly. Methods A total of 1,791 consecutive patients with 1,852 CTO underwent PCI at three large centers in USA, Italy, and South Korea. GSK2399872A Outcomes included procedural success and major adverse cardiac events (MACE, composite of mortality, myocardial infarction, or coronary artery bypass graft surgery [CABG]).Time-to-event analyses were performed using Kaplan-Meier statistics, and the log-rank statistic was used to test for differences between patients aged 75 and patients aged <75 years. Results Two hundred and thirteen patients (12%) were aged 75 years. Procedural success rates were similar in elderly patients compared with patients <75 years (63.8% vs. 69.1%,

P = 0.12). Median follow-up was 890 days (IQR: 380-1,480 days). MACE rates after successful versus failed PCI were 25.8% versus 42.3% in the elderly (P = 0.02) and 11.2 versus 20.8% in younger patients (P < 0.01). In elderly patients, this

reduction in MACE after successful PCI was mainly driven by a reduction in CABG (0.0% vs. 20.4%, P < selleck chemical 0.01), there were no significant differences in terms of mortality (19.6% vs. 24.6%, P = 0.13) or MI (11.5% vs. 8.0%, P = 0.87). Conclusion CTO PCI in patients 75 years has similar success as in patients <75 years. In elderly patients undergoing CTO PCI, MACE rates were relatively high but successful revascularization is associated with a reduction in MACE at 5-year follow-up in both elderly and younger patients. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.”
“Background: The European Commission has an Impact Assessment (IA) procedure that aims to inform decision-makers of the all important impacts that decisions may have. This article studies how health is considered in the IA procedure and how it is reflected in the reports: what aspects, whose and simply in what context health is mentioned in the IA reports. Methods: Half of the Commissions IAs from 2006 were studied. The analysis was text based and informed by content analysis. In total, 48 reports by 17 DGs were analysed. Results: Five DGs (29%) and 10 reports (21%) made no reference to human health, public health or health systems. Five DGs were clearly considering health impacts more often than others; DG EMPL, SANCO, AGRI, ELARG and ENV.

For each theme, we calculated the rate of patients who discontinued a trial from the total number of dropouts in each trial. The rates obtained with different trials were combined using a random effects model. We also performed a random effects meta-regression analysis to identify sources associated with the rates.\n\nResults: Overall, 259 studies consisting of 266 trials and 13,593 patients were included in the analysis. From these, we short-listed 54 attrition reasons and identified 21 key themes. “Ineffectiveness” and “adverse event” were the reasons frequently reported by >5% of the dropouts. On further investigation of the theme ineffectiveness, the attrition 5-Fluoracil order rate was associated

with delivery routes of treatment, trial duration, flare design,

prohibition of usual analgesics, and allowing the use of learn more escape medication. In cases of adverse events, we found that the treatment type and delivery route affected the attrition rate.\n\nConclusions: Our findings not only support the importance of the intention-to-treat analysis, but also suggest the possibility of controlling the attrition at the study level. (c) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Semin Arthritis Rheum 42:346-354″
“Tuberculosis (TB) services in China are provided through a large network of TB dispensaries. Even though hospitals are not as well placed to follow recommended standards of TB care, a significant proportion of people with TB symptoms seek care from hospitals. In spite of having a policy and mandate in place, the Ministry of Health had little success in encouraging hospitals to refer suspected TB cases to dispensaries. Following the epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome in 2003, the government set up a nationwide Internet-based communicable diseases reporting system. This achieved productive collaboration between hospitals and TB dispensaries. From 2004 to 2007, the percentage of TB suspects and patients needing referral from hospitals who arrived in TB dispensaries increased substantially from 58.7% to 77.8% and the contribution of hospitals to EPZ004777 diagnosing sputum smear-positive TB cases doubled

from 16.3% to 32.9%. Using the Internet-based reporting system, hospitals in China contributed to finding about one third of all sputum smear-positive TB cases and helped meet the global TB control target of detecting 70% of such cases. Based on the data available from routine surveillance facilitated by this Internet-based system, this paper details the process and outcomes of strengthening collaboration between hospitals and TB dispensaries using the Internet as a tool and its potential application to other country settings.”
“The influence of a thin carbonate-containing hydroxyapatite (CA) coating to tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (TZP) on osteoblast-like cell response was investigated. TZP disks were subjected to blasting and acid etching.

