bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electronic Cigarettes and Indoor Air Quality: A Simple Approach to Modeling Potential Bystander Exposures to Nicotine
Authors: Colard Stéphane , O'Connell Grant , Verron Thomas , Cahours Xavier , Pritchard John
Published: December 2014

There has been rapid growth in the use of electronic cigarettes (“vaping”) in Europe, North America and elsewhere. With such increased prevalence, there is currently a debate on whether the aerosol exhaled following the use of e-cigarettes has implications for the quality of air breathed by bystanders. Conducting chemical analysis of the indoor environment can be costly and resource intensive, limiting the number of studies which can be conducted. However, this can be modelled reasonably accurately based on empirical emissions data and using some basic assumptions. Here, we present a simplified model, based on physical principles, which considers aerosol propagation, dilution and extraction to determine the potential contribution of a single puff from an e-cigarette to indoor air. From this, it was then possible to simulate the cumulative effect of vaping over time. The model was applied to a virtual, but plausible, scenario considering an e-cigarette user and a non-user working in the same office space. The model was also used to reproduce published experimental studies and showed good agreement with the published values of indoor air nicotine concentration. With some additional refinements, such an approach may be a cost-effective and rapid way of assessing the potential exposure of bystanders to exhaled e-cigarette aerosol constituents.
Quantification of Drug Transport Function across the MultipleResistance-Associated Protein 2 (Mrp2) in Rat Livers
Authors: Bonnaventure Pierre , Pastor Catherine
Published: December 2014

To understand the transport function of drugs across the canalicular membrane of hepatocytes, it would be important to measure concentrations in hepatocytes and bile. However, these concentration gradients are rarely provided. The aim of the study is then to measure these concentrations and define parameters to quantify the canalicular transport of drugs through the multiple resistance associated-protein 2 (Mrp2) in entire rat livers. Besides drug bile excretion rates, we measured additional parameters to better define transport function across Mrp2: (1) Concentration gradients between hepatocyte and bile concentrations over time; and (2) a unique parameter (canalicular concentration ratio) that represents the slope of the non-linear regression curve between hepatocyte and bile concentrations. This information was obtained in isolated rat livers perfused with gadobenate dimeglumine (BOPTA) and mebrofenin (MEB), two hepatobiliary drugs used in clinical liver imaging. Interestingly, despite different transport characteristics including excretion rates into bile and hepatocyte clearance into bile, BOPTA and MEB have a similar canalicular concentration ratio. In contrast, the ratio was null when BOPTA was not excreted in bile in hepatocytes lacking Mrp2. The canalicular concentration ratio is more informative than bile excretion rates because it is independent of time, bile flows, and concentrations perfused in portal veins. It would be interesting to apply such information in human liver imaging where hepatobiliary compounds are increasingly investigated.
Systemic Delivery of Protein Nanocages Bearing CTT Peptides for Enhanced Imaging of MMP-2 Expression in Metastatic Tumor Models
Authors: Kawano Takahito , Murata Masaharu , Piao Jing , Narahara Sayoko , Hamano Nobuhito , Kang Jeong-Hun , Hashizume Makoto
Published: December 2014

Matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) in metastatic cancer tissue, which is associated with a poor prognosis, is a potential target for tumor imaging in vivo. Here, we describe a metastatic cancer cell-targeted protein nanocage. An MMP-2-binding peptide, termed CTT peptide (CTTHWGFTLC), was conjugated to the surface of a naturally occurring heat shock protein nanocage by genetic modification. The engineered protein nanocages showed a binding affinity for MMP-2 and selective uptake in cancer cells that highly expressed MMP-2 in vitro. In near-infrared fluorescence imaging, the nanocages showed specific and significant accumulation in tumor tissue after intravenous injection in vivo. These protein nanocages conjugated with CTT peptide could be potentially applied to a noninvasive near-infrared fluorescence detection method for imaging gelatinase activity in metastatic tumors in vivo.
Oxidative Stress and Its Significant Roles in Neurodegenerative Diseases and Cancer
Authors: Thanan Raynoo , Oikawa Shinji , Hiraku Yusuke , Ohnishi Shiho , Ma Ning , Pinlaor Somchai , Yongvanit Puangrat , Kawanishi Shosuke , Murata Mariko
Published: December 2014

Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species have been implicated in diverse pathophysiological conditions, including inflammation, neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Accumulating evidence indicates that oxidative damage to biomolecules including lipids, proteins and DNA, contributes to these diseases. Previous studies suggest roles of lipid peroxidation and oxysterols in the development of neurodegenerative diseases and inflammation-related cancer. Our recent studies identifying and characterizing carbonylated proteins reveal oxidative damage to heat shock proteins in neurodegenerative disease models and inflammation-related cancer, suggesting dysfunction in their antioxidative properties. In neurodegenerative diseases, DNA damage may not only play a role in the induction of apoptosis, but also may inhibit cellular division via telomere shortening. Immunohistochemical analyses showed co-localization of oxidative/nitrative DNA lesions and stemness markers in the cells of inflammation-related cancers. Here, we review oxidative stress and its significant roles in neurodegenerative diseases and cancer.
Compartmentalization Role of A-Kinase Anchoring Proteins (AKAPs) in Mediating Protein Kinase A (PKA) Signaling and Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy
Authors: Rababa'h Abeer , Singh Sonal , Suryavanshi Santosh , Altarabsheh Salah , Deo Salil , McConnell Bradley
Published: December 2014

