bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Port of Newcastle, Australia: innovation at one of the world's largest coal-export terminals
Authors: Varming Carsten
Published: October 2013

The Port of Newcastle at the mouth of the Hunter River in New South Wales is Australia's largest coal-export port, with an annual throughput of 120 Mt a year. It has been significantly expanded over the past 10 years to keep up with the international demand for local Hunter Valley-produced coal, particularly from Japan. This includes a new £1·6 billion, 136 ha coal-export terminal on Kooragang Island, which is due for completion by the end of 2013. This paper describes the planning, design and construction of the state-of-art international coal-export facility.
Hydrodynamic evaluation of a flood embankment in the Amazon estuary region, Brazil
Authors: Blanco Claudio , Sena Manoel , Mesquita André , Filho Manoel , Secretan Yves
Published: October 2013

Climate change and sea-level rise are likely to have a significant impact on the low-lying coastal areas of Brazil around the Amazon estuary. However, the huge river flows – equivalent to a fifth of the world's total – combined with strong tidal effects and complex coastal morphology make the design and analysis of future flood protection works particularly challenging. This paper reports on the development, calibration and application of a successful hydrodynamic model for a new flood embankment in the coastal city of Belém. The model uses a geographic information system and finite-element method to solve shallow water equations, and appears suitable for wider application in the Amazon estuary.
Ground improvement in soft soils in Rio de Janeiro: the case of the Athletes' Park
Authors: Riccio Mario , Baroni Magnos , Almeida Marcio
Published: October 2013

Much of Brazil's massive infrastructure programme is having to be built on the very soft soils found along the country's coastline. Not least are venues and infrastructure required for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in the city's Barra da Tijuca district, where soft soils can be over 20 m deep. One of these, the 13 ha Athletes' Park, is already successfully completed. This paper presents and discusses the results of various in situ and laboratory tests that were carried out to assess the soil properties at the site. It then describes how the ground was substantially improved with a recent technique developed in Brazil called deep radial consolidation.
Brazil – building the country of tomorrow
Authors: Pannett Len
Published: October 2013

As a result of 40 years of little investment, Brazil still lags its Bric counterparts Russia, India and China in the quality and scale of its infrastructure, which in turn has restricted growth. However, Brazil is now undergoing the greatest building programme in the history of Latin America, with government investment in infrastructure targeting urban development and housing, roads and railways, ports and airports, and energy. The programme and the country itself offer attractive opportunities to civil engineers – and the nature of many of the projects calls for innovative engineering solutions. However, doing business in Brazil is not straightforward and interested parties must be prepared for differences in culture and ways of working. This paper identifies the key developments under way in major infrastructure areas. It then offers a pragmatic perspective on what engineers need to take into account to pursue the opportunities that the massive construction programme has to offer.
Natural stone: sustaining the future of the world's oldest construction material
Authors: Sims Ian
Published: October 2013

Natural stone continues to be widely used in construction thanks in part to its strong sustainability credentials. Ian Sims of RSK Environment explains how the engineering properties of stone are now being assessed and controlled for modern use.
Assessing spatiotemporal changes in tiger habitat across different land management regimes
Authors: Carter Neil H. , Gurung Bhim , Viña Andrés , Campa III Henry , Karki Jhamak B. , Liu Jianguo
Published: October 2013

Human‐induced habitat loss and degradation are increasing the extinction probability of many wildlife species worldwide, thus protecting habitat is crucial. The habitat of thousands of imperiled wildlife species occurs in a variety of land management regimes (e.g., protected areas, multiple‐use areas), each exerting differing effects. We used the globally endangered tiger (Panthera tigris) to examine the relationships between habitat change and land management in Nepal's Chitwan district, a global biodiversity hotspot. We evaluated the effects of environmental and human factors on tiger habitat based on data acquired by motion‐detecting cameras and space‐borne imaging sensors. Spatiotemporal habitat dynamics in Chitwan National Park and a multiple‐use area outside the park were then evaluated in three time periods (1989, 1999, and 2009). Our results indicate that tigers preferred areas with more grasslands and higher landscape connectivity. The area of highly suitable habitat decreased inside the park over the entire 20 year interval, while outside the park habitat suitability increased, especially from 1999 to 2009. The loss of highly suitable habitat inside the park may be associated with an increasing trend of unauthorized resource extraction by a rapidly growing human population, coupled with natural processes such as flooding and forest succession. In contrast, community‐based management of natural resources and the prohibition of livestock grazing since the late 1990s likely improved tiger habitat suitability outside the park. Results of this study are useful for evaluating habitat change and guiding conservation actions across the tiger range, which spans 13 countries. Moreover, quantitatively assessing habitat change across different land management regimes in human‐dominated areas provides insights for conserving habitat of other imperiled wildlife species around the world.
Implications of Precipitation, Warming, and Clipping for Grazing Resources in Canadian Prairies
Authors: White Shannon R. , Cahill James F. , Bork Edward W.
Published: October 2013

