bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stability constants and stoichiometries of chromium and zirconium carboxylates complexes calculated by four comparative methods
Authors: Omar Abdalazeem , Ali Elmugdad
Published: January 2015

Four comparative methods for determination of stoichiometries and stability constants of chromium and zirconium complexes with citric and propanoic acids were studies, in purpose to select the most accurate and sensitive method, and to compare the formation of complexes of these two transition metals. (Cr 1st transition series group 6B, Zr 2nd transition series group 4B)Metal-ligand stability constants and stoichiometries of the above systems were determined by Calvin & Bjerrum pH-metric titration technique as adopted by Irving & Rossotti.Four methods employed were point-wise calculation method, half integral method, linear plot method and least squares method. The result seems in a good agreement with each other and any method can represents the other.
Aceptación de la Institución Universitaria desde el Punto de Vista del Alumnado
Authors: Calvo de Mora Javier , Gallego-Arrufat María-Jesús , Lamas Francisco-J. , García-López Pedro-Antonio
Published: January 2015

Este artículo aborda la percepción de los estudiantes sobre la institución universitaria. Los estudiantes universitarios muestran una aceptación percibida de carácter institucional, académico y personal, según las evidencias empíricas obtenidas a través de un cuestionario sobre la percepción de la institución universitaria realizado en la Universidad de Granada, España. La percepción de los estudiantes contiene actitudes relacionadas con cierta conformidad institucional y adopta formas cercanas al pragmatismo académico. Los estudiantes universitarios encuestados, de diferentes Grados, género y edad, revelan una actitud general de conformidad con la institución de educación superior, con las acciones de enseñanza y los recursos y un sentimiento de pertenencia institucional sustentado en motivaciones internas y externas dentro de la misma institución de educación superior.
Purification and characterization of kraft lignin
Authors: Fang Wenwen , Alekhina Marina , Ershova Olga , Heikkinen Sami , Sixta Herbert
Published: January 2015

To upgrade the utilization of kraft lignin (KL) for high-performance lignin-based materials (e.g., carbon fiber), the purity, molecular mass distribution (MMD), and thermal properties need to be improved and adjusted to target values. Therefore, different methods, such as ultrasonic extraction (UE), solvent extraction, dialysis, and hot water treatment (HWT), were applied for the purification of KL. The chemical and thermal properties of purified lignin have been characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared, gel permeation chromatography, elemental analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. The lignin fractions obtained by UE with ethanol/acetone (E/A) mixture (9:1) revealed a very narrow MMD and were nearly free of inorganic compounds and carbohydrates. Further, the E/A-extracted lignin showed a lower glass transition temperature (Tg) and a clearly detectable melting temperature (Tm). Dialysis followed by HWT at 220°C is an efficient method for the removal of inorganics and carbohydrates; however, lignin was partly forming condensed structures during the treatment.
Imaging the Awake Visual Cortex with a Genetically Encoded Voltage Indicator
Authors: Carandini Matteo , Shimaoka Daisuke , Rossi L. Federico , Sato Tatsuo K. , Benucci Andrea , Knöpfel Thomas
Published: January 2015

Genetically encoded voltage indicators (GEVIs) promise to reveal the membrane potential of genetically targeted neuronal populations through noninvasive, chronic imaging of large portions of cortical space. Here we test a promising GEVI in mouse cortex during wakefulness, a challenging condition due to large hemodynamic activity, and we introduce a straightforward projection method to separate a signal dominated by membrane voltage from a signal dominated by hemodynamic activity. We expressed VSFP-Butterfly 1.2 plasmid in layer 2/3 pyramidal cells of visual cortex through electroporationin utero. We then used wide-field imaging with two cameras to measure both fluorophores of the indicator in response to visual stimuli. By taking weighted sums and differences of the two measurements, we obtained clear separation of hemodynamic and voltage signals. The hemodynamic signal showed strong heartbeat oscillations, superimposed on slow dynamics similar to blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) or “intrinsic” signals. The voltage signal had fast dynamics similar to neural responses measured electrically, and showed an orderly retinotopic mapping. We compared this voltage signal with calcium signals imaged in transgenic mice that express a calcium indicator (GCaMP3) throughout cortex. The voltage signal from VSFP had similar signal-to-noise ratios as the calcium signal, it was more immune to vascular artifacts, and it integrated over larger regions of visual space, which was consistent with its reporting mostly subthreshold activity rather than the spiking activity revealed by calcium signals. These results demonstrate that GEVIs provide a powerful tool to study the dynamics of neural populations at mesoscopic spatial scales in the awake cortex.
PDE-4 Inhibition Rescues Aberrant Synaptic Plasticity inDrosophilaand Mouse Models of Fragile X Syndrome
Authors: Choi Catherine H. , Schoenfeld Brian P. , Weisz Eliana D. , Bell Aaron J. , Chambers Daniel B. , Hinchey Joseph , Choi Richard J. , Hinchey Paul , Kollaros Maria , Gertner Michael J. , Ferrick Neal J. , Terlizzi Allison M. , Yohn Nicole , Koenigsberg Eric , Liebelt David A. , Zukin R. Suzanne , Woo Newton H. , Tranfaglia Michael R. , Louneva Natalia , Arnold Steven E. , Siegel Steven J. , Bolduc Francois V. , McDonald Thomas V. , Jongens Thomas A. , McBride Sean M. J.
Published: January 2015