The Beta-adrenergic receptors (β-ARs) stimulation enhances contractility through protein kinase-A (PKA) substrate phosphorylation. This PKA signaling is conferred in part by PKA binding to A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs). AKAPs coordinate multi-protein signaling networks that are targeted to specific intracellular locations, resulting in the localization of enzyme activity and transmitting intracellular actions of neurotransmitters and hormones to its target substrates. In particular, mAKAP (muscle-selective AKAP) has been shown to be present on the nuclear envelope of cardiomyocytes with various proteins including: PKA-regulatory subunit (RIIα), phosphodiesterase-4D3, protein phosphatase-2A, and ryanodine receptor (RyR2). Therefore, through the coordination of spatial-temporal signaling of proteins and enzymes, mAKAP controls cyclic-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels very tightly and functions as a regulator of PKA-mediated substrate phosphorylation leading to changes in calcium availability and myofilament calcium sensitivity. The goal of this review is to elucidate the critical compartmentalization role of mAKAP in mediating PKA signaling and regulating cardiomyocyte hypertrophy by acting as a scaffolding protein. Based on our literature search and studying the structure–function relationship between AKAP scaffolding protein and its binding partners, we propose possible explanations for the mechanism by which mAKAP promotes cardiac hypertrophy.
Molecular Targets of Antihypertensive Peptides: Understanding the Mechanisms of Action Based on the Pathophysiology of Hypertension
Authors: Majumder Kaustav , Wu Jianping
Published: December 2014

There is growing interest in using functional foods or nutraceuticals for the prevention and treatment of hypertension or high blood pressure. Although numerous preventive and therapeutic pharmacological interventions are available on the market, unfortunately, many patients still suffer from poorly controlled hypertension. Furthermore, most pharmacological drugs, such as inhibitors of angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE), are often associated with significant adverse effects. Many bioactive food compounds have been characterized over the past decades that may contribute to the management of hypertension; for example, bioactive peptides derived from various food proteins with antihypertensive properties have gained a great deal of attention. Some of these peptides have exhibited potent in vivo antihypertensive activity in both animal models and human clinical trials. This review provides an overview about the complex pathophysiology of hypertension and demonstrates the potential roles of food derived bioactive peptides as viable interventions targeting specific pathways involved in this disease process. This review offers a comprehensive guide for understanding and utilizing the molecular mechanisms of antihypertensive actions of food protein derived peptides.
5,5-Dimethyl-2,2-di(pyridin-2-yl)hexahydropyrimidine
Authors: Abu-Obaid Ahmad. , Asadi Ahmad , Alruwaili Afaf. , Atieh Heba. , Khlaif Shoqour , Hadda Taibi , Radi Smaail , Hammouti Belkheir , Warad Ismail
Published: December 2014

Novel 5,5-dimethyl-2,2-di(pyridin-2-yl)hexahydropyrimidine was synthesized in good yield by a one-pot condensation reaction of 2,2-dimethylpropane-1,3-diamine with di(pyridin-2-yl)methanoneusing dichloromethane as solvent at room temperature. The structure of the synthesized compound was assigned on the basis of its elemental analysis, UV-visible, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, IR, and mass spectral data.
Marine Compound Xyloketal B Reduces Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury
Authors: Xiao Ai-Jiao , Chen Wenliang , Xu Baofeng , Liu Rui , Turlova Ekaterina , Barszczyk Andrew , Sun Christopher , Liu Ling , Deurloo Marielle , Wang Guan-Lei , Feng Zhong-Ping , Sun Hong-Shuo
Published: December 2014

Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy causes neurodegeneration and brain injury, leading to sensorimotor dysfunction. Xyloketal B is a novel marine compound isolated from a mangrove fungus Xylaria species (no. 2508) with unique antioxidant effects. In this study, we investigated the effects and mechanism of xyloketal B on oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced neuronal cell death in mouse primary cortical culture and on hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in neonatal mice in vivo. We found that xyloketal B reduced anoxia-induced neuronal cell death in vitro, as well as infarct volume in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury model in vivo. Furthermore, xyloketal B improved functional behavioral recovery of the animals following hypoxic-ischemic insult. In addition, xyloketal B significantly decreased calcium entry, reduced the number of TUNEL-positive cells, reduced the levels of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax proteins, and increased the level of Bcl-2 protein after the hypoxic-ischemic injury. Our findings indicate that xyloketal B is effective in models of hypoxia-ischemia and thus has potential as a treatment for hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.
A New Concept of a Drug Delivery System with Improved Precision and Patient Safety Features
Authors: Thoma Florian , Goldschmidtböing Frank , Woias Peter
Published: December 2014

