bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Italian Person of Quality Indeed!
Authors: Crowder Ashby Bland
Published: December 2017

Robert Browning’s “Up at a Villa-Down in the City” is a dramatic monologue, a fact unnoted by criticism. Browning employs irony throughout that undercuts the stated views of the speaker, who is not a person of quality, as the subtitle has announced. The speaker reveals himself to be a man of little experience in art and literature, of meager taste, poor judgement, and in general dull and inflexible. Browning cleverly sets up the clues whereby the reader can distinguish between what the speaker intends and what the reader understands. The speaker’s repudiation of the countryside actually makes clear the virtues of country life, and his praise of city life makes it clear what is undesirable in it. Browning accomplishes this manipulation through imagery, ambiguity in language, and by reference to outside facts.
The Impact of World War I on Middle East “Arabs” in Awwad’s “Al-Raghif”: A Cultural Perspective
Authors: Hamid Lateef Wisam
Published: December 2017

My paper will explore the genre of war narrative from a cultural perspective, namely the impact of the Great War on Arabs in the novel Al-Raghif (The Loaf’) in 1939 by the Lebanese novelist Tawfiq Yusuf Awwad, as it is the first Arabic novel which is totally concerned with WWI and its longlasting consequences: hunger, despair and the elusive promise of freedom to Arabs.
Long and Short-Term Dynamic Relationship between Macedonian and Croatian Stock Markets
Authors: Angelovska Julijana
Published: December 2017

The aim of this study is the empirical investigation of the long-run relations and the short-term dynamics between two Balkan stock markets: Macedonian and Croatian. The presence of long run common trend between the Macedonian and Croatian stock market indices is identified by applying Johansen’s cointegration maximum eigenvalue and trace tests, while potential causal relations are examined by employing Granger’s causality tests. Data sample spans from January 3rd, 2005 to March 31st, 2017. The stock market indices were found to be co-integrated with significant relationships. A bi-directional pattern of causality is documented between the Macedonian and Croatian returns. This pattern is remarkably stable and suggests significant economic ties between the investors in Macedonian and Croatian stock markets. The findings are important for the investors meaning that they cannot gain diversification benefits of investing in the Croatian or Macedonian stock market.
Group Lending Model - A Panacea to Reduce Transaction Cost?
Authors: Sharma Sudhir , Singh Priti , Singh Kratika , Chauhan Bhawana
Published: December 2017

Microfinance institutions (MFIs) have stepped up towards commercialization and sustainability yet they face challenges in terms of transaction cost that limit their growth prospects. Transaction cost is incurred in forming the group of members, searching for the potential clients, monitoring, and administration, in providing training to the clients etc. Group lending has emerged as an effective tool in reducing this cost by transferring its burden on the group. Though the concept of group lending is not new in micro finance but in India it was introduced by NABARD in 2004-05 owing to its key advantage of income generation. This paper aims to analyze whether group lending programme has some role to play in reducing transaction cost of MFIs. It also discusses the concept of transaction cost, characteristics of group lending as well as process of forming a group. The results reveal that internal management of small and medium MFIs is not working efficiently which results in increased costs. Large MFIs do not face such problems.
Franklin's fate: discoveries and prospects
Authors: James N.
Published: December 2017

2014, at last, revealed the wreck of HMSErebusoff Canada's Arctic mainland. Two years later, her companion, HMSTerror, was found 40 miles away, off King William Island. The government was already confident enough about their whereabouts in 1992 to declare the entire area a National Historic Site and, among other responses to the retreating ice and increasing shipping, Parks Canada began searching for the wrecks in 2008. Previous investigators had concentrated on tracing and recording the crews: among others, Owen Beattie in the 1980s (Notmanet al. 1987), F.L. McClintock in 1857–1859, and four naval expeditions before that. HMSInvestigatorwas lost in the 1853 search, and her wreck discovered off Banks Island in 2011. Ranging very widely, all of the investigators, and many others, were trying to find out what befell Sir John Franklin's attempt to complete the Northwest Passage between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific in 1845–1848.ErebusandTerrorwere his ships.
New investigations of the Epipalaeolithic in western Central Asia: Obishir-5
Authors: Shnaider Svetlana V. , Krajcarz Maciej T. , Viola T. Bence , Abdykanova Aida , Kolobova Ksenia A. , Fedorchenko Alexander Yu. , Alisher-kyzy Saltanat , Krivoshapkin Andrei I.
Published: December 2017

Intensive research on the Mesolithic of western Central Asia began in the mid twentieth century, when the discovery of key sites allowed for the formulation of the main regional cultural-chronological schemes (Figure 1).
A Method to Identify Blasting-Induced Damage Zones in Rock Masses Based on the P-Wave Rise Time
Authors: Zhang Yuzhu , Lu Wenbo , Yan Peng , Chen Ming , Yang Jianhua
Published: December 2017