2, 95% CI 1.2 to 9), an IDU (HR 2.9, 95% CI 1.3 to 6.4) and male (HR 4.3, 95% CI 1.3 to 14.6) were CH5183284 price associated.\n\nConclusion: Having TB in the past is a risk factor for developing TB. Social policies must be implemented in populations at risk of recurrence, especially in immigrants and IDUs.”
“Introduction: A Weil osteotomy with internal fixation can match the preoperative plan by precisely setting the metatarsal length; however 10 to 30% of patients end up experiencing postoperative stiffness. A percutaneous distal metatarsal mini-invasive osteotomy (DMMO) is a purely extra-articular technique; metatarsal length

is set automatically upon weight bearing of the foot. The goal of this study was to compare these two osteotomy techniques when performed on the three or four most lateral metatarsals.\n\nHypothesis: A DMMO will result in better joint motion than a Weil osteotomy.\n\nPatients and methods: This was a retrospective, single center, single surgeon study with 72 patients. Group 1 consisted of 39 patients operated by the DMMO technique. Group 2 consisted of 33 patients operated by the standard Weil osteotomy technique. In some cases, a selleck inhibitor procedure on the first ray (Scarf or fusion) was also performed. The age, gender and procedures on the first ray were comparable for both groups. Patients were evaluated with clinical (AOFAS score) and radiological outcomes

(Maestro criteria) at 3 and 12 months minimum follow-up.\n\nResults: Sixty-seven patients were seen again with an average follow-up of 14.8 months

(range 12-24). The postoperative AOFAS score was comparable in both groups (86.5 and 85.3, respectively). The joint range of motion was comparable in both groups. Static problems (oedema, metatarsalgia, hyperkeratosis and dislocation) were comparable at the last follow-up. The metatarsalgia recurred in four patients from group 1 and five patients from group 2. After 3 months, oedema and metatarsalgia were significantly greater in group 1. Radiological measurements (M1P1 angle, M1M2 angle and Maestro criteria) were comparable. Metatarsal head recoil was identical between each ray in group 1. At the last follow-up, SB525334 solubility dmso all the osteotomy sites had achieved union.\n\nDiscussion and conclusion. – The results of static metatarsalgia treatment were comparable when using a DMMO or Well osteotomy. However the DMMO had longer postoperative recovery, notably because of oedema. The percutaneous DMMO technique did not improve joint range of motion.\n\nLevel of evidence. – III, comparative retrospective study. (C) 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.”
“Neural epidermal growth factor-like protein-like 2 (NELL2) is a secreted glycoprotein that is predominantly expressed in the nervous system, but little is known about the intracellular movement and secretion mechanism of this protein.

In this work, we developed a set of two differently colored PNA FIT-probes that allow the spectrally resolved imaging of mRNA coding for neuraminidase (NA) and matrix protein 1 (M1);

proteins which execute distinct functions during the replication of the influenza A virus. The probes are G418 research buy characterized by a wide range of applicable hybridization temperatures. The same probe sequence enabled live-cell RNA imaging (at 37 degrees C) as well as real-time PCR measurements (at 60 degrees C annealing temperature). This facilitated a comprehensive analysis of RNA expression by quantitative (qPCR) and qualitative (imaging) means. Confocal laser scanning microscopy showed that the viral-RNA specific PNA FIT-probes neither stained noninfected cells nor cells infected by a control virus. The joint SB525334 cell line use