This paper presents a novel dosing concept for drug delivery based on a peristaltic piezo-electrically actuated micro membrane pump. The design of the silicon micropump itself is straight-forward, using two piezoelectrically actuated membrane valves as inlet and outlet, and a pump chamber with a piezoelectrically actuated pump membrane in-between. To achieve a precise dosing, this micropump is used to fill a metering unit placed at its outlet. In the final design this metering unit will be made from a piezoelectrically actuated inlet valve, a storage chamber with an elastic cover membrane and a piezoelectrically actuated outlet valve, which are connected in series. During a dosing cycle the metering unit is used to adjust the drug volume to be dispensed before delivery and to control the actually dispensed volume. To simulate the new drug delivery concept, a lumped parameter model has been developed to find the decisive design parameters. With the knowledge taken from the model a drug delivery system is designed that includes a silicon micro pump and, in a first step, a silicon chip with the storage chamber and two commercial microvalves as a metering unit. The lumped parameter model is capable to simulate the maximum flow, the frequency response created by the micropump, and also the delivered volume of the drug delivery system.
Curcumin Differs from Tetrahydrocurcumin for Molecular Targets, Signaling Pathways and Cellular Responses
Authors: Aggarwal Bharat , Deb Lokesh , Prasad Sahdeo
Published: December 2014

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane), a golden pigment from turmeric, has been linked with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antiviral, antibacterial, and antidiabetic properties. Most of the these activities have been assigned to methoxy, hydroxyl, α,β-unsaturated carbonyl moiety or to diketone groups present in curcumin. One of the major metabolites of curcumin is tetrahydrocurcumin (THC), which lacks α,β-unsaturated carbonyl moiety and is white in color. Whether THC is superior to curcumin on a molecular level is unclear and thus is the focus of this review. Various studies suggest that curcumin is a more potent antioxidant than THC; curcumin (but not THC) can bind and inhibit numerous targets including DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase-1, heme oxygenase-1, Nrf2, β-catenin, cyclooxygenase-2, NF-kappaB, inducible nitric oxide synthase, nitric oxide, amyloid plaques, reactive oxygen species, vascular endothelial growth factor, cyclin D1, glutathione, P300/CBP, 5-lipoxygenase, cytosolic phospholipase A2, prostaglandin E2, inhibitor of NF-kappaB kinase-1, -2, P38MAPK, p-Tau, tumor necrosis factor-α, forkhead box O3a, CRAC; curcumin can inhibit tumor cell growth and suppress cellular entry of viruses such as influenza A virus and hepatitis C virus much more effectively than THC; curcumin affects membrane mobility; and curcumin is also more effective than THC in suppressing phorbol-ester-induced tumor promotion. Other studies, however, suggest that THC is superior to curcumin for induction of GSH peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, NADPH: quinone reductase, and quenching of free radicals. Most studies have indicated that THC exhibits higher antioxidant activity, but curcumin exhibits both pro-oxidant and antioxidant properties.
Eliminating the Heart from the Curcumin Molecule: Monocarbonyl Curcumin Mimics (MACs)
Authors: Shetty Dinesh , Kim Yong , Shim Hyunsuk , Snyder James
Published: December 2014

Curcumin is a natural product with several thousand years of heritage. Its traditional Asian application to human ailments has been subjected in recent decades to worldwide pharmacological, biochemical and clinical investigations. Curcumin’s Achilles heel lies in its poor aqueous solubility and rapid degradation at pH ~ 7.4. Researchers have sought to unlock curcumin’s assets by chemical manipulation. One class of molecules under scrutiny are the monocarbonyl analogs of curcumin (MACs). A thousand plus such agents have been created and tested primarily against cancer and inflammation. The outcome is clear. In vitro, MACs furnish a 10–20 fold potency gain vs. curcumin for numerous cancer cell lines and cellular proteins. Similarly, MACs have successfully demonstrated better pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles in mice and greater tumor regression in cancer xenografts in vivo than curcumin. The compounds reveal limited toxicity as measured by murine weight gain and histopathological assessment. To our knowledge, MAC members have not yet been monitored in larger animals or humans. However, Phase 1 clinical trials are certainly on the horizon. The present review focuses on the large and evolving body of work in cancer and inflammation, but also covers MAC structural diversity and early discovery for treatment of bacteria, tuberculosis, Alzheimer’s disease and malaria.
Protective Effects of Lycium barbarum Polysaccharide on 6-OHDA-Induced Apoptosis in PC12 Cells through the ROS-NO Pathway
Authors: Gao Kai , Liu Meiyou , Cao Jinyi , Yao Minna , Lu Yunyang , Li Jiankang , Zhu Xiaohe , Yang Zhifu , Wen Aidong
Published: December 2014

Oxidative stress plays an important role in Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP), the main active ingredients extracted from the fruits of Lycium barbarum L., have been shown to be a potent antioxidant. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects, and the possible mechanism of action of LBP against 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells. Our data demonstrated that LBP significantly reversed the 6-OHDA-induced decrease in cell viability, prevented 6-OHDA-induced changes in condensed nuclei and decreased the percentage of apoptotic cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, LBP also slowed the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO), decreased the level of protein-bound 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) and intracellular free Ca2+, and inhibiting the overexpression of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). These results demonstrate that LBP prevents 6-OHDA-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells, at least in part through the ROS-NO pathway.
Ag+ as a More Effective Elicitor for Production of Tanshinones than Phenolic Acids in Salvia miltiorrhiza Hairy Roots
Authors: Xing Bingcong , Yang Dongfeng , Guo Wanli , Liang Zongsuo , Yan Xijun , Zhu Yonghong , Liu Yan
Published: December 2014

