bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical simulation of surface acoustic wave actuated cell sorting
Authors: Franke Thomas , Hoppe Ronald , Linsenmann Christopher , Zeleke Kidist
Published: January 2013

We consider the mathematical modeling and numerical simulation of high throughput sorting of two different types of biological cells (type I and type II) by a biomedical micro-electro-mechanical system (BioMEMS) whose operating behavior relies on surface acoustic wave (SAW) manipulated fluid flow in a microchannel. The BioMEMS consists of a separation channel with three inflow channels for injection of the carrier fluid and the cells, two outflow channels for separation, and an interdigital transducer (IDT) close to the lateral wall of the separation channel for generation of the SAWs. The cells can be distinguished by fluorescence. The inflow velocities are tuned so that without SAW actuation a cell of type I leaves the device through a designated outflow channel. However, if a cell of type II is detected, the IDT is switched on and the SAWs modify the fluid flow so that the cell leaves the separation channel through the other outflow boundary. The motion of a cell in the carrier fluid is modeled by the Finite Element Immersed Boundary method (FE-IB). Numerical results are presented that illustrate the feasibility of the surface acoustic wave actuated cell sorting approach.
On Global Existence Theorem of Certain Volterra Integral Equation of Second Kind
Authors: Islam Md Shariful , Islam Mir Shariful , Khan AFM Khodadad
Published: January 2013

The aim of the paper was to fabricate an alternative proof of a global existence theorem of certain type of Volterrea integral equation on the basis of the hypothesis. The new proof has been given by constructing suitable function space and using fixed point theorem. Relaxing some hypotheses in the same and using Bieleckis notion of norm another global existence theorem has been proposed and proved. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbas.v36i2.12956 Journal of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Vol. 36, No. 2, 147-152, 2012
Growth and Yield Performance of Bari Mung-5 Under Different Time of Sowing
Authors: Jahan Nargis , Adam M M Golam
Published: January 2013

A field experiment was carried out at University of Dhaka from March to July, 2011 to study the effect of time of sowing on the growth and yield of BARI mung-5. The treatments consisted of three dates of sowing viz. March 15, April 15 and May 15. The crop responded significantly to sowing time and 15 April sowing seeds produced plants having maximum plant height (68.4 cm), leaves/plant (29.33), total dry matter/plant (17.99), branches/plant (8.17), pods/plant (11.33), pod length (8.78 cm), seeds/pod (11.17), 1000 seed weight (46.52 g), seed yield/plant (5.33 g), yield/ha (1.77 t) and harvest index (29.58 %) at harvest. The seed yield decreased by 36.8 and 49.9% when seed sown early (15 March) or late (15 May) due to production of lower yield components.   DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbas.v36i2.12966   Journal of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Vol. 36, No. 2, 227-231, 2012
Energy Potential Mapping: Visualising Energy Characteristics for the Exergetic Optimisation of the Built Environment
Authors: Broersma Siebe , Fremouw Michiel , Dobbelsteen Andy
Published: January 2013

It is difficult to fully satisfy the energy demand of today’s society with renewables. Nevertheless, most of the energy we use is lost as non-functional waste energy, whereas a large part of the built environment’s energy demand is only for low-quality energy, so the initial demand for primary, high-quality energy can be reduced by more effective usage, such as by low-exergy means. Gaining insight into the parameters of energy demands and local renewable and residual energy potentials enables matching energy demand with a fitting potential, not only concerning quantity but taking into account location, temporality and quality as well. The method of Energy Potential Mapping (EPM) aims to visualise the energy potentials and demands by making information of quantity, quality and location of demand and supply accessible. The aspect of quality specifically applies to heat and cold. The methodology of EPM will be described and explained with case studies. The focus specifically lies on mapping heat (and cold), one of the main reasons for energy demand in the built environment. The visualisation of exergy, to be simplified as the quality of energy, becomes an extra parameter in the case of Dutch Heat Maps. These maps can help finding opportunities of practical implementations of exchanging or cascading heat or cold. This way EPM and Heat Mapping (HM) enables application of exergy principles in the built environment. EPM and HM can be seen as a local energy catalogue and can be useful in spatial planning for energy-based urban and rural plans.
Methods in Forest Canopy Research, Edited by Margaret D. Lowman, Timothy D. Schowalter, Jerry F. Franklin, University of California Press, 2012; 221 Pages. Price: £41.95, ISBN 978-0520-27371-9
Authors: Lin Shu-Kun
Published: January 2013

Poised between soil and sky, forest canopies represent a critical point of exchange between the atmosphere and the earth, yet until recently, they remained a largely unexplored frontier. For a long time, problems with access and the lack of tools and methods suitable for monitoring these complex bioscopes made canopy analysis extremely difficult. Fortunately, canopy research has advanced dramatically in recent decades. Methods in Forest Canopy Research is a comprehensive overview of these developments for explorers of this astonishing environment. The authors describe methods for reaching the canopy and the best ways to measure how the canopy, atmosphere, and forest floor interact. They address how to replicate experiments in challenging environments and lay the groundwork for creating standardized measurements in the canopy — essential tools for understanding our changing world.
Yeast α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Phenolic Compounds Isolated from Gynura medica Leaf
Authors: Tan Chao , Wang Qunxing , Luo Chunhua , Chen Sai , Li Qianyuan , Li Peng
Published: January 2013

