bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel Pyrazine Analogs of Chalcones: Synthesis and Evaluation of Their Antifungal and Antimycobacterial Activity
Authors: Kucerova-Chlupacova Marta , Kunes Jiri , Buchta Vladimir , Vejsova Marcela , Opletalova Veronika
Published: January 2015

Infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis and invasive mycoses, represent serious health problems. As a part of our long-term efforts to find new agents for the treatment of these diseases, a new series of pyrazine analogs of chalcones bearing an isopropyl group in position 5 of the pyrazine ring was prepared. The structures of the compounds were corroborated by IR and NMR spectroscopy and their purity confirmed by elemental analysis. The susceptibility of eight fungal strains to the studied compounds was tested. The results have been compared with the activity of some previously reported propyl derivatives. The only strain that was susceptible to the studied compounds was Trichophyton mentagrophytes. It was found that replacing a non-branched propyl with a branched isopropyl did not have a decisive and unequivocal influence on the in vitro antifungal activity against T. mentagrophytes. In vitro activity against Trichophyton mentagrophytes comparable with that of fluconazole was exhibited by nitro-substituted derivatives. Unfortunately, no compound exhibited efficacy comparable with that of terbinafine, which is the most widely used agent for treating mycoses caused by dermatophytes. Some of the prepared compounds were assayed for antimycobacterial activity against M. tuberculosis H37Rv. The highest potency was also displayed by nitro-substituted compounds. The results of the present study are in a good agreement with our previous findings and confirm the positive influence of electron-withdrawing groups on the B-ring of chalcones on the antifungal and antimycobacterial activity of these compounds.
Synthesis of Chromonylthiazolidines and Their Cytotoxicity to Human Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Anh Hoang , Cuc Nguyen , Tai Bui , Yen Pham , Nhiem Nguyen , Thao Do , Nam Nguyen , Van Minh Chau , Van Kiem Phan , Kim Young
Published: January 2015

Nine new chromonylthiazolidine derivatives were successfully semi-synthesized from paeonol. All of the compounds, including starting materials, the intermediate compound and products, were evaluated for their cytotoxic effects toward eight human cancer cell lines. The synthesized chromonylthiazolidines displayed weak cytotoxic effects against the tested cancer cell lines, but selective cytotoxic effects were observed. Compounds 3a and 3b showed the most selective cytotoxic effects against human epidermoid carcinoma (IC50 44.1 ± 3.6 μg/mL) and breast cancer (IC50 32.8 ± 1.4 μg/mL) cell lines, respectively. The results suggest that chromoylthiazolidines are potential low-cost, and selective anticancer agents.
Toward the Extreme Ultra Violet Four Wave Mixing Experiments: From Table Top Lasers to Fourth Generation Light Sources
Authors: Cucini Riccardo , Battistoni Andrea , Bencivenga Filippo , Gessini Alessandro , Mincigrucci Riccardo , Giangrisostomi Erika , Principi Emiliano , Capotondi Flavio , Pedersoli Emanuele , Manfredda Michele , Kiskinova Maya , Masciovecchio Claudio
Published: January 2015

Three different Transient Grating setups are presented, with pulsed and continuous wave probe at different wavelengths, ranging from infrared to the extreme ultra violet region. Both heterodyne and homodyne detections are considered. Each scheme introduces variations with respect to the previous one, allowing moving from classical table top laser experiments towards a new four wave mixing scheme based on free electron laser radiation. A comparison between the various setups and the first results from extreme ultra violet transient grating experiments is also discussed.
A Speedy Cardiovascular Diseases Classifier Using Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis
Authors: Lee Wah , Hung Faan , Tsang Kim , Tung Hoi , Lau Wing , Rakocevic Veselin , Lai Loi
Published: January 2015

Each year, some 30 percent of global deaths are caused by cardiovascular diseases. This figure is worsening due to both the increasing elderly population and severe shortages of medical personnel. The development of a cardiovascular diseases classifier (CDC) for auto-diagnosis will help address solve the problem. Former CDCs did not achieve quick evaluation of cardiovascular diseases. In this letter, a new CDC to achieve speedy detection is investigated. This investigation incorporates the analytic hierarchy process (AHP)-based multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA) to develop feature vectors using a Support Vector Machine. The MCDA facilitates the efficient assignment of appropriate weightings to potential patients, thus scaling down the number of features. Since the new CDC will only adopt the most meaningful features for discrimination between healthy persons versus cardiovascular disease patients, a speedy detection of cardiovascular diseases has been successfully implemented.
Functionalization of α-synuclein fibrils
Authors: Povilonienė Simona , Časaitė Vida , Bukauskas Virginijus , Šetkus Arūnas , Staniulis Juozas , Meškys Rolandas
Published: January 2015

The propensity of peptides and proteins to form self-assembled structures has very promising applications in the development of novel nanomaterials. Under certain conditions, amyloid protein α-synuclein forms well-ordered structures – fibrils, which have proven to be valuable building blocks for bionanotechnological approaches. Herein we demonstrate the functionalization of fibrils formed by a mutant α-synuclein that contains an additional cysteine residue. The fibrils have been biotinylated via thiol groups and subsequently joined with neutravidin-conjugated gold nanoparticles. Atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the expected structure – nanoladders. The ability of fibrils (and of the additional components) to assemble into such complex structures offers new opportunities for fabricating novel hybrid materials or devices.
Multifunctional layered magnetic composites
Authors: Siglreitmeier Maria , Wu Baohu , Kollmann Tina , Neubauer Martin , Nagy Gergely , Schwahn Dietmar , Pipich Vitaliy , Faivre Damien , Zahn Dirk , Fery Andreas , Cölfen Helmut
Published: January 2015