Climate change, in terms of both warming and altered precipitation, has the potential to affect grassland systems, with subsequent ramifications for grazing resources. Although grazing is the dominant land use in grasslands, little research has assessed how changes in climate might affect herbage quantity and quality, and how grazing intensity might influence these responses. We performed a fully controlled and factorial 3‐yr, multisite experiment simulating climate change and grazing (via clipping). This experiment was conducted at three northern temperate grassland sites across the Canadian prairies. We increased air temperature by 2 to 4°C, reduced precipitation by 60%, and clipped plants at low and high intensities. At one site, we also applied added (+60%) precipitation. We monitored changes in herbage quantity (regrowth and accumulated herbage) and one aspect of herbage quality (protein content) for both graminoid and forb components. Both climatic factors (i.e., warming and reduced precipitation) and clipping decreased season‐long accumulated herbage, with similar magnitudes of response to precipitation and clipping and smaller responses to warming. Regrowth biomass following clipping declined with reduced precipitation but had a limited decline with warming. Reduced precipitation and warming both decreased herbage quality, and clipping increased quality. These results indicate that the potential for losses in herbage production under drought and warming may be exacerbated by decreased herbage quality. We also saw evidence that graminoids, rather than forbs, will be more sensitive to climate changes. Our results further support the idea that planning for altered grazing resources under future climate conditions will be necessary.
Testing Remote Sensing Approaches for Assessing Yield Variability among Maize Fields
Authors: Sibley Adam M. , Grassini Patricio , Thomas Nancy E. , Cassman Kenneth G. , Lobell David B.
Published: October 2013

For remote sensing to be useful for analyzing crop yield gaps, methods should be accurate at the field scale without need for local ground calibration. We used an extensive field‐level data set of on‐farm yields from 134 irrigated and 94 rainfed maize (Zea mays L.) fields in Nebraska during a 4‐yr period to evaluate three methods that do not require ground‐based calibration. The first method is based on summing estimates of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor, the second on using either MODIS or Landsat data to calibrate a crop model (Hybrid‐Maize), and the third using Hybrid‐Maize simulations to train a simple regression, which is then applied to MODIS or Landsat data. For MODIS, all three methods performed similarly poorly at predicting maize yields, with an R2 between observed and predicted yields of roughly 0.10 for rainfed and 0.20 for irrigated fields. Estimates from Landsat were considerably more accurate, with up to 20% of rainfed and 50% of irrigated yield variation captured by the predictions. Across all methods and sensors, irrigated yield variations were more successfully captured than rainfed yields because of relatively smaller rainfed field sizes and the added difficulty of modeling crop water stress in rainfed fields. Agreement between observed and predicted yields was highest for the third approach, which is attractive because it leverages a crop model’s ability to synthesize knowledge on crop physiology and year‐to‐year differences in weather throughout the season, yet produces a simple regression that can be rapidly applied to Landsat imagery.
Characterizing Soil–Pipe Networks with Pseudo‐Three‐Dimensional Resistivity Tomography on Forested Hillslopes with Restrictive Horizons
Authors: Leslie I.N. , Heinse R.
Published: October 2013

Soil pipes are important hillslope–hydrology features affecting mechanistic processes such as subsurface drainage, streamflow, erosion, hillslope stability, and discharge response to rain fall and snow melt. However, the limited capacity to characterize these pathways in situ remains a major limitation for process‐based understanding and incorporation into coupled hydrologic models. The goal of this study was to investigate the use of pseudo‐three‐dimensional electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) as a field method for characterizing soil–pipe spatial distribution and connectivity on a forested hillslope with a specific interest in detecting the formation of soil pipes from root decay and combustion. We conducted detailed ERT surveys on three 6.12‐ by 6.12‐m plots before and after a prescribed burn located on a 2‐ha clearcut of coniferous forest underlain by a fragipan. Excavation following the ERT measurements showed that soil pipes were mostly empty with 86% containing <25% decaying root matter. The mean diameter of pipes was 4.3 cm with a mean length of 1.6 m. Such empty pipes would resolve as elongated high‐electrical resistivity features. However, a high resistivity layer corresponding to the Bw and BE soil horizons overlaying a fragipan was observed on all plots with the majority of soil pipes larger than 1 cm diameter occurring within these horizons. The lack of observable contrast between pipes and the high resistivity layer as well as reduced data coverage within the vicinity of large soil pipes may have limited our ability to effectively characterize soil pipes occurring within these hillslopes. We conclude that the use of ERT surveys to detect large macropores pathways may be more suitable to settings where soil pipes are not occurring within high restrictive layers.
iWitness Pollution Map: Crowdsourcing Petrochemical Accident Research
Authors: Bera Risha , Hrybyk Anna
Published: October 2013

Community members living near any one of Louisiana's 160 chemical plants or refineries have always said that accidents occurring in these petrochemical facilities significantly impact their health and safety. This article reviews the iWitness Pollution Map tool and Rapid Response Team (RRT) approach led by the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, an environmental nonprofit group, and their effectiveness in documenting these health and safety impacts during petrochemical accidents. Analysis of a January 2013 RRT deployment in Chalmette, LA, showed increased documentation of current petrochemical accidents and suggested increased preparedness to report future accidents. The RRT model encourages government response and enforcement agencies to integrate with organized community groups to fully document the impacts during ongoing accidents, lead a more timely response to the accident, and prevent future accidents from occurring.
Wet flue gas desulphurisation procedures and relevant solvents thermophysical properties determination
Authors: Zivkovic Nikola , Serbanovic Slobodan , Zivkovic Emila , Kijevcanin Mirjana , Stefanovic Predrag
Published: October 2013