Gynura medica leaf extract contains significant amounts of flavonols and phenolic acids and exhibits powerful hypoglycemic activity against diabetic rats in vivo. However, the hypoglycemic active constituents that exist in the plant have not been fully elaborated. The purpose of this study is to isolate and elaborate the hypoglycemic activity compounds against inhibition the yeast α-glucosidase in vitro. Seven phenolic compounds including five flavonols and two phenolic acids were isolated from the leaf of G. medica. Their structures were identified by the extensive NMR and mass spectral analyses as: kaempferol (1), quercetin (2), kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside (4), rutin (5), chlorogenic acid (6) and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid methyl ester (7). All of the compounds except 1 and 3 were isolated for the first time from G. medica. Compounds 1–7 were also assayed for their hypoglycemic activity against yeast α-glucosidase in vitro. All of the compounds except 1 and 6 showed good yeast α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with the IC50 values of 1.67 mg/mL, 1.46 mg/mL, 0.38 mg/mL, 0.10 mg/mL and 0.53 mg/mL, respectively.
Remote Sensing Based Yield Estimation in a Stochastic Framework — Case Study of Durum Wheat in Tunisia
Authors: Meroni Michele , Marinho Eduardo , Sghaier Nabil , Verstrate Michel , Leo Olivier
Published: January 2013

Multitemporal optical remote sensing constitutes a useful, cost efficient method for crop status monitoring over large areas. Modelers interested in yield monitoring can rely on past and recent observations of crop reflectance to estimate aboveground biomass and infer the likely yield. Therefore, in a framework constrained by information availability, remote sensing data to yield conversion parameters are to be estimated. Statistical models are suitable for this purpose, given their ability to deal with statistical errors. This paper explores the performance in yield estimation of various remote sensing indicators based on varying degrees of bio-physical insight, in interaction with statistical methods (linear regressions) that rely on different hypotheses. Performances in estimating the temporal and spatial variability of yield, and implications of data scarcity in both dimensions are investigated. Jackknifed results (leave one year out) are presented for the case of wheat yield regional estimation in Tunisia using the SPOT-VEGETATION instrument. Best performances, up to 0.8 of R2, are achieved using the most physiologically sound remote sensing indicator, in conjunction with statistical specifications allowing for parsimonious spatial adjustment of the parameters.
HCV and Oxidative Stress in the Liver
Authors: Ivanov Alexander , Bartosch Birke , Smirnova Olga , Isaguliants Maria , Kochetkov Sergey
Published: January 2013

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the etiological agent accounting for chronic liver disease in approximately 2–3% of the population worldwide. HCV infection often leads to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, various metabolic alterations including steatosis, insulin and interferon resistance or iron overload, and development of hepatocellular carcinoma or non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Multiple molecular mechanisms that trigger the emergence and development of each of these pathogenic processes have been identified so far. One of these involves marked induction of a reactive oxygen species (ROS) in infected cells leading to oxidative stress. To date, markers of oxidative stress were observed both in chronic hepatitis C patients and in various in vitro systems, including replicons or stable cell lines expressing viral proteins. The search for ROS sources in HCV-infected cells revealed several mechanisms of ROS production and thus a number of cellular proteins have become targets for future studies. Furthermore, during last several years it has been shown that HCV modifies antioxidant defense mechanisms. The aim of this review is to summarize the present state of art in the field and to try to predict directions for future studies.
Tandem aldehyde–alkyne–amine coupling/cycloisomerization: A new synthesis of coumarins
Authors: Reddy Maddi Sridhar , Thirupathi Nuligonda , Haribabu Madala
Published: January 2013

Cu-catalyzed A3 coupling of ethoxyacetylene, pyrrolidine and salicylaldehydes led to a concomitant cycloisomerization followed by hydrolysis of the resultant vinyl ether to afford coumarins in a cascade process. The reaction proceeded through exclusive 6-endo-dig cyclization and is compatible with halo and keto groups giving coumarins in good to moderate yields.
Le renom de l'artiste
Authors: Cordonnier Sylvianne
Published: January 2013

Le roman Madame Bovary nous éclaire, il y suffit de sa première page, sur l’acte de nomination. L’évènement d’écriture nouveau, broderie qui fait noeud sur un parement, est indissociable de l’avènement de l’artiste dans un renouvellement de l’acte dont s’origine le sujet. Le nom sinthomatique fait trace de ce noeud et l’effet d’accueil à l’oeuvre doit authentifier un sujet de l’énonciation accordé à ce nom. D’être « pohète », Gustave Flaubert introduit une différence décisive entre la versification et la poésie telle que la définira Jacques Lacan et acquiert ainsi sa renommée.
Semilinear equations, the $\gamma_k$ function, and generalized Gauduchon metrics
Authors: Fu Jixiang , Wang Zhizhang , Wu Damin
Published: January 2013

In this paper, we generalize the Gauduchon metrics on a compact complex manifold and define the