A fabrication method of a multifunctional hybrid material is achieved by using the insoluble organic nacre matrix of the Haliotis laevigata shell infiltrated with gelatin as a confined reaction environment. Inside this organic scaffold magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) are synthesized. The amount of MNPs can be controlled through the synthesis protocol therefore mineral loadings starting from 15 wt % up to 65 wt % can be realized. The demineralized organic nacre matrix is characterized by small-angle and very-small-angle neutron scattering (SANS and VSANS) showing an unchanged organic matrix structure after demineralization compared to the original mineralized nacre reference. Light microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy studies of stained samples show the presence of insoluble proteins at the chitin surface but not between the chitin layers. Successful and homogeneous gelatin infiltration in between the chitin layers can be shown. The hybrid material is characterized by TEM and shows a layered structure filled with MNPs with a size of around 10 nm. Magnetic analysis of the material demonstrates superparamagnetic behavior as characteristic for the particle size. Simulation studies show the potential of collagen and chitin to act as nucleators, where there is a slight preference of chitin over collagen as a nucleator for magnetite. Colloidal-probe AFM measurements demonstrate that introduction of a ferrogel into the chitin matrix leads to a certain increase in the stiffness of the composite material.
L'homme, la génétique et le diagnostic prénatal
Authors: Mattéi Jean-François
Published: January 2015

Face à l’évolution insidieuse qu’enregistre la pratique du diagnostic prénatal, Jean-François Mattei livre une réflexion nourrie de sa double expérience médicale et élective : de même qu’elles s’efforcent de lutter contre les inégalités sociales, nos sociétés devront assumer les inégalités génétiques, « sous peine de perdre beaucoup de leur humanité ». Il est urgent de promouvoir la recherche de traitements adaptés.
Chirurgie « essentielle » et chirurgie d'urgence en Afrique sub-saharienne
Authors: Lachand Alain-Tiberius
Published: January 2015

Les obstacles qui freinent le développement des soins chirurgicaux de base en Afrique sub-saharienne ne disparaîtront pas rapidement. Parmi les améliorations à mettre en œuvre, il est donc essentiel de distinguer ce qui relève des perspectives d’avenir, des pistes à explorer dès à présent, ou de la réponse urgente à des besoins immédiats.
Greffes de main et de visage : quels sont les enjeux éthiques
Authors: Dumont Martin , Morelon Emmanuel , Gazarian Aram , Badet Lionel , Devauchelle Bernard
Published: January 2015

Place du donneur, finalité du soin en l’absence d’enjeu vital immédiat, évaluation du rapport bénéfices-risques, consentement et participation du patient à la thérapie... L’extension récente des techniques de greffe aux tissus composites – main(s) ou visage – confronte les équipes chirurgicales à des questionnements éthiques renouvelés, voire tout à fait inédits.
Le sentiment de marché : un indicateur contrarian ?
Authors: Frugier Alain
Published: January 2015

L’objet de cet article est d’étudier le comportement des indicateurs utilisés pour la mesure du sentiment des investisseurs. Ils sont généralement employés pour mettre en évidence des niveaux d’optimisme ou de pessimisme extrêmes à partir desquels ils sont censés se retourner plus ou moins brutalement. Ils sont donc utilisés comme des indicateurs contrarian . Grâce à des calculs de mémoire, nous montrons qu’en réalité le sentiment de marché est persistant.
Le télétravail : les risques d'un outil de gestion des frontières entre vie personnelle et vie professionnelle ?
Authors: Dumas Marc , Ruiller Caroline
Published: January 2015

L’objet de l’article est de s’intéresser au x effets positifs du télétravail sur la conciliation vie personnelle et vie professionnelle ainsi qu’à ses effets négatifs sur le brouillage des frontières. La recherche a porté sur deux entreprises nommées Telecom et Administration. Cinquante-quatre entretiens auprès de télétravailleurs, de cadres et membres de la direction ont été réalisés. Deux types d’organisation du télétravail sont étudiés : d’une part, le télécentre et d’autre part, le télétravail à domicile. Les résultats s’articulent autour de trois axes : motivations au télétravail et qualité de vie, télétravail et gestion des frontières entre vie professionnelle et vie personnelle et l’organisation du télétravail, les leviers d’actions pour réduire les risques pour les salariés du brouillage des frontières spatio-temporelles.
Crowdfunding : vers une compréhension du rôle joué par la foule
Authors: Onnée Stéphane , Renault Sophie
Published: January 2015

Le crowdfunding , ou financement participatif, est un mode de financement qui permet à des porteurs de projets de rentrer en relation avec des internautes par l’intermédiaire de plateformes dédiées. En adoptant une démarche qualitative, notre recherche vise à décrire et comprendre ce nouveau mode de financement en interrogeant ce qui relie le crowdfunding aux différentes formes de crowdsourcing déjà examinées par la littérature. L’observation de deux plateformes de financement participatif sur le territoire français (Ulule et KissKissBankBank) conjuguée à l’étude approfondie de six projets financés nous a permis de rendre plausible l’argument selon lequel la foule apporte non seulement une aide financière, mais aussi son intelligence, son avis, et dans une moindre mesure son talent créatif. Nous montrons également que la foule des financeurs exerce une pression motrice sur la réussite des projets, joue un rôle majeur concernant leur rayonnement et apporte son soutien moral au porteur de projet.
L'entreprise individuelle sans risque et le patrimoine d'affectation : le miroir aux alouettes ?
Authors: Courtier Anne-Sophie
Published: January 2015