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the leading cause of both intellectual disability and autism resulting from a single gene mutation. Previously, we characterized cognitive impairments and brain structural defects in aDrosophilamodel of FXS and demonstrated that these impairments were rescued by treatment with metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) antagonists or lithium. A well-documented biochemical defect observed in fly and mouse FXS models and FXS patients is low cAMP levels. cAMP levels can be regulated by mGluR signaling. Herein, we demonstrate PDE-4 inhibition as a therapeutic strategy to ameliorate memory impairments and brain structural defects in theDrosophilamodel of fragile X. Furthermore, we examine the effects of PDE-4 inhibition by pharmacologic treatment in the fragile X mouse model. We demonstrate that acute inhibition of PDE-4 by pharmacologic treatment in hippocampal slices rescues the enhanced mGluR-dependent LTD phenotype observed in FXS mice. Additionally, we find that chronic treatment of FXS model mice, in adulthood, also restores the level of mGluR-dependent LTD to that observed in wild-type animals. Translating the findings of successful pharmacologic intervention from theDrosophilamodel into the mouse model of FXS is an important advance, in that this identifies and validates PDE-4 inhibition as potential therapeutic intervention for the treatment of individuals afflicted with FXS.
Disturbed Neuronal ER-Golgi Sorting of Unassembled Glycine Receptors Suggests Altered Subcellular Processing Is a Cause of Human Hyperekplexia
Authors: Schaefer Natascha , Kluck Christoph J. , Price Kerry L. , Meiselbach Heike , Vornberger Nadine , Schwarzinger Stephan , Hartmann Stephanie , Langlhofer Georg , Schulz Solveig , Schlegel Nadja , Brockmann Knut , Lynch Bryan , Becker Cord-Michael , Lummis Sarah C.R. , Villmann Carmen
Published: January 2015

Recent studies on the pathogenic mechanisms of recessive hyperekplexia indicate disturbances in glycine receptor (GlyR) α1 biogenesis. Here, we examine the properties of a range of novel glycine receptor mutants identified in human hyperekplexia patients using expression in transfected cell lines and primary neurons. All of the novel mutants localized in the large extracellular domain of the GlyR α1 have reduced cell surface expression with a high proportion of receptors being retained in the ER, although there is forward trafficking of glycosylated subpopulations into the ER-Golgi intermediate compartment andcis-Golgi compartment. CD spectroscopy revealed that the mutant receptors have proportions of secondary structural elements similar to wild-type receptors. Two mutants in loop B (G160R, T162M) were functional, but none of those in loop D/β2–3 were. One nonfunctional truncated mutant (R316X) could be rescued by coexpression with the lacking C-terminal domain. We conclude that a proportion of GlyR α1 mutants can be transported to the plasma membrane but do not necessarily form functional ion channels. We suggest that loop D/β2–3 is an important determinant for GlyR trafficking and functionality, whereas alterations to loop B alter agonist potencies, indicating that residues here are critical elements in ligand binding.
Temporal Plasticity Involved in Recovery from Manual Dexterity Deficit after Motor Cortex Lesion in Macaque Monkeys
Authors: Murata Yumi , Higo Noriyuki , Hayashi Takuya , Nishimura Yukio , Sugiyama Yoko , Oishi Takao , Tsukada Hideo , Isa Tadashi , Onoe Hirotaka
Published: January 2015

The question of how intensive motor training restores motor function after brain damage or stroke remains unresolved. Here we show that the ipsilesional ventral premotor cortex (PMv) and perilesional primary motor cortex (M1) of rhesus macaque monkeys are involved in the recovery of manual dexterity after a lesion of M1. A focal lesion of the hand digit area in M1 was made by means of ibotenic acid injection. This lesion initially caused flaccid paralysis in the contralateral hand but was followed by functional recovery of hand movements, including precision grip, during the course of daily postlesion motor training. Brain imaging of regional cerebral blood flow by means of H215O-positron emission tomography revealed enhanced activity of the PMv during the early postrecovery period and increased functional connectivity within M1 during the late postrecovery period. The causal role of these areas in motor recovery was confirmed by means of pharmacological inactivation by muscimol during the different recovery periods. These findings indicate that, in both the remaining primary motor and premotor cortical areas, time-dependent plastic changes in neural activity and connectivity are involved in functional recovery from the motor deficit caused by the M1 lesion. Therefore, it is likely that the PMv, an area distant from the core of the lesion, plays an important role during the early postrecovery period, whereas the perilesional M1 contributes to functional recovery especially during the late postrecovery period.
Extracellular Glutamate Exposure Facilitates Group I mGluR-Mediated Epileptogenesis in the Hippocampus
Authors: Zhao Wangfa , Chuang Shih-Chieh , Young Steven R. , Bianchi Riccardo , Wong Robert K.S.
Published: January 2015