\gamma_k

functions on the space of its hermitian metrics.
An observability estimate for parabolic equations from a measurable set in time and its applications
Authors: Phung Kim Dang , Wang Gengsheng
Published: January 2013

This paper presents a new observability estimate for parabolic equations in

\Omega\times\left( 0,T\right)

, where

\Omega

is a convex domain. The observation region is restricted over a product set of an open nonempty subset of

\Omega

and a subset of positive measure in

\left( 0,T\right)

. This estimate is derived with the aid of a quantitative unique continuation at one point in time. Applications to the bang-bang property for norm and time optimal control problems are provided.
Modelling drivers of mangrove propagule dispersal and restoration of abandoned shrimp farms
Authors: Di Nitto D. , Erftemeijer P. L. A. , van Beek J. K. L. , Dahdouh-Guebas F. , Higazi L. , Quisthoudt K. , Jayatissa L. P. , Koedam N.
Published: January 2013

Abstract. Propagule dispersal of four mangrove species Rhizophora mucronata, R. apiculata, Ceriops tagal and Avicennia officinalis in the Pambala-Chilaw Lagoon Complex (Sri Lanka) was studied by combining a hydrodynamic model with species-specific knowledge on propagule dispersal behaviour. Propagule transport was simulated using a finite-volume advection-diffusion model to investigate the effect of dispersal vectors (tidal flow, freshwater discharge and wind), trapping agents (retention by vegetation) and seed characteristics (buoyancy) on propagule dispersal patterns. Sensitivity analysis showed that smaller propagules, like the oval-shaped propagules of Avicennia officinalis, dispersed over larger distances and were most sensitive to changing values of retention by mangrove vegetation compared to larger, torpedo-shaped propagules of Rhizophora spp. and C. tagal. Directional propagule dispersal in this semi-enclosed lagoon with a small tidal range was strongly concentrated towards the edges of the lagoon and channels. Short distance dispersal appeared to be the main dispersal strategy for all four studied species, with most of the propagules being retained within the vegetation. Only a small proportion (max. 5%) of propagules left the lagoon through a channel connecting the lagoon with the open sea. Wind significantly influenced dispersal distance and direction once propagules entered the lagoon or adjacent channels. Implications of these findings for mangrove restoration were tested by simulating partial removal in the model of dikes around abandoned shrimp ponds to restore tidal hydrology and facilitate natural recolonisation by mangroves. The specific location of dike removal, (with respect to the vicinity of mangroves and independently suitable hydrodynamic flows), was found to significantly affect the resultant quantities and species of inflowing of propagules and hence the potential effectiveness of natural regeneration. These results demonstrate the value of propagule dispersal modelling in guiding hydrological restoration efforts that aim to facilitate natural mangrove regeneration.
Tree-ring–based summer mean temperature variations in the Adamello–Presanella Group (Italian Central Alps), 1610–2008 AD
Authors: Coppola A. , Leonelli G. , Salvatore M. C. , Pelfini M. , Baroni C.
Published: January 2013

Abstract. Climate records from remote mountain sites and for century-long periods are usually lacking for most continents and also for the European Alps. However, detailed reconstructions of climate parameters for pre-instrumental periods in mountain areas, suffering of glacial retreat caused by recent global warming, are needed in the view of a better comprehension of the environmental dynamics. We present here the first annually-resolved reconstruction of summer (JJA) mean temperature for the Adamello–Presanella Group (Central European Alps), one of the most glaciated mountain groups of the Italian Central Alps. The reconstruction has been based on four larch tree-ring width chronologies derived from living trees sampled in four valleys surrounding the Group. The reconstruction spans from 1610 to 2008 and the statistical verification of the reconstruction demonstrates the positive skill of the tree-ring dataset in tracking summer temperature variability also in the recent period.
Simulation of a persistent medium-term precipitation event over the Western Iberian Peninsula
Authors: Pereira S. C. , Carvalho A. C. , Ferreira J. , Nunes J. P. , Keizer J. J. , Rocha A.
Published: January 2013

Abstract. This study evaluates the performance of the WRF-ARW numerical weather model in simulating the spatial and temporal patterns of an extreme rainfall period over a complex orographic region in north-central Portugal. The analysis was performed for the month of December 2009, during the rainy season in Mainland Portugal. The heavy to extreme rainfall periods were caused by several low surface pressure systems associated with frontal surfaces. Three model runs, forced with the initial fields from a global domain model, were conducted. The model experiments were conducted to compare model performance using different approaches: (1) a reference experiment with no nudging (RunRef); (2) observational nudging for a specific location (RunObsN) is included; (3) nudging is used to adjust the analysis field (RunGridN). Model performance was evaluated against an observed hourly precipitation dataset of 27 rainfall stations, grouped by altitude, using several statistical parameters. The WRF model did not show skill in reproducing the precipitation intensities but simulated reasonably the periods of precipitation occurrence. The best performance was reached for the grid-nudging experiment (RunGridN). The overall model accuracy (RMSE) was similar for all altitude classes, for the three experiments: highest for lowlands and highlands. Precipitation simulated in areas located in rough terrain and deep valleys tend to be less accurate.
Calving on tidewater glaciers amplified by submarine frontal melting
Authors: O'Leary M. , Christoffersen P.
Published: January 2013