Le principe d’unicité du patrimoine dégagé à la fin du XIX e siècle est très présent en droit français. Pourtant, son application pose de nombreuses difficultés car le patrimoine unique et indivisible devient le seul gage général des créanciers et représente en cela un risque juridique, notamment en cas d’exploitation d’une entreprise. La scission patrimoniale n’étant pas possible, le législateur a dû composer avec les montages juridiques à sa disposition ou en proposer de nouveaux. Le patrimoine d’affectation est l’un de ces montages juridiques dont le but est de cloisonner les biens d’une personne selon leur affectation commune. Le patrimoine d’affectation est alors envisagé pour pallier le risque juridique inhérent au principe d’unicité du patrimoine. Cet article pose un regard critique sur cette notion de patrimoine d’affectation et nous verrons qu’il n’est pas aussi efficient qu’il le semble.
Risk y Business : Managing Risk in a Complex and Connected World
Authors: Sherman Margaret B. , Weston Harold A. , Willey Susan L. , Mansfield Nancy R.
Published: January 2015

Depuis la crise financière de 2008, de nombreuses entreprises ont mis en œuvre une Gestion des Risques d’Entreprise (GRE) dans leur organisation, en créant des programmes entièrement nouveaux ou en renforçant des départements existants. 98 % des entreprises interrogées en 2013 reconnaissent aussi que la GRE est même encore plus importante aux yeux de l’organisation qu’elle ne l’était il y a deux ans. De plus, la nécessité d’une stratégie GRE augmente en raison d’une sur veillance accrue de la part du législateur et des agences de notation. En dépit de l’intérêt accru porté à la question, la façon dont les entreprises définissent la GRE et son rôle dans l’organisation varient beaucoup. La Section 1 de ce document donne un aperçu des diverses définitions de la GRE utilisées par les entreprises et les organisations. Dans la Section 2, nous discutons des risques majeurs identifiés par les entreprises en 2013 pour nous permettre d’appréhender le monde complexe dans lequel la fonction GRE doit désormais opérer. Dans la Section 3, nous discutons les différences de structure de la GRE entre les entreprises pour identifier et atténuer ces risques. Nous abordons aussi le rôle de la loi et de la conformité dans leur relation avec la fonction GRE. En conclusion, nous parlons des caractéristiques des programmes de GRE efficaces dont les entreprises en Europe et aux Etats-Unis pourraient tirer partie. En outre, les auteurs ont interviewé des professionnels de la gestion des risques de deux sociétés, Coca-Cola et United Parcel Service, deux entreprises internationales du Fortune 100 et ont inclus les informations obtenues tout au long de l’étude pour illustrer les différentes manières avec lesquelles les entreprises abordent la GRE.
Evaluer et manager le risque de sanctions pécuniaires prononcées par les autorités de régulation
Authors: Bouthinon-Dumas Hugues , Marty Frédéric
Published: January 2015

Les autorités administratives indépendantes peuvent prononcer des sanctions pécuniaires à l’encontre des entreprises. Cet article montre comment les entreprises peuvent évaluer ce risque au travers des lignes directrices relatives à la fixation du quantum des amendes. La prévisibilité de leurs montants peut influer sur le comportement et les stratégies des entreprises, en ce qui concerne le choix de se conformer à la règle et la décision de s’engager dans des procédures négociées.
Communication et marketing en santé publique
Authors: Arwidson Pierre
Published: January 2015

La communication et le marketing social au service de la santé publique doivent être abordés avec autant de rigueur scientifique que les autres activités de prévention. Les développements extrêmement rapides du paysage audiovisuel avec la fusion de l’informatique et des médias, la multiplication des écrans et leur portabilité, offrent de nombreuses opportunités d’interactions personnalisées, sources potentielles d’efficacité. Il reste à réussir l’intégration avec les actions de terrain et l’utilisation des capacités de la communication et du marketing social non seulement à s’adresser aux individus et leurs réseaux sociaux mais aussi à contribuer à améliorer les lieux où ils vivent.
Publicité et déontologie
Authors: Moret-Bailly Joël
Published: January 2015

Les déontologies visent notamment à distinguer les professions qui en sont dotées des activités commerciales. Les règles relatives à la publicité (en général prohibée) constituent, dans ce contexte, tant un éloge de la discrétion qu’une réglementation de la concurrence professionnelle. L’objectif réside alors dans l’information du public la plus objective possible. La réglementation déontologique s’applique, en outre, au-delà des professionnels, notamment aux personnes morales qui les emploient. Elle pourrait, enfin, évoluer du fait des conceptions européennes.
Marketing social et marketing social critique : quelle utilité pour la santé publique ?
Authors: Gallopel-Morvan Karine
Published: January 2015

