bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gonad-infecting species of Philometra (Nematoda: Philometridae) from groupers Epinephelus spp. (Osteichthyes: Serranidae) in the Bay of Bengal, India
Authors: Moravec František , Manoharan Jayaraman
Published: September 2014

Based on light and scanning electron microscopical studies, two new and one specifically not identified gonad-infecting species of Philometra Costa, 1845 (Nematoda: Philometridae) are described from the ovary of marine fishes of the genus Epinephelus Bloch (Serranidae, Perciformes) in the Bay of Bengal, off the eastern coast of India: P. indica sp. nov. (male and females) from the honeycomb grouper E. merra Bloch, P. tropica sp. nov. (males and females) from the duskytail grouper E. bleekeri (Vaillant) and Philometra sp. (only females) from the cloudy grouper E. erythrurus (Valenciennes). Philometra indica is mainly characterized by the length of spicules 192–195 μm and the gubernaculum 84 μm, the distal tip of the gubernaculum without a dorsal protuberance, and by the presence of five pairs of caudal papillae. Philometra tropica is mainly characterized by the spicules conspicuously ventrally distended at their posterior halves, the distal tip of the gubernaculum with a dorsal protuberance, and the presence of three pairs of caudal papillae.
New species and records of the mite genus Prolistrophorus (Acariformes: Listrophoridae) from rodents of the subfamily Sigmodontinae (Rodentia: Cricetidae)
Authors: Bochkov Andre , Lareschi Marcela , Barreto Mauricio
Published: September 2014

Six fur-mite species of the genus Prolistrophorus Fain, 1970 (Acariformes: Listrophoridae) were recorded from Central and South American rodents of the subfamily Sigmodontinae (Rodentia: Cricetidae). Among them, Prolistrophorus (Aprolistrophorus) parabidentatus sp. nov. from Akodon azarae from Argentina and Prolistrophorus (Aprolistrophorus) tylomys sp. nov. from Tylomys nudicaudus from Guatemala are described as new for science. New hosts are recorded for the following species: Prolistrophorus (Prolistrophorus) grassii (Radford, 1954) from Zygodontomys brevicauda from Colombia, P. (P.) frontalis (Hirst, 1921) from Oligoryzomys sp. from Argentina, P. (P.) argentinus (Hirst, 1921) from Melanomys caliginosus, Akodon affinis from Colombia and Scapteromys aquaticus from Argentina, Prolistrophorus (Beprolistrophorus) hirstianus Fain, 1973 from Scapteromys aquaticus from Argentina.
Genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii isolates from chickens in India by GRA6 gene sequence analysis
Authors: Biradar Shantaveer , Saravanan Buddhi , Tewari Anup , Sreekumar Chirukandoth , Sankar Muthu , Sudhakar Naduvanahalli
Published: September 2014

PCR-RFLP and nucleotide sequencing based genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii Indian isolates (Izatnagar and Chennai isolates and Chennai clone) vis-a vis RH-IVRI strain was conducted by targeting GRA6 as genetic marker. The 791 bp GRA6 product was PCR amplified from the genomic DNA of different T. gondii Indian isolates, including the RH-IVRI strain. Tru1I restriction endonuclease based PCR-RFLP of GRA6 sequence produced polymorphic digestion pattern that discriminated the virulent RH-IVRI strain (as type I) from the moderately virulent local isolates as type III. The PCR amplicon of T. gondii GRA6 from RH-IVRI strain as well as from the local isolates were cloned in cloning vector and custom sequenced. The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of T. gondii isolates were aligned with that of the type I, II and III strains (RH, BEVERLEY, ME49, C56, TONT and NED) available in public domain and analyzed in silico using MEGA version 4.0 software. Nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of GRA6 marker from the Indian isolates revealed a close genetic relationship with type III strains of T. gondii. Further, detection of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at positions 162 and 171 of the GRA6 marker, established the lineage of Indian isolates as type III. This is the first report on characterization of T. gondii lineage as type III in selective chicken population of India based on PCR-RFLP and sequence analysis of GRA6 gene.
New species of Gorgoderina (Digenea; Gorgoderidae) and other helminths in Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis (Anura: Dicroglossidae) from Dehradun, (Uttarakhand), India
Authors: Bursey Charles , Rizvi Anjum , Maity Pallab
Published: September 2014

Gorgoderina spinosa sp. nov. (Digenea, Gorgoderidae) from the bladder of the water skipper, Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis (Anura, Dicroglossidae), from Dehradun, India is described and illustrated. Gorgoderina spinosa is the 6th Indian species assigned to the genus and is separated from its congeners based upon the morphology of vitelline glands and the presence of a spinose integument. Two additional digenean species, Diplodiscus amphichrus and Ganeo tigrinus, and 3 nematode species, Cosmocerca kalesari, Gendria chauhani, and unidentified larvae were found. Diplodiscus amphichrus, Ganeo tigrinus, Cosmocerca kalesari, and Gendria chauhani have previously been reported to infect Indian individuals of Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis.
Supplementary studies on Myxobolus tsangwuensis Chen, 1954 (Myxozoa: Myxosporea) infecting the gills of common carp Cyprinus carpio (L.): molecular and histological data
Authors: Huang Mingjun , Liu Yang , Jia Luo , Zhai Yanhua , Deng Qiong , Gu Zemao
Published: September 2014