In order to mitigate climate change, the priority task is to reduce emissions
of greenhouse gases, including sulfur oxides, from stationary power plants.
The legal framework of the European Union has limited the allowable emissions
of gases with harmful effects and fulfillment of this obligation is also
ahead of the Republic of Serbia in the following years. In this paper
categorization of wet procedures for sulfur oxides removal is given. Wet
procedure with the most widespread industrial application, lime/limestone
process, has been described in detail. In addition, the procedures with
chemical and physical absorption and solvent thermal regeneration, which
recently gained more importance, have been presented. Experimentally
determined thermophysical and transport properties of commercially used and
alternative solvents, necessary for the equipment design and process
optimization, are also given in the paper. The obtained values of densities
and viscosities of pure chemicals - solvents, polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG
200), polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400), tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether
(TEGDMA), N-methyl-2-pyrolidon (NMP) and dimethylaniline (DMA), measured at
the atmospheric pressure, are presented as a function of temperature.
Evaluation of caribouRangifer tarandus groenlandicussurvey methodology in West Greenland
Authors: Poole Kim G. , Cuyler Christine , Nymand Josephine
Published: October 2013

Abundance estimates are important to management of most harvested species of wildlife. In West Greenland, recent estimates of barren‐ground caribouRangifer tarandus groenlandicuspopulation size have been derived from aerial surveys conducted in early March of numerous short (7.5 km) transects that focused on obtaining high detection probabilities. The resultant study area coverage was low (≤ 1.6%), in part due to the survey design. In this article, we conducted a critical review of the current West Greenland caribou survey methodology using data from past surveys and recent GPS collar data, and present recommendations to improve the methodology. On an annual basis, movement rates of collared females were lowest in March, supporting survey timing. March distribution of collared caribou, however, differed markedly between 2009 and 2010, indicating that stratification flights prior to each survey are required to produce the most accurate and precise estimates. A viewshed analysis in GIS supported the use of a 300‐m strip width, but demonstrated that the current 15‐m survey flight altitude resulted in 4‐5% availability bias due to the portion of the strip width hidden by topography and out of sight of observers, and a corresponding nil detection probability for caribou in these areas. A 30‐m or 45‐m flight height may be more appropriate to reduce the availability bias in this rugged terrain. Examination of the population composition data collected during and after abundance estimates suggested that robust calf:cow and bull:cow ratio data could be obtained with less sampling effort distributed proportionate to the population density. We suggest that systematic strip transects should be considered to increase survey coverage; this design would increase survey efficiency (ratio of helicopter time to coverage) and inherently increase precision. Distance sampling collected by group would be an improvement over the current negatively biased, transect‐total method to calculate detection probabilities. Managers should ensure that sufficient resources are available to obtain robust estimates of abundance and composition of West Greenland caribou. These recommendations may be applicable to other areas in which ungulate populations exist in heterogeneous habitats with low sightability.
Developing spatially‐explicit weighting factors to account for bias associated with missed GPS fixes in resource selection studies
Authors: Webb Stephen L. , Dzialak Matthew R. , Mudd James P. , Winstead Jeffrey B.
Published: October 2013

Global positioning system (GPS) collars are prone to locational error and missed fixes caused by vegetation and topography, meaning that locational error may be greater, or fix success lower, in certain habitats. These forms of error can lead to bias associated with data loss or censoring. The goals of this paper were to: 1) estimate resource selection functions using logistic regression to map probability of acquisition (Pacq) of a GPS location and subsequent censoring of locational error in relation to landscape features and 2) develop a spatially‐explicit map of weighting factors across the landscape to avoid over‐ or underestimating resource selection. Female mule deer Odocoileus hemionus were used as a case example and to validate maps. Locational error and Pacq were influenced by vegetation and topography, thus necessitating a means to weight the data. Applying logistic regression to quantify Pacq allowed an easy and straightforward approach to mapping Pacq and subsequently, weighting factors (weight = 1/Pacq). Weighting landscape characteristics improved validation of deer‐occurrence maps compared to using the original, unweighted landscape values. Using the best validating deer‐occurrence map, we found that 87.5‐90.2% of locations (N = 1,043) from an independent sample of deer (N = 4) occurred within the highest probability of use bin (∼ 20% of the landscape); 95.4‐96.9% of independent locations occurred within the two highest probability of use bins (∼ 40% of the landscape). By accounting for, and modeling, missed GPS fixes and locational error, we improved the predictive ability of maps based on an independent sample of deer. Without correction (i.e. weighting) factors, the importance of habitat types and terrain features may be over‐ or underestimated, which could have serious consequences when interpreting resource selection by animals and developing management recommendations.
Reproduction in North American elk Cervus elaphus: paternity of calves sired by males of mixed age classes
Authors: Kie John G. , Johnson Bruce K. , Noyes James H. , Williams Christen L. , Dick Brian L. , Rhodes Olin E. , Stussy Rosemary J. , Bowyer R. Terry
Published: October 2013