Blasting-induced damage zones in rock masses are commonly identified by changes in the ratio of the P-wave velocities before and after blast. In ultrasonic tests, water is usually adopted as the coupling medium. As the ultrasonic wave propagates in the aqueous medium, the measured P-wave velocity will be affected by the water coupling distance between the transducer and the wall of the test hole. However, compared to the rock material, due to the lower dispersivity of the aqueous medium, the P-wave rise time is nearly unaffected by water coupling distance. The method based on P-wave rise time is as simple and feasible as the method based on P-wave velocity while employed in field testing. Furthermore, when P-wave rise time is used to detect blasting-induced damage zones, the measured data are in less variability and greater reliability than that acquired from the method based on P-wave velocity. As a result, while the P-wave velocity data are highly variable, the damage zone is difficult to discriminate, but it can be relatively easily discriminated using the P-wave rise time.
A Photographic Method for Measuring Soil Deformations during Internal Erosion under Triaxial Stress Conditions
Authors: Chen C. , Zhang L. M. , Zhu Hong
Published: December 2017

Internal erosion involves the migration of soil particles under seepage flow and is a primary cause of dam failure and distress. With the loss of soil particles, the remaining soil grains will rearrange, resulting in soil deformations and significant settlement. In this research, a photographic method was developed to measure the soil deformations caused by internal erosion on a modified triaxial apparatus. Photos were taken by a high-resolution camera at a certain time interval. By comparing image data between any two snapshots, the process of soil deformation can be obtained. In the experiments, the soil specimen experienced marked deformations during internal erosion. Heterogeneous soil deformations also developed across the specimen because of the nonuniformity of the soil pores and the nonuniform migration of fine particles. Both the global and local soil deformations during the whole internal erosion process were obtained using the photographic method. The maximum lateral deformation occurred at the middle part of the soil specimen, whereas the soil deformations along the vertical direction were relatively uniform.
Investigation and Modeling of Sound Absorption Properties of Thin Layer Wearing Course
Authors: Li Mingliang , Xu Bin , Cao Dongwei , Fan Yongjun , Ping Shujiang
Published: December 2017

Thin layer wearing course is commonly used as a noise-reducing pavement in some European countries. The noise-reducing performance is realized because of small surface texture and higher sound absorption properties. In this paper, the investigation focuses on the sound absorption properties of this type of road surface. Laboratory measurements were carried out to observe the sound absorption curves of the thin layer surfacing course. Both slab specimens produced in the lab and cores drilled from practical road sections were involved in the tests. It was found that surfaces with an air voids content less than 12 % show a smaller sound absorption coefficient, whereas surfaces with air voids content higher than 17 % have promising sound absorption properties. Acoustical models were also developed to describe the sound absorption of the thin layer wearing course. The modeling curves fit the test results better when connected air voids were taken into account. The models are considered applicable for examining the sound absorption coefficient with given mixture compositions, and they can also be used for evaluating the tire-road noise for a thin layer wearing course.
Nondestructive Acoustic Emission Test to Evaluate Thermal Damage in Asphalt Concrete Materials
Authors: Behnia Behzad , Buttlar William G. , Reis Henrique
Published: December 2017

This study presents an acoustic emission (AE)-based approach to assess low-temperature cracking behavior of asphalt concrete materials, in which thermally induced damage within asphalt concrete is continuously monitored and evaluated when the material is exposed to decreasing temperatures from 20°C to approximately −50°C. Results of three different asphalt mixtures at three different aging levels (unaged [TANK], Short-term Aged [RTFO], Long-term Aged [PAV]) are presented. Two AE characteristic temperatures, i.e., the embrittlement temperature and the temperature corresponding to the maximum energy event, were sensitive to asphalt type as well as oxidative aging levels of the asphalt concrete materials. Low-temperature cracking performance of asphalt concrete materials was found to be better than what their low-temperature performance grades (PGLTs) suggest. X-ray microtomography (micro-CT) visualization of thermal damage within asphalt concrete showed the formation of microcracks in the mastic along with debondings at the interface of aggregates and mastic.
Effect of Tensile or Compressive Overload on the Fatigue Crack Growth of Friction Stir Welded 19501 Aluminum Alloy
Authors: Gope Prakash Chandra , Kumar Harshit , Purohit Himanshu
Published: December 2017

In this paper, crack growth tests on 19501 aluminum alloy friction stir welded butt joints after a single overload cycle in tension or in compression on compact tension (CT) specimens, along with constant amplitude tests, are investigated. The effect of the tensile overload or compressive overload applied just after 20,000 load cycles on the crack growth rate, crack growth path, and growth profile are investigated. The overload cycle exhibits a significant influence on fatigue life endurance. Increases of 39.14 % and 131.58 % in fatigue life with delayed cycles of 13,874 and 46,646 are seen because of the application of 1.78 times tension or compression overload. The crack propagation after overload cycles is investigated by inspection of the fatigue crack propagation rate. Results are discussed with reference to the retardation characteristic parameters, such as retardation ratio, plastic zone size, crack deviation, etc. Compressive overload is found to be more effective in retarding the growth rates compared to tensile overload of the same magnitude in friction stir welded joints. Secondary crack formation is seen after the tensile overload, whereas no such secondary crack formation is observed with compressive overload. The possible reasons for the crack growth behavior due to tensile or compressive overload are further analyzed in terms of scanning electron micrographs and plastic zone size.
CK2 Oppositely Modulates l-DOPA-Induced Dyskinesia via Striatal Projection Neurons Expressing D1 or D2 Receptors
Authors: Cortés Marisol , Malave Lauren , Castello Julia , Flajolet Marc , Cenci M. Angela , Friedman Eitan , Rebholz Heike
Published: December 2017

