bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Substrate Effects on the Formation Process, Structure and Physicochemical Properties of Supported Lipid Bilayers
Authors: Tero Ryugo
Published: December 2012

Supported lipid bilayers are artificial lipid bilayer membranes existing at the interface between solid substrates and aqueous solution. Surface structures and properties of the solid substrates affect the formation process, fluidity, two-dimensional structure and chemical activity of supported lipid bilayers, through the 1–2 nm thick water layer between the substrate and bilayer membrane. Even on SiO2/Si and mica surfaces, which are flat and biologically inert, and most widely used as the substrates for the supported lipid bilayers, cause differences in the structure and properties of the supported membranes. In this review, I summarize several examples of the effects of substrate structures and properties on an atomic and nanometer scales on the solid-supported lipid bilayers, including our recent reports.
Tandem RCM–Claisen Rearrangement–[2+2] Cycloaddition of O,O'-(But-2-en-1,4-diyl)-bridged Binaphthols
Authors: Abraham Michael , Reischl Wolfgang , Kirchner Karl , Roller Alexander , Veiros Luis , Widhalm Michael
Published: December 2012

Attempted RCM of 2,2'-bis(allyloxy)-1,1'-binaphthyl resulted in a Claisen-type rearrangement of a postulated labile dioxacyclodecine proceeding at room temperature and followed by [2+2] cycloaddition. Structures of products were confirmed by X-ray crystallography. A mechanistic rationalisation based on relative stabilities of proposed intermediates and transition states is provided.
Development and Validation of a Bioanalytical Method for Quantification of 2,6-Bis-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)-cyclohexanone (BHMC) in Rat Plasma
Authors: Lee Yu , Ming-Tatt Lee , Lajis Nordin , Sulaiman Mohd , Israf Daud , Tham Chau
Published: December 2012

A sensitive and accurate high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet/visible light detection (HPLC-UV/VIS) method for the quantification of 2,6-bis-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)-cyclohexanone (BHMC) in rat plasma was developed and validated. BHMC and the internal standard, harmaline, were extracted from plasma samples by a simple liquid–liquid extraction using 95% ethyl acetate and 5% methanol. Plasma concentration of BHMC and internal standard were analyzed by reversed phase chromatography using a C18 column (150 × 4.6 mm I.D., particle size 5 µm) and elution with a gradient mobile phase of water and methanol at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. Detection of BHMC and internal standard was done at a wavelength of 380 nm. The limit of quantification was 0.02 µg/mL. The calibration curves was linear (R2 > 0.999) over the concentration range of 0.02–2.5 µg/mL. Intra- and inter-day precision were less than 2% coefficient of variation. The validated method was then applied to a pharmacokinetic study in rats by intravenous administration of BHMC at a single dose of 10 mg/kg. Pharmacokinetic parameters such as half-life, maximum plasma concentration, volume of distribution, clearance and elimination rate constant for BHMC were calculated.
Stoichiometric and Catalytic Synthesis of Alkynylphosphines
Authors: Bernoud Elise , Veillard Romain , Alayrac Carole , Gaumont Annie-Claude
Published: December 2012

Alkynylphosphines or their borane complexes are available either through C–P bond forming reactions or through modification of the phosphorus or the alkynyl function of various alkynyl phosphorus derivatives. The latter strategy, and in particular the one involving phosphoryl reduction by alanes or silanes, is the method of choice for preparing primary and secondary alkynylphosphines, while the former strategy is usually employed for the synthesis of tertiary alkynylphosphines or their borane complexes. The classical C–P bond forming methods rely on the reaction between halophosphines or their borane complexes with terminal acetylenes in the presence of a stoichiometric amount of organometallic bases, which precludes the access to alkynylphosphines bearing sensitive functional groups. In less than a decade, efficient catalytic procedures, mostly involving copper complexes and either an electrophilic or a nucleophilic phosphorus reagent, have emerged. By proceeding under mild conditions, these new methods have allowed a significant broadening of the substituent scope and structure complexity.
Computational Termochemistry Study of the C80 Isomers and Their Endo Lanthanum Complexes by Applying Homodesmotic and Isodesmic Reactions
Authors: Rios Citlalli , Salcedo Roberto
Published: December 2012

C80 is a fullerene species which appears in different isomeric configurations. A general homodesmotic reaction previously designed to study the energy of fullerenes was implemented, in order to analyze the energy of this family of isomers. These results concur with some of the experimental data, but energy differences referring to all the configurations yield novel propositions about their particular behavior. The corresponding lanthanum complexes are also analyzed here and a new isodesmic reaction was designed for this particular case.
Food Ingredient Extracts of Cyclopia subternata (Honeybush): Variation in Phenolic Composition and Antioxidant Capacity
Authors: De Beer Dalene , Schulze Alexandra , Joubert Elizabeth , De Villiers André , Malherbe Christiaan , Stander Maria
Published: December 2012