Abstract. While it has been shown repeatedly that ocean conditions exhibit an important control on the behaviour of grounded tidewater glaciers, modelling studies have focused largely on the effects of basal and surface melting. Here, a finite-element model of stresses near the front of a tidewater glacier is used to investigate the effects of frontal melting on calving, independently of the calving criterion used. Applications of the stress model to idealized scenarios reveal that undercutting of the ice front due to frontal melting can drive calving at up to ten times the mean melt rate. Factors which cause increased frontal melt-driven calving include a strong thermal gradient in the ice, and a concentration of frontal melt at the base of the glacier. These properties are typical of both Arctic and Antarctic tidewater glaciers. The finding that frontal melt near the base is a strong driver of calving leads to the conclusion that water temperatures near the bed of the glacier are critically important to the glacier front, and thus the flow of the glacier. These conclusions are robust against changes in the basal boundary condition and the choice of calving criterion, as well as variations in the glacier size or level of crevassing.
Exceptional Acid–Base Organogelators for a Wide Variety of Organic Liquids and Their Many Applications
Authors: Chen Yi‐Chang , Wang Huan , Li Dong‐Mi , Zheng Yan‐Song
Published: January 2013

It was found that 2‐amino‐1,2‐diphenylethanol forms organogels with a wide variety of acidic compounds in a large number of organic liquids, in which short contacts such as CH–π hydrogen bonds play a key role in gel formation. This new kind of acid–base, two‐component organogelator has potential application as a fluorescence switch and in the preparation of organic nanotubes, silver nanofibers, and ultrathin silver nanoparticles of less than 3 nm, which could be used as catalysts for the reduction of nitroaniline.
Development of an albuminous reactive oxygen species assay for photosafety evaluation under experimental biomimetic conditions
Authors: Onoue Satomi , Kato Masashi , Yamada Shizuo
Published: January 2013

The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from an ultraviolet (UV)‐exposed chemical can be an experimental indicator of phototoxic potential. The aim of the present study was to develop a new ROS assay using serum albumin to provide photosafety assessment under experimental biomimetic conditions. To assess assay robustness, a validation study on an albuminous ROS (aROS) assay was conducted with a focus on intra‐ and inter‐day precisions and Z’‐factor reflecting both the assay signal‐to‐noise ratio and variation associated with signal measurements. In the aROS assay on quinine HCl (200 μM), a typical phototoxic drug, both intra‐ and inter‐day precisions (coefficient of variation; CV) were found to be below 4%, and the Z’‐factors for singlet oxygen and superoxide suggested a large separation band between samples and blank signals. To evaluate the prediction capacity, the aROS and ROS assays were applied to 21 phototoxins and 10 non‐phototoxic chemicals. Upon aROS assay on these model chemicals, the individual specificity was 100%, and the positive and negative predictivities were found to be 100% and 81.8%, respectively. The aROS assay can be employed for poorly soluble chemicals for which the ROS assay is unavailable. Comparing the ROS assay data, there seemed to be a photochemical transition of some chemicals in albuminous solution. A molecular interaction between albumin and chemical was also assessed by UV and fluorescent spectroscopic analyses, and the results suggested the limited relationship between the albumin–chemical interaction and the photochemical change. The aROS assay may allow photosafety assessment of new drug entities with a wide range of applicability partly under experimental biomimetic conditions. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Photoisomerizable and Thermoresponsive N‐isopropylacrylamide–Surfmer Copolymer Hydrogels Prepared upon Electrostatic Self‐Assembly of an Azobenzene Bolaamphiphile
Authors: Friedrich Tatjana , Mielke Tamara , Domogalla Monika , Hentschel Maria , Kraus Katharina , Tieke Bernd
Published: January 2013

Photoreactive and thermoresponsive N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM)–surfmer copolymer hydrogels containing 4,4′‐di(6‐sulfato‐hexyloxy)azobenzene (DSHA) dianions are described. The functional hydrogels are obtained in a two steps. First a micellar aqueous solution of (11‐(acryloyloxy)undecyl)trimethylammonium bromide (AUTMAB) and NIPAM is exposed to 60Co‐gamma irradiation, and a thermoresponsive copolymer gel is obtained. Second, DSHA is included by shrinking the gel at 50 °C and subsequent reswelling in an aqueous solution of DSHA disodium salt at 20 °C. Reswelling is accompanied by electrostatic adsorption of DSHA dianions at the positively charged AUTMAB headgroups replacing the bromide ions. Gels containing trans‐DSHA are transparent yellow at room temperature (λmax = 370 nm), while gels containing cis‐rich DSHA are orange (λmax = 460 and 330 nm). Energy dispersive X‐ray measurements indicate that 41% of the bromide ions are exchanged if trans‐DSHA is used for adsorption, and only 7.5% if cis‐DSHA is used. The incorporation of DSHA lowers the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) from 34 to 32 °C. Below the LCST, DSHA can be switched from the trans‐ to the cis‐rich state and vice versa upon irradiation with UV (λ = 366 nm) or visible light (λ ≥ 450 nm). Above the LCST no photoreaction takes place.
Surgical management of external auditory canal lesions
Authors: Spielmann P M , McKean S , White R D , Hussain S S M
Published: January 2013

Background:

Lesions arising in the external auditory canal that require surgical excision are uncommon. They are associated with a range of pathologies, including bony abnormalities, infections, benign and malignant neoplasms, and epithelial disorders.

