bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combined Impact of Soil Heterogeneity and Vegetation Type on the Annual Water Balance at the Field Scale
Authors: Schlüter Steffen , Vogel Hans-Jörg , Ippisch Olaf , Vanderborght Jan
Published: October 2013

The hydraulic behavior of soil is determined by its hydraulic properties and their variability in space. In agricultural soils, this heterogeneity may stem from tillage or may have natural origin. The root distribution of plants will adapt to some extent to this soil heterogeneity. However, the combined impact of soil heterogeneity and root water uptake (RWU) on long‐term soil water budgets has not received much attention. Numerical experiments helped identify how soil heterogeneity affects plant transpiration, soil evaporation, and groundwater recharge. Two‐dimensional virtual soils with hierarchical heterogeneity, both natural and tillage induced, served as a basis for modeling soil water dynamics for a 10‐yr climate record from two weather stations in Germany that vastly differ in annual precipitation. The complex interactions between soil and vegetation were explored by (i) comparing different RWU strategies (depth‐, structure‐, and time‐dependent root profiles), (ii) land use types (perennial grass and annual winter crops), (iii) a combination of textures (silt above sand and sand above loam), and (iv) RWU with or without a compensation mechanism. The simulations were repeated with one‐dimensional, effective representations of these virtual soils. In the framework of hydropedology, this study shed some light on the interaction between plants and pedological features and its impact on the macroscopic soil water budget. We demonstrated that land use has a major impact on the annual water balance through the partitioning of evapotranspiration into bare soil evaporation and plant transpiration. Compensational RWU becomes important for the annual water balance when the root zone comprises contrasting materials with respect to water holding capacity. Soil heterogeneity has in fact a minor impact on long‐term soil water budgets. As a consequence, the relative contribution of plant transpiration, soil evaporation, and groundwater recharge to the total soil water loss was well reproduced by simulations in one‐dimensional effective soil profiles. This advocates the application of one‐dimensional soil–atmosphere–vegetation transfer (SVAT) models at larger scales. These findings only hold for assumptions made in our numerical simulations including flat area without lateral flow and no macropore flow.
Factorization of rational matrix functions and
difference equations
Authors: Rodríguez J.S. , Campos L.F.
Published: October 2013

In the beginning of the twentieth century, Plemelj introduced
the notion of factorization of matrix functions. The matrix
factorization finds applications in many fields such as in the
diffraction theory, in the theory of differential equations and in
the theory of singular integral operators.

However, the explicit formulas for the factors of the factorization
are known only in a few classes of matrices. In the
present paper we consider a new approach to obtain the factorization
of a rational matrix function, relative to the unit circle.
The constructed method is based on the relation between the
general solution of a homogeneous Riemann-Hilbert problem
and a solution of a linear system of difference equations with
constant coefficients.
Impacts of predator abundance on red grouse Lagopus lagopus scotica during a period of experimental predator control
Authors: Fletcher Kathy , Hoodless Andrew N. , Baines David
Published: October 2013

During a nine‐year study manipulating predator abundances, post‐breeding numbers of red grouse Lagopus lagopus scotica increased initially in response to experimentally reduced levels of key predator species (i.e. red fox Vulpes vulpes, carrion crow Corvus corone, stoat Mustela erminea and least weasel M. nivalis), but subsequently declined whilst predator control continued. Raptors, which were not controlled, were also present and may have influenced grouse demography. Our study examines the relative importance of controlled predators and raptors on grouse breeding success and survival. Raptor abundance did not differ between periods of predator control and periods of no predator control. However, during the breeding season, the survival of adult grouse was negatively correlated with the abundance of both raptors and controlled predators. Within the group of controlled predators, the strongest effects on red grouse adult survival were attributed to small mustelid abundance. Grouse breeding success was negatively correlated with the abundance of controlled predators, particularly carrion crows; however, no significant effect of raptor abundance was detected.
Use of multi‐state models to explore relationships between changes in body condition, habitat and survival of grizzly bears Ursus arctos horribilis
Authors: Boulanger John , Cattet Marc , Nielsen Scott E. , Stenhouse Gord , Cranston Jerome
Published: October 2013

One of the principal goals of wildlife research and management is to understand and predict relationships between habitat quality, health of individuals and their ability to survive. Infrequent sampling, non‐random loss of individuals due to mortality and variation in capture susceptibility create potential biases with conventional analysis methods. To account for such sampling biases, we used a multi‐state analytical approach to assess relationships between habitat, health and survival of grizzly bears Ursus arctos horribilis over a 10‐year period along the east slopes of the Canadian Rockies in Alberta, Canada. We defined bear health states by body condition estimated from the relationship between weight and body length. We used a sequential model building process to first account for potential sampling biases, and then explored changes in body condition relative to habitat use and survival. Bears that used regenerating forest habitats (mostly due to forest harvesting) containing a diversity of age classes were more likely to see gains in their body condition, whereas bears that used older forests were more likely to see reductions in body condition. Survival rate was reduced most by road densities which in turn were positively correlated with regenerating forest habitat. Human activities which promote young regenerating forests, such as forest harvesting, therefore promotes improved health (increased body condition) in bears, but are offset by reductions in survival rates. Multi‐state analyses represents a robust analytical tool when dealing with complex relationships and sampling biases that arise from dynamic environments.
Corral mass capture device for Asiatic wild assesEquus hemionus
Authors: Levanov Vitaliy Fyodorovich , Sokolov Sergey Vladimirovich , Kaczensky Petra
Published: October 2013