Myxobolus tsangwuensis Chen, 1954 is a common parasite infecting the gills of common carp Cyprinus carpio (L.). It was described simply in the original description and its molecular data was absent, which makes the accurate diagnosis challenging. Here we supplemented its description based on the morphological, histological and molecular data. It was characterized by the presence of small round or ellipsoidal plasmodia in the gills of host and histology showed the plasmodia developed in the capillary network of the gill lamella. Mature spores of M. tsangwuensis were ellipsodal in frontal view and lemon shaped in lateral view, averaging 11.2 ± 0.7 (10.2–12.5) μm × 9.3 ± 0.3 (8.5–10.0) μm × 6.2 ± 0.4 (5.5–7.0) μm. Spores valves were symmetrical and smooth. Occasionally, a small intercapsular appendix was observed. Two polar capsules were pyriform with different sizes, measuring 5.0 ± 0.2 (4.4–5.3) μm × 3.1 ± 0.1 (2.9–3.5) μm and 3.9 ± 0.2 (3.4–4.3) μm × 2.5 ± 0.2 (2.0–2.8) μm, respectively. Polar filaments coiled five to seven turns in large polar capsule and three to four turns in the small polar capsule. Some spores were surrounded by the mucous envelope that was not recorded in the original description. Molecular analysis revealed that the present SSU rDNA sequences did not match any available sequences in GenBank and phylogenetic analysis showed M. tsangwuensis was sister to M. basilamellaris and M. musseliusae.
Total mercury and selenium concentrations in Sarpa salpa and Balistes capriscus and in their respective Digenean endoparasites Robphildollfusium fractum and Neoapocreadium chabaudi from Tunisia
Authors: Torres Jordi , Kacem Hichem , Eira Catarina , Neifar Lassad , Miquel Jordi
Published: September 2014

The present study reports the levels of mercury and selenium in Sarpa salpa and Balistes capriscus collected along the coast of Mahdia and Sfax (Tunisia). The systems constituted by S. salpa and Robphildollfusium fractum and by B. capriscus and Neoapocreadium chabaudi were tested as potential bioindicators to monitor environmental Hg pollution in marine ecosystems. Mercury and selenium concentrations were assessed in kidney, liver and muscle of 51 S. salpa and of 45 B. capriscus as well as in their respective endoparasites R. fractum and N. chabaudi. The Se:Hg molar ratios were evaluated for both species across the study areas. Surprisingly, the Se:Hg molar ratio in B. capriscus muscle from Mahdia is significantly lower than in Sfax. Our results indicate that some parasites may also be implicated in the amount of Se and Hg available in tissues and therefore contribute to oscillations of the Se:Hg molar ratios. In the model involving the carnivorous species (B. capriscus), the 5.1-times higher levels of mercury in N. chabaudi than in B. capriscus muscle in Sfax enable this fluke to be a sensitive biomonitoring tool for Hg pollution. The present results confirm that the habitual consumption of S. salpa should not suppose any potential health risk for Tunisian people. On the other hand, the consumption of B. capriscus may be of concern and further monitoring is advisable, since the Hg average concentration in Mahdia was above the maximum allowed Hg concentration in the edible portion of fish fixed by the European Union.
New species of Bakeria (Nematoda; Strongylida; Molineidae), new species of Falcaustra (Nematoda; Ascaridida; Kathlaniidae) and other helminths in Cnemaspis mcguirei (Sauria; Gekkonidae) from Peninsular Malaysia
Authors: Bursey Charles , Goldberg Stephen , Grismer L.
Published: September 2014

Two new nematode species, Bakeria schadi sp. nov. and Falcaustra malaysiaia sp. nov. from the gastrointestinal tract of McGuire’s rock gecko, Cnemaspis mcguirei (Sauria: Gekkonidae) collected in Peninsular Malaysia are described. The two species now assigned to Bakeria are separated on the bases of male bursa type and location of the excretory pore: type II in B. schadi sp. nov. and type I in B. bakeri; location of excretory pore, anterior to nerve ring in B. schadi sp. nov. and posterior to nerve ring in B. bakeri. Falcaustra malaysiaia sp. nov. is most similar to F. chabaudi, F. concinnae, F. condorcanquii, F. barbi, F. dubia, and F. tchadi in that these 7 species possess 1 pseudosucker, 1 median papilla plus 10 pairs caudal papillae, and spicules with lengths between 1 and 2 mm. F. barbi and F. tchadi lack adcloacal papillae; the remaining 5 species possess 1 pair of adcloacal papillae. Falcaustra chabaudi is known from Nearctic salamanders; F. concinnae from Nearctic turtles; F. condorcanquii from Neotropical frogs, F. dubia from Oriental frogs, and F. malaysiaia sp. nov. from Oriental geckos. Two additional species of Nematoda were found, Cosmocerca ornata and Meteterakis singaporensis. Cnemaspis mcguirei represents a new host record for Cosmocerca ornata and Meteterakis singaporensis.
The genus Rhadinorhynchus (Acanthocephala: Rhadinorhynchidae) from marine fish in Australia with the description of four new species
Authors: Smales Lesley
Published: September 2014