Stimulation of group I mGluRs elicits several forms of translation-dependent neuronal plasticity including epileptogenesis. The translation process underlying plasticity induction is controlled by repressors including the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP). In the absence of FMRP-mediated repression, a condition that occurs in a mouse model (Fmr1−/−) of fragile X syndrome, group I mGluR-activated translation is exaggerated causing enhanced seizure propensity. We now show that glutamate exposure (10 μmfor 30 min) reduced FMRP levels in wild-type mouse hippocampal slices. Downregulation of FMRP was dependent on group I mGluR activation and was blocked by a proteasome inhibitor (MG-132). Following glutamate exposure, synaptic stimulation induced prolonged epileptiform discharges with properties similar to those observed inFmr1−/−preparations. In both cases, prolonged epileptiform discharges were blocked by group I mGluR antagonists (LY367385 + MPEP) and their induction was prevented by protein synthesis inhibitor (anisomycin). The results suggest that stimulation of group I mGluRs during glutamate exposure caused proteolysis of FMRP. Reduction of FMRP led to enhanced synaptic group I mGluR-mediated translation. Elevated translation facilitated the recruitment of group I mGluR-mediated prolonged epileptiform discharges.
Early-Course Unmedicated Schizophrenia Patients Exhibit Elevated Prefrontal Connectivity Associated with Longitudinal Change
Authors: Anticevic Alan , Hu Xinyu , Xiao Yuan , Hu Junmei , Li Fei , Bi Feng , Cole Michael W. , Savic Aleksandar , Yang Genevieve J. , Repovs Grega , Murray John D. , Wang Xiao-Jing , Huang Xiaoqi , Lui Su , Krystal John H. , Gong Qiyong
Published: January 2015

Strong evidence implicates prefrontal cortex (PFC) as a major source of functional impairment in severe mental illness such as schizophrenia. Numerous schizophrenia studies report deficits in PFC structure, activation, and functional connectivity in patients with chronic illness, suggesting that deficient PFC functional connectivity occurs in this disorder. However, the PFC functional connectivity patterns during illness onset and its longitudinal progression remain uncharacterized. Emerging evidence suggests that early-course schizophrenia involves increased PFC glutamate, which might elevate PFC functional connectivity. To test this hypothesis, we examined 129 non-medicated, human subjects diagnosed with early-course schizophrenia and 106 matched healthy human subjects using both whole-brain data-driven and hypothesis-driven PFC analyses of resting-state fMRI. We identified increased PFC connectivity in early-course patients, predictive of symptoms and diagnostic classification, but less evidence for “hypoconnectivity.” At the whole-brain level, we observed “hyperconnectivity” around areas centered on the default system, with modest overlap with PFC-specific effects. The PFC hyperconnectivity normalized for a subset of the sample followed longitudinally (n= 25), which also predicted immediate symptom improvement. Biologically informed computational modeling implicates altered overall connection strength in schizophrenia. The initial hyperconnectivity, which may decrease longitudinally, could have prognostic and therapeutic implications.
Learning Modifies Odor Mixture Processing to Improve Detection of Relevant Components
Authors: Chen Jen-Yung , Marachlian Emiliano , Assisi Collins , Huerta Ramon , Smith Brian H. , Locatelli Fernando , Bazhenov Maxim
Published: January 2015

Honey bees have a rich repertoire of olfactory learning behaviors, and they therefore are an excellent model to study plasticity in olfactory circuits. Recent behavioral, physiological, and molecular evidence suggested that the antennal lobe, the first relay of the olfactory system in insects and analog to the olfactory bulb in vertebrates, is involved in associative and nonassociative olfactory learning. Here we use calcium imaging to reveal how responses across antennal lobe projection neurons change after association of an input odor with appetitive reinforcement. After appetitive conditioning to 1-hexanol, the representation of an odor mixture containing 1-hexanol becomes more similar to this odor and less similar to the background odor acetophenone. We then apply computational modeling to investigate how changes in synaptic connectivity can account for the observed plasticity. Our study suggests that experience-dependent modulation of inhibitory interactions in the antennal lobe aids perception of salient odor components mixed with behaviorally irrelevant background odors.
Fgf-Signaling-Dependent Sox9a and Atoh1a Regulate Otic Neural Development in Zebrafish
Authors: Wang Jialiang , Wu Ying , Zhao Feng , Wu Yuting , Dong Wei , Zhao Jue , Zhu Zuoyan , Liu Dong
Published: January 2015

Fibroblast growth factors (Fgfs) play important roles in developmental processes of the inner ear, including the ontogeny of the statoacoustic ganglia (SAG) and hair cells. However, the detailed genetic mechanism(s) underlying Fgf/Fgfr-dependent otic neural development remains elusive. Using conditional genetic approaches and inhibitory small molecules, we have revealed that Fgfr-PI3K/Akt signaling is mainly responsible for zebrafish SAG development and have determined that Sox9a and Atoh1a act downstream of Fgfr-Akt signaling to specify and/or maintain the otic neuron fate during the early segmentation stage. Sox9a and Atoh1a coregulate numerous downstream factors identified through our ChIP-seq analyses, including Tlx2 and Eya2. Fgfr-Erk1/2 signaling contributes to ultricular hair cell development during a critical period between 9 and 15 hours postfertilization. Our work reveals that a genetic network of the previously known sensory determinant Atoh1 and the neural crest determinant Sox9 plays critical roles in SAG development. These newly uncovered roles for Atoh1and Sox9 in zebrafish otic development may be relevant to study in other species.
Motor Origin of Precise Synaptic Inputs onto Forebrain Neurons Driving a Skilled Behavior
Authors: Vallentin Daniela , Long Michael A.
Published: January 2015