We have previously shown that casein kinase 2 (CK2) negatively regulates dopamine D1 and adenosine A2Areceptor signaling in the striatum. Ablation of CK2 in D1 receptor-positive striatal neurons caused enhanced locomotion and exploration at baseline, whereas CK2 ablation in D2 receptor-positive neurons caused increased locomotion after treatment with A2Aantagonist, caffeine. Because both, D1 and A2Areceptors, play major roles in the cellular responses tol-DOPA in the striatum, these findings prompted us to examine the impact of CK2 ablation on the effects ofl-DOPA treatment in the unilateral 6-OHDA lesioned mouse model of Parkinson's disease. We report here that knock-out of CK2 in striatonigral neurons reduces the severity ofl-DOPA-induced dyskinesia (LID), a finding that correlates with lowered pERK but unchanged pPKA substrate levels in D1 medium spiny neurons as well as in cholinergic interneurons. In contrast, lack of CK2 in striatopallidal neurons enhances LID and ERK phosphorylation. Coadministration of caffeine with a low dose ofl-DOPA reduces dyskinesia in animals with striatopallidal knock-out to wild-type levels, suggesting a dependence on adenosine receptor activity. We also detect reduced Golflevels in the striatonigral but not in the striatopallidal knock-out in response tol-DOPA treatment.

Our work shows, in a rodent model of PD, that treatment-induced dyskinesia and striatal ERK activation are bidirectionally modulated by ablating CK2 in D1- or D2-positive projection neurons, in male and female mice. The results reveal that CK2 regulates signaling events critical to LID in each of the two main populations of striatal neurons.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTTo date,l-DOPA is the most effective treatment for PD. Over time, however, its efficacy decreases, and side effects includingl-DOPA-induced dyskinesia (LID) increase, affecting up to 78% of patients within 10 years of therapy (Hauser et al., 2007). It is understood that supersensitivity of the striatonigral pathway underlies LID, however, D2 agonists were also shown to induce LID (Bezard et al., 2001; Delfino et al., 2004). Our work implicates a novel player in the expression of LID, the kinase CK2: knock-out of CK2 in striatonigral and striatopallidal neurons has opposing effects on LID. The bidirectional modulation of dyskinesia reveals a central role for CK2 in striatal physiology and indicates that both pathways contribute to LID.
Glial Draper Rescues Aβ Toxicity in aDrosophilaModel of Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Ray Arpita , Speese Sean D. , Logan Mary A.
Published: December 2017

Pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) include amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and reactive gliosis. Glial cells offer protection against AD by engulfing extracellular Aβ peptides, but the repertoire of molecules required for glial recognition and destruction of Aβ are still unclear. Here, we show that the highly conserved glial engulfment receptor Draper/MEGF10 provides neuroprotection in an AD model ofDrosophila(both sexes). Neuronal expression of human Aβ42arcin adult flies results in robust Aβ accumulation, neurodegeneration, locomotor dysfunction, and reduced lifespan. Notably, all of these phenotypes are more severe indrapermutant animals, whereas enhanced expression of glial Draper reverses Aβ accumulation, as well as behavioral phenotypes. We also show that the signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat92E), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/AP-1 signaling, and expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (Mmp1) are activated downstream of Draper in glia in response to Aβ42arcexposure. Furthermore, Aβ42-induced upregulation of the phagolysosomal markers Atg8 and p62 was notably reduced indrapermutant flies. Based on our findings, we propose that glia clear neurotoxic Aβ peptides in the AD modelDrosophilabrain through a Draper/STAT92E/JNK cascade that may be coupled to protein degradation pathways such as autophagy or more traditional phagolysosomal destruction methods.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTAlzheimer's disease (AD) and similar dementias are common incurable neurodegenerative disorders in the aging population. As the primary immune responders in the brain, glial cells are implicated as key players in the onset and progression of AD and related disorders. Here we show that the glial engulfment receptor Draper is protective in aDrosophilamodel of AD, reducing levels of amyloid β (Aβ) peptides, reversing locomotor defects, and extending lifespan. We further show that protein degradation pathways are induced downstream of Draper in AD model flies, supporting a model in which glia engulf and destroy Aβ peptides to reduce amyloid-associated toxicity.
Sleep Deprivation Promotes Habitual Control over Goal-Directed Control: Behavioral and Neuroimaging Evidence
Authors: Chen Jie , Liang Jie , Lin Xiao , Zhang Yang , Zhang Yan , Lu Lin , Shi Jie
Published: December 2017