Methods:

This paper describes a 10-year personal case series of external auditory canal lesions with chart, imaging and histopathology review.

Results:

In total, 48 lesions required surgical management, consisting of: 13 bony lesions; 14 infective lesions; 14 neoplasms with 11 histological types (including ceruminous adenoma and the extremely rare cavernous haemangioma); 3 epithelial abnormalities; and 4 other benign lesions. The surgical management is described.

Conclusion:

This study emphasises the diagnostic differences between exostoses and osteomas, and between external auditory canal cholesteatoma and keratosis obturans. It also discusses the management of aural polyps, and highlights the need to excise external auditory canal masses for histology in order to guide subsequent treatment.
English exposure in the home and classroom: Predictions to Spanish-speaking preschoolers’ English vocabulary skills
Authors: PALERMO FRANCISCO , MIKULSKI ARIANA M. , FABES RICHARD A. , HANISH LAURA D. , MARTIN CAROL LYNN , STARGEL LAUREN E.
Published: January 2013

This study examined the combined and unique contributions of home, teacher, and peer English exposure levels on Spanish-speaking preschoolers’ (N= 107) English receptive and expressive vocabulary skills. The combined levels of English exposure during the fall of preschool were positively associated with children's English receptive and expressive vocabulary skills in the spring. Furthermore, English exposure levels at home were uniquely and positively associated with children's English receptive and expressive vocabularies, whereas peer English exposure levels were uniquely and positively associated with children's English expressive vocabulary. Teachers’ English exposure levels were not uniquely associated with children's English vocabulary. The findings highlight the importance of the home environment and peer experiences in the classroom for maximizing Spanish-speaking children's early English vocabulary skills.
Quantitative experiences in the economic analysis of tourism
Authors: Figuerola Palomo Manuel
Published: January 2013

Économiste de renom, l'auteur démontre le rle de pionnier que la recherche touristique espagnole a joué dans l'application d'instruments macroéconomiques tels que l'analyse “input‐output” et la balance des paiements touristiques. II souligne en outre, il mentionne l'importance d'un institut de recherche soutenu par l'État (Instituto de Estudios Turísticos) lorsqu'il s'agit d'analyser d'une façon approfondie la structure de l'économie touristique. II a publié récemment un manuel sur l'économie du tourisme, édité par l'Organisation mondiale du tourisme.
Association of Apolipoprotein A5 Gene  −1131T>C Polymorphism with the Risk of Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Subjects
Authors: Song Kwang Hoon , Cha Seongwon , Yu Sung-Gon , Yu Hyunjoo , Oh Soo A. , Kang Nam-Sik
Published: January 2013

We assessed the associations between theAPOA5  −1131T>C polymorphism and lipid parameters and other risk factors of the metabolic syndrome in Korean subjects. A total of 2,901 participants from 20 oriental medical hospitals in Korea were enrolled between 2006 and 2011. According to the modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III definitions, subjects were classified into the metabolic syndrome group and control group. TheAPOA5  −1131T>C genotype was significantly associated with serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (effect = − 1.700 mg/dL,P=6.550-E07) in the total study population after adjustment for differences in age and gender. The association of theAPOA5  −1131T>C genotype with serum log-transformed triglyceride was also significant in an additive genetic model (effect = 0.056 mg/dL,P=2.286E-19). After adjustment for age and gender, we determined that the odds ratio for the occurrence of the metabolic syndrome was 1.322 for C-allele carriers in the additive model (95% CI = [1.165 − 1.501],P=1.48E-05). In the current study, we demonstrated that theAPOA5  −1131T>C polymorphism is associated with the metabolic syndrome because of its remarkable effect on serum triglyceride levels in Korean subjects.
Antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities of stingless bee Melipona scutellaris geopropolis
Authors: da Cunha Marcos Guilherme , Franchin Marcelo , Galvão LíviaCâmaradeCarvalho , de Ruiz AnaLúciaTascaGóis , de Carvalho João Ernesto , Ikegaki Masarahu , de Alencar Severino Matias , Koo Hyun , Rosalen Pedro Luiz
Published: January 2013

Background

Geopropolis is a type of propolis containing resin, wax, and soil, collected by threatened stingless bee species native to tropical countries and used in folk medicine. However, studies concerning the biological activity and chemical composition of geopropolis are scarce. In this study, we evaluated the antimicrobial and antiproliferative activity of the ethanolic extract of geopropolis (EEGP) collected by Melipona scutellaris and its bioactive fraction against important clinical microorganisms as well as their in vitro cytotoxicity and chemical profile.

Methods

The antimicrobial activity of EEGP and fractions was examined by determining their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against six bacteria strains as well as their ability to inhibit Streptococcus mutans biofilm adherence. Total growth inhibition (TGI) was chosen to assay the antiproliferative activity of EEGP and its bioactive fraction against normal and cancer cell lines. The chemical composition of M. scutellaris geopropolis was identified by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry.