Asiatic wild assesEquus hemionusare difficult to catch as most populations are subject to poaching and are thus very shy. Wild asses run fast and groups tend to split up when disturbed or chased. Free‐range darting normally only allows the capture of single individuals, and the recommended anaesthetic protocol requires the use of the potent opiate ethorphine, which is highly toxic for humans and subject to special purchase and import regulations. In the following, we describe a corral capture method developed in Altyn Emel National Park in southeastern Kazakhstan. Round‐ups of Asiatic wild asses were done at night by use of cars and strong lights to reduce the speed of fleeing asses by impeding their ability to see the terrain. The method provides an additional tool for capturing free‐ranging wild asses, and contrary to previously described methods, it does allow the simultaneous capture of groups of animals without the need for chemical immobilisation.
The Theatre and the Archives: TCDS Presents
Authors: Reid Sharon
Published: October 2013

In June 2012, theatre enthusiasts and archivists united to create TCDS Presents, a multi-media comic revue of the history of the Trinity College Dramatic Society. The production provoked a strong reaction from the audience, many of whom had been witnesses to the original events. The vehement response to our comedic docu-drama raised questions about the nature of participation by non-professionals in acts of public remembrance. In this study, theatrical interpretation of archival material is posited as a means to deepen our understanding of the nature of the archives, our assumptions and relationships to both the personnel and the artefacts. At a time in our history when we seem to be turning ever-more frequently toward digitizing our historical records, the theatre presents a dynamic, immediate, visceral alternative to the computer screen, one in which archives can invite audiences to engage directly with the collection, interpretation, and ultimately preservation of our shared past.
“Distract parcels in combined sums”: The Stratford Festival Archives' Stage-Managerial Collections
Authors: Malone Toby
Published: October 2013

The Stratford Festival Archives houses the largest single-theatre archive in the world, spanning more than sixty years of performing history, artefacts, production materials, and ephemera. Uniquely, the Stratford Archives also hosts a growing collection of palimpsestic composite scripts, layered master texts which feature every dramaturgical cut in the Festival's history. Through consideration of Festival prompt-books and composite scripts, this paper illustrates Stratford’s approach to stage-managerial material, with particular focus on the industry of archivist Nora Polley. Featuring a collection of high-quality prompt-book scans, this paper examines the efficacy of composite prompt-books, both as a practical dramaturgical tool and effective work of ongoing archival memorialization.
Recasting Anthropological Perspectives on Vernacular Islam in Southeast Europe
Authors: Henig David , Bielenin-Lenczowska Karolina
Published: October 2013

When Tone Bringa published Being Muslim the Bosnian Way in 1995,
the book soon became the hallmark of anthropological studies of Islam in Southeast Europe. In the wake of the tragic events in Bosnia-Herzegovina ensuing from the breakdown of Yugoslavia, it provided much needed intimate insights into the complex entanglement of religion, politico-religious symbolism and identitarian politics in the wartorn country. Furthermore, it complicated the immediate proliferation of the ‘quick solution’ paradigms – clash of civilisations, or ‘old’ ethnic hatred – that had been adopted with ease by many international and local politicians, as well as by scholars working in the region, and that soon became the mainstream of academic discourse during and especially in the years after the war.
Using intraoperative dynamic contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MRI to identify residual tumor in glioblastoma surgery
Authors: Özduman Koray , Yıldız Erdem , Dinçer Alp , Sav Aydın , Pamir M. Necmettin
Published: October 2013

Object

The goal of surgery in high-grade gliomas is to maximize the resection of contrast-enhancing tumor without causing additional neurological deficits. Intraoperative MRI improves surgical results. However, when using contrast material intraoperatively, it may be difficult to differentiate between surgically induced enhancement and residual tumor. The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of intraoperative dynamic contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MRI to guide this differential diagnosis and test it against tissue histopathology.

Methods

Preoperative and intraoperative dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI was performed in 21 patients with histopathologically confirmed WHO Grade IV gliomas using intraoperative 3-T MRI. Standardized regions of interest (ROIs) were placed manually at 2 separate contrast-enhancing areas at the resection border for each patient. Time-intensity curves (TICs) were generated for each ROI. All ROIs were biopsied and the TIC types were compared with histopathological results. Pharmacokinetic modeling was performed in the last 10 patients to confirm nonparametric TIC analysis findings.