Our objective was to examine effects of groups of mixed numbers and ages of male North American elk Cervus elaphus on the reproductive performance of females. We conducted research at the Starkey Experimental Forest and Range in northeastern Oregon, USA, during 1993‐2000. Each spring in late March, we released 40 female elk, eight yearling (9‐month old) male elk and 2‐8 branch‐antlered elk (i.e. ≥ 2 years of age during rut the following autumn) into a 622‐ha fenced pasture. Elk were gathered during autumn and early winter, and were brought to winter feeding grounds where blood samples were drawn to determine pregnancy status. The following spring, females were released into an 80‐ha pasture prior to parturition. We searched for and captured newborn calves and obtained ear‐punch samples for genetic analysis. We used 18 microsatellite loci to establish paternity of each calf. We varied the ratio of mature males (i.e. ≥ 3 years old) to female ratio from 0.03 to 0.21. As expected, mature males (older and heavier) were more successful in siring calves than were younger males. Within age classes, however, body mass in spring did not accurately predict mating success in autumn. Reproductive rates were not affected by season of grazing by cattle, yearling male to female ratio or mature male to female ratio. Sire age had no effect on mean dates of calf births or on calf weights. Neither sire age nor season of grazing by cattle had significant effects on calf weights; however, mean date of birth was significantly earlier when cattle grazing occurred during the previous autumn than when cattle grazed during the preceding spring. Furthermore, the number of calves sired by yearling males was greater when cattle grazing occurred during autumn, than when grazing occurred during spring. In the years with disruptive cattle grazing during rut, females mated not only with yearling males, in general, but often with those who were lighter in body mass during the previous spring than others in the same cohort. The extent to which those yearling males are untested in combat with older, dominant herd bulls may have genetic consequences leading to differences in fitness and subsequent reductions in calf survival.

Please note that the supplementary information, including Appendix SI mentioned in this article, is available in the online version of this article, which can be viewed at www.wildlifebiology.com
The Archive on Display: Issues of Curating Performance Remains
Authors: Williamson Ashley
Published: October 2013

This fall both the Stratford Festival and the National Ballet of Canada presented exhibits featuring material from their archives to mark their sixtieth seasons. These exhibitions are part of a trend for archives (in this case performance archives), to use their collections as a way to connect with their audiences. However, this impetus raises some difficult questions about who chooses the material and how it is displayed? Are those who have been entrusted with the preservation and categorization of these performance remains the best advocates in a gallery space, or do these exhibitions deserve collaborators from the curators, marketing and, public relations?
Wearing Hijab in Sarajevo
Authors: Mesarič Andreja
Published: October 2013

This essay observes contemporary Islamic dress practices in Bosnia-Herzegovina as a catalyst throwing into relief various tensions within Bosnian society – not only between Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats, but among Bosniaks themselves. Based on fieldwork carried out in Sarajevo, it looks at how people employ notions of culture and tradition when justifying what types of Islamic dress, if any, are compatible with Bosnian modernity. The essay analyses how people selectively draw on fragments from the historical and ethnographic record when they argue for or against veiling, and shows how, even though many denounce veiling and particularly face veiling as foreign to Bosnia, women who veil themselves equally draw on notions of culture and tradition when justifying their dress choices to others. The essay highlights how competing visions of Islam play a role in the transformation of religious, ethnic and gender identities in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and argues that dress as a gendered bodily practice does not merely mark assumed essential differences between an imagined Bosnian and foreign Islam but serves as a crucial means of their construction.
Intraoperative 5-aminolevulinic acid–induced fluorescence in primary central nervous system lymphoma
Authors: Grossman Rachel , Nossek Erez , Shimony Nir , Raz Michal , Ram Zvi
Published: October 2013

The authors report a case of primary CNS lymphoma located in the floor of the fourth ventricle that showed intense fluorescence after preoperative administration of 5-aminolevulinic acid. The authors believe that this is the first demonstration of a 5-aminolevulinic acid–induced fluorescence pattern in primary CNS lymphoma.
Recurrent and self-remitting sixth cranial nerve palsy: pathophysiological insight from skull base chondrosarcoma
Authors: Frassanito Paolo , Massimi Luca , Rigante Mario , Tamburrini Gianpiero , Conforti Giulio , Di Rocco Concezio , Caldarelli Massimo
Published: October 2013

Palsy of the abducens nerve is a neurological sign that has a wide range of causes due to the nerve's extreme vulnerability. Need of immediate neuroimaging is a matter of debate in the literature, despite the risks of delaying the diagnosis of a skull base tumor.

The authors present 2 cases of skull base tumors in which the patients presented with recurrent and self-remitting episodes of sixth cranial nerve palsy (SCNP). In both cases the clinical history exceeded 1 year. In a 17-year-old boy the diagnosis was made because of the onset of headache when the tumor reached a very large size. In a 12-year-old boy the tumor was incidentally diagnosed when it was still small. In both patients surgery was performed and the postoperative course was uneventful. Pathological diagnosis of the tumor was consistent with that of a chondrosarcoma in both cases.