Results

EEGP significantly inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus strains and S. mutans at low concentrations, and its hexane fraction (HF) presented the highest antibacterial activity. Also, both EEGP and HF inhibited S. mutans biofilm adherence (p < 0.05) and showed selectivity against human cancer cell lines, although only HF demonstrated selectivity at low concentrations. The chemical analyses performed suggest the absence of flavonoids and the presence of benzophenones as geopropolis major compounds.

Conclusions

The empirical use of this unique type of geopropolis by folk medicine practitioners was confirmed in the present study, since it showed antimicrobial and antiproliferative potential against the cancer cell lines studied. It is possible that the major compounds found in this type of geopropolis are responsible for its properties.
Existence of positive ground states for some nonlinear Schrödinger systems
Authors: Zhang Hui , Xu Junxiang , Zhang Fubao
Published: January 2013

We prove the existence of positive ground states for the nonlinear Schrödinger system

{

−
Δ
u
+
(
1
+
a
(
x
)
)
u
=

F
u

(
u
,
v
)
+
λ
v
,

−
Δ
v
+
(
1
+
b
(
x
)
)
v
=

F
v

(
u
,
v
)
+
λ
u
,

where a, b are periodic or asymptotically periodic and F satisfies some superlinear conditions in

(
u
,
v
)

. The proof is based on the method of Nehari manifold and the concentration-compactness principle.

MSC:35J05, 35J50, 35J61.
Prediction of Interfacial Tensions between Demixed Ternary Mixtures
Authors: Grunert Tommy , Rudolph Hendryk , Enders Sabine
Published: January 2013

The interfacial tension between demixed liquids has a large impact on the mass transfer over the phase boundary. In this paper a special version of the density-gradient theory for ternary systems, where the grand thermodynamic potential is calculated using the Koningsveld–Kleintjens model, is suggested. This approach allows the prediction of the interfacial tensions of practical important ternary systems based on information of the binary subsystems. In order to verify this idea two ternary systems showing only one miscibility gap, namely water + butan-1-ol + ethanol and water + acetone + toluene, were selected. The predicted interfacial tensions were very close to the experimental data taken from the literature and to own experimental data obtained by spinning drop measurements. Both systems differ in the enrichment behavior. Whereas ethanol will be enriched in the interface to a small amount, the enrichment of acetone is much more pronounced.
Tree‐Dimensional Numerical Analysis of Water Flow Affected by Entrapped Air: Application of Noninvasive Imaging Techniques
Authors: Dohnal M. , Jelinkova V. , Snehota M. , Dusek J. , Brezina J.
Published: January 2013

Recurrent ponded infiltration experiments on undisturbed samples of coarse sandy loam have revealed a significant flow instability characterized by a decrease in the steady‐state flow rate of the second infiltration run, conducted into wet soil, compared with the first infiltration run, conducted into drier soil. It has been hypothesized that this decrease was caused by air entrapment during the second run, with subsequent blocking of the preferential pathways. In this study, entrapped air distribution and its impact on water flow was studied through a novel combination of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and numerical modeling. An undisturbed sample of coarse sandy loam was subject to recurrent ponded infiltration while being monitored by MR. Internal structure of the soil sample was visualized by x‐ray computed tomography (CT). A parallel version of the three‐dimensional water flow model based on Richards' equation was used to simulate water flow through the heterogeneous soil sample. Information from the CT was used to describe internal heterogeneity of the soil sample via scaling factors. Magnetic resonance relaxometry imaging data were utilized to derive three‐dimensional maps of entrapped air. These were implemented into a simulation of the second infiltration run as regions of no flow. The MR images were used to assess the water content distribution within the sample. The three‐dimensional model was able to describe measured outflow rates and pressure heads and also to reproduce the heterogeneous distribution of water content within the sample. The results obtained support the assumption that the observed decrease in the outflow rate could be caused by entrapped air in large pores of the soil sample.
Predator release from invertebrate generalists does not explain geometrid moth (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) outbreaks at high altitudes
Authors: Schott Tino , Kapari Lauri , Hagen Snorre B. , Vindstad Ole Petter L. , Jepsen Jane U. , Ims Rolf A.
Published: January 2013

Outbreaks of geometrid defoliators in subarctic birch forest in Fennoscandia often occur at high altitude in a distinct zone along the tree line. At the same time, moth larvae may not have an impact on the forest at lower altitude. Directly adjacent outbreak and nonoutbreak areas offer unique opportunities for studying the underlying mechanisms of outbreaks. Within two altitudinal gradients in coastal northern Norway, we investigated whether altitudinal outbreaks might be caused by release from pupal predation by ground-dwelling invertebrates such as harvestmen (Opiliones), spiders (Araneae), rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae), and other beetles (Coleoptera). We predicted a consistently higher abundance of such generalist predators at low versus high altitudes. Our results did not support this prediction. There was no consistent altitudinal variation in the abundance of predators that could be related to zonal moth outbreaks in the birch forest slopes. In addition, none of the predator groups investigated showed any numerical response to a distinct outbreak of winter moth that took place during the course of the study. Consequently, localised moth outbreaks at the altitudinal tree line in northern Norway cannot be explained by the release from pupal predation by the predator groups examined here.
Phenomenology, Moral
Authors: Kriegel Uriah
Published: January 2013

