bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Locally adapted arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improve vigor and resistance to herbivory of native prairie plant species
Authors: Middleton Elizabeth L. , Richardson Sarah , Koziol Liz , Palmer Corey E. , Yermakov Zhanna , Henning Jeremiah A. , Schultz Peggy A. , Bever James D.
Published: December 2015

Soil microbial communities contribute to ecosystem function and structure plant communities, but are altered by anthropogenic disturbance. Successful restoration may require microbial community restoration. Inoculation of plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) may improve ecological restoration, but AMF species that are locally adapted to native plant communities are often unavailable and commercially propagated AMF are not necessarily locally adapted to the desired plant community target. The disconnect between readily available commercial fungi and later‐successional plants may inhibit successful establishment of the restoration. We tested this concept using four mid‐ to late successional prairie plant species planted with one of three inoculum sources: a locally adapted AMF mix cultured from native prairie, a non‐locally adapted commercial AMF product, or a sterilized background soil control. The inoculated plants (termed nurse plants) were planted in the middle of field plots. In each plot, uninoculated plants (test plants) were planted at 0.5, 1, and 2 m from the nurse plants in order to test whether growth and survival of test plants could be affected by inoculum source. Generally, plants grew larger when inoculated with native AMF compared to commercial inoculum or the control. Later successional species responded most positively to native AMF. Benefits of inoculation also spread to neighbors, as uninoculated late successional test plant, Sporobolus heterolepis, grew larger when its' neighbors were inoculated with native AMF than with commercial AMF or the control. Due to an unanticipated herbivory event, we also assessed the degree to which rate of herbivory or plant tolerance to herbivory is affected by inoculum source. The mid‐ successional nurse plant, Ratibida pinnata, received the majority of the herbivore damage, and when it was inoculated with commercial AMF, it experienced significantly more herbivory than plants inoculated with native AMF or the control. R. pinnata inoculated with native AMF grew significantly larger one month following herbivory, though there was no significant difference in growth in the second year of sampling. This study suggests that native, locally adapted AMF can improve restoration of prairie plant species and these benefits can extend to neighbors up to two meters from the inoculation point.
Improving allometry models to estimate the above‐ and belowground biomass of subtropical forest, China
Authors: Xu Yaozhan , Zhang Jiaxin , Franklin Scott B. , Liang Junyi , Ding Peng , Luo Yiqi , Lu Zhijun , Bao Dachuan , Jiang Mingxi
Published: December 2015

Subtropical forests are important carbon sinks and have a huge potential for mitigating climate change. However, few studies have developed biomass models to give robust estimates of subtropical forest aboveground and belowground biomass. Although wood density (WD) can greatly reduce the uncertainty in aboveground biomass (AGB) estimates in tropical forest, it has never been applied in other ecosystems. In addition, crowns hold a large component of tree biomass and vary among forest types, so crown dimensions as new variables have been recommended for AGB models. To test the role of wood density and crown dimensions and to select the best AGB model in subtropical forest, we harvested and weighted dry mass of 147 trees from 41 dominant species in subtropical forest. In order to account the belowground biomass (BGB) of these forests, 23 roots systems were excavated following aboveground harvest. Models with wood density performed better than all those without wood density, and models with height performed better than those without height, indicating wood density and tree height (H) are crucial factors in AGB models of subtropical forest. Adding crown radius (CR) did not improve the model performance. The BGB models with diameter at breast (DBH) in power form were significant (***p < 0.001). The new AGB models presented here, with wood density and tree height, and BGB models substantially improve biomass estimates in subtropical forest.
Ecosystem biogeochemistry model parameterization: Do more flux data result in a better model in predicting carbon flux?
Authors: Zhu Qing , Zhuang Qianlai
Published: December 2015

Reliability of terrestrial ecosystem models highly depends on the quantity and quality of the data that have been used to calibrate the models. Nowadays, in situ observations of carbon fluxes are abundant. However, the knowledge of how much data (data length) and which subset of the time series data (data period) should be used to effectively calibrate the model is still lacking. This study uses the AmeriFlux carbon flux data to parameterize the Terrestrial Ecosystem Model (TEM) with an adjoint‐based data assimilation technique for various ecosystem types. Parameterization experiments are thus conducted to explore the impact of both data length and data period on the uncertainty reduction of the posterior model parameters and the quantification of site and regional carbon dynamics. We find that: (1) the model is better constrained when it uses two‐year data comparing to using one‐year data. Further, two‐year data is sufficient in calibrating TEM's carbon dynamics, since using three‐year data could only marginally improve the model performance at our study sites; (2) the model is better constrained with the data that have a higher “climate variability” than that having a lower one. The climate variability is used to measure the overall possibility of the ecosystem to experience all climatic conditions including drought and extreme air temperatures and radiation; (3) the U.S. regional simulations indicate that the effect of calibration data length on carbon dynamics is amplified at regional and temporal scales, leading to large discrepancies among different parameterization experiments, especially in July and August. Our findings are conditioned on the specific model we used and the calibration sites we selected. The optimal calibration data length may not be suitable for other models. However, this study demonstrates that there may exist a threshold for calibration data length and simply using more data would not guarantee a better model parameterization and prediction. More importantly, climate variability might be an effective indicator of information within the data, which could help data selection for model parameterization. We believe our findings will benefit the ecosystem modeling community in using multiple‐year data to improve model predictability.
Prospects for predicting changes to coastal wetland bird populations due to accelerated sea level rise
Authors: Nuse Bryan L. , Cooper Robert J. , Hunter Elizabeth A.
Published: December 2015