Aux États-Unis, en Grande-Bretagne, au Canada, en Australie, etc., il est fréquent de s’appuyer sur la démarche et les principes du marketing social et du marketing social critique pour élaborer des programmes de prévention plus efficaces. L’objectif de cet article est de préciser les contours et la démarche de ces disciplines méconnues en France puis d’illustrer, en s’appuyant sur deux exemples, le rôle qu’elles peuvent jouer dans un contexte de santé publique (la prévention de l’obésité des adolescents pour le marketing social et le tabac et la e-cigarette pour le marketing social critique).
Communiquer sur la santé sans en être prisonnier
Authors: Zarader Robert
Published: January 2015

Pour un communicant, apporter une réponse directe à la question « Comment communiquer sur le marché de la santé ? » relève d’un défi intellectuel particulièrement difficile, car cette communication intervient sur un terrain miné. Un terrain miné par la complexité d’un système de santé devenu illisible, soumis à des contraintes réglementaires, politiques et économiques fortes, et où interagissent des acteurs interdépendants. Dans cet environnement, la priorité pour les acteurs de la santé est alors d’ouvrir un nouveau champ de communication, plus ouvert, plus transparent et plus participatif.
Campagne de prévention VIH/sida et régulation publicitaire. Les enseignements d'une controverse
Authors: Geffroy Laurent
Published: January 2015

En 2007, le Bureau de vérification de la publicité (BVP) a demandé le retrait d’une campagne d’affichage de lutte contre le VIH/sida conduite par l’Inpes au motif que le visuel retenu était de nature à choquer. La controverse qui a suivi a illustré la difficulté rencontrée par la communication sur la sexualité et l’homosexualité et a témoigné de l’impossible conciliation entre régulation publicitaire et santé publique. L’émergence de démarches de corégulation pourrait toutefois offrir une opportunité d’intervention plus efficace et respectueuse des objectifs de chacune des parties.
La publicité des complémentaires santé
Authors: Escot Mathieu
Published: January 2015

Les dépenses publicitaires des complémentaires santé poussent-elles les cotisations des assurés à la hausse ? Si elles sont élevées dans l’absolu (estimées à 190 millions d’euros en 2013), leur effet direct demeure en réalité limité (0,5 % des cotisations). Mais la publicité modifie également la dynamique concurrentielle du secteur. Elle facilite l’entrée de nouveaux acteurs, tout en poussant à la concentration du marché. Compte tenu des économies d’échelle, la publicité pourrait ainsi être paradoxalement favorable aux consommateurs. À condition toutefois que les complémentaires santé traduisent enfin dans les faits les économies de gestion qu’elles promettent.
La publicité des produits de santé
Authors: Peigné Jérôme
Published: January 2015

Parce qu’elle vise des objets pouvant présenter un risque pour la santé humaine ou impliquer les ressources de l’assurance maladie, la publicité relative aux produits de santé est soumise à un régime de contrôle spécifique. L’hétérogénéité des produits de santé explique cependant que les réglementations mises en place soient différentes selon les catégories de produits et les personnes auxquelles le message publicitaire est destiné. Parmi ces produits, le médicament fait l’objet d’un régime de police plutôt restrictif, largement gouverné par le droit de l’Union et qui se trouve aujourd’hui confronté au développement de la société de l’information et de la santé 2.0.
Trimming of two major type 1 diabetes driving antigens, GAD65 and IA-2, allows for successful expression in Lactococcus lactis
Authors: Robert S. , Van Huynegem K. , Gysemans C. , Mathieu C. , Rottiers P. , Steidler L.
Published: January 2015

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterised by excessive immune reactions against auto-antigens of pancreatic β-cells. Restoring auto-antigen tolerance remains the superior therapeutic strategy. Oral auto-antigen administration uses the tolerogenic nature of the gut-associated immune system to induce antigen-specific tolerance. However, due to gastric degradation, proper mucosal product delivery often imposes a challenge. Recombinant Lactococcus lactis have proven to be effective and safe carriers for gastrointestinal delivery of therapeutic products: L. lactis secreting diabetes-associated auto-antigens in combination with interleukin (IL)-10 have demonstrated therapeutic efficacy in a well-defined mouse model for T1D. Here, we describe the construction of recombinant L. lactis secreting the 65 kDa isoform of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65) and tyrosine phosphatase-like protein ICA512 (IA-2), two major T1D-related auto-antigens. Attempts to secrete full size human GAD65 and IA-2 protein by L. lactis were unsuccessful. Trimming of GAD65 and IA-2 was investigated to optimise antigen secretion while maintaining sufficient bacterial growth. GAD65370-575 and IA-2635-979 showed to be efficiently secreted by recombinant L. lactis. Antigen secretion was verified by immunoblotting. Plasmid-derived GAD65 and IA-2 expression was combined in single strains with human IL-10 expression, a desired combination to allow tolerance induction. This study reports the generation of recombinant L. lactis secreting two major diabetes-related auto-antigens: human GAD65 and IA-2, by themselves or combined with the anti-inflammatory cytokine human IL-10. Prohibitive sequence obstacles hampering antigen secretion were resolved by trimming the full size proteins.
The history of probiotics: the untold story
Authors: Ozen M. , Dinleyici E.C.
Published: January 2015