Species of Rhadinorhynchus, collected from Australian waters were examined. Specimens of Rhadinorhynchus from Scorpis aequipinnis, Girella tricuspidata, Johnius australis and Grammatobothus polyophthalmus could not be identified further. New host and locality records are reported for R. bicircumspinus found in Trachurus declivis and Rexea solandri from the east coast of Tasmania; R. carangis found in Trachinotus bailonii and T. copperingi from Queensland and Western Australian coasts; R. polynemi from Queensland; R. seriolae found in Seriola lalandi from the east coast of Australia. An immature female specimen of R. johnstoni provided no additional data on the species. Rhadinorhynchus biformis sp. nov., described from Pelates quadrilineatus and a trumpeter from Moreton Bay, Queensland differs from all its congeners in the pattern of the trunk spines, a single field of numerous small spines ventro-laterally, overlapping with irregular rows and circles of larger spines extending posteriorly. Rhadinorhynchus pichelinae sp. nov. described from Upeneichthys vlamingi from Point Peron, Western Australia differs from all its congeners in having proboscis armature of 10 longitudinal rows of 24–28, usually 26–27 hooks up to 87 long and a single field of 21–24 irregular circles of spines on the anterior trunk, with the posterior circles incomplete dorsally. Rhadinorhynchus polydactyli sp. nov. described from Polydactylus sp. from Moreton Bay is differentiated from all congenerics by the elongated neck of the females and having a proboscis armature of up to 34 hooks in 10 longitudinal rows. Rhadinorhynchus pomatomi sp. nov. found in Pomotomus saltrix differs from its most similar congeners, those without dorsal trunk spines, in having a proboscis armature of 12–15 rows of 20–22 hooks up to 73.5–80.5 long. Rhadinorhynchus bicircumspinus, R. biformis, R. pichelinae, R. polydactyli and R. pomatomi are known only from Australian waters while R. carangis and R. seriolae are also known from Japanese waters, R. johnstoni from the western Pacific and R. polynemi from the Indian coast.
Student Perceptions and Understanding of Client-Therapist Interactions Within the Inpatient Acute Care Environment: Qualitative Study
Authors: Hayward Lorna M. , Greenwood Kristin C. , Nippins Matthew , Canali Alicia
Published: September 2014

Background

Physical therapists practicing in inpatient acute care settings in the United States work in a 21st century health care system that requires professional competence in clinical reasoning and decision making. For doctor of physical therapy (DPT) students, the development of confidence in the patient evaluation and the professional skills necessary for managing the inpatient environment can be challenging.

Objective

The study's purpose was to understand whether the early exposure of students to inpatient settings informed their understanding of the thought processes and actions of experienced clinicians during client interactions.

Design

A qualitative design was used.

Methods

Thirty-three DPT students working in inpatient settings were recruited from 15 unique inpatient hospital (acute care and rehabilitation) facilities with a convenience sampling technique. Reflective data were collected for 1 month with clinician-facilitated discussion boards.

Results

Four themes emerged: environment, communication, evaluation, and client-therapist interaction. The themes informed a conceptual model depicting the observation by DPT students of factors that influenced interactions between clients and experienced clinicians in inpatient settings. Reflection on the what, the how, and the why that informed clinical decisions enabled students to recognize the situated nature of evaluation and treatment approaches.

Limitations

The use of a sample from 1 year of a DPT program at one university reduced the generalizability of the results.

Conclusions

Limited research has examined student perceptions of the interactions of experienced clinicians with clients in inpatient acute care settings. More research is needed to understand the impact of exposing students to the thoughts and actions of therapists working in such settings earlier within DPT curricula.
Framework for Characterizing Truck Traffic Related to Petroleum Well Development and Production in Unconventional Shale Plays
Authors: Reimer Mark , Regehr Jonathan D.
Published: September 2014

Technological developments have stimulated rapid change and growth in North America's petroleum industry. This growth has placed significant demand on local and regional transportation infrastructure. This paper develops and applies an integrated framework for characterizing petroleum-related truck traffic to support the engineering and planning efforts needed to accommodate the growth. The framework draws from standard methodologies used for monitoring truck traffic and modeling freight transport demand and illustrates how these methodologies interrelate through their reliance on common data sources and their mutual goal of characterizing current and future truck traffic. Specific data sources relevant to the petroleum industry are identified within the context of the framework, although the framework is generic and transferable to other jurisdictions and industries with unique truck travel demands. An illustrative application of the framework for the petroleum industry reveals new insights about the industry that enable a better engineering and planning response to its transportation needs. The application examples also demonstrate how data describing exogenous industry factors, activity system variables, and transportation supply variables integrate with data collected by truck traffic monitoring programs to (a) clarify the interpretation of traditional truck traffic monitoring data, (b) provide direction in the design of a monitoring program, and (c) justify adjustments to standard monitoring procedures. However, successful data integration is limited by the difficulty in appropriately fusing quantitative and qualitative data sources, the increased reliance on industry intelligence, and the challenge of representatively observing a dynamic industry.
Generating Reliable Freight Performance Measures with Truck GPS Data
Authors: Liao Chen-Fu
Published: September 2014

