bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Topical application of nitrosonifedipine, a novel radical scavenger, ameliorates ischemic skin flap necrosis in a mouse model
Authors: Fukunaga Yutaka , Izawa‐Ishizawa Yuki , Horinouchi Yuya , Sairyo Eriko , Ikeda Yasumasa , Ishizawa Keisuke , Tsuchiya Koichiro , Abe Yoshiro , Hashimoto Ichiro , Tamaki Toshiaki
Published: January 2017

Ischemic skin flap necrosis can occur in random pattern flaps. An excess amount of reactive oxygen species is generated and causes necrosis in the ischemic tissue. Nitrosonifedipine (NO‐NIF) has been demonstrated to possess potent radical scavenging ability. However, there has been no study on the effects of NO‐NIF on ischemic skin flap necrosis. Therefore, they evaluated the potential of NO‐NIF in ameliorating ischemic skin flap necrosis in a mouse model. A random pattern skin flap (1.0 × 3.0 cm) was elevated on the dorsum of C57BL/6 mice. NO‐NIF was administered by topical injection immediately after surgery and every 24 hours thereafter. Flap survival was evaluated on postoperative day 7. Tissue samples from the skin flaps were harvested on postoperative days 1 and 3 to analyze oxidative stress, apoptosis and endothelial dysfunction. The viable area of the flap in the NO‐NIF group was significantly increased (78.30 ± 7.041%) compared with that of the control group (47.77 ± 6.549%, p < 0.01). NO‐NIF reduced oxidative stress, apoptosis and endothelial dysfunction, which were evidenced by the decrease of malondialdehyde, p22phox protein expression, number of apoptotic cells, phosphorylated p38 MAPK protein expression, and vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 protein expression while endothelial nitric oxide synthase protein expression was increased. In conclusion, they demonstrated that NO‐NIF ameliorated ischemic skin flap necrosis by reducing oxidative stress, apoptosis, and endothelial dysfunction. NO‐NIF is considered to be a candidate for the treatment of ischemic flap necrosis.
Constitutional Rights of Infants and Toddlers to Have Opportunities to Form Secure Attachment with Incarcerate Mothers: Importance of Prison Nurseries
Authors: Kanaboshi Naoki , Anderson James F. , Sira Natalia
Published: January 2017

While the number of women is increasing among the prison population, so too is the need to accommodate those who are pregnant and with children. Instead of examining the diminished rights of incarcerated mothers, this paper examines the rights of babies (infants and toddlers) to have opportunities to form a secure attachment with their incarcerated mother. This paper argues this right triggers the government’s affirmative duty to provide prison nurseries. This paper also seeks several aims that include an examination of the issue of prison nurseries, the need for such programs, their history, the constitutional rights of infants and toddlers to have opportunities to form secure attachment with their long-term caregiver, and the policy implications for women or female prisons.
Diagnósticos de enfermería presentes en un recién nacido pretérmino con múltiples comorbilidades
Authors: VALBUENA DURAN LUZ DALIA
Published: January 2017

RESUMEN:

Introducción: La atención del recién nacido pretérmino (RNPT) supone un reto para el personal de enfermería, sugiriendo la estructuración de un plan de atención integral que permita la continuación de las condiciones más parecidas al vientre materno. Esto requiere de un análisis que abarque una valoración y exploración física que permita evaluar los problemas presentes y planear la atención apartir de la valoración por dominios reconociendo las ventajas de esta herramienta, la cual le permite plantear diagnósticos propios de la profesión desde la práctica formativa. Materiales y Métodos: Presentación de un caso clínico de un RNPT analizado a través de un formato de valoración por dominios de salud de la Escuela de enfermería de la Universidad Industrial de Santander integrado por los 13 dominios que establece la Taxonomía II de la NANDA y adaptado para el área de pediatría. Resultados: El uso del proceso de enfermería, en las fases de valoración y diagnostico desde la academia permitió a los estudiantes determinar los dominios alterados en un caso seleccionado, logrando identificar 4 dominios alterados, 9 diagnósticos de enfermería y un diagnóstico principal de acuerdo a las características definitorias evidenciadas en caso de estudio. Conclusiones: La valoración por dominios de salud que establece la Taxonomía II de la NANDA permite al estudiante de enfermería realizar una identificación de problemas de salud desde una mirada integral; integrando los componentes teóricos de la valoración física y la realidad de las situaciones clínicas en los RNPT. 
El interés de las enfermeras por el alma de los pacientes en proceso de morir: asuntos culturales y espirituales.
Authors: Lopera Betancur Martha Adiela
Published: January 2017

Resumen: La muerte tiene diferentes significados para las enfermeras según sus concepciones. Metodología. Estudio cualitativo con enfoque etnográfico cuyo objetivo era explorar el significado que tiene para las enfermeras los asuntos culturales y espirituales relacionados con la muerte de los pacientes. Se realizaron 23 entrevistas a enfermeras y aproximadamente 100 horas de observación en un hospital en Medellín, Colombia entre diciembre del 2012 y noviembre del 2013. Resultados: El interés por el alma se manifestó como una intención de respetar las concepciones del paciente y sus familiares y sensibilidad hacia los rituales. El proceso de la muerte se enmarca en un choque cultural. Conclusión: Las concepciones culturales y religiosas se manifiestan en la práctica diaria de los cuidados al final de la vida. Los rituales buscan dar tranquilidad al paciente y sus familiares en su tránsito hacia la muerte, y que “descanse en paz”. Por esto, los asuntos culturales y religiosos representan un interés por el alma. Recomendaciones: el ser cultural de las personas no se pierde con la formación profesional, ni con la enfermedad terminal.