Accelerating sea level rise (SLR) is likely to cause considerable changes to estuarine and other coastal wetlands. Efforts to forecast the effects of SLR on coastal wetland vegetation communities should be useful in making predictions for individual species that depend upon those communities. However, considerable uncertainty exists when predicting a chain of events that passes from the global climate to local effects to implications for a single species. One component of this uncertainty is the classification resolution used by SLR landscape change models such as the Sea Level Affects Marshes Model (SLAMM). To isolate and assess the effects of this kind of uncertainty on species‐level SLR prediction, we analyzed surveys of birds and plants in the lower Altamaha River and its estuary in Georgia, USA. For 19 marsh and forest bird species, we tested the predictive value of three classes of covariates of site occupancy: (1) field‐measured habitat variables and spatial information, (2) information available from a SLAMM map, including the spatial configuration of the SLAMM habitat classes, and (3) SLAMM habitat class alone. We found that the predictive ability of occupancy models built from these three kinds of information varies widely among species. We therefore suggest criteria for classifying species according to the amount of detail necessary to describe their habitat niche, and thus to maximize the accuracy of predictive models. We point out that for species with habitat requirements that can be represented well by SLAMM classes, such as the Clapper Rail, forecasts of SLR‐induced population change are probably feasible. For species with more narrow habitat needs, however, such as the Seaside Sparrow, reasonable predictions of SLR effects may not be possible without further refinement of SLR landscape change models. We suggest that improved thematic resolution of such models should be a priority, if the implications of SLR models for individual species are to be ascertained fully.
Density dependence and its impact on individual growth rates in an age‐structured stream salmonid population
Authors: Myrvold K. M. , Kennedy B. P.
Published: December 2015

In organisms with flexible and indeterminate growth, demographic density dependence can affect both individual fitness and population dynamics. Recent work in stream salmonids suggests that individual growth rates can be depressed even at low population densities, which warrants examination of populations previously assumed to be below carrying capacity. We investigated the effects of population density on individual growth rates in a threatened population of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in a tributary to the Clearwater River in Idaho, USA. We followed a mark‐recapture design where we visited 16 study sites on average five times per year from 2010 to 2012. The 95% confidence interval for average growth rates (% change in body mass per day) for subyearlings were [0.82, 1.0]) and [0.16, 0.30] for yearling steelhead. Variance decomposition showed that the variation in growth rates could be attributed equally to individual‐ and visit‐level factors in subyearlings, whereas almost two‐thirds of the variance in yearling growth rates could be attributed to individual‐level factors. Growth rates in the subyearling age class were negatively related to the densities of yearling steelhead, but not vice versa. Yearling growth rates showed no evidence of density dependence. Finally, density in interaction with water temperature did not affect growth rates of either age class. Our results demonstrate that density dependence can pose constraints on individual growth rates at low population densities (<1 fish m−2) in stream salmonids, and underscore the importance of considering age classes separately when studying density dependence in age‐structured populations.
Contextual Predictors of Injection Drug Use Among Black Adolescents and Adults in US Metropolitan Areas, 1993–2007
Authors: Cooper Hannah L. F. , West Brooke , Linton Sabriya , Hunter-Jones Josalin , Zlotorzynska Maria , Stall Ron , Wolfe Mary E. , Williams Leslie , Hall H. Irene , Cleland Charles , Tempalski Barbara , Friedman Samuel R.
Published: December 2015

Objectives. We sought to determine whether contextual factors shape injection drug use among Black adolescents and adults.

Methods. For this longitudinal study of 95 US metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), we drew annual MSA-specific estimates of the prevalence of injection drug use (IDU) among Black adolescents and adults in 1993 through 2007 from 3 surveillance databases. We used existing administrative data to measure MSA-level socioeconomic status; criminal justice activities; expenditures on social welfare, health, and policing; and histories of Black uprisings (1960–1969) and urban renewal funding (1949–1974). We regressed Black IDU prevalence on these predictors by using hierarchical linear models.

Results. Black IDU prevalence was lower in MSAs with declining Black high-school dropout rates, a history of Black uprisings, higher percentages of Black residents, and, in MSAs where 1992 White income was high, higher 1992 Black income. Incarceration rates were unrelated.

Conclusions. Contextual factors shape patterns of drug use among Black individuals. Structural interventions, especially those that improve Black socioeconomic security and political strength, may help reduce IDU among Black adolescents and adults.
Interest Group Conflict Over Medicaid Expansion: The Surprising Impact of Public Advocates
Authors: Callaghan Timothy , Jacobs Lawrence R.
Published: December 2015

Objectives. We examined the potential economic, policy, and political influences on the decisions of the 50 US states to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

Methods. We related a measure of relative state progress toward Medicaid expansion updated to 2015 to each state’s economic circumstances, established policy frameworks in states, partisan control of state government, and lobbyists for businesses, medical professionals, unions, and public interest organizations.