Building on previous efforts to study freight mobility and reliability, a truck GPS data analysis methodology was developed to study the freight performance of heavy commercial vehicles along key freight corridors in the Twin Cities metropolitan area in Minnesota. Twelve months of truck GPS data collected in 2012 were obtained from the American Transportation Research Institute. Several performance measures, such as truck mobility, delay, and reliability measures, were derived and statistically analyzed by route, roadway segment, and time of day. The derived performance measures were validated with available benchmark data to ensure data quality. Data quality validation is important particularly in urban areas where satellite reception may be limited and traffic congestion is more common. For data quality verification, average truck speed and hourly volume percentage computed from the truck GPS data were validated with data from weigh-in-motion sensors, loop detectors, and automatic traffic recorders at selected locations. The analysis methodology using truck GPS data offers potential opportunities for freight planners and managers to generate reliable measures in a timely manner. Findings from this research indicate that those measures derived from the truck GPS data can be used in supporting the U.S. Department of Transportation performance measure initiative and truck and freight modeling in metropolitan areas. The performance measures can provide truck-specific information to support regional surface freight planners in identifying freight bottlenecks and infrastructure improvement needs and in developing operational strategies to promote efficient freight movement for the industry.
Optimal Automobile Distribution Model in Multimodal Freight Transportation Networks
Authors: Hei Xiuling , Meng Qiang , Wang Shuaian , Mao Haijun
Published: September 2014

This paper proposes a novel optimal automobile distribution problem for a large automobile manufacturer. The proposed problem concerns the cost-effective distribution of automobiles to vehicle distribution centers and vehicle storage centers in a multimodal freight transportation network including truck, rail, and ship modes by taking into account practical service frequencies and the capacities of ships and trains, multiple batches daily delivery, and demanded delivery time. The problem is formulated as an integer linear programming model, which can be solved efficiently by an optimization solver such as CPLEX. A case study created by the Shanghai Automobile Industry Corporation is carried out to assess the applicability and performance of the model developed in this study.
Analysis of Competitiveness of Freight Tricycle Delivery Services in Urban Areas
Authors: Tipagornwong Chawalit , Figliozzi Miguel
Published: September 2014

This research analyzed the competitiveness of freight tricycles, low-capacity freight delivery vehicles, as compared with diesel vans in urban areas. Freight tricycles, also known as electric-assisted trikes, are low-emission vehicles powered by a combination of human effort and an electric engine. This research developed a cost model that incorporated vehicle ownership and operation models as well as logistics constraints such as time windows, cargo capacity, fuel consumption, and energy use. Unlike previous research efforts, the model was tailored to the unique characteristics of freight tricycles and diesel van deliveries in urban areas. The model was used to analyze the competitiveness of freight tricycles against diesel-powered delivery vans. Cost breakeven points and elasticity for several vehicles and route-related variables were estimated. Results provided new insights on the last-mile delivery characteristics and logistical constraints that could affect tricycle competitiveness. Freight tricycle competitiveness was sensitive to urban policies and design variables such as on-street speed limits and parking policies. Tricycle competitiveness was also greatly affected by drivers’ costs but barely affected by electricity or diesel costs. In contrast with the use of electric trucks, the competitiveness of tricycles was not driven by the value of the vehicles and their use.
Intermodal Transportation Disruption and Reroute Simulation Framework
Authors: Stich Bethany
Published: September 2014

The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act strives to improve the condition and performance of the national freight network and support investment in freight-related surface transportation projects. To address these freight provisions, ways to understand freight movement are being sought. Findings from the project Multimodal Transportation Disruption and Reroute Simulation Framework are discussed. Lessons learned can benefit planners seeking to create the first national inter-modal freight plan. Major components of the study include constructing baseline overviews of identified commodity flow on freight, railroad, and water-borne networks and developing network disruption scenarios occurring in areas of vital transportation infrastructure to simulate disaster impacts on the intermodal flow of goods. A key lesson learned was that effective data management was enhanced by process decomposition and breaking the modeling, simulation, and analysis of disruptions into discrete parts of a multistep effort. The team found that with data limited to isolated commodity groups and industry clusters vital to a regional economy and job base, general economic impacts could be estimated, but findings were limited to comprehensive economic impacts and current or forecast conditions. Key lessons point to significant barriers to the integration of the research solution and transportation and economic planning into either new or improved transportation systems or for its use in the coupled modeling of the system and its response to local or regional disaster events. Challenges arise largely from the system complexity and lack of integration and interactions in developing plans across geographic and governing units leading to different depictions and characterizations of the desired system.
Automated, Data-Driven Performance Regime for Operations Management, Planning, and Control
Authors: Tribone Dominick , Block-Schachter David , Salvucci Frederick P. , Attanucci John , Wilson Nigel H. M.
Published: September 2014