Cyclopia subternata plants are traditionally used for the production of the South African herbal tea, honeybush, and recently as aqueous extracts for the food industry. A C. subternata aqueous extract and mangiferin (a major constituent) are known to have anti-diabetic properties. Variation in phenolic composition and antioxidant capacity is expected due to cultivation largely from seedlings, having implications for extract standardization and quality control. Aqueous extracts from 64 seedlings of the same age, cultivated under the same environmental conditions, were analyzed for individual compound content, total polyphenol (TP) content and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in a number of assays. An HPLC method was developed and validated to allow quantification of xanthones (mangiferin, isomangiferin), flavanones (hesperidin, eriocitrin), a flavone (scolymoside), a benzophenone (iriflophenone-3-C-β-glucoside) and dihydrochalcones (phloretin-3',5'-di-C-β-glucoside, 3-hydroxyphloretin-3',5'-di-C-hexoside). Additional compounds were tentatively identified using mass spectrometric detection, with the presence of the 3-hydroxyphloretin-glycoside, an iriflophenone-di-O,C-hexoside, an eriodictyol-di-C-hexoside and vicenin-2 being demonstrated for the first time. Variability of the individual phenolic compound contents was generally higher than that of the TP content and TAC values. Among the phenolic compounds, scolymoside, hesperidin and iriflophenone-3-C-β-glucoside contents were the most variable. A combination of the measured parameters could be useful in product standardization by providing a basis for specifying minimum levels.
Evaluation of Broadband and Narrowband Vegetation Indices for the Identification of Archaeological Crop Marks
Authors: Agapiou Athos , Hadjimitsis Diofantos , Alexakis Dimitrios
Published: December 2012

Several studies in the past have examined the spectral capability of multispectral and hyperspectral imagery for the identification of crop marks, while recent studies have applied different vegetation indices in order to support remote sensing archaeological applications. However, the use of vegetation indices for the detection of crop marks lacks in accuracy assessment and critical evaluation. In this study, 71 vegetation indices were indexed, from the relevant bibliography, and evaluated for their potential to detect such crop marks. During this study, several ground spectroradiometric campaigns took place, in a controlled archaeological environment in Cyprus, cultivated with barley crops, during a complete phenological cycle (2011–2012). All vegetation indices, both broadband and narrowband, were evaluated for their separability performance, and the results were presented through tables and diagrams. In the end, the use of more than one vegetation index is suggested in order to enhance the final results. In fact, several not widely used vegetation indices are suggested and evaluated using both Landsat TM and EO-1 Hyperion images.
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Five Odor Reducing Agents for Sewer System Odors Using an On-Line Total Reduced Sulfur Analyzer
Authors: Choi Il , Lee Hyunjoo , Shin Joungdu , Kim Hyunook
Published: December 2012

Sewer odors have been a concern to citizens of the Metropolitan Seoul region, which has installed combined sewer systems (CSSs) in 86% of its area. Although a variety of odorants are released from sewers, volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) have been recognized as major ones. A number of technologies have been proposed to monitor or control odors from sewers. One of the most popular strategies adopted for the control of sewage odor is by applying a commercial odor-reducing agent into the sewer. In this study, the effectiveness of five different commercial odor-reducing agents (i.e., an odor masking agent, an alkaline solution, two microbial agents, and a chemical oxidant) was evaluated by continuously monitoring VSCs released from the sewer with an on-line total reduced sulfur (TRS) analyzer before and after each agent was sprayed into CSSs at five different locations of the city. In short, when the effectiveness of odor treatment was tested in the sewer system using five commercial odor reducing treatments, only the chemical oxidant was good enough to reduce the odor in terms of TRS levels measured before and after the application (p < 0.01).
Institutions and Ecosystem-Based Development Potentials of the Elephant Marsh, Malawi
Authors: Kosamu Ishmael , De Groot Wouter , Kambewa Patrick , De Snoo Geert
Published: December 2012

The Elephant Marsh, a wetland in Southern Malawi, is important for fishing, agriculture, hunting and the collection of natural resources for the livelihoods of local communities. However, there has been increasing pressure driven by a changing climate, population growth, rural poverty and agricultural conversion, all of which threaten the future of the wetland. Currently, Malawi does not have either a national wetland policy or a climate change policy and wetland issues are only marginally present in the National Parks and Wildlife Policy of 2000 and National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy of 2001. As a result, the country lacks a framework that could be strong enough to achieve balanced and sustainable wetland management for multiple resource users. The objective of this study was to establish the development potentials of Elephant Marsh from an ecosystem-based (‘working-with-nature’) perspective. It was revealed that there are development potentials in fisheries, recession agriculture, biomass for energy, conservation and tourism. This paper emphasizes that as these opportunities are developed, there will be the need to strengthen management institutions at local and national levels, and the coordination between the two.
Visualization of Medical Data Based on EHR Standards
Authors: Hildebrand C. , Stausberg J. , Englmeier K. H. , Kopanitsa G.
Published: December 2012

Background: To organize an efficient interaction between a doctor and an EHR the data has to be presented in the most convenient way. Medical data presentation methods and models must be flexible in order to cover the needs of the users with different backgrounds and requirements. Most visualization methods are doctor oriented, however, there are indications that the involvement of patients can optimize healthcare.

Objectives: The research aims at specifying the state of the art of medical data visualization. The paper analyzes a number of projects and defines requirements for a generic ISO 13606 based data visualization method. In order to do so it starts with a systematic search for studies on EHR user interfaces.

Methods: In order to identify best practices visualization methods were evaluated according to the following criteria: limits of application, customizability, re-usability. The visualization methods were compared by using specified criteria.