Sleep is one of the most fundamental processes of life, playing an important role in the regulation of brain function. The long-term lack of sleep can cause memory impairments, declines in learning ability, and executive dysfunction. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of sleep deprivation on instrumental learning behavior, particularly goal-directed and habitual actions in humans, and investigated the underlying neural mechanisms. Healthy college students of either gender were enrolled and randomly divided into sleep deprivation group and sleep control group. fMRI data were collected. We found that one night of sleep deprivation led to greater responsiveness to stimuli that were associated with devalued outcomes in the slips-of-action test, indicating a deficit in the formation of goal-directed control and an overreliance on habits. Furthermore, sleep deprivation had no effect on the expression of acquired goal-directed action. The level of goal-directed action after sleep deprivation was positively correlated with baseline working memory capacity. The neuroimaging data indicated that goal-directed learning mainly recruited the ventromedial PFC (vmPFC), the activation of which was less pronounced during goal-directed learning after sleep deprivation. Activation of the vmPFC during goal-directed learning during training was positively correlated with the level of goal-directed action performance. The present study suggests that people rely predominantly on habits at the expense of goal-directed control after sleep deprivation, and this process involves the vmPFC. These results contribute to a better understanding of the effects of sleep loss on decision-making.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTUnderstanding the cognitive consequences of sleep deprivation has become extremely important over the past half century, given the continued decline in sleep duration in industrialized societies. Our results provide novel evidence that goal-directed action may be particularly vulnerable to sleep loss, and the brain mechanism underlying this effect was explored. Elucidation of the effects of sleep deprivation on decision-making will deepen our understanding of the function of sleep, emphasizing the role of sleep in cognitive impairments and mental health.
Transient Hypoxemia Chronically Disrupts Maturation of Preterm Fetal Ovine Subplate Neuron Arborization and Activity
Authors: McClendon Evelyn , Shaver Daniel C. , Degener-O'Brien Kiera , Gong Xi , Nguyen Thuan , Hoerder-Suabedissen Anna , Molnár Zoltán , Mohr Claudia , Richardson Ben D. , Rossi David J. , Back Stephen A.
Published: December 2017

Preterm infants are at risk for a broad spectrum of neurobehavioral disabilities associated with diffuse disturbances in cortical growth and development. During brain development, subplate neurons (SPNs) are a largely transient population that serves a critical role to establish functional cortical circuits. By dynamically integrating into developing cortical circuits, they assist in consolidation of intracortical and extracortical circuits. Although SPNs reside in close proximity to cerebral white matter, which is particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress, the susceptibility of SPNs remains controversial. We determined SPN responses to two common insults to the preterm brain: hypoxia-ischemia and hypoxia. We used a preterm fetal sheep model using both sexes that reproduces the spectrum of human cerebral injury and abnormal cortical growth. Unlike oligodendrocyte progenitors, SPNs displayed pronounced resistance to early or delayed cell death from hypoxia or hypoxia-ischemia. We thus explored an alternative hypothesis that these insults alter the maturational trajectory of SPNs. We used DiOlistic labeling to visualize the dendrites of SPNs selectively labeled for complexin-3. SPNs displayed reduced basal dendritic arbor complexity that was accompanied by chronic disturbances in SPN excitability and synaptic activity. SPN dysmaturation was significantly associated with the level of fetal hypoxemia and metabolic stress. Hence, despite the resistance of SPNs to insults that trigger white matter injury, transient hypoxemia disrupted SPN arborization and functional maturation during a critical window in cortical development. Strategies directed at limiting the duration or severity of hypoxemia during brain development may mitigate disturbances in cerebral growth and maturation related to SPN dysmaturation.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTThe human preterm brain commonly sustains blood flow and oxygenation disturbances that impair cerebral cortex growth and cause life-long cognitive and learning disabilities. We investigated the fate of subplate neurons (SPNs), which are a master regulator of brain development that plays critical roles in establishing cortical connections to other brain regions. We used a preterm fetal sheep model that reproduces key features of brain injury in human preterm survivors. We analyzed the responses of fetal SPNs to transient disturbances in fetal oxygenation. We discovered that SPNs are surprisingly resistant to cell death from low oxygen states but acquire chronic structural and functional changes that suggest new strategies to prevent learning problems in children and adults that survive preterm birth.
Familiar But Unexpected: Effects of Sound Context Statistics on Auditory Responses in the Songbird Forebrain
Authors: Lu Kai , Vicario David S.
Published: December 2017

Rapid discrimination of salient acoustic signals in the noisy natural environment may depend, not only on specific stimulus features, but also on previous experience that generates expectations about upcoming events. We studied the neural correlates of expectation in the songbird forebrain by using natural vocalizations as stimuli and manipulating the category and familiarity of context sounds. In our paradigm, we recorded bilaterally from auditory neurons in awake adult male zebra finches with multiple microelectrodes during repeated playback of a conspecific song, followed by further playback of this test song in different interleaved sequences with other conspecific or heterospecific songs. Significant enhancement in the auditory response to the test song was seen when its acoustic features differed from the statistical distribution of context song features, but not when it shared the same distribution. Enhancement was also seen when the time of occurrence of the test song was uncertain. These results show that auditory forebrain responses in awake animals in the passive hearing state are modulated dynamically by previous auditory experience and imply that the auditory system can identify the category of a sound based on the global features of the acoustic context. Furthermore, this probability-dependent enhancement in responses to surprising stimuli is independent of stimulus-specific adaptation, which tracks familiarity, suggesting that the two processes could coexist in auditory processing. These findings establish the songbird as a model system for studying these phenomena and contribute to our understanding of statistical learning and the origin of human ERP phenomena to unexpected stimuli.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTTraditional auditory neurophysiology has mapped acoustic features of sounds to the response properties of neurons; however, growing evidence suggests that neurons can also encode the probability of sounds. We recorded responses of songbird auditory neurons in a novel paradigm that presented a familiar test stimulus in a sequence with similar or dissimilar sounds. The responses encode, not only stimulus familiarity, but also the expectation for a class of sounds based on the recent statistics of varying sounds in the acoustic context. Our approach thus provides a model system that uses a controlled stimulus paradigm to understand the mechanisms by which top-down processes (expectation and memory) and bottom-up processes (based on stimulus features) interact in sensory coding.
Genetic influence on the associations between IGF-I and glucose metabolism in a cohort of elderly twins
Authors: Jensen Rikke Beck , Thankamony Ajay , Holst Klaus K , Janssen Joseph A M J L , Juul Anders , Dunger David , Poulsen Pernille , Scheike Thomas
Published: December 2017