As public transit agencies install new technology systems, these agencies are gaining increasing amounts of data. These data have the potential to change how transit agencies operate by generating better information for decision making. Deriving value from these data and applying it to improve service requires changing the institutional processes that developed when agencies had little reliable information about their systems and customers. This research used the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority as a case study. The research assessed how the agency measured performance and then redesigned and advanced the agency's daily performance reports for rapid transit through a collaborative and iterative process with the operations control center staff. These reports were used to identify poor performance, to implement pilot projects to address the causes of poor performance, and to evaluate the effects of these pilots. Through the case study, this research found that service controllers’ trust and interpretation of performance information determined the impact the information had on operations. The results showed that new data would be most effective in producing service improvements if measurements accurately reflected human experience and were developed in conjunction with their intended users. Developing small pilot projects during this collaborative process would also enable new performance information and results in sustainable service improvements.
Role of Social Media in Communicating Transit Disruptions
Authors: Chan Raymond , Schofer Joseph L.
Published: September 2014

Communication with customers is important during transit service disruptions. Communication technology has changed significantly, and the use of social media has expanded greatly in the past 5 years. A majority of Americans who use the Internet use social media for a significant portion of their days. Public transit agencies can enhance communication with customers through social media, particularly during major service disruptions such as severe weather events. A case study examined the way transit systems in the New York region used one social medium, Twitter, to communicate with customers during the service shutdown associated with Hurricane Sandy, an event that disrupted transit for weeks. As Hurricane Sandy approached and passed through the New York region, three major area transit agencies transmitted more messages on Twitter than during normal periods. These messages described the shutdown, storm damage, and recovery actions of these transit systems. Large increases in followers of transit agency Twitter accounts were observed around the time of Hurricane Sandy, as well as Hurricane Irene and Winter Storm Nemo; this increased activity demonstrated the value of social media for transit agencies during severe weather disruptions. Social media sites, particularly Twitter, allow agencies to transmit more information with more control of content and timing compared with conventional communications channels. Furthermore, customers can communicate back to public transit officials with the same service and provide situational reports and user feedback. Research directions are identified to enhance the understanding of the value and potential in regard to social media for transit agencies.
Epidural spinal cord compression in a patient with blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome
Authors: Rajah Gary , To Chiu Yuen , Sood Sandeep , Ham Steven , Altinok Deniz , Poulik Janet , Haridas Abilash
Published: September 2014

Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome (BRBNS) can present with vascular malformations throughout the body, especially in the gastrointestinal tract. Spinal cord compression from these lesions is rare, particularly in the pediatric population. The authors report a case of BRBNS involving an 18-year-old female patient who presented with back pain and an epidural thoracic mass with cord compression. She underwent an uncomplicated thoracic laminectomy and decompression, with removal of what appeared to be a venous malformation. Postoperatively her pain improved, and imaging revealed resolution of cord compression. Pathological analysis highlighted dilated venous channels with myxoid degeneration in the wall with clot, characteristic of BRBNS. The early age of presentation and location are unique based on the literature search of BRBNS. The present report highlights the multiplicity of venous malformations in BRBNS, and the management of this case.
Syzyguim guineense Extracts Show Antioxidant Activities and Beneficial Activities on Oxidative Stress Induced by Ferric Chloride in the Liver Homogenate
Authors: Pieme Constant , Ngoupayo Joseph , Nkoulou Claude , Moukette Bruno , Nono Borgia , Moor Vicky , Minkande Jacqueline , Ngogang Jeanne
Published: September 2014

The aim of this study was to determine the in vitro antioxidant activity, free radical scavenging property and the beneficial effects of extracts of various parts of Syzygium guineense in reducing oxidative stress damage in the liver. The effects of extracts on free radicals were determined on radicals DPPH, ABTS, NO and OH followed by the antioxidant properties using Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power assay (FRAP) and hosphomolybdenum (PPMB). The phytochemical screening of these extracts was performed by determination of the phenolic content. The oxidative damage inhibition in the liver was determined by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) as well as the activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase. Overall, the bark extract of the ethanol/water or methanol showed the highest radical scavenging activities against DPPH, ABTS and OH radicals compared to the other extracts. This extract also contained the highest phenolic content implying the potential contribution of phenolic compounds towards the antioxidant activities. However, the methanol extract of the root demonstrated the highest protective effects of SOD and CAT against ferric chloride while the hydro-ethanol extract of the leaves exhibited the highest inhibitory effects on lipid peroxidation. These findings suggest that antioxidant properties of S. guineense extracts could be attributed to phenolic compounds revealed by phytochemical studies. Thus, the present results indicate clearly that the extracts of S. guineense possess antioxidant properties and could serve as free radical inhibitors or scavengers, acting possibly as primary antioxidants. The antioxidant properties of the bark extract may thus sustain its various biological activities.
Two-Part Models for Fractional Responses Defined as Ratios of Integers
Authors: Oberhofer Harald , Pfaffermayr Michael
Published: September 2014

This paper discusses two alternative two-part models for fractional response variables that are defined as ratios of integers. The first two-part model assumes a Binomial distribution and known group size. It nests the one-part fractional response model proposed by Papke and Wooldridge (1996) and, thus, allows one to apply Wald, LM and/or LR tests in order to discriminate between the two models. The second model extends the first one by allowing for overdispersion in the data. We demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed two-part models for data on the 401(k) pension plan participation rates used in Papke and Wooldridge (1996).
The Inventory of Carbon Stocks in New Zealand’s Post-1989 Natural Forest for Reporting under the Kyoto Protocol
Authors: Beets Peter , Kimberley Mark , Paul Thomas , Oliver Graeme , Pearce Stephen , Buswell Joanna
Published: September 2014