Results: The review showed that the analyzed projects can contribute knowledge to the development of a generic visualization method. However, none of them proposed a model that meets all the necessary criteria for a re-usable standard based visualization method. The shortcomings were mostly related to the structure of current medical concept specifications.

Conclusion: The analysis showed that medical data visualization methods use hard-coded GUI, which gives little flexibility. So medical data visualization has to turn from a hardcoded user interface to generic methods. This requires a great effort because current standards are not suitable for organizing the management of visualization data. This contradiction between a generic method and a flexible and user-friendly data layout has to be overcome.
An Easily Implemented Method for Abbreviation Expansion for the Medical Domain in Japanese Text
Authors: Aramaki E. , Imai T. , Miura Y. , Tonoike M. , Ohkuma T. , Masuichi H. , Ohe K. , Shinohara E. Y.
Published: December 2012

Background: One of the barriers for the effective use of computerized health-care related text is the ambiguity of abbreviations. To date, the task of disambiguating abbreviations has been treated as a classification task based on surrounding words. Application of this framework for languages that have no word boundaries requires pre-processing to segment a sentence into separate word sequences. While the segmentation processing is often a source of problem, it is unknown whether word information is really requisite for abbreviation expansion.

Objectives: The present study examined and compared abbreviation expansion methods with and without the incorporation of word information as a preliminary study.

Methods: We implemented two abbreviation expansion methods: 1) a morpheme-based method that relied on word information and therefore required pre-processing, and 2) a character-based method that relied on simple character information. We compared the expansion accuracies for these two methods using eight medical abbreviations. Experimental data were automatically built as a pseudo-annotated corpus using the Internet.

Results: As a result of the experiment, accuracies for the character-based method were from 0.890 to 0.942 while accuracies for the morpheme-based method were from 0.796 to 0.932. The character-based method significantly outperformed the morpheme-based method for three of the eight abbreviations (p < 0.05). For the remaining five abbreviations, no significant differences were found between the two methods.

Conclusions: Character information may be a good alternative in terms of simplicity to morphological information for abbreviation expansion in English medical abbreviations appeared in Japanese texts on the Internet.
Clinical applications of antibody avidity and immunoglobulin M testing in acute HCV infection
Authors: Sagndli Evangdista , Tonzidlo Gilda , Pisaturo Mariantonietta , Sagndlli Caterina , Coppola Nicola
Published: December 2012

Acute hepatitis C is often asymptomatic, frequently remains undiagnosed and frequently evolves to chronic hepatitis. Early, short-term interferon treatment is efficacious in acute hepatitis C, and so underscores the importance of an early diagnosis and the need to distinguish acute infection from acute exacerbation of chronic HCV infection. The gold standard for the diagnosis of acute hepatitis C is demonstration of conversion to anti-HCV positivity, HCV RNA positivity or both, events that frequently occur before the patient comes to medical attention. Several laboratory approaches to assist with early diagnosis of acute hepatitis C have been developed. Our studies, reviewed here, show that testing for antibody avidity and anti-HCV immunoglobulin M allow diagnosis in up to 90% of cases of acute hepatitis C.
Plantations industrielles ou familiales ? Regards croisés sur la production d'huile de palme et de cacao en Indonésie et au Ghana
Authors: Barral Stéphanie , Ruf François
Published: December 2012

Résumé Pour les produits tropicaux tels que café, cacao, caoutchouc, huile de palme, les parts de marché des grandes plantations et de l’agriculture familiale varient selon les pays, les époques et les produits. Pourquoi aujourd’hui les plantations industrielles jouent-elles un rôle important dans le secteur de l’huile de palme et un rôle marginal dans celui du cacao ? Cette question est traitée dans le cas du Ghana et de l’Indonésie, à travers la bibliographie, des enquêtes socio-économiques d’exploitations villageoises et de l’observation participante dans des grandes plantations. L’évolution de ce dualisme dépend des conditions d’introduction de la culture et des politiques publiques ; la différence entre secteurs ramène aussi à des déterminants techniques et économiques tels que les économies d’échelles, la nature du produit transformé et du matériel végétal, les calendriers agricoles et la gestion du travail. Aujourd’hui, les plantations familiales gagnent du terrain, utilisant certaines ressources des plantations industrielles.
La culture du niébé au Burkina Faso : une voie d'adaptation de la petite agriculture à son environnement ?
Authors: Dabat Marie-Hélène , Lahmar Rabah , Guissou Richard
Published: December 2012

Résumé Le niébé est passé en quelques années du statut de culture vivrière surtout réservée à l’autoconsommation familiale et aux marchés locaux, à celui de culture de rente aussi destinée à la vente sur les marchés urbains et à l’exportation. Nonobstant le mythe de l’intensification par culture pure dans les grandes exploitations, l’accroissement de la production a surtout été le fait des petites exploitations qui produisent le niébé en culture secondaire associée avec les céréales. Cet article montre que le niébé occupe désormais une position originale dans le système agroalimentaire de la petite agriculture burkinabé du fait de nombreux avantages agroécologiques et socioéconomiques. Il sous-tend que la voie de la densification du niébé dans les systèmes actuels est plus intéressante que celle de l’intensification par culture pure, conformément aux stratégies actuelles des exploitations. Il propose que la recherche appuie ces processus pour améliorer leur durabilité.
Réseaux dormants, contingence et structures
Authors: Hmed Choukri
Published: December 2012