of differently colored PNA FIT-probes in this feasibility study revealed significant differences in the expression pattern of influenza H1N1 mRNAs coding for NA or M1. These experiments provide evidence for the usefulness of PNA FIT-probes in investigations on the temporal and spatial progression of mRNA synthesis in living cells for two mRNA species.”
“We recently identified neuromedin S (NMS) from the rat hypothalamus as an endogenous ligand for the FM-4/TGR-1 receptor distinct from neuromedin U. In the present study we examined the role of NMS in, the oxytocin release response to suckling stimulation by rat pups. Intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of NMS induced cFos expression in the paraventricular nucleus and supraoptic nucleus. Double immunohistochemical analysis revealed induction of cFos expression in a proportion of oxytocinergic neurons in both nuclei. In addition, icv injection of NMS stimulated oxytocin release close-dependently in intact rats, and increased milk secretion in lactating rats. On the other hand, icv injection of anti-NMS antiserum into lactating rats significantly suppressed suckling-induced milk ejection. These results Suggest that, in the rat, endogenous

NMS plays an Compound C cost important role in the oxytocin release response to the suckling stimulus. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier Inc.”
“Cell surface pili are polymeric protein assemblies that enable bacteria to adhere to surfaces and to specific host tissues. The pili expressed by Gram-positive bacteria constitute a unique paradigm in which sortase-mediated covalent linkages join successive pilin subunits like beads on a string. These pili are formed from two or three distinct types of pilin subunit, typically encoded in small gene clusters, often with their cognate sortases. In Group A streptococci (GAS), a major pilin forms the polymeric backbone, whereas two minor pilins are located at the tip and the base. Here, we report the 1.

Superimposed on the decline in diversity seen from equator to pole were “hot spots” of enhanced diversity in some regions of energetic ocean circulation, which reflected lateral dispersal.”
“Background: As insecticide resistance may

jeopardize the successful malaria control programmes in the Mekong region, a large investigation was previously conducted in the Mekong countries to assess the susceptibility of the main malaria vectors against DDT and pyrethroid insecticides. It showed that the main vector, Anopheles epiroticus, was highly pyrethroid-resistant in the Mekong delta, whereas Anopheles minimus sensu lato was pyrethroid-resistant in northern Vietnam. Anopheles dirus sensu stricto showed possible resistance to type II pyrethroids in central Vietnam. Anopheles subpictus was DDT- and pyrethroid-resistant in the VX-770 supplier Mekong Delta. The present study intends to explore

the resistance mechanisms involved.\n\nMethods: By use of molecular assays and biochemical assays the presence of the two major insecticide resistance mechanisms, knockdown and metabolic resistance, were assessed in the main malaria vectors of the Mekong region.\n\nResults: Two FRET/MCA assays and one PCR-RFLP were developed to screen a large number of Anopheles populations from the Mekong region for the presence of knockdown resistance (kdr), but THZ1 inhibitor no kdr mutation was observed in any of the study species. Biochemical assays suggest an esterase mediated pyrethroid detoxification in An. epiroticus and An. subpictus of the Mekong delta. The DDT resistance in An. subpictus might be conferred to a high GST activity. The pyrethroid

resistance in An. minimus s.l. is possibly associated with increased detoxification by esterases and P450 monooxygenases.\n\nConclusion: As different metabolic enzyme systems might be responsible for the pyrethroid and DDT resistance in the main vectors, each YH25448 cell line species may have a different response to alternative insecticides, which might complicate the malaria vector control in the Mekong region.”
“The nature and structure of institutional mechanisms is fundamental for commons management, and yet has received relatively little attention for ecosystem service provision. In this paper, we develop and employ a value-focused structured decision process for a negotiation analysis about mechanisms to maintain and enhance ecosystem service (ES) provision at the watershed scale. We use a case study in the Birris watershed of Costa Rica where upstream farmers and downstream hydropower might jointly benefit from the design of a mechanism to foster the provision of soil regulation services (SRS).