Probiotic, a word derived from Latin, means ‘for life’. A long time before the awareness of probiotic microorganisms, fermented products, such as beer, bread, wine, kefir, kumis and cheese had been very frequently used for nutritional and therapeutic purposes. It is widely believed that fermented products were probably found, or better to say, discovered spontaneously. The legend tells that yoghurt is most likely resulted from a fermentation process within the animal skin bags used for transportation of water and milk in regions with low humidity and high temperatures (Middle Asia and Middle East). The history of probiotics goes paralel with the evolution of human race and, thanks to the sophisticated techniques at the moment, can be traced back to the ancient times, nearly 10,000 years ago. The aims of this review are to highlight the important events for probiotic history, to correct the widely available anonymous misinformation in the literature and to remind to the readers important characters in its history.
The Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform: the first 10 years
Authors: Braga F.
Published: January 2015

This teaching case, appropriate for senior undergraduate and MBA students as well as for mid-career managers, challenges students to appreciate different facets of agribusiness sustainability, and to reflect on the potential consequences on all players in the global supply chain, from farmers to retailers, of the different methodological and philosophical approaches, definitions, and practices that are developed and adopted by the different constituencies, from independent industry organizations, to food processors and retailers. The case ‘story’ is structured around a strategic decision on what further development activity should be adopted by the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Platform. SAI has just turned 10, its activities have proven quite successful, and the Platform is considering the next strategic move. The case frames the challenges facing SAI in a broader context, illustrating what SAI as well as an independent organization, the world largest food processor and largest retailer are doing about defining and measuring sustainability. The broad question is: what is the best way forward for SAI and what are the key implications of what SAI may decide, given the ongoing development of what is the reasonably new sector of defining, measuring and promoting sustainability in agribusiness? The reading materials provide context and methodological underpinnings to the case, which is designed to be discussed over two classes, ideally on separate days. The coach should withhold Part Two until the discussion of Part One has been completed. The Teaching Note, available to verified instructors considering the use of the case, provides additional suggestions on the classroom use of this material.
Effect of fungicide application to controlFusarium head blight and 20Fusarium andAlternaria mycotoxins in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Scarpino V. , Reyneri A. , Sulyok M. , Krska R. , Blandino M.
Published: January 2015

Azole fungicides have been reported to be the most effective active substances in the control ofFusarium Head Blight (FHB) and in the reduction of the main mycotoxins that occur in cereal grain, such as deoxynivalenol (DON). Four field experiments have been conducted in North West Italy, over a period of 2 growing seasons, in order to evaluate the effect of azole fungicide (prothioconazole) applications on the prevalence of emerging mycotoxins in common winter wheat under naturally-infected field conditions. Wheat samples have been analysed by means of a dilute-and-shoot multi-mycotoxin LC-MS/MS method. Twenty fungal metabolites were detected: enniatins, aurofusarin, moniliformin, equisetin, DON, deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside, culmorin, bikaverin, beauvericin, fumonisins, fusaric acid, 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol, 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol, nivalenol, zearalenone, decalonectrin, butenolide, tentoxin, alternariol and alternariol methyl ether. The most abundant fungal metabolites were DON and culmorin, with an average contamination in the untreated control of 1,360 μg/kg and 875 μg/kg, respectively, in the growing season with the highest disease pressure (2011-2012). On average, the results have shown that the fungicide application significantly reduced the enniatins (from 127 μg/kg to 46 μg/kg), aurofusarin (from 62 μg/kg to 21 μg/kg), moniliformin (from 32 μg/kg to 16 μg/kg), tentoxin (from 5.2 μg/kg to 2.5 μg/kg) and equisetin (from 0.72 μg/kg to 0.06 μg/kg) contents in all the experiments. However, DON, deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside and culmorin were only significantly reduced in the growing season with the highest disease pressure. The other fungal metabolites were mainly found in traces in the untreated plots. These results, which have been obtained in different environmental and agronomic conditions, have underlined for the first time that the fungicide usually applied to control the FHB and DON content, also consistently reduces the main emerging mycotoxins of winter wheat in temperate areas.
Decomposition of Three Common Moist-Soil Managed Wetland Plant Species
Authors: Collins Daniel P. , Conway Warren C. , Mason Corey D. , Gunnels Jeffrey W.
Published: January 2015

Moist-soil wetland management is used to precisely control delivery, duration, and timing of water addition to, and removal from, managed wetlands with targeted responses including germination and growth of desirable moist-soil plant species. Similarly, water delivery and removal drives decomposition of moist-soil plants as well as nutrient cycling within these systems, which is a key driver of productivity in such managed wetlands. Through deployment of litter bags, we examined rate of mass loss and decay coefficients of three locally abundant moist-soil annual species that are potentially valuable wintering-waterfowl food sources (nodding smartweed Persicaria lapathifolia, red-rooted flatnut sedge Cyperus erythrorhizos, and toothcup Ammannia coccinea) within man-made moist-soil managed wetlands on the Richland Creek Wildlife Management Area in East-central Texas. All three species lost nearly 100% of their mass during an 11-mo deployment period, where rate of mass lost and decay coefficient rates were driven by time, because all moist-soil managed wetlands used were inundated for the duration of this study. Plant materials exposed to persistent inundation in shallow wetlands exhibited rates of mass loss typical of the first two stages of decomposition, during which a majority of plant material mass was lost. However, during this study, typical inundation and drawdown regimes were not implemented, which may have delayed or prolonged decomposition processes, because litter bags of focal species were inundated for the duration of this study. Both locally and regionally specific moist-soil management hydroperiod manipulation should include both drawdown and inundation, to incorporate temporal transitions between these conditions. Such practices will allow wetland managers to more expeditiously meet plant management and waterfowl food production goals within moist-soil managed wetlands.
The Inducible Costimulator Augments Tc17 Cell Responses to Self and Tumor Tissue
Authors: Nelson Michelle H. , Kundimi Sreenath , Bowers Jacob S. , Rogers Carolyn E. , Huff Logan W. , Schwartz Kristina M. , Thyagarajan Krishnamurthy , Little Elizabeth C. , Mehrotra Shikhar , Cole David J. , Rubinstein Mark P. , Paulos Chrystal M.
Published: January 2015