Sensory feedback is crucial for learning and performing many behaviors, but its role in the execution of complex motor sequences is poorly understood. To address this, we consider the forebrain nucleus HVC in the songbird, which contains the premotor circuitry for song production and receives multiple convergent sensory inputs. During singing, projection neurons within HVC exhibit precisely timed synaptic events that may represent the ongoing motor program or song-related sensory feedback. To distinguish between these possibilities, we recorded the membrane potential from identified HVC projection neurons in singing zebra finches. External auditory perturbations during song production did not affect synaptic inputs in these neurons. Furthermore, the systematic removal of three sensory feedback streams (auditory, proprioceptive, and vagal) did not alter the frequency or temporal precision of synaptic activity observed. These findings support a motor origin for song-related synaptic events and suggest an updated circuit model for generating behavioral sequences.
Assessment of right ventricular volumes and ejection fraction by echocardiography: from geometric approximations to realistic shapes
Authors: Ostenfel Ellen , Flachskampf Frank A.
Published: January 2015

Right ventricular volumes and ejection fraction are challenging to assess by echocardiography, but are well established as functional and prognostic parameters. Three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography has become widespread and relatively easy to use, making calculation of these parameters feasible in the large majority of patients. We review past attempts to estimate right ventricular volumes, current strengths and weaknesses of 3D echocardiography for this task, and compare with corresponding data from magnetic resonance imaging.
Conversion of the LIN-1 ETS Protein ofCaenorhabditis elegansfrom a SUMOylated Transcriptional Repressor to a Phosphorylated Transcriptional Activator
Authors: Leight Elizabeth R , Murphy John T , Fantz Douglas A , Pepin Danielle , Schneider Daniel L , Ratliff Thomas M , Mohammad Duaa H , Herman Michael A , Kornfeld Kerry
Published: January 2015

The LIN-1 ETS transcription factor plays a pivotal role in controlling cell fate decisions during development of the Caenorhabditis elegans vulva. Prior to activation of the RTK/Ras/ERK-signaling pathway, LIN-1 functions as a SUMOylated transcriptional repressor that inhibits vulval cell fate. Here we demonstrate using the yeast two-hybrid system that SUMOylation of LIN-1 mediates interactions with a protein predicted to be involved in transcriptional repression: the RAD-26 Mi-2β/CHD4 component of the nucleosome remodeling and histone deacetylation (NuRD) transcriptional repression complex. Genetic studies indicated that rad-26 functions to inhibit vulval cell fates in worms. Using the yeast two-hybrid system, we showed that the EGL-27/MTA1 component of the NuRD complex binds the carboxy-terminus of LIN-1 independently of LIN-1 SUMOylation. EGL-27 also binds UBC-9, an enzyme involved in SUMOylation, and MEP-1, a zinc-finger protein previously shown to bind LIN-1. Genetic studies indicate that egl-27 inhibits vulval cell fates in worms. These results suggest that LIN-1 recruits multiple proteins that repress transcription via both the SUMOylated amino-terminus and the unSUMOylated carboxy-terminus. Assays in cultured cells showed that the carboxy-terminus of LIN-1 was converted to a potent transcriptional activator in response to active ERK. We propose a model in which LIN-1 recruits multiple transcriptional repressors to inhibit the 1° vulval cell fate, and phosphorylation by ERK converts LIN-1 to a transcriptional activator that promotes the 1° vulval cell fate.
The use of MRI technology for studying the adhesion of microparticles
Authors: Sarvašová N. , Dvořák J. , Štěpánek F.
Published: January 2015

The very synthesis of functional microparticles is generally deemed the most necessary, but obviously not the only step in successful product development. The behavior of obtained microparticles has to be tested in environments resembling the end use conditions to ensure the desired functionality. During the testing, various problems concerning particles behavior can arise, e.g.unwanted adhesion(before the successful delivering of particles to the region of interest, they will adhere somewhere else, thus hindering the delivery of transported substance),insufficient adhesion(in cases, when the particle adhesion is desired, e.g. specific adhesion for targeted delivery, the end amount of adhered particles might not be sufficient for reaching the expected concentration of released substance, meaning adhesion is not strong enough under given conditions) orparticle breakage(some particles are of more fragile structure, which can result in condition limitations, in which they can exist without damage). Furthermore, regarding specific adhesion, the demonstration of such particle functionality should also be performed before testing on living organisms, preferably in conditions resembling the end use.
Quasi-static and Dynamic Nanoindentation Testing of Lamellar and Inter-lamellar Trabecular Bone
Authors: Staedler Thorsten , Donnelly Eve , Meulen Marjolein C. H. van der , Baker Shefford P.
Published: January 2015

Bone is a complex natural composite with a lamellar structure on the micro scale. In this study, scanning nanoindentation was used to assess the mechanical properties of individual lamellar and inter-lamellar components of trabecular bone under static and dynamic loading conditions. The combination of careful sample preparation, good topographical characterization of the sample surface, and a scanning nanoindenter provided insight into the mechanical properties of the individual lamellar structures. The results of quasi-static, as well as dynamic nanoindentation tests of bone are reported and discussed.