 
Significados da doença, morte e perdão em mulheres com Cancro da mama
Authors: Fonte Carla , Andrade Fátima
Published: January 2017

Objetivo: Comprender el significado de la enfermedad, la muerte y el perdón en las mujeres con cáncer de mama y las concepciones sobre el futuro después de un diagnóstico de cáncer. Metodo: se desarrolló un enfoque cualitativo, mediante la realización de entrevistas semi-estructuradas con un grupo de ocho mujeres con diagnóstico de cáncer de mama. Las historias personales fueron analizadas utilizando Grounded Análisis para una comprensión integral y en profundidad del significado que los individuos atribuyen a su experiencia de vida. Resultados: indican que un diagnóstico de cáncer de mama tiene un impacto asociado con sentimientos de miedo, fracaso, dependencia y muerte. Para enfrentar el cáncer, la mujer busca construir un nuevo significado en conceptos tales como el perdón, la enfermedad, los sueños para el futuro, tratando de encontrar una redefinición de los roles asignados a él y que busca tener una nueva mirada sobre el sentido de la vida. Conclusiones: los resultados proporcionan indicadores importantes para los profesionales de salud, para entender los cambios y la alteración de significados que se producen en pacientes con cáncer, ya sea a nivel personal causada por la enfermedad y sus tratamientos, o a nivel familiar y social, e intervenir en la confrontación con el alivio del sufrimiento y la muerte. 
Una visión histórica del programa de formación en enfermería perinatal en Colombia 1980 a 1990
Authors: González Poveda Luz Magdalena , Parrado Yaneth Mercedes
Published: January 2017

Objetivo: Describir y analizar surgimiento y desarrollo del programa de Especialización de Enfermería Perinatal en la Universidad Nacional de Colombia, en el periodo comprendido entre 1980 - 1990, a la luz del contexto nacional  en  educación, salud y  enfermería. Método: investigación de abordaje cualitativo, de carácter histórico donde se tomaron fuentes de información documentales y entrevistas testimoniales a actores directos, lo cual permitió la reconstrucción del hecho histórico, objeto de estudio. Resultados: Estos indican que el surgimiento  de la Especialización de Enfermería Perinatal en la Universidad Nacional de Colombia fue directamente influenciado por políticas y estrategias de desarrollo del ámbito Nacional e Internacional, las cuales constituyeron un eje central en el planteamiento y posterior desarrollo de la especialización; de otra parte, los procesos internos de la Universidad Nacional y en especial en la Facultad de Enfermería en temas relacionados con la reforma de la educación superior y el fortalecimiento  de los posgrados en enfermería a nivel Latinoamericano, fueron hechos claves para el alcance del programa. Por último el liderazgo y experiencia de las docentes de la Facultad de  Enfermería, junto con las asesorías internacionales, como la de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS), permitieron cristalizar la idea de la Especialización en Enfermería Perinatal  y plasmarla en un currículo que lograra formar recurso humano capaz de dar respuesta de manera efectiva  a las necesidades en salud de la mujeres y los recién nacidos. Conclusiones: El surgimiento de la Especialización en Enfermería Perinatal en la Universidad Nacional de Colombia marcó una transformación en el modelo de atención de la madre y el neonato, iniciado desde la academia y con implicaciones directas sobre la práctica, la investigación  y la operacionalización  de políticas de atención emanadas desde el Ministerio de Salud.
Age-specific functional response and predation rate of Amblyseius swirskii (Phytoseiidae) on two-spotted spider mite
Authors: Fathipour Yaghoub , Karimi Maryam , Farazmand Azadeh , Talebi Ali Asghar
Published: January 2017

The lifetime functional response and predation rate of Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot on eggs of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch were determined under laboratory conditions using cucumber leaf discs. Densities of 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 and 128 prey were offered to 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 17, 22 and 27-day-old A. swirskii individuals. Based on the logistic regression, the functional response of twelve-day-old A. swirskii was type III, while the other ages showed type II. The Rogers model was used to estimate searching efficiency (a) and handling time (Th). The longest handling time (1.387±0.315 h) was observed in the protonymphal stage, while the shortest handling time and highest maximum attack rate (T/Th) were estimated at the age of seven-days (0.396±0.057 h and 60.67 prey/day, respectively). In the functional response experiments, results of the highest prey density used (128 eggs) showed that the highest number of prey consumed by A. swirskii individuals aged twelve and seventeen-days old (35.6 and 43.1 eggs, respectively). It is concluded that A. swirskii could be an efficient biological control agent of T. urticae at the middle-age of its life and at higher prey densities.
A new species of the genus Spatulaphorus (Acari: Heterostigmata: Pygmephoridae) associated with Gymnopleurus flagellatus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) from Iran
Authors: Sobhi Mohammad , Hajiqanbar Hamidreza , Mortazavi Abdolazim
Published: January 2017