In the philosophy of mind, the study of mental life has tended to focus on three central aspects of mental states: their representational content, their functional role, and their phenomenal character. The representational content of a mental state is what the state represents, what it is about; its functional role is the role it plays within the functional organization of the subject's overall psychology; its phenomenal character is the experiential or subjective quality that goes with what it is like, from the inside, to be in it. The study of this third aspect of mental life is known as
phenomenology
. Thus, moral phenomenology is the study of the experiential dimension of our moral inner life – of the phenomenal character of moral mental states.
Species, the Value of
Authors: Rolston Holmes
Published: January 2013

When animals, birds, and plants vanish from the landscape, this raises public concern. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, reporting a multinational consensus of hundreds of experts, concluded: “Over the past few hundred years, humans have increased species extinction rates by as much as 1,000 times background rates that were typical over Earth's history” (2005a: 3). The US Congress, deploring the lack of “adequate concern [for] and conservation [of]” species, passed the Endangered Species Act (1973: §2(a)(1) ). A quite effective international convention from the same year is CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora; CITES 1973). Loss of species seems intuitively bad, but why? What values are attached to species?
Williams, Bernard
Authors: Moore A. W.
Published: January 2013

Bernard Williams (1929–2003) was one of the greatest moral philosophers of the twentieth century. He was born near London and educated in Oxford during the early heyday of ordinary language philosophy. He subsequently held research and teaching posts in Oxford, London, Cambridge, and Berkeley.
Plea Bargaining
Authors: Lippke Richard L.
Published: January 2013

Plea bargaining is the name given to the negotiated settlement of criminal charges (
see
Criminal Law). In countries such as the United States, it is the dominant procedure for resolving such charges, with upwards of 90 percent of cases adjudicated in this fashion (
see
Criminal Justice Ethics). In plea bargaining, criminal defendants agree to waive their legal right to a trial for leniency from prosecutors or the courts. This leniency takes various forms, but usually consists in sentence or charge reductions which lessen the overall amount of punishment (
see
Punishment) assigned to defendants who plead guilty. Defendants are also rewarded with charge or sentence discounts for cooperating with the authorities in testifying or otherwise providing evidence against their criminal cohorts.
Terrorism
Authors: Primoratz Igor
Published: January 2013

The central philosophical question about terrorism is: can terrorism ever be morally justified? Discussion of the moral status of terrorism presupposes that it is reasonably clear what the term means: normative argument calls for convergence on definition.
Ethics of Belief
Authors: McCormick Miriam
Published: January 2013

The broad question asked under the heading “Ethics of Belief” is: What ought one believe? An ethics of belief attempts to uncover the norms that guide belief formation and maintenance. The dominant view among contemporary philosophers is that evidential norms do; I should always follow my evidence and only believe when the evidence is sufficient to support my belief. This view is called “evidentialism,” although, as we shall see, this term gets applied to a number of views that can be distinguished from one another. Evidentialists often cite David Hume (1999: 110) as their historic exemplar who said “a wise man … proportions his beliefs to the evidence” and thus argued against the reasonableness of believing in miracles (seeHume, David; Wisdom). Those who argue that there can be good practical reasons for believing, independent of one's evidence, can turn for inspiration to Blaise Pascal (1966: 124), who argued that the best reason to form a belief in God was a practical one, namely the possibility of avoiding eternal suffering (seeReasons; Reasons for Action, Morality and; Faith).
Personhood, Criteria of
Authors: Shoemaker David
Published: January 2013

In modern philosophy, the concept of personhood is thoroughly moralized. Specifically, the term “person” has been taken to refer to entities with either certain moral capacities or a certain moral status. Consequently, investigation into the nature of the concept has been motivated and informed by interest in a wide variety of moral issues, including moral responsibility, the nature of moral obligation and value, freedom of the will (seefree will), abortion (seeabortion), animal rights (seeanimal rights), and advance directives (seeadvance directives). Given this variety of motivations, it is unsurprising that a number of different criteria of personhood have emerged. What follows is a selective survey and discussion of them.
Hutcheson, Francis
Authors: Dorsey Dale
Published: January 2013

Francis Hutcheson (1694–1746) was an important sentimentalist moral philosopher and a central figure in the Scottish Enlightenment. That he was such a major figure is due mostly to his influence on other notable Scottish thinkers of the time: David Hume (with whom he corresponded;seeHume, David), Adam Smith (for whom he served as teacher;seeSmith, Adam), and Thomas Reid (for whom Hutcheson's writings were a central inspiration;seeReid, Thomas). Though his family was Scottish, Hutcheson was Nortzhern Irish by birth, and did not take up a position in Scotland (at the University of Glasgow) until 1730, only after his most important works,Inquiry into the Original of our Ideas of Beauty and Virtue(1725) and hisEssay on the Nature and Conduct of the Passions and Affections, with Illustrations on the Moral Sense(1728), had seen the light of day. A third major work,A System of Moral Philosophy, was never completed during Hutcheson's lifetime, and was published posthumously in 1755.
Psychosurgery
Authors: McMillan John
Published: January 2013