A surface roughness of only 18-20 nm RMS was achieved. Nonetheless, indentation depths in the range of 100 nm and above were required in order to minimize the effect of topography on the measurement. This requirement conflicts with the need to keep the probed volume small enough to sample only one component at a time. A simple volume-averaging model was developed and used as a tool to determine when individual lamellar bone structures were being probed and to help determine the properties of the lamellar and inter-lamellar materials.
Diversity and ecological aspects of aquatic insect communities from montane streams in southern Brazil
Authors: Braun Bruna Marmitt , Pires Mateus Marques , Kotzian Carla Bender , Spies Marcia Regina
Published: January 2015

AIMS: In this study, the diversity of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera and Coleoptera communities was surveyed in the Toropi River basin, a watershed localized in a slope region, in southernmost Brazil. The influence of some local abiotic factors on the most common genera was also analyzed. METHODS: Samplings were conducted at 40 sites in 1st-4th order streams, along a short elevation gradient (70-500 m), with a Surber sampler. Water physico-chemical factors, as well as substrate type, were obtained at each site. RESULTS: At all, 5,320 specimens were collected, belonging to 18 families and 52 genera. The caddisflies Austrotinodes and Celaenotrichia, and an undescribed Elmidae, Genus M, are new records for the region. The caddisfly Smicridea was the most frequent genus in the study area. The mayflies Camelobaetidius, Paracloeodes and Americabaetis were influenced by stream order. Smicridea was related to air temperature, while the mayfly Thraulodes was influenced by high levels of electrical conductivity. CONCLUSIONS: The high diversity found in the study area, compared to other Brazilian regions, reflects the environmental heterogeneity in the region. These data show that hydrographic basins in slope areas from extreme Southern Brazil sustain high levels of diversity of aquatic insect communities.
The influence of rain in limnological characteristics of Viruá wetlands, Brazilian Amazon
Authors: Vale Julio Daniel do , Zuanon Jansen , Magnusson William Ernest
Published: January 2015

AIM: Floodplains occupy a vast area of the Amazon basin but little is known of how their physical and limnological characteristics respond to local and regional ecological processes. In the Negro River basin and its main tributary, the Branco River, there are large areas that are seasonally flooded by water from local rainfall and that are not directly connected to major rivers. One such area is the floodplain of Viruá National Park, in Roraima state, northern Brazil. METHODS: The physical and chemical limnological characteristics of 19 plots in this area were monitored over three years (2008‑2010), with samples collected each year at the beginning and end of the rainy season (May to August). RESULTS: The water bodies studied had low mean values for electrical conductivity (22.0 ± 14.0 µS*cm-1) and pH (4.8 ± 0.7), relatively high temperatures (26.6 ± 2.7 °C), and moderate values for dissolved oxygen saturation (43.0 ± 21.5%) and water transparency (87.9 ± 38.7 cm). There was no significant difference in the limnological characteristics of the aquatic plots between the beginning and end of the rainy seasons in 2008 and 2010, but there were significant differences in 2009 due to an atypical rainfall pattern with two short dry spells during the rainy season. Multivariate analysis showed that the highest temporal variations in the limnological characteristics of the aquatic plots resulted from changes in water transparency, and these changes were related to soil type, elevation of the plot, and the particular micro-basins to which they were connected. CONCLUSIONS: This dynamic is different from that of most floodplains in the Amazon region, where the limnological pattern is well-defined seasonally and strongly dependent on the direct connectivity to large river systems. Floodplains not connected to large rivers should receive special attention in relation to the expected impacts of global climate change because of their high dependence on local rainfall.
Environmental integrity and damselfly species composition in Amazonian streams at the "arc of deforestation" region, Mato Grosso, Brazil
Authors: Brasil Leandro Schlemmer , Batista Joana Darc , Giehl Nubia França da Silva , Valadão Marco Bruno Xavier , Santos Josias Oliveira dos , Dias-Silva Karina
Published: January 2015

AIMS: Investigated how the loss of environmental integrity affects damselfly species composition in nine sites with different levels of environmental integrity in a Cerrado-Amazon transition region known as "arc of deforestation" in Mato Grosso State, Brazil. We also tested the influence of environmental variables on species composition. METHODS: We collected in transects of 100 m and used ordination (PCoA) and simple linear regression. RESULTS: Species composition was strongly influenced by the environmental quality of sites, and the best model to explain species composition included variables related to channel morphology. CONCLUSIONS: These results are connected to the environmental homogenization and loss of environmental integrity as a result of extensive agricultural practices which alter stream communities of dragonflies in this region.
Spatial and temporal heterogeneity in a subtropical reservoir and their effects over the benthic macroinvertebrate community
Authors: Beghelli Frederico Guilherme de Souza , Santos André Cordeiro Alves dos , Urso-Guimarães Maria Virgínia , Calijuri Maria do Carmo
Published: January 2015