Objective

IGF-I may be a marker of later metabolic and cardiovascular disease. The interactions between IGF-I and glucose metabolism are multifactorial, and there is potential confounding from several secondary effects. In this study, we examined the interaction between IGF-I and glucose metabolism in a large cohort of clinically well-characterized elderly twins.

Design

A total of 303 twin pairs of the same gender (606 twins) were included in the study; 125 monozygotic and 178 dizygotic twin pairs.

Methods

A clinical examination including a standard oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and anthropometric measurements was performed.

Results

The heritability estimates were high for IGF-I and IGFBP-3 (h2: 0.65 (95% CI: 0.55–0.74) and 0.71 (0.48–0.94), respectively) and for insulin secretion (h2 = 0.56, P < 0.0001), whereas the heritability estimates for insulin sensitivity were low (h2 = 0.14, P = 0.11). In a multiple regression analysis (adjusting for age, gender and twin status), there was a negative association between IGF-I and insulin sensitivity (B: −0.13, SE 0.03, P < 0.0001) and IGF-I and disposition index (B: −0.05, SE 0.02, P < 0.001) in the entire cohort of 606 twins. The associations between IGF-I and both DI and HOMA-S did not differ between the DZ and MZ twins. Forty-five twin pairs were discordant for T2D, but the discordant twins had similar concentrations of IGF-I or IGFBP-3.

Conclusions

There was a high heritability for IGF-I and IGFBP-3, but a low heritability for insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity in a group of elderly twins. In addition, we found a strong negative relationship between IGF-I and insulin sensitivity, which did not seem to be strongly genetically determined.
Writing Significant Scholarship, Helping Others, and Making an Impact in Your Field: Lessons from a Senior Scholar
Authors: Molina Natalia
Published: December 2017

George J. Sánchez has modeled a new paradigm in his work with the almost one hundred undergraduate and graduate students he has mentored over the years. This article discusses the lessons I have learned from his scholarship and career over the years, lessons that I now share with my own students. In particular, his example challenges us to build and strengthen relationships with communities outside the academy, broaden our definitions of scholarship, and mobilize the complex power of storytelling in our research.
Becoming Mexican American: An Empowering Exemplar of Social and Cultural History
Authors: Macías Anthony
Published: December 2017

I am honored to evaluate George Sánchez’s groundbreaking, meticulously researched monograph Becoming Mexican American: Ethnicity, Culture, and Identity in Chicano Los Angeles, 1900–1945. No matter how many years pass, I will always consider myself George’s grateful student, just as I will always be a humble student of history. Accordingly, this essay mixes the personal and professional as it illustrates the methodological, theoretical, and historiographical impact of Becoming Mexican American on my own research and on Chicana/Chicano history, as well as the importance of Sánchez’s other scholarship and his mentorship.
Cayuga Chief Deskaheh on Advancement and Assimilation
Authors: Deskaheh Cayuga Chief
Published: December 2017

None
Twenty-Five Years after Sa-I-Gu: Multiracial Politics in Times of Crisis
Authors: Chang Jeff , HoSang Daniel Martinez , Jung Soya , Reddy Chandan , Tom Alex
Published: December 2017

We chose to frame this conversation in terms of crisis: not only the state of permanent crisis created by racial capitalism and settler colonialism but also specific flashpoints like Sa-I-Gu [the Korean term for the April 1992 uprising in Los Angeles after the acquittal of the police officers involved in the Rodney King beating]. We want to look at the conditions surrounding these flashpoints and the responses to them that then shaped race consciousness and politics subsequently. Today we have no shortage of crisis, no shortage of flashpoints. And yet there is hope. Perhaps more than at any other time in my lifetime, there are opportunities to shift mass culture, at the very least to popularize and normalize a slightly more critical consciousness. So now I want to turn to my friends here to talk about crisis and multiracial politics. We’ll start with Sa-I-Gu and work forward to this moment and also to future possibilities.
Robert Coleman-Senghor, 1940–2011
Authors: Hester Williams Kim D. , Moten Fred
Published: December 2017