The mite Spatulaphorus gymnopleuri Sobhi & Hajiqanbar sp. nov. (Acari: Heterostigmata: Pygmephoridae) collected from under the metanotum of the host beetle, Gymnopleurus flagellatus (Fabricius 1787) (Insecta: Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) is described and illustrated from Meshgin shahr, Ardabil province, northwestern Iran. Moreover, host range of the genus is reviewed and an updated key to world species of the genus Spatulaphorus is provided.
Morphological ontogeny of Cerachipteria iturrondobeitiai sp. nov. (Acari: Oribatida: Achipteriidae) from northern Spain, with comments on Cerachipteria Grandjean
Authors: Seniczak Anna , Seniczak Stanisław
Published: January 2017

The morphological ontogeny of Cerachipteria iturrondobeitiai sp. nov. from northern Spain is described and illustrated. The adult of this species has wide, long prodorsal lamellae, protruding beyond the rostrum, as in other genera of Achipteriidae. However, the lamellae are separated as in other species of Cerachipteria Grandjean, 1935. In C. iturrondobeitiai, the translamella can be present, incomplete or absent, whereas most congeners lacks the translamella, except for C. jugata Mihelčič, 1956, in which it is well-formed. The ovipositor of C. iturrondobeitiai is unusual because it bears seven pairs of coronal setae, instead of three pairs in other species of Achipteriidae.The adult of C. iturrondobeitiai is similar to C. digita Grandjean, 1935, but differs from it mainly by the location of porose areas A2 and A3 and seta lm on the notogaster and the shape of the bothridial seta. The juveniles of C. iturrondobeitiai are plicate, with most prodorsal setae minute, as in other species of Achipteriidae, and the larva lacks seta h3. In C. iturrondobeitiai, the gastronotal setae of c-series are also minute, whereas in other species these setae are longer and thicker, or at least c1. The leg claws of this species are smooth. The ontogeny of C. iturrondobeitiai is compared with some other species of Achipteriidae, and the adult is compared with congeners.
Impact of polyphenols on physiological stress and cardiac burden in marathon runners – results from a substudy of the BeMaGIC study
Authors: Clauss Sebastian , Scherr Johannes , Hanley Alan , Schneider Jens , Klier Ina , Lackermair Korbinian , Hoster Eva , Vogeser Michael , Nieman David C. , Halle Martin , Nickel Thomas
Published: January 2017

Both physiologic stress and chronic heart disease are associated with increased systemic levels of chromogranin A (CGA) and NT-proBNP. Marathon running causes physiological stress and imposes a significant cardiac burden. Polyphenol-rich Mediterranean and Asian diets have been demonstrated to exert beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. In this study we investigated whether pretreatment with a polyphenol beverage could attenuate the physiological and cardiac stress associated with a marathon. In the BeMaGIC trial, 277 athletes were randomized into 2 groups in a double-blinded fashion, receiving 1–1.5 L/day of the same beverages either with (study beverage) or without (placebo) polyphenol enrichment (approximately 400 mg of gallic acid equivalents per day of a complex mixture of polyphenols). Blood samples were taken 3 weeks and 1 day before, and immediately, 24 h, and 72 h after running a marathon. In our current substudy, CGA and NT-proBNP levels were analyzed by ELISA in the fastest 18 and the slowest 22 runners. CGA and NT-proBNP levels increased significantly immediately after the marathon and returned to baseline at 72 h after the marathon. Neither CGA nor NT-proBNP differed significantly between athletes receiving study beverage versus placebo. Separating our cohort into fast and slow runners did not reveal any significant difference regarding CGA or NT-proBNP levels between groups. Our study provides no evidence that polyphenol supplementation attenuates marathon running-induced physiological stress and cardiac burden in fast or slow runners.
The Truce–Smiles rearrangement and related reactions: a review
Authors: Henderson Anna R.P. , Kosowan Joel R. , Wood Tabitha E.
Published: January 2017

The Truce–Smiles rearrangement is an X → C aryl migration reaction that is achieved by an intramolecular nucleophilic aromatic substitution pathway. The reaction exhibits a wide substrate scope with respect to a migrating aryl ring and leaving group, appearing in many different tandem reaction sequences, to achieve a wide variety of product outcomes. We present an extensive survey of reported examples of the Truce–Smiles rearrangement from the chemistry literature (1950s until present) organized by various substrate design variables or aspects of the reaction method. Present deficiencies in our understanding of the reaction are identified with recommendations for future research directions and useful developments in the application of the reaction are celebrated.
The quantitative use of parasite data in multistock modelling of South African sardine (Sardinops sagax)
Authors: de Moor Carryn L. , Butterworth Douglas S. , van der Lingen Carl D.
Published: January 2017