Résumé Une enquête ethnographique dans la région de Sidi Bouzid, berceau de la révolution tunisienne de 2010-2011, permet de montrer que, contrairement à la plupart des analyses sur la question, on ne peut ni parler de « spontanéité » du mouvement révolutionnaire, ni, à l’inverse, rabattre ce dernier sur des « causes » structurelles et exogènes. Les entretiens menés auprès des protagonistes soulignent plutôt la présence de réseaux dormants formés par des militants politiques et syndicalistes, finement articulés à des mobilisations localisées de groupes plus faiblement politisés, et mobilisés à la faveur de facteurs en partie contingents. On montre ainsi les ressorts pratiques de la politisation et de la désectorisation permettant tout à la fois le passage au politique de groupes hétérogènes et la remise en cause du régime.
Trajectoires « révolutionnaires » en Tunisie
Authors: Allal Amin
Published: December 2012

Résumé Derrière un unanimisme de façade, le moment révolutionnaire est vécu différemment et diverses dynamiques de radicalisation sont à l’œuvre. Si une majorité d’individus s’engagent sans être des opposants encartés, il faut éviter le piège de « l’immaculée contestation ». Pour cela, nous analysons d’une part, l’épreuve que constituent les protestations qui se multiplient depuis 2008 dans la Tunisie de « l’intérieur », et d’autre part, les contre-conduites qui se muent sous certaines conditions en contestation du régime. L’étude diachronique, basée sur des entretiens répétés depuis 2006, identifie les ressorts de ces mobilisations : situations socioprofessionnelles, sociabilités de quartiers et familiales, (en)jeux générationnels, mémoires des luttes passées et expériences de répression. Simultanément l’approche ethnographique révèle la part de contingence de ces implications dans un soulèvement populaire aussi intense que rapide.
Sur les sentiers de la révolution
Authors: El Chazli Youssef
Published: December 2012

Résumé Les événements ayant secoué l’Égypte au début de l’année 2011, et ayant pris depuis le nom de « Révolution du 25 janvier », soulèvent de nombreuses questions. Parmi celles-ci, l’interrogation sur la participation massive d’une population considérée comme apathique ou dépolitisée est centrale. En effet, on peut penser qu’il n’y a rien de particulièrement « révolutionnaire » à voir des militants aguerris protester collectivement une énième fois. En revanche, élucider le passage à l’action de ces dizaines de milliers de personnes qui n’avaient jamais participé politiquement pose problème. Cet article tente de contribuer à la compréhension de ce phénomène à partir de l’étude localisée de la mobilisation de jeunes Cairotes fin janvier/début février 2011.
La structuration de la révolution yéménite
Authors: Bonnefoy Laurent , Poirier Marine
Published: December 2012

Résumé En s’intéressant aux mobilisations nées du processus révolutionnaire yéménite engagé en janvier 2011, cet article, né d’une longue expérience de terrain partagée, étudie les interactions entre des pratiques émergentes et les « propriétés structurelles des systèmes sociaux ». Il fait l’hypothèse d’une dualité du processus révolutionnaire qui apparaît comme produit par les acteurs qui le portent mais aussi comme contraint par une structure historique, sociale et politique. Il interroge ainsi la capacité de l’événement révolutionnaire à générer de l’innovation militante mais également à poindre lui-même du croisement entre les pratiques émergentes et la reprise en main du processus par des réseaux de mobilisation existants et des acteurs politiques déjà institutionnalisés.
Designing and Researching Virtual Learning Communities
Authors: Santos Antonio
Published: December 2012

This article describes, with a basis in educational literature, some of the main characteristics of learning communities. In addition, a list of instructional strategies is proposed to create a virtual learning community within a traditional academic course. These strategies are then integrated into a proposed research design to study and evaluate this particular type of learning and know what questions to ask, what data to collect, and how to analyze them.
Isolation of Human CD4/CD8 Double-Positive, Graft-Versus-Host Disease–Protective, Minor Histocompatibility Antigen–Specific Regulatory T Cells and of a Novel HLA-DR7–Restricted HY-Specific CD4 Clone
Authors: Eljaafari Assia , Yuruker Ozel , Ferrand Christophe , Farre Annie , Addey Caroline , Tartelin Marie-Laure , Thomas Xavier , Tiberghien Pierre , Simpson Elizabeth , Rigal Dominique , Scott Diane
Published: December 2012

Minor histocompatibility (H) Ags are classically described as self-peptides derived from intracellular proteins that are expressed at the cell surface by MHC class I and class II molecules and that induce T cell alloresponses. We have isolated three different T cell populations from a skin biopsy of a patient suffering from acute graft-versus-host disease following sex-mismatched HLA-identical bone marrow transplantation. The first population was: 1) CD4+/CD8+ double-positive; 2) specific for an HLA class I–restricted autosomal Ag; 3) expressed a Tr1 profile with high levels of IL-10, but low IL-2 and IFN-γ; and 4) exerted regulatory function in the presence of recipient APCs. The second was CD8 positive, specific for an HLA class I–restricted autosomally encoded minor H Ag, but was only weakly cytotoxic. The third was CD4 single positive, specific for an HLA-DR7–restricted HY epitope and exerted both proliferative and cytotoxic functions. Identification of the peptide recognized by these latter cells revealed a new human HY epitope, TGKIINFIKFDTGNL, encoded by RPS4Y and restricted by HLA-DR7. In this paper, we show human CD4/CD8 double-positive, acute graft-versus-host disease–protective, minor H Ag–specific regulatory T cells and identify a novel HLA-DR7/ HY T cell epitope, encoded by RPS4Y, a potential new therapeutic target.
Cutting Edge: Ly9 (CD229), a SLAM Family Receptor, Negatively Regulates the Development of Thymic Innate Memory-like CD8+ T and Invariant NKT Cells
Authors: Sintes Jordi , Cuenca Marta , Romero Xavier , Bastos Ricardo , Terhorst Cox , Angulo Ana , Engel Pablo
Published: December 2012