Robert Coleman-Senghor, Bob, was an intellectual giant. A maverick. An iconoclast. This was, in fact, not fully acknowledged—or respected—until after his death. Bob lived and breathed the life of the mind, every day. He loved education. He loved the university. He loved attaining and exchanging knowledge. He loved demonstrating his facility to cross fields and disciplines. There wasn’t a reference, an allusion, a classic or contemporary literary text, or a theory that you could ask him about with which he was not conversant. Yet during his lifetime, as so many faculty of color have experienced, the university, a place he loved to occupy, did not treat Bob kindly. Bob felt and experienced deeply his marginalization as a minoritized subject dogged by the university’s contradictions. Nonetheless, he was widely known for mastering these dictates of Western culture and society and using his mastery to confront and expose the university’s masked hegemony and circumscribed democracy. Bob insisted on making space for himself and other minoritized university subjects. He never backed down. He never wavered. He endured inside what Fred Moten describes as a space “always in the break, always the supplement of the general intellect and its source.”
Priming Effect Induced by the Use of Different Fertilizers on Soil Functional Diversity
Authors: ONICA Bogdan Mihai , VIDICAN Roxana , SANDOR Valentina , BRAD Traian , SANDOR Mignon
Published: December 2017

Agricultural practices, such as the use of fertilizers, can change the structure and function of soil microbial community. Monitoring and assessing the soil microbiota and its dynamics related to different factors can be a powerful tool for understanding basic and applied ecological contexts. The main objective of this paper was to assess the changes of carbon turnover rate and the microbial metabolic activity, when different types of fertilizers were used, process called priming effect. A microcosm experiment was designed and performed under controlled temperature and humidity and the soil samples were analyzed using the MicroResp technique. Results show that the integration in soil of different carbon sources, such as green manure, can lead to a positive priming effect and integration of mineral fertilizers can lead to negative priming effect. The carbon sources with the highest respiratory activity were α-ketoglutaric acid, malic acid, oxalic acid, citric acid, while the lowest respiratory activity was obtained in case of arginine.
Study Regarding the Efficacy of Unconventional Treatment Products Against the Main Wheat Kernels Pathogens
Authors: MICLEA Raluca , SUCIU Loredana , PUIA Carmen
Published: December 2017

The raising of agriculture to European Union standards requires adaptation of agricultural production to quality standards that meet the demands and exigencies of consumers by obtaining healthy crops that fit into the rigors of food security. The biological material used was constituted of wheat kernels from three varieties cultivated at ARDS Turda. The biological control of wheat pathogens can be successfully achieved, in vitro, with plant extracts, and the maximum effect of this bioproducts was achieved in the case of the variants treated with, tee tree essential oil, garlic, arnica, Hypericum perforatum and propolis.
Monitoring of Bee Colonies’ Activity During the Major Gatherings in 2017
Authors: PĂTRUICĂ Silvia , DEZMIREAN Daniel Severus , BURA Marian , JURCOANE Robert , SPOREA Alex
Published: December 2017

The assessment of the meteorological factors, in direct correlation with the nectar release and honey production, helps beekeepers with the organization of the technological activities within the apiary (determination of the pastoral schedule, supplementary feedings, reproduction of bee colonies, honey harvest, etc.). The study was carried out between 14th of April and 20th of July 2017, on 20 Apis mellifera carpatica bee colonies, maintained in multi-layer and Dadant beehives. The bee colonies were transported in field for rape, acacia and sunflower gathering and monitored with the help of the BeeWatch Professional device. The rape and acacia gatherings were negatively influenced by low temperatures and heavy rainfall, which impeded the capitalization of the melliferous potential. The bee colonies gathered only 5 kg rape honey and 3.9 kg acacia honey/bee colony/period. As regards the sunflower, the weather conditions were optimal for gathering, and the bee colonies gathered the supplies necessary for winter and also 5 kg honey extra. The honey production obtained by the bee colonies studied was not influenced by the beehive type; it was strongly influenced by the environmental factors, temperature and humidity.
Cytotoxic Effect of Chitosan-Gold Nanoparticles on Two Cell Lines in Culture
Authors: ZĂHAN Marius , MUŢOIU Ana Maria , OLENIC Liliana , MICLEA Ileana , CRISTE Adriana , MICLEA Vasile
Published: December 2017

Among metallic nanoparticles gold possess several unique properties. It has been argued that AuNPs have significant toxicity both in vitro and in vivo but that coating may partially prevent harmful effects. Chitosan is a natural polysaccharide derivative of chitin known to have immunoenhancing effects, antitumor, antifungal and antimicrobial activities. The aim of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic effect of chitosan-AuNPs on C26 (murine colon carcinoma) and HeLa (human cervix carcinoma) cell lines. C26 and HeLa cells were exposed to 10 and 60 nm sized chitosan-AuNPs at five different concentrations (5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 μg/ml). After 24 h of incubation, cytotoxicity was assessed by the MTT colorimetric method and IC50 values were calculated. In C26 cells 60 nm particles were more toxic than 10 nm particles. On the other hand in HeLa cells the situation was reversed and 10 nm particles had the most harmful effect at a concentration 2.5 times smaller than that of 60 nm particles. Our results could suggest that chitosan-AuNPs have an antiproliferative effect on C26 and HeLa cell lines but that this depends on cell type and is influenced by particle size and concentration.
Metal Concentrations of Red Wines in Southeast Romania
Authors: BORA Florin Dumitru , DONICI Alina , POSTOLACHE Elena , CIUBUCĂ Aurel , ENACHE Viorica , TABARANU Gabriel , BÎRLIGA Nicolaie , RACZ Ionut , BUNEA Claudiu Ioan
Published: December 2017