Differences in parasite infection have previously been used to distinguish between fish stocks. We demonstrate a novel use of parasite prevalence-by-length data to inform quantitatively on stock mixing. An initial two mixing stock hypothesis proved consistent with biological and survey data, suggesting that there are different stocks of sardine off the west and south coasts of South Africa. That hypothesis assumed that only recruits moved from the west to the south stock. However, new “tetracotyle”-type metacercarian parasite bio-tag data indicate a need to allow older fish to move between the stocks as well. We demonstrate extension of bio-tagging to inform on the plausibility of population structure hypotheses by including parasite prevalence-by-length data in the model’s likelihood. Our method enables the estimation of the magnitude of mixing between semidiscrete stocks, providing more precise estimates of annual movement. Such improved precision may be important in better informing future movement hypotheses and thereby management. Our research provides a framework to use to inform quantitatively on stock structure and movement hypotheses for other fish species with bio-tagging data.
Dual mycorrhizal symbiosis: an asset for eucalypts out of Australia?
Authors: Adjoud-Sadadou Djamila , Halli-Hargas Rosa
Published: January 2017

The dual symbiotic habit of the genus Eucalyptus is well documented: while arbuscular mycorrhizae are always dominant in seedlings and young trees, they are replaced by ectomycorrhizae in older trees. Here, the mycorrhizal status of eucalypts of different ages was assessed over the year in three plantations in the humid Mediterranean climate zone of Algeria (using morphological, anatomical, and histological criteria) and quantified in the dry and wet seasons over three years (using the grid-line intersect method of Giovannetti and Mosse (1980, New Phytol. 84: 489–500, doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1980.tb04556.x ) on randomized fine root segments). Unexpectedly, the results revealed the persistence of arbuscular mycorrhizae in old trees and their dominance over ectomycorrhizae during the dry season, while the opposite pattern was observed in the wet season. Composite mycorrhizae displaying intimately mixed arbuscular mycorrhizae and ectomycorrhizae anatomical structures also occurred and were more frequent during the dry season. Eucalypts were clearly able to form a wide diversity of symbiotic associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal fungi locally associated with native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. Therefore, the mycorrhizal status should not be a limiting factor to the silviculture of eucalypts in this area of Algeria because the dual symbiotic habit provides complementary benefits in a poor soil and in an alien environment.
Cost of climate change mitigation in Canada’s forest sector
Authors: Lemprière Tony C. , Krcmar Emina , Rampley Greg J. , Beatch Alison , Smyth Carolyn E. , Hafer Mark , Kurz Werner A.
Published: January 2017

Managing forests and forest products has substantial potential to help mitigate climate change but the cost has not been extensively examined in Canada. We estimated the cost of seven forest-related mitigation strategies in Canada’s 230 million hectares of managed forest, divided into 32 spatial units. For each strategy and spatial unit, we determined forest sector mitigation cost per tonne (t) using estimated impacts on forest sector greenhouse gas emissions and removals and net revenue. National cost curves showed that mitigation averaged 11.0 Mt CO2e·year–1 in 2015–2050 at costs below $50·t CO2e–1 for a strategy of increased recovery of harvested biomass, increased salvage, extraction of harvest residues for bioenergy, and increased production of longer lived products. We also examined national portfolios in which the strategy selected for each spatial unit (from among the seven examined) was chosen to maximize mitigation or minimize costs. At low levels of mitigation, portfolios chosen to minimize costs were much cheaper than those that maximized mitigation, but overall, they yielded less than half the total mitigation of the latter portfolios. Choosing strategies to maximize mitigation in 2015–2050 yielded an average of 16.5 Mt·year–1 at costs below $50·t CO2e–1. Our analysis suggests that forest-related strategies may be cost-effective choices to help achieve long-term emission reductions in Canada.
Observation of ferrokinetics in a plant using the micron RI imaging system
Authors: Maruyama T. , Ishii K. , Fujiwara M. , Matsuyama S. , Terakawa A. , Arai H. , Saneshige Y.
Published: January 2017

We succeeded in observation of ferrokinetics in a plant (20 days radish) using the micron RI imaging which was previously developed in our laboratory, by improving two criteria: (i) adjustment of the iron solution for the plant’s intake; and (ii) measurement of the radioisotope, 55Fe in the course to take up solution in the plant. The accumulation of iron atoms in the plant was confirmed by the micro-PIXE and an appropriate density of iron was determined. Under an optimal condition of iron solution containing 55Fe, the ferrokinetics in the plant was investigated by use of the micron RI imaging system.
Innovation of hyaluronic acid-protamine microparticles and their kinetics in vivo
Authors: Harada S. , Ehara S. , Segawa T. , Ishii K. , Sato T. , Kamiya T. , Sera K. , Goto S.
Published: January 2017

The nanoparticles, which releases anticancer drug with response to radiation, were developed. Also, two categories were tested: (i) their ability to release anticancer drug in vitro; and (ii) their kinetics in the body, when they were injected through tail vein of BALB/c mice in vivo. To prepare the particles, hyaluronic acid and protamine were mixed into carboplatin solution, and reacted for 30 min in room temperature. Those particles were exposed to a single dose of 10 Gy of 140 KeV X-ray. Their ability to release carboplatin with response to radiation was expressed as the percentage of ruptured particles, basing on images of particles, using micro PIXE camera. The amount of released carboplatin was measured by quantitative PIXE method. The kinetics of particles in body was assessed by counting the number of particles, which were trapped in lungs, using micro PIXE camera. The mean diameter of particles was 743 ± 34 nm. By irradiation, 59.3 ± 7.23% of particles ruptured, and 95.9 ± 2.3% carboplatin was released from particles. The trapped particles in lungs were significantly reduced, when compared with previous alginate-hyaluronic particles.
Neutron stars are gold mines
Authors: Lattimer James M.
Published: January 2017