To meet international greenhouse gas reporting obligations, New Zealand must report on carbon stocks in forests established after 1989 (post-1989 forest). Although predominately comprised of planted forest, post-1989 forest also contains a component of natural vegetation amounting to less than 10% by area. New Zealand undertook a national inventory of this natural stratum of post-1989 forest to provide estimates of carbon stocks and stock change in woody species over the first commitment period (2008–2012) of the Kyoto Protocol. Plots were installed on a 4-km grid, and the basal diameters and heights of trees and shrubs were measured for the first time from November 2012, to March 2013. Carbon stocks in 2012 were calculated using allometric functions developed from biomass samples from each site. Basal disc samples provided data on diameter increment and shrub and tree age annually from 1990 to 2012. These were used to predict carbon stocks per ha for individual plots in 2008 and to provide annual predictions by pool back to 1990. Carbon stocks summed across live and dead biomass pools (excluding soil) averaged 3.04, 16.70 and 28.73 t C/ha in 1990, 2008 and 2012, respectively. The disposition by pool was 2.25, 12.54 and 21.84 t C/ha in aboveground biomass, 0.56, 3.13 and 5.46 t C/ha in belowground biomass (using a root/shoot ratio of 0.25), 0.03, 0.17 and 0.23 t C/ha in deadwood, and 0.18, 0.86 and 1.21 t C/ha in litter in 1990, 2008 and 2012, respectively. In 1990, the woody biomass stock estimate per plot ranged from zero to 40 t C/ha and averaged 3.04 t C/ha across all plots. The methodology used to predict annual carbon stocks required an assumption concerning stem annual mortality. Sensitivity analysis suggested that varying this assumption had only a minor impact on predicted carbon stocks and changes. Plant age varied markedly within and between the natural forest plots, and therefore, the mean age of woody vegetation at each site was obtained by setting a threshold woody biomass carbon stock that needed to be achieved, and vegetation age was calculated as years since the threshold was achieved. This threshold approach facilitated the development of a yield table for predicting carbon (t/ha) as a function of vegetation mean age.
The Relationship between an Invasive Shrub and Soil Moisture: Seasonal Interactions and Spatially Covarying Relations
Authors: He Yuhong
Published: September 2014

Recent studies indicate that positive relationships between invasive plants and soil can contribute to further plant invasions. However, it remains unclear whether these relations remain unchanged throughout the growing season. In this study, spatial sequences of field observations along a transect were used to reveal seasonal interactions and spatially covarying relations between one common invasive shrub (Tartarian Honeysuckle, Lonicera tatarica) and soil moisture in a tall grassland habitat. Statistical analysis over the transect shows that the contrast between soil moisture in shrub and herbaceous patches vary with season and precipitation. Overall, a negatively covarying relationship between shrub and soil moisture (i.e., drier surface soils at shrub microsites) exists during the very early growing period (e.g., May), while in summer a positively covarying phenomenon (i.e., wetter soils under shrubs) is usually evident, but could be weakened or vanish during long precipitation-free periods. If there is sufficient rainfall, surface soil moisture and leaf area index (LAI) often spatially covary with significant spatial oscillations at an invariant scale (which is governed by the shrub spatial pattern and is about 8 m), but their phase relation in space varies with season, consistent with the seasonal variability of the co-varying phenomena between shrub invasion and soil water content. The findings are important for establishing a more complete picture of how shrub invasion affects soil moisture.
Deactivation of 6-Aminocoumarin Intramolecular Charge Transfer Excited State through Hydrogen Bonding
Authors: Krystkowiak Ewa , Dobek Krzysztof , Maciejewski Andrzej
Published: September 2014

This paper presents results of the spectral (absorption and emission) and photophysical study of 6-aminocoumarin (6AC) in various aprotic hydrogen-bond forming solvents. It was established that solvent polarity as well as hydrogen-bonding ability influence solute properties. The hydrogen-bonding interactions between S1-electronic excited solute and solvent molecules were found to facilitate the nonradiative deactivation processes. The energy-gap dependence on radiationless deactivation in aprotic solvents was found to be similar to that in protic solvents.
Recent Progress on Liver Kinase B1 (LKB1): Expression, Regulation, Downstream Signaling and Cancer Suppressive Function
Authors: Gan Ren-You , Li Hua-Bin
Published: September 2014

Liver kinase B1 (LKB1), known as a serine/threonine kinase, has been identified as a critical cancer suppressor in many cancer cells. It is a master upstream kinase of 13 AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-related protein kinases, and possesses versatile biological functions. LKB1 gene is mutated in many cancers, and its protein can form different protein complexes with different cellular localizations in various cell types. The expression of LKB1 can be regulated through epigenetic modification, transcriptional regulation and post-translational modification. LKB1 dowcnstream pathways mainly include AMPK, microtubule affinity regulating kinase (MARK), salt-inducible kinase (SIK), sucrose non-fermenting protein-related kinase (SNRK) and brain selective kinase (BRSK) signalings, etc. This review, therefore, mainly discusses recent studies about the expression, regulation, downstream signaling and cancer suppressive function of LKB1, which can be helpful for better understanding of this molecular and its significance in cancers.
New Uses for Old Drugs: The Tale of Artemisinin Derivatives in the Elimination of Schistosomiasis Japonica in China
Authors: Liu Yi-Xin , Wu Wei , Liang Yue-Jin , Jie Zu-Liang , Wang Hui , Wang Wei , Huang Yi-Xin
Published: September 2014