Results

Of the 42 manually selected ROIs in 21 patients, 25 (59.5%) contained solid tumor tissue and 17 (40.5%) retained the brain parenchymal architecture but contained infiltrating tumor cells. Time-intensity curves generated from residual contrast-enhancing tumor and their preoperative counterparts were comparable and showed a quick and persistently increasing slope (“climbing type”). All 17 TICs obtained from regions that did not contain solid tumor tissue were undulating and low in amplitude, compared with those obtained from residual tumors (“low-amplitude type”). Pharmacokinetic findings using the transfer constant, extravascular extracellular volume fraction, rate constant, and initial area under the curve parameters were significantly different for the tumor mass, nontumoral regions, and surgically induced contrast-enhancing areas.

Conclusions

Intraoperative dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI provides quick, reproducible, high-quality, and simply interpreted dynamic MR images in the intraoperative setting and can aid in differentiating surgically induced enhancement from residual tumor.
Minimally invasive removal of thoracic and lumbar spinal tumors using a nonexpandable tubular retractor
Authors: Nzokou Andre , Weil Alexander G. , Shedid Daniel
Published: October 2013

Object

Resection of spinal tumors traditionally requires bilateral subperiosteal muscle stripping, extensive laminectomy, and, in cases of foraminal extension, partial or radical facetectomy. Fusion is often warranted in cases of facetectomy to prevent deformity, pain, and neurological deterioration. Recent reports have demonstrated safety and efficacy of mini-open removal of these tumors using expandable tubular retractors. The authors report their experience with the minimally invasive removal of extradural foraminal and intradural-extramedullary tumors using the nonexpandable tubular retractor.

Methods

A retrospective chart review of consecutive patients who underwent minimally invasive resection of spinal tumors at Notre Dame Hospital was performed.

Results

Between December 2005 and March 2012, 13 patients underwent minimally invasive removal of spinal tumors at Notre Dame Hospital, Montreal. There were 6 men and 7 women with a mean age of 55 years (range 20–80 years). There were 2 lumbar and 2 thoracic intradural-extramedullary tumors and 7 thoracic and 2 lumbar extradural foraminal tumors. Gross-total resection was achieved in 12 patients. Subtotal resection (90%) was attained in 1 patient because the tumor capsule was adherent to the diaphragm. The average duration of surgery was 189 minutes (range 75–540 minutes), and the average blood loss was 219 ml (range 25–500 ml). There were no major procedure-related complications. Pathological analysis revealed benign schwannoma in 8 patients and meningioma, metastasis, plasmacytoma, osteoid osteoma, and hemangiopericytoma in 1 patient each. The average equivalent dose of postoperative narcotics after surgery was 66.3 mg of morphine. The average length of hospitalization was 66 hours (range 24–144 hours). All working patients returned to normal activities within 4 weeks. The average MRI and clinical follow-up were 13 and 21 months, respectively (range 2–68 months). At last follow-up, 92% of patients had improvement or resolution of pain with a visual analog scale score that improved from 7.8 to 1.2. All patients with neurological impairment improved. The American Spinal Injury Association grade improved in all but 1 patient.

Conclusions

Intradural-extramedullary and extradural tumors can be completely and safely resected through a minimally invasive approach using the nonexpandable tubular retractor. This approach may be associated with even less tissue destruction than mini-open techniques, translating into a quicker functional recovery. In cases of foraminal tumors, by eliminating the need for facetectomy, this minimally invasive approach may decrease the incidence of postoperative deformity and eliminate the need for adjunctive fusion surgery.
Predictive value of MRI in decision making for disc surgery for sciatica
Authors: el Barzouhi Abdelilah , Vleggeert-Lankamp Carmen L. A. M. , Lycklama à Nijeholt Geert J. , Van der Kallen Bas F. , van den Hout Wilbert B. , Koes Bart W. , Peul Wilco C.
Published: October 2013

Object

In a randomized controlled trial comparing surgery and prolonged conservative treatment for sciatica of 6–12 weeks' duration, more than one-third of patients assigned to conservative treatment underwent surgery. The objective of the present study was to evaluate whether MRI at baseline could have predicted this delayed surgery.

Methods

Independently evaluated qualitative and quantitative MRI findings were compared between those patients who did and those who did not undergo surgery during follow-up in the conservative care group. In addition, area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to assess how well MRI parameters discriminated between those who did and those who did not undergo delayed surgery (0.5–0.7 poor discrimination, ≥ 0.7 acceptable discrimination).

Results

Of 142 patients assigned to receive prolonged conservative care, 55 patients (39%) received delayed surgery. Of the 55 surgically treated patients, 71% had definite nerve root compression at baseline compared with 72% of conservatively treated patients (p = 0.76). Large disc herniations (size > 50% of spinal canal) were nearly equally distributed between those who did and those who did not undergo surgery (25% vs 21%, p = 0.65). The size of the dural sac was smaller in the patients who underwent surgery (101.2 vs 122.9 mm2, p = 0.01). However, the size of the dural sac discriminated poorly between those who did and those who did not undergo delayed surgery (area under ROC curve, 0.62).