The inducible costimulator (ICOS) plays a key role in the development of Th17 cells, but its role in the development and antitumor activity of IL-17–producing CD8+ T cells (Tc17) remains unknown. We found that ICOS costimulation was important for the functional maintenance, but not differentiation, of Tc17 cells in vitro. Blocking the ICOS pathway using an antagonist mAb or by using recipient mice genetically deficient in the ICOS ligand reduced the antitumor activity of adoptively transferred Tc17 cells. Conversely, activating Tc17 cells with an ICOS agonist in vitro enhanced their capacity to eradicate melanoma and induce autoimmune vitiligo when infused into mice. However, ICOS stimulation did not augment the antitumor activity of IL-2 expanded T cells. Additional investigation revealed that ICOS stimulation not only increased IL-2Rα, CXCR3, and IL-23R expression on Tc17 cells, but also dampened their expression of suppressive molecule CD39. Although Tc17 cells activated with an ICOS agonist cosecreted heightened IL-17A, IL-9, and IFN-γ, their therapeutic effectiveness was critically dependent on IFN-γ production. Depletion of IL-17A and IL-9 had little impact on antitumor Tc17 cells activated with an ICOS agonist. Collectively, our work reveals that the ICOS pathway potentiates the antitumor activity of adoptively transferred Tc17 cells. This work has major implications for the design of vaccine, Ab and cell-based therapies for autoimmunity, infectious disease, and cancer.
Alternatively Spliced Myeloid Differentiation Protein-2 Inhibits TLR4-Mediated Lung Inflammation
Authors: Tumurkhuu Gantsetseg , Dagvadorj Jargalsaikhan , Jones Heather D. , Chen Shuang , Shimada Kenichi , Crother Timothy R. , Arditi Moshe
Published: January 2015