Neutron stars are not only mines for clues to dense matter physics but may also be the auspicious sources of half of all nuclei heavier than [Formula: see text] in the universe, including the auric isotopes. Although the cold dense matter above the nuclear saturation density cannot be directly explored in the laboratory, gilded constraints on the properties of matter from 1 to 10 times higher density can now be panned from neutron star observations. We show how upcoming observations, such as gravitational wave from mergers, precision timing of pulsars, neutrinos from neutron star birth and X-rays from bursts and thermal emissions, will provide the bullion from which further advances can be smelted.
Nuclear matrix elements for neutrinoless double-beta decay in covariant density functional theory
Authors: Meng J. , Song L. S. , Yao J. M.
Published: January 2017

We review the first fully relativistic description for the neutrinoless double-beta decay by the beyond-mean-field covariant density functional theory. The calculations of the nuclear transition matrix elements are based on a full relativistic transition operator and nuclear wave functions in which the dynamic effects of particle-number, angular-momentum, and parity conservations as well as shape fluctuations are incorporated. We find that the commonly used nonrelativistic approximation for the transition operator is justified within the mechanism of light-Majorana-neutrino exchange. We stress that reducing the discrepancies in the predicted nuclear matrix elements by different nuclear models is a major challenge in nuclear physics.
The Impact of Different Accounting Reporting Methods on the Informativeness of Research and Development Costs: IFRS Compared to U.S. GAAP
Authors: Dugan Michael T. , McEldowney John E. , Turner Elizabeth H. , Wheatley Clark M.
Published: January 2017

In this paper, we examine the information content and value relevance of research and development (R&D) costs before and after the SEC eliminated the 20-F reconciliation to U.S. GAAP for Foreign Public Issuers (FPIs). Prior to the elimination both FPIs and U.S. firms experienced an increase in the indirect effect of R&D on operating income. After the requirement was eliminated, the direct effect increased for FPIs and the indirect effect decreased. This is in contrast to U.S. firms who experienced a continued increase in the indirect effect. This shift indicates there was a loss of informativeness in the R&D disclosures for FPIs.
The Value Relevance of Components of Other Comprehensive Income When Net Income Is Disaggregated
Authors: Zoubi Taisier A. , Salama Feras , Hossain Mahmud , Alkafaji Yass A.
Published: January 2017

The purpose of this study is to examine the equity pricing of other comprehensive income when earnings are disaggregated into several components. Our findings indicate that other comprehensive income can better explain variation in stock returns when net income is reported in a disaggregated form. Additionally, we find that disaggregating both net income and other comprehensive income can explain more of the variation in the stock returns than the two summary components of comprehensive income. Our results survive a series of robustness checks.
EVOLUTION OF TRUST IN A DUAL-CHANNEL SUPPLY CHAIN CONSIDERING RECIPROCAL ALTRUISTIC BEHAVIOR
Authors: SHI KUIRAN , MA HUJIE
Published: January 2017

In order to alleviate the conflict between the channels in dual-channel supply chain, the altruism tendency and trust input are important for strengthening the cooperation between the channels. We view the dual-channel supply chain as a nonlinear system that consists of co-competition, learning decision and dynamic game between direct channels and retail channels. Then, we develop learning dynamics and evolutionary game model to analyze the channels’ altruism behavior and the factors that influence trust input. We find that the evolutionary direction of altruistic behavior is determined by the sensitiveness and the learning abilities of both members of supply chains. The trust input decision of both channels is highly related to the output ratio of high-level trust input, only if the input–output ratio is ideal for both game parties, the system may come to an evolutionary stable equilibrium of high trust input. If the trust input of the two sides is unilateral, then one side chooses high trust input, while the other side chooses low trust input. In this case, even the input–output ratio is high, it will not be evolutionary stable. The profit both sides earned from the low-trust cooperation is the basic for further trust input, the increased free ride income, trust input risk and the trust evaluation cost will affect the enthusiasm of trust input for the dual-channel supply chain members. To promote high trust input in dual-channel supply chain, a certain amount of compensation should be negotiated in the contract in order to improve the performance of the supply chain.
Micro photosynthetic cell for power generation from algae: Bio-electrochemical modeling and verification
Authors: Tanneru Hemanth Kumar , Suresh Resmi , Ramanan Aravind Vyas , Mehdi Shahparnia , Packirisamy Muthukumaran , Pillay Pragasen , Williamson Sheldon , Juneau Philippe , Rengaswamy Raghunathan
Published: January 2017