AIM: The objective of the present study was to demonstrate the influences of the environment spatial heterogeneity on benthic macroinvertebrates considering transverse and longitudinal gradients as also seasonality. METHODS: Four samplings were performed: two in the wet and two in the dry season in the riverine, transitional and lacustrine zones in the littoral and profundal regions of Itupararanga reservoir, SP, Brazil. Abiotic characterization of the water and of the sediment was performed. The biotic characterization was based on richness, dominance, diversity, and density of organisms, as well as on the relative abundance of predominant taxa. Two-way ANOSIM analyses were performed for both biotic and abiotic components, in order to test the significance of the differences in the longitudinal and transverse directions as well as of the differences between seasons. RESULTS: Compartmentalization was present in both directions, longitudinal and transverse. In a general way, the littoral region presented higher diversity values when compared with the profundal region, and the riverine zone presented high densities and high percentage of taxons, which usually indicate organic pollution. The differentiation between the transitional and lacustrine zones was determined mainly by taxonomic composition. Seasonality was also observed and the transportation of small particles, the entrance of nutrients, and the presence of macrophytes were considered as determinants for differentiation. CONCLUSIONS: Together, these results demonstrate the responses of benthic macroinvertebrate communities considering distinct sources of variation: longitudinal heterogeneity, determined by the increasing distance from the forming rivers that leads to a gradient of physical and chemical conditions; transverse heterogeneity, determined by the proximity with the land environment and depth differences. Seasonal heterogeneity was recorded during the period of this research and it was determined by variations in water flow, in temperature, and in the carrying of matter, nutrients and organisms.
Practical Management of Bevacizumab-Related Toxicities in Glioblastoma
Authors: Brandes Alba A. , Bartolotti Marco , Tosoni Alicia , Poggi Rosalba , Franceschi Enrico
Published: January 2015

Bevacizumab, currently an option for treatment of different types of tumors including glioblastoma, has a peculiar toxicity profile related to its antiangiogenic effect. Because some bevacizumab-related adverse events can be life threatening, it is important to identify risk factors and to establish treatment protocols to minimize treatment-related morbidity and mortality. In glioblastoma patients, the risk of developing certain side effects, such as gastrointestinal perforation, venous thromboembolism, and intracranial hemorrhages, is slightly higher than in patients treated with bevacizumab for other tumor types. We performed a systematic review of the side effects of bevacizumab and their incidence, causal mechanisms, and available treatments. Finally, we identified risk factors and proposed preventive and therapeutic measures for these adverse events.
Effect of atmospheric pressure on air content and air void parameters of concrete
Authors: Li Xuefeng , Fu Zhi , Luo Zhu
Published: January 2015

The effects of atmospheric pressure changes on the air-entraining capability of air-entraining admixtures and the air void parameters of hardened concrete are studied using a low-pressure test chamber to simulate plateau environments with thin air and low atmospheric pressure. Results indicate that the atmospheric pressure of the environment significantly affects the performance of air-entraining admixtures. The air content of fresh concrete decreases by approximately 20–49% when the atmospheric pressure is 50 kPa with respect to when at normal atmospheric pressure (101 kPa). The air content of fresh concrete decreases linearly as atmospheric pressure drops. The air void parameters of concrete mixed when atmospheric pressure is low are worse than when it is mixed under normal atmospheric pressure. However, when the air content of hardened concrete reaches a certain value (4%) as the dosage of air-entraining admixtures is increased, the spacing factor could achieve freezing–thawing resistance (300 μm). The enhanced surface tension of liquids at low atmospheric pressure may contribute to the decreased air-entraining capability of air-entraining admixtures.
An orchid bee of the genus Eulaema in Early Miocene Mexican amber (Hymenoptera: Apidae)
Authors: Engel Michael S.
Published: January 2015

The first fossil orchid bee from Early Miocene Mexican amber is described and figured.  Eulaema (Apeulaema) zigrasi Engel, new species, represents the first non-meliponine bee fossil documented from Mexican amber as well as the first fossil of its genus.  The new species is distinguished from its congeners and comments are briefly made regarding the geological history of Euglossini.
A diminutive pelecinid wasp from the Eocene Kishenehn Formation of northwestern Montana (Hymenoptera: Pelecinidae)
Authors: Greenwalt Dale , Engel Michael S.
Published: January 2015

A new genus and species of pelecinid wasp (Proctotrupoidea: Pelecinidae) is described and figured from a single male preserved in oil shale from the middle Eocene Kishenehn Formation of northwestern Montana.  Phasmatopelecinus leonae Greenwalt & Engel, new genus and species, is distinguished from other Tertiary and Mesozoic pelecinids as well as the Recent genus Pelecinus Latreille.  Despite the fact that there are more than 15 times more fossil than living species in the family, P. leonae is only the second Tertiary member of the family discovered to date.
The Validation of the Coping and Adaptation Processing Scale Based on the Roy Adaptation Model
Authors: Alkrisat Muder , Dee Vivien
Published: January 2015

Background and Purpose: To establish the psychometric soundness for Coping and Adaptation Processing Scale (CAPS) using the Roy adaptation model as theoretical framework. Method: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of 199 nurses working in different acute health care facilities in California. The internal consistency of the multifactor CAPS questionnaire was explored using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Factors correlation was examined using Pearson product moment correlation. The factor structure was studied using confirmatory factor analyses. Results: In the confirmatory factor analysis, the indices of fitness highly supported these results. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the total score was .81 and varied between .31 and .78 in the 5 domains. A positive and significant correlation emerged between CAPS factors and total scores (r = .91, p < .01) ranging from .17 to .81. CAPS showed acceptable validity and reliability for measuring the coping of nurses in acute setting. Future studies using the scale might lead to the improvement of the subscales measurement. Conclusion: The psychometric data suggests that CAPS is a highly suitable instrument to measure coping processes.
Therapeutic Effects of Systemic Vitamin K2 and Vitamin D3 on Gingival Inflammation and Alveolar Bone in Rats With Experimentally Induced Periodontitis
Authors: Aral Kübra , Alkan Banu Arzu , Saraymen Recep , Yay Arzu , Şen Ahmet , Önder Gözde Özge
Published: January 2015

Background: The synergistic effects of vitamin D3 and vitamin K2 on bone loss prevention have been reported. This study evaluates the effects of vitamin D3 and vitamin K2 supplementation in conjunction with conventional periodontal therapy (scaling and root planing [SRP]) on gingival interleukin (IL)‐1β and IL‐10, serum bone alkaline phosphatase (B‐ALP) and tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRAP‐5b), and calcium and alveolar bone levels in rats with experimentally induced periodontitis.