Signaling lymphocytic activation molecule family receptors and the specific adapter signaling lymphocytic activation molecule–associated protein modulate the development of innate-like lymphocytes. In this study, we show that the thymus of Ly9-deficient mice contains an expanded population of CD8 single-positive cells with the characteristic phenotype of innate memory-like CD8+ T cells. Moreover, the proportion of these innate CD8+ T cells increased dramatically postinfection with mouse CMV. Gene expression profiling of Ly9-deficient mice thymi showed a significant upregulation of IL-4 and promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger. Analyses of Ly9−/−IL4ra−/− double-deficient mice revealed that IL-4 was needed to generate the thymic innate CD8+ T cell subset. Furthermore, increased numbers of invariant NKT cells were detected in Ly9-deficient thymi. In wild-type mice, IL-4 levels induced by α-galactosylceramide injection could be inhibited by a mAb against Ly9. Thus, Ly9 plays a unique role as an inhibitory cell surface receptor regulating the size of the thymic innate CD8+ T cell pool and the development of invariant NKT cells.
Household attitudes and knowledge on drinking water enhance water hazards in peri-urban communities in Western Kenya
Authors: Kioko Kimongu J. , Obiri John F.
Published: December 2012

Ensuring safe drinking water remains a big challenge in developing countries where waterborne diseases cause havoc in many communities. A major challenge is limited knowledge, misinformation and attitudes that work against ensuring that drinking water is safe. This study investigated the knowledge, attitudes and practices of peri-urban households in Kakamega Town of Western Kenya, concerning the collection, treatment and storage of drinking water. Alongside this we examined the role of solid waste disposal in water safety. Three hundred and seventy eight households from four residential regions of varying economic levels were randomly sampled in Kakamega Town. Data was collected via questionnaire interviews that incorporated attitude questions based on a Likert scale of 1−5, and administered to the households and key informants. The results showed most respondents were knowledgeable about ideal methods of water collection, treatment and storage. However, they did not practise them appropriately. Some attitudes among the respondents worked against the ideals of achieving safe drinking water. For instance, many households perceived their drinking water source as safe and did not treat it, even when obtained from open sources like rivers. Further, they preferred to store drinking water in clay pots, because the pots kept the water cold, rather than use the narrow-necked containers that limit exposure to contaminants. Also, hand washing with soap was not practised enough in their daily lives to avoid contact with waterborne hazards. We recommend that the government undertake training programmes on drinking water safety that advocate appropriate water use, hygiene and sanitation strategies.
Effect of Ascophyllum extract application on plant growth, fruit yield and soil microbial communities of strawberry
Authors: Alam Mohammed Zahidul , Braun Gordon , Norrie Jeffrey , Hodges D. Mark
Published: December 2012

Alam, M. Z., Braun, G., Norrie, J. and Hodges, D. M. 2013. Effect of Ascophyllum extract application on plant growth, fruit yield and soil microbial communities of strawberry. Can. J. Plant Sci. 93: 23–36. Plant growth and associated soil microbials were examined in several strawberry cultivars following treatment with extracts from the marine algae Ascophyllum nodosum [soluble Ascophyllum extract powder (SAEP)]. Greenhouse and field experiments were established over plots of Albion, Camarosa, Chandler, and Festival strawberries from 2009 to 2011. Soluble Ascophyllum extract powder was applied once or twice per week, or once per 2 wk at rates of 0 (control), 1, 2 or 4 g L−l over approximately 8 wk. Subsequent rooting studies examined weekly applications of SAEP at 0, 0.2, 0.4, 1 or 2 g L−1. Results indicate that maximum plant and berry productivities were found at 1 and 2 g SAEP L−1 in both field and greenhouse. Chandler was the cultivar most responsive to SAEP application, while Albion was the least responsive. Soluble Ascophyllum extract powder increased colony counts in greenhouse and field soil samples with maximum colony counts at 4 g L−1 SAEP in the greenhouse, and 1 and 2 g L−1 SAEP in the field. Metabolic activities of soil microbes were found to increase following SAEP applications. Using the Biolog microbial analysis system, maximum average well colour development (AWCD), substrate diversity (H), substrate evenness (E), and substrate richness (S) responses were found at 4 g L−1 SAEP in the greenhouse. However, in field trials, AWCD, H, E, and S responses to extract treatment showed successive increases at 1 and 2 g L−1 SAEP, but reduced effect at 4 g L−1. Soluble Ascophyllum extract powder treatment showed highest respiration rates between 0.10 and 0.40 g per week per plant while in vitro soil treatments with 4 g L−1 SAEP reduced microbial respiration. This study suggests that SAEP applications increased strawberry root and shoot growth, berry yield and rhizosphere microbial diversity and physiological activity.
Effects of soil-borne Rhizoctonia solani on canola seedlings after application of glyphosate herbicide
Authors: Rashid A. , Hwang S. F. , Ahmed H. U. , Turnbull G. D. , Strelkov S. E. , Gossen B. D.
Published: December 2012