Artemisinin (qinghaosu), extracted from the Chinese herb Artemisia annua L. in 1972, and its three major derivatives—artemether, artesunate and dihydroartemisinin—were firstly identified as antimalarials and found active against all species of the malaria parasite. Since the early 1980s, artemisinin and its derivatives have been found efficacious against Schistosoma spp., notably larval parasites, and artemisinin derivatives have played a critical role in the prevention and treatment of human schistosomiasis in China. Currently, China is moving towards the progress of schistosomiasis elimination. However, the potential development of praziquantel resistance may pose a great threat to the progress of elimination of schistosomiasis japonica in China. Fortunately, these three major artemisinin derivatives also exhibit actions against adult parasites, and reduced sensitivity to artemether, artesunate and dihydroartemisinin has been detected in praziquantel-resistant S. japonicum. In this review, we describe the application of artemisinin derivatives in the prevention and treatment of schistosomiasis japonica in China, so as to provide tools for the global agenda of schistosomiasis elimination. In addition to antimalarial and antischistosomal actions, they also show activities against other parasites and multiple cancers. Artemisinin derivatives, as old drugs identified firstly as antimalarials, continue to create new stories.
The Plant Decapeptide OSIP108 Can Alleviate Mitochondrial Dysfunction Induced by Cisplatin in Human Cells
Authors: Spincemaille Pieter , Alborzinia Hamed , Dekervel Jeroen , Windmolders Petra , Van Pelt Jos , Cassiman David , Cheneval Olivier , Craik David , Schur Julia , Ott Ingo , Wölfl Stefan , Cammue Bruno , Thevissen Karin
Published: September 2014

We investigated the effect of the Arabidopsis thaliana-derived decapeptide OSIP108 on human cell tolerance to the chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin (Cp), which induces apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction. We found that OSIP108 increases the tolerance of HepG2 cells to Cp and prevents Cp-induced changes in basic cellular metabolism. More specifically, we demonstrate that OSIP108 reduces Cp-induced inhibition of respiration, decreases glycolysis and prevents Cp-uptake in HepG2 cells. Apart from its protective action against Cp in human cells, OSIP108 also increases the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae tolerance to Cp. A limited yeast-based study of OSIP108 analogs showed that cyclization does not severely affect its activity, which was further confirmed in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, the similarity in the activity of the D-stereoisomer (mirror image) form of OSIP108 with the L-stereoisomer suggests that its mode of action does not involve binding to a stereospecific receptor. In addition, as OSIP108 decreases Cp uptake in HepG2 cells and the anti-Cp activity of OSIP108 analogs without free cysteine is reduced, OSIP108 seems to protect against Cp-induced toxicity only partly via complexation. Taken together, our data indicate that OSIP108 and its cyclic derivatives can protect against Cp-induced toxicity and, thus, show potential as treatment options for mitochondrial dysfunction- and apoptosis-related conditions.
The Overarching Influence of the Gut Microbiome on End-Organ Function: The Role of Live Probiotic Cultures
Authors: Vitetta Luis , Manuel Rachel , Zhou Joyce , Linnane Anthony , Hall Sean , Coulson Samantha
Published: September 2014

At the time of birth, humans experience an induced pro-inflammatory beneficial event. The mediators of this encouraged activity, is a fleet of bacteria that assault all mucosal surfaces as well as the skin. Thus initiating effects that eventually provide the infant with immune tissue maturation. These effects occur beneath an emergent immune system surveillance and antigenic tolerance capability radar. Over time, continuous and regulated interactions with environmental as well as commensal microbial, viral, and other antigens lead to an adapted and maintained symbiotic state of tolerance, especially in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) the organ site of the largest microbial biomass. However, the perplexing and much debated surprise has been that all microbes need not be targeted for destruction. The advent of sophisticated genomic techniques has led to microbiome studies that have begun to clarify the critical and important biochemical activities that commensal bacteria provide to ensure continued GIT homeostasis. Until recently, the GIT and its associated micro-biometabolome was a neglected factor in chronic disease development and end organ function. A systematic underestimation has been to undervalue the contribution of a persistent GIT dysbiotic (a gut barrier associated abnormality) state. Dysbiosis provides a plausible clue as to the origin of systemic metabolic disorders encountered in clinical practice that may explain the epidemic of chronic diseases. Here we further build a hypothesis that posits the role that subtle adverse responses by the GIT microbiome may have in chronic diseases. Environmentally/nutritionally/and gut derived triggers can maintain microbiome perturbations that drive an abnormal overload of dysbiosis. Live probiotic cultures with specific metabolic properties may assist the GIT microbiota and reduce the local metabolic dysfunctions. As such the effect may translate to a useful clinical treatment approach for patients diagnosed with a metabolic disease for end organs such as the kidney and liver. A profile emerges that shows that bacteria are diverse, abundant, and ubiquitous and have significantly influenced the evolution of the eukaryotic cell.
Detection and Identification of the First Viruses in Chia (Salvia hispanica)
Authors: Celli Marcos , Perotto Maria , Martino Julia , Flores Ceferino , Conci Vilma , Pardina Patricia
Published: September 2014