Results. The 9201 lobbyists working on health care reform in state capitols exerted a strong and significant impact on Medicaid expansion. Controlling for confounding factors (including partisanship and existing policy frameworks), we found that business and professional lobbyists exerted a negative effect on state Medicaid expansion and, unexpectedly, that public interest advocates exerted a positive effect.

Conclusions. There are 3.1 million adults who lack coverage because they live in the 20 states that refused to expand Medicaid. Although political party and lobbyists for private interests present significant barriers in these states, legislative lobbying on behalf of the uninsured appears likely to be effective.
Ethics and Childhood Vaccination Policy in the United States
Authors: Hendrix Kristin S. , Sturm Lynne A. , Zimet Gregory D. , Meslin Eric M.
Published: December 2015

Childhood immunization involves a balance between parents’ autonomy in deciding whether to immunize their children and the benefits to public health from mandating vaccines. Ethical concerns about pediatric vaccination span several public health domains, including those of policymakers, clinicians, and other professionals.

In light of ongoing developments and debates, we discuss several key ethical issues concerning childhood immunization in the United States and describe how they affect policy development and clinical practice. We focus on ethical considerations pertaining to herd immunity as a community good, vaccine communication, dismissal of vaccine-refusing families from practice, and vaccine mandates.

Clinicians and policymakers need to consider the nature and timing of vaccine-related discussions and invoke deliberative approaches to policymaking.
Opioid Overdose Deaths and Florida’s Crackdown on Pill Mills
Authors: Kennedy-Hendricks Alene , Richey Matthew , McGinty Emma E. , Stuart Elizabeth A. , Barry Colleen L. , Webster Daniel W.
Published: December 2015

Objectives. We examined the effect on opioid overdose mortality of Florida state laws and law enforcement operations targeting “pill mills.”

Methods. We collected 2003 to 2012 mortality data from the Florida Department of Health and the North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics (the comparison state) to estimate changes in the rates of death from prescription opioid, heroin, or any opioid overdose.

Results. Florida’s actions were associated with an estimated 1029 lives saved from prescription opioid overdose over a 34-month period. Estimated reductions in deaths grew over the intervention period, with rates per 100 000 population that were 0.6 lower in 2010, 1.8 lower in 2011, and 3.0 lower in 2012 than what would have been expected had the changes in mortality rate trends in Florida been the same as changes in trends in North Carolina. Florida’s mortality rates from heroin and total opioid overdose were also lower than anticipated relative to changes in trends in North Carolina.

Conclusions. Findings from this study indicate that laws regulating pain clinics and enforcement of these laws may, in combination, reduce opioid overdose deaths.
Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of Group Prenatal Care: Perinatal Outcomes Among Adolescents in New York City Health Centers
Authors: Ickovics Jeannette R. , Earnshaw Valerie , Lewis Jessica B. , Kershaw Trace S. , Magriples Urania , Stasko Emily , Rising Sharon Schindler , Cassells Andrea , Cunningham Shayna , Bernstein Peter , Tobin Jonathan N.
Published: December 2015

Objectives. We compared an evidence-based model of group prenatal care to traditional individual prenatal care on birth, neonatal, and reproductive health outcomes.

Methods. We performed a multisite cluster randomized controlled trial in 14 health centers in New York City (2008–2012). We analyzed 1148 pregnant women aged 14 to 21 years, at less than 24 weeks of gestation, and not at high obstetrical risk. We assessed outcomes via medical records and surveys.

Results. In intention-to-treat analyses, women at intervention sites were significantly less likely to have infants small for gestational age (< 10th percentile; 11.0% vs 15.8%; odds ratio = 0.66; 95% confidence interval = 0.44, 0.99). In as-treated analyses, women with more group visits had better outcomes, including small for gestational age, gestational age, birth weight, days in neonatal intensive care unit, rapid repeat pregnancy, condom use, and unprotected sex (P = .030 to < .001). There were no associated risks.

Conclusions. CenteringPregnancy Plus group prenatal care resulted in more favorable birth, neonatal, and reproductive outcomes. Successful translation of clinical innovations to enhance care, improve outcomes, and reduce cost requires strategies that facilitate patient adherence and support organizational change.
International Health Regulations, Ebola, and Emerging Infectious Diseases in Latin America and the Caribbean
Authors: Espinal Marcos , Aldighieri Sylvain , John Ronald St. , Becerra-Posada Francisco , Etienne Carissa
Published: December 2015

The World Health Organization’s determination of the Ebola virus disease outbreak as a public health event of international concern prompted nonaffected countries to implement measures to prevent, detect, and manage the introduction of the virus in their territories. The outbreak provided an opportunity to assess the operational implementation of the International Health Regulations’ core capacities and health systems’ preparedness to handle a potential or confirmed case of Ebola virus disease. A public health framework implemented in Latin America and Caribbean countries encompassing preparatory self-assessments, in-country visits, and follow-up suggests that the region should increase efforts to consolidate and sustain progress on core capacities and health system preparedness to face public health events with national or international repercussions.
Trauma-Informed Social Policy: A Conceptual Framework for Policy Analysis and Advocacy
Authors: Bowen Elizabeth A. , Murshid Nadine Shaanta
Published: December 2015