We previously identified a novel alternatively spliced isoform of human myeloid differentiation protein-2 (MD-2s) that competitively inhibits binding of MD-2 to TLR4 in vitro. In this study, we investigated the protective role of MD-2s in LPS-induced acute lung injury by delivering intratracheally an adenovirus construct that expressed MD-2s (Ad-MD-2s). After adenovirus-mediated gene transfer, MD-2s was strongly expressed in lung epithelial cells and readily detected in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Compared to adenovirus serotype 5 containing an empty vector lacking a transgene control mice, Ad-MD-2s delivery resulted in significantly less LPS-induced inflammation in the lungs, including less protein leakage, cell recruitment, and expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, such as IL-6, keratinocyte chemoattractant, and MIP-2. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from Ad-MD-2s mice transferred into lungs of naive mice before intratracheal LPS challenge diminished proinflammatory cytokine levels. As house dust mite (HDM) sensitization is dependent on TLR4 and HDM Der p 2, a structural homolog of MD-2, we also investigated the effect of MD-2s on HDM–induced allergic airway inflammation. Ad-MD-2s given before HDM sensitization significantly inhibited subsequent allergic airway inflammation after HDM challenge, including reductions in eosinophils, goblet cell hyperplasia, and IL-5 levels. Our study indicates that the alternatively spliced short isoform of human MD-2 could be a potential therapeutic candidate to treat human diseases induced or exacerbated by TLR4 signaling, such as Gram-negative bacterial endotoxin-induced lung injury and HDM-triggered allergic lung inflammation.
Mapping CH4 : CO2 ratios in Los Angeles with CLARS-FTS from Mount Wilson, California
Authors: Wong K. W. , Fu D. , Pongetti T. J. , Newman S. , Kort E. A. , Duren R. , Hsu Y.-K. , Miller C. E. , Yung Y. L. , Sander S. P.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. The Los Angeles megacity, which is home to more than 40% of the population in California, is the second largest megacity in the United States and an intense source of anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHGs). Quantifying GHG emissions from the megacity and monitoring their spatiotemporal trends are essential to be able to understand the effectiveness of emission control policies. Here we measure carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) across the Los Angeles megacity using a novel approach – ground-based remote sensing from a mountaintop site. A Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) with agile pointing optics, located on Mount Wilson at 1.67 km above sea level, measures reflected near-infrared sunlight from 29 different surface targets on Mount Wilson and in the Los Angeles megacity to retrieve the slant column abundances of CO2, CH4 and other trace gases above and below Mount Wilson. This technique provides persistent space- and time-resolved observations of path-averaged dry-air GHG concentrations, XGHG, in the Los Angeles megacity and simulates observations from a geostationary satellite. In this study, we combined high-sensitivity measurements from the FTS and the panorama from Mount Wilson to characterize anthropogenic CH4 emissions in the megacity using tracer–tracer correlations. During the period between September 2011 and October 2013, the observed XCH4 : XCO2 excess ratio, assigned to anthropogenic activities, varied from 5.4 to 7.3 ppb CH4 (ppm CO2)−1, with an average of 6.4 ± 0.5 ppb CH4 (ppm CO2)−1 compared to the value of 4.6 ± 0.9 ppb CH4 (ppm CO2)−1 expected from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) bottom-up emission inventory. Persistent elevated XCH4 : XCO2 excess ratios were observed in Pasadena and in the eastern Los Angeles megacity. Using the FTS observations on Mount Wilson and the bottom-up CO2 emission inventory, we derived a top-down CH4 emission of 0.39 ± 0.06 Tg CH4 year−1 in the Los Angeles megacity. This is 18–61% larger than the state government's bottom-up CH4 emission inventory and consistent with previous studies.
Combined vertical-velocity observations with Doppler lidar, cloud radar and wind profiler
Authors: Bühl J. , Leinweber R. , Görsdorf U. , Radenz M. , Ansmann A. , Lehmann V.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. Case studies of combined vertical-velocity measurements of Doppler lidar, cloud radar and wind profiler are presented. The measurements were taken at the Meteorological Observatory Lindenberg, Germany. Synergistic products are presented that are derived from the vertical-velocity measurements of the three instruments: A comprehensive classification mask of vertically moving atmospheric targets and the terminal fall velocity of water droplets and ice crystals corrected for vertical air motion. It is shown that the measurements of the Doppler lidar can extent the view of the cloud radar and the wind profiler, especially when observing clouds.
Global sensitivity analysis of the Indian monsoon during the Pleistocene
Authors: Araya-Melo P. A. , Crucifix M. , Bounceur N.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. The sensitivity of the Indian monsoon to the full spectrum of climatic conditions experienced during the Pleistocene is estimated using the climate model HadCM3. The methodology follows a global sensitivity analysis based on the emulator approach of Oakley and O'Hagan (2004) implemented following a three-step strategy: (1) development of an experiment plan, designed to efficiently sample a five-dimensional input space spanning Pleistocene astronomical configurations (three parameters), CO2 concentration and a Northern Hemisphere glaciation index; (2) development, calibration and validation of an emulator of HadCM3 in order to estimate the response of the Indian monsoon over the full input space spanned by the experiment design; and (3) estimation and interpreting of sensitivity diagnostics, including sensitivity measures, in order to synthesise the relative importance of input factors on monsoon dynamics, estimate the phase of the monsoon intensity response with respect to that of insolation, and detect potential non-linear phenomena. By focusing on surface temperature, precipitation, mixed-layer depth and sea-surface temperature over the monsoon region during the summer season (June-July-August-September), we show that precession controls the response of four variables: continental temperature in phase with June to July insolation, high glaciation favouring a late-phase response, sea-surface temperature in phase with May insolation, continental precipitation in phase with July insolation, and mixed-layer depth in antiphase with the latter. CO2 variations control temperature variance with an amplitude similar to that of precession. The effect of glaciation is dominated by the albedo forcing, and its effect on precipitation competes with that of precession. Obliquity is a secondary effect, negligible on most variables except sea-surface temperature. It is also shown that orography forcing reduces the glacial cooling, and even has a positive effect on precipitation. As regards the general methodology, it is shown that the emulator provides a powerful approach, not only to express model sensitivity but also to estimate internal variability and detect anomalous simulations.
Water vapor mapping by fusing InSAR and GNSS remote sensing data and atmospheric simulations
Authors: Alshawaf F. , Fersch B. , Hinz S. , Kunstmann H. , Mayer M. , Meyer F. J.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. Data fusion aims at integrating multiple data sources that can be redundant or complementary to produce complete, accurate information of the parameter of interest. In this work, data fusion of precipitable water vapor (PWV) estimated from remote sensing observations and data from the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) modeling system is applied to provide complete, accurate grids of PWV. Our goal is to infer spatially continuous, precise grids of PWV from heterogeneous data sets. This is done by a geostatistical data fusion approach based on the method of fixed-rank kriging. The first data set contains absolute maps of atmospheric water vapor produced by combining observations from Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR). These PWV maps have a high spatial density and an accuracy of submillimeter; however, data are missing in regions of low coherence (e.g., forests and vegetated areas). The PWV maps simulated by the WRF model represent the second data set. The model maps are available for wide areas, but they have a coarse spatial resolution and a yet limited accuracy. The PWV maps inferred by the data fusion at any spatial resolution are more accurate than those inferred from single data sets. In addition, using the fixed-rank kriging method, the computational burden is significantly lower than that for ordinary kriging.
The Second Sex in Hungary. Simone de Beauvoir and the (Post)-Socialist Condition
Authors: Joó Mária
Published: January 2015

Beauvoir’s work was translated in 1969, a period of change in state socialism: the introduction of some elements of market economy in 1968 (called New Economic Mechanism), the publication of Western bourgeois philosophers as Sartre and Beauvoir, and Marxist philosophers’ efforts to revise orthodox Marxism. ’The woman question’ was declared to be already solved by socialism. The emblematic female identity is of the working mother: free and equal with men by virtue of law, taking part in producing new value as worker and according to her natural role as mother and wife, representing the center of the socialist family. Under these circumstances the reception of The Second Sex is highly interesting: a success (two editions in a high number of copies), but only two contemporary reviews (one friendly, one sharply critical). In this paper, I give a reconstruction of socialist women’s reading of Beauvoir, given their officially propagated homogeneous identity and their unrecognized double burden. They could have identified themselves with Beauvoir’s new, independent woman and at the same time with the traditional woman. Beauvoir’s legacy for us post-socialist women can be derived from this past: to face ambiguities in identity and to vindicate individual freedom.
Impersonal Narration in the Prose of Margit Kaffka, Emma Ritoók and Jolán Földes
Authors: Zsadányi Edit
Published: January 2015