Recurrent self-remitting episodes of SCNP, resembling transitory ischemic attacks, may be the presenting sign of a skull base tumor due to the anatomical relationships of these lesions with the petroclival segment of the sixth cranial nerve. Physicians should promptly recommend neuroimaging studies if SCNP presents with this peculiar course.
Alfred W. Adson (1887–1951): his contributions to surgery for tumors of the spine and spinal cord in the context of spinal tumor surgery in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
Authors: Griessenauer Christoph J. , Tubbs R. Shane , Shoja Mohammadali M. , Raborn Joel , Boes Christopher J. , Mortazavi Martin M. , Lanzino Giuseppe
Published: October 2013

Alfred W. Adson was a pioneer in the field of neurosurgery. He described operations for a variety of neurosurgical diseases and developed surgical instruments. Under his leadership the Section of Neurological Surgery at the Mayo Clinic was established and he functioned as its first chair. Adson's contributions to the understanding of spinal and spinal cord tumors are less well known. This article reviews related medical records and publications and sets his contributions in the context of the work of other important pioneers in spinal tumor surgery at the time.
Prospective observational study of acute postlumbar laminectomy MRI
Authors: Wait Scott D. , Kalani M. Yashar S. , Little Andrew S. , Consiglieri Giac D. , Ross Jeffrey S. , Kucia Matthew R. , Sonntag Volker K. H. , Theodore Nicholas
Published: October 2013

Object

Patients who develop a lower-extremity neurological deficit after lumbar laminectomy present a diagnostic dilemma. In the setting of a neurological deficit, some surgeons use MRI to evaluate for symptomatic compression of the thecal sac. The authors conducted a prospective observational cohort study in patients undergoing open lumbar laminectomy for neurogenic claudication to document the MRI appearance of the postlaminectomy spine and to determine changes in thecal sac diameter caused by the accumulation of epidural fluid.

Methods

Eligible patients who were candidates for open lumbar laminectomy for neurogenic claudication at a single neurosurgical center between August 2007 and June 2009 were enrolled. Preoperative and postoperative MRI of the lumbar spine was performed on the same MRI scanner. Postoperative MRI studies were completed within 36 hours of surgery. Routine clinical and surgical data were collected at the preoperative visit, during surgery, and postoperatively. Images were interpreted for the signal characteristics of the epidural fluid and for thecal diameter (region of interest [ROI]) by 2 blinded neuroradiologists.

Results

Twenty-four patients (mean age 69.7 years, range 30–83 years) were enrolled, and 20 completed the study. Single-level laminectomy was performed in 6 patients, 2-level in 12, and 3-level in 2. Preoperative canal measurements (ROI) at the most stenotic level averaged 0.26 cm2 (range 0.0–0.46 cm2), and postoperative ROI at that same level averaged 0.95 cm2 (range 0.46–2.05 cm2). The increase in ROI averaged 0.69 cm2 (range 0.07–1.81 cm2). Seven patients (35%) had immediate postoperative weakness in at least 1 muscle group graded at 4+/5. The decline in examination was believed to be effort dependent and secondary to discomfort in the acute postoperative period. Those with weakness had smaller increases in ROI (0.51 cm2) than those with full strength (0.78 cm2, p = 0.1599), but none had evidence of worsened thecal compression. On the 1st postoperative day, 19 patients were at full strength and all patients were at full strength at their 15-day follow-up. The T1-weighted epidural fluid signal was isointense in 19 of the 20 patients. The T2-weighted epidural fluid signal was hyperintense in 9, isointense in 4, and hypointense in 7 patients.

Conclusions

Immediately after lumbar laminectomy, the appearance of the thecal sac on MRI can vary widely. In most patients the thecal sac diameter increases after laminectomy despite the presence of epidural blood. In this observational cohort, a reduction in thecal diameter caused by epidural fluid did not correlate with motor function. Results in the small subset of patients where the canal diameter decreased due to epidural fluid compression of the thecal sac raises the question of the utility of immediate postoperative MRI.
DNA Damage Induced MutS Homologue hMSH4 Acetylation
Authors: Chu Yen-Lin , Wu Xiling , Xu Jing , Watts Jennifer , Her Chengtao
Published: October 2013

Acetylation of non-histone proteins is increasingly recognized as an important post-translational modification for controlling the actions of various cellular processes including DNA repair and damage response. Here, we report that the human MutS homologue hMSH4 undergoes acetylation following DNA damage induced by ionizing radiation (IR). To determine which acetyltransferases are responsible for hMSH4 acetylation in response to DNA damage, potential interactions of hMSH4 with hTip60, hGCN5, and hMof were analyzed. The results of these experiments indicate that only hMof interacts with hMSH4 in a DNA damage-dependent manner. Intriguingly, the interplay between hMSH4 and hMof manipulates the outcomes of nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ)-mediated DNA double strand break (DSB) repair and thereby controls cell survival in response to IR. This study also shows that hMSH4 interacts with HDAC3, by which HDAC3 negatively regulates the levels of hMSH4 acetylation. Interestingly, elevated levels of HDAC3 correlate with increased NHEJ-mediated DSB repair, suggesting that hMSH4 acetylation per se may not directly affect the role of hMSH4 in DSB repair.
Biofilm Matrix and Its Regulation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Wei Qing , Ma Luyan
Published: October 2013