Trauma-informed care is a service provision model used across a range of practice settings. Drawing on an extensive body of research on trauma (broadly defined as experiences that produce enduring emotional pain and distress) and health outcomes, we have argued that the principles of trauma-informed care can be extended to social policy. Citing a variety of health-related policy examples, we have described how policy can better reflect 6 core principles of trauma-informed care: safety, trustworthiness and transparency, collaboration, empowerment, choice, and intersectionality. This framework conveys a politicized understanding of trauma, reflecting the reality that trauma and its effects are not equally distributed, and offers a pathway for public health professionals to disrupt trauma-driven health disparities through policy action.
Elevated Blood Lead Levels in Children Associated With the Flint Drinking Water Crisis: A Spatial Analysis of Risk and Public Health Response
Authors: Hanna-Attisha Mona , LaChance Jenny , Sadler Richard Casey , Champney Schnepp Allison
Published: December 2015

Objectives. We analyzed differences in pediatric elevated blood lead level incidence before and after Flint, Michigan, introduced a more corrosive water source into an aging water system without adequate corrosion control.

Methods. We reviewed blood lead levels for children younger than 5 years before (2013) and after (2015) water source change in Greater Flint, Michigan. We assessed the percentage of elevated blood lead levels in both time periods, and identified geographical locations through spatial analysis.

Results. Incidence of elevated blood lead levels increased from 2.4% to 4.9% (P < .05) after water source change, and neighborhoods with the highest water lead levels experienced a 6.6% increase. No significant change was seen outside the city. Geospatial analysis identified disadvantaged neighborhoods as having the greatest elevated blood lead level increases and informed response prioritization during the now-declared public health emergency.

Conclusions. The percentage of children with elevated blood lead levels increased after water source change, particularly in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods. Water is a growing source of childhood lead exposure because of aging infrastructure.
Methane Emission from Sheep Respiration and Sheepfolds During the Grazing Season in a Desert Grassland
Authors: Zhai Xiajie , Lu Tingting , Tang Shiming , Liu Xiaojuan , Ma Xiuzhi , Han Guodong , Wilkes Andreas , Wang Chengjie
Published: December 2015

Methane (CH4) emissions from ruminants should be accounted for the natural grazed rangeland ecosystems when devising greenhouse gas budget inventory, in particular, their contribution to global warming. In this study, CH4 emission from sheep respiration at different grazing intensities (light grazing, 0.75 sheep/ha, LG; moderate grazing, 1.50 sheep/ha, MG; and heavy grazing, 2.25 sheep/ha, HG) and in sheepfolds were evaluated in a desert grassland of Inner Mongolia. Results indicated that daily CH4 emission from sheep was not significantly different between treatments. When CH4 emission was expressed emission per 100g daily, there was a significant difference of LG vs HG and MG vs HG, with the values of 15.64g, 20.00g and 28.63g for LG, MG and HG, respectively, during the grazing season. There was no significant difference among CH4 fluxes in sheepfolds (mean 39.0 ug m-1 h-1). Considering CH4 emissions from the
grazing ecosystem, net CH4 emissions from LG, MG and HG plots were -18.33, -1.91 and 21.19 g/ha/day, respectively. The digestibility of forage had a positive correlation with CH emission expressed on daily and metabolic body weight basis. It is concluded that MG will improve the balance between CH emission from grassland and grazing livestock in the desert grasslands of Inner Mongolia.
Formulation and Pharmacokinetics of Flurbiprofen Sublimated Fast Dissolving Tablets#
Authors: Vemula Sateesh K. , Reddy Santhosh G.
Published: December 2015

Present study efforts are focusing to develop the flurbiprofen fast dissolving tablets using sublimation method to enhance the dissolution rate. In
this study an attempt was made to fasten the drug release from the oral tablets
by incorporating the sublimating agents in the presence of crosspovidone as
superdisintegrant and studied the effect on dissolution rate when compared to conventional tablets. In the present study, sublimated fast dissolving tablets
were prepared by direct compression method. The prepared tablets were
characterized for physical parameters and drug release behavior and the best
formulation was subjected to pharmacokinetic studies. From in vitro drug
release studies, the formulation F2 showed fast drug release of about 99.94±0.26% in 30 min, and disintegration time 34.42 ± 0.74 sec. The percent
drug release in 15 min (Q15) and initial dissolution rate for
formulation F2 was 91.46±1.42%, 6.10%/min. The dissolution efficiency was found to be 53.44 and it is increased by 4.5 fold with F2 sublimated tablets. From the
pharmacokinetic evaluation, the conventional tablets producing peak plasma
concentration (Cmax) was 9023.68±561.83 ng/ml at 3 h Tmax
and F2 sublimated tablets showed Cmax 11126.71±123.56 ng/ml at 2 h Tmax.
The area under the curve for the conventional and F2 tablets was 30968.42±541.52
and 42973.66±568.13 ng h/ml. Hence, the development of flurbiprofen fast dissolving tablets by sublimation method is a right way to enhance not only the
dissolution rate but also the absorption rate.
Antithrombotic use and bleeding risk in patients with atrial fibrillation: findings from a multipayer analysis
Authors: Lang Kathleen , Federico Victoria , Patel Aarti A , Munsell Michael , Nelson Winnie W , Owens Gary , Mody Samir H , Schein Jeffery , Menzin Joseph
Published: December 2015