Conclusions

In patients who suffered from sciatica of 6–12 weeks' duration, MRI at baseline did not distinguish between patients who did and those who did not undergo delayed surgery. Clinical trial registration no.: ISRCTN26872154 (http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN/).
Elucidation of Nuclear and Organellar Genomes of Gossypium hirsutum: Furthering Studies of Species Evolution and Applications for Crop Improvement
Authors: Moore Jocelyn , Chlan Caryl
Published: October 2013

Plant genomes are larger and more complex than other eukaryotic organisms, due to small and large duplication events, recombination and subsequent reorganization of the genetic material. Commercially important cotton is the result of a polyploidization event between Old and New World cottons that occurred over one million years ago. Allotetraploid cotton has properties that are dramatically different from its progenitors—most notably, the presence of long, spinnable fibers. Recently, the complete genome of a New World cotton ancestral species, Gossypium raimondii, was completed. Future genome sequencing efforts are focusing on an Old World progenitor, G. arboreum. This sequence information will enable us to gain insights into the evolution of the cotton genome that may be used to understand the evolution of other plant species. The chloroplast genomes of multiple cotton species and races have been determined. This information has also been used to gain insight into the evolutionary history of cotton. Analysis of the database of nuclear and organellar sequences will facilitate the identification of potential genes of interest and subsequent development of strategies for improving cotton.
A Linear Programming Approach for Modeling and Simulation of Growth and Lipid Accumulation of Phaeodactylum tricornutum
Authors: Dillschneider Robert , Posten Clemens
Published: October 2013

The unicellular microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum exhibits the ability to accumulate triacylglycerols to a high specific content when nutrients are limited in the culture medium. Therefore, the organism is a promising candidate for biodiesel production. Mathematical modeling can substantially contribute to process development and optimization of algae cultivation on different levels. In our work we describe a linear programming approach to model and simulate the growth and storage molecule accumulation of P. tricornutum. The model is based on mass and energy balances and shows that the organism realizes the inherent drive for maximization of energy to biomass conversion and growth. The model predicts that under nutrient limiting conditions both storage carbohydrates and lipids are synthesized simultaneously but at different rates. The model was validated with data gained from batch growth experiments.
A Spinning Reserve Allocation Method for Power Generation Dispatch Accommodating Large-Scale Wind Power Integration
Authors: Chen Jianhua , Wu Wenchuan , Zhang Boming , Wang Bin , Guo Qinglai
Published: October 2013

Spinning reserve allocation is a critical problem for active power dispatch with large-scale wind power penetration. A risk-based reserve allocation method that accounts multiple control sub-area coordination is given in this paper. And a multi-objective optimization model is constructed to schedule the spinning generation reserve for online active power dispatch. A fuzzy optimization method is used to transform the multi-objective optimization problem into a single-objective optimization one. The relationship between loss of load expectation and spinning reserve is also derived. And a particle swarm optimization (PSO) method is employed to provide a numerical solution to the problem. Numerical tests on IEEE RTS system are also given to validate the proposed method.
A Neural-Network-Based Nonlinear Adaptive State-Observer for Pressurized Water Reactors
Authors: Dong Zhe
Published: October 2013

Although there have been some severe nuclear accidents such as Three Mile Island (USA), Chernobyl (Ukraine) and Fukushima (Japan), nuclear fission energy is still a source of clean energy that can substitute for fossil fuels in a centralized way and in a great amount with commercial availability and economic competitiveness. Since the pressurized water reactor (PWR) is the most widely used nuclear fission reactor, its safe, stable and efficient operation is meaningful to the current rebirth of the nuclear fission energy industry. Power-level regulation is an important technique which can deeply affect the operation stability and efficiency of PWRs. Compared with the classical power-level controllers, the advanced power-level regulators could strengthen both the closed-loop stability and control performance by feeding back the internal state-variables. However, not all of the internal state variables of a PWR can be obtained directly by measurements. To implement advanced PWR power-level control law, it is necessary to develop a state-observer to reconstruct the unmeasurable state-variables. Since a PWR is naturally a complex nonlinear system with parameters varying with power-level, fuel burnup, xenon isotope production, control rod worth and etc., it is meaningful to design a nonlinear observer for the PWR with adaptability to system uncertainties. Due to this and the strong learning capability of the multi-layer perceptron (MLP) neural network, an MLP-based nonlinear adaptive observer is given for PWRs. Based upon Lyapunov stability theory, it is proved theoretically that this newly-built observer can provide bounded and convergent state-observation. This observer is then applied to the state-observation of a special PWR, i.e., the nuclear heating reactor (NHR), and numerical simulation results not only verify its feasibility but also give the relationship between the observation performance and observer parameters.
Mechanical Reinforcement of Wool Fiber through Polyelectrolyte Complexation with Chitosan and Gellan Gum
Authors: Amin Khairul , In het Panhuis Marc
Published: October 2013

The formation of polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) wool fibers formed by dipping chitosan or gellan gum-treated wool fibers into biopolymer solutions of opposite charge is reported. Treating wool fibers with chitosan (CH) and gellan gum (GG) solutions containing food dyes resulted in improved mechanical characteristics compared to wool fibers. In contrast, pH modification of the solutions resulted in the opposite effect. The mechanical characteristics of PEC-treated fibers were affected by the order of addition, i.e., dipping GG-treated fibers into chitosan resulted in mechanical reinforcement, whereas the reverse-order process did not.
A Closer Earth and the Faint Young Sun Paradox: Modification of the Laws of Gravitation or Sun/Earth Mass Losses?
Authors: Iorio Lorenzo
Published: October 2013