In this paper, I examine the ways in which women writers have contributed to literary modernity, and discuss approaches and rhetoric tropes that are able to convey the peculiarities of femininity. To this purpose, I have chosen to discuss a range of gendered prose poetry methods used by women writers of the first half of the 20th century that articulate the peculiarities of women’s identities. Inspired by feminist researchers Griselda Pollock and Rita Felski, I also examine instances and possible interpretations of gendered impersonal narration, such as the rhetoric of enumeration, overlapping cultural and fictional narratives, and the projection of feminine subjectivity onto objects. I also emphasize that we must take into account not only to the voice, language and personality of a character or narrator when examining constructs of their (feminine) self-image, but also other signs emerging elsewhere in the text.
Jelinek, Yeshayahu A.: "The Carpathian Diaspora: The Jews of Subcarpathian Rus' and Mukachevo"
Authors: Rosen Ilana
Published: January 2015

Yeshayahu A. Jelinek, The Carpathian Diaspora: The Jews of Subcarpathian Rus' and Mukachevo. New York: East European Monographs, No. DCXXI. 480 pp. Reviewed by Ilana Rosen, Ben Gurion University.
Borgos, Anna, ed. Eltitkolt évek: Tizenhat leszbikus életút. [Secret Years: Sixteen Lesbian Life Journeys]
Authors: Tóth Eszter Zsófia
Published: January 2015

Reviewed by Eszter Zsófia Tóth
Cooper, Thomas. The Holocaust as Culture. A Conversation with Imre Kertész
Authors: Szűcs Teri
Published: January 2015

Reviewed by Teri Szűcs
Bárdi, Nándor, Csilla Fedinec, László Szarka, eds. Minority Hungarian Communities in the Twentieth Century
Authors: Varga Bálint
Published: January 2015

Reviewed by Bálint Varga
Propaganda Versus Genocide: The United States War Refugee Board and the Hungarian Holocaust
Authors: Halász Dorottya
Published: January 2015

In 1944 the Second World War had been raging for more than four long years, with the death toll among soldiers and civilians alike climbing. European Jews constituted a special group of the victims, a fact that leaders of the Allied powers failed to acknowledge. In January 1944 a major revision of previous government policy was brought about in the United States with the establishment of the War Refugee Board in Washington, promising an American commitment to the rescue of European war refugees, including Jews. In March of the same year the situation for Jewish inhabitants in Hungary turned dire as German forces occupied the country. For lack of any other instantly applicable way to influence Hungarian developments, leaders of the new American War Refugee Board decided to launch a propaganda campaign to fight the Nazis and their accomplices. This paper will examine the motivations of American policy makers in focusing on political propaganda measures during the first phase of the Hungarian Holocaust (March–July 1944), and it will describe the logic and workings of the campaign as a means to save Hungary’s Jewry in the last full year of the Second World War.
The Places of Memory in a Square of Monuments: Conceptions of Past, Freedom and History at Szabadság Tér
Authors: Thorstensen Erik
Published: January 2015

In this paper I try to approach contemporary Hungarian political culture through an analysis of the history of changing monuments at Szabadság Tér in Budapest. The paper has as its point of origin a protest/irredentist monument facing the present Soviet liberation monument. In order to understand this irredentist monument, I look into the meaning of the earlier irredentist monuments under Horthy and try to see what monuments were torn down under Communism and which ones remained. I further argue that changes in the other monuments also affect the meaning of the others. From this background I enter into a brief interpretation of changes in memory culture in relation to changes in political culture. The conclusions point toward the fact that Hungary is actively pursuing a cleansing of its past in public spaces, and that this process is reflected in an increased acceptance of political authoritarianism.
The Characteristics of Hungarian Women’s Names in Slovakia
Authors: Misad Katalin
Published: January 2015

The use of personal names by minority Hungarians, both men and women, varies not only according to the circumstances of the country where they live but also from community to community and even from individual to individual. This study focuses on different forms of first (given) names and family names (surnames) characteristic of female ethnic Hungarians living in Slovakia, including the usage of the Slovak feminine suffix -ová with Hungarian surnames of women. The paper also discusses the topic of relevant legislation – laws and regulations – concerning the use of personal names of members of national minorities which, to a great extent and especially for women, can influence the choice of the form of their given name and surname
Review Article: Inventing Historical Myths—Deborah S. Cornelius. Hungary in World War II. Caught in the Cauldron.
Authors: Pastor Peter
Published: January 2015

This article questions the validity of Deborah S. Cornelius’s claims which she presents in her recently published book on interwar and World War II Hungary. These exonerate the revisionist, anti-Semitic and war-time policies of the Horthy regime. The monograph also presents the Hungarian leaders in an undeservedly positive light. The author of the review demonstrates that Cornelius’s representation of the past was accomplished by the selective reading of primary and secondary sources. Cornelius also commits too many factual errors in order to justify some of her assertions.