Methods: Seventy‐two rats were divided into the following groups: 1) healthy; 2) periodontitis; 3) SRP; 4) SRP + vitamin D3; 5) SRP + vitamin K2; and 6) SRP + vitamins K2 and D3. Periodontitis was induced by ligature placement for 7 days, and vitamin K2 (30 mg/kg) and/or vitamin D3 (2 μg/kg) were administered for 10 days in the SRP + vitamin D3, SRP + vitamin K2, and SRP + vitamins K2 and D3 groups by oral gavage. On day 18, the animals were sacrificed, serum B‐ALP, TRAP‐5b, and calcium levels were measured, gingiva specimens were extracted for IL‐1β and IL‐10 analysis, and distances between the cemento‐enamel junction and alveolar bone crest were evaluated.

Results: Alveolar bone levels in the periodontitis group were significantly greater than those in the other five groups. No significant differences were found in gingival IL‐1β and IL‐10, serum B‐ALP and TRAP‐5b, and calcium and alveolar bone levels between the groups receiving SRP and vitamins and the group receiving SRP alone.

Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, vitamin D3 and K2 alone or in combination did not affect gingival IL‐1β and IL‐10, serum B‐ALP and TRAP‐5b levels, or alveolar bone compared with conventional periodontal therapy alone.
Kinetic and Thermodynamic Studies on Removal of Cu(II) from Aqueous Solutions using Soil Nanoclays
Authors: Chen Yueh‐Min , Tsao Tsung‐Ming , Wang Ming‐Kuang , Yu Shen , Liu Cheng‐Chung , Li Hong‐Chun , Chiu Chih‐Yu , Wang Liaug‐Chi
Published: January 2015

Soil clays (< 2,000 nm) (SC) and soil nanoclays (< 100 nm) (SNC) were used as adsorbents for removal of Cu(II) from aqueous solution. The experiments were conducted with variables including pH, interaction time, concentration of Cu(II) and temperature. Four kinetic models have been employed to investigate adsorption mechanisms, and the experimental data more closely resemble a second‐order process of the kinetic model. Adsorption studies on soil nanoclays have been shown to be highly effective in removing of Cu(II) from aqueous solution. This adsorbent is widely available as a natural material, is mechanically stable and, most importantly, it is environmentally appealing. The maximum Cu(II) adsorption capacity of soil nanoclays (31.7 mg/g) is more than three times higher than natural soil clays (10.2 mg/g). Our study demonstrates that soil nanoclays can be used effectively for removal of Cu(II) from aqueous systems to achieve environmental cleaning purposes.
A Five-Year-Old Child with a Subcutaneous Forehead Nodule
Authors: Westblade Lars F. , Fischer Peter U. , Haghi Nina , Schniederjan Matthew J. , Pritt Bobbi S. , Long John G. , Jerris Robert C. , Garola Robert E.
Published: January 2015

We describe a case of a 5-year-old girl with onchocerciasis. The patient was recently adopted from Ethiopia and presented with a firm, raised nodule on the midportion of the forehead. Initially, Langerhans cell histiocytosis with bone involvement was suspected; however, histopathologic analysis of the excised nodule revealed the presence of a young-adult, female Onchocerca volvulus worm. This case exemplifies the importance of recognizing the key morphologic characteristics of adult O. volvulus worms isolated from pediatric patients in nonendemic areas to ensure adroit clinical management.
Measurement of 14C Content in Leaves near a Cement Factory in Mount Lebanon
Authors: Baydoun Rana , El Samad Omar , Nsouli Bilal , Younes Ghassan
Published: January 2015

Radiocarbon content in biogenic samples is widely used to study the variation of atmospheric CO2 due to anthropogenic activities. A total of 26 samples of evergreen and deciduous tree leaves, as well as seasonal small plant leaves, were analyzed for this study. Sampling was carried out at the end of the vegetation season from rural villages surrounding a cement factory in Mount Lebanon Province, Lebanon. Reference samples of identical species were collected during the same period from a clean zone. The conventional 14C method was used for the determination of Δ14C values. The data showed that the 14C concentration in the studied sites was significantly lower than the clean area, due to the release of anthropogenic CO2. In order to estimate the Suess effect, the fossil fuel fraction was determined based on equations of mass balance for CO2 concentration, stable isotopic composition of carbon, and 14C concentration. The results showed that selected locations are affected differently according to their distance from the factory and the wind direction.
Belarusian Traditional Culture in the Legacy of Oskar Kolberg
Authors: Niakrasava Anastasiya
Published: January 2015