Biofilms are communities of microorganisms embedded in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) matrix. Bacteria in biofilms demonstrate distinct features from their free-living planktonic counterparts, such as different physiology and high resistance to immune system and antibiotics that render biofilm a source of chronic and persistent infections. A deeper understanding of biofilms will ultimately provide insights into the development of alternative treatment for biofilm infections. The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a model bacterium for biofilm research, is notorious for its ability to cause chronic infections by its high level of drug resistance involving the formation of biofilms. In this review, we summarize recent advances in biofilm formation, focusing on the biofilm matrix and its regulation in P. aeruginosa, aiming to provide resources for the understanding and control of bacterial biofilms.
Differences in the Structure of the Gut Bacteria Communities in Development Stages of the Chinese White Pine Beetle (Dendroctonus armandi)
Authors: Hu Xia , Wang Chunyan , Chen Hui , Ma Junning
Published: October 2013

The Chinese white pine beetle Dendroctonus armandi Tsai and Li, is arguably the most destructive forest insect in the Qinling Mountains in Northern China. Little is known about the structure of the bacterial communities associated with D. armandi even though this wood-boring insect plays important roles in ecosystem and biological invasion processes that result in huge economic losses in pine forests. The aim of this study was to investigate the composition of the bacterial communities present in the guts of D. armandi at different developmental stages using a culture-independent method involving PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Analysis of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA gene fragments of bacteria from the guts of larvae, pupae, and male and female adults revealed bacterial communities of low complexity that differed according to the developmental stage. Citrobacter spp. and Pantoea spp. predominated in larvae and adults, whereas Methylobacterium was the dominant genus at the pupal stage. The main difference between the guts of male and female adults was the greater dominance of Citrobacter in females. Previous studies suggest that the bacterial community associated with D. armandi guts may influence insect development. The data obtained in this study regarding the phylogenetic relationships and the community structure of intestinal bacteria at different developmental stages of the D. armandi life cycle contribute to our understanding of D. armandi and could aid the development of new pest control strategies.
CO2 Separation and Capture Properties of Porous Carbonaceous Materials from Leather Residues
Authors: Bermúdez José , Dominguez Pablo , Arenillas Ana , Cot Jaume , Weber Jens , Luque Rafael
Published: October 2013

Carbonaceous porous materials derived from leather skin residues have been found to have excellent CO2 adsorption properties, with interestingly high gas selectivities for CO2 (α > 200 at a gas composition of 15% CO2/85% N2, 273K, 1 bar) and capacities (>2 mmol·g−1 at 273 K). Both CO2 isotherms and the high heat of adsorption pointed to the presence of strong binding sites for CO2 which may be correlated with both: N content in the leather residues and ultrasmall pore sizes.
Antioxidant and Anticlastogenic Capacity of Prickly Pear Juice
Authors: Madrigal-Santillán Eduardo , García-Melo Fernando , Morales-González José , Vázquez-Alvarado Patricia , Muñoz-Juárez Sergio , Zuñiga-Pérez Clara , Sumaya-Martínez Maria , Madrigal-Bujaidar Eduardo , Hernández-Ceruelos Alejandra
Published: October 2013

Plants belonging to the genus Opuntia spp. are the most abundant of the Cactaceae family, grown throughout America and the Mediterranean central area. Its fruit, known as cactus pear or prickly pear, is an oval berry grouped in different colors. Some studies have shown its antioxidant activities which may help in preventing chronic pathologies such as diabetes. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of three varieties of prickly pear juice (red-purple, white-green and yellow-orange) in five different concentrations (100, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 mg/mL) by DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical) colorimetric method, selecting the best variety to determine its anticlastogenic potential against methyl methanesulfonate (MMS). The results indicate that the highest antioxidant was found in the juice of the prickly pear red-purple variety (PPRP), in all concentrations. Its anticlastogenic potential was therefore evaluated with a micronucleus assay. The experiment was run over two weeks. A negative control was included along with a positive control with MMS (40 mg/kg), a group of mice treated with PPRP (25 mL/kg), and three groups with PPRP (in doses of 25, 16.5 and 8.3 mL/kg) plus the mutagen. The PPRP was administered daily by oral gavage and the MMS was injected intraperitoneally five days prior to the end of the experiment. Blood samples were obtained at 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h in order to determine the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPE). The results indicated that PPRP is not a genotoxic agent, on the contrary, it may reduce the number of MNPE. In this regard, the PPRP showed an anticlastogenic effect directly proportional to its concentrations. Thus, the highest protection was obtained with a concentration of 25 mL/kg after 48 h of treatment.
An Electronic Tongue Designed to Detect Ammonium Nitrate in Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Campos Inmaculada , Pascual Lluis , Soto Juan , Gil-Sánchez Luis , Martínez-Máez Ramón
Published: October 2013

An electronic tongue has been developed to monitor the presence of ammonium nitrate in water. It is based on pulse voltammetry and consists of an array of eight working electrodes (Au; Pt; Rh; Ir; Cu; Co; Ag and Ni) encapsulated in a stainless steel cylinder. In a first step the electrochemical response of the different electrodes was studied in the presence of ammonium nitrate in water in order to further design the wave form used in the voltammetric tongue. The response of the electronic tongue was then tested in the presence of a set of 15 common inorganic salts; i.e.; NH4NO3; MgSO4; NH4Cl; NaCl; Na2CO3; (NH4)2SO4; MgCl2; Na3PO4; K2SO4; K2CO3; CaCl2; NaH2PO4; KCl; NaNO3; K2HPO4. A PCA plot showed a fairly good discrimination between ammonium nitrate and the remaining salts studied. In addition Fuzzy Art map analyses determined that the best classification was obtained using the Pt; Co; Cu and Ni electrodes. Moreover; PLS regression allowed the creation of a model to correlate the voltammetric response of the electrodes with concentrations of ammonium nitrate in the presence of potential interferents such as ammonium chloride and sodium nitrate.
MiR-378 Inhibits Progression of Human Gastric Cancer MGC-803 Cells by Targeting MAPK1 In Vitro
Authors: Fei Bojian , Wu Haorong
Published: October 2013