Given a solar luminosity LAr = 0.75L0 at the beginning of the Archean 3.8 Ga ago, where L0 is the present-day one, if the heliocentric distance, r, of the Earth was rAr = 0.956r0, the solar irradiance would have been as large as IAr = 0.82I0. It would have allowed for a liquid ocean on the terrestrial surface, which, otherwise, would have been frozen, contrary to the empirical evidence. By further assuming that some physical mechanism subsequently displaced the Earth towards its current distance in such a way that the irradiance stayed substantially constant over the entire Archean from 3.8 to 2.5 Ga ago, a relative recession per year as large as r˙/r ≈3.4 × 10−11 a−1 would have been required. Although such a figure is roughly of the same order of magnitude of the value of the Hubble parameter 3.8 Ga ago HAr = 1.192H0 = 8.2 × 10−11 a−1, standard general relativity rules out cosmological explanations for the hypothesized Earth’s recession rate. Instead, a class of modified theories of gravitation with nonminimal coupling between the matter and the metric naturally predicts a secular variation of the relative distance of a localized two-body system, thus yielding a potentially viable candidate to explain the putative recession of the Earth’s orbit. Another competing mechanism of classical origin that could, in principle, allow for the desired effect is the mass loss, which either the Sun or the Earth itself may have experienced during the Archean. On the one hand, this implies that our planet should have lost 2% of its present mass in the form of eroded/evaporated hydrosphere. On the other hand, it is widely believed that the Sun could have lost mass at an enhanced rate, due to a stronger solar wind in the past for not more than ≈ 0.2–0.3 Ga.
Co-authoring History: Montpellier, the Vendée, and the Co-authorship of the Sources
Authors: Szijártó István
Published: October 2013

The discourses of literature and history are generally regarded as two distinct genres. This essay sets out to investigate the use of fictitious, that is, the invented, as well as real elements, in addition to narrative tools in some literary and historical texts to examine whether there is evidence for a fundamental difference between them in this respect. In the first half of the article, from the juxtaposition of Merle’s historical novel, En nos vertes années, to Le Roy Ladurie’s The Beggar and the Professor, we shall see that real and fictitious elements are also interwoven in Merle’s text, just as history uses fictitious elements, necessarily and tacitly, or, in some works, in a rather provocative way. In the second half of this essay, in examining literary and historical narratives of the counter-revolution in the Vendée, it will become evident that historians also use the same narrative techniques as writers to orientate readers. While these findings would confound the normative distinction between history and literature, we cannot, however, finally conclude that there is no fundamental difference between literary fiction and history. Arguing against Alun Munslow, who claims in Authoring the Past that “’doing history’ is an authorial activity,” this present article tries to argue that, while in many aspects writing history is indistinguishable from writing fiction, the historian has co-authors: the sources themselves may enter the process of writing history. This is a conclusion that emerges from the analysis of Simon Schama’s Citizens. His text about the revolt in the Vendée points to a potential advantage of history when compared to literary fiction: historians may feel obliged to change their original point of view under the burden of the fact they themselves have enumerated—something we can call the latent but inherent co-authorship of the sources in historical narratives.
MicroRNA-Regulated Pathways in Hematological Malignancies: How to Avoid Cells Playing Out of Tune
Authors: Fatica Alessandro , Fazi Francesco
Published: October 2013

The coordinated expression and interplay among lineage specific transcription factors and microRNAs contribute to the regulation of gene expression and determination of cell specificity. In hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), unique combinations of transcription factors largely control growth and maturation of different blood cell lineages through cooperative regulation of specific target genes. MicroRNAs provide an additional level of control beyond transcription factors. By acting as regulators of crucial lineage-specific genetic programs, microRNAs direct early multipotential progenitor cells to adopt a certain cell fate program. Thus, alteration of specific microRNA levels may affect proliferation, differentiation and genetic stability of HSCs, contributing to the onset of myeloproliferative disorders and leukemia. The major aim of this review is to highlight the critical role of microRNA-regulated pathways during the establishment and progression of hematological malignancies, with a particular attention to leukemia, lymphomas and myelodysplastic syndromes. This will give us the opportunity to discuss the potential use of microRNA-based therapeutic approaches in these diseases. MicroRNAs are indeed emerging as relevant tools to improve the efficacy of currently used therapeutic protocols.
Pesticide Removal from Aqueous Solutions by Adding Salting Out Agents
Authors: Moscoso Fátima , Deive Francisco , Esperança José , Rodríguez Ana
Published: October 2013