A simple first-principles mathematical model is developed to predict the performance of a micro photosynthetic power cell ([Formula: see text]PSC), an electrochemical device which generates electricity by harnessing electrons from photosynthesis in the presence of light. A lumped parameter approach is used to develop a model in which the electrochemical kinetic rate constants and diffusion effects are lumped into a single characteristic rate constant [Formula: see text]. A non-parametric estimation of [Formula: see text] for the [Formula: see text]PSC is performed by minimizing the sum square errors (SSE) between the experimental and model predicted current and voltages. The developed model is validated by comparing the model predicted [Formula: see text] characteristics with experimental data not used in the parameter estimation. Sensitivity analysis of the design parameters and the operational parameters reveal interesting insights for performance enhancement. Analysis of the model also suggests that there are two different operating regimes that are observed in this [Formula: see text]PSC. This modeling approach can be used in other designs of [Formula: see text]PSCs for performance enhancement studies.
Biogenesis and Metabolic Maintenance of Rubisco
Authors: Bracher Andreas , Whitney Spencer M. , Hartl F. Ulrich , Hayer-Hartl Manajit
Published: January 2017

Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) mediates the fixation of atmospheric CO2 in photosynthesis by catalyzing the carboxylation of the 5-carbon sugar ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP). Rubisco is a remarkably inefficient enzyme, fixing only 2–10 CO2 molecules per second. Efforts to increase crop yields by bioengineering Rubisco remain unsuccessful, owing in part to the complex cellular machinery required for Rubisco biogenesis and metabolic maintenance. The large subunit of Rubisco requires the chaperonin system for folding, and recent studies have shown that assembly of hexadecameric Rubisco is mediated by specific assembly chaperones. Moreover, Rubisco function can be inhibited by a range of sugar-phosphate ligands, including RuBP. Metabolic repair depends on remodeling of Rubisco by the ATP-dependent Rubisco activase and hydrolysis of inhibitory sugar phosphates by specific phosphatases. Here, we review our present understanding of the structure and function of these auxiliary factors and their utilization in efforts to engineer more catalytically efficient Rubisco enzymes.
The Life and Death of a Plant Cell
Authors: Kabbage Mehdi , Kessens Ryan , Bartholomay Lyric C. , Williams Brett
Published: January 2017

Like all eukaryotic organisms, plants possess an innate program for controlled cellular demise termed programmed cell death (PCD). Despite the functional conservation of PCD across broad evolutionary distances, an understanding of the molecular machinery underpinning this fundamental program in plants remains largely elusive. As in mammalian PCD, the regulation of plant PCD is critical to development, homeostasis, and proper responses to stress. Evidence is emerging that autophagy is key to the regulation of PCD in plants and that it can dictate the outcomes of PCD execution under various scenarios. Here, we provide a broad and comparative overview of PCD processes in plants, with an emphasis on stress-induced PCD. We also discuss the implications of the paradox that is functional conservation of apoptotic hallmarks in plants in the absence of core mammalian apoptosis regulators, what that means, and whether an equivalent form of death occurs in plants.
Intracellular Oscillations and Waves
Authors: Beta Carsten , Kruse Karsten
Published: January 2017

Dynamic processes in living cells are highly organized in space and time. Unraveling the underlying molecular mechanisms of spatiotemporal pattern formation remains one of the outstanding challenges at the interface between physics and biology. A fundamental recurrent pattern found in many different cell types is that of self-sustained oscillations. They are involved in a wide range of cellular functions, including second messenger signaling, gene expression, and cytoskeletal dynamics. Here, we review recent developments in the field of cellular oscillations and focus on cases where concepts from physics have been instrumental for understanding the underlying mechanisms. We consider biochemical and genetic oscillators as well as oscillations that arise from chemo-mechanical coupling. Finally, we highlight recent studies of intracellular waves that have increasingly moved into the focus of this research field.
Anthocyanins and Flavanones Are More Bioavailable than Previously Perceived: A Review of Recent Evidence
Authors: Kay Colin D. , Pereira-Caro Gema , Ludwig Iziar A. , Clifford Michael N. , Crozier Alan
Published: January 2017

This review considers recent investigations on the bioavailability of anthocyanins and flavanones. Both flavonoids are significant dietary components and are considered to be poorly bioavailable, as only low levels of phase II metabolites appear in the circulatory system and are excreted in urine. However, when lower molecular weight phenolic and aromatic ring-fission catabolites, produced primarily by the action of the colonic microbiota, are taken into account, it is evident that anthocyanins and flavanones are much more bioavailable than previously envisaged. The metabolic events to which these flavonoids are subjected as they pass along the gastrointestinal tract and are absorbed into the circulatory system prior to their rapid elimination by renal excretion are highlighted. Studies on the impact of other food components and the probiotic intake on flavonoid bioavailability are summarized, as is the bioactivity of metabolites and catabolites assayed using a variety of in vitro model systems.
Mass Transport Phenomena in Lipid Oxidation and Antioxidation
Authors: Laguerre Mickaël , Bily Antoine , Roller Marc , Birtić Simona
Published: January 2017