Phenolic acids and tanshinones are two groups of bioactive ingredients in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. As a heavy metal elicitor, it has been reported that Ag+ can induce accumulations of both phenolic acids and tanshinones in S. miltiorrhiza hairy roots. In this study, the effects of Ag+ treatment on accumulations of six phenolic acids and four tanshinones in S. miltiorrhiza hairy roots were investigated. To further elucidate the molecular mechanism, expressions of key genes involved in the biosynthesis of these ingredients were also detected. The results showed that although the total phenolic acids content was almost not affected by Ag+, accumulations of rosmarinic acid (RA), caffeic acid and ferulic acid were significantly increased, while accumulations of salvianolic acid B (LAB), danshensu (DSU) and cinnamic acid were decreased. We speculate that LAB probably derived from the branch pathway of DSU biosynthesis. Contents of four tanshinones were enhanced by Ag+ and their accumulations were more sensitive to Ag+ than phenolic acids. Genes in the upstream biosynthetic pathways of these ingredients responded to Ag+ earlier than those in the downstream biosynthetic pathways. Ag+ probably induced the whole pathways, upregulated gene expressions from the upstream pathways to the downstream pathways, and finally resulted in the enhancement of ingredient production. Compared with phenolic acids, tanshinone production was more sensitive to Ag+ treatments. This study will help us understand how secondary metabolism in S. miltiorrhiza responds to elicitors and provide a reference for the improvement of the production of targeted compounds in the near future.
Metazoan Remaining Genes for Essential Amino Acid Biosynthesis: Sequence Conservation and Evolutionary Analyses
Authors: Costa Igor , Thompson Julie , Ortega José , Prosdocimi Francisco
Published: December 2014

Essential amino acids (EAA) consist of a group of nine amino acids that animals are unable to synthesize via de novo pathways. Recently, it has been found that most metazoans lack the same set of enzymes responsible for the de novo EAA biosynthesis. Here we investigate the sequence conservation and evolution of all the metazoan remaining genes for EAA pathways. Initially, the set of all 49 enzymes responsible for the EAA de novo biosynthesis in yeast was retrieved. These enzymes were used as BLAST queries to search for similar sequences in a database containing 10 complete metazoan genomes. Eight enzymes typically attributed to EAA pathways were found to be ubiquitous in metazoan genomes, suggesting a conserved functional role. In this study, we address the question of how these genes evolved after losing their pathway partners. To do this, we compared metazoan genes with their fungal and plant orthologs. Using phylogenetic analysis with maximum likelihood, we found that acetolactate synthase (ALS) and betaine-homocysteine S-methyltransferase (BHMT) diverged from the expected Tree of Life (ToL) relationships. High sequence conservation in the paraphyletic group Plant-Fungi was identified for these two genes using a newly developed Python algorithm. Selective pressure analysis of ALS and BHMT protein sequences showed higher non-synonymous mutation ratios in comparisons between metazoans/fungi and metazoans/plants, supporting the hypothesis that these two genes have undergone non-ToL evolution in animals.
Clinical Use of Proteasome Inhibitors in the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Merin Noah , Kelly Kevin
Published: December 2014

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable hematological malignancy characterized by the clonal proliferation of neoplastic plasma cells. The use of proteasome inhibitors in the treatment of MM has led to significant improvements in outcomes. This article reviews data on the use of the two approved proteasome inhibitors (bortezomib and carlfilzomib), as well as newer agents under development. Emphasis is placed on the clinical use of proteasome inhibitors, including management of side effects and combination with other agents.
Chitosan to Connect Biology to Electronics: Fabricating the Bio-Device Interface and Communicating Across This Interface
Authors: Kim Eunkyoung , Xiong Yuan , Cheng Yi , Wu Hsuan-Chen , Liu Yi , Morrow Brian , Ben-Yoav Hadar , Ghodssi Reza , Rubloff Gary , Shen Jana , Bentley William , Shi Xiaowen , Payne Gregory
Published: December 2014

Individually, advances in microelectronics and biology transformed the way we live our lives. However, there remain few examples in which biology and electronics have been interfaced to create synergistic capabilities. We believe there are two major challenges to the integration of biological components into microelectronic systems: (i) assembly of the biological components at an electrode address, and (ii) communication between the assembled biological components and the underlying electrode. Chitosan possesses a unique combination of properties to meet these challenges and serve as an effective bio-device interface material. For assembly, chitosan’s pH-responsive film-forming properties allow it to “recognize” electrode-imposed signals and respond by self-assembling as a stable hydrogel film through a cathodic electrodeposition mechanism. A separate anodic electrodeposition mechanism was recently reported and this also allows chitosan hydrogel films to be assembled at an electrode address. Protein-based biofunctionality can be conferred to electrodeposited films through a variety of physical, chemical and biological methods. For communication, we are investigating redox-active catechol-modified chitosan films as an interface to bridge redox-based communication between biology and an electrode. Despite significant progress over the last decade, many questions still remain which warrants even deeper study of chitosan’s structure, properties, and functions.
A Latter-day Saint Approach to Addiction: Aetiology, Consequences and Treatment in a Theological Context
Authors: Holt James
Published: December 2014