Daily consumption, wine contributes to the requirements of essential elements, such as Ca, Fe, Mn, Mo, Co, Cr, K, Ni, Se and Zn for humans. However, the presence of significant amount of heavy metal in wine may harm the health of consumers. The present work is aimed at establishing the heavy metal content in red wines from Dealu Bujorului vineyard using ICP-MS method for the determination of metals content. In this study 3 red wines obtained from ‘Băbească neagră’, ‘Negru Aromat’ and ‘Burgund Mare’ cultivars were investigated. The wine samples were obtained from micro-wine production under conditions of 2014, 2015, 2016 from Dealu Bujorului vineyard. The determination of 13 elements was performed with ICP-MS. The high level of Ca (64.81-62.49 mg/L), Mg (132.61-101.44 mg/L) and Fe were observed in the wine samples analysed. Heavy metals like As, Cd, U, Hg and Pb was found below acceptable limits. Concentration of Na (1 mg/L), Cu (1 mg/L), As (0.2 mg/L), Cd (0.01 mg/L), Zn (5 mg/L) and Pb (0.15 mg/L) metals in analysed wine samples were under Maximum Permissible Limits (MPL), respectively as published by the Organization of Vine and Wine. Calcium and magnesium were the most abundant elements in all investigated wine samples. Concentration of Na (1 mg/L), Cu (1 mg/L), As (0.2 mg/L), Cd (0.01 mg/L), Zn (5 mg/L) and Pb (0.15 mg/L) in analysed wine samples were under Maximum Permissible Limits (MPL), respectively as published by the Organization of Vine and Wine.
Influence of the Growing Conditions in the Content of Vitamin C in Diplotaxis erucoides
Authors: GUIJARRO-REAL Carla , RODRÍGUEZ-BURRUEZO Adrián , PROHENS Jaime , ADALID-MARTÍNEZ Ana M. , FITA Ana
Published: December 2017

Diplotaxis erucoides is an edible plant with potential for marketing. Here, we analysed the influence of the growing conditions in this species, D. tenuifolia and Eruca sativa, and studied the relation among the ascorbic (AA) and dehydroascorbic (DHA) acid forms. Plants were grown in the late winter-spring season under two conditions, greenhouse and field. The contents in AA, DHA and vitamin C (VC) were analysed by HPLC. The content of VC and AA were, in general, remarkable higher in the plants grown in the field. On the other hand, the mean percentage of DHA was less than 11%, being in this case higher for plants grown in the greenhouse. Thus, growing this potential crop in the field seems a better option in order to increase the content in VC, being AA the main form present at the moment of gathering.
Morpho-Productive and Chemical Composition of Local and Foreign Sweet Corn Hybrids Grown in the Conditions of Transylvania Plateau
Authors: PĂCURAR Luana , APAHIDEAN Maria , HAŞ Voichiţa , APAHIDEAN Alexandru Ioan
Published: December 2017

Sweet corn (Zea mays L.) belongs to the Gramineae family, var. rugosa (Bonof) convar. Saccharate (Sturt.) and can be distinguished from normal corn by presence of one or more mutant genes that affect carbohydrate metabolism in endosperm. Purpose of this research is to compare behavior of sweet corn hybrids created at SCDA Turda, but also foreign hybrids, in terms of quality elements and chemical composition, in conditions of Transylvania plateau, in two localities: Turda and Viişoara. As biological material following domestic sweet corn hybrids were chosen: ‘Prima’, ‘Estival’, ‘Deliciul verii’, ‘Dulcin’, ‘Delicios’, ‘Estival M’ and foreign hybrid ‘Jubilee’. These hybrids were also analyzed in terms of chemical composition. Weight of ‘Estival’ hybrid has the best behavior in both localities; as regards to cobs length, ‘Delicios’ hybrid has registered increases very significant positive, differences between plant height in the two localities confirm significant influence of environment on formation of this important typical qualitative characteristics, highest performances in terms of β-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin content, are recorded by ‘Jubilee’ in both localities, ‘Deliciul Verii’ hybrid records significant value for lutein content, also recording an important addition of carbohydrates in Turda, ‘Prima’ and ‘Estival’ hybrids recorded highest values of sucrose in both localities.
Using Photogrammetric UAV Measurements as Support for Classical Topographical Measurements in Order to Obtain the Topographic Plan for Urban Areas
Authors: SUBA Elemer Emanuel , SĂLĂGEAN Tudor , POP Ioana , MATEI Florica , DEAK Jutka , COROIAN Iulia , FICIOR Diana
Published: December 2017

This article aims to highlight the benefits of UAV photogrammetric measurements in addition to classical ones. It will also deal with the processing and integration of the point cloud, respectively the digital elevation model in topo-cadastral works. The main purpose of this paper is to compare the results obtained using the UAV photogrammetric measurements with the results obtained by classical methods. It will briefly present the classical measurements made with the total station. In the present project, the closed-circuit traverse and the supported on the endings traverse were made using known coordinate points. Determining the coordinates of the points used for the traverses was done by GNSS methods. The area on which the measurements were made is 67942m2 and is covered by 31 determined station points. From these points, 13 were used as ground control points, respectively components of the aero-triangulation network and 17 points were used to control the obtained results by comparing their coordinates obtained by classical methods with those obtained by the UAV photogrammetric method. It was intended that the constraint points of the aero triangulation to be uniformly distributed on the studied surface.
New Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Hybrids Obtained at V.R.D.S. Buzău
Authors: ZAMFIR Bianca , HOZA Dorel , VÎNĂTORU Costel , BRATU Camelia , BARCANU Elena
Published: December 2017