In lipid dispersions, the ability of reactants to move from one lipid particle to another is an important, yet often ignored, determinant of lipid oxidation and its inhibition by antioxidants. This review describes three putative interparticle transfer mechanisms for oxidants and antioxidants: (a) diffusion, (b) collision-exchange-separation, and (c) micelle-assisted transfer. Mechanism a involves the diffusion of molecules from one particle to another through the intervening aqueous phase. Mechanism b involves the transfer of molecules from one particle to another when the particles collide with each other. Mechanism c involves the solubilization of molecules in micelles within the aqueous phase and then their transfer between particles. During lipid oxidation, the accumulation of surface-active lipid hydroperoxides (LOOHs) beyond their critical micelle concentration may shift their mass transport from the collision-exchange-separation pathway (slow transfer) to the micelle-assisted mechanism (fast transfer), which may account for the transition from the initiation to the propagation phase. Similarly, the cut-off effect governing antioxidant activity in lipid dispersions may be due to the fact that above a certain hydrophobicity, the transfer mechanism for antioxidants changes from diffusion to collision-exchange-separation. This hypothesis provides a simple model to rationalize the design and formulation of antioxidants and dispersed lipids.
Application of Microrheology in Food Science
Authors: Yang Nan , Lv Ruihe , Jia Junji , Nishinari Katsuyoshi , Fang Yapeng
Published: January 2017

Microrheology provides a technique to probe the local viscoelastic properties and dynamics of soft materials at the microscopic level by observing the motion of tracer particles embedded within them. It is divided into passive and active microrheology according to the force exerted on the embedded particles. Particles are driven by thermal fluctuations in passive microrheology, and the linear viscoelasticity of samples can be obtained on the basis of the generalized Stokes-Einstein equation. In active microrheology, tracer particles are controlled by external forces, and measurements can be extended to the nonlinear regime. Microrheology techniques have many advantages such as the need for only small sample amounts and a wider measurable frequency range. In particular, microrheology is able to examine the spatial heterogeneity of samples at the microlevel, which is not possible using traditional rheology. Therefore, microrheology has considerable potential for studying the local mechanical properties and dynamics of soft matter, particularly complex fluids, including solutions, dispersions, and other colloidal systems. Food products such as emulsions, foams, or gels are complex fluids with multiple ingredients and phases. Their macroscopic properties, such as stability and texture, are closely related to the structure and mechanical properties at the microlevel. In this article, the basic principles and methods of microrheology are reviewed, and the latest developments and achievements of microrheology in the field of food science are presented.
Who Would Have Thought? The Story of a Food Engineer
Authors: Lund Daryl B.
Published: January 2017

Food engineering is a hybrid of food science and an engineering science, like chemical engineering in my particular case, resulting in the application of chemical engineering principles to food systems and their constituents. With the complexity of food and food processing, one generally narrows his or her interests, and my primary interests were in the kinetics of reactions important in foods, thermal processing, deposition of unwanted materials from food onto heated surfaces (fouling), and microwave heat transfer in baking. This review describes how I developed an interest in these topics and the contributions I have hopefully made to understanding food and to the application of engineering.
Multilevel Modeling: Research-Based Lessons for Substantive Researchers
Authors: González-Romá Vicente , Hernández Ana
Published: January 2017

Organizations are multilevel systems. Most organizational phenomena are multilevel in nature, and their understanding involves variables (e.g., antecedents and consequences) that reside at different levels. The investigation of these phenomena requires appropriate analytical methods: multilevel modeling. These techniques are becoming increasingly popular among organizational psychology and organizational behavior (OPOB) researchers. In this article we review the literature that has evaluated the performance of multilevel modeling techniques to test multilevel direct and indirect effects and cross-level interactions. We also provide guidelines for OPOB researchers about the appropriate use of these techniques, and we suggest ways these techniques can contribute to theoretical advancement and research development in OPOB.
International Courts: A Theoretical Assessment
Authors: Carrubba Clifford J. , Gabel Matthew
Published: January 2017

Scholars have long been fascinated by the role of international courts in the enforcement of international rule of law. They start with a foundational question: Can international courts affect how international law is implemented? In this review, we lay out four of the most common theoretical arguments for why international courts matter. We then interrogate these accounts. In particular, we examine their views on how much influence courts have and what the likely welfare consequences are for the signatories of an agreement. In so doing, we identify critical conditions that must obtain for court influence under each of the arguments. We then bring more recent scholarship to bear on the plausibility of these conditions. In particular, we examine what research on the structure of law, the preferences of judges, and institutional design implies about the efficacy of international courts based on the four foundational arguments. We conclude with suggestions for future research.
China's Health Reform Update
Authors: Liu Gordon G. , Vortherms Samantha A. , Hong Xuezhi
Published: January 2017

China experienced both economic and epistemological transitions within the past few decades, greatly increasing demand for accessible and affordable health care. These shifts put significant pressure on the existing outdated, highly centralized bureaucratic system. Adjusting to growing demands, the government has pursued a new round of health reforms since the late 2000s; the main goals are to reform health care financing, essential drug policies, and public hospitals. Health care financing reform led to universal basic medical insurance, whereas the public hospital reform required more complex measures ranging from changes in regulatory, operational, and service delivery settings to personnel management. This article reviews these major policy changes and the literature-based evidence of the effects of reforms on cost, access, and quality of care. It then highlights the outlook for future reforms. We argue that a better understanding of the unintended consequences of reform policies and of how practitioners’ and patients’ interests can be better aligned is essential for reforms to succeed.
Natural Experiments: An Overview of Methods, Approaches, and Contributions to Public Health Intervention Research
Authors: Craig Peter , Katikireddi Srinivasa Vittal , Leyland Alastair , Popham Frank
Published: January 2017