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common cancers and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. The discovery of microRNAs (miRNAs) provides a new avenue for GC diagnostic and treatment regiments. Currently, a large number of miRNAs have been reported to be associated
with the progression of GC, among which miR-378 has been examined to be downregulated in GC tissues and several cell lines. However, the function of miR-378 on GC cells and the mechanisms were less known. Here we found that ectopic expression of miR-378 could inhibit cell proliferation, cell
cycle progression, cell migration as well as invasion, and induced cell apoptosis in GC cell line MGC-803. Moreover, we found that oncogene mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1) was a target gene of miR-378 in GC cells, and the tumor-suppressive role of miR-378 might be achieved
by the direct interaction with MAPK1. Taken together, our results showed that miR-378 might act as tumor suppressors in GC, and it may provide novel diagnostic and therapeutic options for human GC clinical operation in the future.
Inhibition of Lymphatic Metastases by a Survivin Dominant-Negative Mutant
Authors: Xu Guang-Chao , Zhang Peng , Leng Fei , Pan Li , Li Zhi-Yong , Yu Dan-Dan , Shan Yan , Yuan Qing-Zhong , Wen Yuan , Mu Bo , Shi Hua-Shan , Chen Xiang , Wang Chun-Ting
Published: October 2013

Metastasis is the most lethal attribute of human malignancy. High-level expression of survivin is involved in both carcinogenesis and angiogenesis in cancer. Previous studies indicate that a mutation of the threonine residue at position 34 (Thr34Ala) of survivin generates a dominant-negative
mutant that induces apoptosis, inhibits angiogenesis, and suppresses highly metastatic breast carcinoma in mouse models. We investigated the efficacy of gene therapy with a survivin dominant-negative mutant and possible factors related to lymph node metastasis. The metastasis rate was compared
between each group in order to find a survivin-targeted therapy against lymphangiogenesis in its earliest stages. We established lymph node metastasis models and treated animals with H22 tumors with Lip-mSurvivinT34A (Lip-mS), Lip-plasmid (Lip-P), or normal saline (NS). Eight days after the
last dose, five randomly chosen mice from each group were sacrificed. We detected the apoptotic index, microvessel density (MVD), lymphatic microvessel density (LMVD), and the expression of VEGF-D with immunohistochemistry. After the remaining animals were sacrificed, we compared the tumor-infiltrated
lymph nodes in each group. Administration of mSurvivinT34A plasmid complexed with cationic liposome (DOTAP/chol) resulted in the efficacious inhibition of tumor growth and lymph node metastasis within the mouse H22 tumor model. These responses were associated with tumor cell apoptosis, and
angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis inhibition. Our results suggested that Lip-mSurvivinT34A induced apoptosis and inhibited tumor angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, thus suppressing tumor growth and lymphatic metastasis. The mSurvivinT34A survivin mutant is a promising strategy of gene therapy to inhibit lymphatic metastasis.
Trajectoires de jeunes bénéficiaires de l'aide sociale en Suisse
Authors: Bonvin Jean-Michel , Dif-Pradalier Maël , Rosenstein Emilie
Published: October 2013

Dans le cadre de cette contribution, nous nous proposons d’étudier l’impact des politiques sociales sur les trajectoires de jeunes en situation de rupture, selon l’approche par les capacités développée par Amartya Sen. L’article se base sur une analyse approfondie du programme FORJAD (Formation pour jeunes adultes en difficulté), initié dans le canton de Vaud (Suisse) à l’attention des jeunes adultes (18-25 ans) bénéficiaires de l’aide sociale. L’objectif est de mettre au jour la base normative de ce programme pour saisir son impact sur les trajectoires de vie et les capabilités de ses bénéficiaires.
Normes sociales et imprévisibilités biographiques
Authors: Longo María Eugenia , Bourdon Sylvain , Charbonneau Johanne , Kornig Cathel , Mora Virginie
Published: October 2013

Une analyse des aspects contingents et des bifurcations dans les parcours biographiques impose de définir au préalable le référentiel par rapport auquel ces parcours sont considérés comme atypiques. Une comparaison internationale de trois panels de jeunes issus de contextes contrastés (Argentine, France, Québec) a permis de mettre en lumière des trajectoires de référence, construites dans l’interaction entre les parcours empruntés et les institutions qui les encadrent et balisant les parcours d’insertion professionnelle. Ces trajectoires illustrent la pluralité des normes d’insertion, d’emploi, de carrière, de vie dans chaque pays et mettent en relief les différences entre les systèmes normatifs ainsi que leurs effets sur les parcours d’entrée dans la vie active.
L'entrée en carrière migratoire de jeunes Français
Authors: Le Her Mélanie
Published: October 2013