Rashid, A., Hwang, S. F., Ahmed, H. U., Turnbull, G. D., Strelkov, S. E. and Gossen, B. D. 2013. Effects of soil-borne Rhizoctonia solani on canola seedlings after application of glyphosate herbicide. Can. J. Plant Sci. 93: 97–107. Application of glyphosate (N-phosphonomethyl glycine) prior to seeding is a common weed management practice in many agricultural systems. However, there are concerns that this practice may increase the impact of soil-borne diseases on the crop, even in cultivars that are resistant to glyphosate. In the current study, the effects of pre-plant applications of glyphosate on seedling blight of canola caused by Rhizoctonia solani and subsequent crop growth were examined under field and greenhouse conditions. Under greenhouse conditions in soil inoculated with R. solani, glyphosate application 15 d before seeding reduced seedling emergence, increased damping-off, and decreased plant height and shoot dry weight of canola relative to a glyphosate-free control. However, the adverse effects were substantially reduced when the crop was seeded 33 d after glyphosate application. This indicates that glyphosate application prior to planting may increase the impact of R. solani on canola seedlings, but that this effect diminishes quite rapidly. Soil populations of R. solani declined over the 33-d period regardless of glyphosate treatment. Glyphosate application 10 d before seeding increased seedling emergence and seed yield (1 of 2 yr) of canola in field trials inoculated with R. solani.
The Biology of Invasive Alien Plants in Canada. 12.Pueraria montanavar.lobata(Willd.) Sanjappa & Predeep
Authors: Lindgren Cory J. , Castro Karen L. , Coiner Heather A. , Nurse Robert E. , Darbyshire Stephen J.
Published: December 2012

Lindgren, C. J., Castro, K. L., Coiner, H. A., Nurse, R. E. and Darbyshire, S. J. 2013. The Biology of Invasive Alien Plants in Canada. 12. Pueraria montana var. lobata (Willd.) Sanjappa & Predeep. Can. J. Plant Sci. 93: 71–95. Kudzu, Pueraria montana var. lobata, is a perennial climbing vine known for its rapid and competitive growth. Introduced to North America and promoted at various times as a crop, an ornamental, and an erosion prevention tool, its negative impacts have been varied and severe in the United States. Dense populations overtop and smother crops and native vegetation, alter nitrogen cycles, and have the potential to affect air quality. Kudzu is winter-deciduous in North America with stems re-growing each season. In Canada, growth occurs from May until September, long enough for production of viable seed. Although widely believed to be intolerant of winter temperatures typical in eastern Canada, underground structures may be able to withstand temperatures as low as −30°C, and northward range expansion is predicted by climate change models. Dispersal in North America is primarily through intentional planting by humans, with clonal propagation and limited seed production and germination contributing to local population expansion. Only one population is known in Canada, near Leamington, Ontario. Once established, kudzu is difficult to eliminate or control without repeated actions. Efforts to prevent the movement and sale of kudzu in Canada, along with early detection and rapid response, monitoring, and education, offer potential strategies for control. Depending on the age, size and location of the population, herbicides, burning, mowing and grazing can be effective control measures.
Snowstar hard white spring wheat
Authors: Humphreys D. G. , Townley-Smith T. F. , Czarnecki E. , Lukow O. M. , McCallum B. , Fetch T. , Gilbert J. , Menzies J. , Brown D. , Fox S. L.
Published: December 2012

Humphreys, D. G., Townley-Smith, T. F., Czarnecki, E., Lukow, O. M., McCallum, B., Fetch, T., Gilbert, J., Menzies, J., Brown, D. and Fox, S. L. 2013. Snowstar hard white spring wheat. Can. J. Plant Sci. 93: 143–148. Snowstar is a hard white spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) that represents an improvement in end-use quality specifications of the Canada Western Hard White Spring wheat class compared with Snowbird. Snowstar was evaluated in the Central Bread Wheat Cooperative Test in 2003, and the Hard White Wheat Cooperative Test in 2004 and 2005. Snowstar appears best adapted to the longer season wheat-growing areas of the Canadian prairies. Snowstar was generally lower yielding than the check cultivars. However, in Zone 1 (Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan), Snowstar had 2% higher grain yield than CDC Teal (2003–2005) and 1.5% more than Snowhite475 (2004–2005). In 2003 and 2005 (Zone 1), Snowstar had grain yield approximately 3% more than Snowbird (data not shown). Snowstar was resistant or moderately resistant to the prevalent races of leaf rust and stem rust. Snowstar was susceptible to common bunt and loose smut. Snowstar was generally more resistant to Fusarium head blight than the check cultivars. Snowstar had higher test weight, flour yield and whiter flour as well as stronger dough compared with Snowbird.
Copepods use chemical trails to find sinking marine snow aggregates
Authors: Lombard F. , Koski M. , Kiørboe T.
Published: December 2012