Chia (Salvia hispanica), an herbaceous plant native to Latin America, has become important in the last 20 years due to its beneficial effects on health. Here, we present the first record and identification of two viruses in chia plants. The comparison of the complete nucleotide sequences showed the presence of two viral species with the typical genome organization of bipartite New World begomovirus, identified as Sida mosaic Bolivia virus 2 and Tomato yellow spot virus, according to the ICTV taxonomic criteria for begomovirus classification. DNA-A from Sida mosaic Bolivia virus 2 exhibited 96.1% nucleotide identity with a Bolivian isolate of Sida micrantha, and Tomato yellow spot virus showed 95.3% nucleotide identity with an Argentine bean isolate. This is the first report of begomoviruses infecting chia as well as of the occurrence of Sida mosaic Bolivia virus 2 in Argentina.
Fitness Impaired Drug Resistant HIV-1 Is Not Compromised in Cell-to-Cell Transmission or Establishment of and Reactivation from Latency
Authors: Bastarache Sophie , Mesplède Thibault , Donahue Daniel , Sloan Richard , Wainberg Mark
Published: September 2014

Both the presence of latently infected cells and cell-to-cell viral transmission are means whereby HIV can partially evade the inhibitory activities of antiretroviral drugs. The clinical use of a novel integrase inhibitor, dolutegravir (DTG), has established hope that this compound may limit HIV persistence, since no treatment-naïve patient treated with DTG has yet developed resistance against this drug, even though a R263K substitution in integrase confers low-level resistance to this drug in tissue culture. Here, we have studied the impact of R263K on HIV replication capacity and the ability of HIV to establish or be reactivated from latency and/or spread through cell-to-cell transmission. We affirm that DTG-resistant viruses have diminished capacity to replicate and establish infection. However, DTG-resistant viruses were efficiently transmitted via cell-to-cell contacts, and were as likely to establish and be reactivated from latent infection as wildtype viruses. Both cell-to-cell transmission of HIV and the establishment of and reemergence from latency are important for the establishment and maintenance of viral reservoirs. Since the DTG and other drug-resistant viruses studied here do not seem to have been impaired in regard to these activities, studies should be undertaken to characterize HIV reservoirs in patients who have been treated with DTG.
Le travail dans de sombres temps
Authors: Soares Angelo
Published: September 2014

Le travail peut constituer l’une des sources d’un suicide, voire en être la principale. Notre objectif sera d’analyser, à partir de six projets de recherche avec différents groupes professionnels au Québec, neuf différentes variables organisationnelles pour essayer d’établir lesquelles peuvent être prédictives des idéations suicidaires. Le choix d’utiliser le concept d’idéations suicidaires repose sur une logique de prévention primaire, car les idéations suicidaires constituent la porte d’entrée des conduites suicidaires. Nos résultats indiquent que la surcharge de travail et la coopération dans l’équipe deviennent des facteurs incontournables pour comprendre la dynamique qui établit l’émergence des idéations suicidaires.
Internet Banking Adoption by the Customers of Private Sector Banks in India
Authors: Varaprasad G. , Sridharan R. , Unnithan Anandakuttan B.
Published: September 2014

The rapid advancements in communication and information technology have changed the functional scenario of the banking sector significantly. The savings in time, money and effort by a novel channel of banking called as internet banking has been found to be an optional channel for the traditional banking. The objective of this study is to identify the determinants of internet banking adoption in private sector banks of India. Factors such as perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived risk, relative advantage and trialability have been found to be the determinants of internet banking in the previous studies. A new variable called conspicuousness has been introduced in the present study. Such a study has not been conducted in the Indian context antecedently. A model has been proposed and tested using various statistical techniques. The findings are of great use primarily for the banks which are planning to offer internet banking services, and for already existing banks to focus on the gaps.
Investment and Development Banks and Strategies in Turkey
Authors: Celik Ismail Erkan , Dinçer Hasan , Hacioğlu Ümit
Published: September 2014

The World Bank is the most important financier for international investment. The bank opens credits mostly for investment projects in developing countries. Turkey has received various investment credits since its membership to the World Bank on March 11, 1947. The credits were used for economic and social domains. Turkey has also been granted credits from the European Investment Bank (EIB). The credits received are composed of micro credits that belong to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). A regional development bank, Islamic Development Bank, has also received credits through Eximbank and Industrial Development Bank of Turkey (TSKB) to finance Turkish SMEs. This chapter deals with Turkish investment strategies in the framework of basic principles of investment – development banks.
International Evidence on Financing of R&D
Authors: Gonenc Halit
Published: September 2014

This chapter examines the financing patterns of R&D expenditures using data from 38 countries for the period 1980-2006. The major hypothesis is that higher equity financing and higher past stock market valuation are associated with higher R&D expenditures. The evidence supports this hypothesis for firms, especially in market-based countries. The sensitivities of equity financing and internal funds are different between financially constrained and unconstrained firms. The results are robust when the effect of patent rights protection, which has also a nonlinear effect on R&D, is controlled.