Aims:
To analyze administrative claims data from Medicaid, Medicare and commercial insurance sources to estimate stroke risk, bleeding risk, and the use of antithrombotic treatment in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).
Methods:
Included patients were aged ≥18 years with a new or existing diagnosis of AF. Outcomes were assessed over 1 year and included stroke risk (CHADS
2
/CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc score), bleeding risk (ATRIA score) and anticoagulant use.
Results
: A total of 115,906 patients with AF met inclusion criteria between six databases. Among patients with high stroke risk (CHADS
2
≥2) and low bleeding risk (ATRIA 0–3), 42–82% did not receive an antithrombotic.
Conclusion:
Levels of thromboprophylaxis for high-risk AF patients in real-world data differ significantly from current medical guidelines for stroke prevention.
Where has all the money gone? Materiality, mobility, and nothingness
Authors: Cameron Angus
Published: December 2015

This article argues that the problematic nature of money's ‘location’ is important to opening up its more fundamental ontology. Using examples from recent financial crises, I explore the (temporary) historical relationship between money and the nation state, the changing nature of money, and the paradoxes these produce in a world convinced that money is real and material. I conclude that whilst we cannot resolve these ingrained paradoxes, we should at the very least take account of them as we try to explain the vagaries of our money economies.
Mass spectrometric production of heterogeneous metal clusters using Knudsen cell
Authors: Veljkovic Filip , Peric-Grujic Aleksandra , Velickovic Suzana
Published: December 2015

Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry or high-temperature method of mass
spectrometry for decades gives new information about saturated vapor of
hardly volatile compounds and it is an important method in the discovery of
many new molecules, radicals, ions and clusters present in the gas phase.
Since pioneering works until now, this method has been successfully applied
to a large number of systems (ores, oxides, ceramics, glass materials,
borides, carbides, sulfides, nitrates, metals, fullerenes, etc) which led to
the establishment of various research branches such as chemistry of clusters.
This paper describes the basic principles of Knudsen cell use for both
identification of chemical species created in the process of evaporation and
determination of their ionization energies. Depending on detected ions
intensities and the partial pressure of each gaseous component, as well as on
changes in partial pressure with temperature, Knudsen cell mass spectrometry
enables the determination of thermodynamic parameters of the tested system. A
special attention is paid to its application in the field of small
heterogeneous and homogeneous clusters of alkali metals. Furthermore,
experimental results for thermodynamic parameters of some clusters, as well
as capabilities of non-standard ways of using Knudsen cells in the process of
synthesis of new clusters are presented herein.
Einfluss des Oberflächenzustands ausgewählter metallischer Hochtemperaturwerkstoffe auf das Metal-Dusting-Verhalten*
Authors: Hoja T. , Ackermann H. , Erasmi C. , Altena H. , Mehner A. , Zoch H.-W. , Lucka K.
Published: December 2015

Kurzfassung

Metal-Dusting ist eine spezielle Form der Hochtemperaturkorrosion, die unter aufkohlenden Bedingungen in der Petrochemie, in thermochemischen Wärmebehandlungsprozessen und teilweise auch in Gas- und Ölbrennern anzutreffen ist. In Laborversuchen in einem elektrisch beheizten Quarzglas-Rohrreaktor sowie in einem Feldversuch an einem industriell betriebenen Aufkohlungsofen einer Lohnhärterei wurde die Metal-Dusting-Beständigkeit typischer im Industrieofenbau eingesetzter Eisen- und Nickelbasiswerkstoffe systematisch untersucht. Generell zeigte sich eine Korrelation der Metal-Dusting-Beständigkeit mit dem Chrom- und Aluminiumgehalt der getesteten Werkstoffe. Besonders in der Anfangsphase des Metal-Dusting-Angriffs hat neben der Legierungszusammensetzung auch der Liefer- bzw. Bearbeitungszustand der Werkstoffoberflächen beispielsweise durch Schleifen, Fräsen oder Kugelstrahlen einen signifikanten Einfluss auf die Metal-Dusting-Beständigkeit.
A New Xanthone from the Pericarp of Garcinia Mangostana
Authors: Xu Tao , Deng Yunxia , Zhao Shengyin , Shao Zhiyu
Published: December 2015

Mangostanate, a new prenylated xanthone, 1,3,6-trihydroxy-2-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-8-(3-formyloxy-3-methylbutyl)–xanthone, has been isolated from the pericarp of Garcinia mangostana, together with five known compounds. The structures were elucidated using spectroscopy. All the components were tested for antioxidant activity.
Antifungal, anti-yeast, anti-oxidant and HPLC analysis of different solvent extracted samples from Calamus aromaticus leaves
Authors: Khan Bilal Muhammad , Bakht Jehan
Published: December 2015

The antifungal, anti-yeast and anti-oxidant effects of Calamus aromaticus leaves were studied. The extract showed mild activity against two fungal strains and strong activity against the yeast. The results also indicated the presence of extremely high DPPH radical scavenging potential in all tested samples at each of the seven concentrations used. The data further revealed that ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracted samples measured highest antifungal (25.0% inhibition each against Rhizopus oryzae at 1000 µg/well), anti-yeast (73.5 and 66.4% activity respectively at 2000 µg/disc) and anti-oxidant (96.6 and 97.7% activity respectively at 250 ppm) potential while samples extracted with water were least potent. HPLC analysis of the extracted samples confirmed ethyl acetate and n-butanol as the solvents of choice for the extraction of antifungal, anti-yeast and anti-oxidant compounds (phenolics) from the leaves of C. aromaticus.