This article explores the theological underpinning of the nature, aetiology and treatment of addictions within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The first section outlines the “plan of salvation” and how this provides the theological framework for the source and solution to addictions. The final section explores addiction against this background in terms of its aetiology, types, consequences and treatment in a Latter-day Saint context. In so doing it builds on the recognition by the Church in recent years that addiction is a problem in the lives of some of its members and that treatment programs coherent with its teachings and beliefs are necessary. The article concludes by suggesting that while addiction may be more openly discussed within a Latter-day Saint context there is a need to keep this dialogue moving forward. This article does not examine Latter-day Saint teaching within the wider context of psychotherapy and other definitions of addiction; rather it explores the place of addiction as understood within the theological and ecclesiological context of Mormonism.
Stand-Alone and Hybrid Positioning Using Asynchronous Pseudolites
Authors: Gioia Ciro , Borio Daniele
Published: December 2014

global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers are usually unable to achieve satisfactory performance in difficult environments, such as open-pit mines, urban canyons and indoors. Pseudolites have the potential to extend GNSS usage and significantly improve receiver performance in such environments by providing additional navigation signals. This also applies to asynchronous pseudolite systems, where different pseudolites operate in an independent way. Asynchronous pseudolite systems require, however, dedicated strategies in order to properly integrate GNSS and pseudolite measurements. In this paper, several asynchronous pseudolite/GNSS integration strategies are considered: loosely- and tightly-coupled approaches are developed and combined with pseudolite proximity and receiver signal strength (RSS)-based positioning. The performance of the approaches proposed has been tested in different scenarios, including static and kinematic conditions. The tests performed demonstrate that the methods developed are effective techniques for integrating heterogeneous measurements from different sources, such as asynchronous pseudolites and GNSS.
Evaluation of the Leap Motion Controller as a New Contact-Free Pointing Device
Authors: Bachmann Daniel , Weichert Frank , Rinkenauer Gerhard
Published: December 2014

This paper presents a Fitts’ law-based analysis of the user’s performance in selection tasks with the Leap Motion Controller compared with a standard mouse device. The Leap Motion Controller (LMC) is a new contact-free input system for gesture-based human-computer interaction with declared sub-millimeter accuracy. Up to this point, there has hardly been any systematic evaluation of this new system available. With an error rate of 7.8% for the LMC and 2.8% for the mouse device, movement times twice as large as for a mouse device and high overall effort ratings, the Leap Motion Controller’s performance as an input device for everyday generic computer pointing tasks is rather limited, at least with regard to the selection recognition provided by the LMC.
Animal Bodies, Colonial Subjects: (Re)Locating Animality in Decolonial Thought
Authors: Belcourt Billy-Ray
Published: December 2014

In this paper, I argue that animal domestication, speciesism, and other modern human-animal interactions in North America are possible because of and through the erasure of Indigenous bodies and the emptying of Indigenous lands for settler-colonial expansion. That is, we cannot address animal oppression or talk about animal liberation without naming and subsequently dismantling settler colonialism and white supremacy as political machinations that require the simultaneous exploitation and/or erasure of animal and Indigenous bodies. I begin by re-framing animality as a politics of space to suggest that animal bodies are made intelligible in the settler imagination on stolen, colonized, and re-settled Indigenous lands. Thinking through Andrea Smith’s logics of white supremacy, I then re-center anthropocentrism as a racialized and speciesist site of settler coloniality to re-orient decolonial thought toward animality. To critique the ways in which Indigenous bodies and epistemologies are at stake in neoliberal re-figurings of animals as settler citizens, I reject the colonial politics of recognition developed in Sue Donaldson and Will Kymlicka’s recent monograph, Zoopolis: A Political Theory of Animal Rights (Oxford University Press 2011) because it militarizes settler-colonial infrastructures of subjecthood and governmentality. I then propose a decolonized animal ethic that finds legitimacy in Indigenous cosmologies to argue that decolonization can only be reified through a totalizing disruption of those power apparatuses (i.e., settler colonialism, anthropocentrism, white supremacy, and neoliberal pluralism) that lend the settler state sovereignty, normalcy, and futurity insofar as animality is a settler-colonial particularity.
Assessment in Kinship Foster Care: A New Tool to Evaluate the Strengths and Weaknesses
Authors: Fuentes-Peláez Nuria , Amorós Pere , Pastor Crescencia , Molina María , Mateo Maribel
Published: December 2014