Phase segregation in aqueous biphasic systems (ABS) composed of four hydrophilic ionic liquids (ILs): 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium methylsulfate and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium methylsulfate (CnC1im C1SO4, n = 2 and 4), tributylmethyl phosphonium methylsulfate (P4441 C1SO4) and methylpyridinium methylsulfate (C1Py C1SO4) and two high charge density potassium inorganic salts (K2CO3 and K2HPO4) were determined by the cloud point method at 298.15 K. The influence of the addition of the selected inorganic salts to aqueous mixtures of ILs was discussed in the light of the Hofmeister series and in terms of molar Gibbs free energy of hydration. The effect of the alkyl chain length of the cation on the methylsulfate-based ILs has been investigated. All the solubility data were satisfactorily correlated to several empirical equations. A pesticide (pentachlorophenol, PCP) extraction process based on the inorganic salt providing a greater salting out effect was tackled. The viability of the proposed process was analyzed in terms of partition coefficients and extraction efficiencies.
Impaired Glutathione Synthesis in Neurodegeneration
Authors: Aoyama Koji , Nakaki Toshio
Published: October 2013

Glutathione (GSH) was discovered in yeast cells in 1888. Studies of GSH in mammalian cells before the 1980s focused exclusively on its function for the detoxication of xenobiotics or for drug metabolism in the liver, in which GSH is present at its highest concentration in the body. Increasing evidence has demonstrated other important roles of GSH in the brain, not only for the detoxication of xenobiotics but also for antioxidant defense and the regulation of intracellular redox homeostasis. GSH also regulates cell signaling, protein function, gene expression, and cell differentiation/proliferation in the brain. Clinically, inborn errors in GSH-related enzymes are very rare, but disorders of GSH metabolism are common in major neurodegenerative diseases showing GSH depletion and increased levels of oxidative stress in the brain. GSH depletion would precipitate oxidative damage in the brain, leading to neurodegenerative diseases. This review focuses on the significance of GSH function, the synthesis of GSH and its metabolism, and clinical disorders of GSH metabolism. A potential approach to increase brain GSH levels against neurodegeneration is also discussed.
A Genome-Wide Expression Profile of Salt-Responsive Genes in the Apple Rootstock Malus zumi
Authors: Li Qingtian , Liu Jia , Tan Dunxian , Allan Andrew , Jiang Yuzhuang , Xu Xuefeng , Han Zhenhai , Kong Jin
Published: October 2013

In some areas of cultivation, a lack of salt tolerance severely affects plant productivity. Apple, Malus x domestica Borkh., is sensitive to salt, and, as a perennial woody plant the mechanism of salt stress adaption will be different from that of annual herbal model plants, such as Arabidopsis. Malus zumi is a salt tolerant apple rootstock, which survives high salinity (up to 0.6% NaCl). To examine the mechanism underlying this tolerance, a genome-wide expression analysis was performed, using a cDNA library constructed from salt-treated seedlings of Malus zumi. A total of 15,000 cDNA clones were selected for microarray analysis. In total a group of 576 cDNAs, of which expression changed more than four-fold, were sequenced and 18 genes were selected to verify their expression pattern under salt stress by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Our genome-wide expression analysis resulted in the isolation of 50 novel Malus genes and the elucidation of a new apple-specific mechanism of salt tolerance, including the stabilization of photosynthesis under stress, involvement of phenolic compounds, and sorbitol in ROS scavenging and osmoprotection. The promoter regions of 111 genes were analyzed by PlantCARE, suggesting an intensive cross-talking of abiotic stress in Malus zumi. An interaction network of salt responsive genes was constructed and molecular regulatory pathways of apple were deduced. Our research will contribute to gene function analysis and further the understanding of salt-tolerance mechanisms in fruit trees.
The Epicardium and Coronary Artery Formation
Authors: Pires-Gomes Adriana , Pérez-Pomares José
Published: October 2013

The coronary system is the network of blood vessels that nourishes the heart muscle. After birth, proper coronary blood circulation is required to support heart homeostasis, and altered coronary function frequently leads to myocardial ischemia, infarction and heart failure. The epicardium plays a pivotal role during coronary blood vessel embryonic development, contributing cells to the coronary vasculature, but also secreting diffusible signals that regulate coronary morphogenesis and secondarily impact on ventricular compact myocardium growth. Accordingly, anomalous epicardium development gives rise to the multiple congenital defects of the coronary vascular system and the heart walls. In this review, we will summarize and discuss our current knowledge on the embryogenesis of coronary blood vessels, as related to epicardial development, and attempt to highlight the biomedical relevance of this tissue.
Selection of a Mimotope Peptide of S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine and Its Application in Immunoassays
Authors: Wu Chun , Tzertzinis George
Published: October 2013

A competitive immunoassay for S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine (SAH) has been used in the clinical test for homocysteine via an enzymatic conversion reaction. Since S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine is a relatively unstable compound, we have used peptide library phage display to select a new mimotope peptide that interacts with the anti-SAH antibody. By immobilizing the synthetic peptide on solid phase as a competitive surrogate for SAH, we demonstrate its utility in a competitive ELISA assay. The linear range of the assay for SAH was 0.4–6.4 µM, in good correlation to the conventional assay using an SAH-conjugated plate. Our results show that the mimotope peptide has potential to substitute for SAH in immunoassays.
Health Benefits of Methylxanthines in Cacao and Chocolate
Authors: Franco Rafael , Oñatibia-Astibia Ainhoa , Martínez-Pinilla Eva
Published: October 2013