Copepods are major consumers of sinking marine particles and hence reduce the efficiency of the biological carbon pump. Their high abundance on marine snow suggests that they can detect sinking particles remotely. By means of laboratory observations, we show that the copepod Temora longicornis can detect chemical trails originating from sinking marine snow particles (appendicularian houses). The chemical cue was detected by copepods from a distance of >25 particle radii, with the probability of detection decreasing with distance. The behavior of T. longicornis following the trail resembled the behavior of males tracking pheromone trails, although with a lower tracking velocity. Upon finding a house, the copepod would attach for a short period (10–30 s) and feed intensively. Due to short residence times, daily feeding rates were moderate. Our results demonstrate that even T. longicornis, a species usually considered a microparticle feeder, is able to detect and feed on marine snow aggregates. If similar behaviors are displayed by the more dedicated aggregate‐feeding copepods, a topic that remains unexplored, the effect of copepods on vertical flux attenuation may be significant.
Airborne observations of formic acid using a chemical ionization mass spectrometer
Authors: Le Breton M. , McGillen M. R. , Muller J. B. A. , Bacak A. , Shallcross D. E. , Xiao P. , Huey L. G. , Tanner D. , Coe H. , Percival C. J.
Published: December 2012

Abstract. The first airborne measurements of formic acid mixing ratios over the United Kingdom were measured on the FAAM BAe-146 research aircraft on 16 March 2010 with a chemical ionization mass spectrometer using I− reagent ions. The I− ionization scheme was able to measure formic acid mixing ratios at 1 Hz in the boundary layer. In-flight standard addition calibrations from a formic acid source were used to determine the instrument sensitivity of 35 ± 6 ion counts pptv−1 s−1 and a limit of detection of 25 pptv. Routine measurements were made through a scrubbed inlet to determine the instrumental background. Three plumes of formic acid were observed over the UK, originating from London, Humberside and Tyneside. The London plume had the highest formic acid mixing ratio throughout the flight, peaking at 358 pptv. No significant correlations of formic acid with NOx and ozone were found, but a positive correlation was observed between CO and HCOOH within the two plumes where coincident data were recorded. A trajectory model was employed to determine the sources of the plumes and compare modelled mixing ratios with measured values. The model underestimated formic acid concentrations by up to a factor of 2. This is explained by missing sources in the model, which were considered to be both primary emissions of formic acid of mainly anthropogenic origin and a lack of precursor emissions, such as isoprene, from biogenic sources, whose oxidation in situ would lead to formic acid formation.
Chemosymbiotic species from the Gulf of Cadiz (NE Atlantic): distribution, life styles and nutritional patterns
Authors: Rodrigues C. F. , Hilário A. , Cunha M. R.
Published: December 2012

Abstract. Previous work in the mud volcanoes from the Gulf of Cadiz revealed a high number of chemosymbiotic species, namely bivalves and siboglinid polychaetes. In this study we give an overview of the distribution and life styles of those species in the Gulf of Cadiz, determine the role of autotrophic symbionts in the nutrition of selected species using stable isotope analyses (δ13C, δ15N and δ34S) and investigate the intra-specific variation of isotope signatures within and between study sites. Twenty siboglinid and nine bivalve chemosymbiotic species have been identified and were found living in fifteen mud volcanoes during our studies. Solemyids bivalves and tubeworms of the genus Siboglinum are the most widespread, whereas other species were found in a single mud volcano (e.g. "Bathymodiolus" mauritanicus) or restricted to deeper mud volcanoes (e.g. Polybrachia sp., Lamelisabella denticulata). Species distribution suggests that different species may adjust their position within the sediment according to their particular needs and intensity and variability of the chemical substrata supply. Isotopic values found for selected species are in accordance with values found in other studies, with thiotrophy as the dominant nutritional pathway, and with methanotrophy and mixotrophy emerging as secondary strategies. The heterogeneity in terms of nutrient sources (expressed in the high variance of nitrogen and sulphur values) and the ability to exploit different resources by the different species may explain the high diversity of chemosymbiotic species found in the Gulf of Cadiz. This study increases the knowledge of the chemosymbiotic species in the Gulf of Cadiz, highlight the relevance of seep chemoautolithotrophic production in this area and provide a starting point for future trophic ecology studies.
An ocean–ice coupled response during the last glacial: a view from a marine isotopic stage 3 record south of the Faeroe Shetland Gateway
Authors: Zumaque J. , Eynaud F. , Zaragosi S. , Marret F. , Matsuzaki K. M. , Kissel C. , Roche D. M. , Malaizé B. , Michel E. , Billy I. , Richter T. , Palis E.
Published: December 2012