Psychosurgery is usually understood to mean neurosurgery performed in order to treat mental illness and alter behavior. (
Oxford English Dictionary
)
Crimes Against Humanity
Authors: Altman Andrew
Published: January 2013

Under international law, the term “crimes against humanity” refers to certain heinous wrongs perpetrated as part of a widespread or systematic attack on a civilian population (seeInternational Criminal Justice). The wrongs include murder, enslavement, torture, rape, forcible transfer, persecution aimed at certain kinds of groups, and “other inhumane acts of a similar character intentionally causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or to mental or physical health” (Rome Statute2002: Art. 7).
Wang Yangming
Authors: Ivanhoe Philip J.
Published: January 2013

Wang Yangming (1472–1529) is best known for his teachings regarding the nature of the self, moral action, and self‐cultivation. In order to understand his views on these ethical matters, one needs to understand a bit about his metaphysical beliefs, which for the most part were shared by all neo‐Confucian thinkers.
Fact–Value Distinction
Authors: Elgin Catherine Z.
Published: January 2013

The fact–value distinction is grounded in an apparent contrast. Facts constitute reality. They are what they are regardless of what anyone thinks about them or wants them to be. Our relation to facts is cognitive: Judgments of fact are objective; they both can and should be responsive to reasons. Values are considerations that bear on choiceworthiness. They are personal. Our relation to them is conative: They directly inform the will. Together, judgments about facts and assessments of value rationalize action. Because Jim wants a drink and believes that the glass contains water, he drinks from the glass. His wanting consists in his considering the slaking of his thirst valuable; his belief concerns what will in fact slake his thirst. His action would be irrational if the two factors did not work together.
Usury
Authors: Sandberg Joakim
Published: January 2013

Usury originally and simply meant the practice of charging interest on loans. This practice was forcefully condemned and generally banned in both Ancient and Medieval times. Indeed, prohibitions against interest can be found in the traditions of all the major religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, and Christianity – compare, for instance, the commandments of the Hindu lawmaker Vasishtha, and the biblical story of how Jesus cast the moneylenders out of the temple (Matthew 21:12). As interest started to become socially acceptable, however, usury came to mean the charging of (legally or morally) excessive or exorbitant rates of interest, and this is also how it is commonly used today. Thus, although many people now may regard as usurious so‐called payday loans – which sometimes come with up to 1,000 percent interest – we do not generally regard as usurious the normal bank practice of charging for loans at regulated interest rates. Modern Islam still contains a general prohibition against interest, however, and many countries still have at least partial usury laws – most often setting an upper limit on acceptable interest rates.
Torture
Authors: Bufacchi Vittorio
Published: January 2013

The idea of “torture” plays a strategic role in our ethical reasoning, being often identified as the limit case of savage human behavior, unspeakable agony, and even political injustice. That torture holds this place in our collective imagination finds affirmation in the everyday use of the term “torture” as a figure of speech, when certain personal experiences are too readily labelled as a form of torture, as in the case of a visit to the dentist or a university exam. Less figuratively, the term “torture” can be used to bestow the most intransigent condemnation of a certain act – for example, when (rightly or wrongly) rape is equated to torture (McGlynn 2008;seeRape).
Victimless Crimes
Authors: Bergelson Vera
Published: January 2013

The term “victimless crime” refers to behavior that is proscribed by law but does not violate the rights of any particular person. The term is used mainly in Anglo‐American political and criminal justice literature and is of fairly recent origin. It entered the academic and public discourse in the 1950s, with the birth of victimology, a branch of criminology focusing on the victims and the interaction between victims and perpetrators.
Religion, Freedom of
Authors: Trigg Roger
Published: January 2013

Religious freedom is part of the more general issue of the role of human freedom, with the latter as the absolute precondition of morality. Without it, genuine moral responsibility seems impossible. In the eighteenth‐century Enlightenment, the idea of the importance of freedom, and individual autonomy, went hand in hand with an emphasis on the role of reason. Freedom and reason were regarded as inseparable. This was a continuation of ideas which had flourished in the seventeenth century at the start of modern science, and of the stress by John Locke (
see
Locke, John) on the role of consent (
see
Consent) by citizens to government. Without the freedom to believe what one chose, as a basis for such consent, the latter would appear meaningless.
Overcriminalization
Authors: Husak Douglas
Published: January 2013

The title of this essay invites evaluative judgment. No one believes that
over
criminalization can be sound policy. The contested issues are: (1) What
is
overcriminalization and how is it measured? (2) Why is overcriminalization undesirable? (3) Why might a country overcriminalize? (4) What are some viable means to cope with the problem when it occurs?
Palliative Care
Authors: ten Have Henk
Published: January 2013

Palliation has always been a goal of medicine. Medical efforts are usually focused on eliminating the causes of disease (cure) or on preventing illness. However, for centuries, effective therapeutic interventions were rare and knowledge about the etiology of diseases inaccurate or fragmented, so that medicine has, for most of its history, tried to control the symptoms of the disease and to alleviate the complaints and suffering of the patient (
see
Suffering).