V.R.D.S. Buzău is well known in tomato breeding. Here we present, for the first time in Romania, commercial hybrid seeds. The first batch of hybridization were made up of accession 10 x Bizon, Bulgarian origin hybrid followed by 24-13 accession (obtained by C. Petrescu, USAMV Bucharest) x Temnocrasnei resulting Export II hybrid. Since 1996 was obtained the first tomato hybrid in this station and it was registered in the Official Crop Plants Catalogue and sold as Siriana F1.
Antioxidant Enzyme Activities of some Brassica Species
Authors: SOARE Rodica , DINU Maria , BĂBEANU Cristina , POPESCU Mihaela
Published: December 2017

This paper set out to comparatively study five species: white cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata alba Alef.), red cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata f. rubra Alef.), Kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. Acephala), cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) and broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. cymosa) in order to identify those with high enzymatic and antioxidant activities. The enzymatic activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and soluble peroxidase (POX) as well as the antioxidant activity against 2.2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical cation were determined. Total superoxide dismutase activity was measured spectrophotometrically based on inhibition in the photochemical reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium. Total soluble peroxidase was assayed by measuring the increase in A436 due to the guaiacol oxidation and the catalase activity was assayed through the colorimetric method. The capacity of extracts to scavenge the ABTS radical cation was assessed colorimetric using Trolox as a standard. The obtained results show that studied enzymatic activities and the antioxidant activity against ABTS vary depending on the analyzed species. So, among the studied Brassicaceae species, it emphasize red cabbage with the highest enzymatic activity (CAT 22.54 mM H2O2/min/g and POX 187.2 mM ΔA/1min/1g f.w.) and kale with highest antioxidant activity, of 767 μmol TE/100g f.w. The results of this study recommendintroducing the studied varieties in diet due to the rich antioxidant properties.
Selective Hematological, Biochemical and Pathological Alterations of Newcastle Virus in Naturally Infected and Vaccinated Broilers in Damietta Governorate of Egypt
Authors: EL-MANDRAWY Shefaa A. M. , ISMAIL Shimaa A. A.
Published: December 2017

Newcastle disease (ND) remains one of the most harmful poultry diseases that threaten the poultry industry producers all over the world, thus the present work was planned to investigate the hematological, biochemical, and pathological changes in vaccinated and non-vaccinated broiler chickens naturally infected with ND. The study was conducted on 45 broiler chickens, 35-days-old, from a private farm in Damietta governorate and used in this work, 15 chickens were clinically healthy (Group I), 30 chickens with ND symptoms divided into 15 non-vaccinated (Group II) and the other 15 chickens (Group III) were vaccinated with La Sota strain of NDV with a titre of 106.5 EID50. The disease was diagnosed by hem agglutination test as ND. Blood and tissue samples were collected for clinical-pathological and histopathological examination. The infected broiler chickens showed cyanosis, nasal discharge, edema of eyelid and white pasty diarrhea with nervous manifestations. Furthermore, microcytic hypochromic anemia with leukocytosis was observed. Biochemical studies revealed a significant decrease in serum total proteins, albumin and A/G ratio, with significant increases in serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, and uric acid and glucose concentration in addition to several histological alterations were significantly seen in brain, intestine, liver and kidney of the infected birds. All these disturbances were less severe in the vaccinated group than the non-vaccinated one. In conclusion, La Sota vaccine can increase the bird resistant against Newcastle disease virus induced blood disorders and hepatic-renal insufficiency in broiler chickens.
Investigating the Strongyle Populations, with Emphasis on Strongylus vulgaris (Nematoda: Strongylidae) in Romanian Horses, Based on Larval Cultures
Authors: BUZATU Marius Catalin , MITREA Ioan Liviu , GRUIANU Alexandra , IONITA Mariana
Published: December 2017

This study aimed to investigate the presence of Strongylus vulgaris on different horse establishments in Romania. A total number of 380 horses were enrolled in the study, representing: three stud farms (n=156); four sport/recreational establishments (n=75); and working horses (n=149). Overall, 106 premises/yards from 17 localities in 9 counties from North-Eastern, Center and Southern Romania were visited. Fresh fecal sample were collected from individual horses and were analyzed by a modified McMaster method for fecal strongyle egg per gram counting. Further, larval cultures were performed for morphological identification of S. vulgaris third stage larvae. Overall, of the investigated horses from studs, sport/recreational units, and working horses, 84.60%, 44.0%, and 79.20%, respectively were positive for strongyle. On coprocultures, cyathostomin-larvae were the most prevalent in all horse-establishment types, while S. vulgaris larvae were found only in working horses (12.1%; n=18). Other strongylin species have been identified, namely S. equinus, S. edentatus, Oesophagodontus robustus, and Triodontophorus spp. all in working horses, and Craterostomum acuticaudatum, in both working horses and horses for sport units. However, further studies are planned by using more sensitive technique for monitoring of S. vulgaris in Romanian horse farms.