Abstract. The rapid climatic variability characterising the Marine Isotopic Stage (MIS) 3 (~60–30 cal ka BP) provides key issues to understand the atmosphere–ocean–cryosphere dynamics. Here we investigate the response of sea-surface paleoenvironments to the MIS3 climatic variability through the study of a high resolution oceanic sedimentological archive (core MD99-2281, 60°21' N; 09°27' W; 1197 m water depth), retrieved during the MD114-IMAGES (International Marine Global Change Study) cruise from the southern part of the Faeroe Bank. This sector was under the proximal influence of European ice sheets (Fennoscandian Ice Sheet to the East, British Irish Ice Sheet to the South) during the last glacial and thus probably responded to the MIS3 pulsed climatic changes. We conducted a multi-proxy analysis of core MD99-2281, including magnetic properties, x-ray fluorescence measurements, characterisation of the coarse (>150 μm) lithic fraction (grain concentration) and the analysis of selected biogenic proxies (assemblages and stable isotope ratio of calcareous planktonic foraminifera, dinoflagellate cyst – e.g. dinocyst – assemblages). Results presented here are focussed on the dinocyst response, this proxy providing the reconstruction of past sea-surface hydrological conditions, qualitatively as well as quantitatively (e.g. transfer function sensu lato). Our study documents a very coherent and sensitive oceanic response to the MIS3 rapid climatic variability: strong fluctuations, matching those of stadial/interstadial climatic oscillations as depicted by Greenland ice cores, are recorded in the MD99-2281 archive. Proxies of terrigeneous and detritical material suggest increases in continental advection during Greenland Stadials (including Heinrich events), the latter corresponding also to southward migrations of polar waters. At the opposite, milder sea-surface conditions seem to develop during Greenland Interstadials. After 30 ka, reconstructed paleohydrological conditions evidence strong shifts in SST: this increasing variability seems consistent with the hypothesised coalescence of the British and Fennoscandian ice sheets at that time, which could have directly influenced sea-surface environments in the vicinity of core MD99-2281.
Calibration of a surface mass balance model for global-scale applications
Authors: Giesen R. H. , Oerlemans J.
Published: December 2012

Abstract. Global applications of surface mass balance models have large uncertainties, as a result of poor climate input data and limited availability of mass balance measurements. This study addresses several possible consequences of these limitations for the modelled mass balance. This is done by applying a simple surface mass balance model that only requires air temperature and precipitation as input data, to glaciers in different regions. In contrast to other models used in global applications, this model separately calculates the contributions of net solar radiation and the temperature-dependent fluxes to the energy balance. We derive a relation for these temperature-dependent fluxes using automatic weather station (AWS) measurements from glaciers in different climates. With local, hourly input data, the model is well able to simulate the observed seasonal variations in the surface energy and mass balance at the AWS sites. Replacing the hourly local data by monthly gridded climate data removes summer snowfall and winter melt events and, hence, influences the modelled mass balance most on locations with a small seasonal temperature cycle. Modelled winter mass balance profiles are fitted to observations on 82 glaciers in different regions to determine representative values for the multiplication factor and vertical gradient of precipitation. For 75 of the 82 glaciers, the precipitation provided by the climate dataset has to be multiplied with a factor above unity; the median factor is 2.5. The vertical precipitation gradient ranges from negative to positive values, with more positive values for maritime glaciers and a median value of 1.5 mm a−1 m−1. With calibrated precipitation, the modelled annual mass balance gradient closely resembles the observations on the 82 glaciers, the absolute values are matched by adjusting either the incoming solar radiation, the temperature-dependent flux or the air temperature. The mass balance sensitivity to changes in temperature is particularly sensitive to the chosen calibration method. We additionally calculate the mass balance sensitivity to changes in incoming solar radiation, revealing that widely observed variations in irradiance can affect the mass balance by a magnitude comparable to a 1 °C change in temperature or a 10% change in precipitation.
Protection of Some Rare and Critically Threatened Medicinal Plants in The Azerbaijan Flora
Authors: Ibadullayeva S. , Mustafayev A. , Shahmuradova M.
Published: December 2012

The flora of Azerbaijan differs by its great variety. One hundred and fifty families comprising of 1000 genera and 4700 species make 70 % of Caucasus flora. Out of which more than 1400 species have medicinal (315 species – alkaloids, 150 species – coumarins, 1000 – essential oils, and flavanoids). In the Middle Ages 300 wild-growing species were used for treatment in Azerbaijan medicine; now only 135 species have access in the State Pharmacopeia.The plants are continuously increased at a result of in-situ conservations of medicinal plants. Their decrease has been prognosticated preliminarily. It was realized that young and generative development of the vegetable specimen in the populations belonged to Urtica dioica L. The amount of the specimen at cinil and subcinil phases in the Аstrаgаlus dаsyаnthus Pаll. species was twice more than it was in immature and generative phases of the plant that cause gradual decrease of these populations. Restoration activities should be carried out for in-situ conservation of such plants.The article is for the conservation and protection of medicinal plants of the region. Methods of population awareness and education of students, teachers and local people is ecology recommended along with the administrative measures.
Time- and Frequency-Domain Evaluation of Stochastic Parameters on Signal Lines
Authors: Manfredi P. , Stievano I. S. , Canavero F. G.
Published: December 2012

This paper focuses on the derivation of enhanced transmission-line models allowing to describe, in time and frequency domain, a realistic interconnect with the inclusion of external uncertainties, like process variations or routing and layout uncertainties. The proposed method, that is based on the expansion of the well-known telegraph equations in terms of orthogonal polynomials, turns out to be accurate and more efficient than alternative solutions like Monte Carlo method in determining the transmissionline response sensitivity to parameters variability. Moreover, an implementation into standard circuit analysis tools such as SPICE is possible. Two application examples based on PCB structures of common use in commercial packages conclude the paper.