The article examines the subject of Belarusian musical and
ethnographic materials collected by Oskar Kolberg. The materials
on Belarusian folk culture, which were collected by the researcher
throughout his whole life, were published almost 80 years after his
death in Volume 52 Belarus–Polesie, while some of them are also
to be found in Volume 53 Lithuania. Thus, the geography of these
materials extends far beyond the borders of contemporary Belarus.
However, individual regions of the country are not equally represented.
Using the works of his predecessors, Kolberg compiled information
about the culture and ethnography of Belarus and supplemented
it with his own research. The author of this article divides the materials
used to compile Volume 52 into two unequal groups: publications
of other authors and the personal field notes of Kolberg (together with
the materials sent to him by correspondents). The latter group, which
constitutes more than a quarter of all the materials and is essential
for assessing the Belarusian achievements of the Polish ethnographer,
has been analysed in the article. The abundance of Kolberg’s own
transcriptions of music in the volume makes his work into one
of the key sources in 19th-century Belarusian musical historiography
The author also puts forward a hypothesis concerning the Belarusian
beginnings of Kolberg’s entire collecting activity.
Kolberg and Jewish Music
Authors: Muszkalska Bożena
Published: January 2015

The world of the Jews must have attracted Kolberg, who as an educated
member of the intelligentsia must have been conscious of what was
happening in Judaism in his times. The nineteenth century was
indeed a time of the flourishing Hasidism, the travelling hazanim, the
development of the Jewish Enlightenment movement (the Haskalah),
a great numbers of Jewish Tanzhaus openings. Jewish themes also
appear in almost every volume of Kolberg’s Complete Works. However,
Jews only formed the backdrop for the events taking place among
Poles. Only in the case of a few records left by Kolberg can we surmise
that the musical performers were themselves Jewish. This is most likely
true of five songs with texts in the Yiddish language. More melodies
set down in writing from the Jews or from the repertoire taken over
by Polish musicians are probably to be found among the pieces without
verbal text or referred to by Kolberg as ‘dances’. It is unknown whether
Jewish musicians played Jewish melodies for Kolberg, but we cannot
exclude the possibility of their performances constituting a basis
for some transcriptions of pieces that were not marked as Jewish.
Oskar Kolberg’s Volume on “Łużyce” [Lusatia]
Authors: Nowak Teresa
Published: January 2015

Oskar Kolberg never visited Lusatia, and did not come
in direct contact with the Sorbs. Still, hoping to carry out his original
project of a collection of melodies from all Slavic nations, Kolberg
could not ignore Lusatian songs and dances. The volume Materiały
do etnografii Słowian Zachodnich i Południowych, Part 1: Łużyce is made
up of three sections. The first one contains Kolberg’s translations to the
Polish language and excerpts from Jan Arnošt Smoler’s monumental
work Volkslieder der Sorben in der Ober- und Niederlausitz / Pěsnički
hornich a delnich Łužiskich Serbow. The second part includes Sorbian
materials from the collection of Andrzej Kucharski, who in the years
1826–1827 studied the history, literature and language of Lusatians.
The third part contains Kolberg’s own rather scarce lexical and
bibliographical notes. The aim of this article is to take note of a not-sowell-
known volume of Kolberg’s folk-musical collection and to discuss
the meaning of this publication nowadays.
World Trade Market Structure for Corn
Authors: Baghestany Ali Akbar , Yazdani Saeed , Ahmadian Majid
Published: January 2015

Corn, after Wheat and rice, is the third most strategic agricultural products in the world. This product also provides poultry feed, grain, edible oil beneficial for starch, glucose, and even the production of biofuels. Corn is by far the largest component of world coarse-grain trade, accounting for about three-quarters of total volume in recent years. Most of the corn that is traded is used for feed; smaller amounts are traded for industrial and food uses. This paper aims to determine market structure of corn which can play important roles in the adoption of appropriate policies. This study uses different indexes: concentration ratio, Herfindahl, Entropy and logarithmic standard deviation to determine market structure of exports and imports of this product during 2000-2011. The results have shown that the structure of the world market for imports and exports of corn was opened oligopoly and monopoly with a dominant firm.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijls.v8i5.11856
The Jurisprudential and Legal Principles of Environmental Protection
Authors: Alimoradi Amanollah , Alirezaei Farideh
Published: January 2015

Environment is defined as the place where life continues to flow. The Quran and tradition, which are regarded as the principles of legislation and law-implementation, have emphasized the protection of such an asset. Hence, Islamic clerics have underscored the protection of environmental resources on behalf of the governments. Also, regarding this issue, strict rules and judiciary procedures have been codified and implemented in order to both protect and withstand the destruction of nature. Thereby, paying attention to the codification of jurisprudential and legal principles concerning environmental protection is the key issue in conserving it for people and governments and clarifies the importance and necessity of this issue. To this end, this study aims to establish an operational pattern as well as an efficient procedure for environmental protection. Besides, it exploits both a descriptive and an analytical method similar to library using different written and internet-based resources. The current research investigates the jurisprudential and legal principles regarding environmental protection. Hence, the formulated hypothesis in the current research emphasizes on the importance of the Quran, tradition, wisdom, custom, law, as well as judicial procedure in protecting and supporting our environment. The results of this study indicate that 'Fulfilling the Commandments of Allah and human nature' is the only way to solve the environmental problems in today's world.  DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijls.v8i5.11857