Placement in kinship family has existed informally throughout time. There are many countries in which kinship family care is the most common measure used for child protection. However, it is a subject of continuous debate. One of the major issues is that kinship foster care is relied upon without carrying out an evaluation study of the family; often the child is placed directly with grandparents and uncles simply because they are direct family. This article presents an assessment tool to evaluate extended families in order to ensure the welfare of the child. The tool was created as a result of the cooperative research of 126 professionals from seven regions of Spain. The tool can identify the strengths and weaknesses of families by considering six factors: personal characteristics, the coverage of basic needs, collaboration with professionals, the family structure and dynamics, the relationship between family, child, and biological family, and, finally, the attitude towards the placement. The assessment tool is innovative and introduces the opportunity to consider the skills of the kinship foster care family, the needs of support, and which families are unfit to take care of the child. To conclude, the tool tries to overcome one of the principal disadvantages of kinship foster care: the lack of knowledge about the kinship family.
Response of Seismically Isolated Steel Frame Buildings with Sustainable Lead-Rubber Bearing (LRB) Isolator Devices Subjected to Near-Fault (NF) Ground Motions
Authors: Hu Jong
Published: December 2014

Base isolation has been used as one of the most wildly accepted seismic protection systems that should substantially dissociate a superstructure from its substructure resting on a shaking ground, thereby sustainably preserving entire structures against earthquake forces as well as inside non-structural integrities. Base isolation devices can operate very effectively against near-fault (NF) ground motions with large velocity pulses and permanent ground displacements. In this study, comparative advantages for using lead-rubber bearing (LRB) isolation systems are mainly investigated by performing nonlinear dynamic time-history analyses with NF ground motions. The seismic responses with respects to base shears and inter-story drifts are compared according to the installation of LRB isolation systems in the frame building. The main function of the base LRB isolator is to extend the period of structural vibration by increasing lateral flexibility in the frame structure, and thus ground accelerations transferred into the superstructure can dramatically decrease. Therefore, these base isolation systems are able to achieve notable mitigation in the base shear. In addition, they make a significant contribution to reducing inter-story drifts distributed over the upper floors. Finally, the fact that seismic performance can be improved by installing isolation devices in the frame structure is emphasized herein through the results of nonlinear dynamic analyses.
Long-Term Changes in the Water Quality and Macroinvertebrate Communities of a Subtropical River in South China
Authors: Li Kun , He Chunguang , Zhuang Jie , Zhang Zhenxing , Xiang Hongyong , Wang Zhongqiang , Yang Haijun , Sheng Lianxi
Published: December 2014

Subtropical rivers support a highly diverse array of benthic macroinvertebrates. In this study, by combining historical data and new data, we identified specific changes in the Guanlan River, in South China, from 1981 to 2011, and evaluated the effectiveness of an ecological restoration project under highly polluted conditions. From 1981 to 2011, the water quality in the Guanlan River underwent three major stages. With the deterioration of water quality, there was an overall decrease in the species number of macroinvertebrates in the Guanlan River, an increase in macroinvertebrate density, and a reduction of the biodiversity, and a reduction of functional feeding groups. In 2011, after five years of comprehensive remediation, the Guanlan River was somewhat improved. Macroinvertebrate biodiversity in the middle reach of the Guanlan River, where a key ecological restoration engineering project was implemented, did not differ significantly from other sites. This finding indicates that the effectiveness of ecological restoration measures in highly polluted rivers, particularly at the reach-scale, is very limited and even ineffective.
Volumetric Concentration Maximum of Cohesive Sediment in Waters: A Numerical Study
Authors: Byun Jisun , Son Minwoo , Yang Jeong-Seok , Jung Tae-Hwa
Published: December 2014

Cohesive sediment has different characteristics compared to non-cohesive sediment. The density and size of a cohesive sediment aggregate (a so-called, floc) continuously changes through the flocculation process. The variation of floc size and density can cause a change of volumetric concentration under the condition of constant mass concentration. This study investigates how the volumetric concentration is affected by different conditions such as flow velocity, water depth, and sediment suspension. A previously verified, one-dimensional vertical numerical model is utilized here. The flocculation process is also considered by floc in the growth type flocculation model. Idealized conditions are assumed in this study for the numerical experiments. The simulation results show that the volumetric concentration profile of cohesive sediment is different from the Rouse profile. The volumetric concentration decreases near the bed showing the elevated maximum in the cases of both current and oscillatory flow. The density and size of floc show the minimum and the maximum values near the elevation of volumetric concentration maximum, respectively. This study also shows that the flow velocity and the critical shear stress have significant effects on the elevated maximum of volumetric concentration. As mechanisms of the elevated maximum, the strong turbulence intensity and increased mass concentration are considered because they cause the enhanced flocculation process. This study uses numerical experiments. To the best of our knowledge, no laboratory or field experiments on the elevated maximum have been carried out until now. It is of great necessity to conduct well-controlled laboratory experiments in the near future.
Effect of Dust Deposition on Stomatal Conductance and Leaf Temperature of Cotton in Northwest China
Authors: Zia-Khan Shamaila , Spreer Wolfram , Pengnian Yang , Zhao Xiaoning , Othmanli Hussein , He Xiongkui , Müller Joachim
Published: December 2014