À partir d’une enquête sociologique qualitative consacrée à la mobilité de jeunes Français de moins de 30 ans au Québec, l’idée est de comprendre et d’expliquer le phénomène d’entrée en migration. À travers les concepts de carrière et de bifurcation, les conditions du départ sont à déceler dans la jonction entre les contextes français et québécois et les ressources détenues par les jeunes Français. L’entrée en migration est constituée de trois phases : un contexte jugé insatisfaisant, une expérience inédite permettant d’envisager un nouveau possible, et la construction d’un nouvel avenir.
Troubles autistiques et troubles de l'attachement : quels liens ?
Authors: Persini Christelle , Viellard Marine , Chatel Clarisse , Borwell Baptiste , Poinso François
Published: October 2013

Les enfants souffrant de trouble envahissant du développement (TED) réagissent de manière variable à la séparation. Différentes études ont démontré la possibilité pour ces enfants de construire un attachement différencié à leur mère qui représente leur figure principale d’attachement. Cependant, les liens entre capacité d’attachement et TED ne sont pas clairs : ils peuvent être décrits en fonction de la sévérité des troubles, ou des capacités cognitives, ou avec les capacités langagières, ou encore les capacités de jeu ou avec la sensibilité maternelle. Nous tentons à travers cet article de mettre en lumière grâce à la littérature ces différents liens. Nous avons aussi observé certains comportements d’attachement chez des enfants souffrant de TED lors d’une passation de l’ADOS dans le cadre d’un Centre ressources autisme (CRA PACA), utilisant une séquence séparation-retrouvailles de l’enfant et de son parent. Onze enfants, âgés en moyenne de 44 mois (2 ans 9 mois à 5 ans 4 mois), ont été répartis en deux groupes : un groupe d’intensité sévère (six enfants qui ont un score à la CARS entre 37 et 44), et un groupe d’intensité non sévère (cinq enfants qui ont un score compris entre 30 et 36,5). Nos résultats montrent une différence des comportements d’attachement selon la sévérité. Il y a davantage de comportements d’attachement observés dans le groupe d’intensité non sévère, une tendance vers un accroissement des comportements d’attachement entre la séparation et les retrouvailles qui est plus nette dans le groupe non sévère. Mais de façon individuelle, les résultats sont hétérogènes : certains enfants du groupe sévère ont coté positivement à tous les comportements, et inversement certains enfants du groupe non sévère ont eu peu de comportements d’attachement observables. Les comportements d’attachement sont perturbés par les processus autistiques, mais de manière non univoque.
Les causes locales de la convergence
Authors: Clavier Carole
Published: October 2013

Si l’analyse des transferts de politiques publiques a permis de questionner l’influence des organisations internationales et leurs effets sur la convergence des politiques publiques, elle a jusqu’ici porté peu d’intérêt à la réception des transferts. À partir de l’étude du transfert du concept de déterminants sociaux de la santé par l’OMS et de son intégration dans des politiques locales de santé publique en France et au Danemark, cet article défend l’idée selon laquelle la réception des transferts est un processus actif qui suppose la contribution d’intermédiaires pour faire circuler les idées, en montrer la pertinence par rapport aux enjeux locaux et les intégrer dans l’action publique locale. Il propose également que les conditions de la réception des transferts contribuent à expliquer la convergence des politiques publiques.
Transferts institutionnels et politiques de concurrence
Authors: Smith Andy
Published: October 2013

Cet article rend compte d’une recherche sur la politique de la concurrence telle qu’elle a évolué au sein de la Commission européenne et des espaces gouvernementaux français et britannique. Des changements introduits entre 1997 et 2003 par la première ont certes accéléré une diffusion des normes, des algorithmes et des instruments « européens ». Néanmoins, les transferts institutionnels entre les trois espaces restent d’une portée limitée en raison d’importantes différences de traduction et d’appropriation. À partir d’une enquête en cours, deux hypothèses explicatives font l’objet de vérifications. La première concerne le rapport entre une politique de la concurrence dite « hiérarchique » et sa mise en œuvre effective. La deuxième concerne la place différenciée accordée à la doctrine économique de l’École de Chicago dans chacun des cas. Une dernière hypothèse, plus exploratoire, aborde le sens des transferts institutionnels observés en prêtant une attention particulière au degré d’engagement des acteurs nationaux dans le gouvernement de la concurrence à l’échelle européenne.
Le « nouveau management public » en Russie
Authors: Sigman Carole
Published: October 2013

Cet article s’intéresse à la trajectoire de la conception d’une réforme en cours en Russie, centrale pour le secteur public et inspirée des principes du « nouveau management public » : celle des établissements publics. Il montre comment ses initiateurs, en s’appuyant sur des héritages du passé, tentent de transformer les rapports de force au sein des secteurs de la sphère publique et de mobiliser à cette fin des alliés, et comment, parce qu’ils anticipent, à tort ou à raison, de multiples résistances, ils en viennent à infléchir eux-mêmes leur projet initial. Certaines de ces anticipations sont fortement liées aux compétitions et luttes pour l’appropriation de compétences et la défense de territoires qui structurent l’espace de l’administration fédérale où se joue le sort de la réforme.