 
Image Hiding Scheme Based on the Atrial Fibrillation Model
Authors: Vaidelys Martynas , Ragulskiene Jurate , Ziaukas Pranas , Ragulskis Minvydas
Published: December 2015

An image communication scheme based on the atrial fibrillation (AF) model is presented in this paper. Self-organizing patterns produced by the AF model are used to hide and transmit secret visual information. A secret image is encoded into the random matrix of initial cell excitation states in the form of a dot-skeleton representation. Self-organized patterns produced by such initial cell states ensure a secure and efficient transmission of secret visual images. Procedures for digital encoding and decoding of secret images, as well as the sensitivity of the communication scheme to the perturbation of the AF model’s parameters are discussed in the paper.
An Overview of the Pathway Idea and Its Applications in Statistical and Physical Sciences
Authors: Sebastian Nicy , S. Nair Seema , P. Joseph Dhannya
Published: December 2015

Pathway idea is a switching mechanism by which one can go from one functional form to another, and to yet another. It is shown that through a parameter α, called the pathway parameter, one can connect generalized type-1 beta family of densities, generalized type-2 beta family of densities, and generalized gamma family of densities, in the scalar as well as the matrix cases, also in the real and complex domains. It is shown that when the model is applied to physical situations then the current hot topics of Tsallis statistics and superstatistics in statistical mechanics become special cases of the pathway model, and the model is capable of capturing many stable situations as well as the unstable or chaotic neighborhoods of the stable situations and transitional stages. The pathway model is shown to be connected to generalized information measures or entropies, power law, likelihood ratio criterion or λ - criterion in multivariate statistical analysis, generalized Dirichlet densities, fractional calculus, Mittag-Leffler stochastic process, Krätzel integral in applied analysis, and many other topics in different disciplines. The pathway model enables one to extend the current results on quadratic and bilinear forms, when the samples come from Gaussian populations, to wider classes of populations.
The Porter-Whitesides Discrepancy: Revisiting Odd-Even Effects in Wetting Properties of n-Alkanethiolate SAMs
Authors: Wang Zhengjia , Chen Jiahao , Oyola-Reynoso Stephanie , Thuo Martin
Published: December 2015

This review discusses the Porter-Whitesides discrepancy in wetting properties of n-alkanethiolate self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). About 25 years ago, Whitesides and coworker failed to observe any odd-even effect in wetting, however, Porter and his coworker did, albeit in select cases. Most previous studies agreed with Whitesides’ results, suggesting the absence of the odd-even effect in hydrophobicity of n-alkanethiolate SAMs. Recent reports have, however, found the odd-even effect in hydrophobicity of n-alkanethiolate SAMs on smooth substrates, indicating that hydrophobicity, and analogous interfacial properties, of n-alkanethiolate SAMs significantly depends on the properties of substrate. Unfortunately, the Whitesides and Porter papers do not report on the quality of the surfaces used. Based on recent work, we inferred that the original discrepancy between Whitesides and Porter can be attributed to the quality of the surface. Odd-even effect of SAMs in charge transport, capacitance, friction, and SAM structure are also discussed in this review to inform the general discussion. The discrepancy between Porter's group and Whitesides’ group could be due to surface roughness, morphology, oxidation, and adventitious contaminants.
A New Tight Upper Bound on the Entropy of Sums
Authors: Fahs Jihad , Abou-Faycal Ibrahim
Published: December 2015

We consider the independent sum of a given random variable with a Gaussian variable and an infinitely divisible one. We find a novel tight upper bound on the entropy of the sum which still holds when the variable possibly has an infinite second moment. The proven bound has several implications on both information theoretic problems and infinitely divisible noise channels’ transmission rates.
Financial Reform and Economic Development
Authors: Hamdi Helmi
Published: December 2015

The crucial role of the financial sector in the process of economic development and growth is widely acknowledged by scholars and policymakers.
Equilibrium Molecular Dynamics (MD) Simulation Study of Thermal Conductivity of Graphene Nanoribbon: A Comparative Study on MD Potentials
Authors: Khan Asir , Navid Ishtiaque , Noshin Maliha , Uddin H. , Hossain Fahim , Subrina Samia
Published: December 2015