The Xinjiang Region in Northwest China is known as the “dust center” of the Eurasian mainland. Dust on the leaf surface affects overall plant development. While emphasis was on studying the impacts of industrial dust particles on crop development, the effect of natural dust deposition on the physiological parameters of cotton had not been studied before. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of dust deposits on cotton leaves and to estimate their impact on crop development and yield. For this purpose, an experiment was set up having two treatments and a control. In Treatment 1, cotton leaves were cleaned with water at three-day intervals or after a natural dust fall. In Treatment 2, 100 g·m−2 of dust was applied at 10-day intervals. The control received neither additional dust nor cleaning. In all of the treatments, stomatal conductance, leaf temperature, biomass and yield were measured. The results show a 28% reduction in yield and 30% reduction in stomatal conductance of the dust treatment compared to the control treatment. This indicates blocking of the stomata on the top of the leaf surface. In addition, the canopy temperature of the dust-applied leaves was always higher than the control and treatment.
Use of Medicines from the Group of Benzodiazepines in the Period of 2003-2013 Year in the Republic of Macedonia
Authors: Petrushevska Tatjana , Velik Stefanovska Vesna
Published: December 2014

AIM: The aim of this study was to analyze the use of benzodiazepines in the period of 2003-2013 year in the Republic of Macedonia (MKD).METHOD: The study was cross sectional and analyzes the available data on the use of benzodiazepines in the country. This study used several sources of data: Statistical Reports of the United Nations regarding the consumption of psychotropic substances; data from the Ministry of Health associated with the use of benzodiazepines (BZD), derived from reports of Ministry of Health stakeholders; Data extracted from the database of the Ministry of Health in the electronic database "My term" and Analysis of reports of Health Insurance Fund.RESULTS: The analysis for the period 2003-2013 showed that the most consumed drug in MKD from the group of BZD is Diazepam, with 54.8 and predominantly is use of diazepam of 5 mg with 59 %. According to the Health Insurance Fund, Diazepam is second most prescribed medicaments of all medicaments with marketing authorization in MKD.CONCLUSIONS: The analysis shows that the use of BZD in MKD is particularly high. Limited number of studies was performed for this kind of drugs relating to their effects; differences in use between genders; adult population. There is need for additional focused research that will contribute to developing a full picture of the situation.
L'éthique de la responsabilité et du risque au regard des projets de développement durable, de la responsabilité sociale de l'entreprise et des risques systémiques
Authors: Hugon Philippe
Published: December 2014

La prise de risque est au cœur de l’action économique, des paris sur le futur, des innovations et de la liberté créatrice des acteurs. Elle implique une responsabilité . La question posée par l’économie politique est celle de la mise en œuvre des principes éthiques du risque et de la responsabilité en actions pratiques d’acteurs différenciés et en politiques publiques. Cet article présente les fondements de l’éthique du risque et de la responsabilité, puis met ces principes éthiques à l’épreuve des pratiques des acteurs privés et publics par des normes (responsabilité sociale des entreprises), des systèmes de valorisation des projets de développement et de gestion des « risques systémiques ».
Éthique et développement durable dans les PME camerounaises
Authors: Etoundi Eloundou Gilles Célestin
Published: December 2014

Cet article questionne les rapports entre éthique et développement durable dans les petites et moyennes entreprises (PME) camerounaises. Pour ce faire, une étude de cas a été menée auprès de trois PME pour faire ressortir les relations et interrelations entre les deux concepts. L’étude en profondeur réalisée a mis en évidence la définition des deux concepts par les praticiens, puis montré le cheminement des revendications éthiques au développement durable. En effet, l’intention progressive du rôle de l’éthique, la vocation éthique de l’entreprise, et la pratique éthique à travers certaines vertus renforcent la mise en place et la validation des préoccupations du développement durable. Il en ressort que les deux concepts s’influencent réciproquement et contribuent à améliorer non seulement la gouvernance dans les PME par le développement des structures, procédures et comportements, mais aussi leur perspective compétitive.
Intelligence territoriale et éthique : étude de la protection de la biodiversité et de l'écodiversité en Guadeloupe
Authors: Girardot Jean-Jacques , Montenegro Raul , Masselot Cyril , Neffati Houda
Published: December 2014

Cet article retrace l’évolution de la dimension éthique de l’intelligence territoriale, puis poursuit cette réflexion par une prise en compte des territoires multiples de l'espèce humaine et par la dangereuse évolution de la variabilité de sa niche écologique. Ces réflexions s’appliquent et s’organisent ensuite dans l'approche de la question de la protection de la biodiversité et de l'écodiversité en Guadeloupe.
(Re)tissage de la confiance et nouveau pacte social : défis et conditions de déploiement des politiques du capital humain
Authors: Bruna Maria Giuseppina , Deluzet Marc
Published: December 2014