One may wonder why methylxanthines are so abundant in beverages used by humans for centuries, or in cola-drinks that have been heavily consumed since their appearance. It is likely that humans have stuck to any brew containing compounds with psychoactive properties, resulting in a better daily life, i.e., more efficient thinking, exploring, hunting, etc., however, without the serious side effects of drugs of abuse. The physiological effects of methylxanthines have been known for a long time and they are mainly mediated by the so-called adenosine receptors. Caffeine and theobromine are the most abundant methylxanthines in cacao and their physiological effects are notable. Their health-promoting benefits are so remarkable that chocolate is explored as a functional food. The consequences of adenosine receptor blockade by natural compounds present in cacao/chocolate are here reviewed. Palatability and health benefits of methylxanthines, in general, and theobromine, in particular, have further contributed to sustain one of the most innocuous and pleasant habits: chocolate consumption.
Analysis of the Phenology in the Mongolian Plateau by Inter-Comparison of Global Vegetation Datasets
Authors: Miao Lijuan , Luan Yibo , Luo Xiangzhong , Liu Qiang , Moore John , Nath Reshmita , He Bin , Zhu Feng , Cui Xuefeng
Published: October 2013

This study evaluates the performances of three global satellite datasets (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR), Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Satellite pour l’ observation de la Terre (SPOT) of the Mongolian Plateau, where in situ observation is insufficient to assess vegetation dynamics on terrestrial systems. We give a comprehensive assessment of the historical changes in vegetation dynamics by using comparative and correlation methods on the three archives using two indices: the growing season’s Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Start of the Season Index (SOS). The main findings are: (1) MODIS and SPOT have generally better comparability and consistency in the spatial-temporal trends of NDVI and SOS than AVHRR in this area; (2) all the three archives exhibit better consistency in Inner Mongolia than in Mongolia; (3) integration data analysis of AVHRR (1982–1997) and SPOT (1998–2012) shows that the dynamics of vegetation growth has three distinct phases: enhanced before 1994; a flatter/slightly decreasing trend before 2001; and, then, a rapid recovery between 2001 and 2012 with remarkable spatial heterogeneity, with Inner Mongolia experiencing a significant greening in vegetation NDVI compared with no obvious changes in Mongolia; (4) the temporal average SOS showed no significant “earlier spring” onset during the past 31 years, on the middle and northern Mongolian Plateau.
Optical Fiber-Based MR-Compatible Sensors for Medical Applications: An Overview
Authors: Taffoni Fabrizio , Formica Domenico , Saccomandi Paola , Pino Giovanni , Schena Emiliano
Published: October 2013

During last decades, Magnetic Resonance (MR)—compatible sensors based on different techniques have been developed due to growing demand for application in medicine. There are several technological solutions to design MR-compatible sensors, among them, the one based on optical fibers presents several attractive features. The high elasticity and small size allow designing miniaturized fiber optic sensors (FOS) with metrological characteristics (e.g., accuracy, sensitivity, zero drift, and frequency response) adequate for most common medical applications; the immunity from electromagnetic interference and the absence of electrical connection to the patient make FOS suitable to be used in high electromagnetic field and intrinsically safer than conventional technologies. These two features further heightened the potential role of FOS in medicine making them especially attractive for application in MRI. This paper provides an overview of MR-compatible FOS, focusing on the sensors employed for measuring physical parameters in medicine (i.e., temperature, force, torque, strain, and position). The working principles of the most promising FOS are reviewed in terms of their relevant advantages and disadvantages, together with their applications in medicine.
The Haunting of L.S. Lowry: Class, Mass Spectatorship and the Image at The Lowry, Salford, UK
Authors: Thompson Zoë
Published: October 2013

In a series of momentary encounters with the surface details of The Lowry Centre, a cultural venue located in Salford, Greater Manchester, UK, this article considers the fate of the image evoked by the centre’s production and staging of cultural experience. Benjamin’s notion of ‘aura’ as inimical to transformations of art and cultural spectatorship is explored, alongside its fatal incarnation in Baudrillard’s concept of ‘simulation’. L.S. Lowry, I argue, occupies the space as a medium: both as a central figure of transmission of the centre’s narrative of inclusivity through cultural regeneration, and as one who communes with phantoms: remainders of the working-class life and culture that once occupied this locale. Through an exploration of various installations there in his name, Lowry is configured as a ‘destructive character’, who, by making possible an alternative route through its spaces, refuses to allow The Lowry Centre to insulate itself from its locale and the debt it owes to its past.
Tailoring Global Data to Guide Corporate Investments in Biodiversity, Environmental Assessments and Sustainability
Authors: Oakleaf James , Kennedy Christina , Boucher Timothy , Kiesecker Joseph
Published: October 2013