The thermal conductivity of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) has been investigated using equilibrium molecular dynamics (EMD) simulation based on Green-Kubo (GK) method to compare two interatomic potentials namely optimized Tersoff and 2nd generation Reactive Empirical Bond Order (REBO). Our comparative study includes the estimation of thermal conductivity as a function of temperature, length and width of GNR for both the potentials. The thermal conductivity of graphene nanoribbon decreases with the increase of temperature. Quantum correction has been introduced for thermal conductivity as a function of temperature to include quantum effect below Debye temperature. Our results show that for temperatures up to Debye temperature, thermal conductivity increases, attains its peak and then falls off monotonically. Thermal conductivity is found to decrease with the increasing length for optimized Tersoff potential. However, thermal conductivity has been reported to increase with length using 2nd generation REBO potential for the GNRs of same size. Thermal conductivity, for the specified range of width, demonstrates an increasing trend with the increase of width for both the concerned potentials. In comparison with 2nd generation REBO potential, optimized Tersoff potential demonstrates a better modeling of thermal conductivity as well as provides a more appropriate description of phonon thermal transport in graphene nanoribbon. Such comparative study would provide a good insight for the optimization of the thermal conductivity of graphene nanoribbons under diverse conditions.
Effects of Extreme Temperatures on Cause-Specific Cardiovascular Mortality in China
Authors: Wang Xuying , Li Guoxing , Liu Liqun , Westerdahl Dane , Jin Xiaobin , Pan Xiaochuan
Published: December 2015

Objective: Limited evidence is available for the effects of extreme temperatures on cause-specific cardiovascular mortality in China. Methods: We collected data from Beijing and Shanghai, China, during 2007–2009, including the daily mortality of cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, ischemic heart disease and hypertensive disease, as well as air pollution concentrations and weather conditions. We used Poisson regression with a distributed lag non-linear model to examine the effects of extremely high and low ambient temperatures on cause-specific cardiovascular mortality. Results: For all cause-specific cardiovascular mortality, Beijing had stronger cold and hot effects than those in Shanghai. The cold effects on cause-specific cardiovascular mortality reached the strongest at lag 0–27, while the hot effects reached the strongest at lag 0–14. The effects of extremely low and high temperatures differed by mortality types in the two cities. Hypertensive disease in Beijing was particularly susceptible to both extremely high and low temperatures; while for Shanghai, people with ischemic heart disease showed the greatest relative risk (RRs = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.34) to extremely low temperature. Conclusion: People with hypertensive disease were particularly susceptible to extremely low and high temperatures in Beijing. People with ischemic heart disease in Shanghai showed greater susceptibility to extremely cold days.
The Building Blocks of User-Focused 3D City Models
Authors: Sargent Isabel , Holland David , Harding Jenny
Published: December 2015

At Ordnance Survey, GB, we have taken an incremental approach to creating our 3D geospatial database. Research at Ordnance Survey has focused not only on methods for deriving 3D data, but also on the needs of the user in terms of the actual tasks they perform. This provides insights into the type and quality of the data required and how its quality is conveyed. In 2007, using task analysis and user-centred design, we derived a set of geometric characteristics of building exteriors that are relevant to one or more use contexts. This work has been valuable for guiding which building data to collect and how to augment our products. In 2014, we began to supply building height attributes as an alpha-release enhancement to our 2D topography data, OS MasterMap® Topography Layer. This is the first in a series of enhancements of our 2D data that forms part of a road map that will ultimately lead to a full range of 3D products. This paper outlines our research journey from the understanding of the key 3D building characteristics to the development of geo-spatial products and the specification of research. There remains a rich seam of research into methods for capturing user-focused, geo-spatial data to enable visualisation and analysis in three dimensions. Because the process of informing and designing a product is necessarily focused on the practicalities of production, storage and distribution, this paper is presented as a case report, as we believe our journey will be of interest to others involved in the capture of 3D buildings at a national level.
Cloning of the Lycopene β-cyclase Gene in Nicotiana tabacum and Its Overexpression Confers Salt and Drought Tolerance
Authors: Shi Yanmei , Guo Jinggong , Zhang Wei , Jin Lifeng , Liu Pingping , Chen Xia , Li Feng , Wei Pan , Li Zefeng , Li Wenzheng , Wei Chunyang , Zheng Qingxia , Chen Qiansi , Zhang Jianfeng , Lin Fucheng , Qu Lingbo , Snyder John , Wang Ran
Published: December 2015

Carotenoids are important pigments in plants that play crucial roles in plant growth and in plant responses to environmental stress. Lycopene β cyclase (β-LCY) functions at the branch point of the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway, catalyzing the cyclization of lycopene. Here, a β-LCY gene from Nicotiana tabacum, designated as Ntβ-LCY1, was cloned and functionally characterized. Robust expression of Ntβ-LCY1 was found in leaves, and Ntβ-LCY1 expression was obviously induced by salt, drought, and exogenous abscisic acid treatments. Strong accumulation of carotenoids and expression of carotenoid biosynthesis genes resulted from Ntβ-LCY1 overexpression. Additionally, compared to wild-type plants, transgenic plants with overexpression showed enhanced tolerance to salt and drought stress with higher abscisic acid levels and lower levels of malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species. Conversely, transgenic RNA interference plants had a clear albino phenotype in leaves, and some plants did not survive beyond the early developmental stages. The suppression of Ntβ-LCY1 expression led to lower expression levels of genes in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway and to reduced accumulation of carotenoids, chlorophyll, and abscisic acid. These results indicate that Ntβ-LCY1 is not only a likely cyclization enzyme involved in carotenoid accumulation but also confers salt and drought stress tolerance in Nicotiana tabacum.
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition and Cancer Invasiveness: What Can We Learn from Cholangiocarcinoma?
Authors: Brivio Simone , Cadamuro Massimiliano , Fabris Luca , Strazzabosco Mario
Published: December 2015