Population health interventions are essential to reduce health inequalities and tackle other public health priorities, but they are not always amenable to experimental manipulation. Natural experiment (NE) approaches are attracting growing interest as a way of providing evidence in such circumstances. One key challenge in evaluating NEs is selective exposure to the intervention. Studies should be based on a clear theoretical understanding of the processes that determine exposure. Even if the observed effects are large and rapidly follow implementation, confidence in attributing these effects to the intervention can be improved by carefully considering alternative explanations. Causal inference can be strengthened by including additional design features alongside the principal method of effect estimation. NE studies often rely on existing (including routinely collected) data. Investment in such data sources and the infrastructure for linking exposure and outcome data is essential if the potential for such studies to inform decision making is to be realized.
Toward Greater Implementation of the Exposome Research Paradigm within Environmental Epidemiology
Authors: Stingone Jeanette A. , Buck Louis Germaine M. , Nakayama Shoji F. , Vermeulen Roel C.H. , Kwok Richard K. , Cui Yuxia , Balshaw David M. , Teitelbaum Susan L.
Published: January 2017

Investigating a single environmental exposure in isolation does not reflect the actual human exposure circumstance nor does it capture the multifactorial etiology of health and disease. The exposome, defined as the totality of environmental exposures from conception onward, may advance our understanding of environmental contributors to disease by more fully assessing the multitude of human exposures across the life course. Implementation into studies of human health has been limited, in part owing to theoretical and practical challenges including a lack of infrastructure to support comprehensive exposure assessment, difficulty in differentiating physiologic variation from environmentally induced changes, and the need for study designs and analytic methods that accommodate specific aspects of the exposome, such as high-dimensional exposure data and multiple windows of susceptibility. Recommendations for greater data sharing and coordination, methods development, and acknowledgment and minimization of multiple types of measurement error are offered to encourage researchers to embark on exposome research to promote the environmental health and well-being of all populations.
Reflexiones acerca del sistema de pensiones
Authors: Suarez Andres
Published: January 2017

En 2016 se generalizó un malestar hacia el sistema de AFP que se hizo cada vez más grande y que finalmente tuvo su expresión más visible en masivas marchas públicas convocadas por críticos hacia este sistema. Por un lado, pareciera ocurrir que el actual sistema de pensiones al cual “la ley nos obligó” años atrás más que beneficiarnos nos habría estafado y, por el otro, el que las rentabilidades de las AFP hayan sido por largo tiempo “excesivas” constituiría un acto inmoral para la sociedad pues no redunda en un beneficio para el afiliado.Se distinguen ciertos puntos críticos en los que el origen del malestar podría estar en la imposibilidad de comprender bien las características del sistema de AFP, entre éstas:−     La forma en que se generan rentas para las empresas y el cobro de los costos para el afiliado−     La (des)información de los afiliados sobre el desempeño de sus fondos y la débil educación financiera de los ciudadanos.−     El verdadero significado de que las utilidades hayan sido “excesivas” durante largos períodos−     La observación de una conducta monopólica permanente en la industria en diferentes períodos de tiempo, como si no hubiese competencia entre las empresas−     La identificación de cuál es la AFP líder−     El dilema moral que plantea saber ya con certeza que viviremos muchos años más: una esperanza de vida de 85 años en promedio para 2050, contra los 71 años que se esperaban al momento de diseñarse el sistema de pensiones, ¿de verdad las AFP nos ven como una persona que vivirá 110 años, según las tablas de mortalidad que elaboran las entidades reguladoras del sistema?
Behaviour of CD11b-Positive Cells in an Animal Model of Laser-Induced Choroidal Neovascularisation
Authors: Li Lu , Heiduschka Peter , Alex Anne F. , Niekämper Daniel , Eter Nicole
Published: January 2017

Background/Aim: Immune cells, e.g. microglial cells of the retina, appear to be involved in pathological processes in neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to immunohistochemically check the expression of various factors and cytokines by CD11b-positive (CD11b+) immune cells in an animal model of choroidal neovascularisation (CNV). Methods: We used the animal model of laser-induced CNV in mice. Eyes were isolated at 1, 4, 7, and 14 days after laser treatment. Cryosections were prepared and checked immunohistochemically for the presence of different growth factors and cytokines on microglial cells and other immune cells identified by CD11b immunoreactivity. Results: We found that the number of CD11b+ cells at the laser spots increased dramatically 4 days after laser treatment, the majority of them entering the laser spot most probably by migration. CD11b+ cells in the laser spot were positive for a variety of pro-angiogenic factors, such as PDGF-β, FGF-1, FGF-2, and TGF-β1. They were also positive for some inflammatory cytokines, in particular TNF-α, IL-6, and CXCL1. In non-treated retinas, CD11b+ cells showed almost no immunoreactivity for these proteins. Conclusion: Microglial cells, macrophages, and other CD11b+ cells may promote the neovascularisation in the laser spot and show a moderate inflammatory behaviour. Immunoreactivity for most of these molecules was found to decrease during the time of observation. Modulation of immune cell activity may thus be a tool to reduce the extent of CNV.