Companies make significant investments in environmental impacts assessments, biodiversity action plans, life-cycle assessments, and environmental management systems, but guidance on where and when these tools can be best used, and how they may scale-up to inform corporation-wide planning, is sorely lacking. A major barrier to informed environmental decision-making within companies, especially in data poor regions of the world, is the difficulty accessing, analyzing, and interpreting biodiversity information. To address this shortcoming, we analyzed nine publicly available environmental datasets, and created five globally-relevant metrics associated with biodiversity: habitat intactness, habitat protection, species richness (globally and biome normalized), and threatened species. We demonstrate how packaging these metrics within an open-source, web-based mapping tool can facilitate corporations in biodiversity prioritization of their sites (or their supply chains), ultimately guiding potential investments in the environment.
Identification and Characterization of Porcine Kobuvirus Variant Isolated from Suckling Piglet in Gansu Province, China
Authors: Fan Shengtao , Sun Heting , Ying Ying , Gao Xiaolong , Wang Zheng , Yu Yicong , Li Yuanguo , Wang Tiecheng , Yu Zhijun , Yang Songtao , Zhao Yongkun , Qin Chuan , Gao Yuwei , Xia Xianzhu
Published: October 2013

Kobuviruses comprise three species, the Aichivirus A, Aichivirus B, and Aichivirus C (porcine kobuvirus). Porcine kobuvirus is endemic to pig farms and is not restricted geographically but, rather, is distributed worldwide. The complete genomic sequences of four porcine kobuvirus strains isolated during a diarrhea outbreak in piglets in the Gansu province of China were determined. Two of these strains exhibited variations relative to the traditional strains. The potential 3C/3D cleavage sites of the variant strains were Q/C, which differed from the Q/S in the traditional porcine kobuvirus genome. A 90-nucleotide deletion in the 2B protein and a single nucleotide insertion in the 3′UTR were found in the variant strains. The VP1 regions of all four porcine kobuviruses in our study were highly variable (81%–86%). Ten common amino acid mutations were found specifically at certain positions within the VP1 region. Significant recombination sites were identified using SimPlot scans of whole genome sequences. Porcine kobuviruses were also detected in pig serum, indicating that the virus can escape the gastrointestinal tract and travel to the circulatory system. These findings suggest that mutations and recombination events may have contributed to the high level of genetic diversity of porcine kobuviruses and serve as a driving force in its evolution.
Evaluation of Different DNA Vaccines against Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) in Pigs
Authors: Petrini Stefano , Ramadori Giorgio , Villa Riccardo , Borghetti Paolo , De Angelis Elena , Cantoni Anna , Corradi Attilio , Amici Augusto , Ferrari Maura
Published: October 2013

In veterinary medicine, there have been different experiences with the plasmid DNA vaccination. In this area and with the hypothesis to demonstrate the effectiveness of different plasmids encoding porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome (PRRS), five DNA vaccines against PRRS were evaluated for their innocuity and efficacy in pigs. Eighteen animals were divided into five groups which were injected with five (A, B, C, D, E) different DNA vaccines. Albeit, none of the proposed vaccines were able to protect the animals against PRRS virus. Only vaccines A and B were able to reduce the clinical signs of the infection. ELISA IgM were detected 30 days after the first vaccination in the pigs injected by Vaccine A or B. ELISA IgG were detected 90 days after the first vaccination in the pigs injected by Vaccine B or C. Neutralizing antibody were detected Post Challenge Days 61 (PCD) in all groups. In the pigs inoculated with Vaccine C, IFN-g were detected 90 days after first vaccination, and after challenge exposure they increased. In the other groups, the IFN-g were detected after challenge infection. Pigs injected with each of the vaccines A, B, C, D and E showed a significantly higher level of CD4−CD8+ lymphocytes (p < 0.001) after infection in comparison with their controls.
Improvement of Adequate Use of Warfarin for the Elderly Using Decision Tree-based Approaches
Authors: Liu K. E. , Lo C.-L. , Hu Y.-H.
Published: October 2013

Objectives: Due to the narrow therapeutic range and high drug-to-drug interactions (DDIs), improving the adequate use of warfarin for the elderly is crucial in clinical practice. This study examines whether the effectiveness of using warfarin among elderly inpatients can be improved when machine learning techniques and data from the laboratory information system are incorporated.

Methods: Having employed 288 validated clinical cases in the DDI group and 89 cases in the non-DDI group, we evaluate the prediction performance of seven classification techniques, with and without an Adaptive Boosting (AdaBoost) algorithm. Measures including accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and area under the curve are used to evaluate model performance.

Results: Decision tree-based classifiers outperform other investigated classifiers in all evaluation measures. The classifiers supplemented with AdaBoost can generally improve the performance. In addition, weight, congestive heart failure, and gender are among the top three critical variables affecting prediction accuracy for the non-DDI group, while age, ALT, and warfarin doses are the most influential factors for the DDI group.

Conclusion: Medical decision support systems incorporating decision tree-based approaches improve predicting performance and thus may serve as a supplementary tool in clinical practice. Information from laboratory tests and inpatients’ history should not be ignored because related variables are shown to be decisive in our prediction models, especially when the DDIs exist.