In addition to its well-established role in embryo development, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been proposed as a general mechanism favoring tumor metastatization in several epithelial malignancies. Herein, we review the topic of EMT in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), a primary liver cancer arising from the epithelial cells lining the bile ducts (cholangiocytes) and characterized by an abundant stromal reaction. CCA carries a dismal prognosis, owing to a pronounced invasiveness and scarce therapeutic opportunities. In CCA, several reports indicate that cancer cells acquire a number of EMT biomarkers and functions. These phenotypic changes are likely induced by both autocrine and paracrine signals released in the tumor microenvironment (cytokines, growth factors, morphogens) and intracellular stimuli (microRNAs, oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes) variably associated with specific disease mechanisms, including chronic inflammation and hypoxia. Nevertheless, evidence supporting a complete EMT of neoplastic cholangiocytes into stromal cells is lacking, and the gain of EMT-like changes by CCA cells rather reflects a shift towards an enhanced pro-invasive phenotype, likely induced by the tumor stroma. This concept may help to identify new biomarkers of early metastatic behavior along with potential therapeutic targets.
Geometry of Wave-Formed Orbital Ripples in Coarse Sand
Authors: Ruessink Gerben , Brinkkemper Joost , Kleinhans Maarten
Published: December 2015

Using new large-scale wave-flume experiments we examine the cross-section and planform geometry of wave-formed ripples in coarse sand (median grain size D50 = 430 μm) under high-energy shoaling and plunging random waves. We find that the ripples remain orbital for the full range of encountered conditions, even for wave forcing when in finer sand the ripple length λr is known to become independent of the near-bed orbital diameter ds (anorbital ripples). The proportionality between λr and ds is not constant, but decreases from about 0.55 for ds / D50 ≈ 1400 to about 0.27 for ds / D50 ≈ 11 , 500 . Analogously, ripple height ηr increases with ds, but the constant of proportionally decreases from about 0.08 for ds / D50 ≈ 1400 to about 0.02 for ds / D50 > 8000 . In contrast to earlier observations of coarse-grained two-dimensional wave ripples under mild wave conditions, the ripple planform changes with the wave Reynolds number from quasi two-dimensional vortex ripples, through oval mounds with ripples attached from different directions, to strongly subdued hummocky-type features. Finally, we combine our data with existing mild-wave coarse-grain ripple data to develop new equilibrium predictors for ripple length, height and steepness suitable for a wide range of wave conditions and a D50 larger than about 300 μm.
Chemotaxonomic Characterization and in-Vitro Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activities of the Leaf Essential Oil of Curcuma longa Grown in Southern Nigeria
Authors: Essien Emmanuel , Newby Jennifer , Walker Tameka , Setzer William , Ekundayo Olusegun
Published: December 2015

Curcuma longa (turmeric) has been used in Chinese traditional medicine and Ayurvedic medicine for many years. Methods: The leaf essential oil of C. longa from southern Nigeria was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The essential oil was screened for in vitro antibacterial, antifungal, and cytotoxic activities. The major components in C. longa leaf oil were ar-turmerone (63.4%), α-turmerone (13.7%), and β-turmerone (12.6%). A cluster analysis has revealed this to be a new essential oil chemotype of C. longa. The leaf oil showed notable antibacterial activity to Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus, antifungal activity to Aspergillus niger, and cytotoxic activity to Hs 578T (breast tumor) and PC-3 (prostate tumor) cells. The ar-turmerone-rich leaf essential oil of C. longa from Nigeria has shown potent biological activity and therapeutic promise.
Pharmacophore Models and Pharmacophore-Based Virtual Screening: Concepts and Applications Exemplified on Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases
Authors: Kaserer Teresa , Beck Katharina , Akram Muhammad , Odermatt Alex , Schuster Daniela
Published: December 2015

Computational methods are well-established tools in the drug discovery process and can be employed for a variety of tasks. Common applications include lead identification and scaffold hopping, as well as lead optimization by structure-activity relationship analysis and selectivity profiling. In addition, compound-target interactions associated with potentially harmful effects can be identified and investigated. This review focuses on pharmacophore-based virtual screening campaigns specifically addressing the target class of hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases. Many members of this enzyme family are associated with specific pathological conditions, and pharmacological modulation of their activity may represent promising therapeutic strategies. On the other hand, unintended interference with their biological functions, e.g., upon inhibition by xenobiotics, can disrupt steroid hormone-mediated effects, thereby contributing to the development and progression of major diseases. Besides a general introduction to pharmacophore modeling and pharmacophore-based virtual screening, exemplary case studies from the field of short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) research are presented. These success stories highlight the suitability of pharmacophore modeling for the various application fields and suggest its application also in futures studies.