A l’heure où l’Europe et la France sont engluées dans une période d’instabilité économique et de croissance molle, avec de graves répercussions sociales, la crise de confiance se fait systémique, profonde et durable. Principal levier de création de richesses, de socialisation secondaire et de régulation sociale, le travail crée la possibilité même de l’être-en-société. C’est pourquoi penser les conditions de recréation de la confiance dans le champ organisationnel constitue un impératif catégorique (qui invite à réinterroger le rapport à Soi, à Autrui et au collectif), une urgence politique (qui questionne l’effectivité et l’efficience du lien social et les fondements du vivre-ensemble) et un enjeu stratégique (susceptible d’influer sur la croissance de long terme et la performance globale des entreprises). Reposant sur un chassé-croisé entre sources scientifiques et professionnelles et un jeu de regards croisés entre une chercheuse et un praticien, cet article interroge les mécanismes de refondation du pacte social d’entreprise. Et cela, à l’aune de préalables éthiques (« reconnaissance de l’altérité, recherche de la justice par l’équité »), d’un prérequis stratégique (renouvellement du cycle de la confiance liant l’entreprise et ses collaborateurs, grâce à un « don de confiance », premier et inconditionnel, accordé par la direction à ses salariés) et d’un levier opérationnel (le déploiement de politiques de développement humain, avec pour corollaire la refonte des politiques RH et la praxis d’un management responsable). Pour ce faire, cette contribution articule une revue de littérature interdisciplinaire et une analyse de données qualitatives tirées d’une participation observante au sein du Groupe de travail « Développement et Capital Humain » de l’Observatoire Social International.
Anticiper, une question de confiance ? Quand l'anticipation de la carrière rencontre la stratégie des entreprises
Authors: Hamiot Jean-Yves , Vincent Michèle
Published: December 2014

Un travail de recherche récent pour le compte du syndicat professionnel des agences médias (UDECAM) a porté sur l’anticipation de la deuxième partie de carrière de cadres du secteur. Cette recherche qualitative a été réalisée sur un échantillon de 26 personnes, dont les entretiens semi-directifs ont été analysés avec deux méthodes d’analyse de données textuelles. Le but était d’observer dans quelle mesure ces cadres prennent en compte l’allongement de la durée du travail. Cette démarche hypothético-déductive s’est appuyée sur un modèle théorique des modes d’anticipation de la carrière. Les résultats montrent que nombre d’entre eux sont dans une situation de dissonance cognitive, dans la mesure où ils sont dans l’incapacité de planifier leur évolution professionnelle. En effet, le secteur des agences médias est confronté à un environnement chahuté, du fait de la situation économique et de la numérisation des médias. Cadres et entreprises doivent donc apprendre ensemble à gérer la complexité, en développant une forme d’agilité. Pour ce faire, une condition est d’accepter une réinvention de la relation d’emploi, ce qui suppose une double révolution de la confiance. Au niveau des cadres, ceci nécessite suffisamment de confiance en soi pour oser sortir de la cage dorée de l’expertise et accepter de considérer l’avenir sur le mode de l’imprévu. Au niveau du management, celui-ci doit sortir de sa posture de « celui qui sait » pour se donner la chance de profiter pleinement de la contribution de ses collaborateurs. Cette prise de risque collective suppose de repenser la relation d’emploi pour passer du paradigme du contrat, induit par le management par objectifs, au paradigme du don-contredon.
Discourse Analysis in Translation Courses
Authors: Vid Natalia Kaloh , Kučiš Vlasta
Published: December 2014

One of the primary functions of a translator is to mediate not only between languages but also between cultures. As ideology is one of the crucial cultural constraints, it is essential to teach students that selection of translation strategy is always either implicitly or explicitly affected by the translator's ideology. Thus, the main aim of this chapter is to illustrate the importance of introducing critical discourse analysis as a powerful tool for ideological analysis in the translation classroom. By understanding how social relations of power are exercised and negotiated in and through discourses, future translators will be able to better operate on different levels during text (re)production and translation of a message. The authors outline the course in which the students were first presented advertising slogans in English, which were later analyzed in the classroom.
Feasibility and Acceptability of In-Depth Annotated Parallel Corpus-Aided Translation Teaching
Authors: Wang Hui
Published: December 2014

This chapter probes into the feasibility and acceptability of integrating an in-depth annotated parallel corpus into the translation classroom. It proceeds from outlining the conceptual and structural features of English/Chinese Online Translation Teaching Platform, an in-depth annotated parallel corpus designed for teaching and (self-) learning of translation. With a 90-minute lecture as a demo, it illustrates how the combined unity of course teaching materials and the platform, as well as the teaching method and the annotation mode of the corpus, can be effectively achieved. It then discusses users' perceptions of the use of the platform in classroom teaching as shown in a recent survey and points out the possibilities of future development.
Psychology of Translation
Authors: Kashirina Natalia
Published: December 2014

The process of translation is treated as a sequence of three principal stages (pre-translation source text analysis, translation itself, self-assessment/editing). The chapter is aimed at proving that the first and the third stages of the translation process are based on critical thinking, while the second stage (translation itself) rests upon creative thinking. Therefore, teaching critical thinking must be a necessary part of translator professional training, because it is not only important as such, but also leads students to acquisition of mature creative thinking, which is crucial for translation problem-solving. In this chapter, the problem of training translation quality assessment is analyzed, the difference between critical and creative thinking is discussed, and psychological mechanisms of their functioning in translation are treated as a cognitive process; the role of critical thinking in raising translators' awarenesses and, consequently, translation quality is stressed.